Vampire: The Masquerade was presented as “A Storytelling game of personal horror”, but, of course, over thirty years, each group of players has taken their own approach to it, narrating their stories in genres as diverse as adventure, noir, dark superheros, or even hack and slash. This larp goes back to the roots: it’s not only a horror story, but one in which the horror comes from our more inner thoughts, feelings, and desires.

The larp does a great job of depicting the perverse dynamics between the abusers and the abused, but it also delves into the psychology of addiction, and, perhaps most importantly, opens a door to hope by also introducing the will to heal and the opportunity to do it.

I was part of the playtesting and I've had the chance to play this larp twice: the first time as one of the tortured victims and the second time as one of the torturers. As a victim, my experience was a nightmare littered with flashbacks that tormented but also tempted me. The role of abuser allowed me to reflect on the power that gives you a person who surrenders completely to you, the responsibility that comes with it, and the damage that neglecting this responsibility can cause.

Reading the final text of the larp has given me a new level of understanding of the possibilities this story holds. I especially liked the “Other styles of play” section, which allows you to play this story online or adapt it to your Vampire chronicle.