[DL] a questioning player of mine speaks (MAJOR SPOILERS!)

[The Baron Samedi <baron11@netmcr.com>]

This is a question from one of my players. he has developed an issue with 
an aspect of the new character types in RVC2.  I present his POV without 
commentary at the moment.  Note this is NOT necessarily my opinion.  I am 
parroting and paraphrasing here for him.

" (He is) bothered by the corruption system outlined for Vampires and 
Werewolves in RVC2.  This is not a problem with the system itself, rather, 
with the metaphysic behind it.  In HoE, the corruption system for the 
Anti-Templars makes sense.  They are channeling, directly and knowingly, 
the power of the Reckoners, which weighs heavily on the soul."

"However what (he) simply fail (s) to see is, why the corruption system is 
necessary for These creatures, outside of pure game Balance. It does not 
work with the Metaphysic.  for example, a Huckster can freely raise a fear 
level (Nightmare Land).  a Harrowed can raise an army of Walkin' Dead 
(Unholy Host).apart from a possible Black Chip, neither type suffers a 
"corruption" type penalty, and these far outstrips what Werewolves can do, 
at least.  Now take out Hucksters one moment.  Harrowed are no more human 
then Vampires or Werewolves, in fact, they are LESS so.  Unlike Vampires 
and Werewolves, who are merely supernatural, they are creatures of the 
Reckoning, and the creation of the Reckoners themselves.  If anyone should 
suffer corruption (outside Anti-Templars) THEY should.  but they do not."

"According to Book of the Dead, Vampires are "free willed" and have nothing 
to do with the Reckoning or Reckoners.  We can gather they may grow 
stronger with the Reckoning, but then, so did Hucksters.  While if the 
Vampire played acts like a bloodthirsty beast, the Marshal should have 
every right to take them away.  However, the system, as outlined, makes 
them out to be more in touch with the Reckoners and their evil then even 
Anti-Templars who call upon their powers as if they were Blessed!"

"In short what (He is) trying to say is, there is not a reason, beyond game 
balance, for Vampires and Werewolves to suffer corruption.  it hurts the 
spirit of the game's metaphysic (which, for 3 of 5 ABs in the rulebook, 
involves using black reckoner powers anyway) and it detracts from the 
constancy.  If harrowed, mad Scientists, and Hucksters did not use the 
Reckoners power day in and day out against them, it could be 
understood.  however, as is, it seems to (him) to be arbitrary.  (He)can 
see the difference between, say, Hucksters and Anti-Templars, but it seems 
to (him) to be that in the case, the Harrowed are more like the 
anti-Templars, the werewolves and vampires more like the Hucksters"

well, that's his take.  I would be interested to see what people say.

TBS