Newbie Vampire Survival Guide

Artist Statement

Concept: "Newbie Vampire Survival Guide" is a funny tabletop role-playing game where players are newly-turned vampires trying to survive in a dangerous and absurd world. Players need to feed, hide their identities, and avoid hunters while experiencing the awkward and funny challenges of being a new vampire.

Aim: The goal for players is to handle the different challenges. If a player's vampire identity is exposed or they get caught by a hunter, that player fails. However, if all players succeed in each act and reach the epilogue, they win together—surviving and keeping their vampire secret. The game aims to tell a story of growth and adventure, with humor and challenges along the way.

Tone: The game is light-hearted and humorous, with elements of absurd comedy and a bit of drama. The focus is on the funny stories of newbie vampires—clumsy and full of mistakes, but also offering opportunities for creativity and clever responses. The tone should be entertaining, bringing lots of laughter, while also keeping a bit of tension and funny twists at key moments.

Subject Matter: The game explores themes of identity, survival, and belonging. Players must find a balance between their hunger for blood, learning new skills, and fitting into vampire society. The game also shows the absurdity of vampire life, especially when blending into human society, dealing with strange weaknesses, and outsmarting hunters. It's about newbie vampires learning to survive in a new world, full of awkwardness, growth, and fun.

I made this game because I wanted to explore identity and the experience of a newbie in a new world, in a funny way. The vampire theme allowed me to show how it feels to adapt to a new identity. The story of a newbie vampire reflects the struggles everyone faces when dealing with changes in their identity—finding balance between confusion and new abilities. Through this game, I hope players can experience the awkwardness and growth involved in adapting to a new identity, finding their own way, and learning to collaborate while facing challenges.

I chose elements related to my obsession with vampire-themed films and shows. I've always been interested in this genre of stories. The sense of mystery, identity transformation, and survival struggle found in vampire narratives have always captivated me. I appreciate how these films and shows use vampires to explore complex themes such as humanity, desire, and loneliness. In creating this game, I wanted to use these elements to depict the adventures of a newbie vampire, particularly their challenges in adapting to a new identity. I hope that players can experience the sense of wonder and tension that I've always enjoyed in vampire stories, and also enjoy a fun and meaningful adventure.

In my game, I explore themes of identity and survival. As newly-turned vampires, players face the challenge of integrating into society and surviving under constant threats, especially as outsiders adapting to a new environment. To support these themes, I used several craft elements: In visual design, I emphasized an absurd and humorous style. The vampire characters are portrayed with clumsiness and uncertainty, contrasting with the typical "powerful and mysterious" vampire image, enhancing the game's comedic atmosphere. The flaws and weaknesses of the characters are also visually emphasized, highlighting the imperfections of these vampires and making the adaptation process more entertaining. In mechanics, the plot points system supports character growth and teamwork. Plot points can be used to drive key story moments or reroll dice, adding strategy and interaction, and encouraging players to be creative and cooperative in the face of challenges. The hunger mechanic reflects the survival needs of vampires directly. Hunger increases with failed actions, and when it reaches the maximum, the character loses control—highlighting the newbie vampire's struggle with their needs. Players must learn to manage hunger while avoiding exposure, showcasing the tension between identity and survival. This mechanic was inspired by the physiological need for blood found in vampire stories—both a necessity for survival and an internal struggle. Many vampire narratives focus on this conflict, so I incorporated it into the game to reflect the challenge of managing this need.

I hope that by the end of the game, players will experience the unique enjoyment of being a newbie vampire. Throughout the game, players face challenges ranging from confusion to gradually adapting to a new way of life. This adventure aims to provide players with the joy and relaxation that comes from an amusing story, and convey the sense of growth involved in learning and adapting. Additionally, I hope that players can feel the satisfaction of collaborating with others to overcome obstacles and gain new insights into identity and social adaptation.