Welcome to the World of Darkness Lore Page! Here, we’ll dive into the foundations of role-playing games, tabletop role-playing games, and the dark, immersive universe of the World of Darkness, with a special focus on Vampire: The Masquerade.
What is an RPG?
A Role-Playing Game (RPG) is a type of game where players assume the roles of fictional characters and collaboratively create or follow a story. In an RPG, you’re not just a player—you’re a storyteller, making choices that shape the narrative. RPGs come in many forms, including video games (like The Witcher or Final Fantasy) and live-action games, but they all share a focus on character development, imagination, and decision-making. Whether you’re slaying dragons, solving mysteries, or navigating moral dilemmas, RPGs let you step into someone else’s shoes and explore endless possibilities.
What is a TTRPG?
A Tabletop Role-Playing Game (TTRPG) is a specific kind of RPG played in person (or online) with a group of people, typically around a table—hence the name. Unlike video game RPGs, TTRPGs rely on dice, rulebooks, and a shared imagination rather than a screen. One player, often called the Game Master (GM) or Storyteller, acts as the narrator and referee, describing the world and adjudicating the rules, while the other players control their characters’ actions. Popular examples include Dungeons & Dragons and, of course, Vampire: The Masquerade. TTRPGs are all about creativity, social interaction, and unpredictable storytelling—no two sessions are ever quite the same!
What is the World of Darkness and the Vampire: The Masquerade RPG System?
The World of Darkness (WoD) is a gothic-punk storytelling universe created by White Wolf Publishing in 1991. It’s a dark reflection of our own world, filled with supernatural beings like vampires, werewolves, mages, and more, all lurking in the shadows of modern society. Unlike traditional fantasy settings with clear heroes and villains, the WoD thrives on moral ambiguity, personal horror, and the struggle between humanity and monstrosity. It’s a place where power comes at a cost, and secrets are currency.
Vampire: The Masquerade (VTM) is the flagship TTRPG of the World of Darkness. First released in 1991, it casts players as vampires—immortal beings cursed with a thirst for blood and bound by a fragile truce called the Masquerade, which hides their existence from humans. As a player, you create a vampire from one of 13 clans, each with unique powers (called Disciplines) and weaknesses, and navigate a world of political intrigue, ancient conspiracies, and personal torment. The game uses a dice-based system (the Storyteller System) where players roll ten-sided dice to determine the success of actions, guided by a Storyteller who weaves the narrative. VTM emphasizes role-playing over combat, focusing on character depth, alliances, and the constant battle against the Beast—the inner monster threatening to consume every vampire.