#NY by Night

[queenjulia11]

Super mild Candela ch. 4 spoilers!

I want to talk about Alex Ward as an actor because I feel like not enough people do and he’s seriously fucking incredible.

Obviously the dude’s great at playing monsters, that’s what he mainly does professionally and what he’s most known for outside of the TTRPG space, but I just love watching the way he plays regular people.

Alex does so much with so little. His expressions are very subtle and he tends to play people who are more soft-spoken (until they’re very much not), but you’re never left wondering what he’s thinking. Even when playing people who keep things close to the chest, he leaves his heart on the floor.

He’s an extremely intuitive performer with such a deep understanding and empathy for the people he plays. He almost never breaks character, even if the focus isn’t on him — I encourage everyone to keep an eye on him during the church scene in this most recent Candela episode — everything Edgar is going through is so inherently felt that there were times where I just couldn’t tear my eyes away. You know things about this man without him ever needing to speak them out loud.

That subtlety and focus only serves to make the moments where his characters are pushed to edge even more explosive than they would be otherwise; you really feel that he’s been holding back for hours and just can’t fucking take it anymore — but they still feel perfectly timed! (We saw this with Edgar but there’s a moment in season 4 of LA by Night that comes to mind as well).

It’s so incredible to watch someone so dropped-in like this. Alex has been one of my favorite role players in the community for years and I’m so happy he’s finally getting more of the recognition he deserves.

So if you’re enjoying him on Candela Obscura, watch LA and NY by Night! Watch his episode of 10 Candles: Eclipse! You’re in for a real treat. This is a man who is great at playing monsters, but this is also a man who is great at playing people.

[math-rocks-and-lizard-bats]

If I was Kindred and Margot “Fuego” Walker (as played by @quiddie ) got ME a snack, and asked me to kill him. I would. Rey and I aren’t different in this aspect. I was gonna make a sorry Rey but I’m different but I’m not.

[fuckyeahlabynight]

NY by Night Update!!

There was a Word of Darkness news stream yesterday/last night with Jason Carl and it included an update on New York by Night.

He apologised for the delay in trying to get season 3 going in 2024. Between trying to schedule 8 busy role players and dealing with illness, (Jason got "a severe case of Covid which morphed into double pneumonia" which took him a very long time to recover) they were not able to make it happen this year. They are currently working on another "window of opportunity" in everyone's schedules to film season 3.

The VOD of the news stream is available here. This clip SHOULD skip right to the NYbN talk, but if it doesn't, that begins around 14:40.

[ogrepoppenangleaksofficial]

have you watched any actual plays, and if so, what are your favourites?

[voxofnox]

Alexander Ward has irrevocably changed my brain chemistry

The way he makes characters is just. So. Fucking. Good. Jasper, Isaac, and Edgar, and all of his characters are so unique and detailed and fit into their worlds and stories so perfectly.

Alex never tries to make the ‘good’ decision or aims for the ‘best’ outcome. He goes for what will be interesting. He goes for what will serve character and narrative. THAT IS SO GOOD IN A PLAYER. So often (speaking as a GM) players will try to delay the inevitable, or try to twist a situation into having the best outcome. But if the amount of times Jasper threw himself in front of danger even when his friends told him not to, or how excited Alex was at the prospect of playing a character who dies, Alex doesn’t do that. Character and narrative above mechanics.

He also never misses with his acting. The dude’s a creature actor and you can see it in how physical he gets. From throwing himself onto the table as Edgar to Isaac’s creepy ass smile to Jasper’s everything, Alex is fucking phenomenal at portraying character even when he isn’t speaking, even when he’s just sitting and listening to other people in a scene. Also I know Alex has said that he has no idea how a character will sound until he opens his mouth but his voice work for his characters is also really good.

Basically Alexander Ward is a delight to watch in the TTRPG actual play space and if y’all are just finding him after Candela I highly recommend watching LA By Night and New York By Night.

[verflixture]

Fanart commission of Coco & Khalida from NY by Night from artist @neonjess 🖤

[godaweful]

alexander ward i have grown very fond of you it seems

[crownedinmarigolds]

Okay last but certainly not least, the clan of Kings! Clan Ventrue - I was pleasantly surprised to see there were quite a few! :D (thank you ONCE AGAIN to @heywizards for suggesting putting them all together) Names and owners beneath the cut!

Tammy - @dapperbasil Isadora - I don't believe they use Tumblr! Khalida is portrayed by Noura Ibrahim in the official VTM livestreamed game New York by Night, commissioned by @verflixture! Marco - @brainkillworddeath Montgomery - @chiss-ticism Percival the Ventrue Antitribu - Also chiss-ticism! Percy - @awespex Vincent - @cruddyart Quinn the Ventrue Antitribu - @tzimizce

[bloodoftremere]

alex's characters + damn bitch, you live like this?

[creative-clawmarks]

You know that one post that's like "oh this character is so mysterious and unsettling and unfathomable nobody can figure him out he's so scary and strange meanwhile the dude's just autistic."

[ace-of-d1am0nds]

WHY DOES THE WORLD OF DARKNESS HAVE SO MUCH LORE???? HOW DOES IT HAVE SO MUCH LORE????? WHO IS WRITING ALL OF THIS FUCKING LORE???? HOLY SHIT IM GONNA LOSE MY MIND

[mystickingstuff]

NY by Night's first season is legit my favorite. Of course I love season 2, but season 1's last episode is just a rollercoaster of amazing moments. From Fuego side-eyeing Rey when Isaac asked them to be polite in his sire's presence to their whole talk with Vaclav to their discussion about Reyes's shady deal with the Camarilla. Like, it's everything. Man, I miss that coterie SO MUCH.

*and I miss my ships, okay.

[conteur-reveur]

Rey: "You don't think that's the beast talking?"

Serif: "Maybe it is. So?"

Isaac: "You don't have to fight it all the time."

Fuego: "You guys fight it??"

[fuckyeahlabynight]

Fang Fest 2024

EDIT: Apologies! The first image I made for this had the date wrong. it's fixed now, so please reblog this version. Thank you!

Hello Tumblr Vamily! first of all, thank you to those who participated in the Fang Fest poll(s) I posted. I read all your tags and comments and I decided to go ahead with this year's Vampire the Masquerade Fang Fest!

This year’s theme is “Tarot.” These prompts are intended to inspire fanart, fanfic, and other pieces of fanwork. Anything you wish to create and share with the vamily is very greatly appreciated!

The Fang Fest will run from June 1 - 22, 2024.

Each day, starting with The Fool on June 1 and finishing with The World on June 22, post whatever fan work you've made inspired by the Tarot card prompt (eg. art, fic, gifs, poetry, music playlists, mood boards, whatever). Please include the hashtag #vtmfangfest24 so they can all be collected here. I know there are a lot of prompts this year compared to past years, and if you can't think of anything for a particular prompt, or are otherwise unable to finish, it's perfectly fine to skip it.

Those who are not taking part in making fan work are encouraged to like, comment on, give kudos, and share their favourites! Collaboration is also encouraged, so reach out to your fellow Kindred and see what you can come up with!

Another list of the prompts and their general meanings will be available under the cut. See y'all in June!

The Fool Innocence, spontaneity, free spirits, new beginnings, (reversed) recklessness, taking foolish risks, being held back.

The Magician Being resourceful, inspiration, manifesting plans, (reversed) poor planning, manipulation.

The High Priestess Intuition, divine femininity, sacred knowledge, (reversed) keeping secrets, withdrawing, being silent when your voice should be heard.

The Empress Femininity, beauty, abundance, (reversed) over-reliance on others, suffering creative block.

The Emperor Authority, father figures, structure, (reversed) domination, excessive control, lack of discipline.

The Hierophant Spiritual wisdom and beliefs, traditions, established institutions, (reversed) freedom and challenging the status quo.

The Lovers Love, harmony, relationships (romantic or otherwise, but usually romantic), your values aligning with others', (reversed) disharmony, arguments, hatred.

The Chariot Taking action, success, willpower, being in control, (reversed) lack of direction, opposition.

Strength Courage, compassion, persuasion, (reversed) self-doubt, low energy.

The Hermit Soul-searching, introspection, being alone in a positive way, (reversed) unwanted isolation, withdrawing, loneliness.

Wheel of Fortune Karma, good luck, destiny, a turning point in your life, (reversed) bad luck, resistance to change, cycles breaking.

Justice Fairness, truth, cause and effect, (reversed) unfairness, not taking accountability, dishonesty.

The Hanged Man Surrendering, letting go, considering new perspectives, (reversed) stalling, delays, indecision.

Death Endings, unstoppable change, transformation, (reversed) resistance to change, unwanted purging.

Temperance Balance, moderation, patience, (reversed) imbalance, excess, needing self-care.

The Devil Addiction, who you are when no-one is watching, sexuality, (reversed) releasing limiting beliefs, exploring your dark side safely.

The Tower Sudden change, chaos, upheaval, (reversed) personal transformation, averting disaster.

The Star Hope, faith, purpose, renewal, (reversed) despair, losing faith, disconnection.

The Moon Illusions, anxiety, intuition, (reversed) letting go of fears and repressed emotions, inner confusion.

The Sun Positivity, fun, warmth, success, (reversed) disappointment, toxic positivity, overly optimistic.

Judgement Rebirth, retribution, (reversed) self-doubts, ignoring opportunities.

The World Completion, accomplishments, travel, (reversed) short-cuts, delays, not yet finding closure.

[melonbear51]

VTM character concepts that I am compelled to share as they have completely taken over my brain: Part 2, Electric Boogaloo!

So since my last VTM character concept post BLEW UP and my brain is once again back on its bullshit, here are some more ideas! As usual, feel free to use these to your heart’s content! I’d love to hear about your characters too, so feel free to message me about them! Now, on to the main event:

1. A Malkavian researcher obsessed with statistics who hunts down “statistical outliers” in order to make sure their data is “pure and untampered with.”

2. A Ventrue who has created an up and coming adult toy empire (pun fully intended). They currently are in the midst of a fierce battle with the local Setites over who can cash in on the pleasure business the most.

3. A Brujah who was a successful athlete pre-embrace. Unable to participate in their sport and driven by extreme bitterness and jealousy, they now strive to turn the public against this particular as a whole by ghouling athletes and ordering them to discover, leak, and in some cases create, scandals. All the while, they rage against the sport they once loved under the thin disguise of false activism.

4. A dance instructor and head of a renowned academy known for producing performers who constantly seem to be breaking the limits of what the human body can do, much to the delight of audiences. What these audiences (and many newer students) don’t know is that this instructor is a Tzimisce and the performers have been carefully tweaked and trained during “private lessons” using a combination of Dominate and Vicissitude. Additionally, the Tzimisce is in search of a prospective childe worthy of being their dance partner, and has been carefully monitoring select students.

5. A Gangrel cryptozoologist who aims to be able to eventually master Protean to the point where they can turn into mythical beasts. 

6. A Gangrel veterinarian who was embraced after attempting to transport what they thought was an injured dog to their hospital, only for it to have actually been their hurt and very annoyed future sire.

7. A fledgling Baali abandoned after their embrace who thinks they are just some weird Caitiff.

8. A Banu Haqim who was traumatized after they were almost diablerized by a Sabbat vamp. Thoroughly disgusted by the practice, they now hunt diablerists, all the while attempting to ignore the cravings and habits of their bloodline.

9. A Hecata “fixer” who makes their living by disposing of bodies, whether turning them to ashes through the use of Oblivion or by adding them to their collection of undead servants.

I’m a little tired, so these are all I have for now, though I plan on dreaming up some more. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these!

[kindredbynight]