The Chinese Room studio has released a new development diary for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, showcasing exciting gameplay footage. This diary focuses on the mechanics of vampire hunting and maintaining the Masquerade.
In the Vampire: The Masquerade universe, vampires must uphold the Masquerade – concealing their existence from humans. Bloodlines 2 reflects this with a Masquerade meter, visually tracking actions that violate this crucial rule.
Three levels of Masquerade violation are indicated by an eye icon:
- Green: Minor infraction; simply hiding will suffice.
- Yellow: Multiple infractions, feeding, or aggressive power use. Players must manage witnesses or avoid attracting police attention.
- Red: The Masquerade is broken, and the police are pursuing the player. Escape and concealment are crucial, as the Camarilla will intervene once the meter is full (as shown in the accompanying video).
Players can reduce their "infamy" by making witnesses forget their actions or, alternatively, eliminating them. If the police are involved, the best strategy is to hide and wait.
The developers emphasize that the risk of exposure will steadily increase throughout the game. Maintaining the Masquerade requires swift and decisive action from players.