VtM

VtM, short for Vampire: The Masquerade, is a tabletop role-playing game created by Mark Rein-Hagen and published by White Wolf Publishing in 1991 as the first game in the World of Darkness line. It invites players to portray vampires within a modern urban world filled with gothic-punk atmosphere, intrigue, and danger.

Setting and premise: Players assume the roles of vampires, known as Kindred, who must feed to survive while maintaining the Masquerade—an effort to conceal their existence from humans. The game explores personal and political conflict, arcane rituals, and the uneasy balance between mortal concerns and undead ambitions. Vampires belong to distinct clans and navigate rivalries, alliances, and social hierarchies.

Gameplay and mechanics: VtM uses the Storyteller System, where character creation combines Attributes, Abilities, Disciplines (vampiric powers), and Backgrounds. Actions are resolved through pools of ten-sided dice, with successes determining outcomes. The narrative emphasizes mood, atmosphere, and the tension between humanity and monstrosity. Mechanics such as Humanity (or alternative paths in later editions), Willpower, and Blood to feed or fuel powers shape character development and plot tension.

Clans, sects, and culture: The core clans include Brujah, Gangrel, Malkavian, Nosferatu, Toreador, Tremere, and Ventrue, each with unique Disciplines and cultural traits. Vampires organize themselves into major factions, notably the Camarilla, Sabbat, and the Anarch movement, which govern rules, territory, and interaction with humans.

editions and influence: Since its release, VtM has undergone several editions and revisions, expanding lore and updating rules. It has inspired novels, video games such as Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, and a broad array of ancillary products within the World of Darkness franchise.