Vampire: The Masquerade — Sins of the Sires
In this elegy of blood, Athens is burning!
Vampire: The Masquerade – Sins of the Sires is an interactive novel by Natalia Theodoridou. It’s entirely text-based, 300,000 words, without graphics or sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.
Nebula Award Finalist for Best Game Writing in the 58th Annual Nebula Awards!
Athens, Greece: a city with an ancient past now thrust into the modern age. A city torn between the Camarilla establishment and the Anarchs, where everyone owes your boss a favor, and that makes you an untouchable vampire in this nocturnal society where you and your fellow Kindred must conceal yourselves from mortal eyes—the Masquerade of the Kindred.
Rumors spread of an ancient vampire, Aristovoros, intent on bringing about a new world for the Kindred, an end to the Masquerade. Why hide from mortals when you can reign over them as gods?
Who will you use, who will you help, and who will you prey on? Will you topple the old Prince Peisistratos? Will you betray your boss when your lost sire returns? What miseries will you inflict to fight for a fairer, more humane world?
- Nebula Award Finalist for Best Game Writing in the 58th Annual Nebula Awards
- Become Clan Tremere, Ventrue, Malkavian, Banu Haqim, or thin-blooded.
- Play as a man, a woman, or a non-binary person, femme, masc, or androgynous, and as gay, straight, bisexual, queer, or ace.
- Outlast a dark tale of corruption, power hunger, betrayal, and yearning for what you once were.
- Rise within the ranks of the Camarilla, stand with the Anarchs, or forge your own lonely way ahead.
- Unmask your true sire. Is it the Prince Peisistratos? One of the city’s Primogen? Is it Aristovoros himself?
Which part will you play in this game of masks?
Game Discussion
Steam User 0
Think the other V:TM games aren't dark enough? This one might be for you, but definitely don't start here if you're new to Vampire: The Masquerade. Read this as the most cautious recommendation that it is possible to make and read other reviews too before making your mind up to spend your time here. (Would have given it a "Maybe" over a thumbs up if it was possible.)
I really do think there's a type of Vampire player out there who finds the monstrousness of vampire society appealing, someone who can revel in stories about the inevitable onslaught of institutional power that V:tM mirrors. Sins of the Sire will give you just that, an emotionally detached player character being shepherded through the misery that is the backside of vampire society. There's a wealth of different genuinely interesting characters, and pretty much no one will give you enough of themselves to give you the opportunity to get attached. And the Athens that is portrayed is a really interesting and gritty setting that you just never get to stay in any one place long enough to care for. There's just darkness and there's so much of it.
Here you'll find barely anything human to attach to as a reader. Barely any sense of agency to enjoy. Barely any exciting secrets to explore. Just a corpse shambling through a series of scenes happening at them, all while musing over them from a point of almost ironic detachment. And this I genuinely think is a strength that sets Sins of the Sire apart from all other CoG WoD books, a divisive flavour that there are people out there who genuinely enjoy -- the cultural output of the 00:s is proof of this.
But it's also very much not for me. I have given up before reaching the end because I just can't find anything to care about. It's been very interesting to read to widen my idea of what a World of Darkness story can be though, and I genuinely think there is an audience for Sins of the Sire out there, just not that I am part of that audience.
Steam User 0
Playing through all the World of Darkness interactive fiction novels, and whilst Sins of the Sires isn't the best—the writing and characters are still extremely enjoyable. I think some of the criticism on here is a bit harsh, the only con really is the novel isn't longer. It's probably the shortest World of Darkness interactive novel, at 300,000 words, but it still has plenty of replayability, interesting themes (huge focus on humanity) and likeable characters.
At full price, it might not be worth it if you aren't a hardcore fan of Vampire: The Masquerade, but on sale it's definitely worth it. The setting is also really unique (Greece) and the Ancient history of Vampires around the world is an interesting read.
Steam User 2
This is actually exactly like a VTM story should be. Many paths, many characters, many goals and schemes etc. It is peak WoD storytelling. The character building at the start is so well done and more organic than most in these games. Theres nice artwork spread throughout the game...I could go on.
But if you are scared of the game because someone asks you for your pronouns in the first few minutes, maybe roleplaying games are too much for your cerebral capacities, big boy.