Page 60 - Hunter - The Vigil

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S STORYTELLING THE PRELUDE|ELEMENTS OF A PRELUDE
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character and his setting. As such, a prelude offers a brief but
rative preludes are faster and easier to script, but interactive
scenes often have more emotional impact and allow a player meaningful glimpse (or glimpses) into the character’s past, his
to get a better feel for his character by acting as a sort of “dry life before the game chronicle begins. Some pivotal points in
run” before the actual game. the character’s life that might be used as prelude scenarios are
And, if the prelude is run as an interactive scene, you’ve got offered below. Storytellers should feel free (but not pressured)
to decide if you’re going to use the Storyteller rules for challenge to utilize any or all of them, or to create alternate scenarios

resolution, or just allow the players to script their characters’ ac- based on significant clues from the character’s background.
tions at will. Rules tend to slow down a narrative scene, and if Any emotionally charged situation can serve as a useful pre-
the outcome is planned out already, they may be an unnecessary lude scene, especially those that have helped to guide the
encumbrance. On the other hand, especially if the players are character toward the Vigil.
unfamiliar with the game system, giving them the opportunity to Everyday Life
roll a few challenges in a prelude may help them understand how “Daaaaaddyyyy?”
the rules work before the game actually begins. The plaintive wail is hard to ignore, even though this is the 20 th
Particular care should be given when allowing dice rolls
(rather than raw narrative) to determine the outcome in time you’ve heard it tonight. So far, it’s been requests for drinks of
water and hugs, emergencies like missing stuffed animals or trips
combat and Morality loss in prelude scenes. No one wants to to the bathroom. But this time it sounds a little different. This time
roll up a character and then have him die or go insane before he sounds scared.
the “real” game even begins. To avoid this, it is advised to “Daddy? There’s something outside…Something scary!”
use narrative to ensure that the outcome of combat scenes is This is just another ploy to avoid going to sleep. Or is it?
at least non-fatal for players’ characters and to steer clear of There’s a crash outside, and your child screams.
Degeneration rolls during prelude scenarios.
What do you do?
No one is born a hunter. Even those who come to the Vigil
Elements of a Prelude early experience some sort of life before turning to the hunt, and
The purpose of a prelude is to give the Storyteller and many hunters had friends, families and careers before being called
player an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the to task. Many times, it is the threat against or loss of those precious

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