Mind's Eye Theatre - Vampire The Requiem.pdf - RoseRed

makeup • props • designing chapter one: and society using of antagonists the damned 345
varieties of red-colored beverages. (Sodas, sports drinks, vegetable juices and even fortifi ed
water all can be found in different shades of red.) If suitably colored beverages can’t be found
or some players wish to drink other beverages, red glasses or bottles can give a liquid a more
Vitae-like appearance, or at least distract from the fact that the player isn’t actually drinking
something resembling Vitae.
PROPS
There are a variety of different props appropriate to a Mind’s Eye Theatre session. Many
of the common props have been covered in other volumes, but you might want to look
toward more specifi c items for a Requiem chronicle. While a few items can be substituted
with items cards and imagination, the more a Storyteller can do to bring the story to life for
the players, the greater of the sense of immersion you can expect from your game. And for
players, props are tools to further express their character concepts beyond the game traits.
By whatever means you use them, props can add an essential element to your chronicle and
really make it a memorable experience for all those involved.
Once again, thrift stores and goodwill stations are invaluable in searching for personal
props. Costume jewelry and odds and ends can be found for relatively low prices. Antiques
stores can also provide a potential player with items to highlight their character’s background,
though the prices range a bit higher. Another option is checking online stores and trading
posts. Specifi c items can be located through the Internet, though prices can vary greatly.
Game props should only really be used if an appropriate physical representation can be
found. Cliché or cheesy items should be avoided if at all possible. Halloween costumes pieces
and party store plastic props should be left behind if at all possible. If it can’t be done right,
simply using item cards and descriptions instead. As a Storyteller, feel free to require a certain
standard for props from your players.
While searching for props for a Requiem game, you should keep in mind the themes that
underlay your chronicle. Vampires are creatures of frozen passion. They are left cold and
timeless, watching the world drift past them without really having solid roots in it. They
are removed from the natural rhythm of the world. Clocks and old pocket watches are an
excellent example of props that drive home the importance of passing time. Old photos and
paintings are captured images that do not change — much like the characters themselves.
Candles often give off warming light to hold back the darkness, but they’re also sources of
fl ame that can harm them — much like the societies of the Kindred themselves. Using simple
props like these can add deeper meaning to your stories. Consider carefully the symbolism
that surrounds certain objects before making them focal points of your game.
Designing and Using Antagonists
When creating antagonists for a Requiem chronicle, it’s best to keep a few key principles in
mind. This section explores those points. It’s important to know why we recommend certain
practices, as well as how to implement them. Also remember that you will need to make some
adjustments of your own, based on your troupe’s style of play, your chronicle’s theme and other
concerns. If your troupe likes action-oriented stories and your chronicle’s theme is “violence is its
own vicious cycle,” creating an antagonist who never leaves his Edwardian mansion and prefers to
fi ght by stealing his foes’ assets out from under them will likely leave your players frustrated.
And that’s as good a place to start as any.