Why are we changing lores *again*?
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I've received many private posts raising questions, concerns, or other issues in regards to the new lore tables. While I'd like to answer everyone personally, many of the questions/issues are similar enough and of general concerns to STs and players to post it here. Hopefully these answers will help explain many of the why/how questions that are out there about the Lores.
Thanks,
Bill Sherman
AMST-Kindred
Why are we changing lores *again*?
Actually, this is an implementation of what lores were intended to be for 4.5 rules. However, we realized that what we intended to say didn't come across as clearly as we'd have liked.
Will these lore definitions keep
changing?
Hopefully not. We're trying to find a simple, low-maintenance solution that is good for the chronicle and easy to understand. While you might see minor details of lores be developed or slightly modified, this system should serve us well for a long time.
Why define lores on the national level? Isn't
this something that local STs and players themselves can handle on their
own?
The question of "what does this character know" is one of the most important issues for the chronicle. By roughly defining lore levels, we can establish some level of fairness across games. Just as we play by one set of rules, we're defining the baseline of what the statistic means.We're not trying to penalize players or give them more hoops to jump through. What we're trying to do is make the statistic meaningful and encourage players to know more about the WoD, as represented by the lore their character possesses.
Why did we move from the x3 standard of previous
chronicles?
x3 is considered competent knowledge (as defined in TT) and will continue to remain so. New characters can begin with a x1 base, and STs can award lores as appropriate to the character, as per the rules listed in 4.5.
What if I create a character that has been around
for 1,000 years? Why can't I start with a higher lore?
Remember that in TT, if you want lore, you have to buy it (at a higher cost than the 1xp/point of our LARP). If you are going to put something in your history, it is reasonable to put some points into it to back it up. Now, admittedly a player with 1CCP has fewer points to spend than someone with more CCP than fingers [grin]. However, even a basic Kindred character can spend up to 17XP (counting flaws, negs, and basic CCP if a 0 CCP cost character type). That's a noticeable amount of XP (over four months worth). If lore is important to the character concept, some points can be spent in that area. Again, STs and players should work together during character creation, using the rules to assist the process. Lore levels should be viewed as a way to build story for your character, rather than a limitation.
"Ok, so I wrote this character history. My Malkavian
character has met and lived with these three Ahrimane sisters in Louisiana;
then he moved to Golconda, Illinois and spent three years debating philosophy
with a Salubri; after that, he became buds with some Blood Brothers in Saskatoon
and was all but adopted; he's hung out with Tzimisce and knows everything
about Vicissitude; then, he wound up rescuing a Osiran from certain death,
and in gratitude the Osiran explained their ways ...[snip]...I get free lore
for all of this, because it is in my character history, right?"
No. STs should recognize cheese and handle it appropriately.
What should my guidelines as an ST be in awarding
lore (either by spent xp or free?)
Make sure that the character has a reason to know the knowledge generally represented by that level of lore. Use it to facilitate story(or to reflect stories that have already occurred). More importantly, make sure the player understands what that level of lore means.It is difficult for a player to play a character that has knowledge that they themselves haven't a clue about. For example, if a player want Scam Lore x3, it is reasonable to expect that they've read not only the appropriate sections in Laws and 4.5 but also the sections about the Camarilla in Vampire:The Masquerade and Vampire:Player's Guide.Use lore as a way to encourage players to learn more about the world that they're playing in. It'll improve the quality of the local game -- as well as the larger game.
Why are some lores restricted (DST, RST, MST
approval)?
Take a look at those lores. Notice that they get more abstract the higher they go. You're less likely to find answers by reading a book. For example,by the time you get to x5 in Cam Lore, much of the information is chronicle-specific. The deep, dark secrets of our chronicle are not necessarily the same as what you can find in WW materials. This way, we get to set up stories, big antagonists, and major chronicle-important events. Certain levels of lore may come with juicy secrets upon approval. We're starting to weave the tapestry of the national chronicle.This is one starting point.
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