None of which appeals to me. I grew up with the internet, so all this talk of updates sounds to me like "how do you do fellow kids?" ad nauseam. I guess I was just born a generation too late to appreciate WoD.
Firstly, this is a false dichotomy since the translation guide is a thing and you can just import the elements you like. That's the point of this thread.
Secondly, you're clearly heavily biased in favor of VTM based on emotions. I see nothing about the Cain-with-an-e myth that makes it any more special than anything else. Aglondir's proposed OSR game about archaeology sounds way more mysterious and interesting to me.
Again, that's sound like the nostalgia goggles talking.
False Dichotomy nothing. The Translation guide goes both ways. So arguing "Oh I can take anything from Classic and bring it to Chronicles" is a strawman argument, because I can do the same damn thing the other way. Also, get this through your head, because you can't seem to pay attention. I LIKE Chronicles of Darkness.
Now on to your other point about how "Updated" sounds like "Hello fellow kids". I'd blame your lack of comprehension on your age then, but Doc Sammy seems to have very little trouble understanding what I've written. I'll preface this by saying I own every core book and supplement of both Chronicles and World of Darkness. I like both, I buy and read both.
Now 20th anniversary updated the original World of Darkness games as new editions do. They changed things, they added things, and they took out other things. I used to think Awakening was better than Mage based off of what I could do with Mage as of Revised edition..
Then M20 came out, and it's support. M20 cleaned up what you could do in Mage, it expanded on things, it added more, and it removed elements that sucked. It presented a greater tool box and the best version of the Ascension setting yet. That version of Ascension, eclipsed Awakening 2nd edition for me. Whereas previously, Awakening offered better tools and setting material... The expanded material on Ascension just said "Our setting is cooler."
Awakening is playing Harry Potter. Boiling it down to it's core, it is a game about WIZARDS. And that is cool, if you want to play a tight focused game that's much more like Harry Dresden and Harry Potter Awakening is that.
But I can do that in Ascension as well. I can have the Order of Hermes, and Death Eaters in the form of the Nephandus. But more than that, I can bring in so much more. I can be the descendant of a God, I can be a Cyborg, I can be a lost time traveler. I can be an alchemical clone, I can be a Templar whose empowered by God.I can be a magic user from an alternate universe. It's not just wizards, it's WILL WORKERS, and the most important part of the setting, is my belief on how my powers work, and where they come from.. and that leads to such awesome characters.
I've ran campaigns of both Awakening and Requiem. It's not "Nostalgia" goggles, it's what I actually did with both settings and which gave me more enjoyment and more possibilities. My Awakening campaign ended with an epic fight in Post-Katrina flooded New Orleans as the Cabal fought against the Prince of 1,000 leaves and it's desire to bring the Abyssal version of New Orleans over to replace the original. It was a blast, my players loved it. Just as they loved my Requiem campaign that revolved around finding the hidden heart of Dracula.
But, unless I have a very specific idea, The World of Darkness gives me more things to work with out of the Box, than Chronicles does.
The bleeding edge or whatever CoD ebook provided rules for stargates and space opera tropes. The translation guide handled other stuff. I can do everything in Ascension with Awakening but more and better. At least in the literal sense, because I can have the Seers, Atlanteans, Technocracies, Kyriarchies, and whatever fighting with fleets of millions of starships across thousands of light years of space and shit. To say nothing of the multiverse shenanigans in the Continuum fanbook.
This means absolutely nothing to me. I don't want Vampires and Werewolves in my spaceships.. and if I want Fantasy Cyberpunk I have Shadowrun which does it better than anyone else.
I'm not comparing Wraith with Geist. I'm criticizing Wraith based on its own merits and on interactions with the fandom. In my experience, fans liked the underground railroad more than the ghost part. Which alienated me, because I wanted to play ghost stories.
I don't like the renegades, heretics, or the hierarchy. I was disappointed when Geist wasn't about playable ghosts.
So you admit you've never even read Wraith, and you talked to what 2 or 3 people about it? Because I'm pretty active in the Wraith fan community, and "Underground Railroad" doesn't come up. You're trying to cover your tracks because you admit you don't really know much about the setting and are just talking out your ass.
As much as you might be obsessed with WoD as being the best game since sliced bread, I don't see the appeal.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Okay I have to change my vote now on who has the most unhealthy relationship with Whitewolf... It's you, way you.