Vampire: The Dark Ages

Vampire: The Dark Ages
A Storytelling Game of Epic Horror

Dark Ages: Vampire cover (2002 edition)
Designer(s) Jennifer Hartshorn, Ethan Skemp, Mark Rein·Hagen, Kevin Hassall
Publisher(s) White Wolf
Publication date 1996 (Vampire: The Dark Ages)
2002 (Dark Ages: Vampire)
Genre(s) Personal Horror
System(s) Storyteller System
Vampire: The Dark Ages cover (1996 edition)

Vampire: The Dark Ages is a role-playing game originally published by White Wolf Game Studio in 1996. Later, in 2002, the gameline was replaced by Dark Ages: Vampire. Additionally, with the release of Dark Ages: Vampire, several other game lines were added, Dark Ages: Werewolf, Dark Ages: Mage, Dark Ages: Inquisitor, and Dark Ages: Fae, each contributing to the shared setting. Vampire: The Dark Ages is a spin-off from the Vampire: The Masquerade game, also published by White Wolf, the latter set in modern times.

History

White Wolf Publishing came up with a new model for game releases as historical RPGs, each based on one of the original World of Darkness games. This resulted in three new lines: Vampire: The Dark Ages (1996), Werewolf: The Wild West (1997), and Mage: The Sorcerer's Crusade (1998). By 1998 White Wolf was facing continued economic problems, and was hitting a crisis. Of their last five World of Darkness games – the three new historical games, as well as 1994's Wraith: The Oblivion and 1995's Changeling: The Dreaming – only Vampire: The Dark Ages sold well.[1]

Setting

The original game was set in dark medieval Europe in the year 1197, while the 2002 edition updated the setting to the year 1230. The setting lives from both its differences to the historical facts and to the predecessor game Vampire: The Masquerade.

References

  1. Shannon Appelcline (2011). Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-907702-58-7.

External links