White Wolf's World of Darkness is not a gentle place. The contemporary world we find ourselves in becomes darker, grittier and more frightening through its lens. In this game, there is a very real reason to be afraid of the dark: vampires, werewolves and mischievous Fae are among us. As terrifying and bizarre as they may be, there are even worse things...

With this type of setting you need a backdrop that provides players and storytellers with options, a unique feel and a different perspective on mechanics and role-playing to make a campaign memorable.

If the World of Darkness is about challenge and ambiance then the City of Toronto is the nexus for all these. In the 1980s when Vampire the Masquerade was in full swing there was a companion to the game called Toronto by Night, specifically tailored for hosting your games in Toronto and delving into the full range of horror and intrigue the city offered.

While there’s no current adaptation for TBN for Requiem, the advantages of choosing Toronto over other North American and European locations still remain. But what makes Toronto grittier, and different than most North American cities as a backdrop for Requiem games?

1. Who brings a gun to a knife fight?: Since Canada has stricter gun laws than the United States your players are less likely to have their characters whipping out automatic pistols or assault rifles. The upside is players now have a chance to show off their prowess with martial arts and medieval weapons. This creates great "visuals" as characters clash in epic swordplay on a Bay Street rooftop. More importantly, since Toronto is one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, unique fighting styles and diverse weapons are in abundance, easily making up for the lack of firearms. Speaking of cultural diversity...

2. The people: Toronto has one of the most culturally diverse populations in a relatively small geographic space compared to other North American cities. This can be seen from one neighborhood to the next. You don’t need to send your players jet-setting across the world for that ‘international’ feel. Players can meet with Yakuza gang members, a renowned specialist on Greek antiquities or a Prince’s hound who doubles as a drag queen within several city blocks. This facilitates stories with local impact that can also have far reaching repercussions.

3. Follow the PATH: In Requiem the sun is always a threat. Now, imagine your players having access to an underground walkway that links 27 kilometers of the city. Players can operate during daylight hours, pose convincingly as mortals and perform their darkest deeds faster then those waiting for the setting sun. Toronto’s PATH system was designed for tourism during the hot summers and cold winters. With a little subversion, this harmless tourist attraction can be used as an important focal point for the schemes of vampires and ghoul enforcers. Tourists also make for easy pickings.

4. It couldn’t happen here: Canadians pride themselves on being peaceful, law-abiding citizens. Our reputation suggests we aren’t as aggressive as our European or American neighbors and simply don’t have many of the problems with 'violence'. The truth, in the World of Darkness, is we are simply better at hiding it. If indifference is the cruelest form inhumanity, imagine the dark secrets and terrible realities hidden on a day-to-day basis to keep such a perception intact. Imagine what those in power will do to ensure the dirt getting swept under the carpet stays there...

5. An attack against one: Proportionally the number of vampires in Toronto is significantly small. This is significant; if a vampire goes missing it is a major concern as there are so few. The average rule for determining vampire populations is 1: 10,000. Toronto's population is 2.48 million translating into a total vampire population of about 248. Should a vampire go missing, get staked or go rogue, the population is so tightly knit that even the smallest loss of unlife will be noticed. Since the vampire population in Toronto is small their significance increases along with their dependency on ghouls and other minions. This could be problematic if the balance between vampire lords and ghouls is upset.

Good heroes require great villains and both need a stage worthy of their story. Many cities in North America have their own flavor but Toronto facilitates many different styles, options and opportunities for Vampires to test themselves. Vampire the Requiem needs a setting to be as varied as the vampire clans. Toronto offers an unique experience for everyone, from the newest Gangrel hunter to the most ancient of Ventrue Lords.