To be read while wanking in the Modern Age
Vampire: Undeath is the newest Kickstarter project from Dark Phoenix Publishing. Despite all appearances to the contrary, this game is exactly nothing like the famous RPG Vampire: The Masquerade.


As it says in the book, "take everything you've ever known about vampires and throw it out the window." Our vampires are dark, dangerous and gritty characters. They have real problems. As a vampire you'll have to learn how to control your Predatorial Nature in order to conceal your identity and counterfeit humanity. Other vampires (as well as other supernatural creatures) can sense you through a network known as The Empathy. Our vampires come from ancient familial lines although no vampire in the modern nights truly knows where vampires come from. In the game you'll step into the shoes of a newly created vampire and see just how dark the world really is.

Except it's a lot like V:tM. Everyone at the White Wolf forums has a good laugh--except for massive Vampire: Undeath fanboy Pendragon_James, here to tell everyone how wrong and uninformed they are. Surprisingly, he's soon banned for being a sock of the game's creator.

Our scene then moves to the forums RPGnet, where Mykal Lakim shows up under his actual name to further explain how it is nothing like V:tM.

We could address the VTM similarities some people are seeing, which, we don't see. Even Mark Rein-Hagen [the creator of V:tM] who we speak with nearly every day has failed to mention these "similarities." If anyone would have noticed something, I'm sure he would have.

The rest of the thread disagrees, except for a random passerby who just happened to drop by for a single post on how awesome Dark Phoenix is.

Later, discussion movies onto another thread. For about 48 pages things go smoothly, until Mykal returns.

Worldwalker. Let me start by saying, again, that my work is not derivative of White Wolf. I understand you feel that it is, but I have to disagree. I never thought of any white wolf inspired themes, plots or elements. If you see them, there's nothing I can do to change your mind.

JordanMillward_1. Hate to break it to you. I never broke the TOU. My guess is, they just don't want me there. Which is cool, I went to high school.

Yo!Master. The photo relates to the period. Did you read the description for Age of Reckoning? Again, has nothing to do with Requiem or Gehenna. Sorry. It's a "period" book which allows you play in a certain time period. Look into it. Then you'll have a valid argument. Also, why would over ten employees make us big? If other companies don't have that many people working for them that would explain quite a bit. Unfortunately for you, our "family" is quite large.

As for the rest of the people here. I have never laughed so hard. It's always great to get online and see what people think about things they've never read! Pick up a book, read it and tell me you don't like it. Leave it at that. I've always said the game isn't for everyone.

Also he has another game that totally isn't Call of Cthulhu.

Also have some elegant cover art.

EDIT: Also some demos, for an example of his game design and writing skills, and some light fiction of horror and despair.

Unfortunately Mykal's stay isn't long here either, as he quickly gets his ass banned.

But we haven't heard the last of Mykal just yet. Some time later RPGnet mods make an announcement warning of the internet lawyers!

Yesterday evening I received an email from Mykal Lakim, Founder & Chief Executive Office of Dark Phoenix Publishing, that requested that his ban be lifted and that the thread about Dark Phoenix Publishing be removed (I would guess this thread, though Mr. Lakim did not specify). He said that if we did not do this, he would be forwarding information on to his attorney for slander.

I have opted not to censor the thread in question.

However, this ultimately leaves the burden on you, as what you write on internet sites is your responsibility, not that of the site (per CDA §230). Thus, you may wish to review what you wrote about Dark Phoenix Publishing to see if you feel that any of it was appropriate and might cause Dark Phoenix Publishing to sue you for libel or slander.

The matter is discussed here, as well as in the Tangency section here (Note: Tangency is locked to nonmembers but RPGnet membership is open). Most agree this isn't a matter worth worrying about.

As a final interesting note, Mykal's also made some trouble for himself on Wikipedia, which refuses to give him an article on his company.


"So, nonconstructive? Not sure how anyone could figure that and of course the pages are being defended. They meet every requirement asked of them and everything has been done to prevent people from this website from trying to hold it down. It is a company in every way,shape and form. Because of Wikipdia's viscous attacks on the company, fans have messaged us trying to give us legal advice and trying to convince us to take legal action. We were hoping for a more "grown-up" approach. When moderators or editors or whatever they are called here decide they like something, they should keep it to themselves. When professionalism is being sacrificed for petty "who likes what more" sentiments, it's just retarded. One moderator claims that the references we give aren't credible because they didn't come from one of his sources. Did he check with anything? No. Because the website he says we don't have a review through, agreed to do the review weeks ago. Hmmm... if he'd actually checked into it, would he have found that? Yes. So once again, for the millionth time, it's a company, deal with it."

Well, they dealt.

EDIT: But it's okay, he's got his own wiki. With blackjack and hookers.

VAMPIRIC EDIT: And a Facebook page, with this charming little bit on his personal one. (helpfully screencapped by rpg.net).

I got Trolled by the most immature people imaginable over something they've never read. Pretty sad actually. One attempted to use copyright material to slander myself and my company. Sent a letter to the hosting website and notified attorney. I feel like I've been more than amicable with the way its' heading. Seriously, if you have nothing better to do than try to slander my name, I will seek legal action.


EDIT: For later viewing pleasure, a massive collection of links of the author's exploits.