Interest Check - Houston by Night

I'm thinking about running a VtM Chronicle set in Houston, Texas; is that something anybody here would be interested in? If it looks like there's a fair amount of support for the idea, I'll put together a more detailed game posting based on the discussions in this thread. In the meantime, I've put a few of my initial thoughts that have been knocking around in my head about this down below. I would love to get your feedback on any part of it!


THE DOMAIN

Houston, in my opinion, is a really cool area to run a Vampire game in part because it's so freaking big! Houston has been ranked among the fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S. for years, with nearly two and a half million kine roaming around in the city proper each night, and almost eight million in the greater metro area. It's also a site of extreme wealth inequality and one of the cornerstones of the global oil trade; if there is a social or economic stratum that exists, it is represented in Houston and accessible to the city's Kindred. Purely in terms of its irl composition and significance, there's plenty of opportunities for a vampire to sink their teeth into (pun absolutely intended).

On the Kindred front, Houston also represents a rough midpoint in between Mexico City and Miami when traveling by land, which marks it as a Camarilla domain that's forced to play the role of bulwark in between two major Sabbat strongholds. I'm envisioning a situation where the Sabbat absolutely maintains a presence in the Domain, but after a failed attempt at besieging Houston in the past they have mostly gone to ground as a means of shuffling allies and resources between Mexico and Miami without getting intercepted by the Camarilla. Because Houston is so large and growing so fast, rooting out every hidden pack is just not something the Domain is capable of doing efficiently.


THE FACTION

I think that a Camarilla or Sabbat game would be best to do justice to Houston's unique location in the Jyhad. That said, if you'd like to pitch an Anarch game that would sit especially well in Houston, I would love to hear it! These are all just my initial thoughts, I am very much hoping to get feedback to when I do post a game it can be one we are all excited to play.

As between the Camarilla and the Sabbat, I don't have a particularly strong preference at this time. I'm fairly familiar with both and think it would be fun to explore the city from either of those perspectives, so if you have thoughts or a preference I would love to hear that as well.


THE EDITION

I'm leaning pretty heavily toward V20 for this game. V5 is fine, but I'm most familiar with the 20th and would be more comfortable ST'ing that than V5.

A Sabbat campaign would be fun, especially the political angle.

As someone who had never played VtM, would this be a beginner friendly experience or are you looking for veteran players?

I'd really be interested in the Camarilla side of things. But yeah, I'd play this.

Beginners are definitely welcome! Willingness to buy into the game’s conceits and create/participate in a story together is more important to me than immediate mastery of the mechanics.

110% down for this!

I think first thing that can help you to decide the direction of the chronicle is to think about what you want to run. What gets you excited? Slow and steady political sandbox? Explosive siege action? Tight-rope walking spy stuff? Picking what you enjoy first and foremost would likely guarantee a better result.

I'd be most interested in Anarch/Sabbat chronicle, run with V20. With that in mind, here are some ideas that came to me while reading the basics:

* Houston, conquered - the city has fallen to the Sabbat. The PCs are Anarch survivors of the siege/assault, locked in a desperate struggle for their home (perhaps waiting for the cavalry to arrive - their own or Camarilla's Justicars). Alternatively: PCs are the Sabbat victors, and the whole city is theirs for the taking. Not everyone has been wiped out, however, creating a local pockets of resistance that could grow out of control. The characters are also strangers to the city, and perhaps there is more to fear here than just Cainites from the other Sect.. (NY by Night inspired scenario).

* Forest Fire - whether the LA and Cali still stand as the Anarch Free States, spreading their type of gospel to the downtrodden or have fallen to the Cathayan invasion in the 2000s, disseminating LA Anarchs around the country - these sparks spread like a wildfire. The PCs are an Anarch pack, who set up on the outskirts of Houston metro, taking over a patch of turf for themselves. They are now working to keep their hold on their little Domain, while attempting to spread into the city proper - recruiting, sabotaging, proselytizing, making their presence known to attract other freedom fighters.

* Chaos and Desperation - the situation in Houston is critical and the Prince makes a dangerous gambit - invites any Kindred willing to lend a hand in their fight against the Sabbat hordes in exchange for amnesty. Bloodhunted in other cities? No problem, join the ranks of the Prince's volunteer army and you are now under their protection. Anarch rabble-rouser? You're welcome if you're willing to fight. An Anathema? The stronger the better. Sabbat turncoat? Submit to an interrogation and if you pass - welcome to the fold. Once the threat is under control however, the PCs' past comes to hunt them down, with the Camarilla higher ups struggling to control the force they themselves created.

* Underground Railroad - Anarchs: LA has fallen under Cathayan pressure and the Anarch exodus begins. You need to ensure safe passage through Houston (and maybe cause a revolution or two in the process). Sabbat: PCs are a scout pack that has been tasked with creating a safe tunnel through the city. The longer they stay, the more embroidered into the city's political tapestry they become.

* Haven for Exiles - (this mostly based on an idea that I tried to incorporate into the few VtM games I'm brainstorming myself, similar to "Chaos and Desperation") - the Houston's rapid expansion creates a lot of new open space for Cainites to exploit. One of such people is a Kindred fixer, who organises exfiltrations for vampires in trouble. Such help is not without cost - the fixer wants to claim the Domain (not the whole city, the area) from which they operate as their own. The characters are bound by a boon they owe, and perhaps get invested into the project themselves for their own reasons. All 3 main Sects would fit here, though the characters would be technically Autarkis.

I've been stuck on trying to decide what, if anything, to run myself, so thinking about all this potential is exciting. If anything stood out or if you need a hand with anything - feel free to ask! Whether I get a spot or not is irrelevant - the more WoD/CoD stuff on GP the better, I say.

I would be happy to join if it's a V20 game.

I’m a complete beginner to VtM/WoD but I’ve been curious about giving it a go so I’d like to register my interest as well!

I'm still very interested in getting to play a Vampire game-- Sabbot or Camarilla or anything else!

If beginners are welcome, I’d be interested, especially as a previous Houston resident. I would throw in you have additional settings/situations available with Galveston nearby with its history during the Civil War and part of Houston’s importance for power with the shipping ports mixed with the refineries. Also, a lot of opportunities with the cruise ships departing from there.

SABBAT PARTY BOAT! CAMARILLA MONEY BOAT!

Or.. The Houston Prince decided to throw a massive event at a cruise ship - week long debauchery completed with blood fountains and orgies. You are Anarch/Sabbat pack of party crushers, intent on showing those stuck-up Elders what real party looks like.

100% never played VtM but I've always wanted to try it. Would definitely be interested.