They could have been made more distinct with more detail. The level 1 and level 2 powers are a bit too similar for my tastes. The new Vitreous Path is interesting, although very problematic in many ways. The only real change in Daimoinon is that the old level 6 power is just an example of what kinds of Infernal Gifts a Baali might receive. The revised versions of the Disciplines of Daimoinon, Nihilistics (now the Vitreous Path of Necromancy) and Temporis are all covered nicely. The chapter continues with new traits, including new Backgrounds like Arcane (which is like the Background from Mage, but a bit less powerful), Age and Military Force. Both the Nagaraja and the True Brujah are much improved over their previous printings, with the Nagaraja actually being horrific now and the True Brujah actually seeming like they might be lying about everything. The Baali, Nagaraja and True Brujah all get Revised write-ups and discussions. The acknowledgement that most of the Kindred politics that races through the setting has more to do with personal feelings that clan relationships was a welcome addition as well. It has some very nice questions that have been hotly debated until now (such as "What happens when a vampire's limb is cut off?" or "Does a ghoul lose all Disciplines upon the Embrace?") and it was written well, being both informative and not terribly restricting, but it just seems short.įollowing that is a short look at how each of the clans operates, which serves mainly to emphasize how stereotypes about a clan are only so accurate, and relying on them is a sure way to Final Death. It starts off with a discussion about how Vampire is intended to be played (a subject revisited again and again later on) and then moves onto a nice (if not staggeringly comprehensive) FAQ. The book has a reasonable amount of information in it. Some sections were excellent, but others were quite dry and failed to keep me awake late at night (something the previously mentioned Guides or The Erciyes Fragments had no trouble doing). The writing is, like the art and layout, not up to par with earlier works, on the whole. In my opinion, several of the chapters should have been re-arranged and shifted around as they often seemed to cross over and then forget to take everything with them. I would have preferred more text, myself. I was amazed that the pieces like those on page 135 or 175 made it to print. However, the book also has some of the worst art I've seen in a Vampire book, barring James Cobb. Guy Davis and Vince Locke both contributed excellent pieces, as did others like Joshua Timbrook and Mike Danza. Truly a beautiful screen, this is something that could stand up to the toughest of projectiles that players might throw at you during a game. Nice, simple and black, it is built from really sturdy backing and has all of the information what was in the screen that came with the Storyteller's Companion. One welcome surprise with the limited edition is one of the best Storyteller's Screens I have ever seen. I might be the only one who has this problem, but I find it more trouble that it is worth to deal with the slipcases, so I just ditch them and put the raw books on my shelf. The limited also comes in the same rather annoying slipcase that the limited copies of the basic book and the Guide to the Camarilla and the Guide to the Sabbat came in. When I moved on to The Erciyes Fragments, I kept reaching for it. As I said, it comes with a nice green cloth bookmark to keep your place, and I have to say that each time I read a book with one, I am reminded of just how useful they are. My limited edition copy looks like damn fine piece of workmanship, although I must say that I detest the cover for the unlimited version. It was what kept me entertained over much of my Christmas visit with my family, although I must admit that it was at times very slow going. There is just something about that simple black cover and nifty bookmark that drives me wild.Īnyway, the book is finally here, and I'm sure many fans have also purchased it and raced through it already. I wanted the information on all of the bloodlines and disciplines and sects that had been ignored in Revised books until now, and I got it, and in a nice leather-bound edition too. This is a book that I have been anxiously waiting for ever since I heard that White Wolf intended to put it out.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |