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SolkaTruesilver
2010-02-09, 06:39 PM
Hello there. I am currently starting up a game of WoD set in my home city; Montreal. My sole player (for now) never played anything related to WoD. He doesn't know the rules, the setting. He lives in Quebec too, but still hasn't cross the... veil.

I know that for some reason, Montreal holds a special place in the old World of Darkness's mythos. It was the first city to have been given a specific rulebook (I never understood why). The freaking mountain around (and UPON) which the city is built is a prison for a powerful demon! It's the most respected Sabbat stronghold.

I have read Montreal at Night, but since I am not 100% sure I want to play a Vampire game. I just want my player to be in the old World of Darkness (with the NWoD rules), and try to survive as a petty mortal.

Now.. the mythos of vampires is strongly established. But what about the Mages/Technocracy? What about the Werewolves? Any people have suggestions to add to this city about this, or maybe they have heard additional canon elements about it?

If I had to guess, there could be a Werewolf community living on the Mount Royal, to be the guardians of the Demon living there. These werewolves are also living in the indian reserves around the city. Seeing the city's high religious past, maybe the Celestial Chorus used to have pretty strong power bases there..? But the Quiet Revolution of the 60s was a violent victory of the Technocracy against them, and they settled into the city. Virtual Adepts used it as one of their main circle, until they split from the main Technocracy...

Anyway. I am in need of inspiration. If you can find interesting ways of twisting established canon, I don't care; my player don't know nuts about the world, so I can simply throw him deep into mysteries like I would do a Cthuluh investigator :smallamused:

Overshee
2010-02-09, 06:44 PM
Hello there. I am currently starting up a game of WoD set in my home city; Montreal. My sole player (for now) never played anything related to WoD. He doesn't know the rules, the setting. He lives in Quebec too, but still hasn't cross the... veil.

I know that for some reason, Montreal holds a special place in the old World of Darkness's mythos. It was the first city to have been given a specific rulebook (I never understood why). The freaking mountain around (and UPON) which the city is built is a prison for a powerful demon! It's the most respected Sabbat stronghold.

I have read Montreal at Night, but since I am not 100% sure I want to play a Vampire game. I just want my player to be in the old World of Darkness (with the NWoD rules), and try to survive as a petty mortal.

Now.. the mythos of vampires is strongly established. But what about the Mages/Technocracy? What about the Werewolves? Any people have suggestions to add to this city about this, or maybe they have heard additional canon elements about it?

If I had to guess, there could be a Werewolf community living on the Mount Royal, to be the guardians of the Demon living there. These werewolves are also living in the indian reserves around the city. Seeing the city's high religious past, maybe the Celestial Chorus used to have pretty strong power bases there..? But the Quiet Revolution of the 60s was a violent victory of the Technocracy against them, and they settled into the city. Virtual Adepts used it as one of their main circle, until they split from the main Technocracy...

Anyway. I am in need of inspiration. If you can find interesting ways of twisting established canon, I don't care; my player don't know nuts about the world, so I can simply throw him deep into mysteries like I would do a Cthuluh investigator :smallamused:

Completely unrelated, but I'm gonna be at McGill next year! Any secret mythos there :-P ?

SolkaTruesilver
2010-02-09, 06:57 PM
Completely unrelated, but I'm gonna be at McGill next year! Any secret mythos there :-P ?

Land donated by McGill to the university, ON the Mount Royal. McGill probably was a sabbat-controlled person, as by Montreal at Night, it is said that the multiples church denomination were harnessed by the Sabbat...

Good luck :smallamused:

edit: (OOC: and learn some french :smallwink: You will be able to better mix in better with the french population, as trying to speak french to them is always considered a nice gesture, they might willingly and politely switch to english quickly)

Overshee
2010-02-09, 07:04 PM
Land donated by McGill to the university, ON the Mount Royal. McGill probably was a sabbat-controlled person, as by Montreal at Night, it is said that the multiples church denomination were harnessed by the Sabbat...

Good luck :smallamused:

edit: (OOC: and learn some french :smallwink: You will be able to better mix in better with the french population, as trying to speak french to them is always considered a nice gesture, they might willingly and politely switch to english quickly)

Bahaha. I'll never look at Tam Tams the same way. Clearly they're cult activity.


As for the French, I know none! I'm sorta kinda working on it? I was trying to do it through rosetta stone but it wasn't working for me... do you have any suggestions?

SolkaTruesilver
2010-02-09, 07:24 PM
Bahaha. I'll never look at Tam Tams the same way. Clearly they're cult activity.


As for the French, I know none! I'm sorta kinda working on it? I was trying to do it through rosetta stone but it wasn't working for me... do you have any suggestions?

Best way you'll ever learn french is read a book you already know, but the french version. Have a french/english dictionnary by hand in case of words you can't figure out. The whole point is figuring out the language.

Eventually, watch french shows/movies (maybe with english subtitles) so you can get the auditive cues. I might suggest actual QUEBECOIS movies/shows, so you will be used to our accent (we are to the French what you are to the English).

When you will feel secured ennough with french, I suggest watching french shows with french subtitles, so you will be able to see how to pronounce specific words.

Edit: as a quite ironical twist, my player isn't very good in english, so I actually decided to use our RPG session set in the "real world" to help him practice with his own english, when he'll meet anglophone NPCs. Maybe you could join the game and try to gap the language bridge while battling cthulu-spawned horrors?

A true example to all Canadians. :smallbiggrin:
(Where u from?)

BenTheJester
2010-02-09, 07:29 PM
Best way you'll ever learn french is read a book you already know, but the french version. Have a french/english dictionnary by hand in case of words you can't figure out. The whole point is figuring out the language.

Eventually, watch french shows/movies (maybe with english subtitles) so you can get the auditive cues. I might suggest actual QUEBECOIS movies/shows, so you will be used to our accent (we are to the French what you are to the English).

When you will feel secured ennough with french, I suggest watching french shows with french subtitles, so you will be able to see how to pronounce specific words.

Shows like the simpsons are also really easy to watch in another tongue, they're a great way to learn.

If you hang out with french guys, you'll learn a lot faster too.

Also, learn to watch and enjoy(it's really not that hard since it's such an awesome sport) hockey.

And do NOT root for Boston :smallwink:

SolkaTruesilver
2010-02-09, 07:32 PM
Shows like the simpsons are also really easy to watch in another tongue, they're a great way to learn.


That's a good way, indeed. But watch the Quebecois's version. There are 2 french Simpsons version. If you watch the French's, you won't understand a thing in Quebec.

Also, French-speaking RPG groups. That's how I practiced my english a lot in Dubai, I joined an English-speaking RPG group, and managed to build my social network in a foreign land that way :-) (RPGs, is there a thing they can't do?)

BenTheJester
2010-02-09, 07:35 PM
(RPGs, is there a thing they can't do?)

Get you a girlfriend :smallwink:

Overshee
2010-02-09, 07:37 PM
Best way you'll ever learn french is read a book you already know, but the french version. Have a french/english dictionnary by hand in case of words you can't figure out. The whole point is figuring out the language.

Eventually, watch french shows/movies (maybe with english subtitles) so you can get the auditive cues. I might suggest actual QUEBECOIS movies/shows, so you will be used to our accent (we are to the French what you are to the English).

When you will feel secured ennough with french, I suggest watching french shows with french subtitles, so you will be able to see how to pronounce specific words.

Edit: as a quite ironical twist, my player isn't very good in english, so I actually decided to use our RPG session set in the "real world" to help him practice with his own english, when he'll meet anglophone NPCs. Maybe you could join the game and try to gap the language bridge while battling cthulu-spawned horrors?

A true example to all Canadians. :smallbiggrin:
(Where u from?)

That's a great idea. Is there a place online I can find French Books? How about shows and movies?

Anyways, I'm from Maine, like 6ish hours south-east. I'm really hoping to find some people to play with up there!

Soranar
2010-02-09, 07:41 PM
Hello there. I am currently starting up a game of WoD set in my home city; Montreal. My sole player (for now) never played anything related to WoD. He doesn't know the rules, the setting. He lives in Quebec too, but still hasn't cross the... veil.

I know that for some reason, Montreal holds a special place in the old World of Darkness's mythos. It was the first city to have been given a specific rulebook (I never understood why). The freaking mountain around (and UPON) which the city is built is a prison for a powerful demon! It's the most respected Sabbat stronghold.

You could turn it (the prison) into a place of pilgrimage for those who know about it. Where humans gather to train to survive. The city itself could also be a neutral meeting ground for the different factions as the wards around the tomb could severely hamper everyone's powers. Giving humans an edge.

That could also let you use Montreal as a diplomatic warzone. And since the Chorus lost influence and power, they no longer keep the peace by obliterating anyone on their turf.


I have read Montreal at Night, but since I am not 100% sure I want to play a Vampire game. I just want my player to be in the old World of Darkness (with the NWoD rules), and try to survive as a petty mortal.

Now.. the mythos of vampires is strongly established. But what about the Mages/Technocracy? What about the Werewolves? Any people have suggestions to add to this city about this, or maybe they have heard additional canon elements about it?

I would make the Mages/Technocracy centered around downtown. With resentment from at least 2 different factions. Leftovers of the old English elite and the rising forces of immigrants and the French (who are rather new comparatively since they only started in the revolution years).


If I had to guess, there could be a Werewolf community living on the Mount Royal, to be the guardians of the Demon living there. These werewolves are also living in the indian reserves around the city. Seeing the city's high religious past, maybe the Celestial Chorus used to have pretty strong power bases there..? But the Quiet Revolution of the 60s was a violent victory of the Technocracy against them, and they settled into the city. Virtual Adepts used it as one of their main circle, until they split from the main Technocracy...

I would make the Celestial Chorus a retired power, driven outside the city with a few dying strongholds here and there. Just pick any church really. The mountain is definitely the only place where Werewolves could hide in the city. If you want a real place of power for the Chorus, make it out of the way, somewhere in the North shore where strangers (anyone who doesn't speak French as a native tongue with the right accent) is seen as suspicious.


Anyway. I am in need of inspiration. If you can find interesting ways of twisting established canon, I don't care; my player don't know nuts about the world, so I can simply throw him deep into mysteries like I would do a Cthuluh investigator :smallamused:

Remember that Montreal is quite diverse, and we also have a lot of weird ''new'' religious sects so cultists are fair game too. As for vices, well being a student I'm sure you know what's available.

SolkaTruesilver
2010-02-09, 07:42 PM
That's a great idea. Is there a place online I can find French Books? How about shows and movies?

Anyways, I'm from Maine, like 6ish hours south-east. I'm really hoping to find some people to play with up there!

Montreal is ripe with RPG groups, you won't have any problem about that.

As to find French books, I'd suggest Amazon.ca, archambault.ca, renaud-bray.ca. I don't know if they deliver, however.


Get you a girlfriend

Some of my friends will disagree with that assessment :smallbiggrin:

SolkaTruesilver
2010-02-09, 07:47 PM
Remember that Montreal is quite diverse, and we also have a lot of weird ''new'' religious sects so cultists are fair game too. As for vices, well being a student I'm sure you know what's available.

Ohhh.... are the Raelites a weird kind of Mages? They are the fusion of Cult of Extasy, Celestia Chorus and Sons of Ether? :smalltongue:

(If you don't know what I am talking about, just google Rael's religion. They are... peticular).

I'd put the remaining bastion of Celestial Chorus in Lac-Saint-Jean, actually. Hm.. Quebec/Montreal antagonism might also have a surnatural base. Would be interesting :smallwink:

Gralamin
2010-02-09, 08:19 PM
I'm way over here in Alberta, so my knowledge of Montreal is still slightly limited. However, as far as I can tell, Just for laughs and other comedy festivals are pretty big stuff there, which I imagine you should work in somehow.

SolkaTruesilver
2010-02-09, 08:29 PM
I'm way over here in Alberta, so my knowledge of Montreal is still slightly limited. However, as far as I can tell, Just for laughs and other comedy festivals are pretty big stuff there, which I imagine you should work in somehow.

More than Just For Laugh, my friend. There is about a dozen events during Montreal's summer that makes the city buzling. Many of these events' entertaining elements are actually free to enjoy. Jazz Festival, F1 racing and Arabian movie festival jumps to mind, but there are others.

It must be a vampire buffet... :smallbiggrin:

Asbestos
2010-02-09, 11:45 PM
Wait, he's just a regular human that can see the monsters? (Isn't that called a witness or something?)

Would Hunter be better? (or at least more "I can do something!")

SolkaTruesilver
2010-02-10, 07:47 AM
He hasn't seen the monsters yet. Buy he soon will. I am not sure about Hunter, I don't know these rulesets. I thought maybe make him a Technocracy Agent. Or just a Punisher-like inquisitor. Or anything, really

White_North
2010-02-10, 01:48 PM
Hey. Good to see another Montrealer getting into the WoD. My Chronicle isn't actually set in Montreal, but before we settled on New Orleans, I have to admit that Montreal was a pretty good option. There's plenty of really good locales you can use. I remember thinking about a hunt in the metro, trapped with a demented werewolf (doubled with the imminent threat of being run over by a barelling train). Apart from the parc Mont-Royal, you could use the UDM or McGill and have your player investigate disapearances in the winding halls of the universities. Of course, you can't forget about the Oratoir St-Joseph either. I can't think of a better place for a haunting, or maybe a certain priest who only holds private midnight masses. All in all, a really great setting for WoD.

Also, I don't recommend using Hunter at first. It has a lot of good rules, but if it's your player's first time, I think it's far better to have him be a normal human in order to really impress upon him the nature of the WoD. You could always introduce certain vigils later in the game once you've established the proper feel.

Really fun system and, with the right Storyteller, you can fashion truly memorable games. Plus, nothing beats seeing D&D-accustomed player walk into their first hunt and slowly realize that, in WoD, they're the prey. Hope you have fun.