The Inside Scoop on Gaming

The Guide to the Sabbat is the partner to The Guide to the Camarilla.

In it, author Justin Achilli outlines the former 'bad guys' of the Vampire setting (there are no more bad guys or good guys in V 2.1. Instead, the clinging to humanity characters are cast as just as horrific as the beasts of burden. Personally, I think they served best when called 'bad guys', if only as antagonists. It's good to have someone to cheer for).

In fact, the author spends a mildly painful paragraph on page 168 trying to convince players & GMs that the Sabbat aren't REALLY Evil. In this book, which is far more than just a binding & buffing of the previous Sabbat books, we get a double-barreled treatment to the world of the Sabbat. The book expands and clarifies all the info we got in the previous books (the original Players and Storytellers Guides to the Sabbat).

I must admit, I like what they've done with it. The book incorporates the changes that have happened in the WoD since the last publication. There are new bloodlines and toys to delight everyone.

I, personally, enjoyed the method Achilli used to resurrect the Cappadocians; the fact they (as with the Blood Brothers) were made NPC's is a good move. I also enjoy the newly minted (and rather Minty) Salubri Anti-tribu; I can hear the wailing coming from geeks across the nation.

Heh.

The new toys are fun as all get out; you can now have the talent of 'panhandling'. Now, it just seems odd that it would be a talent. I thought those were God given abilities. I don't know too many guys about whom you would say "Man, he was BORN to ask for spare change!" I note it has no specialties; I was hoping to see 'squeegeeing'. Of course, you can also have a vampire who knows how to vamp, which is as amusing as punch.

The backgrounds are nicely handled; as well as a few new ones, they tell you how Sabbat vampires (who don't get any background points) handle existing BG's. As always, the Merits and Flaws are fun, but ignorable.

Disciplines covers both new stuff and bigger and badder old stuff. The art is, as always, a mixed bag. Some pieces are wonderful, some are done by John Cobb (although, I must admit his work isn't quite as horrid here as it is in other places; I still haven't forgiven him for his work in Mummy).

Even though Paths of Enlightenment have been downgraded in importance (most run of the mill Sabbat members have Humanity; not MUCH humanity, but that's what they've got), there's still info on Paths, expanding them from the basic book.

The Ritae (which is Latin for "stand up, sit down, stand up, kneel") are emphasized as something that helps bind the Sabbat together. We get in depth explanations of the 13 great rites, and shorter analyses of the low rites (sadly, the "rite of slapping some weasel who so sorely deserves it" was ommited in the final edit).

The chapter on running the Sabbat chronicles exceeds what I remember the original STGTTS. There are concepts for running Sabbat campaigns; I particularly like the one about how Antiheroes have enemies of surpassing evil. If your players feel like the most evil guys on the block, toss them something eviller. There's stuff on political maneuvering within the Sabbat.

Following that, there are a couple chapters on building Sabbat cities; the dynamics of them, and a few character templates for your fun and edification.

Topping it off, like a cherry on a cheesecake, are some new combat maneuvers (The Dreaded Chainsaw Gouge!) & handy new guns and flame-throwers.

It makes sense that the revised Vampire would have revised Camarilla and Sabbat guides. What I like even better is that the new Sabbat guide actually makes the idea of playing a Sabbat game palatable (the original books had the same qualities to me as a Monster Manual; neat stuff for PC's to kill, and maybe play in a REALLY weird game). Of course, I'll still prefer to play an occasional game of Wraith if it comes down to it, but I'm not going to react to suggestions of playing a Sabbat game with thrown items & a dive for the window.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

The Guide to the Sabbat
Author: Justin Achilli Et Al Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Game Studio Cost: $25.95 US Page count: 224 ISBN: 1-56504-263-8 Capsule Review by Justin Mohareb on 03/30/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Modern_day Horror Vampire Gothic	The Guide to the Sabbat is the partner to The Guide to the Camarilla. In it, author Justin Achilli outlines the former 'bad guys' of the Vampire setting (there are no more bad guys or good guys in V 2.1. Instead, the clinging to humanity characters are cast as just as horrific as the beasts of burden. Personally, I think they served best when called 'bad guys', if only as antagonists. It's good to have someone to cheer for). In fact, the author spends a mildly painful paragraph on page 168 trying to convince players & GMs that the Sabbat aren't REALLY Evil. In this book, which is far more than just a binding & buffing of the previous Sabbat books, we get a double-barreled treatment to the world of the Sabbat. The book expands and clarifies all the info we got in the previous books (the original Players and Storytellers Guides to the Sabbat). I must admit, I like what they've done with it. The book incorporates the changes that have happened in the WoD since the last publication. There are new bloodlines and toys to delight everyone. I, personally, enjoyed the method Achilli used to resurrect the Cappadocians; the fact they (as with the Blood Brothers) were made NPC's is a good move. I also enjoy the newly minted (and rather Minty) Salubri Anti-tribu; I can hear the wailing coming from geeks across the nation. Heh. The new toys are fun as all get out; you can now have the talent of 'panhandling'. Now, it just seems odd that it would be a talent. I thought those were God given abilities. I don't know too many guys about whom you would say "Man, he was BORN to ask for spare change!" I note it has no specialties; I was hoping to see 'squeegeeing'. Of course, you can also have a vampire who knows how to vamp, which is as amusing as punch. The backgrounds are nicely handled; as well as a few new ones, they tell you how Sabbat vampires (who don't get any background points) handle existing BG's. As always, the Merits and Flaws are fun, but ignorable. Disciplines covers both new stuff and bigger and badder old stuff. The art is, as always, a mixed bag. Some pieces are wonderful, some are done by John Cobb (although, I must admit his work isn't quite as horrid here as it is in other places; I still haven't forgiven him for his work in Mummy). Even though Paths of Enlightenment have been downgraded in importance (most run of the mill Sabbat members have Humanity; not MUCH humanity, but that's what they've got), there's still info on Paths, expanding them from the basic book. The Ritae (which is Latin for "stand up, sit down, stand up, kneel") are emphasized as something that helps bind the Sabbat together. We get in depth explanations of the 13 great rites, and shorter analyses of the low rites (sadly, the "rite of slapping some weasel who so sorely deserves it" was ommited in the final edit). The chapter on running the Sabbat chronicles exceeds what I remember the original STGTTS. There are concepts for running Sabbat campaigns; I particularly like the one about how Antiheroes have enemies of surpassing evil. If your players feel like the most evil guys on the block, toss them something eviller. There's stuff on political maneuvering within the Sabbat. Following that, there are a couple chapters on building Sabbat cities; the dynamics of them, and a few character templates for your fun and edification. Topping it off, like a cherry on a cheesecake, are some new combat maneuvers (The Dreaded Chainsaw Gouge!) & handy new guns and flame-throwers. It makes sense that the revised Vampire would have revised Camarilla and Sabbat guides. What I like even better is that the new Sabbat guide actually makes the idea of playing a Sabbat game palatable (the original books had the same qualities to me as a Monster Manual; neat stuff for PC's to kill, and maybe play in a REALLY weird game). Of course, I'll still prefer to play an occasional game of Wraith if it comes down to it, but I'm not going to react to suggestions of playing a Sabbat game with thrown items & a dive for the window. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)