Jake’s Life

No, this isn’t a post about my genealogy.

Do you ever have a video or computer game that is not the latest and greatest but still engrossing and fun? I do: The Jedi Knight series, Knights of the Old Republic, Diablo, Elder Scrolls, Myst, Hexen 2, Starfleet Command, among many others. The one I’ve been spending my time on lately is Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines. It was the second game in the series after Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption, and spans four large cities, with hundreds of quests. If you know anything about the VtM series you know it’s addicting as hell.

In creating your character you choose from different clans–each with their own history and disciplines–and build your character’s stats. Items, weapons, and armor are all available through the game to help supplement your basic stuff when you start. Certain characteristics directly affect others, either by complementing skills or reducing the chance of going into a frenzy. There are also five masquerade violations allowed (using disciplines or feeding in public in the city), but there are quests which regain them. Violate too many and vampire hunters will track you or the game is over.

Here are a few YouTube videos showing the original trailer and some of the disciplines used, followed by some screenshots I took.