Brisbane Camarilla VSS

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ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Venue Name, Number, City

Venue: Camarilla

Venue Approval Number: MASQ-H 172, I guess?

Genre: Vampire the Masquerade: Camarilla

Domain: Twilight Alliance (AUS-02), Brisbane

VC and VST

VST: Rob 2012090001
VC: Hayden

Game Location, Time and Fees

VENUES

Camarilla games are usually played at the Newfarm Library

Times

Game - evening of the 2nd Saturday of the Month. Sign on: 6:00pm, game start at 7:00pm, game finish at 10:30pm
Game times may vary if we use a different venue.

Downtime - 2nd Monday after the date of the game.

Fees

Brisbane Camarilla games request a gold coin donation, this enables us to pay for character printing costs, props and subsidise more expensive venues if we need to use them.

Mailing lists, websites and other online resources used, donations may also be used to fund non-game related events every 3-4 months

Domain Resources

Twilight Alliance has no dedicated website although most of our information can be found on this wiki at http://wiki.beyondthesunset.org.au/Brisbane.

Members of Twilight Alliance should subscribe to ooc.brisbane@lists.camarilla.org.au.

Information about our games can also be found on our facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/twilight.alliance/

Resources, such as addenda and ccd can be found here: http://wiki.beyondthesunset.org.au/index.php?title=Beyond_the_Sunset_National_Chronicles

Venue Resources

Relevant Emails are As Follows –

VC: vc.camarilla@brisbane.beyondthesunset.org.au

VST: vst.camarilla@brisbane.beyondthesunset.org.au

DST: dst@brisbane.beyondthesunset.org.au

GAME INFORMATION

History

Brisbane is a young city by kindred standards, less than 200 years old. As the colony grew so did its Kindred population. Founded by Daimyo Oda and his coterie. The presence of Kindred has had an effect on the way Brisbane has developed. Some changes have occurred:

• 12% of Brisbane is of Asian descent.

• Treasury building no longer in the process of being turned into a casino and is still a government building.

• There is a wider range of faiths in Brisbane

• • Christian 25%
  • Muslim 22%
  • Buddhism 18%
  • Atheist 15%
  • Pagan/Wiccan 10%
  • Hindu 5%
  • Other 5%

• UQ supports study into alternate religions, philosophies and the life.

• From the mid - late 1800's the port of Brisbane ahs been growing by leaps and bounds, physical trade throughout the pacific now comes through Brisbane as a primary port, and trade from south America and Europe all usually stop over at Brisbane with its immense port facilities, rivalling the biggest and most advanced in the world. The Ports have not only the trade, but the ability to refit, dry and wet dock all cargo ships.The suburb of Wynnum has grown up to support the trade, and has numerous facilities catering to crews of cargo ships, from international foods and lodging, to bars and nicely controlled red light district.

• Since the 60's onwards, growth of industry has increased, then exploded across Brisbane, fueled firstly by Primary industries with coal, iron etc and then changing to manufacturing and finally to high tech manufacturing in the late 80's and early 90's bringing in such big companies like IBM etc The manufacturing has grown along with the trade in brisbane, with cheaper materials cost coming more manufacturing. This has been primarily around 8 mile plains and other manufacturing hubs, but are 10-20 times more than currently there. In recent years Primary industries such as Iron and aluminium smelting have moved to the outskirts of the city, and the building and factories they did have, have been replaced with green industries.

• Boggo Road Gaol is home to Orchid music studios. They record professional bands as well giving up and coming bands professional recording facilities and producers to help them get started.

• Brisbane has a well-run Underground Rail network. Multiple loops go around Brisbane with intersecting lines traversing the loops. Making public transport around Brisbane easy and efficient.

• Shortly after the police force was founded in Brisbane an emphasis on less than lethal weapons was put on their training. The weapon of choice became the billy club. Officers started ignoring that and carrying guns in the late seventies as violent crime and corruption spread. Today Police use both guns and less than lethal weaponry.

Places of Interest

For details of Places of interest please see the wiki.

Themes and Moods

Horror

Monsters exist. They lurk in the shadows. They hide in plain sight. Some are mundane some supernatural. Many will never come in contact with one, but an unlucky few will become their victims Some monsters are arrogant enough to believe they are the apex predator. Are they? Or is there someone…..something….worse out there.

Control and Manipulation

Control and Manipulation The Camarilla is a society of monsters that manipulate all they can. Whether it is the kine they prey upon, or those they control by blood bond, or even their fellow kindred. Will you control them or will they control you? Do those in control really posses it or are they being manipulated?

Food? People? Both?

Kindred of the Ivory Tower tie themselves to mortals. They prey on and control mortals while hiding from them in plain sight. Interaction with them, for good and bad, is an unavoidable and nightly occurrence. How do you see them? Are they Kine (archaic for cows) or are they Men and Women?

Guiding Principles

Show. Don’t Tell.

This principle has many applications and implications for both STs and players. Wherever possible players will participate in scenes rather than receive written descriptions of scenes. Character history and flaws should not be just something on the character sheet but should be viscerally shown in the portrayal of the character.

Consequence

What your characters do WILL have consequences.

Change

Change is central to any story. This principle covers both perpetrating change on others and being open to change of your own character.

The Setting is Unfair - the Game does not have to be.

Vampire is a game of political, social and literal backstabbing. And there is alway, always, something out there much bigger set to crush you. Those are elements of the setting - they should be expected and will be encouraged.

However all that is IC. OOC interactions are expected to be based on honesty, integrity and trust.

We're all here to have fun

Bleed happens. When people start having trouble turning off from the game, when players can't see the other players but only their characters, it's called Bleed. If you are experiencing bleed please either talk to the other player or a position holder

CHARACTER CREATION AND PLAY

Documentation

It is recognised that there is little correlation between a the ability to write a background, history or application and the ability to portray a character and add to the game. As such there is no need for extensive paperwork for low approval characters and approvals as long as the basics are covered. Bullet points are fine.

Characters seeking approvals above low must provide a completed character sheet, written background and approval application(s) covering all required approvals.

The Character Development Document, while providing extra XP to round out a character, is not required for any level of approval.

Character records for the venue will be managed by the ST in Grapevine or a custom database. Players may submit characters in Excel, PDF or hardcopy.

Clans

Preference will be given to the core Camarilla Clans being Brujah, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere, Ventrue and Gangrel. These are all low approval within this venue, but beyond that the interactions and politics within and between these clans is at the heart of the Camarilla.

Members of clans outside the core seven/Bloodlines and variation will be considered but heavily scrutinised. Character concepts that are marginalised from, do not participate the nightly activities of the Camarilla will likely be rejected.

Age

Brisbane is envisioned as a young and dynamic city, at least by vampiric standards. Australia has only been colonised by europeans for two centuries and an independent country for one. Brisbane has only developed as a metropolis of any sophistication since World War Two. The vampiric population of the city will be skewed towards younger and poorer generation.

Older characters will be expected to be portrayed as anachronistic. Great age should not be thought of as just having been in the audience at great moments in history. It will affect attitudes and assumptions about the world - especially for vampires calcified by their embrace.

Generation Distribution

IIn order to maintain an appropriate distribution of generations in the game, players are encouraged to seek pre-approval for purchasing the Generation background before submitting a character. Consideration for approval will be based on character concept and the existing distribution of generations in the game.

With limitations on generation removed players have more freedom to form lineages. This is strongly encouraged. Taking a position in a lineage will add weight to applications for an appropriate Generation.

The preferred distribution of generations will look something like this: 1 Elder (Gen 8-) to 2 Ancillae (Gen 9 & 10) to 7 Neonates (Gen 11+)

With each group having its own internal distribution enforced as well (so we don’t end up with six 9th Gens and zero 10th Gens).

The number of Elders will be calculated using the average player attendance. With 1 Elder per 10 regular players, but never less than three Elders (using Swedish rounding so at 36 regular players a 4th Elder slot would be made available, like wise at 46, 56 etc). The average required attendance is a rolling 3 month average of unique characters played in the last 3 months. Players who lose or retire an Elder or Ancillae PC must take a Neonate as their next character. Additionally players who lose or retire an Elder PC will not be able to apply for a new Elder PC until at least twelve months after loss/retirement.

Elders

Elders shape the game as a whole. Therefore any application to play an Elder will be heavily scrutinised. There will initially be a limit of three Elders. Two Elders makes the politics too black vs. white, and leaves no room for shifting alliances. More than three will be hard to justify unless there are a lot of younger PCs (40+ regular players).

Elder concepts should meet the following criteria to be considered for approval:

• Member of a core clan but that interacts with more than just their own clan.
• Knows and support the Traditions & The Protocols of the Camarilla. This is a must
• Can work with/against the other Elder PCs in "civil opposition"
• Interacts with and brings interesting story to neonate/ancilla PCs.

Out-of-Clan Disciplines

Characters may begin play with Basic out-of-Clan Disciplines. The discipline must be a common discipline (any discipline possessed by one of the camarilla 7 clans except Dementation, Thurmaturgy or Protean). A good story must be involved and it must be brought with MC granted XP.

Coteries

Players are strongly encouraged to form Coteries.

Being in a coterie is of unquestionable benefit. In a court full of those willing to tear you down to advance their own agendas, a coterie offers you a small group that has your back and will support your own political maneuvering. The Camarilla frowns on the teaching of out of clan disciplines, so having a cross-clan coterie gives your access to other disciplines, though you yourself may not process them.

Coteries can take many forms: a democracy of equals, a powerful leader and his cronies, a group come together over a common interest, holding or history. In forming a coterie you should think about it's history and agenda, how it resolves internal disputes, how it presents itself to the rest of the Camarilla, and how new members are recruited - if at all. Forming coteries will allow the Storytellers to tailor plots and scenes to a group of players. In prioritising Storyteller effort, which realistically has to occur, coteries will receive more attention than individuals.

Secondary PCs

Players are encouraged to make long lasting characters that are involved within the structure drama and action of the game until its death or retirement. “Throw-away” or “Once-off” character will not be considered for approval.

Secondary Characters or Second Primary Characters are strongly discouraged and will only be approved under exceptional circumstances. Wanting to “try something different” or simply wanting a range of occasional characters at your disposal is not an approvable justification.

Players are allowed to have a second approved PC listed with the VST but his character cannot enter play while the Primary PC is still active. This means that Players faced with a PC death (or expecting one) can have a backup ready to play.

Instead, players will be able to request a particular style of NPC to fulfil the role of what would be a secondary PC. In these cases STs should be more open to negation in the creation of the NPC. If the player in consistent in their portrayal of the NPC then the character it likely to be considered for Custodial Player Character status or transferral to PC status if the players current PC is retired or destroyed.

This process is to assist the Storytellers in creating a stronger universe of Non Player Characters and to ensure that Player Characters are developed and interesting rather than two dimensional cardboard cut-outs.

Location of Domain history information

Domain History will be available on the Beyond the Sunset Wiki at - http://wiki.beyondthesunset.org.au/Brisbane

VENUE SPECIFIC RULES

Experience

XP is controlled by an incremental cap as defined in the Global Addenda, as such players can earn XP for the following activities in game, with no monthly cap so long as they do not breach the current Incremental maximum.

Regular Awards:

• Game Attendance – 2XP
• Plot Involvement – 1XP
• Downtime Activities – 1XP
• Good Roleplaying – 1XP
• ST Discretion – 1-­2XP

In addition the VST is awarded a flat rate of 3XP per month. Additional XP for non­game in­character activities may be awarded by the DST or GST. AVST’s are awarded 1­-2XP for assisting the VST if unable to play their character for at least half the game at ST discretion.

Unique awards:

• Good Character Death – xp
• Haven Template – 2xp
• Wiki page – 2XP
• Character Development Document – 4XP

If your character dies ‘well’ then the ST can award the XP your character would have earned in that month towards your next Character. This awarded XP happens after your new character's first appearance and is still limited by the Incremental Cap.

Completing the Haven Template and submitting it to the ST Staff will result in 2XP for a fully complete Haven. This award is untyped and does not count to either the Incremental or Overcap limits for a character.

Create a wiki page for your character, it must include a picture of your character, 3+ rumours, 3+ quotes from other characters. This award is untyped.

Player Service

At times the STs will ask players to play npc’s for a scene here or there; this is voluntary and players can decline. Those who accept will be eligible for bonus XP for their character or Prestige. The goal is to enhance scenes without taking players away from the game overly long.

Feeding

Players must spend a downtime action or a level of the Herd background or they will start with half blood.

Territories

Territories are hunting grounds designated by suburb names. Each clan has its own territory and some individuals may have earned their own. Kindred feeding in other territories may find there are social consequences.

The Storyteller is the final arbitrator on where territory boundaries are and who receives what Blood.

Downtime Handling Procedure

Downtime Due Date

Downtimes are due the Third Monday after the game. This gives players a full week, including weekend, to submit downtimes. It encourages players to submit downtimes while the events of the game are still fresh in their mind.

Downtime Actions

Downtime Form

Characters get the following downtime actions:

• actions
• 1 per Retainer

The following Skills give downtime actions but can only be used in a way relevant to the skill.

• Computers
• Science

The following Backgrounds also grant downtime actions but can be split into multiple actions at different levels that sum up to the total level the character has in that Background.

• Allies
• Contacts
• Influences

Housekeeping tasks do not require downtime actions. Characters are assumed to maintain their havens, herds, resources, practice learned skills, hunt and do the duties of their station (if they hold one) or their career (if they have one) in their downtime. Indeed this nightly tedium is presumed to take all the character’s free time (limited as it is by the setting and rising of the Sun).

Downtime actions only need to be submitted for significant, unusual actions that have ingame consequences. Note that your downtime actions can also result in other information, rumours and events being spun back into the rest of the game as they do not take place in isolation.

Activities that do not require a downtime action:

• Learn a new ability (except Lores) up to Level 3
• Learn a Specialisation
• Learn an In-Clan Discipline
• Learn a new Trait Teach a new ability (except Lores)
• Learn or Increase a Background

Activities that do require a downtime action:

• Learn a new ability (except Lores) Level 4+
• Learn or Teach a new Lore ability (takes 1 Action per level from both Student and Teacher)
• Learn an Out-Of-Clan Discipline (requires 1 action per level of Discipline- Basic, Int or Adv)
• Teach an In-Clan Discipline (requires 1 action per level of Discipline- Basic, Int or Adv)
• Increase Willpower or Virtues (Requires st approval)

A teacher can handle multiple students per lesson so long as they are all learning the same ability of Discipline, but it does not need to be to the same level (i.e. Vince the Ventrue spends an action to teach Fortitude to Beth the Brujah and Terry the Toreador. Beth already has fortitude level 1 and uses this lesson to increase to level 2 while Terry has no fortitude and learns level 1 from this lesson).

Influence

Influence should be considered to be the hold you have over an area, but remember that you are manipulating people and this can have consequences. These consequences will be determined by the ST team.

In submitting Influence actions players should treat them as requests made of independent, capable characters - not detailed, blow by blow instructions.

While the influence actions from Vampire The Masquerade (By Night Studios) will be used, players need only use them as a guide as to what is possible with Influences and not get bogged down in mechanics. The Storytellers will interpret Influence submissions and apply appropriate systems in coming up with an outcome.

Circle of Love

While there is no Circle of Love, the VST may call for a Circle to discuss events at the end of the game session.

New and Visiting Players

Information for New Players

New Players are encouraged to contact the relevant Storyteller at least three days before game.

For contact information please see Administrative Information above.

Information relating to our specific games and White-Wolf’s World of Darkness can be found on the Beyond the Sunset Wiki - http://wiki.beyondthesunset.org.au

If new players are being brought in by older players it is requested that the older player lets the ST know three days before the game. This is to make sure the new player has a character without disrupting or delaying the game for the rest of the players.

If new players don't give notice, no problem, we'll work with them to make something they can play on the night.

Information for Players from other Domains

Character Sheets for character outside of Brisbane must be sent through the relevant Storyteller channels at least three days before a game.

Character sheets for character outside Australia must be sent through the relevant Storyteller Channels at least one week before game in case any conversions need to be made.

If the sheets are not the players may not be able to play their characters. They may be given a NPC to play instead.