Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines (spoilers ahead)

[stoffe]

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

I was playing through Grout's mansion last night and got scared so bad by one of the guys nearly jumping on top of me that I jumped and startled the kids who were across the room playing on the desktop.

Did you listen to all the tape recorders scattered about the mansion? Not exactly the happy-crazy type of Malkavian your own character can be.

At least you can feed on the poor (non-burning) lunatics to help you get through the place.

[Jae Onasi]

Yeah, I did listen to them. Not much help for the quest itself, but it was interesting to hear. I was amused by the talk about phrenology. I did feed on them--the hard part was hitting them enough but not killing them with the fireaxe so I could feed on them. Seems like what works best for me is to use a couple buffs, kill all but one, and feed on the last one. A couple of times I just waited in a safe spot for the hit points to regenerate because I didn't feel like using up a blood pack.
It drives me nuts that I can't pick up all those knives--100 bucks worth of weapons just sitting around doing nothing....

[tk102]

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

I was playing through Grout's mansion last night.

Me too Looks like I caught up with you.

spoiler:

The short cutscene at the end makes you feel triumphant in an Incredible Hulk sort of way.

Btw, Achilles thanks for the music tips... I might try those soon. Still liking "Isolated" everytime I walk into Asylum.

vv--- yep

[Jae Onasi]

I finally finished the Plague victim thing, too. You definitely need the buffs, and definitely need the fireaxe. When Strauss asks if you want the item or the money as the reward, take the item.

[tk102]

Just read this interesting tidbit from the Vampire wiki regarding "Histories Mode" during character creation.

There was supposed to be one more character creation mode in the final version of the game: the histories mode. This mode allows player to give his character a specific history rather than just set various attributes by hand. The choice of history has a large impact on the game, as it basically gives players a bonus effect in certain areas and a negative effect in others. For instance, if players choose "Eldritch Prodigy" (Tremere specific history), he gets a 40 % bonus thaumaturgy duration, but loses one XP point every time he gains three as a penalty. Histories are disabled by default in the final version due to instability issues. They can be re-enabled manually, and have also been re-enabled by the unofficial patch.

[stoffe]

Originally Posted by tk102

Just read this interesting tidbit from the Vampire wiki regarding "Histories Mode" during character creation.

The standard histories give some additional variety, but are not all that useful in my opinion. Fortunately they can be modded so you can add your own histories. All the histories data with their benefits/penalties and descriptions can be found in the histories000.txt data file (and the referenced bonus/penalty effects are in traiteffects000.txt) if you feel like making your own history.

[igyman]

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

I finally finished the Plague victim thing, too. You definitely need the buffs, and definitely need the fireaxe. When Strauss asks if you want the item or the money as the reward, take the item.

Killed the Plague cult, did we? If you hadn't done it already, don't forget to do the quests for Venus at Confession, they'll provide you with a continual source of income, if you do them right.

[tk102]

^^--- after finishing Fat Larry's quest, picking up my cut from Venus, and seeing Heather Poe at my apt, I found myself suddenly rich in the span of 5 minutes. Too bad there's not much for me to buy yet.

[igyman]

I guess it depends on whether you prefer melee or ranged weapons. I prefer melee, so I've been in a similar situation, a bunch of money and... err... not so much things to spend it on, but I'm guessing that if I used ranged weapons more, that money would have come in handy for the ammo expenses.

[stoffe]

Originally Posted by tk102

^^--- after finishing Fat Larry's quest, picking up my cut from Venus, and seeing Heather Poe at my apt, I found myself suddenly rich in the span of 5 minutes. Too bad there's not much for me to buy yet.

You'll get access to more weapons both of the melee and firearms variety as the game progresses. Keep checking back with the vendors (Mercurio, the guy in the Santa Monica pawn shop, Fat Larry etc) as their stock of goods is expanded after you complete certain quests. There are also one guy in Hollywood and one in China Town you can buy from.

Though I agree that if you primarily use melee weapons you'll eventually get more money than you know what to do with. Ranged weapon users will have more use for their money to buy ammo for the guns. If you didn't piss off Vandal in the blood bank in Santa Monica you can buy bags of blood from him throughout the game as well, which can be useful.

[Jae Onasi]

I've been doing melee, too--since you can't kill other vampires as quickly with ranged as with blades, I thought it made more sense to go with what works best against the bosses. The fireaxe does some nice damage.

Got the Venus quests done, too. I'm off to the museum, and then I think I'll go check out the hospital and a few other places.

You can always spend money on blood packs. I don't use them very often, but they've come in handy a few times.

Oh, if you're like me and like checking out every single place you can--I read in a walkthrough not to go into the Nocturne Theater until you get the quest, or the game will crash when you do get the quest. Don't know if that got fixed in the patch.

[stoffe]

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

Got the Venus quests done, too. I'm off to the museum, and then I think I'll go check out the hospital and a few other places.

Visit the abandoned hospital in the Downtown district before you head off the the museum on Lacroix mission. One of the quests you'll get in the hospital will take place at the museum, and you can't return there again once you've been there.

[igyman]

NO, Jae!! If you want to get your hands on at least one interesting and useful item, do not, I repeat, do not go to the museum before visiting the abandoned hospital!! There's a questgiver there and one of the quests requires you to take something from the museum.

Edit: I see stoffe and I think alike.

[Jae Onasi]

Got it. I saved just as I hit the museum and put the game to bed for the night. I have another save right before talking to Lacroix for that mission, so I can go back to that save with no problem. Good thing I save the game a lot.
Thanks!

[swphreak]

I went ahead and put down 20 bucks for the steam version, and installed the unofficial patch. I'm playing a Tremere Male, and so far it's a neato game.

I'm still in Santa Monica

spoiler:

Theresa just killed Jeanette. I kinda miss her... Apparently, you can bang her if you say the right things when you first meet.

I find the combat controls slightly clunky (most reviews I read said as much), and all the loading sucks (though it's only a few seconds). They should make a new next-gen VtM game. Be neat.


Does anyone else get a little echo when characters speak? I really noticed it in the opening with the Prince.

[Achilles]

Originally Posted by tk102

Me too Looks like I caught up with you.

spoiler:

The short cutscene at the end makes you feel triumphant in an Incredible Hulk sort of way.

Btw, Achilles thanks for the music tips... I might try those soon. Still liking "Isolated" everytime I walk into Asylum.

vv--- yep

I like Isolated too. It was hard replacing it, but at the end of the day, I like Flesh just as well.

PS: Does everyone know that you can make your vamp dance in the clubs? Walk onto the dance floor and you will get a dance option pop-up for your action screen. Pardon if that was already common knowledge.

@Jae & Stoffe: Grout's mansion is probably one of my favorite sections of the game. I just finished 3 playthroughs a couple of months ago, or I'd join you

Re: Melee vs Ranged weapons - the discussion is completely over after you've used the bush hook for a stealth kill

[Jae Onasi]

Yeah, and as tk pointed out, the dancing is a _lot_ better than in Kotor.
You get a humanity point if you dance long enough, too (about 5 minutes or so), 2 points if you're a Toreador.

I had fun shooting out glass windows to get the little relic in the museum. Pisha's one scary chick. I obviously ran into Velvet....

[Achilles]

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

Yeah, and as tk pointed out, the dancing is a _lot_ better than in Kotor.
You get a humanity point if you dance long enough, too (about 5 minutes or so), 2 points if you're a Toreador.

Whoops, missed that one

Wait till you try it as a Nosferatu Some of the reactions to that Clan are priceless.

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

I had fun shooting out glass windows to get the little relic in the museum. Pisha's one scary chick. I obviously ran into Velvet....

There are some fun skins for Pisha on Paine's site.

Velvet is hawt. Have you met Gary? I'd recommend picking up his optional side-missions. You get some...interesting rewards.

[stoffe]

Originally Posted by Achilles

Velvet is hawt. Have you met Gary? I'd recommend picking up his optional side-missions. You get some...interesting rewards.

The set of missions you get from his hacker sidekick (whose name escapes me for the moment), or does Gary himself have any missions to give you (aside from finding his agent in China Town)? I only got the hacker ones (and the jealousy quest from the female nosferatu) in the warrens from what I can remember.

[Achilles]

Gary will start sending you some emails after you return from the warrens. Without giving too much away, he asks you to retrieve some items in exchange for some rare art that he's collected over the years.

They're extremely easy to miss unless you're looking for them. Also, it's possible that they were only extended outside of the Nosferatu Clan via one of the unofficial patches (which I think you stated that you weren't using).

[stoffe]

Originally Posted by Achilles

Gary will start sending you some emails after you return from the warrens. Without giving too much away, he asks you to retrieve some items in exchange for some rare art that he's collected over the years.

Ah, those you get via e-mail, I had forgotten about them. I got those as a Toreador and Malkavian as well.

Do you get any special quests from Gary if you're a Nosferatu yourself? Don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to play one that far. They just look too ugly, and I'm not so fond of the whole sneaking around undetected part. Chatting with NPCs is half the fun of the game after all.

[Achilles]

No, no special quests, but similar to Tremere, you get a unique haven (these are the only two Clans that get this). Also, you get a special form of transportation. And feeding on rats is fun.

Yes, they are ugly, but the sneaking isn't that bad. Cops will chase you down if they see you though . (Most) All of the same people will talk to you, but of course their reactions are different (and often hilarious).

[igyman]

Originally Posted by StarWarsPhreak

I'm still in Santa Monica

spoiler:

Theresa just killed Jeanette. I kinda miss her... Apparently, you can bang her if you say the right things when you first meet.

spoiler:

You've killed Jeanette?? Herecy!! Seriously, I've always preferred to either kill Therese or get them to make up and coexist.

[Achilles]

^^^^
Ya know, since this is a technically a KotOR forum, I don't feel too geeky pointing out that the voice actress that voiced....those characters () also provided the voice for Handmaiden. In fact a lot of KotOR talent was used in VtM:B.

Heather/Damsel = Juhani
Fat Larry (et al) = Gadon Thek
Knox = Disciple
Trip (from the pawn shop) = Griff

I know it's common to hear the same talent in different games, but it's odd to play TSL knowing that Handmaiden has such a potty-mouth

[RedHawke]

Hmm... from all this discussion it makes me want to get the game.

[Jae Onasi]

It's a lot of fun--there's a PnP version, too (if you don't already know that. ). stoffe should get a cut on profits--at least 5 of us now have bought the game in the last week or so.

Geez, Knox sounds more like Griff than Disciple--maybe it's the whininess.

To not take thread off-topic edit: *Shakes head* Jae, Jae... this is me you are taking to, I have most all the White Wolf gothic genre stuff (Vampire, Werewolf, and Mage).

Though I didn't play them as much as some others... D6 Star Wars, Palladium's various games, FASA and Chaosium's games got more use in my group. -RH

You PnP Gaming God, you.
I wouldn't mind playing the PnP version, but my kids are way too young for that kind of subject matter, and it's harder to find a gaming group now that I'm not in college and work around a family schedule. Our 2 little Paladins and our rogue/wizard are having a fun adventure, however.

[Tupac Amaru]

Originally Posted by Achilles

Heather/Damsel = Juhani

The same actress also voiced Rosa, the Malkavian thin-blood down at the beach who tells you your future. I didn't recognize her as Heather or Damsel, but Rosa's accent sounded very familiar.

[Achilles]

Yeah, a few of those listed do other voices as well, but I tried to stick to primary characters for brevity.

[swphreak]

Originally Posted by igyman

spoiler:

You've killed Jeanette?? Herecy!! Seriously, I've always preferred to either kill Therese or get them to make up and coexist.

It was mostly accidental. I was taking Jean's side, but I must have said the wrong things near the end, and Theresa won.

Originally Posted by RedHawke

Hmm... from all this discussion it makes me want to get the game.

Only 20 bucks on Steam.

[igyman]

Originally Posted by StarWarsPhreak

It was mostly accidental.

I know what you mean, a lot of those happened to me when I first played the game. Unfortunately, after that first time I was just hooked, so I played it through with every clan (after that the game finally got boring enough for me to stop playing) and now I know probably all the ins and outs of the game.

[Jae Onasi]

Saved Ash, enjoyed carnal relations with Romeo, found out more about the serial killer, did some stuff for Isaac, dealt with the little problem at the Sin Bin, saw the snip of the creepy snuff film, and died dodging cars in the salvage yard, among other things. All in all a rather fruitful game day.

[stoffe]

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

Saved Ash, enjoyed carnal relations with Romeo, found out more about the serial killer, did some stuff for Isaac, dealt with the little problem at the Sin Bin, saw the snip of the creepy snuff film, and died dodging cars in the salvage yard, among other things. All in all a rather fruitful game day.

Do you get his rifle if you indulge Romeo's necrophilia rather than keep the peace in the graveyard while he's gone for 5 minutes to take care of his needs?

I tend to play graveyard police for 5 hectic minutes instead. If you manage to keep the zombies from getting out you'll get to keep his sniper rifle, and I think you get some more XP as well. (Celerity really comes in handy to rush between the upper and lower gates to stop the zombies from bashing them down.)

Have you run into Andrei and his creations yet?

VV has an extra quest for you as well if you take care of her Hunter problem without any innocents coming to harm.

[Jae Onasi]

VV gave me the extra quest. Haven't run into Andrei yet, but if those things are what's on the film, then oh, ick, not looking forward to that part.

You don't get the rifle if you indulge Romeo, but I'd rather do that than chase zombies for 5 minutes in abject frustration, and I bought the Spazz from Mercurio anyway. You can feed on him later on after doing The Wild Thang, too. I was given the gargoyle quest and the phone thing, so I have plenty to keep me busy. And after seeing club Vesuvius and the Sin Bin, I'm not so sure I want Jimbo playing the game.

[stoffe]

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

VV gave me the extra quest. Haven't run into Andrei yet, but if those things are what's on the film, then oh, ick, not looking forward to that part.

You'll see your fair share of those Tzimisce fleshcraft creations on your way to the Nosferatu warrens to meet Gary. Might be hard to sneak past if you don't have Obfuscate, so stock up on ammo and whatever melee weapons you can get your hands on before leaving Hollywood to head off there.

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

I was given the gargoyle quest and the phone thing, so I have plenty to keep me busy. And after seeing club Vesuvius and the Sin Bin, I'm not so sure I want Jimbo playing the game.

If you haven't dealt with the Gargoyle already, head back to Downtown LA and chat with Maximillian Strauss about it. He's got a fair bit to say about that particular gargoyle, and will give you something that's useful when fighting it (if you choose to do so).

Hollywood is the most raunchy part of the game. Things are a bit different once you reach China Town. Each district has its own mood.

[Jae Onasi]

It's one of the things I like about this game--each place has its own personality, and they took care to try to make each area have its own special features. A shame the company went out of business. Hope the people are still working in the field.

[Achilles]

I remember reading somewhere that more than a few were picked up by Obsidian.

[igyman]

Originally Posted by stoffe

I tend to play graveyard police for 5 hectic minutes instead.

Tried that once, or twice, once when I played as a female char I took care of Romeo's ''needs'' myself, but what I usually do is pick up a... lady of the night, heh heh, from the Hollywood street and bring her to Romeo.
@Jae: Once you reach Chinatown be sure to talk to the old fortune teller, he's one of the funniest characters in the game and will also have a very interesting quest for you later on.

[SpaceAlex]

Originally Posted by Achilles

^^^^
Ya know, since this is a technically a KotOR forum, I don't feel too geeky pointing out that the voice actress that voiced....those characters () also provided the voice for Handmaiden. In fact a lot of KotOR talent was used in VtM:B.

Heather/Damsel = Juhani
Fat Larry (et al) = Gadon Thek
Knox = Disciple
Trip (from the pawn shop) = Griff

I know it's common to hear the same talent in different games, but it's odd to play TSL knowing that Handmaiden has such a potty-mouth

Hehe, nice find. I only recognised the Therese's&Jeanette's voice, but nobody elses. Knox sounds nothing like Disciple (i think...been a while since i played the game), and Heather's voice is sweet, while Juhai's is quite annoying and whinny.

[The Source]

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

It's one of the things I like about this game--each place has its own personality, and they took care to try to make each area have its own special features. A shame the company went out of business. Hope the people are still working in the field.

Some work for Obsidian now. I agree. I do like how the developers made each location unique, and it pulls together very nicely. Even though you play the game once with one character, you haven't played the game in its entirerty (sp?). There are so many other side avenues to the game, which you cannot see with one or two play throughs. I really love this game.

Do not mind my posts in this thread. I am enjoying watching noodies play this game. I am interested in everyone's impression.

Has anyone been to the:

spoiler:

Haunted Mansion? Did it make you freak out? Play the game at night, with the lights off, and you will jump out of your seat at times. Lol...

[Bob Lion54]

Originally Posted by Tupac Amaru

The same actress also voiced Rosa, the Malkavian thin-blood down at the beach who tells you your future. I didn't recognize her as Heather or Damsel, but Rosa's accent sounded very familiar.

Speaking of Rosa, without giving away any spoilers, anyone playing through for the first time will do well to remember her advice... Its worth the money.

I don't think she is a Malkavian, though. She may be, but I got the impression she was a seer before becoming a vampire. I could be wrong, but thats just my impression... not that it really matters either way.