FINAL DAYS: Be An Ambassador
about 6 years ago – Mon, Nov 26, 2018 at 08:11:36 PM

Hello Kickstarter Coterie,

We're officially in the FINAL WEEK of the kickstarter campaign. I've still got two manuscript sneak peeks to post (including the Lasombra section on Monday!) and the final Sunday Story, but I'll also be sharing a bunch of book-keeping-type posts about Reward Tiers & Add-Ons, Stretch Goals, and What Comes Next, and this one, which is all about recruiting new backers during this final phase of the campaign.

First, let me say - we've just crossed 220% of our initial funding target and have more than 1400 backers participating in this project! We've unlocked TWELVE Stretch Goals and have Lucky #13 in sight. Just like in shadowy Chicago, we're building our own support network - our own community within the larger population .  

That's one of the awesome and inspiring things about kickstarter projects - you not only build the game (or setting, in this case), but you start to build a community around the project. I'm excited to keep adding rewards to this project -- especially the Chicago Folio and Let The Streets Run Red setting supplements -- and hope to add even more! The final week usually picks up speed as we go along, and there's a ton of potential to add another 4 or 5 or even more rewards! But to get there, we've got to increase the number of backers pledging to this campaign. Thus, the topic for today's update:

Be an Ambassador  

I know, this is something I've already said many times (and seem to say during every project!), but for this final week, you are officially a duly-deputized ambassador for this Kickstarter project. You may even say "Vampbassador," if you can manage that with a straight face.

I know I end every update post with "Keep spreading the word! Invite others to join in!" - but what does that mean, and how do you do it?

Easy answer - don't stop talking about the Chicago By Night kickstarter until 12:01 PM next Thursday EST (when the campaign has ended). Yes, family and friends are tired of me talking about it (believe me!), but everything will go back to "normal" in just one week, and they've learned to tolerate me during a kickstarter campaign (for now). But here's the thing - there are others around who haven't heard or don't know about the campaign.

 
What Excites You?  

The excitement and enthusiasm you've shown for this project and your love of the Chicago By Night setting has been drowned out a little bit lately by other issues and conversations going on about Vampire. Understandable, of course - there were some bigger issues and larger conversations being held. But, within all of that going on, we're over here in our little corner enjoying our discovery of the Vampire version of Chicago, the plots and intrigues going on within this setting, and the storytelling possibility that are provided. Sometimes it takes more effort to point out this point of light within a greater chaos.

Thumbs up to everyone who's shared a link to the kickstarter in an online forum, or posted an "I just backed this project" message to their social media - you've done all of the first steps that are critical during the first weeks of the campaign. Now, it's time to let others know why you are backing this project (and, therefore, why they should consider it as well).

That's the thing - for this final week, you don't have to tell people the kickstarter exists. Instead, tell them what's got you excited about the game. What makes this an interesting and updated take on a classic setting? What kind of stories will you tell? What sources of inspiration are you running with? At this point, people may have seen the "Kickstarter now live!" posts. But the ones that always pull me in are things like:

• Here's how I'm handling the Lasombra in Chicago...
• I'm thinking of using Flyboy to introduce another threat to Chicago...
• How I'm re-skinning the Chicago By Night elements and building my own New Orleans chronicle
• Here's my history with Chicago By Night and why I love this setting...

 
It's easy, at first glace, to assume this is just an old product with updated stats or a setting that you may not use, but there's SO MUCH MORE going on in this book than political posturing and shadowy intrigues. Each of the kindred detailed includes several story hooks and plot possibilities, across many different styles of play! Sharing these unique hooks - and the fact that this book can be mined for pieces or used as a template for your chronicle set anywhere - helps grab others and get them interested. Those are the things that pull my interest when I'm reading about games online.

When I start seeing conversations that spin out of posts or ideas like that, I get intrigued about the game. And that's when I click on the link. So, share your ideas! What parts of the manuscript have stirred your imagination? What pop culture touchstones do you want to adapt for your game? What style of game are you thinking of running, and what threads from the book will you incorporate? What kinds of challenges will you throw at your players?

There are tons of websites related to rpgs or vampire/horror stories or gaming in general. Now, all of those may not have forums for you to post on, or be an appropriate venue to share your ideas. But, if you are a member of any of those and feel like sharing your ideas about a new Chicago By Night game, these final days are the time to do so!

And, if you feel that Chicago By Night is maybe a point of light, or stability, or a way forward to be found within a greater chaos, it's ok to point that out too.

 
Share the Links!

1) Don't forget to share a link to the kickstarter in your post (where appropriate).  

2) Don't forget to tell us about your post! Come to the comments section and let us know so we can all go and contribute! I know I keep saying it, but really - these last days are key. Keep the enthusiasm high (hitting stretch goals certainly makes that easier!) and keep on inviting others to join in, either directly ("Come see...") or just by setting an example of your enthusiasm and interest.

We've achieved so much already - We've added additional content with the Chicago Folio and Let the Streets Run Red -- and then increased their size -- and have added other vampire-loving opportunities and add-ons - but on these final days, we can take it to the next level! So, celebrate! Share the love! Share your enthusiasm! And be an ambassador for this final week... and let's see how strong we can finish and how much this project will grow over these final days!

#ChicagoByNight

#Vampbassador

#WearBlackFriday

Sunday Story: Four Trips to the Second City (part 4 of 4)
about 6 years ago – Mon, Nov 26, 2018 at 08:11:25 PM

Four Trips to the Second City

4

Two dead men talked on a pier. After Tyrus finished his report, Prince Kevin Jackson kept quiet for a long time. They listened to the sound of water lapping against the beach.  

Then, the Prince said, “Do you know what your problem is, Tyrus?”  

Tyrus stretched his back. “I’m just too handsome.”  

“You start shit,” Jackson said. “You act like nothing’s changed, and it’s putting us all in danger.”  

“Hey,” Tyrus said, “You want to keep the peace, sometimes you gotta bust some heads.”  

“That’s what I mean. You still think your gang’s the only thing keeping the peace. So you bust an Anarch meeting, where I already had people in place, and then you go around and antagonize the person I asked you to speak with.”  

Tyrus scoffed. “We’re just asking the questions that need to be asked.”  

“You don’t think I was already asking?” Prince Jackson grabbed Tyrus’ shoulder and pulled him close. “It’s the 21st century, Tyrus. We keep order, but we keep everyone safe while we do it. Do you think you’re keeping everyone safe?”  

“Well.” Tyrus stood up. “I’d better get back to the Pack then. Wouldn’t want us to start some shit, huh? Make things unsafe?”  

Jackson motioned for him to sit. “I wasn’t finished. I have a job for you.”  

“Oh?”  

The Prince handed him a picture of a smiling young black man. “He’s one of ours, but he’s looking to move to Seattle. Now, he hasn’t traveled before, and that’s a bigger trip than just going to Milwaukee. He’ll need protection, and you live on the road.”  

Tyrus turned the picture over in his hand. “Always wanted to see the forests.”  

Jackson raised an eyebrow.  

Tyrus grinned. “Don’t worry about it. Just thought of something I heard a while back. I’ll tell the Pack to gear up.”  

Jackson nodded. The Prince walked from the pier, escorted by his guards. Tyrus stayed. He smoked a cigarette and watched Lake Michigan gleam in the moonlight.  

The End...

         
STRETCH GOALS

We are closing in on yet another Stretch Goal!

At $93,000 in funding - ART BUDGET INCREASE – Additional funds will be allocated to the art budget for Chicago By Night, allowing Onyx Path to include even more awesome art in the city supplement. 

Additional budget for art will also allow me to add 3 slots to the Elder of Majesty reward tier, so if you had wanted to serve as an art model for our amazing illustrators, an opportunity may pop up!

 
At $95,000 in funding - CHICAGO-THEMED GAMING GEAR - Dog Might Games will make Chicago By Night-themed gaming gear available for order (possibly including a Chicago skyline Screen and a Lasombra symbol sheath). 

Dog Might Games makes some really amazing, deluxe gaming accessories. They're already making some cool Vampire: The Masquerade gear (maybe you saw the awesome screen on Geek & Sundry's LA By Night?), and if we hit $95,000, they're going to add some Chicago-themed styles into the mix. Check out what their current offerings include to see what kind of things we're talking about:

And, a biggie, that most backers are excited for:

 
At $96,000 in funding - LET THE STREETS RUN RED – A fourth and final chronicle will be added to Let the Streets Run Red.

Completing the final chronicle for our supplement dealing with the areas just outside of Chicago's shadow.

The next goal is a celebration if we cross the magic $100,000 target:

 
At $100,000 in funding - NEW ADD-ON REWARD: VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE 5th Edition Core Book PDF - A new Add-On Reward will be created. For +$24.99, backers will receive a PDF version of the Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition Core Book, the new edition that honors the deep story of the original, advancing the metaplot from where it left off and detailing exactly what has happened in the world of the Kindred up until tonight.

I know many of you will already have this. But for those who haven't yet purchased it, or didn't yet have a digital copy, or were maybe going to purchase a PDF to give to a friend before you start your Chicago chronicle, here's a way you can pledge an extra $24.99 to our campaign, help us move closer to the next Stretch Goal, and add some vampire goodies to your list of rewards. 

Back to the meat and potatoes...

 
At $105,000 in funding - CHICAGO FOLIO: HERETICAL THREATS AND OBSERVATIONS – A fourth section will be added to the Chicago Folio, including the perspectives of the Church of Caine.

Finishing off the other supplement for Chicago By Night, and giving Storytellers more tools to enhance their chronicle and tell their stories.

And here's the one I'm really hoping to hit...

At $110,000 in funding - NEW ADD-ON REWARD: LET THE STREETS RUN RED - A new Add-On Reward will be created. For +$10, backers will receive the PDF version of Let the Streets Run Red. This Add On is available to Chicago By Night PDF Backers – Note: Chicago By Night hardcover backers will already have this reward automatically added to their rewards list.

We've got four days left, and they're typically 4 of the biggest days of the campaign. There's no doubt in my mind that these goals are within reach and can be unlocked (in fact, I think we can get further than these...!) But we've got to continue growing and spreading the word, inviting others to join in and embracing new backers!

So, let's keep at it! And tomorrow... the final manuscript sneak peek...

#LasombraMonday

#ChicagoByNight

Backers Only Sneak Peek - Kindred Part 7 & Welcome to the Night
about 6 years ago – Thu, Nov 22, 2018 at 06:23:58 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Kindred of Chicago: Khadija Al-Kindi
about 6 years ago – Wed, Nov 21, 2018 at 06:19:09 AM

Hello to the Kickstarter Curious,

This is our tenth, and final, general preview of the kindred of Chicago. You can see the previous posts linked below, and read the entry for Khadija Al-Kindi a bit further down.

• Edward Neally
• Anita Wainright
• Nickolas White
• Lester Knife
• Bronwyn
• Cedrick Calhoun
• Noah Grewal
• Annabelle
• Sun Che

These previews are a small sample of the wide-ranging kindred included in this book. Those who have backed this project have access to almost all of the manuscript and have been reading all about the secret world of Chicago for the past 3 weeks.

These samples demonstrate the diversity of scenarios and intrigues that can be included in your Chicago-set (or -inspired) chronicle. We've got everything from gothic romantic tragedies, psychological thriller, Bourne-style action, political maneuvering, and so much more. This setting will help provide the background for the type of game you want to play.

And, if you're not sure where you want to take your game or the stories you want to build with your players, this book is packed with ideas and hooks. From whispered rumors that can set off a multi-session chain of events, to motivated NPCs and deeper mysteries, inspiration is just a page (or paragraph!) away. 

And that doesn't even touch on larger intrigues - like what's going on with the Lasombra?! (Tune in tomorrow!!)

Backers supporting this campaign have not only funded this project, but have already achieved 12 Stretch Goal targets, unlocking additional opportunities, more content, and extra rewards! It's never too late to join in and help us unlock more great stuff!

Well - that's not true. We've got ONE WEEK remaining in this campaign. After 12:00 noon (EST) on November 29th, this campaign will conclude. Everyone who is a backer at that time will continue to have access to the manuscript sneak peek, and receive monthly updates as the projects are developed, built, and eventually sent out as rewards.

SO - JOIN IN NOW! Be a part of this awesome campaign! Come along for the ride, and read Chicago By Night now! Together, we can (and have) explore more of this world and this setting. And thanks - in advance - for your support!

Khadija Al-Kindi  

Epitaph: The Disquieting Diplomat
Quote: “So many of your ancients have made their way to the Middle East, to my homeland. It’s only sensible for the Ashirra to send a representative in return.”
Clan: Banu Haqim 

Mortal Days: Ascent from Nothing 

Born an orphan on the streets of Baghdad in the early decades of the 19th century, Khadija started life as a beggar. She thrived because of her quick fingers and innocent face, graduating to running errands and acting as a lookout for criminals. By the time she was twelve, she was part of a smuggling ring, eventually coming to live in Alexandria, Egypt. 

After she entered undeath, Khadija reflected on the fact that so many Kindred had a similar background. They had lifted themselves from poverty and created masks of respectability to live well among the well-to-do. The skills acquired during such a life were extremely useful in surviving the first years of undeath. 

In Khadija’s case, the establishment of the British colonial system in the Egypt modernized by Mohammad Ali provided many opportunities to those capable of self-invention. She married three times, each husband lost to the vagaries of a criminal lifestyle. She had five children, three of whom made it to adulthood. All the while, she worked to run a clandestine trade network moving contraband across the Mediterranean. 

In her later years, Khadija settled down in Alexandria under a new identity as a member of the Egyptian elite, facilitated by her third husband, a British colonial officer. She’d worked hard to create a good life and intended to enjoy it. 

Kindred Nights: The Ashirra’s Voice 

Khadija was in her late 50s at the time of her Embrace. Her sire was a fairly recent Embrace himself and brought her into the night for love. He saw that she was on the cusp of old age and wanted her to live forever, the Hunger be damned. 

As these stories so often go, the relationship between sire and childe didn’t last much longer than it took for Khadija to acclimatize to her new condition. After she realized that counting from human birth, her sire was younger than she was, she abandoned him and set out to create an unlife for herself in the Ashirra courts of the Middle East. 

As the 20th century progressed, Khadija served in various roles in different courts of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Her preference was the role of an emissary or a representative, because it allowed her to travel and participate in the making of history. 

In the long term, the Embrace made Khadija’s journey from street urchin to privileged elite complete. Being undead removed the last barriers set before her, those created by living in a conservative society as a woman. As a supernatural creature of the night, she had the power of the blood to assert her will and in Ashirra society, most had understood long ago that discounting Kindred because of their gender was the youthful folly of those still clinging to their human lives. 

Tonight, Khadija is a favored emissary of the Ashirra with access to the immense financial backing of the sect. She’s able to travel despite the threat of the Second Inquisition because of her access to the travel infrastructure of the ultra-rich. When she arrives in Chicago on the private plane of a member of the Dubai ruling family, no customs officer will check her travel coffin. 

Plots and Schemes: 

 • Entering the Ranks: The Primogen Council would be the appropriate place for Khadija, of course, while she remains in Chicago. Used to immediately entering the most elite circles of any city she visits, she feels that as the Ashirra and the Camarilla are coming together in alliance, she should take a role in the affairs of her new home. Making this happen might require some political maneuvering, but it’s nothing she hasn’t done before. 

• Detachment: Khadija has become increasingly conscious of her fading conscience as of late. Her focus on top level sect politics has left her connections to humanity increasingly distant. She feels desperate to rectify this, to find something to care about. The problem is that while she moves in the halls of power with perfect confidence, she’s not so well practiced anymore when it comes to interacting with ordinary humans. Her attempts to connect can sometimes now appear bizarre. 

• Voice of the Innocent: As a political actor on the Chicago stage, Khadija is motivated as much by curiosity as the interests of the Ashirra. For this reason, she’s always willing to listen to a neonate, especially if it’s someone unusual and seemingly human. Khadija can recognize that which she lacks and wants to be closer to it. The problem is, her inhumanity might start causing problems for her new friends. 

Domain and Haven: 

 • The Four Seasons Chicago (Fame 3, Haven 4, Resources 4, Retainers 3) Khadija is currently staying in a massive suite in the Four Seasons Hotel. It costs $35,000 a night, but what’s money when shady Emirati business interests connected to the Ashirra are footing the bill? They also pay for the heavy private security keeping an eye on the suite around the clock. As a recent arrival, Khadija doesn’t have a natural domain, but she feeds from among the city’s political and financial elite. 

Thralls and Tools: 

 • Reginald Ashton (Resources 2, Retainer 2) Reginald Ashton, Khadija’s third husband from her mortal days, still serves her as a ghoul, although their marital relationship faded away a century ago. He’s a 19th century British diplomat who will die of old age the second his source of vitae dries up. Driven to exhaustion by the endless humiliations of being a blood junkie, he’s quietly looking for an exit despite the Blood Bond. 

• Shumaila Hamidi (Contacts 1) Hamidi is a cellist and a rising star in the Chicago classical music scene. Khadija saw her perform at a reception held by the office of the Mayor of Chicago and latched onto her somewhat arbitrarily. She’s showered Hamidi with gifts and sought to establish a connection with her but her efforts falter because Hamidi thinks she’s a creep. 

 Kindred Relationships: 

 • Aicha Rana (Proud) Aicha is Khadija’s fixer and guide to the modern world. She Embraced the girl five years ago in Marseilles, having selected her childe semi-randomly at a nightclub because Aicha looked like she was in tune with the youth of today. So far, Khadija has been very happy with her childe as Aicha has introduced her to all kinds of new mortal experiences. 

 • Kathy Glens (Intrigued) Khadija has developed an interest in Kathy similar to the one she has with the mortal Shumaila Hamidi. She likes Kindred who seem in tune with the mortal world and seeks to move with them, help them, emulate them and, though she doesn’t mean to do so, make them as dead to mortal ethics as she is. 

Whispers: 

 • Pilgrimage: Many Camarilla Elders have gone to the Middle East, called by the Beckoning. Surely Khadija knows where they went and what they are doing? 

• A Distant Threat: The Ashirra is a vast, powerful and mysterious sect of Kindred largely unknown in Chicago. Who knows what kind of terrible resources and powers they can call upon? 

• Unknown Quantity: Though she’s seen as a political long shot on the Chicago scene, some neonates are considering allying with Khadija. After all, her Ashirra background is very confusing and appealing from the perspective of city politics. 

• Alluring Youth: Khadija has a tendency to become obsessed with younger neonates. A neonate who understands this can exploit her, although it will be playing with fire. Khadija can be very generous with her resources and time with young Kindred who seem like they are connected to their humanity, but if she gets bored with them, she’ll drop them in an instant. 

Mask and Mien: 

 • Khadija has a mortal identity as an Egyptian investor with a slew of holdings across the Middle East. There’s little information about her available publicly, but in this she doesn’t differ much from other members of the global wealthy elite who wish to remain anonymous and have the money to make it happen (Mask 2). 

 • A weathered, hard woman in her late fifties, Khadija looks as if everything will be perfectly pleasant as long as things happen exactly as she wants them to happen. Despite her decades of luxurious life, the mark of a hard existence can still be seen on the lines of her face. There is nothing soft about her. 

• Khadija dresses like a wealthy older woman of the international moneyed set. She prefers simplicity and tan colors with minimal jewelry. At a glance, she could be mistaken for a member of the exiled court of the Shah of Iran. 

Sire: Pink
Embraced: 1876 (Born 1821)
Ambition: Develop a bond of trust with Prince Jackson
Convictions: None
Touchstones: None
Humanity: 5
Generation: 9th
Blood Potency: 2 

Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 4; Charisma 3, Manipulation 4, Composure 4; Intelligence 4, Wits 3, Resolve 4 

Secondary Attributes: Health 7, Willpower 8 

Skills: Brawl 2, Melee 2, Larceny 3, Stealth 3, Survival 4; Etiquette (Court) 5, Intimidation (Commanding) 4, Leadership 3, Persuasion (Compromise) 4, Subterfuge 4; Awareness 3, Finance 2, Occult 3, Politics (Ashirra) 4 

Disciplines: Celerity 4, Dominate 2, Obfuscate 3 

 
Tomorrow, we begin our final week countdown to the conclusion of the campaign. Remember to share your excitement and enthusiasm on your social media and in your social circle! We've come so far, but can still build to an even bigger finish! And check back tomorrow, Saturday, and Monday for the final 3 manuscript Sneak Peeks!

#ChicagoByNight

#MakeItAKindredThanksgiving

Backers Only Sneak Peek - Kindred Part 6
about 6 years ago – Tue, Nov 20, 2018 at 05:49:27 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.