In case you don't already know, Vampire: The Masquerade -- Redemption is an upcoming horror RPG where you play as a blood-sucking child of the night...an ad executive. Oh wait, that's not right...I mean a vampire!
You'll take on the persona of Christof Romuald, a once proud Knight in the Order of Sword who is forced to test his faith by a member of the Brujah clan and is eventually "embraced" into the clan by the mysterious Brujah vampire. Here's a clip from our Vampire: The Masquerade preview that gives a little more insight into the Brujah:
- This clan has changed more than most over the years, transforming from a group of educated philosophers in the early history of the clan to the violent anarchists that make up a large majority of the clan today. Typically viewed as rabble by the rest of the Camarilla, the Brujah have served an important role throughout the years as a sort of conscience for vampire society, constantly questioning the current authority. Their powers revolve around the body, an many Brujah serve as warriors for the Camarilla. The can use their vampire blood to make themselves stronger, tougher and faster in times of need.
Although you begin the game in medieval Prague, seeing as how vampires are undead and tend to have very long life spans barring an untimely meeting with fire or sunlight, you'll progress into the modern age as you play through Vampire. These four shots depict some of the action you'll encounter in the 20th century.
Activision has also sent along three movies showing off some of the special powers (know as disciplines) your characters can learn in Vampire: The Masquerade. Here's another clip from our Vampre preview that describes the disciplines:
- Each of these disciplines requires blood to use, so the more you use your powers, the more you'll have to feed... and the more you'll risk losing what's left of your humanity. The player can increase their skill within a discipline and gain a new power, which is most times a more powerful version of the base ability. A new vampire of a specific Clan will gain the powers of certain specific disciplines, but can learn others as their character progresses and learns from others.
Note that these movies are in Microsoft's proprietary .asf format, so you'll have to have Microsoft's Media Player installed in order to view them.
- Lure of Flames (2.07MB .asf)
This path grants the thaumaturge the ability to conjure forth mystical flames -- small fires at first, but skilled magicians may create great conflagrations. The Lure of Flames is greatly feared, as fire is one of the surest ways to bring Final Death upon a vampire.
Mortis (1.05MB .asf)
This Discipline was developed by the Cappadocians in an attempt to uncover the secrets of death. It seeks to explore many aspects of death, from outright cheating it, to causing it with a single touch. Rumor has it that masters of Mortis are able to defy death itself. Practitioners of Mortis are often consumed with all aspects of death and the afterlife.
Protean (1.70MB .asf)
This Discipline allows the vampire to manipulate his physical form. Some Kindred view this power as a heightened connection to the natural world, while others see it as a magnification of the mark of Caine. Whatever its basis, vampires who develop this Discipline can grow bestial claws (as seen here), assume the forms of wolves and bats, transform into mist, and meld into the earth.
So that's our second night of Vampire: The Masquerade coverage. Be sure to come back tomorrow when we'll give you our hands-on impressions of the human-controlled storyteller mode. And just in case you missed it yesternight, be sure to check out our interview with Ray Gresko.
-- Tal Blevins