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Beginners Guide to Crimson Grid

Here's the low down on how not to get your ass shot during your first feed.

Main Menu

Great job new blood, you managed to find your way into the server, and now you wanna make a name for yourself. To start creating a character, hit the choose your fate button, It'll bring up the character menu

What is the server all about

Crimson Grid is a World of Darkness inspired server featuring Vampire the Masquerade, Werewolf the Apocalypse, and more WoD settings to come. The year is 2009, vampires are real and they run the show in certain places, some taking entire cities under their "domain". Most of these cities are run by a force known as the "Camarilla". In essence, they are the local vampire shadow government that keeps the secret from the humans, or "kine". Almost all of the supernatural creatures of the night adhere to a overarching code to keep the peace, the vampires call this "the Masquerade".

The Camarilla have enforcers to make sure no vamp is going around showing fangs or sucking blood in the middle of the street. Most who do are captured or killed by the "hounds". The Cammies aren't the only group at play. The Anarchs, as their name would suggest, are Anarchists who don't like being told what do by some old shmuck who thinks they know so much more about the world than they do. The Anarchs, most importantly, still adhere to the Masquerade. They enforce it looser and are more lenient to vampires doing their own thing, but they do not want the secret to get out. The last major group for the vampires is the Sabbat. The Sabbat is a doomsday cult who want to bring about the end times, or wake up the ancient vampires who are resting in "torpor".

For a better, in depth look at all these terms and groups, go read Vampire Lore Primer or the White Wolf fan wiki.

Yeah, yeah, How do I get in the game?

Now that you know who the players in the world are, how do you be a player in the game?

Your first character will most likely be a boring, old human. They are the backbone of society for a reason. If you know absolutely nothing about the setting, and want to learn as you go, stay as a human and try playing street cleaner, taxi driver, police officer, or tower employee. These roles will get you a lot of interaction with people and help you get familiar with the world.

From this first page, you can change your height and facial features. The Character Lore tab on the right is more important. In the lore tab, you can change your "Adjective", what other people will see you as. You also can change your country of origin, and gain new languages based on where you're from. Now that you have your look and lore figured out, lets move onto the next tab, stats.

Stats

The stats panel is one of the most important parts of your character. It works much like the stats in the tabletop rpg, you get a certain amount of points to spend in each of the categories and a certain amount of free points to spend across all the groups.

Your Abilities gate-keep certain actions or how well you do them in game. The first column features many physical and social abilities. Notably, athletics allows you to climb walls, brawl increases your punching damage, and streetwise is how well you play pool. The second column has a lot of important skills, drive allows you to drive and improves your turning the higher it is, firearms lowers recoil and increases gun damage, larceny allows you to pick locks with a lock pick, and melee increase your melee damage. The last column has very important gameplay skills, computers allows you to use certain computers in game, finance increase how much money you start with, medicine allows you to use medical items, occult allows you to identify artifacts at level 3 or higher, and technology allows you to link radios to the main receiver.

Your attributes are much simpler. Strength increases damage, dexterity increases run speed, stamina increases health. Charisma increases certain abilities and helps in persuading guards to let you into places. Manipulation is used for certain abilities, and appearance increases how hot you are in your examine text. At 0 appearance you are as hideous as a beast, and 5 you are a super model. Perception, intelligence, and wits are all used for certain abilities and to combat abilities being used on you. Hover over the name of each of these attributes to see a description of them and what the effect.

Willpower is used to combat certain vampire abilities, like presence and dominate. you can increase it for 1 freebie point, and by increasing your courage stat in virtues. The virtue category is linked to vampire morality paths. As a human, you don't need to care, but as a kindred, conscience and self control stop you from frenzy-ing. If you are on a path of enlightenment(do not choose these as a new player) you instead use conviction and instinct for your morality path.

That is it for all the stats. Mix max to your hearts content, or embrace the roleplay and choose stats based on what your character would actually have. The most important ones for the three jobs I mentioned earlier are technology, medicine, finance, and drive. Always have at least one point in these so you can do their respective tasks, and in finances case, have a little pocket cash.

How many dots should you take

There are a lot of complexities with the stat system, but what you should remember first is that this is a role play oriented server. Try to keep your character grounded in an actual niche or realistic standards. A good gauge for what each of the dots mean is 1 is below average, two is average, three is pretty good at it, 4 is trained or experienced, and 5 is one of the best to do it. This doesn't mean you can't have 5 dots, but don't go and pick strength 5, brawl 5, melee 5, if you aren't intending on acting like you are Mike Tyson. Another thing to note is to keep your willpower reasonable. Willpower is used to combat a lot of social abilities people use, but most of them aren't much scarier than a jedi mind trick. Willpower 10 can be flavored a lot of ways, like unwavering faith in god, grueling training in building your resistance to suggestion, or some other fanatical flavoring. The white wolf wiki puts it as "Average humans generally have ratings between 3 and 5; only a rare few, usually fanatics, have a Willpower higher than 7."

I vant to Suck your BLOOD!!

You came to the vampire server to play as a vampire, alright, I get it. If you know a bit about the world, or don't care and just want to play the funny vampire game, you can change your "splat" by clicking the paw icon in the top left. In VtM a vampire is referred to as "Kindred", so select the kindred splat and go back to character creation.

Now that you are a kindred, you have a WHOLE slew of new buttons to click on. The MOST IMPORTANT BUTTON that has been added is the one under your hair/facial hair button. This orange gradient button hides which vampire clan you hail from. Go read the lore primer pages or White Wolf wiki for an in-depth look at the vampire clans. They all have their own rich history, nuances, and curses. But here are some very bad descriptions of all of them:

Banu Haqim warrior: Middle eastern assassins
Banu Haqim Vizier: Middle eastern scholars/assassins
Brujah: really angry
Caitiff: clanless
Cappadocian: ancient genocided necromancers
Harbingers of Skulls: vengeful, ancient genocided necromancers
Daughters of Cacophony: Lilith worshipping sirens
Gangrel: Nature enthusiast, one with the wolf
City Gangrel: City folk who lost their roots, more insectoid or ratty
Gargoyle: Stoney slave clan made from other kindred
Giovanni: Italian mobsters with a side of genocidal necromancy
Salubri: Buddah, but everyone thinks you eat babies and are the devil
Warrior Salubri: Buddah, but vengeful and still the devil
Nagaraja: Cannibal necromancers with a side of magic
Nosferatu: Rulers of the sewers, UGLY SONUVABITCH
Old Clan Tzimisce: Ancient traditionalists
Samedi: Caribbean voodoo zombies
Setite: Egyptian god worshippers
Tlacique: South American god worshippers
Warrior Setite: Anubis cosplayers
Toreador: REALLY REALLY LOVE ART
Tremere: What if a mage got so into blood magic they turned themselves into vampires
True Brujah: Mythically rare brujah who aren't angry and can control time somehow :shrug:, ZA WARUDO
Ventrue: Old Aristocrats
Ventrue antitrbu: Turncoat Old Aristocrats and knights
Baali: Demon summoners
Kiasyd: Irish Fae, also blue
Lasombra: Shadow weavers
Malkavian: Insane, and possibly able to see the future, I'M CRrAaAZZzY!!
Dominate Malkavian: still crazy, just less fun. They don't hear voices in their head talking about rats.
Tzimisce: Fleshcrafters

Great, now that you picked a clan, next you need to choose your generation. Generation is how far you are away from the original vampire, Caine. The lowest you can choose is 8, a very powerful vampire, but still far removed and very much kill able. The highest is 16th gen, your blood is so thin you can not sire any new vampires, and you have very weak control over disciplines, and sometimes don't even manifest fangs. A good generation to pick is 13-15, not too strong but still very much a kindred. Next is Diablery, to diablerize, is to consume the soul of another vampire. This increases the generation you are, but is also VERY illegal. For now don't touch this.

Last on this page is your Path. The path is your moral guidelines. 90% of vampires are path of humanity, most kindred still cling to their humanity and don't let the Beast inside them take over. This is what you should stick to, this is most common and easily role-played. The other choice, is a Path of Enlightenment. There are many differently named paths that all have their own moral code and twisted view to confront the Beast. Choosing one of these means your character has cast way their ideas that they are still human, and they embrace the instincts that the Beast gives them. Again, just pick Humanity, these are just roleplay choices, and they are very complex moral guidelines.

There is also a new slider in Character Lore, Immortal age. Immortal age is how long you've been a vampire, this directly influences how many bloodpoints you have for Disciplines and what jobs you can play in the case of primogens. If you are just starting, do not be older than 100, you start to get locked out of the easy newbie jobs the older you are.

Disciplines

You get three Disciplines, what they are depends on your clan. You also get "dots" based on your immortal age. Hover over the name of the discipline to get a brief description of it and the name of the abilities it gives you. Go to Disciplines to learn more about what each of them do. But here are some bad descriptions of each of them:

Animalism: Summon woodland critters to fight by your side, you got that dog in you
Auspex: See ghosts, aura, and really far away, I can see... Forever
Bloodbuff: Get strong, with blood
Bloodheal: Heal, with blood
Celerity: Go REALLY REALLY fast, admin has played sound: Initial D - Running in the 90s
Daimonion: Pentagram, check. Candles, check. Time to summon a demon
Dementation: Spread your insanity to those around you
Dominate: Command people forcefully to do you bidding. WAITER, Fetch me by juice box
Fortitude: Make your skin hard as steel, NOBODY TOUCHES THE DOOOZZZEERRR
Melpominee: Hear the siren's song, or Ventriloquism
Mytherceria: Fae style magic, and goblin summoning, You must solve my riddles three~!
Necromancy: Raise the dead from their graves, I could use a spare hand
Obeah: Healing hands~
Obfuscate: Go invisible or take the face of someone else, Now you see me, Now-...
Obtenebration: Wrap yourself in shadows and blot out lights around you, the void consumes all
Potence: Make your punches REALLY REALLY hurt, HAVE A FIST
Presence: Make people follow your word and mesmerize them, everybody loves me, because I'm a pretty princess!
Protean: Ever wonder what it's like to be a bat? or a bear? or a wolf? or mist?
Quietus: Poison people and spit acid, Serpent's venom, now from your finger tips!
Serpentis: Become a snake, or just take on their features, not to be used against trained flute players
Temporis: Bend the laws of time around you to become REALLY REALLY REALLY fast, admin has played sound: ZA WARUDO
Thanatosis: Wither! Make people become old, or zombie-like with a single touch
Thaumaturgy: Blood magic!
Valeren: Healing hands~ with a side of fighting
Vicissitude: Turn people into furniture or abhorrent flesh amalgams, I made your neighbor into a coffee table

But what about- AWOOOOOO

Vampires and hunters are all good and fun, but this is a World Of Darkness server, not just a Vampire The Masquerade server. That means we have another power player in the city, the Garou. Garou are werewolves who fight for environmental protections and against big megacorporations who pollute the world. They are rage-filled warriors of Gaia, the mother earth, and fight against the spirits of decay and destruction from the Wyrm. Go read the Garou lore primer and the White Wolf fan wiki entry for Garou for background information and how to role play them.

To make a Garou, go back to that paw print button and select the Garou splat. You will again be greated with new buttons that have a very big influence on what your character is like. These new buttons are, your Auspice, your Breed, and your Tribe. I will go over them a bit out of order, lets start with the middle highlighted button, the human button.

Breed

This is your Breed, how your character was born as a Garou. There are 3 ways to be born a Garou, Human born, Wolf born, or Metis born. Human means you were born traditionally, and had your first change at some point later in life. Human-born Garou are much more in touch with human life and the spirits of the Weaver, due to growing up in industrialized zones. Wolf means you were born as a wolf. Your mother had you in a den somewhere in the woods and you lived your life in pack hunting and probably learned all about Garou life from the moment you first breathed. These Garou are much more in tune with the Wyld and often lack knowledge around human life and their customs. Metis are the incestuous genetic malformations of the Garou world. This is the result of two Garou breeding between each other. The first law of Garou society is to never had children with another Garou, but it is often broken. Metis are always malformed, looking at best like unfortunate incest children with rampant genetic deformities, and at worst hideous beasts halfway between man and wolf that can never walk into a populated town. Choose whichever breed calls to you the most, just know that they each come with their own challenges and expectations.

Auspice

Next your Auspice, this is what phase of the moon you were born under. This has a very large influence on what you are like as a person and what spiritual powers you have. The Auspices are:

Ahroun: Full moon, These are the front line fighters and let their Rage guide their claws. These are often the first Garou to charge into a Pentex subsidiary and rough up the place. Waxing ahroun are often more drawn to seeking Glory and honorable combats, while Waning are considered more dominating and drawn to alpha behavior. They get abilities that revolve around combat.
Galliard:Gibbous moon, These are bards and story tellers of the tribe. Waxing Gibbous are often more drawn to Comedies or tales of epic grandeur and positivity, while Waning are drawn to tragedies and melancholic stories. They get abilities for speaking to animals, telepathy and stronger howling.
Philodox: Half moon, These are the judges and arbiters of truth and law in Garou society. When a trial or argument happens, you seek the guidance of a Philodox. Waxing are considered more calm and fair, making better lawful judges, while Waning are more nervous and understanding, making better negotiators and arbiters. They get abilities that allow you to see what splat someone is, if they are lying, and resist pain.
Ragabash: New moon, These are the jesters and tricksters. They have much more control over their rage than the other auspices. They often pull pranks and push the buttons of others in Garou society, and try to lighten the mood during times of panic or brooding. Waxing ragabash are more light hearted and jovial, while Waning are darker and in tune with the shadows. They get abilities for invisibility, infectious laughter, and unlocking doors.
Theurge: Crescent moon, These are the healers and spiritual leaders of the tribe. They channel the powers of spirits to heal kin, guide their path, or accomplish tasks. Waxing theurges are more compassionate with spirits and try to form bonds with them and ask for their aid. Waning are more commanding and dominate spirits to do what they need. They get abilities to open gates to the Umbra, heal others, speak with spirits, and sense the Wyrm.
Stolen Moon: Despised beings of vile filth. This is not a real Auspice, but a history of how you became a Garou. Stolen moons are created by skinning the bodies of true Garou and performing despicable rituals to imbue yourself with the power and energy to undergo the First Change. They get no gifts, no respect, and if their history is discovered, they are sometimes hunted till death. There are no friends to rely on as a Stolen moon.

Tribes

Now that you have your gifts and know the history of your birth, you can pick a tribe to be from. These are not like clans in Vampire, in that they govern your powers and circumstance, but are simply which group of history you wish to learn from. While in game, you have gifts inately from your auspice and tribe, Garou in lore are not born with any power besides shapeshifting. They must learn how to commune with spirits and acquire gifts from their patrons and spirits. This learning is often from the tribe they choose to undergo training with. the tribes include:

Black Furies: Women only clan of Greek descendant black wolves. Their totem patron is the Pegasus and they revile the Weaver as much if not more than the Wyrm. They fight for women's rights and help any woman in need. There is only a small sect of Amazonian warriors that embrace the misogynistic caricature that the other clans think of them as.
Black Spiral Dancers: Wyrm tainted, insane garou who have lost the light of the Wyld. They walked descend from an ancient tribe called the White Howlers, who used their rage and spiritual powers to "walk the spiral" to become in-tune with Gaia. After long fights with vampires and the Wyrm, they became corrupted and through walking their spiral, they saw glimpses of the Wyrm and the underworld. Now, they fight against the other tribes to try to bring ruin to the world and spread the taint of the Wyrm. Their totem patron is the Bat.
Bone Gnawers: The lowest rung on the ladder of tribes, they are the place for the underdogs and the lowly. They feel no discomfort being in the cities and are often in touch with the homeless and vagrants. Their totem patron is the Rat.
Children of Gaia: The tree huggers and compassionate tribe. They wish to form a united front against the Wyrm with all the tribes.They try and fail to be arbiters during times of strife. Their totem patron is the Unicorn.
Fianna:
Galestalkers:
Get of Fenris:
Glass Walkers:
Ghost Council:
Red Talons:
Shadow Lords:
Silent Striders:
Silver Fangs:
Star Gazers:

Getting in game

Now you have your character made, go ahead and ready up or late join as your preferred job. Again street cleaner, taxi driver, police officer, and tower employee are good ones to start off as and get right into the role play.

Key Items

You will always spawn with some very important items, namely, your phone, keys, and debit card. You can go into the loadout tab to spawn in with a wallet that can hold your keys and cards, but if you didn't you can buy one from a clothing store. Your debit card can be used to make purchases at cash registers in shops around town. Just hold the card in your hand and you can purchase goods. Next, keys can be used to unlock doors. You will always spawn with keys pertaining to your job. You can either hold the keys in hand and use them on the door to unlock it, or put them in your pocket and right click the door to quickly unlock it. Remember to right click it again after you shut it to lock the door again! Depending on your clan, you will spawn with a certain set of keys known as your "haven" keys. Most clans have a specific building in the city where they like to gather. Notable ones include:

Ventrue: The Jazz club
Toreador: The Night Club, Dora
Nosferatu: The Warrens, in the sewer
Malkavians: The Psych ward, under the clinic, subject to change
Banu Haqim: The coffee shop
Salubri: The veterinary clinic
Tremere: The library/arts center
Giovanni: The Mansion in the woods
Old Clan Tzmisce: The Manor in the woods(above supply in sanfran)
Lasombre: One of the churches
Brujah: The Gym
True Brujah: The Antique Shop
Kiasyd: The Museum
Setite: The Community Center
Baali: Alcoholics Anonymous
Daughters of Cacophony: Karaoke bar(sanfran only)

Lastly, your phone has contacts and Endpost. Your contacts are usually people in the same job as you. You can also publish your number so anyone can see it in the published numbers tab. Endpost in the social media of choice this year, and everyone is on it. You can create a name to post under and make short messages for everyone to see. It is a good way to find out who is in town or hear what is going on.

Guestbook

The first thing you'll notice when walking around is, you don't know who anybody is! This is because you haven't met anyone yet. Go around and ask for peoples name, strike up conversation. Once you learn their name, stand one tile apart, and ctrl+shift+left click on their body to add their name to your Guestbook. Make sure they aren't wearing a mask! You can't put a face to the name if you don't have the face. Your guestbook is round persistent, but character specific, so Character A doesn't get the names from Character B's guestbook.

Important Controls

There are a lot of controls to master here. If you are a vampire, the most important one is how to feed. To do this, first find a homeless person or animal in a discrete location. Make sure it is not in eyesight of anyone, then grab them twice and press V. This will bite their neck and you will start sucking their blood. If they are a human, make sure not to drain them all the way, once they get down to a third of their blood, stop grabbing and walk away. If you drink them dry, you will lose humanity and have to hide the body. Another tricky vampire control is changing the level of your disciplines. When you put more than one dot in a discipline, you get more abilities. To switch between them, right click the button at the top of your screen. To stop an ability (ie you turned on potency) click the button again.

You can jump using middle mouse button! You can climb by going into combat mode using 4 or f and dragging yourself onto a wall. You can pixel shift and tilt by setting their keybinds in the game preferences. You can also lean on walls by dragging your sprite onto the wall NOT in combat mode.