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So, my current Shadowrun campaign has run out of steam a bit due to crazy schedules and losing a player, and we are looking at recruiting two brand new folks what have never played RPGs. So, I'm thinking about putting Shadowrun on ice and starting a World of Darkness game, since the setting is contemporary and relatively easy to wrap your head around. I like the New World of Darkness as far as simplified and cohesive rules and everything, but it lacks a bit of the iconic awesomeness of the Old World of Darkness. I'm thinking of using elements of both with the Translation Guide, and I'm wondering if anyone has done this. So far my ideas have been .....

A) Use the NWoD systems and such, like Blood Potency instead of Generation (gives younger vamps a reason to actually try), but replace the clans/bloodlines with the OWoD clans (Mostly). Bring in the Caine stuff as being slighty more believed but keep the Antideluvians and most of the meta plot out and/or mysterious. Not sure if I would keep the clans as is and remove covenants or keep covenants in and make clans less of a sociopolitical organization.


B) Use the NWoD systems and such, Keep the NWoD clans, get rid of covenants and bring in sects like the Camarilla and Sabat (probably invent a few more and make them regional instead of global powers). Have a select few bloodlines be regional powerhouses that dominate certain areas (mini OWoD clans)

C) Just say screw it and play hunter

Or something along those lines. Basically my thoughts are that I don't like the profusion of bloodlines in the NWoD and will thus be limiting them significantly - I love the OWoD clans as they are very iconic to me, but new people might not care as much - As much as I love the OWoD clans, they will require some shoehorning in as a good few of them are based on geographical/ethnic groups and changing the disciplines around -


so, any advice from people who have tried stuff like this or just general thoughts would be appreciated.



- Oh, and the very loose plot I have in mind is that the entire vampire population of a city disappears/goes insane in a single night. The players will be part of an investigatory team sent to reestablish control. Obviously if there are warring sects I will make it a border city to add conflict. I'm currently thinking either Chicago or Seattle, as they are both towns I have a passing familiarity with. Or maybe Vegas, that might be interesting.

What do your players want?

I played the old Hunter, it was pretty fun, like CoC minus the going crazy part.

The new hunter..meh it lacks the horror aspect, the back to the wall uphill battle you vs the world the old Hunter has...now it seems everyone and their mother (and the Nazis) are fighting monsters. Not to mention the lack of mysterious abilites.

My current players maintain that they are "down for anything", and none of them have ever played Old World of Darkness so they don't have much in the way of expectations for background/lore and stuff. I just want to make a memorable game that hopefully lasts a good while.


When I run NWoD hunter, I take out most of the conspiracies or at least make it so the characters don't start out in one. It is definitely played as horror, and characters tend to not last very long. Last time it was a small town that got cut off by a blizzard - caused by a Wendigo. They all holed up in the school, and the Wendigo ended up killing most of the town before they brought it down (only one PC character survived the whole way through, and one of the PCs went through four characters).

Give 'em a taste of OWoD

Okay, so what I think I'm going to do is as follows - NWoD rules, and general setting. Introduce Sects - specifically the Camarilla, the Sabbat, the Inconnu, the Ashen Papacy.

The Camarilla will be inspired by the Translation Guide - a group recently (say early 1900s) re-emerged to claim the mantle of the previous roman era Camarilla. Initially they seemed like a new covenant based on strictly enforcing the traditions and helping newly embraced vampires, in the early 1980s they made their move, and took over many cities in the northeastern united states, as well as a few cities in the UK. Based out of Philadelphia, they count all vampires, willing or not, as members. They have squads of ghouls and fledglings patrolling their cities, and work to indoctrinate young vampires from the ground up as strong believers.


The Ashen Papacy - As long as the Catholic Church has existed, so has the Ashen Papacy. All Christian leaning vampires at least paid respect to the Ashen Papacy and their tales of how Caine, the first vampire was cursed by God himself to walk the night and feed on the blood of men after slaying his brother Abel. Weakened after the defection of the militant cult that became the Sabbat, the Ashen Papacy still exerts worldwide influence through the Lancea Sanctum and has an iron grip over the Italian Peninsula.


The Sabbat - As early as the 15th century, the group which formed the core of the Sabbat made up the attack dogs and most zealous inquisitors of the Ashen Papacy. Then known simply as the Black Hand, the proto Sabbat were the weapons of terror wielded by the Black Popes. In 1691, when the Sabbat were loosed upon the apostate Prince of Madrid, they refused to cede control to the local clerics of the Ashen Papacy after his execution, and a month of bloody purges including the local clergy ensued before they were brought to heel. Over the next century the violent cult increased their number and grew more insular. Finally Don Diego del la Sombra, returned from a decade in the New World changed. Ten years amongst the heathen vampires of central america had awakened a new power and a new vision in him. He incorporated rituals and ideals from the Mexica vampires he had encountered into the teachings of the Sabbat. His Lasombra bloodline spread, and soon he was counted as leader of the Sabbat. They soon returned to the New World, building their power base in Mexico and Central America, and in 1825 finally came into open schism with the Ashen Papacy. Hounded from Italy, they retained strongholds in southern Spain and some Mediterranean islands. Another century passed before they had full control over Central America, and they were then ready to begin their crusade to spread their beliefs to the rest of the world.


The Inconnu - mysterious vampires who claim to have surpassed the limitations of their curse, overcoming the bloodlust that marks the kindred. They are a myth, rumored to have infiltrated all groups and all lands, seeking ever more knowledge on the vampiric condition.


Assamite - Ancient Clan/Bloodline that dominates the Middle East and much of Northern Africa - Said to have been founded ages ago, it was forged into it's current form by Abu Talib, uncle of Muhammed. He converted the many heathen vampires into the faithful Assamites. They suffer an addiction to diablerie inherited from ancient times. Currently, only Mekhet and Nosferatu Dhimmi are tolerated by the Assamite, all other vampires found in their lands are diablerized after being ritually beaten into torpor. Their Clan disciplines are Celerity, Obfuscate, and Quietus.

Followers of Set - a small sect, based out of Egypt, Greece, and Britain. They are functionally identical ideologically to the Masquerade Settites, but are composed of all clans. They have knowledge of Theban Sorcery which they teach to adherents. Additionally, there is a small bloodline of Settite priests who have developed the discipline Serpentis.

Giovanni - Independent Ventrue Bloodline/sect - Vampire crime syndicate that works in necromancy, basically the same as VTM. -Dominate, Vigor, Auspex, Necromancy

Ravnos - Minor clan, formerly powerful in India before their holdings were destroyed. Now a wandering people. Animalism, Chimerstry, Resilience.

Tremere - Independent Sect, based out of Vienna. Group of former mages who transformed themselves into vampires in search of immortality. Strict hierarchy enforced by blood bond, created Thaumaturgy, a special form of blood magic.


Tzimisce - A minor clan based out of Carpathia. Known for their strong connections to their homeland and their strange fleshcrafting abilities - Animalism Auspex, Vicissitude.




And the main five clans/covenants will exist as sort of the default for the majority of the western world.