I was writing about the Anarchs a while back, which got me to questioning the difference between physical and “virtual” domain. I riffed on it a little bit in the technology chapter, calling into question some of the previously established conventions of domain. Here’s an excerpt.
<1>Unlife Online
<n>Without a doubt, the single greatest threat to the Masquerade and the single greatest weapon in the technologically savvy Kindred’s arsenal is communication. Security systems, medical breakthroughs, weapons advancements and numerous other technologies all pose certain hazards or benefits to the Damned, but often only in very specific circumstances. The most significant change to Kindred society wrought by technology is communication.
Indeed, the effect of communication on undead society has raised the question as to what constitutes a domain. With the ability of a Kindred in London to set into effect a virtual chain of events that culminates in an Anarch uprising in New York, does domain have the same meaning tonight? Can the Prince of New York redress a grievance with the London Kindred for meddling in her domain? Or must she observe ancient protocols and petition the Prince of London? What about actions between virtual domains across the boundaries of sects?
These questions complicate the historical understanding of the Traditions. With Kindred no longer necessarily even physically present in a domain, how can a Prince or Archbishop enforce the laws of the domain upon an individual vampire? Should she? And with the authority figures equally as able (potentially, if not in reality) to follow transgressors across the vast network of virtual space and digital devices, how can the transgressor hide? In nights when the Prince of Paris can exact vengeance against a Black Hand pack in Mexico City and thus invite further retribution from the Archbishop and Regent there, does the venerable Kindred concept of domain even mean anything anymore? When a Prince claims Praxis, is the claim over physical territory, or does the Prince’s claim extend over the virtual wellbeing of her subjects as well? Does punishment for transgression lie in the responsibility of the “meatspace” location of the transgressor, or does a digital crime warrant digital justice at the hands of a Prince able to enforce it? But what if the Prince of the physical domain and the virtual territory disagree? What if they’re at war, or of different sects? And what of Kindred who are stalwart sect members of physical locations but self-styled Autarkis in digital domains?
It’s a heady, complicated topic, and one discussed in no few opulent salons and filthy hideouts. And the answers, to date, aren’t forthcoming. The ramifications change as quickly as does the face of the technology raising the question.
For me, part of the coolness of this topic is that Vampire, of course, has been around since before this stuff became an issue. The neat part is that, as players and Storytellers, we’ve been able to watch and respond to this in real time, just as the Kindred in the game world do. History has changed alongside the game world in this matter, and the habits of characters in the game have changed over time to account for these new developments. The shared world created by the players is the very one that’s changing in response to the new technological stimuli, and I think that’s amazing. Without 20 years of player experience and stories to model vampire society on, we wouldn’t be comparing and contrasting what happened “then” when people were playing Vampire to what’s happening when they’re playing it now.
One of the things I’ll show soon (or perhaps with the complete draft posting) is the Camarilla’s experiment with Justicars whose area of influence is the Internet. They’re the ones who comment-bomb YouTube postings of Masquerade violations or have the videos suppressed, and a variety of other methods of destroying or discrediting the digital footprint. It all ties together.
I love the idea of digital Justicars. Perhaps something that was enacted at the 41st gathering of the Inner Circle this year?
Justicars on the internet and other stories. This would have sold the book to me if I hadn’t been planning to buy it anyway.
The irreducible core of the concept of domain is who controls the feeding rights. That means that the Kindred who control a domain must maintain a physical presence in that domain – they’re tied to it. By contrast, the Kindred seeking to disrupt the domain can cause havoc from anywhere. (Real life example – Britain recently suffered widespread rioting when a dispute at a local police station went viral via twitter). You’ve spoken of tit-for-tat exchanges between Princes and Archbishops, but don’t forget the potential to empower the have-nots at the expense of the haves.
Well, as you probably already know, I’m fascinated by the intersection of vamps and modern communication tech.
The thing is though, the vamps, even elders, aren’t without tools for sorting these sorts of issues out. First of all, they can look to mortal models of international law, conventions for settling espionage disputes, etc. Also, both sects now have at least a rudimentary overarching structure within which inter-domain grievances can theoretically (if not always in practice) be raised. Although it’s true that traditionally domain rights have mostly been understood in terms of physical real estate and prey population, it is equally true that the Tradition is broadly-yet-unequivocally phrased: within your domain, your word is supposed to be “law;” which means that if anything vampire-connected happens in your domain without your approval, you technically have grounds for demanding redress.
(Now *enforcing* that is another matter, but the options are many. You can report to the Archons or the Templars or whoever, sure. But you could also make an assassination attempt. Challenge to Monomacy. Convict the miscreant in absentia and declare his/her blood forfeit within your domain. Attempt to get allied princes/bishops/etc to cooperate in putting down sanctions. Etc, etc. And this can even possibly work cross-sect sometimes, especially since — at least in my games — elders who predate the sects often still have old connections and “understandings” across the theoretically impermeable sect boundaries; if there is sufficient threat to both sects, a working arrangement WILL be arrived at.)
I am intrigued by the idea of vamps who have one sect identity in ‘meat’ life and another online. Because once they’re caught the question is of course which identity is the real one, and by whose laws would they be judged should they cause trouble. (Of course I suspect the answer would often be “both sects are royally P.O.’ed, and now there’s going to be a race between them to get first crack.”
Also intrigued by the idea of a vampire trying to claim and enforce a domain that is *entirely virtual*, particularly if that virtual domain operates over a wide geographical area. It’s unprecedented, but that doesn’t mean enterprising Kindred might not try to do it. (After all, we have essentially declared a “war on terrorism,” when traditionally wars are declared on an ad hoc basis against specific enemies. Then of course we get into great difficulties trying to define exactly what that *means.*)
I believe some vampiric disciplines could be used to solve many of the questions about the virtual WoD (vWoD) [and this surely is something to be dealt with in a book on the problem]: high Auspex (or Auspex+ combos) could determine who the true individual is (virtual or physical) but the way this info will be used by others is still open. All kindred will deal with it in their own way(s): some may try to establish the truth in order to defend it or fight for it, others may try to cover it or even destroy it, and many shall use the info in the most advantageous way(s). There could be more than two alternatives, of course (like one person with many logins/accounts/nicks/avatars). In this case the multitude of alternatives shall be used to the advantage of the one(s) who detain such information, especially the Prince(s) and other high Status – Elder – vampires.
Seeing the problem as a relevant part of a personal horror game:
If you express yourself in many different ways you’re giving others more (info) about yourself and this (info) can and usually will be used in a variety of ways by others.
I don’t see Elders as naïve creatures who’d dismiss the importance of the virtual world or ignore it as a new place where to exert their influence, a place of interesting – lively – power games. Highly capable and intelligent creatures wouldn’t be so dumb (the ones that are deserve the end they meet). Elders are not the IBM or Xerox and the neonates Apple and Microsoft. Well, this analogy could work better than I thought at first: IBM is far from finished.
Very high Auspex (7) could permit the perception and together with a very high Intelligence (7) understanding of wireless transmitted info.
Great stuff here. The digital domain is something that can really shake up the local status quo, if the individual Cainite behind the keyboard is worth his salt. I can definately see anarchs use this as part of their standard repetoire. Camarilla and Sabbat alike can use this to destabalise local politics before an attack. Great addition to the Cainite Art of War!
This is what I expected out of this chapter. Lots of plot possibilities that work for every group. And some that aren’t written. What if that online presence causing issues in your domain is some mortal poseur?
I’d add that it makes sense that vampires have trouble with jurisdiction for long-distance crime, since we do as well.
“or does a digital crime warrant digital justice at the hands of a Prince able to enforce it? ” I can’t imagine what this means… so if you bad-mouth your Prince on facebook, he’ll order all the other vampires to delete you from their friends list? What does Digital Justice mean?
You should mention feeding using dating websites. Dating websites should have really changed how feeding works in the WOD. It used to be hard to hang around bars, trying to get peopel to talk to you, or by stalking the bike trails and jumping unsuspecting nocturnal athletes. Now it just takes a fake profile to get someone in your car. What if a Kindred or a Clan asked the Prince for exclusive domain over cyber-dating in the city? Plentyoffish.com would be the most valuable hunting ground in the city.
Wow very nice….this creates so many story hooks
There’s a position for an ambitious Sabbat Lick. Cardinal of the Digital Frontier ….