World of Darkness Berlin 2017 summary

Becketts Jyhad Diary to be the setting and metaplot bible of V5

Format will be one slimmer than normal core rulebook with all the game systems for each line starting with Vampire but to encompass eventually one for all 5 original games

The lines will work together but whether they will be balanced to play together is unclear even to them at this stage. Nevertheless I am sure they will try to do so, for now they focus on what they need to develop.

Demon, Changeling, and all other lines that came later may appear in other media formats before their tabletop games arrive

In fact MET LARP rules for Changeling are now announced

The philosophy with KotE is that is if they find someone from the area who can do it they will. They want to avoid the problem of having people write about a culture when they do not know it themselves. So go for it if you live anywhere in Asia and love these games.

The fact that China is making moves around Africa was talked about as being very interesting from the point of the undead sects in those places now having interactions.

Setting material will be presented seperately in huge books related to specific groups the first two being Camrilla and Anarch setting and source books

The setting material will be the reference material for all creative projects from film to larp and tt - and there will be an online hub for sharing every aspect of the wod in every media. Contributors to this "storytelling vault" will be paid 50% of what their contributions earn.

Vampires first two setting books will be Camarilla and Anarch with Sabbat to come later (see below for the metaplot reasons for this). These will release with the core rulebook for V5

Art will involve much photography

Blood Pool is gone. It was described as a gas meter and thus not very sexy. In its place is an elegant and well thought out system relating how you choose to handle hunger to the likelihood of frenzy. You will have composure as a resource. You can opt to spend this when faced with a situation where you want to resist doing something eg feeding at the sight of blood. If you spend it however you get a red hunger die or more in your pools (for probably all your rolls) which will act to increase your chance of entering frenzy. If you dont, you do something you dont want to, avoiding compulsion, but you will have more composure when the chance you frenzy comes up, and less hunger, meaning less likely to frenzy.

Similar mechanics will replace Rage and other power supply traits in the core books for those games.

Over 40 books currently in development. Hopes for an adult tv show by 2020.

System will use dots and d10s and be recognisable to older fans. However some dice may be customised and the inclusion of hunger dice is a sign that further innovations of the d10 system are planned.

Kenneth Hite of Trail of Cthulhu is on the team as V5 developer

Vampires will have two looks, one for the mortal world and one for Elysium

The Masquerade more important than ever

Its so important the Anarchs have had to agree to join the Cam or be exterminated for not following the 1st Tradition

The 2nd Inquisition is underway after government agencies have discovered the truth. And its brutal and ugly.

The 2nd Inquisition ties in with the Technocracy AND Pentex but the vampires have yet to cotton on to how those spies keep outwitting their attempts to stay hidden...seems as if a new and truly ugly Massassa War may be brewing.

The 2nd Impergium is underway with the Garou finally having presumably listened to the Red Talons (and presumably grudgingly accepted the Ratkins purpose) that humanity must be stopped. Werewolves have realised that Gaia is almost dead.

The current world tensions between Islam and the west are in truth just the mortal facet of the Gehenna Wars

The Gehenna Wars have mysteriously called many elders to the east, in something called The Beckoning, the Sabbat have been especially responsive. Some elders are resisting the Beckoning.

Sabbat reveling in the chaos and war of our times and is now seeking out the ancients to utterly destroy them. This may be what The Beckoning relates to. The Sabbat situation is unclear.

Camarilla more secretive than ever and Masquerade strongly enforced.

V5 playtest tomorrow with Mark Rein Hagen in the house to give a keynote address (taking all 5 of my 1st eds to be signed!)

V5 beta test to be released soon after convention so everyone can try it
Documentary on netflix next year