Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

[Knightshade Dragon]

So I'm flying out Wednesday of this week to check out Vampire : Bloodlines....what kinds of things would you like to know?

[dangerballs]

I want to know how much the choices you make during play affect the game story.  Is it like Deus Ex where the choices matter in the short term, or will the story and future situations react to your decisions?

[Turtle]

A good description of one several ways to complete one objective.

I'd really like to know if they're going to release mod tools for the game.

[Raven]

How fast twitch is the game?

And enjoy your trip

[farley2k]

Your address....so if I were to knock you out and hide your body I can take your place!!!  

Hey it would work!  I saw it in an episode of Three's Company!  

[maggie-chow]

Thanks for asking!

1. You can play as members of different clans, and I know that this means different "gameplay", e.g. you have to approach a situation using different tactics.  So ... are there clan-specific missions that only appear for your clan choice?  Beyond a tutorial or introductory mission.

2.  How much visual character customization is possible?  How much variation, if any, in choosing appearance of the character and clothing?

Have a good trip!

[Roguetad]

How much does your clan choice at the start affect how the world and npcs react to you during the course of the game?

Does it feel more like a shooter with some rpg, or vice versa? Or does it strike a nice balance between the 2?

How much do the disciplines change gameplay? Are the gameplay differences enough to warrant going back through and playing as another clan and/or same clan with different specializations?

My most important question:
According to all of the game footage and screenshots, it seems that when women are embraced and become vampires in the Vampire: Bloodlines world, their cup size increases to epic proportions, why is that?

[olaf]

I want to know how buggy and play balanced it is.  After Arcanum and especially TToEE I have zero faith in Troika to release a reasonably bug free, balanced game.

olaf

[Roguetad]

I want to know how buggy and play balanced it is.  After Arcanum and especially TToEE I have zero faith in Troika to release a reasonably bug free, balanced game.

olaf

They shouldn't have an excuse now, like they did with ToEE.  They can't blame major bugs and balance problems this time on Atari forcing them to release early and not using their latest build.

[Vinda-Lou]

I know some people scoff at this question, but can you find out about how many hours long the game is?

[Daehawk]

How large are the maps? Is there excessive loadings?

[Smoove_B]

Does the release date of Half Life 2 affect the proposed release date of Vampire: Bloodlines? Can we realistically expect it this year?

[farley2k]

How large are the maps? Is there excessive loadings?

Goood question!  I want to know this too.  

Huge levels/long loads?

Small levels/quick loads?

Something in between?

[LucidSmoke]

Curious as to how far they push sex, gore, language, etc. with the Mature rating? :twisted:

[Knightshade Dragon]

Does the release date of Half Life 2 affect the proposed release date of Vampire: Bloodlines? Can we realistically expect it this year?

Yes, it does.  They are contractually obligated to release after HL2, so I'd expect it this year, but not until after November 16th. (I'm thinking November 23rd as a guess but it could be as early as the '24 hours after' rumor that I also heard)

[Jeff]

I'm interested to know about the animations, particularly the combat/death animations. In the videos I saw, to be honest, they didn't look so hot. It wouldn't be a game-killer mind you, but I hope they look better than I saw in those gamespot vids.

[archipelago]

Thanks for asking for input, KS!

I'm very curious as to the depth of the conversation trees. As ex-Fallout folk, I'm hoping for that style (stats and skills affect conversation options) and I fear a more Neverwinter Nights Out-Of-The-Box system - Basically a good and bad choice.

Also, will we feel we are in a true urban environment or led by the nose on a terminally linear path.

Thanks again,

[Soulchilde]

Can you find out how strict the enforcement The Masqerade is done.  

Any and all info on the politics of the clans

As much info on the Sabbats and if you can join them

[FlyingElvis]

So I'm flying out Wednesday of this week to check out Vampire : Bloodlines....what kinds of things would you like to know?

Wait...  You are flying somewhere to play a game?

Where do I sign up for dem jobs?  

[CeeKay]

I'd also like to hear about possibly modding and whether or not multiplayer may make it in as a patch/expansion.


That being said...

/me puts on hyperactive bouncing off the wall mode...

WHEN?  whenwhenwhenwhenwhenwhen! <sproing!><crash!>

[malichai11]

How is character development added? Is this a true Vampire RPG where you gain karma that you can then spend to increase your attributes/disciplines? How is karma gained? Do you gain karma be doing sidequests?

Thank you KS!

[Rob_Merritt]

here is an on hands preview

http://www.actiontrip.com/previews/vampirethemasqueradebloodlines_p3.phtml

[Rob_Merritt]

And console gold has its preview up
http://www.consolegold.com/shorttakes/bloodlines.php

and so does game spy

http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/vampire-the-masquerade-bloodlines/561535p1.html

Since all three have a different story to tell, that shows some solid roleplay elements there. Not just a by the rails shooter.

[DCW]

GREAT preview, KD! Got me psyched for this game - thanks - now I've gotta deal with the Console Gold Effect (TM) too

[Nth Power]

I think I'm more stoked for Vampire than HL2.  It seems like forever that I've been waiting for this to be released.  I can't wait!

[farley2k]

I wish I could count on it not being buggy, but Troika just has a history.  I have bought their games but they have always been too buggy to really enjoy right away.

[Siljanus]

Just finished reading the preview.  Was a nice bit of writing and I hope the game lives up to the promise!   Thanks for the good writeup!

[Coskesh]

Wow KD!  I was in the minority and loved the first V:tM game, and was a bit leary when I heard a different group was going to make this one.  Looks like it was a good thing after all.