This was the second letter I sent out, which was also sent to people who joined the game later. It has more detail on the background than the first one,

Dear

Thanks for your interest in the campaign.

Here are a few details of the Kindred in the Roman world, AD 47, to help you with ideas. If your character idea is accepted into the game, I will send you additional background stuff.

I have quite a number of replies to the posts, so it will be the end of the week, or perhaps the beginning of next week before I pick the characters to join the game. Please be patient!

love

Anna
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Distribution of the clans and brief histories. These distributions are general only. There are many fewer Kindred around than in modern times, they are more independant because there are fewer cities and ties to sires and clanelders are much stronger. Kindred may be found outside the areas described below, but they may not be well regarded by the resident majority:

Ventrue: the Ventrue are the heart of Roman empire. As it's power had grown, so the clan has spread out from the Mediterrean and is now represented in all provinces. The powerful elders of the clan stay in the Italian heartlands, ruling through their broods. With the exception of the Brujah, the Ventrue are tolerant of other Clans withing the empire, basing their power on consensus and the prosperity the Empire brings. Most of the Clans based around the Mediterranean are involved in the empire in some way.

Toreador: In alliance with the Ventrue, the Toreador also support the Empire and are the second main force within it. They are found wherever there is a flourishing culture, primarily in Greece and Rome itself.

Brujah: the Brujah were the power behind Carthage. After it's destruction, the clan was torn by internal dissent and scattered around Europe. Many fled north beyond the reach of the vengeful Ventrue elders. For a Brujah, to be discovered in the Rome is to face Final Death.

Gangrel: The Gangrel have always been found among the Celtic peoples. As Rome's power has expanded many of those in the path of her conquests have retreated north, generally preferring to avoid confrontation. In these times, conflict between Kindred and Garou is much less and many Gangrel have friends and allies among the Werewolves, especially the Fianna.

Nosferatu: As secretive as in modern times, the Nosferatu have also shunned the politics and powermongering of Rome. Like the Gangrel, they are found among the peoples of the north. They have less contact with mortals and Garou but are often worshipped by mortals as local deities.

Tzimisces: A small but powerful clan based in the mountains of eastern Europe (as in modern times) the clan is little involved with the Empire.

Lascombra: Before the Empire, the Lascombra's main area of power was in Spain and North Africa and in their trading empires which spread accross the known world. Although the resisted the invasion of Spain by Rome, they eventually allied with Rome, leaving their mortal pawns to their own ends and abandoning the few Brujah who still lived there. Spain was then quickly defeated and is now a willing part of the empire.

Salubri: At this time, the Salubri are still a major clan and don't enjoy their later unpopularity. The clan stronghold is Greece, where they control many of the diverse and quarrelsome city states. They are a growing force within the Empire.

Malkavians: the Malkavians live all around Europe, with no discernable clan structure. They are often found living as gods to various peoples. Some of them exploit this, some genuinely believe they are divine beings.

Followers of Set: Seldom if ever seen in the empire, the power of the Setties was smashed at the end of the Republic (around 30 BC), when Cleopatra was revealed as a Settite agent and the Ventrue and Toreador allied to defeat them. After this, the Empire was established at the Treaty of Syracusae, signed by the Ventrue, Toreador, Lascombra and Salubri (I may have missed someone out.) This opened the Empire to the other clans and established a Kindred Senate where problems can be discussed (a forerunner of the Camarilla).

There are no: Tremere, Assamites, Giovanni, Ravnos, Sabbat, real anarchs of any description. And no clans from any other supplements, although I'm open to suggestions if you are really keen on anything unusual.

I hope that's covered everyone and given you a general overview. The important thing for characters is that they should have a motivation for moving to Britain. At the beginning of the game, Britain was (as far as was widely known) completely unoccupied by the Kindred, so there's plenty of scope for those who move there.

The characters can come from anywhere in the Empire, although Rome has been the popular choice and therefore has the best developed background material. The focus of the campaign so far has been London, although things are likely to become more general as more people join.

Another important point is that it is not a party-based game and there is no 'enforced co-operation'. One of the real strengths of PBeM is that it allows plenty of scope for rivalry and independance. The 'goals' of the campaign are pretty much set by the players - tell me what your character wants and I will ensure the opportunities are there.