Thoughts on old WoD (vampires).
VtM is a very interesting game when compared to every other core game.
A wraith exists by very definition of their personality, and they engage in their adventures because of their passions that drive them. For a wraith, the only reason they exist is to participate in their world.
A changeling exists by very definition of their spirit nature, and they must engage in their chimerical world or part of their soul dies. For a changeling, participating in chimerical reality is a matter of life and death.
A werewolf is thrown into werewolf society without any need to be predisposed to the idea, and as such they are likely to be one of the most hesitant. The thing for werewolves is they have knowledge of the Wyrm and the capacity to stand against it.
A mummy exists by very definition of their duty. A mummy is one of the races who can most easily shirk their duty, but like a werewolf, they have a knowledge of Apophis, and the capacity to stand against it.
A mage seeks knowledge, it's this seeking that becomes the point of their adventures. A mage has an avatar who pushes them on this knowledge quest.
But what about a vampire? They have been gifted with eternal life, they have no cosmic duty, and they have no personality predisposed to petty power struggles. They are not a wraith, they do not exist because they have a purpose. They are not a changeling, they do not exist because they like adventure. They are not a werewolf, they do not exist because they have a duty. They are not a mummy, they do not get a second chance if they die. They are not a mage, knowledge does not mean a conflict with the technocracy. What then compels a vampire? They have so much to lose, and so little to gain. The one vampire I played (and I actually liked the idea and playing him at first) left the game because he was getting put in too much danger with not enough chance for reward. He decided he was going to go an enjoy his everlasting life and relax while he played the stock market. The only vampires who I can see staying in a high stakes game have serious personality quirks that would likely get them killed in their intrigue games.
To be fair, a demon has the same capacity to just sit back and relax, but due to their angelic nature, they are more likely to be compelled. A werewolf might not like the idea of engaging in a dangerous war either and might just leave. A mage might be content to practice some coincidental entropy to pick winning lotto numbers. Even then though, I can understand why each of these three might have well adjusted people who engage in dangerous activities because they have knowledge to gain or a world to save, despite the risk to their life.
A wraith exists by very definition of their personality, and they engage in their adventures because of their passions that drive them. For a wraith, the only reason they exist is to participate in their world.
A changeling exists by very definition of their spirit nature, and they must engage in their chimerical world or part of their soul dies. For a changeling, participating in chimerical reality is a matter of life and death.
A werewolf is thrown into werewolf society without any need to be predisposed to the idea, and as such they are likely to be one of the most hesitant. The thing for werewolves is they have knowledge of the Wyrm and the capacity to stand against it.
A mummy exists by very definition of their duty. A mummy is one of the races who can most easily shirk their duty, but like a werewolf, they have a knowledge of Apophis, and the capacity to stand against it.
A mage seeks knowledge, it's this seeking that becomes the point of their adventures. A mage has an avatar who pushes them on this knowledge quest.
But what about a vampire? They have been gifted with eternal life, they have no cosmic duty, and they have no personality predisposed to petty power struggles. They are not a wraith, they do not exist because they have a purpose. They are not a changeling, they do not exist because they like adventure. They are not a werewolf, they do not exist because they have a duty. They are not a mummy, they do not get a second chance if they die. They are not a mage, knowledge does not mean a conflict with the technocracy. What then compels a vampire? They have so much to lose, and so little to gain. The one vampire I played (and I actually liked the idea and playing him at first) left the game because he was getting put in too much danger with not enough chance for reward. He decided he was going to go an enjoy his everlasting life and relax while he played the stock market. The only vampires who I can see staying in a high stakes game have serious personality quirks that would likely get them killed in their intrigue games.
To be fair, a demon has the same capacity to just sit back and relax, but due to their angelic nature, they are more likely to be compelled. A werewolf might not like the idea of engaging in a dangerous war either and might just leave. A mage might be content to practice some coincidental entropy to pick winning lotto numbers. Even then though, I can understand why each of these three might have well adjusted people who engage in dangerous activities because they have knowledge to gain or a world to save, despite the risk to their life.