What makes or breaks it?: A Look at Vampire the Masquerade

After a incredulously long hiatus, I have returned! ...To briefly post about my look at Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines and the adventures of Mark Flavian, friendly mad vampire.

Here's a loading screen to bring everyone up to speed.

Ah... Chinatown. The hub area with few side quests... How I have missed you.

Now for a reminder of what Mark has to do for the moment.

But first, Mark goes to speak with the local drunkard. This Lu Fang.

A sentiment I find myself agreeing with at times.

Ah... so Lu Fang is a classic criminal?

This is where the Malkavian dialogue does get annoying since it is hard to tell what you are about to say. So far I have enjoyed it but here it is somewhat confusing, though not deal-breaking at least.

Such sagely wisdom. All from a bottle!

47 has fallen on some hard times after his latest game.

People should be watching more Godfather. Or more classic movies for that matter.

Ah... retirement, the part of one's life where you are free to do whatever you want but barely have the energy for it.

Hmm... I wonder if this leads to a quest.

A fetch quest then!

Ah... a quest to fetch from someone else.

Ah... so it is the classic backstabbing part of partnerships.

Ah... classic response to Malkavian dialogue...

25 years and the money is still wherever it was? Must be a good hiding place...

And looks like paranoia is part of all this!

Along with misunderstandings!

Not sure why'd you spend most of your time in a deserted bar at night then.

So the quest is to kill Wen Ja and get his key for Lu Fang.

With the reward being money.

20%? It better be a lot.

Now let's hear a fresh proposal from Wen Ja that is not a result of me reloading a save!

Aw... Mark would have made for a great stage magician. Also, red rum happens to be an interesting brand of rum.

Not to worry, the NPCs are not programmed to react to our dialogue.

And here stands Mark with a need for more cash.

I wonder if he does actual travel agency work as part of his job.

I wonder if getting Lu Fang's aid required using a Marker.

Based on the earlier dialogue, it would seem that both of them have misconceptions over the other.

Based on the lower cut, I suspect Wen Ja was supposed to be the first one the player spoke to.

Whoa... now we are getting political here!

Madness is both a blessing and a curse.

Sorry, I cannot smell him until a holodeck version of this game is released.

Essentially, the same dialogue as before. Though now, Mark has spoken to both of them.

Revealing an alternate path to bloodshed.

Since Mark is the friendly neighborhood madman, he will obviously try to salvage the friendship of two former partners.

Wow... Lu Fang has legitimately kicked a dog! ...Or is it more excuses?

So aside from the occasional "Up yours!" snipe, neither has spoken to the other. So remember, dear reader, poor communication kills.

Now to convince him more.

And that does it. Now on to Lu Fang!

Same as before.

Speech skills tend to be quite useful here.

And now we know why this route will work: Both of them have similar thought processes!

Look on the bright side; no dogs are dead yet!

Looks like things are going smoothly.

Now we are done!

On the upper left, the reader will see the charms of Lu Fang in all of its drunken glory.

Now to check in on Wong Ho to settle his quest.

Ugh... I almost forgot about Kiki.

For the record, she is just as mean even if you did not threaten her. Kiki is pretty much the epitome of an ungrateful female dog.

Now to see Wong Ho.

Looks like either Kiki failed to mention how Mark threatened her or was used to being threatened all the time to the point where such threats are the equivalent of "hello" to her.

Looks like there are signs of something brewing in Chinatown.

It is a shame that Wong Ho's efforts to clean up the street have been for naught.

No kidding. A girl can get kidnapped in public view and no one reacts?

As soon as what?

Now looks like a good time for clarification.

And mystery solved! Ming Xiao was behind this mess! It is rather obvious she is behind the Tong's resurgence.

And now we see a character flaw in Wong Ho: He is far too trusting. Which is not always bad as it could also indicate a willingness to see the best in people but here, it is a flaw if it means being oblivious to people like Ming Xiao.

Now time to proceed with the main quest.

Well, that's not going to help much. Unless Wong Ho just happens to know Barabus by name alone... Though that means a breach of the Masquerade so... yeah...

Well, Barabus looks so ugly that he could kill someone just by having someone look at him.

Ah... so someone else can identify Barabus by name alone?

Well, Zhao has proven himself before. Plus why does that warehouse seem so familiar?

Now for question time!

Though with her presence in the temple, it was better off old and forgotten than left to her.

While being a bastion of evil and excessive smugness.

No doubt Ming Xiao has a lot of evil schemes being set up in the inner areas.

Maybe this is how Kiki turned out to be so rotten, Wong Ho simply refused to believe anyone who told him his daughter was misbehaving and that turned her into what she is. Makes sense based on his response here.

Now to ask about guns. Even though Mark already knows where to get guns here.

Herbal guns.... I wonder how that would work?

And with that, we are done with Wong Ho. Now to throw this vase at Kiki... (Spoiler alert: It clips right through her...)

Here's me putting one more point into Dementation because nothing says insanity like turning an opponent insane and making said opponent kill their partners.

Here lies the Kamikazi Zen, the place Mark needs to break into for Schrecknet.

Which he will go to after visiting his nightly goddess.

Okay, the truth is I forgot to take the key from my mailbox. Visiting Venus was a bonus.

Here's Mark checking up on Heather. Nothing much on her side.

Well now it is time for Mark to figure out what is this 'Library' e-mail all about. Maybe it is an advert for library membership.

Actually, it is a quest by Beckett. A quest added in by the Plus Patch.

As the Quest Log notes, the trail starts in Santa Monica. This aspect is different from previous versions since the original versions directly start in the Downtown Library.

Good old Santa Monica. I wonder how the Voermans are doing.

According to the map, the smoke shop Mark is looking for is close to this sign. So close that I can taste it.

Since the shop is in front of the sign.

A smoking bar, eh? Shame Mark has no sensations nowadays.

Time to ask around.

But of course, no one can understand Mark.

Truly mad genius is underappreciated.

Ah well... the person Mark is looking for left this perfectly conspicuous letter.

Looks like it is time to go check out the coffee shop then for the laptop.

Good thing the place is abandoned or that laptop will be long gone by now.

Well it fits the description of abandoned at least.

In a room deeper in the shop is the sought-after laptop.

As the note mentioned, the password happens to be the name of Beckett's clan. Which could be a problem if someone else read that note since Beckett is a known figure in the vampire world.

Lasombra activities? Interesting...

More observations.

Observations.

Now for the next clue. The pier.

And looks like someone hostile is here. Who could it be? Sabbat? Kuei-Jin?

And it was nothing more than a human thug... Oh well...

Well it is now time to head for the pier.

With the murders solved, looks like the bodies are gone.

So let's proceed in a pimp coat.

That is a lot of blood. That cannot be good.

And another conspicuous note...

Looks like the next stop is the Downtown Library. What mysteries are there to solve?

But first, let's get the Kamikazi break-in done with.

This time with the key.

Well the office looks normal.

So are the patrolling guards.

The way onward is locked.

Like the Quest Log stated, Mark will need to activate a virus in order to access the inner areas.

So far everything seems to be in order. Save for the trespasser but we will not hold it against Mark.

I prefer using the term "Ang Moh" over the above but what can you do?

There goes the virus and here comes the time limit. Yes, the mission is timed.

Good thing Mark has Obfuscate.

Who locks their vents? Honestly!?

These e-mail topics represent Mark and my feelings during this part. Note that this particular computer comes with a passcode that leads to the next area.