A Trauma Surgeon in the World of Darkness

Tuomas “Tube” Lähdeoja is a wannabe Son of Ether, but real-life orthopaedic and trauma surgeon who has been into the World of Darkness since the early nineties. He works days and some nights in a university orthopaedic and trauma hospital taking care of shoulders, dislocated joints and broken bones. He says his scientific interests include “the power of rituals and beliefs in health care interventions”, ie the so-called placebo effects. When not at work, he – blood bonds and childer permitting – enjoys RPGs, larps and outdoor activities. In Berlin, Tube will give a talk with the headline A Trauma Surgeon in the World of Darkness.

What does a real-world knowledge of trauma or anatomy bring to role-playing? Does it also take something away?

It sure increases the need for the suspension of disbelief. Practically no playable rules system models the reality particularly well. Not that I really care, mechanics are just mechanics. If I'd GM more, it - and the knowledge of how hospitals actually work and how things happen there - would add a level of realism and maybe some sense of wonder.

I know you've previously looked at trauma in other RPG settings. Any interesting factoids we should know about?

Dragons are dangerous. Really, really dangerous. Severe burns in a medieval setting (pre-plastic surgery tech level) are very, very nasty just to start with. Also, most movie violence is - as I, maybe falsely, believe everyone knows - very unrealistic.

For your presentation about trauma in the World of Darkness, what are you exploring and what are you staying away from? And are there perhaps questions you're curious about that really only White Wolf could answer?

I'll be presenting a basic 101 overview of various injuries to us mortals and some factoids and speculatoids about blood and bleeding (how much can a vampire feed and what happens in hemorraghic shock). I'll expand that to supernaturals, but we'll have to see if it is the Canon Truth or just speculation of how things MIGHT work.

Picture of Tube Lähdeoja at Convention of Thorns by John-Paul Bichard.