Melbourne Domain Style Sheet

Melbourne CofD Domain Style Sheet (DSS)
Original Approval Number: ​CFD-NST-MEL-190412.01a
Edited Approval Number:​ -
Current Version:​ 1.0
This DSS encompasses the areas of Victoria pithing a 200km radius from Melbourne CBD [postcode 3000]. EXCLUDING THE GREATER GEELONG AREA.

I: Setting Information

Melbourne: Colours in the laneway, shadows in the boardroom
Darkness breeds in the wealthy high rises, seeds of greed are sewn and grow into a deep rooted hunger for power. In the grunge of the graffiti covered streets people fight to flourish, like weeds through the concrete, they grow. They bring life to what should be dingy streets. All the while something pulls on the strings of both worlds, tugging each group this way and that.

Moods and Themes

“There is no document of civilisation that is not at the same time a document of barbarism.” - Walter Benjamin

Melbourne’s Chronicles of Darkness​ chronicle, as part of Beyond the Sunset and Shadowplay International, follows on from the background presented in White Wolf Publishing and Onyx Path’s Chronicles of Darkness​ publications unless otherwise stated. Characters that come from backgrounds presented in the text from the sanctioned books are expected to have their histories align with the canon materials.

Duality - The Rich and The Poor, The High Rises and The Streets, The Humans and The Supernatural, everything in Melbourne has its mirror. Sometimes this works in random, balancing each other out, and sometimes it’s a simmering rage, only taking a spark for it to boil over.
A Looming Shadow - The skyscrapers of Melbourne keep reaching higher into the sky and as they grow so do the shadows. Shady business deals and organisations that plot take overs, it sets your hair on end.
From Under The Ground ​- The new Metro Tunnel is going to be a life saver for the commuting masses once it’s completed, but is it really wise to dis so deep under such an old city?
Hidden Secrets​ - This city is old, it’s foundations go deep, and before there was a city there was community here. There’s things hidden in the ancient waterways, down the colourful laneways, and in every nook and cranny of this city. What will you find?

Urban Design

The city of Melbourne spreads out to encompasses the areas shown below. 

Beyond the boundaries of the immediate city sits the following greater areas:
Northern Suburbs:​ Campbellfield, Craigieburn, Epping, Mernda, St Andrews and out to Broadford.
Western Suburbs:​ Werribee, Point Cook, Caroline Springs, Melton, Sunbury, all the way out to Bacchus Marsh and Gisborne.
Eastern Suburbs:​ Lilydale, Gembrook, out to Healesville and Warburton. Springvale, out to Pakenham.
Southern Suburbs:​ St Kilda, down through Sandringham, Frankston, out to Mount Martha. Cranbourne and down to Tooradin.

Travel In and Out of Melbourne

Travel in and out of Melbourne isn’t limited and characters will find a wide variety of methods available to them. Currently we have 24/7 flights through the airport, country roads and highways that spread out to major cities, the vLine and Great Southern Rail that goes out eest through Adelaide and north to Sydney. Those willing to get their hands dirty will find that there are plenty of unscrupulous methods to get into the city, such as stowing away on a freight ship, hiding within a shipping container or simply being smuggled in. Money and influence open many doors.

II: The History of Melbourne

The Melbourne Kindred Community For information relevant to members of Kindred ​Society, please click here.[TBA]

III: Domain Organisations

The following are a list of the Domain Cross Genre level organisations in Melbourne.

State Organisations

Victoria Police Force:​ The Victoria Police have been bearing the brunt of a lot of criticism and anger from the public recently. Increasing unrest and protests have put their strain on the force recently.
Hospitals: ​Victoria has a wide range of public and private hospitals. The Alfred and Royal Melbourne Hospital being the main public hospitals in the CBD and St Vincents being the closest private hospital.
Public Transport Victoria:​ Public Transport Victoria includes all of Victoria’s extensive train, tram and bus network. The recent works to improve and expand the network dig deep under the city and soon will begin to tunnel through the suburbs. It’s definitely being better received than the SkyRail has been.

Private Organisations

Umbras Cinerei Law: An old law firm in the heart of the city. Not a large company by any stretch but they’re specialists is strange situations and complex legal contracts.

IV: Cross Genre

(Note: All crossover requires Low Approval from the appropriate VST/s with Mid Notification.)
The Melbourne Chronicles of Darkness Domain contains many different Supernatural templates. Not all of these are available for PC play, however they may still be encountered as NPCs. Please see the VSS of each Venue for more details on this.

V: Custom Rules and Addenda

The following information details rules and addendas that have reason to be clarified by this DSS.
1. Equipment
a. Firearms
i. Possessing a firearm or firearms licence is considered to be Mid Approval.
ii. Military-Grade firearms and submachine guns are considered to be Top Approval as per the Universal Addenda.
iii. Unique/Supernaturally-Altered Firearms and/or Ammo are considered to be Mid Approval (e.g. Silver bullets, Magically Silenced Pistols etc).
Any instance of an unsuppressed firearm being discharged within the Melbourne Metropolitan area requires Mid Notification.

2. Attributes, Skills, and Merits
a. Attributes
i. Attributes at 1 dot are considered to be Mid Approval.
b. Merits
i. All influence (Allies, Status, Retainer) within the Emergency Services (Police, Ambulance, Fire) higher than a dot rating of 1 is considered to be Mid Approval.
ii. All influence (Allies, Status, Retainer) in relation to the Military higher than a dot rating of 1 is considered to be Mid Approval.

VI: Approval Requirements

Characters should be suited to the Genres in play in this Domain; conforming to the themes, moods, and histories. As such, players should consult the appropriate Venue Style Sheets or discuss concepts with their Venue Storytellers before seeking approval.
Approval Form:​ All approvals should utilise the attached Approval Document from this DSS. A background and a character sheet are required for all Mid Approvals. Either a Character Development Document, a Dot-Point Background, or a Narrative Background are all acceptable depending on the desires of the Venue Storyteller.
Throw Away Characters:​ Players are encouraged to make long lasting characters that are involved within the structure, drama and action of the various games. A “throw away” or “once off” character will not be considered at Mid Approval.
Secondary Characters:​ Players are encouraged to have only one character per genre and to play this character consistently until its death or retirement. Secondary Characters will only be approved under for other Domain’s as per the By-Laws. Secondary Characters for this Domain will be subject to standard approvals.

VII: Administrative Information

Venues under this DSS
Vampire: the Requiem 2nd Edition

Position Holders
Domain Storyteller:​ Keegan Mummery
Domain Coordinator:​ Roman Hadley-Lund

Game Location, Times and Fees
TBD

Domain Resources
The following resources can be accessed through the corresponding hyperlink.
Domain ​Wiki Page
Domain ​News Stories
Domain Discord Server
Beyond the Sunset ​Approval Document
Character Creation Documents
Character Development Document