(Untitled)

[dragonladyflame]

Whilst sorting through marketing materials, I came upon this little gem by Jason Schneiderman from "InQuest" #44:

... the world of wrestling and the World of Darkness cross over with Gangrel, a new professional wrestler based on the Gangrel clan from White Wolf's Vampire: the Masquerade roleplaying game

Comments

[jadasc]

I was sure it was a joke, but no!

Aw, c'mon. Would I lie to you? ;)

[dragonladyflame]

How to answer that ...

:grin: But seriously. That was really you? The thought crossed my mind, but then I was like "Nah, no way lil old me knows someone so exalted."

[jadasc]

But seriously. That was really you?

It was. I worked for InQuest from 1996 until 1998. Almost managed to parlay it into a job at White Wolf, in fact; the fact that I didn't make it was a key element in why I moved to Boston in the first place.

[dragonladyflame]

That's so cool! You should give me massive tips on breaking into the RPG magazine business.

[jadasc]

I can't decide which audience sets fail to intersect more: wrestling fans and gamers...

Now, that's just silly. Notwithstanding the two -- two! -- licensed wrestling roleplaying games, and the various incarnations of wrestling RPG products (like the XWF supplement for Aberrant and "Zombie Smackdown" for All Flesh Must Be Eaten), professional wrestling largely features broad characterizations and simple conflicts that are resolved through intricate combat. In other words, it emulates the core of most RPG play exactly. :)

[dragonladyflame]

:laugh: Yeah, silly girly me doesn't know what RPGs are about!

[jadasc]

I would never. Your knowledge of RPGs is beyond reproach. I have no such grounds, however, for an appraisal of your knowledge of wrestling and the like. I was just going off on a riff; forgive me if I overstepped.

[dragonladyflame]

Aww, I was kidding. No need to get flustered.

[heliograph]

IIRC WW licensed more than one character for wrestling, though I couldn't tell you who or what.

[dragonladyflame]

Who were the ad wizards who came up with this? Who?

[heliograph]

Hey, you work there: ask somebody!

[dragonladyflame]

Except that as the article said, it wasn't White Wolf that came up with it ....

Also, "work" is a bit of a strong word.

[ejgrgunner]

During Gangrel's stint in the WWF, I admit, ashamedly, that I was a fan of wrestling. I remember his whole shtick, how he was paired with wrestlers named "Edge" and "Christian" to form a clique known as "The Brood." Ironically, the other two characters looked much more vampiric, sans Gangrel's goofy puffy "goth" shirt. In fact Gangrel pretty much looked like a pudgy alcoholic in need of dental work most nights.

I've noted that there tends to be significant crossover between general gamers (i.e. not specifically RPG enthusiasts) and wrestling fans. Many of the wrestling fans I knew in high school played Ultima Online and the like.

Additionally, I believe I've seen the commercial you refer to. The dancers in question are recognizable professional wrestlers, which is supposed to make it funny.

[jadasc]

Would it surprise you to learn that Edge and Christian were slated to be the Brujah and Toreador analogues in that plot?

[ejgrgunner]

Only because neither one of them was truly buff enough to pull off a Brujah.

[dragonladyflame]

A Toreador wrestler?

...

...

...

Let's all think about that one for a moment.

[epinicion]

i was familiar with gangrel but I didn't make the connection. I've been playing Vampire: the Masquerade for over 8 years now and was thus acquainted with it before my Highschool valedictorian suckered me into watching a lot of WWF. I would watch him on TV and say, "what a bizarre coincidence."

Guess Ian doesn't get points for being bright.