Jae Onasi Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 When stoffe said the game was very enjoyable, she wasn't kidding. I've been...sucked into this game quite thoroughly, nearly as much as I have with the Kotor games. It's rated M for violence, gore, and language, so there will be some content we can't discuss here because of the PG-13 restriction. However, we should be able to handle most of it without any problem. There are some walkthroughs on gamebanshee and gamefaqs, including recommendations for first-time players. You can use the character creation wizard if you want, but I happened to pick Toreador (on stoffe's suggestion), and am going the seductress route.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk102 Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Hey, cool a thread. I'm just starting this game too. I have to admit, coming off of NWN2, it was a bit of psychological shock to play through the tutorial as an undead. I'm impressed so far with the music and the dance animations. The game does a good job conveying the dark setting quickly and having a television and a radio to listen to at the beginning is a nice touch. The dialog is entertaining and that's a big selling point for me. I currently playing a persuading, male Tremere (in spite of stoffe's suggestion ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoiuyWired Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Well, the game lacks quite some really fun bloodlines to play with, too bad, but then again that maybe for gameplay purpose. Same goes for all those traits/glaws. I mean yes its fun being a City Gangriel with that perfect shapeshifting, permanent white wings that allows you to glide the nightsky, and nice ofuscate to remain unseen, and a little pet rozen maiden to play with, but it would be a pain to program into gameplay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldflash Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 For real fun play as Malkavian. Is not the best race/clan but it has a unique style of talking. Still, it was something which I don't like: to exit building=> loading, cross the road and enter in another building=>loading... But beside that is a great game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Down Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I've been willing to try this game. But I haven't bought it yet, cause people are saying that it is very buggy? Is this true? - Ghost Down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoffe Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 For real fun play as Malkavian. Is not the best race/clan but it has a unique style of talking. Still, it was something which I don't like: to exit building=> loading, cross the road and enter in another building=>loading... But beside that is a great game. <---- I agree that Malkavian is the funniest clan to play as, however I think they are best for a second playthrough. The game will be too confusing if you play as a Malkavian on your first time through, and you'll miss out on many of the nuances, foreshadowing and Malkavian insight in their dialog if you aren't already familiar with the story. I did my first time through as a Toreador, since they give you access to extra dialog at times, are good at charming people and still are pretty decent in a fight. After I played as a Malkavian I've been unable to switch away to another clan. They're just too charming in their own insane way, and make the game setting seem not quite as dark as it is. It's weird, but there is just something fun about playing a good-natured (well...) but completely happy-crazy undead vampire who intuitively knows everyones secrets but is too insane to use that knowledge to any real extent. A quite different game experience than what you usually get in RPGs. I've been willing to try this game. But I haven't bought it yet, cause people are saying that it is very buggy? Is this true? I've played the game through a few times with the latest official patch installed and haven't run into any major game-stopping bugs. But I guess that might vary depending on what OS and computer hardware you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jae Onasi Posted March 23, 2007 Author Share Posted March 23, 2007 I haven't found it very buggy myself, but I'm not very far into it. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the bugginess is related to people playing it having minimal system requirements for that time. I'm playing it on my new laptop which is a dual-core with 2 Gb of RAM and a decent video card, and I suspect that makes quite a difference. Btw, it seems to be playing nice with Vista. You apparently do have to get the 1.2 official patch or you'll have a major bug problem near the end of the game. There's also some fan-made unofficial patches, and that one's up to v3.5 now. I've installed the official patch, but I was going to wait until I finish this playthru before installing the unofficial patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Down Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 My specs are ok. Way high. Hehe. As for the patches. Where can I get the 1.2 official patch and 3.5 unofficial patch? And do I need to install any older versions before installing the new versions? - Ghost Down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoffe Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 You apparently do have to get the 1.2 official patch or you'll have a major bug problem near the end of the game. There's also some fan-made unofficial patches, and that one's up to v3.5 now. I've installed the official patch, but I was going to wait until I finish this playthru before installing the unofficial patch. Yes, the patch is a must since they've fixed a bunch of fairly serious bugs. I tend to stay away from unofficial patches though since their creators usually have a hard time sticking to just fixing bugs, and do some rebalancing and tweaks to the game to fit their vision of how it should be. I prefer to do my tweaks myself to get them as I want them, and want a "clean" game to start from. Even if you bump into non-crashing bugs (which is rare but can happen) you can usually bypass them using the game's rather extensive cheat/debug console. My specs are ok. Way high. Hehe. As for the patches. Where can I get the 1.2 official patch and 3.5 unofficial patch? And do I need to install any older versions before installing the new versions? You can get the v1.2 patch here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk102 Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Where can I get the 1.2 official patch and 3.5 unofficial patch? The 3.5 patch is here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Down Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Ok, so I only need to install the official update and forget about the unofficial update? - Ghost Down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negative Sun Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Could someone encourage my being lazy and provide a useful link for this game, possibly with nice screenies or something? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tk102 Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Ok, so I only need to install the official update and forget about the unofficial update? I plan on just using the official patch for now then maybe on 3rd play, try out the unofficial one to see the differences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoffe Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Could someone encourage my being lazy and provide a useful link for this game, possibly with nice screenies or something? Thanks You can find the official site here which contains some info and screens from the game. Note that the game is rated M/18+ for a reason, so if you're younger than that you shouldn't go there (they have an age verification form on the first page). In short the game is an RPG that takes place in Los Angeles 2004. A vampire society exists secretly among human society, governed by a code called the Masquerade that dictates that no vampire may take any action that makes humanity aware of the existence of supernatural beings. At the start of the game your character is killed and Embraced (turned into a vampire), and you spend the rest of the game finding your place among the backstabbing and politics of the vampire society, as you work for different factions with different goals, while struggling to maintain your sense of humanity and compassion against the primal beast within (or embracing that beast, if you're a more evil-leaning type ) As an RPG it is story-driven, has fully voiced dialog and a skill/feat system that governs your character's skill in combat, conversations and other activities like picking locks, hacking computers, researching lore etc. Combat in the game is from a "live" first person perspective (which you can toggle to third person view if you like, which I prefer except when sniping), but where character skills determine how good you are at aiming, hitting, doing damage, special moves etc as much as the player's twitch skill. The main plot of the game is somewhat linear, though it branches at a few locations where you can decide which side in the conflict you want to ally yourself with. There are also 5 different endings depending on choices you make. Dialog also matters since if you piss off certain characters that may close doors for you later and prevent you from joining with a certain side (or all of them if you're a total jerk to everyone ). Aside from the main plot there is also a few bigger roaming areas with plenty of sidequests to do and places to explore. Some quests stretch over multiple areas, while others are smaller and quicker to do. The experience system in the game is focused around solving problems, completing quests and doing things with finesse. You get no XP for killing enemies. You might get bonus XP if you manage to pull off a particularly difficult way of solving a quest (like sneaking into a building full of armed thugs to steal an object and get it undetected may give you bonus XP, while going in guns blazing will only give you the quest completion XP). There is no "character level" system, instead you can spend your XP directly on a variety of skills and attributes to level them up. You choose one of 7 different "clans" for your vampire at the start, which roughly corresponds to classes in "normal" RPGs. A clan has certain strengths, weaknesses and a fixed set of disciplines (vampire special abilities similar to spells) they have access to. Some clans are more combat/brawn oriented while others are more diplomatic/persuasive in conversations. Some clans also alter the game experience significantly. Like the Nosferatu who look so hideous they can't blend in amongst humans, and as such must stay out of view and keep to the shadows, sneaking around. Or the Malkavians, who are completely insane, but have a strange gift that allows them to see the truth behind matters, making them intuitively know others' secrets. Though since they are insane it can be hard to sort the truth out in their ramblings. The game is based on the same game engine as Half-Life 2, so the graphics are fairly decent, though they are not the main attraction of the game. Still, the graphics along with excellent sound and music contribute greatly to the very creepy feeling some of the game areas have, that certainly keeps you at the edge of your seat. The game has one of the creepiest, spookiest areas I've seen in any game, and still there isn't a single hostile enemy for you to fight in that place. Playing that quest at night is not recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Down Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Well, I just picked it up and played through the tutorial. And damn! It is awsome! I should have tried it out earlier. Started the game with that bug guy from the the Brujah. Might consider starting a new game though. As an Tremere or an Ventrue. What do you think Stoffe? - Ghost Down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Source Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I cannot believe that people have finally picked this game up. Lol... VTM came out about two months before KotOR II. I must have played this game over a hundred times. Personally, I was upset when it didn't go head to head with KotOR II for 'Game of the Year'. VTM has one of the best pop-culture sound tracks I know. I hope everyone has fun. This game rocks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igyman Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I've been recommending this game for quite a while now, it's IMO one of the best games around. I've finished it with every clan and it was always a fun experience. When it comes to magic I'd say that the Tremere are my favorite, but every clan has its advantages and interesting gameplay influencing feats. I've also played its predecessor VTM: Redemption, but Bloodlines is much better. And the ultimate revelation of the sarcophagus... heh heh, well, I'll let you peeps find out for yourselves. I don't want to spoil it, but you should know that there are about five endings, so there's loads of fun to be had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Source Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I've been recommending this game for quite a while now, it's IMO one of the best games around. I've finished it with every clan and it was always a fun experience. When it comes to magic I'd say that the Tremere are my favorite, but every clan has its advantages and interesting gameplay influencing feats. I've also played its predecessor VTM: Redemption, but Bloodlines is much better. I agree Igyman. 'Redemption' was pretty cool for its time, but 'Bloodlines' raises the bar for White Wolf. 'Tremere' and 'Gangeral' are my favorite. Every time I play the game, I am allways finding something new. Jack rules! Lol... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igyman Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I agree Igyman. 'Redemption' was pretty cool for its time, but 'Bloodlines' raises the bar for White Wolf. 'Tremere' and 'Gangeral' are my favorite. Every time I play the game, I am allways finding something new. Jack rules! Lol... Ha ha, I forgot about Jack, yep, he's great. Another character that really cracked me up was Fat Larry. Oh man... Oh yeah, a funny fact - the name of the main villain in Redemption was Vukodlak, which is a serbian (my native language) word for werewolf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoffe Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Started the game with that bug guy from the the Brujah. Might consider starting a new game though. As an Tremere or an Ventrue. What do you think Stoffe? Depends on how you intend to play. Here's a quick summary of the different clans as I see it. Brujah are individualistic rebels and brawlers who usually are very strong in straight melee fights. heir disciplines reflect this as well, with Celerity (increased speed), Potency (more melee power) and Presence (weakens nearby enemies) and a skill bonus for unarmed combat. On the downside they are somewhat more likely to frenzy than most of the other clans. Their somewhat rough physical appearance might make some NPCs a bit more tight-lipped when talking to them. May be a good clan if you prefer to rely on brawn rather than brains to get through sticky situations. Strength: Melee combat Quirks: Somewhat limited dialog Gangrel primarily are chaotic, individualistic shape shifters (Protean) who can soak up a lot of damage (Fortitude) and have Animalism as a support/attack discipline. Like the Brujah they are more likely to frenzy, and they even get some further combat bonuses when doing so. The Animalism discipline is lots of fun (you see The Sheriff using it a couple of times during the tutorial), but will drain your blood pool quickly if you use it often. Like Brujah they are also primarily brawlers and their wild, unsophisticated looks can make some NPCs more tight-lipped when speaking to them. Strength: Melee combat, offensive disciplines Quirks: Shape changers, somewhat limited dialog Ventrue are the "nobility" of vampire society. Bankers, businessmen, aristocracy usually end up becoming Ventrue in unlife and continuing to live in undeath as they did in life (though with more nocturnal habits ). As a Ventrue you are more easily accepted in some vampire circles, though the Brujah-dominated Anarchs won't think better of you. As disciplines they have Dominate which allows them to mess with people's heads, and can mind control human NPCs in dialog (which the Tremere can't do). They also have Fortitude which makes them able to absorb more damage, and presence which weakens nearby enemies. On the downside they are so refined in their tastes that they can't feed on animals, and they have a chance of vomiting up the blood again if they feed on unfortunates like bums and "escorts". Their refined manners and distinguished appearance makes some NPCs open up more to them in dialog. Strength: Conversation, manipulation Quirks: More limited feeding Toreadors are the "party animals" of vampire society, who enjoy culture and the fruits human society has to offer. They are like vamped film-stars, artists, authors, entertainers etc. They have a closer tie to human society than other vampires. Valuing these ties their humanity gains/losses are double that of other classes when doing compassionate/vile acts. Fairly good-looking and charming they are good at conversations and can get some NPCs to open up more when talking to them. While good at using their silver tongues in conversation they are fairly good in battle as well if needed. They have the Auspex discipline that allows them to tell friend from foe and see living beings through walls from a distance. It also augments their skill with firearms when used. They also have Celerity which speeds them up, and Presence that weakens nearby enemies. Strength: Conversation (seduction/persuasion), ranged combat Quirks: Humanity sensitive Tremere are a clan of blood mages who even other vampires find distasteful. Physically weaker than the other clans, they have the Thaumaturgy discipline of blood magic to make up for it. This allows them to attack, weaken and drain blood from enemies in a variety of rather gruesome ways. The Tremere mostly stick to themselves and are generally distrusted by other vampires, which can be a disadvantage when dealing with the rest of vampire society. They also have the Dominate discipline that allows them to mind control others, and the Auspex discipline that allows them to see friend from foe and the true nature of a being, and lets them see living beings through walls. Strength: Blood magic, Ranged combat Quirks: Physically weak Noferatu are a clan of hideously disfigured vampires that look so monstrous there is no way for them to blend in in human society. As such they must stay out of sight, since being seen by humans violates the Masquerade. To this end Nosferatu sticks to the shadows and usually travels around via the sewer systems in the city where the chances of being spotted by innocent humans is small. They also manage to squeeze more blood out of animals they feed on, such as rats found in the sewers. They obviously have their physical appearance and seduction skills permanently penalized. On the flip side they have the Obfuscate discipline which renders them invisible to make it easier for them to stay undetected. They also have the Animalism offensive discipline, and Potency which makes them very dangerous in melee combat. Playing as a Nosferatu alters gameplay significantly since you can't freely interact with the many human NPCs found throughout the game. Other vampires tend to find them disgusting as well, though they appreciate their usefulness in intelligence/information gathering. Strength: Melee combat, Stealth, sneak attacks, offensive disciplines Quirks: Monstrous appearance Malkavians are a clan of vampires cursed with insanity. They see the word differently from everyone else and have a keen insight that allows them to glimpse the motivations and secrets of others they talk to. But their insanity also makes them think and talk in rather odd ways, which can sometimes make it hard (but hilarious) to converse with other NPCs effectively. Though fortunately their Dementation discipline allows them to mess with the heads of others in dialogs, forcing insanity into their skulls and making them see things the same way as the Malkavian instead. Dementation can also be used offensively in battle and then works somewhat similar to the Dominate discpline of the Ventrue and Tremere. They also have Auspex that lets them tell friend from foe, see the nature of beings and see living beings through walls, as well as bost their ranged attacks. Further they have the Obfuscate discipline that allows them to turn invisible and have an easier time sneaking around or stealth killing enemies. Strengths: Dementation, Stealth, Ranged combat Quirks: Insanity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Source Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Ha ha, I forgot about Jack, yep, he's great. Another character that really cracked me up was Fat Larry. Oh man... Oh yeah, a funny fact - the name of the main villain in Redemption was Vukodlak, which is a serbian (my native language) word for werewolf. Lol... That is cool. China Town or Las Vegas? Which do you prefer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SithRevan Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I actually have heard of this game before from a friend but I never really gave it a try. It sounds like it is something that I would enjoy though so I might get myself a copy of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igyman Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Lol... That is cool. China Town or Las Vegas? Which do you prefer? Hmmm, I think you mean Los Angeles downtown, or maybe Hollywood, since there's no Vegas in Bloodlines, but to answer, I don't think I prefer any quarter, they all have something cool that makes me like them all. Chinatown, for example has that old former assassin turned fortune teller that always cracks me up and the quest to eliminate his former partner... one of the funniest I've done and also a good reminder that quests in this game can be solved through many different ways and to many different outcomes. Also the armament... err remedy seller from Chinatown is also one of the funniest characters around. Whew, enough rambling and spoiling for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Down Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Hey, does someone know where I can download some skins? I found this website called Paine's Site. But there are only a few skins there.. - Ghost Down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negative Sun Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Damn you stoffe! You would make an excellent sales person I want this game badly now! Is there a demo for it to whet my appetite? Cause I can't seem to find one on the official site... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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