While I'd like to keep the many of the rule and setting changes minimal, I have a couple problems with some disciplines and how Dark Ages: Vampire presents some of the clans. The major one on the list though, is Serpentis and the Setites.
Obviously the Followers of Set (or Typhon-Set as the case might be), are going to be one of the potential factions in Alexandria, but their write up and discipline are a little lacking. Looking at the discipline, it isn't really clear how it might augment an influence, unlike just about every other discipline (barring the physical trio of fortitude, celerity, and potence and also Quietus from the Dark Ages: Vampire book). I think the Setites also suffer a little from their earlier incarnation where they were given this strange Serpentis discipline, and the later interpretations which didn't change the fact that their most powerful discipline level is a bizarre ritual which can only be preformed once a month.
The fix? Obviously a few key thing setting elements will need a slight update, so I'm going to do a bit of a rewrite to fit some other setting material about the Setites a bit better and not portray them as one-dimensional manipulators. A couple other clans might need a little attention too, but I'm not sure if a simple paragraph is best or to do a cut-and-paste job with some alterations from the book. A couple of the roads might need a little work too (Heaven seems clearly Abrahamic and I want it to include Neoplatonism, the Cult of Isis, and other Greco-Roman and Egyptian pagan cults).
I imagine there'll be a setting update packet, with a few key clans (Setites, maybe Assamites, Cappadocians, Ravnos, Salubri, and whoever else might form the preferred 5-8 clans), the roads (with Roads of Heaven and the Serpent updated to fit a little better), and then there are disciplines.
By and large, most disciplines are fine. But then there's Serpentis and the physical ones. I think physical disciplines will at least be useful for feeding actions and be taken into account for any combats, so they're not the worst. Serpentis though, I just can't think of good augments for it. I'm thinking of replacing it with Setite Sorcery, or calling Serpentis one path and letting all Setites access a few rituals. If I do that though, part of me wants to keep secret what Assamite Sorcery, Mortis, and Setite Sorcery can do, or at least their main rituals. Another option is to have factions have special disciplines. The Children of Osiris (or Serapis?) could teach Bardo or Hekau, the Cult of Typhon-Set could teach Akhu (Setite Sorcery)...
That leaves the Brujah as little unlucky, with their two physical disciplines, but presence is still pretty good. I could always have the True Brujah (with their wonky Temporis discipline instead of Celerity) be the dominant Brujah lineage in Alexandria, I suppose.
Of course, not everything needs to be completely fair and balanced. Different choices present different options. But a few might need a new coat of paint or a decorative and gilded moulding to spruce things up.
Obviously the Followers of Set (or Typhon-Set as the case might be), are going to be one of the potential factions in Alexandria, but their write up and discipline are a little lacking. Looking at the discipline, it isn't really clear how it might augment an influence, unlike just about every other discipline (barring the physical trio of fortitude, celerity, and potence and also Quietus from the Dark Ages: Vampire book). I think the Setites also suffer a little from their earlier incarnation where they were given this strange Serpentis discipline, and the later interpretations which didn't change the fact that their most powerful discipline level is a bizarre ritual which can only be preformed once a month.
The fix? Obviously a few key thing setting elements will need a slight update, so I'm going to do a bit of a rewrite to fit some other setting material about the Setites a bit better and not portray them as one-dimensional manipulators. A couple other clans might need a little attention too, but I'm not sure if a simple paragraph is best or to do a cut-and-paste job with some alterations from the book. A couple of the roads might need a little work too (Heaven seems clearly Abrahamic and I want it to include Neoplatonism, the Cult of Isis, and other Greco-Roman and Egyptian pagan cults).
I imagine there'll be a setting update packet, with a few key clans (Setites, maybe Assamites, Cappadocians, Ravnos, Salubri, and whoever else might form the preferred 5-8 clans), the roads (with Roads of Heaven and the Serpent updated to fit a little better), and then there are disciplines.
By and large, most disciplines are fine. But then there's Serpentis and the physical ones. I think physical disciplines will at least be useful for feeding actions and be taken into account for any combats, so they're not the worst. Serpentis though, I just can't think of good augments for it. I'm thinking of replacing it with Setite Sorcery, or calling Serpentis one path and letting all Setites access a few rituals. If I do that though, part of me wants to keep secret what Assamite Sorcery, Mortis, and Setite Sorcery can do, or at least their main rituals. Another option is to have factions have special disciplines. The Children of Osiris (or Serapis?) could teach Bardo or Hekau, the Cult of Typhon-Set could teach Akhu (Setite Sorcery)...
That leaves the Brujah as little unlucky, with their two physical disciplines, but presence is still pretty good. I could always have the True Brujah (with their wonky Temporis discipline instead of Celerity) be the dominant Brujah lineage in Alexandria, I suppose.
Of course, not everything needs to be completely fair and balanced. Different choices present different options. But a few might need a new coat of paint or a decorative and gilded moulding to spruce things up.
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