Vampire LARP FAQ

What Vampire LARPs does After the Sun Sets Games currently run?

After the Sun Sets Games currently offers two Vampire: The Masquerade live-action roleplaying experiences:

Victorian Albion – A convention-based Vampire: The Masquerade LARP set in London during the early Victorian era. The chronicle begins in 1837–1838, during the rise of Queen Victoria, and focuses on the politics, rivalries, secrets, and dangers of the Kindred of London.

Conquest of Albion – Our ongoing Dark Ages Orlando LARP, set in 1068 A.D. during the Norman Conquest of England. Players portray Kindred navigating a divided supernatural society while mortal England is transformed by William the Conqueror and his armies.

Both games are part of our larger Albion World of Darkness setting, but each has its own time period, characters, politics, and storylines.

What supernatural types can I play?

These are Vampire-focused LARPs.

Players primarily portray Kindred—Vampires from Vampire: The Masquerade.

Ghouls may also be available as player characters when approved for a particular event or storyline.

Other supernatural creatures may exist within the World of Darkness and may occasionally appear as NPCs, antagonists, allies, or elements of the story, but they are not standard player-character options.

What game system do these LARPs use?

We use the By Night Studios Mind’s Eye Theatre: Vampire: The Masquerade rules published in 2013, along with house rules and setting-specific modifications appropriate to the historical period.

Some terminology, skills, equipment, backgrounds, and other elements may be adjusted to better represent the Dark Ages or Victorian era.

Where do I make a character?

Character creation can begin before an event through our Discord community.

Players may speak with a Storyteller or Narrator to begin developing a character concept. All custom characters must receive final Storyteller approval before entering play.

We also provide pre-generated characters for players who would rather arrive and begin playing without creating a character beforehand.

Can I join if I have never played Vampire: The Masquerade before?

Absolutely.

New players are welcome, and no previous Vampire: The Masquerade or LARP experience is required.

Our Storytellers can help explain the rules, setting, clans, character sheets, social customs, and basic mechanics before play begins.

Pre-generated characters are also available for players who would prefer to learn the game while playing.

Can I join in the middle of the chronicle?

Yes.

New players may join at almost any point in the story. We can help you create a character who has a reason to arrive in the city or provide a pre-generated character connected to current events.

What is Victorian Albion?

Victorian Albion is our convention Vampire: The Masquerade chronicle set primarily in London beginning in 1837–1838 A.D.

Queen Victoria has taken the throne, Britain is entering a new age, and London is rapidly growing into one of the most important cities in the world.

Behind its crowded streets, noble estates, taverns, factories, churches, theatres, clubs, and political institutions exists another society—the hidden society of the Kindred.

Players take the roles of Vampires attempting to survive the politics of the Camarilla while protecting their secrets from mortal society and their enemies.

Victorian Albion is designed primarily for play at conventions, including events such as ConNooga, MomoCon, Dragon Con, and other participating conventions.

What clans can I play in Victorian Albion?

Victorian Albion focuses on the Seven Camarilla Clans:

• Brujah

• Gangrel

• Malkavian

• Nosferatu

• Toreador

• Tremere

• Ventrue

Characters from unusual bloodlines, independent clans, or other rare lineages are generally not standard player options unless specifically introduced or approved by the Storytelling staff for a particular storyline.

What is Conquest of Albion?

Conquest of Albion is our ongoing Dark Ages Vampire LARP in Orlando, Florida, set in 1068 A.D.

England has recently fallen to William the Conqueror, but the Norman conquest of the mortal kingdom is far from complete.

Rebellion spreads across the land while Saxon, Norman, Celtic, Scandinavian, Roman, and Continental Kindred struggle over ancient Domains, new political alliances, and control of Albion.

London remains one of the most important centers of Kindred power, but players may become involved in events throughout England, Wales, Scotland, Normandy, and beyond.

What factions exist in Conquest of Albion?

Kindred in Conquest of Albion may find themselves associated with several major political movements.

These include:

The Mithras Covenant of Avalon – Kindred loyal to the ancient traditions and power structures established under Mithras and those who continue to defend his influence over Albion.

The Conclave of the Conqueror – Kindred who arrived with, support, or benefit from the Norman conquest and the changing political order.

The Unbound – Kindred who refuse formal allegiance to either major faction and instead pursue their own interests, Domains, alliances, and ambitions.

Political allegiance can have a major effect on a character's relationships and opportunities within the chronicle.

Can I play a historical figure?

Possibly, but only with Storyteller approval.

Some historical figures may already exist as NPCs, established characters, Ghouls, mortals, or important parts of the setting.

Please speak with the Storytelling staff before creating a character based on a real historical person.

How important is real history?

History is an important part of both games.

The mortal world follows recognizable historical events, cultures, religions, conflicts, rulers, fashions, technologies, and social structures.

However, this is still the World of Darkness.

Behind recorded history are Vampires manipulating courts, controlling resources, maintaining Domains, fighting ancient rivalries, and influencing events from the shadows.

Historical events provide the backdrop. The actions of the Kindred create the hidden story.

Are there live games, or is everything online?

Both games are centered around live-action roleplaying.

Victorian Albion is primarily played at conventions.

Conquest of Albion has ongoing live events in the Orlando area.

Our Discord community is also used throughout the year for announcements, character creation, Storyteller communication, rules questions, downtime actions, and game information.

Specific online roleplay opportunities may depend upon the individual chronicle.

How do downtime actions work?

Players may submit downtime actions between live events through the Discord Ticket System when downtime actions are available.

Downtime actions may involve activities such as:

• Investigation

• Political negotiations

• Managing a Haven or Domain

• Research

• Gathering information

• Contacting NPCs

• Acquiring resources

• Crafting or commissioning appropriate items

• Traveling between locations

• Pursuing personal character goals

Storytellers determine the results based on character abilities, available resources, current events, and the ongoing story.

How do I spend Experience Points?

Experience Point spending must be submitted through the Ticket System on Discord.

Storytellers review XP expenditures before updating or approving the character.

Some abilities, Disciplines, Backgrounds, Merits, or other improvements may require additional Storyteller approval based upon the character and chronicle.

Are there XP limits?

Yes.

Character advancement is controlled to maintain game balance between new and returning players.

XP may be earned through live events, approved game activities, special events, character participation, and other opportunities established by the Storytelling staff.

Additional XP opportunities may also be available through After the Sun Sets Games membership options.

All XP awards and expenditures remain subject to Storyteller approval.

What are the PvP rules?

Player-versus-player conflict is possible because political rivalry and personal conflict are important parts of Vampire: The Masquerade.

However, PvP must follow the rules of the game and the instructions of the Storytelling staff.

Physical combat, Discipline challenges, political actions, feeding conflicts, Status disputes, and other direct character-versus-character actions may require a Storyteller or Narrator to supervise and resolve the scene.

Players should remember that character conflict is not player conflict.

Can I play a rare Clan or Bloodline?

Rare Clans, Bloodlines, unusual lineage concepts, or characters outside the normal playable options require Storyteller approval.

Approval is never automatic.

Some character types may be restricted because of the historical setting, current storyline, game balance, or the political structure of the chronicle.

Victorian Albion is especially focused on the Seven Camarilla Clans.

Do you provide character sheets and game materials?

Yes.

Depending upon the event, we may provide:

• Printed character sheets

• Digital character sheets

• Boon Tokens

• Item cards

• Letters and documents

• Rumor sheets

• Maps

• Prop handouts

• Quest materials

• Historical information

• NPC information

• In-game announcements

These materials are used to help make the setting feel like a living part of the World of Darkness.

What costuming is required?

Costuming is encouraged but not required.

Players are welcome to wear clothing appropriate to the historical setting of the game.

For Victorian Albion, this may include clothing inspired by the late 1830s and early Victorian period.

For Conquest of Albion, clothing inspired by 11th-century England, Normandy, Scandinavia, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, or other appropriate cultures is encouraged.

Simple costumes are perfectly acceptable. Players do not need expensive or historically exact clothing in order to participate.

How are special items and relics handled?

Important equipment, relics, weapons, books, documents, supernatural objects, and other special possessions may be represented by item cards or Storyteller records.

These may be earned through quests, political agreements, investigations, downtime projects, trade, or live-event storylines.

Possessing an item card does not necessarily mean that the physical prop itself has special rules unless those rules are written on the card or confirmed by a Storyteller.

Is the game beginner-friendly?

Yes.

We welcome experienced Vampire players as well as people attending their first LARP.

New players may receive assistance with:

• Choosing a Clan

• Understanding Vampire society

• Reading a character sheet

• Learning MET challenges

• Understanding Disciplines

• Roleplaying Status and Boons

• Learning historical setting information

• Creating an appropriate costume

• Joining existing storylines

You do not need to know the entire World of Darkness before attending.

What kind of roleplay is emphasized?

Our Vampire chronicles focus heavily on:

• Political intrigue

• Clan rivalries

• Personal ambition

• Ancient grudges

• Boons and favors

• Secrets and investigation

• Historical events

• Domain politics

• Social maneuvering

• Supernatural mysteries

• Exploration

• Character-driven storytelling

Combat may occur, but Vampire: The Masquerade is just as much about what happens in court, behind closed doors, and through whispered agreements as it is about fighting.

What are Boons?

Boons represent favors and debts between Kindred.

A Kindred may owe another Vampire a favor for providing information, protection, political support, resources, introductions, or even saving their existence.

After the Sun Sets Games may use Boon Token Coins to represent certain NPC Boons during live events.

The importance of Boons within Vampire society makes them valuable tools for negotiation and political roleplay.

Can I play the same character at multiple events?

Depending upon the chronicle, yes.

Returning characters must remain approved by the Storytelling staff and should be updated between events when Experience Points, equipment, Status, Boons, or story developments have changed.

For convention events, players wishing to continue using the same character should contact the Storytelling staff through Discord before the next game.

Do the Victorian and Dark Ages games share characters?

Normally, no.

The games take place more than seven centuries apart and are treated as separate chronicles.

Ancient Kindred, historical bloodlines, locations, artifacts, or events may connect the larger history of Albion, but characters appearing across multiple eras require explicit Storyteller approval.

What if I have more questions?

Join our Discord community and use the Ticket System to submit a General Question, character concept, rules question, or Storyteller request.

You may also speak with one of our Storytellers or Narrators at a live event.

Whether you wish to walk the streets of London beneath the gas lamps of Victorian England or enter the dangerous Domains of 1068 Albion during the Norman Conquest, there is always room for another Kindred in the night.