From: std_fleming@hg.uleth.ca (John Fleming)
Subject: Re: Some info on upcoming vampire films
Reply-To: std_fleming@hg.uleth.ca
Organization: University of Lethbridge
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 06:17:09 GMT

In article <1992Sep8.184129.1@hmivax.humgen.upenn.edu>, bole@hmivax.humgen.upenn.edu (Greg Bole) writes:
>In article <1992Sep4.174224.1978@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu>, 
>

  (SOME STUFF DELETED)


>And to all you who want to *be* vampires...the closest thing I can suggest is
>play one on a MUD (Multi-User Dungeon).  Read the rec.games.mud.* family of 
>Net groups for more info.  They are interactive games that you can telnet to.
>
>I am a 12th level "Master of Mists" in a vampire guild on a MUD named Nirvana.
>It's great fun to "be" a vamp.  I love the drama and the mystery of it.  We 
>also wield great powers.  My name is Mordred, son of Arthur.
>
>Greg Bole                             "Traitor, now thy death-day has come!"
>bole@hmivax.humgen.upenn.edu          King Arthur as he slays his son Mordred
>
>Dad never knew I was already dead...
><Mordred grins evilly, exposing his fangs>

  I can suggest something even closer.  Any roleplayers on this newsgroup?  I
am sure that you are all familiar with at least the concept of role-playing
games (Dungeons & Dragons, for instance).  Well, one of the hottest new
role-playing games (RPGs for short) has been -Vampire: The Masquerade- by White
Wolf Games.  It is subtitled "The storytelling game of personal horror" and
believe me, this is so.

   Yes, the players take on the role of recently made ("Embraced") vampires in
the late 20th century.  The masquerade of the title refers to the strict rules
of secrecy that vampires have enforced on themselves since the Inquisition. 
Stories usually revolve around the characters struggles with older (centuries
older) vampires, vampire hunters, and most importantly, THEMSELVES.  See, when
you become a vampire, you inherit this whole new set of instincts, often
personified as "The Beast".  Characters must struggle to control the
beast at times of great stress (EG. the smell of blood when they are starving,
fire, sunlight, humiliation, etc.) or their instincts will lead them to lash
out in bouts of frightening violence to attain what they desire.  Often, to
control themselves, vampires must choose lesser evils   (Or, as they say in the 
game "A beast I am lest a beast I become").  The game comes off as a strange
mix of Ann Rice and Joseph Campbell, and is ultimately presented by the
designers as a sort ofmirror to the human condition.

  This game is a fantastic role-playing experience.  Numerous supplements have
come out, containing adventures and background information on the "Gothic-Punk"
world of Vampire.  A companion RPG, -Werewolf: The Apocalypse- has just been
published, and I eagerly await its arrival in the mail.  White Wolf plans three
more games in this grand background: -Magus-, -Faerie-, and -Ghost-.  All of
them will feature the theme of these legendary beings juxtaposed with the
modern world.  White Wolf's address is:

                     White Wolf
                     4153 Indian Manor Drive
                     Stone Mountain, GA, 30083

   Or, you could go to any hobby and game store (you know, the places that sell
the strange dice) and order it through them.

   There is also an Email list for players of the game.  Send the message "sub
vampire" to:
               vampire-request@math.ufl.edu

  I hope this is of interest to someone, and that my painfully brief and
hurried description has done this most excellent game justice.
John Fleming                            EMAIL ADDRESS: STD_FLEMING@HG.ULETH.CA
Psych Major Extraordinaire
The University of Lethbridge            Typical quotes:
Lethbridge, Alberta,                    "Salve Iohannus, dominus machinae!" 
CANADA                                  "Veni, vidi, fugi."
Newsgroups: alt.vampyres