Lately, though real life is busy and hectic as all get out, I've managed to spend some time hanging out at "The Vampire's Gaze" the forums for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines - Companion Mod.

If you are not familiar with, what is likely, the best (though originally bug-ridden and a nightmare of corporate mis-management) ports of a paper and dice / storytelling rpg to PC, then take a look around.

A testament to how good a concept and game a release truly is, in my opinion, is the longevity the fan base grants it with work to continue the life of projects like Vampire: The Masquerade.

Dheu, the driving force behind the "Companion Mod", has expanded upon the abilities of, in particular the Ventrue, all the vampire clans in the original release in the game by allowing them the ability to gather "companions". For those familiar with The World of Darkness, a Ventrue's power to control and manipulate others is what allows them to rest firmly in the seat of power while avoiding getting their hands personally dirty.

This, is very important to playing the Ventrue, and in the interest of balance and those that wish to dive into other clans while still enjoying the CompMod, Dheu worked out an item that grants all clans the ability to worm their way into the minds of other characters.

There are many interesting aspects to the mod, not all of them Companion related, and as a Kindred "purist" of a sort, I definitely put my stamp (for what THAT's worth) of approval on this mod.