Calder Rooney
Though as important an issue as this is to David (in both of our games), we are perhaps wandering a bit far afield

Samuel Peer
Oh, okay

Calder Rooney
I know that David really, really loves WF/you as a GM, especially right now, since he hasn't had so many adversarial experiences in WF as he has in B&B

Samuel Peer
Or different stakes/intensity perhaps

Calder Rooney
I actually don't think so
Your games can be just as brutal and horrible as mine
I mean, I remember Ashir losing his balls...

Samuel Peer
Oh, I meant just with Brook's experiences/challenges
Not comparing GMs or games
Just that Brook's challenges haven't been the same stakes/intensity perhaps as Amelie's

Calder Rooney
Exactly. It's just that Brook, due to various IC circumstances, hasn't suffered any defeats that are so horrible in WF as has in B&B
Though he could have

Samuel Peer
Yep, he could have

Calder Rooney
If, say, Hudson and co hadn't been there during the Moe fight

Samuel Peer
Or if he had made other choices and poorer rolls with say the Mooners

Calder Rooney
Yep
Could have been raped

Samuel Peer
I really thought something quite Dr. Brown was going to happen
ninja'd

Calder Rooney
Hey, Amelie doesn't _know_ if Dr. Brown raped her...
Only confirmed Dr. Brown rape is Lavine

Samuel Peer
But he ended up smartly calling a flashback, got an Ex success, and had a bunch of smart moves and rolls
Ended up totally raking up a lot of big successes there
Regardless
WE know Dr. Brown

Calder Rooney
Exactly. But I think David has gotten into his head that I am the wicked GM, and you are the nice one
When we are both, in fact, equally wicked

Samuel Peer
Yes!
I'm the nice cop!

Calder Rooney
Only fitting I'm the bad one, the cops in B&B are way worse

Samuel Peer
Yep, totally agreed.

[...]

Calder Rooney
Now, so far as the favor I had originally intended to ask you
(Though listening and advising for these past 2ish hours has also been one)
As I mentioned, I believe David has got it into his head that you are the good cop GM and I am the bad cop GM

Samuel Peer
Oh, and here I thought talking about this was the issue/problem
Okay, sure, what's up?

Calder Rooney
When we are both in fact equally horrible, and it has been OOC luck/IC circumstances rather than a difference in the GMs which has resulted in Amelie experienci

Samuel Peer
Yes, agreed
Some of the 'horribleness' may be or feel exacerbated in part by some of VtM/B&B's unique tone.
Just as a thought

Calder Rooney
Yep, and the games are horrible-feeling in different ways

Samuel Peer
Yep, totally

Calder Rooney
Leather medical restraints vs. steel police cuffs
Anyway, since you're still the good cop in David's eyes, I think it would help my efforts to reach a compromise with him (and set him up for more fun in B&B/less potential disappointment in WF) if you were, essentially, to have a conversation with David about that

Samuel Peer
Oh, sure!

Calder Rooney
"I'm actually just as horrible as Calder, don't be fooled."

Samuel Peer
Yes
Of course
It's totally true
I might quibble that our horribleness is actual 'good'
For the game/story?

Calder Rooney
Oh, of course
Absolutely

Samuel Peer
Versus us just being sadists
But yeah, of course
I'll talk to him

Calder Rooney
No, we still provide PCs paths forward even in defeat
Any bad writer can put the protagonists through hell

Samuel Peer
Any particular way you want me to pitch or start that convo
Like any lead in besides:
I'm actually just as horrible as Calder, don't be fooled.

Calder Rooney
Hahahaha
Well, I might discuss the specific examples of Brook and Hudson vs. Amelie and (no) Lou
Since they're pretty similar situations

Samuel Peer
I might even start by comparing the Amelie and Hazel situations
And then work to Brook stuff
As he might take that better
Ease in
Or might be able to more objectively see the parallel

Calder Rooney
Yes, that's very true
Though I would also bring up the Brook/Amelie parallels, just because they're so strong
Or at least appear strong
Ie, "If Hudson and two marshals hadn't shown up during the Moe fight, Brook might be in a terrible place. And if Lou was there during the LaLaurie chapter, Amelie might have been in a way better place."
Since in literally both situations, David's PC got in over his/her head
And another player's PC bailed them out
(Or could have)

Samuel Peer
Definitely
But maybe bring them up second
But sure, I will definitely talk to David