Advice to House Members

Proven Playing Strategy for Powers Aquisition

• Step 1-Decide where you want to go
• Step 2-Get a map, or better yet, the Alleyway.exe program
• Step 3-Using map in Step 2 find nearest bank to location in Step 1
• Step 4-Proceed to bank in Step 3, do not enter bank, wait outside, you're less likely to get scrolled that way
• Step 5-Again consult map in Step 2, this time count the number of moves required to visit bank, withdraw coin, scamper to target, and buy powers/artifacts at target
• Step 6-Take number from Step 5, add 5, you never know if you'll run into problems like a blocked square that you need to go around
• Step 7-Wait until you have number of AP in Step 6
• Step 8-While waiting, compute number of coins needed for powers/artifacts
• Step 9-Add 50 coin to number in Step 8, again, a little breathing room never hurts
• Step 10-When you've got number of AP in Step 6, hit bank for number of coin in Step 9, and proceed to target in Step 1

  "Couldn't be easier. This way you'll avoid the embarrassing situation of getting stranded 3 moves away from your target with 10k coin in your pocket just to get jacked by a thief on the prowl forcing you to post your inadequacies on the board asking for someone else to seek vengeance because, after all, you're all out of AP, you can't splash them even if you want to."
  --Vampire Phantasos

Theft

• As with all things, don't make enemies of those who are stronger than you are: prey upon the weak for blood and money. Newly arrived vampires, those with 400 - 1000 blood, are the most likely to be carrying coins and the least likely to be able to make a reprisal attack any time soon. Those over that tend to know where banks are. Attack someone with a higher blood value than your own at your own risk. Occasionally, it is worthwhile to check the low blooded player in the same or adjacent square to a higher blooded player as they may that player's banker. Exercise caution.

• If someone you have robbed identifies themselves as a member of this House and demands the money returned, return it once the claim is confirmed. Do not offend, be polite, and do not bring dishonor on the House.

Creating Childer and Growing the Bloodline

• You will find in luring victims to your bite link that they usually will fall into two categories, the strong and weak willed. Each has value. Once a strong minded human has made the choice they make the change easily an become active members of the House. With this type of victim, be certain of their loyalty ahead of time. Those of weak minds are easily led to the bite link and may yield nourishing blood, but often lack the will to remain active in un-life. Seek out strong willed candidates to offer the Bloodline to, perhaps even guide them through it....these will become our elite...BE CERTAIN TO TELL NEW CHILDER TO MAKE CONTACT BY EMAIL WITH THE MASTER, LOST CHILDER ARE OF LITTLE VALUE TO THE HOUSE.

• It is highly advised that you obtain Yahoo! Messenger and inform the House of your screen name, so that we may have real time discussion among the Bloodline while in The City.

• When hunting, DO NOT SPAM. This is vulgar and not only yields unsatisfactory results but also may result in a reprisal within the House if reported to the MASTER, or in having your account frozen by RavenBlack. You have been warned.

• RavenBlack himself has stated that "Single postings on relevant or free-for-all message boards will not result in account cancellation." The recently updated FAQ, however, states that posting on any other message board than one you own yourself is NOT allowed and will result in account cancellation without warning. It's not worth it. DON'T do it. Setting up your own page is acceptable, and if you are unable to host it, THE MASTER will host your page for a fee in donations, tithes, or blood.

• Bite links in your e-mail signature may or may not be considered spam, depending on the situation. Remember, if someone complains, it is spam regardless of what you think spam is. It only takes one upset list owner or blog operator sending a complaint to RavenBlack to have your account frozen. If you think it might be spam, it probably is.

• Lure friends with whom you can discuss the game in advance. Telling isn't selling, asking is. Talk about how much fun you are having, let them ask questions instead of you giving speeches. Make them beg you to drain their blood. It makes for more loyal and active childer and it is more rewarding for you. Never beg for a victim—you are the one with the power and the secrets.

• Chat profiles are are an excellent means of gathering childer. Change your user profile to include your bite link, and then go into a busy chat room where people are free to check your profile. Very often people will examine your profile before they attempt to chat. You can be upfront about the link having to do with vampires, or you can use a ruse, such as mentioning that they can find your picture at the link. This isn't, technically, spam since people are choosing to follow the link by clicking on your profile...but be careful of embracing the idea of fooling people into following a false link to a bite page. It can yield results, but will more often annoy people who will then be more likely to complain next time they encounter a link to a vampire bite site, and it may end up being the site of one of our blood.

• Avoid putting your link in the Guest Books of sites you visit. Again, it only takes one complaint to end your un-life. Spam is worse than Holy Water.