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PRIMER

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TO DICE OR NOT TO DICE?

Most powers and abilities have a success threshold. You can circumnavigate the -need- to roll if your scene partners -consent- to successful applications of the power and don't -want- you to roll.

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Dice rolls only are needed when a person contests the use of an ability or power. One does not have to roll if all parties are in agreement that an outcome is likely. Dice rolls are really used to -moderate- as impartial and unbiased judges.

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Generally you can compare statistics and dots and descriptions of powers and "Predict" outcomes based on that alone, however in a few cases it may be necessary to roll. "The Target" of an attack always has the option of "Allowing" a power or ability to work unhindered, or calling a contested action.

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In storytelling events it is recommended that the storyteller speeds up play by -not- insisting that every thing is rolled for, having a good idea of the troupes statistics and ratings in abilities and powers should give the Storyteller a good indication of likely outcomes. Again rolls are only needed -when- required.

 

 

GENERAL MOOD:

Nocturne is NOT a combat focused sim, NOT a super hero sim, NOT a good guy versus bad guy sim.

Nocturne is a world populated with flawed, tragic, or monstrous characters. 

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Look deeper into all of the species lore, and you will find something reprehensible for even the "perceived" good guys.

We're not going to point out all the instances, of the less -obvious- bad guys, suffice to say, all species are assholes from certain points of view, and some "perceived" bad guys, might have redeeming qualities too. 

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Most species have their own problems to contend with. For some it is unique enemies that only that particular  species encounters. For others its a personal battle, an inner struggle with their human side and their monstrous side. Either finding the human, or embracing their true nature without letting humanity get in the way.  Others battle their own species in political games, seeking to overthrow the chains of the ruling elite of their species.

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Interspecies tensions always exist, though interspecies combat rarely happens -just because- of species tensions. When combat between species does occur, it is usually because something of significance happened between the characters. Fighting must have a good reason behind it and Elders will generally frown upon aggravating species tensions for no good reason and may even punish their underlings themselves for risking all out war. That said, now you know the risks, do as thou wilt, but make sure you are comfortable with the repercussions.

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That said, another thing we would like to avoid is "Happy ville" where all species get along just fine without any tensions or where they are all united against one group. This is World Of Darkness, you should -never- be comfortable with one who is not one of you. Hell, sometimes you should not even be comfortable with one of your own either.

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While this is not strictly a PVP sim, it is not strictly a PVE sim either. Events can't be staged everyday after all, and we want to encourage players to become antagonists in more personal storylines. After all, it is rare that a group PVE is going to be uniquely tailored to individuals... If you truly seek -story- you need to be open to player characters who are not playing your -friends-

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PVP: CONFLICT

CONFLICT DOES NOT MEAN COMBAT. While combat is a part of some conflicts, Not all conflicts have combat.  You can have conflicting feelings, you can feel conflicted, two people can have conflicting views. Vampires and Garou are conflicting groups, but that does not mean they are at war. It just means they have conflicting views about, well almost everything. It is true that -sometimes- these two groups will fight over something, but only the die hard jyhadists of the kindred and the fundamentalists of the garou ever initiate violence based on "species" alone.

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SPECIES CONFLICT IS NOT A MISTAKE:

We are not about to tell you that you may only form friendships within your own species.

We are going to tell you that you should play it smartly.

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DO YOU IN CHARACTER KNOW WHAT THE OTHER THING IS?

If the answer is yes, maybe you should have it that your character is trying to gain intel or learn more.

If no, why not keep it that way? A don't ask, don't tell policy is one of the smartest ways to approach this. You can't hate your vampire boyfriend if you don't know he is a vampire right?

There are many, many loopholes to allow species from rival factions or species to play with one another. We don't want you to have to isolate yourself from other species and we have gone to great lengths in V2 to make discovering other races extremely hard, so you can carry on in a state of blissful ignorance if you want to.

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CONFLICT IS DRAMA:

Conflict does not always mean machine gunning down your foes. A conflict is a struggle or an opposition. If you and your best friend both fall in love with the same person, you will have to find some way to resolve the conflict. Conflict can be a friendly rivalry, political, social, etc. 

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If there is no conflict, there is no disagreement and there is, more importantly, no dramatic tension. In short conflict is about excellent storytelling, playing a character who disagrees, who is an obstacle to another persons goals. You don't need to engage in PVP combat to cause IC drama. You just need to dare to play a character that is focused and has its own goals and motivations that it values more than other characters.

 

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PLAY THE DRAMA. Conflict is the driving force of nearly all stories... Imagine for instance Romeo coming from a hunter cell and Juliet being a Toreador.... Two Feuding Households, two mortal (or immortal) enemies meeting without knowing the truth of one another and forbidden love ensuing that ultimately leads to a tragic ending. Maybe Romeo tearfully stakes Juliet and cuts her head off, maybe Juliet embraces Romeo and he cannot cope, or he has to take down his former cell, or they him, or maybe upon finding Juliet is a vampire, Romeo's cell kills her or maybe Juliet's family kills her for her hunter ties.... Or maybe Juliet is forced to erase Romeos memories of her, yet still feels the same as she did, while he does not even recognize her.... Or maybe Romeo is just getting closer to Juliet so that he can learn more about her society or vice versa, heart-breaking, tragedy and compelling drama all around. 

 

Isn't personal drama that directly effects your own character better than simply waiting for some world ending event that doesn't hinge on your own characters decisions to come along? 

 

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YOU ARE PART OF THE EXISTING WORLD:

Whats most important to remember that the setting you play in is bigger than any single person in it. We will help you to enrich your stories and help you but we do remind you that this is World of Darkness and no one is immune to the consequences of their actions. There are vampire sects, garou septs, mage chantries, human government, and even powerful individuals that you have to take in account. Do not expect to be immune to any of this. 

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 CHARACTER DEATH: 

When finding yourself in life and death situation, contact storyteller. Additionally, you may not kill someone without their consent unless ruled otherwise by storytellers. We will very often work out why character should not die or how they will survivor or make conditions to their survival if the person behind the keyboard is not ready to let their character die. However some situations can bypass consent. 

1. The rules of your species/sect/group specifically states (on this website) a specific action or behavior carries a death sentence.

2. Your character has violated the laws of their supernatural species (as contained on this website) continuously and with impunity to a point where their continued existence is a mockery of their species rules.

3. A specific action or continued behavior would Reasonably cause someone to kill you. This has to be approved by storyteller and can't be something minor n or can it be something like he is avampire and I am a garou so one of us must die, there are other ways to handle situations like that without someone dying. 

4. In situations where a rival supernatural group seeks your execution both your group leader and the rival species leader must both OOC agree to the termination of your character.

  

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