Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle - Pros and Cons of Reading as a PDF File
Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle - A Review
If you are a fan of vampire stories, role-playing games, or both, you might be interested in Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle, a book that offers a new and exciting way to explore the world of darkness as one of the beautiful and damned. In this article, we will review Blood and Smoke, its features, its rules system, and its pros and cons as a PDF file.
Blood And Smoke The Strix Chronicle Pdf 18
What is Blood and Smoke?
Blood and Smoke is a book that contains everything you need to play a vampire in the World of Darkness, a modern-day setting where supernatural creatures lurk behind the scenes of our ordinary world. It is a standalone book that does not require any other rulebooks to play, although it is fully compatible with The God-Machine Chronicle, another book that updates and expands the core rules of the World of Darkness.
Blood and Smoke is a reboot of Vampire: The Requiem, a previous edition of the vampire game that was published in 2004. It revises and streamlines many aspects of Vampire: The Requiem, such as the lore, the clans, the covenants, and the powers. It also introduces new elements such as the Strix, mysterious enemies that pose a threat to all vampires.
Blood and Smoke is not just a rulebook; it is also a chronicle book that provides a framework and a toolkit for creating and running your own stories and campaigns in the World of Darkness. It gives you a lot of freedom and flexibility to customize your game according to your preferences and style.
The Kindred
The Kindred are the vampires of the World of Darkness, the descendants of an ancient curse that binds them to a hunger for blood and a struggle for humanity. They are divided into five clans, each with its own history, culture, and abilities:
The Daeva are the seductive and sensual vampires, masters of emotion and social manipulation. They excel at disciplines such as Majesty, Vigor, and Celerity.
The Gangrel are the savage and feral vampires, attuned to nature and the beast within. They excel at disciplines such as Animalism, Protean, and Resilience.
The Mekhet are the secretive and cunning vampires, adept at stealth and knowledge. They excel at disciplines such as Auspex, Celerity, and Obfuscate.
The Nosferatu are the monstrous and hideous vampires, shunned by society and forced to dwell in the shadows. They excel at disciplines such as Nightmare, Obfuscate, and Vigor.
The Ventrue are the noble and powerful vampires, leaders and rulers of the Kindred society. They excel at disciplines such as Dominate, Resilience, and Animalism.
In addition to their clan affiliation, the Kindred also belong to one of six covenants, which are philosophical and political factions that shape their worldview and agenda. The covenants are:
The Carthian Movement is a progressive and revolutionary faction that seeks to reform the Kindred society and adapt to the modern world. They have access to a unique discipline called Coils of the Dragon.
The Circle of the Crone is a pagan and mystical faction that worships a dark goddess and practices blood magic. They have access to a unique discipline called Crúac.
The Invictus is a conservative and elitist faction that upholds the traditions and privileges of the Kindred aristocracy. They have access to a unique discipline called Oaths of the Invictus.
The Lancea et Sanctum is a religious and moralistic faction that follows a twisted version of Christianity and enforces the laws of God. They have access to a unique discipline called Theban Sorcery.
The Ordo Dracul is a scientific and esoteric faction that studies the secrets of vampirism and seeks to transcend its limitations. They have access to a unique discipline called Coils of the Dragon.
The Unaligned are the independent and neutral vampires who do not belong to any covenant and follow their own agenda. They have no access to any unique discipline.
The Strix
The Strix are the main antagonists of Blood and Smoke, mysterious beings that resemble owls made of smoke. They are ancient enemies of the Kindred, who call them "the Enemy" or "the Shadows". They are believed to be related to the origin of vampirism, but their true nature and motives are unknown.
The Strix have many abilities that make them dangerous foes for the Kindred. They can possess corpses, animals, or even living or undead hosts. They can manipulate shadows, create illusions, or cause fear. They can drain blood or vitae from their victims, or even steal their souls. They can also teach dark secrets or powers to willing or unwilling allies.
The Strix have various goals and agendas, depending on their individual personalities and preferences. Some of them seek to destroy or enslave the Kindred, while others seek to corrupt or seduce them. Some of them act alone, while others form alliances or cults. Some of them have specific targets or grudges, while others act on whims or impulses. The Strix are unpredictable, malicious, and relentless.
The World of Darkness
The World of Darkness is the setting in which Blood and Smoke takes place. It is a dark reflection of our own world, where supernatural creatures exist in secret and prey on humanity. It is a world of horror, mystery, and intrigue, where nothing is as it seems and danger lurks in every corner.
Blood and Smoke presents a global overview of the World of Darkness, focusing on how vampires fit into it. It describes various domains around the world where vampires rule or struggle, from Tokyo to Berlin, from New York to Cairo. It also describes various themes and challenges that vampires face in the modern world, such as technology, media, politics, religion, morality, etc.
```html How to play Blood and Smoke?
Blood and Smoke is a role-playing game that requires a group of players, one of whom acts as the Storyteller, the person who creates and runs the story. The other players create and play characters who are vampires in the World of Darkness. The game is based on storytelling, imagination, and dice rolling.
Blood and Smoke uses a rules system that is simple and flexible, but also detailed and realistic. The core mechanic is based on rolling a pool of ten-sided dice (d10) equal to an attribute (such as Strength or Intelligence) plus a skill (such as Brawl or Academics). The difficulty of the roll is determined by the number of successes (dice that show 8, 9, or 10) required to achieve the desired outcome. The more successes, the better the result.
Blood and Smoke also uses a system of conditions, which are temporary or persistent effects that affect the characters in various ways. Conditions can be positive (such as Inspired or Informed) or negative (such as Hungry or Frenzied). Conditions can be gained or lost during the game, depending on the actions and choices of the characters. Conditions can also grant or impose modifiers to dice rolls, or trigger certain events or consequences.
The God-Machine Chronicle Rules Update
Blood and Smoke incorporates the rules update from The God-Machine Chronicle, another book that revises and expands the core rules of the World of Darkness. The rules update includes several changes and additions that improve and streamline the gameplay experience. Some of the main changes are:
The introduction of beats and experiences, a new system of character advancement that rewards players for pursuing their character's goals, resolving their conditions, and facing challenges.
The revision of merits, which are special abilities or advantages that characters can have. Merits are now more diverse and dynamic, and can be modified or upgraded during the game.
The revision of combat, which is now more fast-paced and cinematic. Combat is divided into three phases: initiative, declaration, and resolution. Initiative determines the order of action, declaration determines what each character intends to do, and resolution determines the outcome of each action.
The revision of social maneuvers, which are a way of modeling complex social interactions and conflicts. Social maneuvers are based on identifying a character's doors (their resistance to persuasion or manipulation), opening them (by using social skills or leverage), and closing them (by achieving the desired result).
The revision of integrity, which is a measure of how well a character maintains their sense of self and morality in the face of horror. Integrity replaces morality, which was used in previous editions of Vampire. Integrity is affected by breaking points, which are traumatic events or actions that challenge a character's worldview. Breaking points can cause conditions, such as Guilty or Shaken, or cause a character to lose integrity.
The Chronicle Format
Blood and Smoke uses a chronicle format for its campaigns, which are long-term stories that span multiple sessions of play. A chronicle format allows for more depth and continuity in the story, as well as more customization and personalization for the players.
A chronicle format consists of several elements that define the scope and tone of the story. These elements are:
The premise, which is the basic idea or concept of the chronicle. It describes what kind of story it is, what kind of characters it involves, and what kind of themes it explores.
The setting, which is the location and time period where the chronicle takes place. It describes the physical and social environment of the story, as well as its history and culture.
The mood, which is the emotional atmosphere and feeling of the chronicle. It describes how the story makes the players feel, what kind of emotions it evokes, and what kind of aesthetic it has.
The protagonists, which are the player characters who are the main focus of the chronicle. They describe who they are, what they want, what they fear, and what they stand for.
The antagonists, which are the characters or forces that oppose or threaten the protagonists. They describe who they are, what they want, what they fear, and what they stand for.
The supporting cast, which are the other characters or groups that are involved in the chronicle. They describe who they are, what they want, what they fear, and what they stand for.
The plot, which is the sequence of events and actions that make up the chronicle. It describes what happens, why it happens, how it happens, and what it means.
The Storyteller's Toolkit
Blood and Smoke provides a toolkit for Storytellers to create and run their own chronicles. The toolkit includes various tools and resources that help the Storyteller to:
Design their own setting, mood, protagonists, antagonists, supporting cast, and plot.
Create their own clans, covenants, disciplines, merits, conditions, and other game elements.
Use existing domains, themes, challenges, Strix, and other game elements as inspiration or templates.
Manage the game mechanics, such as dice rolls, modifiers, beats, experiences, etc.
Facilitate the storytelling process, such as narration, dialogue, description, improvisation, etc.
Balance the game elements, such as challenge, reward, risk, consequence, etc.
Engage the players, such as motivation, involvement, feedback, cooperation, etc.
Why read Blood and Smoke?
Blood and Smoke is available as a PDF file that can be downloaded from various online platforms. Reading Blood and Smoke as a PDF file has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of them:
The Pros
Convenience: You can read Blood and Smoke anytime and anywhere on your computer or mobile device. You don't need to carry a physical book around or worry about losing or damaging it.
Accessibility: You can access Blood and Smoke instantly with a few clicks or taps. You don't need to wait for shipping or delivery or go to a store or library to get it.
Affordability: You can get Blood and Smoke at a lower price than a physical book. You can also save money on shipping or delivery costs or taxes.
Searchability: You can easily search for any word or phrase in Blood and Smoke using the search function of your PDF reader. You don't need to flip through pages or use an index to find what you are looking for.
Customizability: You can adjust the font size, color, brightness, zoom level, orientation, etc. of Blood and Smoke according to your preferences and needs. You can also add bookmarks, notes, highlights, etc. to your PDF file.
The Cons
Quality: You might experience lower quality of images, graphics, layout, etc. in Blood and Smoke depending on your PDF reader or device. You might also encounter errors or glitches in the PDF file that affect its readability or functionality.
Compatibility: You might need a specific PDF reader or device to read Blood and Smoke. You might also need to update your software or hardware to ensure compatibility with the PDF file.
Legality: You might need to check the legality of downloading or sharing Blood and Smoke as a PDF file depending on your location and source. You might also need to respect the intellectual property rights of the authors and publishers of Blood and Smoke.
Aesthetics: You might miss the feel and look of a physical book when reading Blood and Smoke as a PDF file. You might also miss the smell and sound of turning pages or the satisfaction of holding a book in your hands.
Eco-friendliness: You might consume more energy and generate more electronic waste when reading Blood and Smoke as a PDF file than when reading a physical book. You might also contribute to the digital pollution of the internet by downloading or sharing Blood and Smoke.
Conclusion
```html Summary
In summary, Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle is a book that:
Reboots and revises Vampire: The Requiem, a previous edition of the vampire game.
Incorporates the rules update from The God-Machine Chronicle, another book that updates and expands the core rules of the World of Darkness.
Introduces the Strix, mysterious enemies that pose a threat to all vampires.
Provides a global overview of the World of Darkness, focusing on how vampires fit into it.
Uses a chronicle format for its campaigns, which are long-term stories that span multiple sessions of play.
Provides a toolkit for Storytellers to create and run their own chronicles.
Is available as a PDF file that can be downloaded from various online platforms.
Rating
Based on various criteria such as content, style, mechanics, etc., we give Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Here are some of the reasons why:
The content is rich and diverse, offering a lot of options and possibilities for creating and playing vampires in the World of Darkness.
The style is clear and engaging, using a conversational tone and a mix of narration and dialogue to convey the information and the mood.
The mechanics are simple and flexible, but also detailed and realistic, using a dice-based system and a system of conditions to model the actions and effects of the characters.
The PDF file is convenient, accessible, affordable, searchable, and customizable, allowing for easy reading and editing of the book.
Some of the drawbacks or limitations of Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle are:
The quality of the PDF file might vary depending on the PDF reader or device used to read it.
The compatibility of the PDF file might require a specific PDF reader or device or an update of the software or hardware.
The legality of the PDF file might depend on the location and source of the download or sharing of the book.
The aesthetics of the PDF file might not match the feel and look of a physical book.
The eco-friendliness of the PDF file might consume more energy and generate more electronic waste than a physical book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle:
What is the difference between Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle and Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition?
Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle and Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition are essentially the same book. They have the same content, style, mechanics, etc. The only difference is that Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle was released as a PDF file in 2013, while Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition was released as a physical book in 2014. The physical book also includes some minor corrections and clarifications to the PDF file.
Do I need any other books to play Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle?
No, you don't need any other books to play Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle. It is a standalone book that contains everything you need to play a vampire in the World of Darkness. However, you might want to check out other books that expand or complement Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle, such as:
The God-Machine Chronicle, which updates and expands the core rules of the World of Darkness.
Night Horrors: The Wicked Dead, which provides more details and options for playing or facing the Strix.
Danse Macabre, which provides more tools and resources for creating and running chronicles.
The Blood, which provides more information and options for blood, vitae, and bloodlines.
Secrets of the Covenants, which provides more information and options for the covenants.
How can I get Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle as a PDF file?
You can get Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle as a PDF file from various online platforms, such as:
DriveThruRPG, which is the official online store of the publisher, Onyx Path Publishing.
Storytellers Vault, which is an online marketplace where you can also find fan-made content for the World of Darkness.
Amazon, which is a popular online retailer where you can also find other books and products related to the World of Darkness.
Before you download or share Blood and Smoke: The Strix Chronicle as a PDF file, make sure you check the legality of doing so in your location and source. Also, make sure you respe