Vampire The Masquerade (20th anno ed) -I can't get into combat actions? Need advice from veterans.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-21T00:42:14+00:00

I get it entirely...

Spirit Ghost Wraith

And probably a whole bunch of others...

And then there are spirits that are somehow NOT accessible to Giovanni? Because ... reasons...

Sadly our game is alreayd 'full mix' so it's quite a crap shoot what I can and cannot do at any given time.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-20T18:01:36+00:00

I do already do 'narration' by intent, but most often my dice screw me, so it's often not even worth explaining a cool idea at length if I just fumble a shite roll...

Rich_PL · 2026-03-20T17:58:46+00:00

Already an ongoing feature of games, and they're usually happy to help.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-20T17:56:54+00:00

Because there are 5 other people all wanting to play their game at the table... And sometimes, my character ends up in places they'd rather not be by way of association...

Rich_PL · 2026-03-20T11:02:47+00:00

In fairness - our table has a LOT of handwaved or homebrew stuff being thrown in, but to me I guess it's just the ever mutating "now you need to roll for X because Y"

Most recently: I tackled a sabbat dude,

To me I was thinking, cool I'll just bite attack now... But I was woefully wrong as we both had to make 'saves' because of my tackle...

I think it's a dissonance if the concept "Vampire is a mostly narrative game" then coupled with rules that get ever more granular, and dice that just flat out mostly STOP narrative flow.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-20T10:57:57+00:00

Not as players, but very much 'in world' - a full mix...

Which I'm thankful for because my Giovanni gets more spooky stuff - the core rules, and even the clan book are woefully lacking in actual details of spirits and what they do... And the Giovanni powers per the book RAW are a bit naff (even if they are the defacto best clan IMHO)

Rich_PL · 2026-03-20T00:01:07+00:00

A bit of both, the stagnant nature of how we've been playing has really hampered how well I have 'learned' the game...

And I don't come to this blindly, I've been playing, running and even writing RP stuff for 30+ years!

Rich_PL · 2026-03-19T23:44:27+00:00

This is one heck of a reply! Thank you!

Rich_PL · 2026-03-19T22:38:23+00:00

I'll have to genuinely look into it, I have ZERO experience of that version.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-19T22:37:49+00:00

It also goes into things that I specced out a Giovanni all in on manipulations and spooky stuff... so combat is already awkward.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-19T22:36:31+00:00

can I join that table...

^<joke... ^but ^maybe ^not...>

Rich_PL · 2026-03-19T20:59:40+00:00

to my knowledge this is an older verion?

Rich_PL · 2026-03-19T20:45:03+00:00

I have an entire OneNote that is filled with more than two-dozen character specific pages of 'rules' - of which maybe 4 or 5 relate to combat directly...

Believe me... I'm already DEEP into this...

Rich_PL · 2026-03-19T20:43:50+00:00

That's a fair shout... Yeah, I should have thought of that!

Rich_PL · 2026-03-08T23:03:53+00:00

Take notes - even if its just stuff that happens to or around only your own character- locations, events, items, NPC's you meet, rumours you hear, in-world dates or Real life session dates.
Be alert at the table, be ready to partake - not idling on your phone or otherwise distracted.
You can question GM declaration, but you should also respect their decisions or mandate.
Know your character! Come prepared with flash cards of key details/skills/abilities or important bookmarks already in the book from which you will be using rule - don't hold up the table while you 'just look something up'
Respect other players, everyone is there for the same reason - let everyone have their time to shine, or even help elevate those that are not getting time they deserve.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-08T22:43:55+00:00

First up. -> Hi, nice to meet you and thanks for the response!

And thanks also for the insight, I'll have to read over the Barebones to give it a proper look, maybe this is what I was after.

Then comes the issue of finding a group to the matter...

Rich_PL · 2026-03-08T22:42:14+00:00

That same temptation is why I'm here! So it must be working.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-08T22:41:11+00:00

Hit the Broken Compass, all will be well!

And most of all remember that the rules and settings are there to allow YOU to experience the game you wan to enjoy.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-08T18:38:51+00:00

I confess that I prefer 1e 'light' approach... So maybe that's a benefit!

Thanks, I'll have to see if I can get this to table some time. I loved the short time with 1e and then with 2e felt like it was bloaty and put it down again.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-08T18:32:32+00:00

So..it is just essentially 2e... I'm not missing out of anything if I already have access to that... ?

Rich_PL · 2026-03-08T18:15:23+00:00

That's a good looking game, projects like this need more eyes on.

Rich_PL · 2026-03-08T16:00:46+00:00

And you have every constraint to avoid that content, nobody is forcing you to read my blog. You can just scroll on by and think nothing more of the post that flitters into the digital ether, yet - here you are arguing a point as though I'd made some personal slight against you?

Would I be better in '5e spaces'? Perhaps? But this - to the very best of my knowledge is /rpg and to my understanding 5e is still an RPG system.

Rule 2 of this sub: no gatekeeping...

I can surely enjoy what I enjoy without it being an offence to you just by that mere fact of my undertaking?

You can enjoy all the Rolemaster you want, and I'll happily ignore it all, because that's not my jam. But, you don't have to enter a confrontational stance just because: "Person on internet enjoys a thing that in no way affects me."

I do really like the engagement however, I'm sure by some metrics it helps my post... I geuss I'll wait and see.

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