You've made a character. You've read up on clans and disciplines. Maybe you've skimmed the rules, maybe you haven't. Either way, your first night of Vampire: the Masquerade LARP is coming up and you have no idea what's actually going to happen when you walk through the door.
That's normal. Here's what to expect.
It's Not a Performance
The number one misconception about LARP is that you need to be a good actor. You don't. You're not performing for an audience. You're just talking to people as your character. If you can hold a conversation, you can LARP.
Most of what happens at a Vampire game is social. You'll talk to other characters, negotiate deals, trade information, lie to people's faces, and try to figure out who's lying to yours. Combat happens, but it's resolved through a quick rules system rather than actual fighting. The drama comes from the politics, not the sword fights.
What to Wear
Vampire LARP tends to lean into costuming more than some other games, but "costume" can mean whatever you want it to. Some players show up in full gothic regalia. Others wear a nice blazer and call it done. The key is to wear something that isn't obviously you. If you normally wear jeans and a band tee, swap to slacks and a button-down. If your character is a Nosferatu who lives in the sewers, lean into that.
Don't stress about it for your first game. A step or two away from your everyday wardrobe is plenty. You'll figure out your character's look over time.
The Flow of a Game Night
Every chronicle runs a little differently, but most Vampire LARP sessions follow a general pattern:
Before game: You'll check in with the Storytellers (the people running the game). They'll confirm your character is approved, answer last-minute questions, and may give you a quick rundown of what's happening in the city. If there's anything your character would know going into the night, this is when you'll hear about it.
Opening scene: Many games start with a gathering, like an Elysium (a neutral meeting ground where violence is forbidden). This gives everyone a reason to be in the same room and lets new players meet established characters in a relatively safe setting.
The middle: This is the open sandbox part. You'll break off into smaller groups, have private conversations, pursue your character's goals, and react to whatever chaos unfolds. Storytellers may pull you aside for scenes involving SPCs (Storyteller Portrayed Characters) orr plot hooks specific to your character. This is where the game really lives.
Downtime and wrap-up: Games usually have a defined end time. Some chronicles handle "downtime actions" between sessions, letting you do things your character would be working on during the weeks between games.
How Conflict Works
Laws of the Night V5 resolves uncertain situations, like combat, supernatural powers, or resisting manipulation, with a game of rock, paper, scissors. Win the throw and you succeed. On a tie, both players compare the total of their relevant attribute and skill, and the higher total wins.
You don't need to memorize the rules before your first game. Experienced players and Storytellers will walk you through any challenge that comes up. Just know what's on your character sheet and be ready to ask questions.
Nobody Expects You to Know Everything
Veteran players have been doing this for months or years. They know the political landscape, the NPCs, and the rules inside and out. You won't, and that's fine.
Here's the secret: your character doesn't know everything either. If you're playing a newly Embraced vampire, it makes perfect sense that you're confused and overwhelmed. Lean into it. Ask other characters to explain things to you in-game. Most players love bringing a new vampire into the fold because it gives them someone to mentor (or manipulate).
The Social Contract
LARP involves a level of trust between players. A few things to keep in mind:
Separate character from player. Your character might be a ruthless political operator. The person playing the Harpy who just publicly humiliated your character is not actually trying to ruin your night. If you're ever unsure whether something is in-character or out-of-character, just ask.
Consent matters. Most modern LARP chronicles have safety mechanics for scenes that touch on uncomfortable topics. If something makes you uncomfortable as a player, you can step out or signal that you need the scene to change direction. No one will judge you for it.
Have fun being bad at things. Your character has low stats somewhere. That's a feature, not a bug. Characters who are bad at things create better stories than characters who are good at everything.
What Cities of Darkness Does Differently
At Cities of Darkness, a lot of the logistics that can make a first game stressful are handled through the site and our Discord bot before you ever show up.
Your character sheet lives on citiesofdarkness.com. Once it's been approved by a Storyteller, your sheet, XP, discipline powers, and coterie membership are all tracked there. You don't need to bring a paper sheet or worry about whether your numbers are right.
Our Discord server acts as a hub between game sessions. You can request scenes with Storytellers, interact with other characters, and stay connected to what's happening in the chronicle between live games. The bot handles things like hunting rolls and other mechanical actions so downtime stays active without requiring everyone to be in the same room.
Just Show Up
The hardest part of your first LARP is walking in the door. Everything after that gets easier. You'll stumble through some rules, you'll forget your character's backstory halfway through a conversation, and you'll probably spend at least one scene standing awkwardly in a corner wondering what to do next. Everyone does that their first time.
By your second or third game, you'll have allies, enemies, and plans in motion. That's when it clicks.
Cities of Darkness is a fan-run chronicle network using Laws of the Night V5 by By Night Studios.
Cities of Darkness material is not official World of Darkness material. Portions of the materials are the copyrights and trademarks of Paradox Interactive AB, and are used with permission. All rights reserved. For more information please visit worldofdarkness.com.