@mistylavenda
This was so beautifully said, especially the last line. I saw his death coming the minute I noticed all that was good and kind in him. In a way, it made sense for my MC to die alongside him fighting her own Dominus, without any fighting skills, in the hope he’d recognise her and spare them. I consider that the “canon” ending for the MC who first loved Silas and then Hiram. Any future MCs will instead romance Sabine Becard!
That’s why in the demo my amoral vampire decided to help out Hiram in taking down West even if he isn’t a skilled combatant. They arent lovers but Hiram reminded my MC of how kind he was before.
I wish estefania was an RO! Who are the female Ro’s anyway?
I only have just the one MC, so on a meta-level she can’t die this “early”.
But, if the planned storyline is still roughly the same as the old code where you make it to modern times in Boston, she is definitely going to end her unlife (and the story) there by greeting the dawn.
I wonder who will finally have had enough of the non-anglophone illiterate MC’s shit, hold some kind of intervention, and force it to learn English and how to read.
I think I have a vague memory of a different ending when I played CotV back when it was first released.
Having said that the description on the Google Store reads:
I want to see the vampires’ reactions to the movie Nosferatu, especially of those who are more vain… Maybe vampires of German origin/background can try out for the role (I know the film was made in Germany and the story takes place in America). When the Society demands answer the vampire can explain it as a form of (method) acting. Naturally, the vampire won’t get the role for being too outlandish/unrealistic on their “take” of how vampires would/do act.
Maybe our Dominus or some other influential/high-ranking vampire will invoke the rule of secrecy and force them to learn. So far, I think Samantha and Apollo are the only vampires who suggest we learn the language. Maybe Estefania said something but regarding the French language.
@jasonstevanhill Another couple of points to add to the stockpile.
Firstly I’ve seen cases where one can claim the Memphis Carothers debt in his final scene and get the strength point. Would it be possible to do something similar if one has a debt for gathering refreshments for the caucus parties? Got to get some compensation for screwing up the character.
Secondly, what are the prerequisites for a relationship with Chiara? (if anyone else knows too) I know there used to be an option where a completely wild West scion could start a flirtation if they avoided the asking about caucus rules option.
More later.
Can you refresh my memory here?
It’s hidden behind a compassion and discretion check. Not a bug.
Sure! Just need to start a new game and I’ll get it right to you. But it’s when in St Louis, you ask Bailey “What do you think we should do about West?” Or “how come you haven’t suggested anything about how to stop him?” Something like that.
I can think of three moments like that. The first is during the initial arrival, the second after West kills the plague-bearer/Pavesi, and the third is right before the LPE.
I know the story is published and all but maybe in the future add some references to the Filipino-American War? Like the start of the war and also the assassination of General Antonio Luna.
Here it is:
Seems very interesting given that at the start of St Louis, Bailey seems worried and Partridge is later upset about one of his kids being killed. Then we have a scene like this, and I think another later scene I believe around the LPE where they don’t particularly sound bothered by the whole. Given that they more or less make up the closest thing Vampires have to a Royal Family, you’ve got to wonder what part they play in all this.
On another note, unlike Memphis, the settlement options are very much restricted. I see the point of a character wanting to be somewhere that they would like to live but it could do with a little broadening. For instance a character who lived in the Memphis Pitch might feel some nostalgia for the Kerry Patch in St Louis, but that isn’t an option. Same with a character with high lore or intelligence who would be interested in living in eastern St Louis. There’s even the simple fact that a character might want to save their money and live somewhere dirt cheap.
Another point too, especially if the character has the sense to ask about the territory system, why not have the option to settle in the Patch or across the river? At the moment, a lot of characters are forced to then offer a debt in exchange for living somewhere. I think it would make sense to have an option for a character to want to avoid that. By the way, could the ability to ask about Aitinger and Bailey’s territories also be linked to intelligence? Even if a vampire doesn’t have three lore, they could still have the common sense to think powerful vampires have haunts they call there own, and ask where and where isn’t in St Louis is off limits?
Edit I: The plot thickens dear Jason. Something about jet fuel.
I’ve actually wanted to share this for a while, and the recent talk about the “pseudo-romance” with Hiram makes now seem like a good time! “Missing You Through the Days and Nights” by Linda Chung. This song’s lyrics really remind me of the relationship between the MC and Hiram if they have a high rapport. (To the point that it’s what I automatically think of when it pops up on my playlist.)
The mutual pining that they can harbor, while both fully aware it cannot be. After all, love is not for vampires, much less vampires living in the same city. So the MC steals what little joy they can from every moment spent together, suppressing the stirrings of a dead heart. And at the end of the road, perhaps simply thankful to have met a kindred soul amongst their cruel and amoral vampiric Society.
I translated the Cantonese Chinese lyrics into English below the video, so you can all read along. Like me, you may notice quite a few coincidental parallels to the Choice of Vampires story!
Lyrics and Translation
Tin sik han gwong tin choeng ho si tsung gwaan hei?
Daylight shines bright, but why are the windows closed?
Fung seng han do sam seng chün bou gwaan yü nei
The wind howls, and the disquiet of my heart speaks only of you.
Ngo yaa si gwo tung liu gün liu dou bat soeng fong hei
Although pained and weary, I remain reluctant to give up.
Tsan dik gan gan soeng yung ying tsoeng gaa fun hei
A tight embrace holds the illusion of joy.
Gaa dik siu saa fan hoi seoi yau tsan yin hei?
Feigning aloofness after parting ways, whose masquerade held true?
Ngo yau yung hei man nei tsau wui han faai lok, wai ho tou bei?
Happiness would come if only I had the courage to kiss you. So why do I run away?
Chang yau gwo yat miu pou tsü yü yat hei
Recall the moment of our last embrace.
Mong gei yiu tsam yoeng chau lei
We had forgotten how to pull away.
Chang ging han hoi sam, yat fan yat hak, ngo wui chü hei
The joy of every moment I had spent with you, I will save and treasure.
Chang yau gwo gam gok ngo mei soeng gong hei
The past feelings I refused to speak of…
Yi bei mat wui suk yü nei
Was but the secret of you.
Ching gam tse dung sai, chi tsung bit seoi wan hei
In the end, lovers’ fates are at the mercy of luck alone.
Tsan dik han do gam tsuk yü tsoeng siu baa hei
In truth, myriad emotions feel like cheap tricks.
Gaa dik han do siu sik yin hau tsam sau mei
I wonder how the rumors will end up.
Ngoi yiu yau yung hei lou sat süt pin gu gei, ying yin tou bei
To truly love requires courage. Alas, I avoid that much.
Chang yau gwo yat miu pou tsü yü yat hei
Recall the moment of our last embrace.
Mong gei yiu tsam yoeng chau lei
We had forgotten how to pull away.
Chang ging han hoi sam, yat fan yat hak, ngo wui chü hei
The joy of every moment I had spent with you, I will save and treasure.
Yü nei ngo ho yi tseoi hau yü yat hei
If only you and I could be together.
Nei wui tsi dou ngo yat ye soeng nei
You would know that I miss you through the days and nights.
Chung bat soeng do gong tsi yan bat soeng leoi nei
My silence is only because I do not wish to embroil you.
Chang yau gwo yat miu pou tsü yü yat hei
Recall the moment of our last embrace.
Mong gei yiu tsam yoeng chau lei
We had forgotten how to pull away.
Chang ging han hoi sam, yat fan yat hak, ngo wui chü hei
The joy of every moment I had spent with you, I will save and treasure.
Yü nei ngo ho yi tseoi hau yü yat hei
If only you and I could be together.
Nei wui tsi dou ngo yat ye soeng nei
You would know that I miss you through the days and nights.
Chung bat soeng do gong dou tsi soeng bou wu nei
My silence is only because I wish to protect you.
Nang yau tse fuk hei yau hang sik dou nei
How fortunate I was to have been blessed to know you.
Choi küt ding nou lik tsang hei
So I have decided to carry on.
Chung bat gong cheot hau, tse mo tse mo, wai nei
I never said a word… none… because of you.
This is incredibly romantic. Ever considered a song for Becard?
I’m not sure! I actually haven’t tried her friendship route yet. The angst-level of this song (along with Hiram’s fate) is the main reason I was able to tie the two together.
Ok, I’ve set up a subroutine that can grant Lore 3 (from Lore 2) automatically.
*if lore = 2
*if knows_about_stakes
*set tests +1
*if knows_about_torpor
*set tests +1
*if shepherds_and_wolves
*set tests +1
*if consul_praetor_explained
*set tests +1
*if knows_about_territories
*set tests +1
*if knows_parts_dont_work
*set tests +1
*if voting_explained
*set tests +1
*if tests >= 7
*set lore 3
That seems about right to me. You can now get *knows_about_territories from the Quaestor in the “rapport” scene in New Orleans.
I’m also considering adding some new letters that you can write to get some/all of these.
Does it seem like I’m missing anything?
CHANGELOG
- Fixed Estefania-dominus bug in St. Charles parish.
- Tinkered with Memphis Profiteer / Ashmore Banks plot.
- Substantially increased $income gain going into Vicksburg. Added several more $income moments all the way through the LPE.
- Fixed a bug regarding $carothers_humanity; Dido should now be harder to save.
- Added some more stuff about Ida Wells.
- Fixed language bug around Choctaw/Memeskia broodmate introduction.
- With high $intelligence and $willpower and $speaks_latin, you can now read the SAW manuscript yourself.
- Opened up some new haven possibilities in St. Louis.
@mistylavenda (and anyone else) what Enterprises do you choose for St. Louis?
@jasonstevanhill Knowing about governors is too low down I take it? But what about knowing about the heresies of Abraham and Lazarus, knowing about being able to drink animal blood. Harem doesn’t know about it after all. Silver too.
Edit: Earlier I didn’t understand the lore update properly. Could you consider changing the automatic lore increase to be say 6 of the 7 requisites or however many you choose if you include things like knowing about the heresies. So a high minimum as opposed to all. After all, going back to Harem, if he was converted into stats he would have 3 lore right? Knowing about wolves and tribunes, knowledge of the Adonis conflict etc. But lacks knowledge of things like feeding off animals or the knowing about Abraham and so on.
But the new letters sound good. It would also help add some colour to Sam and Chiara flirtations if some of the questions could be directed at them.
Washington University. Unsurprisingly, Zéphyrine values education. It also had the unintended benefit of strengthening her friendship with Hiram Eliot.
The Newspapers are an interesting plot line. I never got much out of the spiritualism line though. Seems a bit dead ended.