The next clan for Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 is here with the Ventrue showing up to give us a feeling on how they will control things in Bloodlines 2
The Ventrue have finally shown up for Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 as the next clan we will have to select from at the launch of the game. At the launch and a few hours into the game as Hardsuit Labs is set on making us Thinblood from the start to go along with the narrative of the game. Still an odd choice in my eyes, but I have a feeling that Paradox is going to be keeping a close eye on this IP given how things went down for its recent pen and paper version. That is not what we are going to go into here, though, and now we can sit back and know that another of the core clans for Bloodlines 2 is here and will bring their traditional powers with them.
Those familiar with the tabletop version of the game will know it fairly well, but for the rest, these would be one of the more kingly types of vampires in the world. It does look like for Bloodlines 2 there is going to be a bit more of a focus on the businessperson or crime lord versions of the clan. Given that one of their powers in the game will be literal mind control, it seems fitting. Yes, they will have their Dominate power to use and it looks like they will be able to force NPCs to do a whole lot in the game. This includes fighting for them, which can work out if you do not go with the fighting type of character in Bloodlines 2. Even though the Ventrue will also have their Fortitude that will brush off damage for us.
Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 — Clan Introduction — Ventrue
Historically, Seattle has been the site of many industrial booms, and of course, the Ventrue have been there to capitalize on its fortunes. As more and more billion-dollar corporations shape the local and global landscape, enterprising Ventrue have entrenched themselves in the businesses of the 21st century, paving the way for a prosperous future for their clan… and making enemies of the residents who preferred the way things used to be.
The blood of rulers has flown in the veins of the Ventrue since time immemorial — be they high priests, emperors, investment bankers, or chairmen of the board. No surprise then that lineage and loyalty are held in high esteem; even less than others might mistake them for pompous nepotists. The Clan of Kings sees the truth: they are the architects of vampire society, the guardians of the Masquerade. In these modern nights, they are the only thing to stand between the Kindred and extinction. Knowing this, how could they not stick together, to better weather the onslaught? To command the right to rule, for everyone’s betterment? And to swiftly deal with anyone to fall short of these exacting standards?
Dominate
Guardians of the Masquerade and Princes of uncounted cities, it runs in the Ventrues’ blood to be obeyed. Their signature Discipline allows them to Dominate the actions and memories of others.
• Mesmerize (Blood Cost: 3), the primary Dominate power, allows the Ventrue to place one NPC in a brief hypnotic trance. The person so affected is oblivious to the world around them, ignoring sound, touch, and even pain. The • • slot intensifies Mesmerize’s effect.
• • • Command (Blood Cost: 0), the secondary Dominate power, significantly extends the Ventrue’s control over the Mesmerized NPC. They can now be ordered to move, remove obstacles, or even attack others. The • • • • and • • • • • slots upgrade Command.
Using Dominate powers is not a Masquerade violation.
Fortitude
Few things truly worry the vampire who masters Fortitude, the Discipline of physical resilience. After all, why fear the battle when you are certain to outlast your foe?
• Absorb (Blood Cost: 2), the first active, allows the vampire to take a brief defensive stance in which they may deflect all attacks they can see, healing their wounds for every would-be strike. The • • slot increases Absorb’s effects.
• • • Personal Armor (Blood Cost: 2), the second active power, hardens the vampire’s skin into a stone-like barrier. The • • • • and • • • • • slots upgrade this power to the point where a true master becomes impervious to attacks, causing attackers to stagger back from the recoil of their own strikes.
Allowing a mortal to witness your Fortitude under attack is a Masquerade Violation.
In addition to all of this, we have a little more on the curses in Bloodlines 2 where the Venture are concerned. In the tabletop game, they can only feed on specific types of humans and it looks like the Resonance system will carry that over fairly well. My guess is that they will only be able to feed on ones of a specific resonance in their blood instead of things like prostitutes, only men, or only children. Bloodlines 2 could get dark really fast if we left that open to the players. Something I am guessing that the devs and publisher do not want to hand out there and still be able to make another in the series.
Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 — Clan Introduction — Ventrue
Speaking to that, it does sound like Hardsuit Labs or Paradox are open to making another title after Bloodlines 2. This comes from the above video where there is talk about the other clans that could be coming or may not be coming when the game launches and moves forward. It sounds like there will not be the full 13 clans from the tabletop books, nor the extended clans, as they could be held off until sequels are made. Something that kind of suck in my opinion as I was truly hoping to see my favorite clan be an option in Bloodlines 2 but I am going to guess it will be the basic 7 we have seen in the past. Maybe we will be surprised somehow.
Was this the next clan you were expecting to come to Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 or did you have your heart set on another? Do you think that we will still see the core 13 in the final game at some point or will we need to wait for mods or sequels before that happens? What do you think will be the next clan to be mixed in and could it be an Independent clan? Let us all know down in the comments and then feel free to discuss. For more on Bloodlines 2, be sure to keep checking back in for all of that. I do hope we have more than these small teases for gameplay soon.