Improving my DMing

[Seran]

I've DMed a group of four players in Vampire: The Requiem recently. After four sessions, I realized there are some areas I can majorly improve on, but am not sure what kind of action to take

Roleplaying NPCs properly. My players really enjoy our campaigns, but I feel a bit detached from the NPCs in the story and can't really roleplay them properly. If anything, I feel a bit embarrassed by the cheesy undertones, and just can't get into the swing of it. For this reason I avoid NPC development, and the sessions seem to usually involve subterfuge/combat scenarios. The players enjoy the game though and want me to DM almost every couple nights, but I feel that this is my weakest point.

Following the rules properly. Maybe I don't have a firm grasp on the rules in vampire, but my players can really take it over the top sometimes. Three of the players are fairly new, but the one has been playing for awhile. It's not uncommon for him to say things such as, "I use obfuscate, sneak around the corner, attempt to slice the throat of the three guards, and vanish back into the shadows before anyone else notices." (He really loves to abuse obfuscate, and I can't think of a way to counteract it. I don't want to punish him for using it, but I don't want it to become a crutch for the player to rely on). I think I may be too lenient with multiple actions per turn. Before I know it, half a military squad is dead and initiative hasn't even been rolled yet.

[Kalan]

Good eve Seran!

Sounds a bit like you're simply going through the same growing pains that we all have gone through in our "careers" ;)

With regards to your first question - I've found the easiest way to do quick and easy NPC development is to get an image of some actor or character from a novel/movie in mind, and use them as a template. I'd even go so far sometimes use pictures of said actor/character to help out.

Also don't be afraid to start off with using stereotypes. There's a reason they are still around after so many years - they're easy to use, and help quickly develop simple characters quickly and on the fly.

As with any skill, practice makes perfect, just keep trying and you'll get there.

With regards to your second question on the obfuscate...it's been a while since I played Vampire. But I would think Auspex type powers would help counteract that effect...or really good perception rolls. You should also note that Obfuscate doesn't effect mechanical devices...so maybe he got caught on camera or something...

Wish I could do more to help :S

Good luck!

[terrell]

Are you using Voice or Chat for your sessions? If you are using voice, I cannot recommend MorphVOX Pro from Screaming Bee software https://www.screamingbee.com/ It is a lot easier to role play an NPC when they actually "Have a voice." It works over Skype not sure about Ventrillo or Teamspeak but they are supposed to. To piggy back on Kalan's suggestions, give each NPC a tick, tail or habit. Bob the bondsman always squints and scratches his scalp when he answers question. Libby the librarian purses her lips and steeples her fingers when she is talking. Paul the policeman jingles the change in his pocket and whistles CCR songs when he is on patrol. Initially make it something that you can visualize. If you can visualize it, it will be so much easier for you to role play the persona. Stereotypes really help initially!

As for the rules, if you are uncomfortable, reread them... a few times. I am a rules light person myself, preferring the bare minimum to run the game. I believe if everyone is having a good time, don't bog them down with rules that aren't needed. Never let the rules get in the way.

[Oberoten]

It might also have a bit to do with the system, Vampire is a very "Rock Paper Scissors" kind of system with regard to it'd powers. "This beats this, this beats that" every time more or less.

They have in fact been very thorough to tell that they prefer you not to have to roll anything at all in most situations and instead focus on the interaction outside of combat.

If you want something easy for the players to figure out and which might inspire a few facets extra, go check https://tvtropes.org some of the personalities there might be mixed and switched for good result.

- Obe

[Seran]

Awesome. Thanks for the responses. : )

Yeah, we are using voice chat. But I was thinking of splitting voice chat and roleplay into separate areas. (Voice OOC, Text IC). Seems to take quite a bit longer though.

I've actually been reading into other rulesets. My playgroup doesn't mind not playing vampire. Everyone was pretty hyped for call of cthulhu, and I have savage grounds also, but don't know enough about it to write my own campaigns (I actually wouldn't mind running deadlands, but dunno where I'd start). Even then shadowrun looks fun also. I'm pretty indecisive of a ruleset.

I'd like something where they can go crazy with firepower, death is a high risk, scenarios have fast pace action, and Flexible rules.

[cpbs]

I'd like something where they can go crazy with firepower, death is a high risk, scenarios have fast pace action, and Flexible rules.

I think right there alone describes Call of Cthulhu, if you play it that direction. The d100 ruleset, which is both CoC and the BRP, is a very flexible ruleset in which most of the action that takes places is on the characters part. The Keeper can set the situations but its up to the investigators to actually get there. There are plenty of high action situations that you can create and there are some CoC adventures in the store right now as well.

[Seran]

I think right there alone describes Call of Cthulhu, if you play it that direction. The d100 ruleset, which is both CoC and the BRP, is a very flexible ruleset in which most of the action that takes places is on the characters part. The Keeper can set the situations but its up to the investigators to actually get there. There are plenty of high action situations that you can create and there are some CoC adventures in the store right now as well.

That's awesome. I'm actually going to be running a CoC game tonight or tommorow. It'll be our first shot at it, but i've been reading the books the past week. I also saw a thread about running a zombie survival game with the CoC engine. : ) Maybe that'll be a good thing to try when we're used to the rules.

Also, is there a ruleset for cyberpunk 2021? One of my players was really enthused about it, but it sounds alot like shadowrun to me.

[Andugus]

Following the rules properly. Maybe I don't have a firm grasp on the rules in vampire, but my players can really take it over the top sometimes. Three of the players are fairly new, but the one has been playing for awhile. It's not uncommon for him to say things such as, "I use obfuscate, sneak around the corner, attempt to slice the throat of the three guards, and vanish back into the shadows before anyone else notices." (He really loves to abuse obfuscate, and I can't think of a way to counteract it. I don't want to punish him for using it, but I don't want it to become a crutch for the player to rely on). I think I may be too lenient with multiple actions per turn. Before I know it, half a military squad is dead and initiative hasn't even been rolled yet.

You could consider consequences to help reign in the body count. Just because a vampire has the ability to kill someone or something shouldn't suggest he/she ought to. What if those three human guards are important to another vampire? Or the authorities manage to get a whiff of the existence of vampires. Then there are elder vampires to consider. Few things piss elder vampires off more than to have to deal with petty bullshit caused by such rash actions.

[Czarisyn]

Following the rules properly. Maybe I don't have a firm grasp on the rules in vampire, but my players can really take it over the top sometimes. Three of the players are fairly new, but the one has been playing for awhile. It's not uncommon for him to say things such as, "I use obfuscate, sneak around the corner, attempt to slice the throat of the three guards, and vanish back into the shadows before anyone else notices." (He really loves to abuse obfuscate, and I can't think of a way to counteract it. I don't want to punish him for using it, but I don't want it to become a crutch for the player to rely on). I think I may be too lenient with multiple actions per turn. Before I know it, half a military squad is dead and initiative hasn't even been rolled yet.

Auspex can stop the Obfuscate