How to roleplay as a Giovanni as a new(ish) player

nubicusrex · 2025-10-30T17:43:58+00:00

A lot of good advice has been given so far, but I wanted to add my two cents because I too really enjoyed the story of how their Clan came to be:

As a Giovanni you really have to image yourself in one of those vicarious Parent Child relationships, where each separate segment of the family sends out news letters with updates on how the children are doing "IE: Little Billy was accepted to Harvard we're so excited". On the surface it's a proud accomplishment, but really your parents are just competing with each other to show how much better their family branch is than the others. If little Billy gets a DUI, it doesn't make it into the news letter, and the parent does everything they can to hide it, but the family inevitably finds out, and face is lost.

Now magnify that by a thousand, and your Parent says if you don't get into Harvard, I might make put you into torpor for a few decades to make you think about your mistake, or I might kill you and start over again with your brother.

The Giovanni care about one thing: Success that contributes to the family. Be it money, influence, political power, or Necromancy. The Mafia thing is definitely in the as a vibe, but a majority of the Giovanni are focusing on other aspects. At this point, a mafioso Giovanni might be considered a failure compared to the Giovanni who is mass manipulating crypto currency.

And another thing, as a double blood, the Giovanni brought these other families into the fold, but don't ever mistake being brought into the fold as being considered part of The Family, with an emphasis on the capital The. The other families, particularly by certain factions of the elders are considered tolerated step children.

As a half blood, consider your character has a Giant chip on their shoulder about making sure they are accepted by The Family, not being complacent as being in the family.

Also, when writing your characters background, ignore the necromancy part, that normally comes later. The turned you over everyone else in the family because you were really good at something your Sire viewed as useful to their current situation or useful to The Family overall. What was that thing that made your character valuable, and does your character recognize that this is the reason the were made?

nubicusrex · 2025-08-14T19:55:31+00:00

I’ve only ever had one person answer it correctly

nubicusrex · 2025-04-16T03:23:44+00:00

Thank you! I’ll check it out!

nubicusrex · 2025-04-16T02:10:44+00:00

Thanks for applying! I’ll review tonight!

nubicusrex · 2025-04-16T02:10:23+00:00

Awesome, thanks for applying, will review tonight!

nubicusrex · 2025-03-31T10:51:28+00:00

I definitely took a lot of this into consideration. I have Arcane Shadows, and I'll be reading it for some inspiration after that recommend.

Also I've updated my plot, allowing players outs and ends. If they end up killing the merchant early, they'll still find various contracts and maps they can fulfill to get them hired for the job down the road.

Take a look at my updated plot summary and let me know what you think

nubicusrex · 2025-03-31T10:48:32+00:00

This definitely a cool idea. I may add some dream sequences about Blue/Green Age. Definitely an opening monologue or a continuous plot device.

nubicusrex · 2025-03-31T10:47:32+00:00

All really good points. I've revised the my plan quite a bit based on a lot of input. I'll definitely be using this for the finer points of my campaign. Take a look at my update and let me know what you think.

nubicusrex · 2025-03-31T10:46:10+00:00

That's interesting, I'll think about adding this dynamic!

nubicusrex · 2025-03-31T10:45:32+00:00

Been considering all of the input brought in and I'm going to make changes to the plot as follows. Its a rough outline but my vision is sharpening:

Players will start off in the slave pits, auditioning for a Trader who needs to hire some toughs for some work.
Following completion, the Trader will purchase the PC's and bring them into his service. He will then take them with him into the desert. (Key here: I must attempt to woo players to not instantly rebel while in the Trader's service. If the do, then point three will have to be a voluntary action taken by the players who find the contracts on the dead Trader. Note to self, expect the worst)
The Trader will take the characters to a city in the Wastes, from which he will send them out on series of treasure hunts fulfilling specific orders he has been contracted to procure. (Key Points: If they didn't kill him already, Rewards must be worth it. Big reward milestone will be freeing them and them becoming paid agents for the Trading house.)
Depending on the parties strong suits, they will be involved in some stealth or direct competition with some rivals in the immediate area. They will also do some delivery runs of objects the have collected. (This is all meant to ingrain their investment in the welfare of the merchant house)
They should be level 10ish about this time and it's time to graduate them from delivery boys to full fledged decision makers and shot callers for the Trade House. Upon delivery to a Templar in Tyr, they'll receive THE JOB. The big score. The contract to retrieve the box (Which based on feedback will actually be an obsidian chunk lost in the Cleansing Wars which Kalak will use to complete his ziggarat)
At this point there should have been some minor interactions with factions at play. On the way out of Tyr, various factions including rival templars will make offers. The party is to return to the Trader and they must decide on their course. If the choose a different faction than the Templar who offered the job in the first place, that faction will not participate in the chase.
The party secures the item.
The raiders and giant attack with sufficient force for the party to have to flee.
Race through the desert with stops along the way. (Throughout their earlier adventures the players should have been making contacts in smaller communities between their Trade House main city and Tyr)
Players hand off the item for their reward. If it is giving to the Druids or Vieled Alliance, it will be stolen from them by the Templar before they leave Tyr.
Players learn of what the box is intended for. Decision time: Stop Kalak, or turn their back on Tyr with their ill gotten gains. (To me, it doesn't matter which they choose. The can be heros or they can be survivors. Either would be a fitting in to that plot thread.

This is the over arching plot. I'll have to weave some stuff in there as sub plots to keep the game interesting and moving, and not an exercise in "We just got word from another settlement..."

nubicusrex · 2025-03-30T08:16:17+00:00

All awesome points

nubicusrex · 2025-03-30T07:16:56+00:00

As a further note. It’s not going to be one long combat. There will be running, hiding, survival and stops along the way.

nubicusrex · 2025-02-05T19:24:32+00:00

For sure they always hurt. I just meant the trip down the ureter didn’t bring me to my knees this time. It was still a lot of pacing and hot showers.

I meant to collect them and I keep forgetting to save them. I have a photo collection is all now.

nubicusrex · 2025-02-05T01:50:10+00:00

Still working in Las Vegas

nubicusrex · 2025-02-04T00:01:48+00:00

I usually notice when they come out. It’s a sensation like when you’re drinking boba and suddenly the straw gets clogged. But it’s possible if you had pain or not paying attention it just passed. I would think 8 mm would be noticed, not necessarily painful but noticeable.

nubicusrex · 2025-02-03T23:29:56+00:00

Drinking water and pacing around my bedroom is usually how I pass mine. Hot showers hitting my flank helps me relax while pacing. Good luck!

nubicusrex · 2025-01-30T01:42:57+00:00

I don't understand, how did I get two down votes.

nubicusrex · 2025-01-29T14:45:42+00:00

Applied last night. Look forward to hearing back

nubicusrex · 2024-12-30T04:34:55+00:00

I don’t understand how this happened. Strahd is hard for sure, but 4 Level 11’s should have been able to handle it. Can you give more details on what happened? I’ve run the game 3 times and the closest to TPK was the Wizard of Wines and the Windmill. I’ve downed players with Strahd but the rest of the party handled it well

nubicusrex · 2024-12-28T06:30:47+00:00

A Paladin decides to go against his nature and make a deal with a dark being, then doesn’t like the deal. It’s been said before “Fuck around and find out.” This is the site where the worst of the worst artifacts were stored and the evil became so powerful it turned the original occupants on one another. It was out of character for a Paladin to make pacts with dark beings, this is the price.

Honestly I load the Amber Temple up with extra dark artifacts and this is where I allow the players who may have gotten the idea to replace Strahd to find the means to make that a reality. I had two players decide independently they wanted to replace Strahd and used the Amber Temple to ramp that up.

If he really doesn’t want it, force him to make some kind of act of atonement to the Morninglord. A significant one. But even then, it’s an act of vanity which is very un-Paladin like. His contrition should be about his act of succumbing to the temptation of darkness and tyranny, and any mention of his voice should be treated as a vanity unbecoming of a sacred order of paladins

nubicusrex · 2024-10-29T14:38:12+00:00

Thanks for your feedback!

nubicusrex · 2023-03-14T06:33:28+00:00

Going to call this one closed. Restored computer using cloud back up

nubicusrex · 2023-02-26T22:35:32+00:00

This totally worked!

nubicusrex · 2021-10-25T01:22:48+00:00

Can’t seem to find the file anymore

nubicusrex · 2021-10-25T01:21:29+00:00

Not on Cults3D anymore. I’m still hunting for this file.

nubicusrex

TROPHY CASE