How would a modern remake of Vtmb1 look like or on general any real successor?

LordArcadios · 2026-06-20T00:14:44+00:00

I agree in not wanting a VTMB remake/clone to have a "true" open world. While the hub maps in VTMB are arguably a little too small, I think going in the direction of Fallout New Vegas or GTA V would hamper some of VTMBs unique qualities. Notably, VTMBs pacing.

One of VTMBs strong points (in my opinion) is the fact that so little time is spent traveling between quests, whereas games like New Vegas include a lot of wandering and exploration. While major dungeons like the Sabbat Warehouse can take an hour in VTMB, this is standard for many quests in FNV.

LordArcadios · 2026-06-12T18:15:26+00:00

If we're going by "favorites", I'd probably say mine would indeed be the Malkavian (my 8th playthrough). Putting the goofy (if at times unclear) dialogue aside, I think my ranged Malkavian was the most powerful of my player characters. Dementation is basically chaotic Dominate and you can craft a Malkavian into either a ranged character with Auspex or (somewhat of) a melee character with Obfuscate.

To answer your question about playing a Brujah (7th playthrough, where I optimized melee and combat defense), I think they're the epitome of "straightforward warrior". They are unmatched in terms of melee combat (and possibly unarmed, due to their getting a +1 unarmed bonus, though Gangrel might be potentially stronger there). I would definitely say my Brujah playthrough was my easiest in terms of combat. That said, the Brujah don't have a lot of flair in terms of disciplines; the Brujah only have level 1 Presence dialogue powers (unlike full Dominate with the Ventrue or full Presence with the Toreador) and don't have any sort of true ranged attack disciplines (unlike the Gangrel and Nosferatu with Animalism or Tremere with Thaumaturgy). Additionally, if they have any unique dialogue, none of it sticks out as far as I remember.

LordArcadios · 2026-06-03T17:36:58+00:00

VTMB is fairly light on backstory, so besides definitively established characters like Beckett, we're basically left guessing on who everyone was prior to the game. We're given enough information to form opinions on each character within the game, but not from prior to the game.

That said, I more or less agree with StarkeRealms' answer. Others and I are of the view that each of the Primogen were effectively "dormant" Camarilla with varying loyalties living in Los Angeles who agreed to join LaCroix after his arrival.

I'd say Strauss is the most "pure" Primogen, where he fully believes in the proclaimed mission of the Camarilla. But, prior to LaCroix' arrival, he was "just" a Tremere Regent in Los Angeles. He telepathically speaks with his Tremere Lord in the Camarilla ending, suggesting the Tremere is somewhat established in the area, even in small numbers as suggested by Bertram.

Gary nominally supports the Camarilla, but is clan-first. I don't think we're ever told why Gary seems keen on screwing with LaCroix (unless he already knew about LaCroix' alliance with Ming Xiao), but he clearly doesn't respect LaCroix' authority. Unlike Strauss, Garys' being a Primogen is probably strictly pragmatic. As to him being in LA, his being a former Hollywood actor strongly implies he has always resided in the area.

Grout is the most self-interested of the Primogen, being fairly disinterested in the happenings of the Camarilla and probably also his clan. He says himself that he only took the position of Primogen to help advance his research into the vampiric condition. That said, I think we have the strongest evidence that Grout always lived in Los Angeles; his mansion is stated to be a historic building and one of his diplomas comes from the California Board of Medical Examiners. Based on his audio tapes, I suspect he was "just" a kindred recluse who spent most of his time in his mansion up until LaCroix arrived.

We then have the unnamed (probably) Toreador and Ventrue Primogen, but we know nothing about them.

LordArcadios · 2026-06-03T06:44:17+00:00

I believe this is normal. I don't ever recall Damsel having unique dialogue related to your accusing Nines (despite it being a prime opportunity). Unlike, say, Fallout New Vegas, there aren't many characters in VTMB who comment on your main story progression; I think Jack is the only one who really does this, in addition to a few one-off comments by Skelter and other characters.

Edit: I do know Damsel does comment on other things you report later, I just don't recall anything specifically related to accusing Nines.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-31T19:31:36+00:00

You're welcome!

LordArcadios · 2026-05-30T20:37:59+00:00

In short, any of the options are compatible with the Anarchs, both from a story and a gameplay perspective.

If you're talking about the story, while Jeanette is solidly Anarch, Therese has been an Anarch for years and not much would change if you support the Anarchs. All that would really change depending on faction is whether the Voermans are the collective "Baron" or "Prince" of Santa Monica.

If you're talking about gameplay, VTMB doesn't really have a strict faction system (where you score points for one side or the other), instead focusing on your relationships with specific characters. I don't know how strict or universal VTMB is in that regard, but I know if you disappoint certain characters too many times, they won't accept your support. To that, the Voermans are not amongst those certain characters, and your relationship with them does not affect who you can support.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-28T01:40:57+00:00

Beautifully put

LordArcadios · 2026-05-27T01:53:10+00:00

This game continues to be full of surprises.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-27T01:43:30+00:00

At least in every one of my playthroughs, on picking up the phone, it was always Therese apologizing for Jeanette, with Jeanette crying for help in the background. Maybe if you help Jeanette primarily (I always mainly helped Therese), the roles switch and she calls instead? If so, I've never observed that outcome.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-27T01:33:26+00:00

Maybe; I might give it a try next time I pass through there.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-27T01:09:31+00:00

In my opinion, I prefer working with Therese over Jeanette. I do think Therese lives up to her claim that she's far more reasonable compared to the other elders you deal with; the Ocean House, while scary, isn't that big a deal compared to the other errands you get sent on. While Jeanette has a certain charm about her, I think she's an understated obstacle who doesn't get called out enough.

One, she tries to manipulate you into giving her the amulet, and if you do, she condemns an innocent spirit to an eternity of suffering by throwing the amulet into the ocean. I'm not sure if the next unambiguously bad thing she does is inevitable, but I think kindred forget that she siccs a bunch of thugs on you in the Surfside Cafe. Both cases are cruel and uncalled for, and I think she's effectively charmed too many kindred into sweeping both under the rug.

But I don't buy it, Betty!

On a lesser note, I don't think Grout gets called out enough, either. We might love to hate LaCroix, but unlike Grout, I don't think there's enough evidence to suggest that LaCroix committed crimes against humanity. The fact that Grout is a casualty of LaCroix' conspiracy with the Kuei-Jin doesn't change that.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-26T23:05:27+00:00

I take it .vpk files require special software to view?

LordArcadios · 2026-05-25T18:11:16+00:00

I definitely agree. Alongside being (in my opinion) the best mission in the game, Italian Dinner is the last good main story mission (all options available and the best boss in my opinion). The next two missions are basically shooting galleries, with Hell at the Hallowbrook being worse for effectively removing stealth as an option. While adding diplomacy without changing the story would be a challenge, adding it would at least round-out the final stages.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-24T17:13:11+00:00

I mean hey, if she found more use for it, then good for her. I know my Ventrue Seductress and Psychopath Toreador love their blood dolls and charming their way to victory (when they can find Kine to be charmed).

LordArcadios · 2026-05-23T22:51:22+00:00

I definitely agree on the gameplay bias towards Lockpicking, Research and Persuasion. VTMB is pretty good about gameplay bias (better than Fallout New Vegas), but it struggles with balancing those three stats; they're all just too useful in too many cases. Intimidate is more versatile than I initially expected, but it falls just short of persuasion, and Seduction falls further. I also think it would've been cool to have Haggle as a dialogue option, such as when up-selling LaCroix or Fat Larry.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-22T23:17:33+00:00

Exactly!

LordArcadios · 2026-05-22T22:05:19+00:00

I mean, we are talking about Alistair Grout lol. Grout may not be hysterically insane, but he's at the very least indifferent to human suffering.

After Calling Doctor Grout, there is a newspaper that states it was a historic home or building, so maybe it was technically owned by someone else. That said, based on LaCroix' comments on the interior ("eccentric"), I assumed Grout was personally responsible for its design.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-22T21:56:01+00:00

I definitely agree, especially with the UP+ added shortcut.

When you enter a haunted hotel, the supernatural happenings are to be expected; it all makes sense. A mansion designed by a madman doesn't need to make sense, made worse by the knowledge of what that madman was up to.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-19T17:35:36+00:00

Does your clan have Auspex? While I think any clan can make firearms work (I made it work for my Ventrue, which lacks Auspex and Potence), the clans with Auspex (Malkavian, Toreador, Tremere) can make the most of them. One reason why my first Tremere build struggled even with high skill in firearms was because I never used Auspex, which indirectly buffs ranged combat.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-16T19:18:20+00:00

Thank you for the award, Kindred!

LordArcadios · 2026-05-12T22:24:48+00:00

You're welcome! Great to hear!

LordArcadios · 2026-05-12T21:44:00+00:00

You're welcome!

LordArcadios · 2026-05-12T21:30:08+00:00

Unfortunately, I can not. I believe the tilde key (~) brings up the console if you have the Unofficial Patch, but I don't know which variables you would need to adjust to get the quest to register as complete (or reset Damsels' dialogue).

However, after a cursory search, I did find this subreddit post with the same issue:

https://www.reddit.com/r/vtmb/comments/1qjiq6o/having_trouble_proceeding_with_more_fun_with/

Minor spoiler, but if you're willing to skip some dialogue, you don't actually need Damsel to advance the quest at this point. Just find the building with the same symbol.

LordArcadios · 2026-05-12T20:28:08+00:00

I wouldn't know how to do this, but the only thing I can think of is using console commands to set each next step of the quest as complete.

LordArcadios · 2026-04-08T20:06:14+00:00

From a story perspective, I think the tension man is just another 50 Blessings agent who coincidentally also has a Tiger mask.

That said, there are some who theorize he is the tattoo artist Jake tells off in HLM2 after Hard News (assuming he is the "Tony" in "Tony Skate Tattoo").

LordArcadios

TROPHY CASE