• Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines Malkavian Skills

Tremere, it will make your game super easy. One of the first skills you get (blood strike) deals monsterous damage and if you stand still while using it, it does not cost anything, in a battle zone you merely have to know where the enemies are, and just feed when your blood gets low.

Whatever you want, there is no optimal first playthrough. I'm not being facetious, the game is really quite easy. For a first playthrough I advise against investing heavily into any one thing so that you can try on lots of different things and not be wasting XP for minimal improvements. Also, avoid investing XP on things that are only modestly helpful, like Investigation and Sneaking, it makes very little difference.Melee weapons are quite decent early in the game and can last until the end.

Guns are quite terrible until the last act of the game, but by the time you reach Chinatown it is a good idea to start investing in them.I'm not a fan of the clan specific 'Disciplines'. They add some flavour but they are all very situational, you don't need to invest early.I know I'm oversimplifying things by saying this, but the core gameplay is very simple. The character building system only slightly improves the core gameplay. You are not looking for rich synergies to help you overcome tough odds, the game is slowly introducing tougher enemies but nothing so intense that you will be fighting using all your wits and getting the most out of your character build.That being said, it is worth mentioning that while there are invisible die rolls during combat (random damage), other things outside of combat are NOT random. Your lockpicking 'Feat' stat does not improve your chance to open a lock, it straight up decides whether or not a lock can be opened.

Same with computers: You need to equal a minimum 'Feat' level for every computer in the game. When you lockpick or hack, the game will tell you what level the lock or computer requires to open. Conversational 'Feats' are also straight checks: If your Persuasion is high enough, blue dialogue options appear in conversation. Intimidation options are green and Seduction options are pink. If your 'Feat' is not high enough, the option does not appear as options during the conversation.Of the three, Persuasion is the most useful one and eventually you will have good use of it at level 8.

Seduction is somewhat useful to female characters but you don't really need to bump it up to more than 4 unless you're specifically exploring what it is like to be a seductress. Intimidation is woefully neglected by the game designers, there are very few conversations where it is used and many times these options have no concrete benefit. If you want, you could try starting the game with Intimidation 4, but it is better to skip it entirely for a first playthrough. Some things:clans: Nosferatu and Malkavians are not advised for a first playthrough. Nosferatu must not be seen by humans, so you have to hide all the time.Malkavians are insane.

You hear strange voices and have bizarre visions. Most importantly, your dialogue options are very strange, so sometimes it is hard to guess which answer means yes or no.You should play those because they are fun and very different, but ist not the best idea for a first time. All other clans should be fine because they play as normal people with normal dialogue. Ventrue may have a problem to get blood because usually I feed in the sewers.As written before, melee is good all the time and guns are good later in the game. Persuation is the best social feat.

Research is needed to read books that improve your stats. Inspection, haggle and stealth are almost useless. Sufyan: Whatever you want, there is no optimal first playthrough. I'd have to disagree. There is an optimal build, or rather, a list of things to not waste XP on that should be heavily considered when building a character. Roahin:.The real meat is, of course, skill books though. In the pawnshop you start the game in, there's no fewer than five free points.So, even if you want to build say a Firearms character, it behooves you to not put any of your precious starting points in Firearms.

Simply buy the two books from Trip and get Firearms 2 without wasting any skill points right from the get-go. You are not endearing yourself to me by suggesting powergaming and exploiting bugs on a first playthrough. I agree with your analysis, but find it wildly inappropriate for this thread. This is why I tell newbies not to read any guides on Fallout 1 and 2 either because those games have been so thoroughly deconstructed veteran players often tend to see them strictly as power gaming equations to optimise, not emergent stories to experience. Fine after exploring every nook and cranny over ten playthroughs, but the first time through should be a journey rather than a scheduling exercise.

Sufyan: I agree with your analysis, but find it wildly inappropriate for this thread. This is why I tell newbies not to read any guides on Fallout 1 and 2 either because those games have been so thoroughly deconstructed veteran players often tend to see them strictly as power gaming equations to optimise, not emergent stories to experience. Fine after exploring every nook and cranny over ten playthroughs, but the first time through should be a journey rather than a scheduling exercise. I'm sure you feel owed accolades for being a liar because your intentions were benevolent, but you'll find none from me. You would've been better served making him aware that there are optimized builds and suggesting he not pursue them so he could enjoy the game in a purist way that you approve of. He could then choose to do so or ask after them at his leisure.But you removed his agency in the matter by deceiving him. Complain and moan at me all you like, it doesn't change how things are.

Roahin: It's an odd thing for you to make assumptions for another person for. I can't find where he specified that he wanted to accomplish the bare minimum in the most wasteful way possible. You're right, I don't know how he wants to enjoy the game. I assume he wants to experience it for himself at least the first time through. He didn't specify if he wants to follow a flow chart or if he only need some hints to avoid screwing up his character build. I erred on the side of not wanting a walkthrough and told him not to worry about the build.

Roahin: It's not a bug, my excitable little friend. It was included in the vanilla version, all patched versions including the official and unofficial. He offers an infinite supply of skillbooks that will raise your stat to a 2. You being personally offended by the notion, while curious, doesn't suddenly make it a bug. Well, I can only tell you that I find the idea that this being intentional game design working as intended is ridiculous. The reason it has never been fixed in any patches or mods is because the shops in the game are hardcoded as wesp5 has stated many times on these forums. It is unfixable, or unchangable if you want to argue that it is working as intended.

Roahin: I'm sure you feel owed accolades for being a liar because your intentions were benevolent, but you'll find none from me. You would've been better served making him aware that there are optimized builds and suggesting he not pursue them so he could enjoy the game in a purist way that you approve of. He could then choose to do so or ask after them at his leisure.But you removed his agency in the matter by deceiving him. Complain and moan at me all you like, it doesn't change how things are. I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're talking about.

Are you calling me a liar for something I never said, or for omitting powerbuilds in my original post? It is a very strange accusation, and a strong one. I'm at a loss here.In the end, the original poster seems happy to read that he don't need to worry about optimising his character for a first playthrough, he will make it through even without squeezing the most XP out of all skill books and trainers.

He did mark my first post as the solution and I hope it helped him enjoy his first playthrough. It is a rich cRPG, there is plenty to learn over several playthroughs and eventually you will grow into powerbuilding and figuring out the optimal way to do everything you want. Sufyan: Nowhere did I say there are no optimal builds, only that there is no perfect way to enjoy a first playthrough. Except that's demonstrably false.

Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines Malkavian Skills

There is an optimal first playthrough. Why lie to him about it?There's a world of difference between 'there's no optimal first playthrough' and 'there's no real need to optimize your first playthrough.' Outside the fact that one is patently false, the second one allowed him to ask follow up questions if he wants to optimize or is concerned of missing out on things. But you misled him and any other future reader who stumbles on the thread. Sufyan: You're right, I don't know how he wants to enjoy the game. I assume he wants to experience it for himself at least the first time through. He didn't specify if he wants to follow a flow chart or if he only need some hints to avoid screwing up his character build.

You erred on the side of withholding information to force him to play the way you enjoy. Again, you didn't have to reveal a single thing about optimized play other than its existence and the assurance its unnecessary. But the deliberate subterfuge? How can you not see where that line was crossed? Sufyan: Well, I can only tell you that I find the idea that this being intentional game design working as intended is ridiculous. The reason it has never been fixed in any patches or mods is because the shops in the game are hardcoded as wesp5 has stated many times on these forums.

It is unfixable, or unchangable if you want to argue that it is working as intended. I don't recall him saying that, but you might be right. Still, I fail to see how a vendor carrying an unlimited supply of two specific skill books that cap out at rank 2 and aren't free is some hellish exploit.

Especially since that means you ultimately only saved a whopping total of 6xp. Sufyan: In the end, the original poster seems happy to read that he don't need to worry about optimising his character for a first playthrough, he will make it through even without squeezing the most XP out of all skill books and trainers.

He did mark my first post as the solution and I hope it helped him enjoy his first playthrough. It is a rich cRPG, there is plenty to learn over several playthroughs and eventually you will grow into powerbuilding and figuring out the optimal way to do everything you want. My response wasn't specifically for him, given enough time has passed that he'd probably beaten the game a couple of times. It was for future readers who happen across the post here and read about how there aren't optimized builds and take that misinformation into the game only to realize VERY SHORTLY after playing that they were deceived. Granted, you can fall back to your 'I specified first playthrough' semantics, but just the same.

Some people won't mind finding half a dozen redundant and now useless skill books pertinent to what they wanted to play at the outset of the game, some would.As responsible players being solicited for our opinions, I think the best course is to make them aware of their options, not try and deceive them into playing the way we personally enjoyed best. Roahin: I don't recall him saying that, but you might be right.

Still, I fail to see how a vendor carrying an unlimited supply of two specific skill books that cap out at rank 2 and aren't free is some hellish exploit. Especially since that means you ultimately only saved a whopping total of 6xp. All stores in the game work this way. Items get duplicated when you sell them to any vendor. Trip's is the most obvious one as he already has two books in his inventory when you first visit him. You can sell any other books you find to any store/vendor and buy them as many times as you need. It is a glitch.

No way this is intentional game design, it makes no sense. Roahin: A liar for claiming there was no optimized build. Even qualifying it with 'first playthrough' leaves the implication that there isn't one. As though an optimized playthrough exists independent for subsequent builds (somehow) but is immaterial for the first. That is three times in a row you fail to comprehend what I actually wrote. I never claimed there is no way to optimise your character build.

The only way to do that as a first time player is to not really play the game at all and just follow a walkthrough, which I didn't interpret the minimalist original post to be asking for.Alright, one last time with more words than I initially thought necessary: There is no 'optimal' first playthrough, assuming you're going in blind. You won't see all the game's content in just one playthrough, so don't worry while you're still learning. Experience the game for the very first time, you're lucky to have such a rich game to discover.I mean it, I'm done with this thread. I've said all I want to say. Or, apparently, I've 'forced' every new player to play it 'my' way by ignoring the number crunching. I'm so decietful that way, obscuring the glorious XP hoarding and exploit opportunities from people who may give a shit about that stuff on their first playthrough. Hearts of iron 4 soviet union guide. UniversalWolf: Just answer the questions in the character quiz and go with whatever you get.Contrary to what you will hear, Malkavian and Nosferatu are fine for a first playthrough, so if you get one of those don't worry about it.

My first character was a Nosferatu, and I don't regret it at all.Then stop reading this board where people will try to give you stat neurosis. Just play the game.

Disagree from experience: The game always tells me to play Nossie and I did that on my first playthrough - was quite frustrating and I never was able to beat Ming with that original Nossie. I almost moved on because of that. Sufyan: WORDS WORDS WORDS WORDS Given the dozen or so 'I'm done with this thread, but let me continue posting' remarks, I can tell this is just bait to keep the whole thing rolling, but what the heck. I think we've both made our points clearly. You feel as though you weren't dishonest, I think you were.I think someone inquiring after advice for their build is looking for something constructive like say- there are a few free points the game gives you the first five minutes out of the tutorial.

Or perhaps recommendations on not wholly neglecting physical stats, as that's a first time player mistake where you have a social or intellectual Kindred that gets destroyed in the third act of the game where it becomes one long combat scene. You told him to START investing in Chinatown. Do you not remember the levels immediately preceding Chinatown?

I'm guessing your recommendation for those levels are. Sprint wildly past all the enemies, and save often?I mean, let's not forget this whole back and forth is because I had the audacity to say that I disagreed about no optimal first playthrough and then you picked apart my post snootily and attacked my advice as though someone offering a different perspective was something to be defensive about. I probably should've known then to jump ship on the discussion with you. C'est la vie, live and learn.Anyhow, for the OP or a future reader. There is a lot of good advice you can get for a first playthrough. Not just keeping a weather eye out for skill books and trainers to save precious XP that you can't get back if its misspent, but also on builds. Sufyan would have you believe that any build can handle the game, and while I guess it's technically true, without some foreknowledge of how the game's tone and play shifts, most of the end of your game is going to be you frustratedly reloading from deaths.So feel free to ask for advice.

There's lots more tips and information that could benefit a new player that doesn't spoil a single line of plot for the game.

I don't understand why he would pick Salubri as one of the best. Sure, you can laud them as a great concept but they are utterly unplayable.

Their longstanding tradition of sire diablerie ensures that all Salubri are of such high generation that they are unplayable in your average VTM game. They also supposedly know so much about Golconda. You know, that PC goal that is supposed to take a whole chronicle to sort out?Sure, they are cool and all but when you deride the Ravnos for having a nomadic lifestyle which makes them difficult to play, and then you give one of your top spots to a clan that is so clearly problematic and utterly unplayable. Same answer: Malkavians.From the story side, Malkavians are one of the best clans. They represent the madness of being turned from a human into a monster, and the insanity that comes with becoming a creature of the night.

While they may not show the power of the Tremere, the cruelty of the Tzimmisce, or even the feralness of the Gangrel.there's something about them from a metaplot standpoint, and they're always at the cornerstone of change.However, I feel like Malks are the worst bloodline because they are so rarely played well. Most players at my table have taken it as an excuse to say whatever they want, go on killing rampages, make random references to bacon, or just derail games.

Much like the Marauders ( from Mage: the Ascension), I feel like they would have been better left as an ST device and not as a playable class. I disagree with banning them as a 'playable class' and have instead practiced a 'talk' I have with all new players interested in a Malkavian.' So imagine this: you're a human in the World of Darkness.

You're walking down an alley late at night on your way home from work. About half way through you notice someone coming the opposite way.

You know that this person is incurably insane but don't know if they are paranoid, psychopathic, synesthetic or something worse. Is this funny, weird or random?

No, this is horrifying. Now if you want to play a Malkavian then you want to play that person. You want to be the insanity the frightens Kindred and Kine alike. You are not cute. You are not whimsical.

You are not stereotypical or two dimensional. You are a broken mirror reflected a filthy world.

Act like it.' That's why you enforce a maturity filter on anyone who wants to play a malkavian, and inform them that insanity and LOLSORANDUMBDOOMDARK are two different things, and it will be punished.This doesn't have to be overt, but would you take a fishmalk seriously? No, you'd treat them like the child they oh-so-clearly are.

Have NPCs ignore or outright snub them. If they start going full psychopath, well, we put down rabid dogs.Only if your player is willing to accept that their actions will have consequences, that is when they can play a malkavian. I have to disagree with this list. It seems to be compiled more from the 'Coolness of.' Aspect than the 'Player appeal'. Salubri and Lasombra (and honorable-mention Tzimisce) are ultimately NPC-centric bloodlines. Their specialty powers render them OP in many games and more appealing as BBEGs or Mentor-buddies than players themselves.

And their over-the-top good/evil backgrounds suck out the moral gray area that makes WoD appealing as a social game.I'd keep Toreador in the 3rd spot, as I think they make fun first-time-player Vampires. You get to indulge in the Anne Rice inspired tropes. You can play it straight as tragic heroes or greedy/lusty deviants. Alternatively, you can go camp and still get cut some slack. But the glaring flaw, combined with some strong base powers, renders you an exciting character without making you a walking trump card.I'd turn the 2nd spot over to Malkavians, who do what Toreador do but do it better in the hands of a more experienced player. Play it silly or play it seriously deranged.

You get to really explore the social space and play up being an insidious manipulator. And you get to argue with your ST over whether a particular psychotic episode really constitutes a loss of humanity, or whether it reflects the inner turmoil of a tortured mind that is all-to-profoundly human.My final spot would go to the Nosferatu. Rather than being a shadowy nightmare superpower, they are the real personification of the beast. Horrible, freakish, disgusting. Their outward appearance illustrates their shattered souls.

And they serve as a reminder of what a Vampire wants NOT to be - an inhuman monster. The inhumaness doesn't come as a mighty flesh-rending weapon.

It's a shackle that drags the Nos down. It makes them miserable, desperate, jealous, and hateful. Players that pick up a Nos character sheet are playing a character they will love to loathe.

It's a challenging group with a lot of potential to do everything WoD does well.As to the 'Worst of', I'll generally leave it alone with the exception of the (2) slot Followers of Set. The Setites are admittedly niche. They're not officially in the Cam or the Sabot, they need a lot of ST solo hand-holding to handle whatever they will inevitably scheme, and they tend to lean on the metaplot harder than necessary (and, let's be honest, the Vampire metaplot isn't great).

But as suspicious, cultish, agenda-driven assholes, I think they fill their roles very well.I set that in huge contrast to the Setites' arch rivals, the Assamites. Where as the Setites are designed to be asshole characters, Assamites tend towards being asshole players.

Yeah, gigaloos and drug dealers aren't necessarily nice people, but they do know how to go along to get along. And as long as you aren't in a Setite's way, they're not automatically inclined to screw you. Assamites, by contrast, are basically designed to do the two things that can ruin any game - kill outside their weight class and commit diablorie. The obnoxious power set of the Assamites practically begs them to settle every conflict with violence, which is annoying as hell in a game focused so heavily on horror and political intrigue.

They are a sledge hammer in the hands of a new player and a high powered sniper rifle in the hands of the more experienced. And, being mercenaries by trade, they don't just have the personal incentive to kill every problem away, they create the opportunity for other players to pay the Assamite to kill other problems away.The clan adds virtually nothing to the setting of any social significance. It's power set lets it out Brujah the Brujah, the de facto 'combat monkeys' of the five Cam clans. And it strips a great deal of the horror out of dealing with elders and Hunters, while practically begging players to chow down on someone's soul which will, in turn, make the Assamite that much more of a combat menace and further diminish various horrible threats. And on top of all that, it trails on the Ravnos in terms of 'walking derogatory stereotype'.

I definitely agree with you about Nosferatu, but for perhaps slightly different reasons. They appeal to me because of their 'outsider' status and the perspective this gives them. I like their role as information brokers and the in-game explanation as to why. Even though several other clans are individually better at it, their clan structure allows for greater spread of select knowledge and lore. I like the thought that other clans secretly fear their hidden, knowledgeable way and that is why the other clans truly seek to deny them greater political power.

I also like the notion of these elaborate underground lairs, unseen by the world above. Best AND Worst?

Malkavian for both slots. For the reasons all other clans are both best and worst, a good player and an inventive storyteller can make even a bloody Daughter of Cacophony an interesting and compelling character, Brujah don't have to be the bullies, badly played, they always are, same thing for every single clan.I actually played on stereotypes to betray the PC's expectations, gave them an actually stupid and spoiled Giovanni as an antagonist, so they came to regard them as inbred and foolish, but the main villain was a Giovanni without the last name, and the inbred was his childe who was gathering intelligence. I do so love these sorts of chats/rants.Personally, one of the things I love about the V:tM design is that there really was a 'good fit' for pretty much any kind of play style or personality. I really believe that.This article and the chatter on here around it really does cement my opinion that from one group to another, the experiences can be SO DIFFERENT. (1)Honestly however, this whole list seems to be inspired to illustrate how problematic the Ravnos are. Which they are. The nuts and bolts of them simply build on stereotypes of the 'gypsy' and well.

That's not okay. Even the word 'gypsy' is now understood to be a slur.

WhiteWolf seemed to try to be at times understanding of that or just simply backed off of that (by killing them all first during Gehenna) but it IS a piece of V:tM that is hard to swallow.I don't think a list was maybe the best vehicle to explore that. But I look like hearing other folk's experiences.

For instance, I LOVE the Lasombra but no one ever wants to play them. It's nice to know someone out there likes them as I do.(1) there is one glaring exception. The girls who play Malkavians that carry around dolls. I once played in a group that had TWO of them at one time. I think that's just a specific type of Fishmalk but from other players I've talked too. Inevitably there will be someone who is that character.

It's eerie.