"Choice of the Vampire" is an extraordinary interactive novel crafted by Jason Stevan Hill. This text-based adventure spans an impressive 900,000 words, offering players a multitude of choices that ignite the imagination. Without the distraction of graphics or sound effects, the narrative invites you to immerse yourself fully in its rich storytelling.
Set against the backdrop of 1815 antebellum Louisiana, Volume One, titled "Battle of New Orleans," allows players to select from over a dozen distinct human backgrounds. You can embody a Choctaw interpreter, a French landowner, a Free Person of Color, an ordained priest, an Irish laborer, a Yankee entrepreneur, and many more. Each choice significantly influences your journey, shaping your interactions with pivotal historical events.
In addition to your background, you will choose your "maker," the vampire responsible for your transformation. With six unique vampires to select from, each possessing their own intriguing backstory, your choice will further impact your gameplay. The decisions you make will resonate throughout your character's existence, affecting how you engage with the Civil War, Reconstruction, the liberation of Haiti, and other significant historical moments.
The myriad of options available in "Choice of the Vampire" makes it one of the most replayable interactive novels globally. Will you choose to confront your maker within the first five minutes, or will you follow their path for decades? Alternatively, you might decide to escape New Orleans entirely, exploring an alternate storyline in the nearby village of St. Charles.
Continuing the saga, Volume Two, "Siege of Vicksburg," plunges players into the heart of the Civil War, specifically at one of its most brutal and decisive battles. As a mysterious vampire attempts to disrupt the Confederate defenses, you must decide whether to assist, obstruct, or consume him. Your choices will shape the outcome of this critical moment in history.
In Volume Three, "The Fall of Memphis," available as an in-app purchase, you find yourself in a city grappling with the aftermath of the Civil War. As ex-Confederates plunder public resources and dismantle the progress made during Reconstruction, your character must navigate a landscape fraught with danger and opportunity.
Volume Four, "St. Louis, Unreal City," invites you to explore the 1904 World's Fair, a celebration that promises to be the event of the century. As your character approaches the end of their first century of unlife, they must confront the challenges posed by rapid industrialization and urbanization. The rise of a new class of educated, militant workers threatens the status quo, while the remnants of the Confederacy work to undermine Reconstruction.
As the vampires of the Society adapt to a world that could destroy them if revealed, they face internal strife when one of their own succumbs to their Beast and begins hunting fellow vampires. This turmoil forces you to make critical decisions about loyalty, survival, and what truly matters in a world rife with danger.
As you navigate the complexities of "Choice of the Vampire," you will confront the question: can the American Republic satisfy your thirst, or will you drain it dry? With each decision, you shape not only your character's fate but also the course of history itself. Dive into this immersive experience and discover the power of your choices in a world where every action has consequences.