Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2's Toreador Are A Beautiful Way To Die

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is the eagerly anticipated sequel to a commercially unsuccessful cult classic set in the World of Darkness, where vampires, werewolves and wraiths live in secret in highly complex societies hidden within the major cities of the present day.

Announced at GDC this year by publisher Paradox Interactive, the game will follow its predecessor as a role-playing game that developer Hardsuit Labs promises will feature compelling characters, a rich story and a complex setting.

In the months since the GDC announcement, Paradox has been dropping videos that introduce players to the various vampire clans such as the secretive but knowledgeable Tremere and the savage but free-spirited Brujah. Now they’re dropped a new reveal video for the Toreador. They’re the seductive hedonists of the vampire world, just as likely to attend fine functions as devour refined mortals.

They relish in beauty and art, and are known to attract the loyalty of musicians, painters and other such creatives and sensuals. And in the Seattle setting of Bloodlines 2, they’ve become one of its most prominent clans, shaping the character of the city over centuries. But as Seattle grows increasingly more corporate, their influence wanes.

Toreador have gifts that allow them to stun and awe others while also being able to move at tremendous speeds. Here’re some of their abilities as described by Paradox Interactive in a press release:

Presence - Public use of Presence abilities does not constitute a Masquerade violation.

• Awe: Strike a pose that freezes all before you in adoring wonder. For a short time after, new admirers are oblivious to anything other than what they’ve just witnessed.

• Entrance: Form a group of admirers around the vampire, following along and distracting nearby enemies.

Celerity - Use of Celerity before mortals is a Masquerade violation.

• Unseen Storm: Dash in any direction with such speed that you momentarily disappear from view, allowing you to land attacks, dodge around enemies, or get away before the dust has settled. Upgrades further enhance the effects of Unseen Storm.

• Accelerate: Move so fast that everything else in the world appears to slow down to a standstill. Assailants seem frozen in their attacks, cars crawl forward, bullets zip by lazily, and the vampire can perform stunts that, with an 80’s synth track in the background, would make for an awesome movie scene. Upgrades further enhance the effects of Accelerate.

There are still a few more clans left to reveal. What do you think of the newly-announced clan? There’s still a lot more stuff to be announced and showcased in the months to come. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 doesn’t have a fixed release date but Paradox estimates the game will see a release around early 2020.

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