#like I've probably just taken a really long time to say ''this specific facet of misogyny × transmisogyny = bad'' but hey

[1800duckhotline]

I don't know anything about vtmb (planning to play it but just have a really long list of games i'm planning to play) so how about some facts about the game you think are cool? What as a game did it do to really grab you? Is there anything specific to vtmb that you put into your OCs (and OC AUs) that really fits their character and you want to talk about?

HMMM OH THIS IS A VERY FUN QUESTION... LET ME SEE IF I CAN ANSWER... Btw if you do plan on playing it make sure to get the Wesp5 Plus Patch!!! it fixes a lot of bugs and restored cut content!!

This will be. VERY LONG. I'm sorry

Let me see if I can go in order...

Facts about the game I think are cool:

I dont really know a lot about the history of the game development but I want to research it, however I genuinely love just how purely alternative it is, in a style sense. The game is in-your-face about its gothic and alt infuences coherent with the early 2000s, and it never feels like it's just doing it for the sake of being commercial, because the music choices and the decisions taken with the designs of some characters just feel like home to me idk. Like obviously I never expected it to be "trad goth" because its a game set in 2004; published in 2004. But I was pleasantly surprised to see how it wears its gothic and punk inspirations on its sleeve. But that makes sense, as Vampire: The Masquerade (the ttrpg) itself explicitly dedicates a section of the 20th edition core rulebook to this very topic (the game is based on the 20th anniversary edition).

There's so many ways the game could go during and in the ending. While obviously "good" behavior is rewarded and grants you more XP, sometimes it makes tyou wonder if it's even worth taking a different path instead to see how it goes. Obviously more XP generally is better because you can spend more points to adjust your stats, but sometimes even the good options are like, kind of morally questionable since this IS a world about vampires who still see humans/kine as lambs for the slaughter. Literally almost all the options that help keep the Masquerade cause you a humanity loss, which I think makes sense. I find that interesting.

The game itself might have one of the most satisfying endings I've ever seen in a videogame. Not that it is perfect, and it shows the final sections are very rushed when you think about it (thanks, Activision) but even with the little time they had at their disposal Troika managed to put together an ending that doesn't overstay its welcome imo, it's just about right. Obviously it'd be nice to have an epilogue section or what have you, but does the story need one? I would probably say not, because it's fun to come up with things yourself. After all, the game is still based on a ttrpg which at the table you can tweak and change however you like.

I'm not an expert on the game history so these are my unfiltered unprofessional opinion as i am a newbie both to this game specifically and VtM/WOD in general when it comes to the ttrpg, though i'd probably say it was a long time coming. There's probably a lot more that's interesting that people have explored better in other videos or posts

As for the rest of the questions...

The game grabbed me instantly because it is like, literally the perfect mix of things I like in a videogame/poiece of media in general. A contemporary setting + urban supernatural events/facets of the world + characters that can easily pass as people that really exist + stellar voice acting (except for some parts) + some horror here and there + obviously VAMPIRES... I vaguely knew what the game was about before playing it, but not to this extent, so when I started it up I was instantly hooked. If you know my ocs you'll know a lot of my own stuff more or less follows a similar line so it's no wonder I would love it. Personally on a aesthetic sense the graphics of the game are of its time but also just wonderful to the eyes. Not perfect, but it's the ideal combo of cartoony models/figures + realistic textures. Also, for how small the hub worlds are, they just feel really lively I think. Their tiny size also helps make the story feel more compact and less stretched out to a stupid extent.

As for my OCs... well there's a lot of potential for that specific setting I think, if you put your ocs in an au or make ocs for it. There's a little bit of backstory you can come up with for your fledgling and again the small size of the hub worlds makes it easier for you to see how to integrate an oc you already had in an AU for it imo. But this is also bc im insane and i always find ways to do it. HGHNFKFGNFN.

I would have to make a separate post/receive a more specific question regarding the ocs thing because I am already so long winded rn, I also wouldn't know where to begin. But every single thing I've decided for my vtm(b) AU so far involving my ocs like salice, allen, phoebe, etc. is like, really funny how perfect they were for the AU before I even had to think about tweaking anything on their character

[osmiabee]

As much as "trans inclusionary misogyny" is an amusing tiktok trend and can be funny or wholesome in certain contexts, we should all do more to recognise that there isn't an excuse to just let trans women endure misogyny because "it's gender affirming!". It's still misogyny, and on the whole it's just pretty shit.

[tj-dragonblade]

Tea and Books Asks

Tagged in by @littledreamling , @mathomhouse-e , and @quillingwords thank you!

1. What period of history do you enjoy learning about?

As long as it's not the fucking founding of America and drafting of the constitution, again, we're golden

2. Who is your favourite fictional character and why?

Of all time? Impossible. Current fandom specifically? ...uh. Kind of also impossible. But I think if pressed Hob might just barely edge out Dream in the standings. Because? Because...his vibes? Immortal Everyman who's not all woe-is-me this-life-is-misery is a delight and idk he's just got that je ne sais quoi that makes me smile and say 'That one, that's my favorite'?

3. What do you order at a café?

It's a rare occurrence but. Some sort of coffee, extra sweet, extra whichever flavor added. Caramel and pumpkin spice are both excellent

4. Libraries, botanical gardens, or art galleries?

Of the three, I've only ever been to libraries, so, that

5. Do you have a favourite film soundtrack?

Beauty and the Beast 1991 probably. The score tracks on that just. Do things to me. Fond of a lot of Hans Zimmer's work as well (Lion King, PotC off the top of my head) and I keep circling back around to the Robin Hood Prince of Thieves soundtrack every few years

6. What does your dream home look like?

Underwater. With bits above water too, maybe half and half, but the important things I've always wanted are submarine airlock entryways and enormous windows with an underwater view. Not too far from civilization either

7. What makes you feel better on gloomy days?

Long solo drives with good music played loud

8. What are your top three films? Books?

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; The Princess Bride; Beauty and the Beast

I've read fanfic almost exclusively the past twenty years but, let me think...I was very taken with the Shannara series by Terry Brooks in high school; I spent some time on the Vampire Chronicles after that and The Vampire Armand was my favorite (because Armand was my favorite more than because it was actually a good book)

9. Are you an organized person, generally?

...Ish. I dislike clutter and mess, but I wouldn't really classify myself as 'organized' by any standard measure of the word

10. Do you have a favourite classic novel?

...I am extremely fond of Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz both but more for their permutation into pop culture and malleability therein than for their actual books specifically

11. What character archetype or trope is your favourite?

I have a laundry list, and they're generally best when multiple tropes are blended in one character. But maybe...let's go with The Foreigner, The Outsider, the one who often holds up a lens to humanity or whatever majority/default group is involved to offer commentary, try to understand, and who is perpetually Apart from them, usually unable (or unwilling) to quite blend in or assimilate completely even when they may be welcomed and accepted.

12. Do you prefer baking or cooking?

...give me a relatively simple recipe with clear instructions and I'll probably be okay, in either arena

13. Which season do you feel at home in?

In my current climate? Summer. Summer means I can get out and go places and do things. I love autumn in theory but in practice it's far too short, far too cold too quickly, and just a very depressing reminder of the half-a-year of winter that will follow

14. What is your opinion on poetry?

It should absolutely exist, integral facet of humanity, etc. Not really anything I actively seek out, however

15. Do you speak formally when texting and emailing?

Emails are nearly always business related whether home or work, so yes. Texts are not exactly formal but it's rare that I'd ever fail to capitalize, use copious abbreviations, etc. Punctuation droppage depends entirely on who I'm talking to and whether I need the clarity punctuation can provide

16. How do you organize your music playlists?

Haaaaaah. Let me count the ways:

- by artist, when I want The Good Tracks from their discography (and related projects) in chronological order

- by genre

- by pairing - many pairs have multiple permutations of their playlist also

- by character

- by character group

- by theme (e.g. Moon, Aquatic, etc)

- by mood

- by fic inspiration/writing soundtrack

- I have playlists for Disney movies where I put the songs and score pieces back in movie order since the soundtracks always group them separately and I also leave out the shitty radio versions of the songs

- I also have a playlist with all my individual Disney playlists combined in chronological order by movie release date

- by vibes

- by which family member I'm driving with

- I have a playlist for stuff that's in (or contains sections that are in) 3/4, 6/8, and various other non-4/4 time signatures

- I have a couple different playlists of favorite voices

- there's a giant playlist where I dump all the stuff I've rated 4 or 5 stars (some 3s may also get included), sorted by play count, for when I don't know quite what I'm really in the mood to listen to

- aaaaaaand then I usually have two or three playlists in constant flux for whatever I'm really craving to listen to at this particular point in time

17. Who is your favourite author?

Can't say as I have one

18. Chai or hot chocolate?

Chai

19. Do you prefer forests, sea shores, or meadows?

Sea shore, hands down

20. If you were to cultivate a fruit orchard, what would you grow?

Everything I would name I have developed allergies to so. Maybe not. Kinda sucks.