The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Okay, First I must say I found the substance more than Excellent! But that is as high as this would go.

This book specializes in something that had maybe 5 paragraphs in the main Dark Ages rulebook. The Cainite Heresy. A religion, that horribly twists Gnosticism and Christianity. Only a few clans follow it, and most of the members of those clans use it for power, not really believing in it. In a nutshell, it states that Vampires are not damned, but blessed.

The first thing I noticed in this book, is it seems White Wolf has ended their hilarious 'Special Thanks'. Sad that.

First the story: Nothing special. Doesn't really capture much. a little of the mood but that's all. After that is a manuscript, if it wasn't printed on modern paper it'd look quite ancient. Very nicely done.

Introduction & Chapter I: Yet another lexicon to memorize, this one harder then most. Chapter one, most of it details the history of the Heresy, and alot of heresies that have existed, or exist during the time period of the Dark Ages game. It's pretty well written, though I skipped some parts so i can't give a full opinion on it. What I read was well thought out and researched it seemed.

Chapter II: This is a long chapter. It details the inner workings, practices, etc. of the Heresy. /Very/ Disturbing. This is the first Black Dog book I've seen that is Black Dog because of the subject matter, not of the pictures. This is definitely a book for 18 and up, and if added to a chronicle, not for the faint of heart, or very religious either. This twists everything. It's well thought out I thought, and actually I have no complaints over this chapter. The writings good. The sidebars are great. Okay maybe the pictures. Not very well drawn throughout the whole book, and with this being the largest chapter it has more pictures than the rest.

Chapter III: This is the roleplaying and storytelling the Heresy, definitely needed considering the easily offending subject Matter. It seemed a tad short, but the chronicle ideas were good.

Chapter IV: This tells the individuals against the Heresy. Members of the church, even though a lot of ranking church members are part of the Heresy. A certain Count in France. the Manus Nigrum, The Order of the Bitter Rose (Yes, a tad more information on them.) Also the Nosferatu, the Brujah. Oh, and it even talks a bit more about the Ventrue's Dark secret that is listed in Libellus Sanguiness I. Very well thought out, not much detail on the smaller sects . But with all the space of Chapter Two, something must be sacrificed.

Chapter V: The re-write of Via Diabolus is here. Much /much/ Better then the original I think. But..combined with the Innovator nature, it makes most of the scientists during the Renaissance sound like they belonged to that road.

Appendix I: The people for and against the Heresy, only a few examples of course, Very nicely written. And somewhat scary too. Future plot threads by the dozens dangle here.

Appendix II: Okay, This is the section i'm mostly against. The Game Mechanics section. I can handle Heretic Status. nicely thought up. Heretic Knowledge secondary skill, Also nicely done, and needed i think. But most of the Merits and Flaws seemed excessive. Especially Miracles of the Faith, and Scourged by God.

One thing this book sorely lacked I thought, unless I missed it, is if it's possible for someone to have true faith in this religion. The mortal and ghoul followers really would be the only ones to have it of course.

IMHO, Richard Dansky is great. this book mentions several things I thought would be buried forever. Manus Nigrum (yes i know that they exist modern day, but barely are mentioned in dark ages), Order of the Bitter Rose, And two of the Dark Secrets. Lasombra's is briefly mentioned, and Ventrue's also. Plus, the Ascension war even makes it a brief cameo in here, in the Future Fates sidebar. Very nicely done.

I say, if you're strong of heart, and aren't very religious, and storytell, are addicted to, or just like following the events of, Vampire the Dark Ages, then buy this book. It's worth it

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Cainite Heresy Sourcebook of Blasphemous Horror for Vampire: The Dark Ages
Author: Kenneth Hite, with R. Sean Bergstrom and Jason Langlois Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Cost: $15.95 Page count: 96 pages. ISBN: 1-56504-296-4 Capsule Review by Alan DeHaan on 03/31/99. Genre tags: Historical Horror Vampire	Okay, First I must say I found the substance more than Excellent! But that is as high as this would go. This book specializes in something that had maybe 5 paragraphs in the main Dark Ages rulebook. The Cainite Heresy. A religion, that horribly twists Gnosticism and Christianity. Only a few clans follow it, and most of the members of those clans use it for power, not really believing in it. In a nutshell, it states that Vampires are not damned, but blessed. The first thing I noticed in this book, is it seems White Wolf has ended their hilarious 'Special Thanks'. Sad that. First the story: Nothing special. Doesn't really capture much. a little of the mood but that's all. After that is a manuscript, if it wasn't printed on modern paper it'd look quite ancient. Very nicely done. Introduction & Chapter I: Yet another lexicon to memorize, this one harder then most. Chapter one, most of it details the history of the Heresy, and alot of heresies that have existed, or exist during the time period of the Dark Ages game. It's pretty well written, though I skipped some parts so i can't give a full opinion on it. What I read was well thought out and researched it seemed. Chapter II: This is a long chapter. It details the inner workings, practices, etc. of the Heresy. /Very/ Disturbing. This is the first Black Dog book I've seen that is Black Dog because of the subject matter, not of the pictures. This is definitely a book for 18 and up, and if added to a chronicle, not for the faint of heart, or very religious either. This twists everything. It's well thought out I thought, and actually I have no complaints over this chapter. The writings good. The sidebars are great. Okay maybe the pictures. Not very well drawn throughout the whole book, and with this being the largest chapter it has more pictures than the rest. Chapter III: This is the roleplaying and storytelling the Heresy, definitely needed considering the easily offending subject Matter. It seemed a tad short, but the chronicle ideas were good. Chapter IV: This tells the individuals against the Heresy. Members of the church, even though a lot of ranking church members are part of the Heresy. A certain Count in France. the Manus Nigrum, The Order of the Bitter Rose (Yes, a tad more information on them.) Also the Nosferatu, the Brujah. Oh, and it even talks a bit more about the Ventrue's Dark secret that is listed in Libellus Sanguiness I. Very well thought out, not much detail on the smaller sects . But with all the space of Chapter Two, something must be sacrificed. Chapter V: The re-write of Via Diabolus is here. Much /much/ Better then the original I think. But..combined with the Innovator nature, it makes most of the scientists during the Renaissance sound like they belonged to that road. Appendix I: The people for and against the Heresy, only a few examples of course, Very nicely written. And somewhat scary too. Future plot threads by the dozens dangle here. Appendix II: Okay, This is the section i'm mostly against. The Game Mechanics section. I can handle Heretic Status. nicely thought up. Heretic Knowledge secondary skill, Also nicely done, and needed i think. But most of the Merits and Flaws seemed excessive. Especially Miracles of the Faith, and Scourged by God. One thing this book sorely lacked I thought, unless I missed it, is if it's possible for someone to have true faith in this religion. The mortal and ghoul followers really would be the only ones to have it of course. IMHO, Richard Dansky is great. this book mentions several things I thought would be buried forever. Manus Nigrum (yes i know that they exist modern day, but barely are mentioned in dark ages), Order of the Bitter Rose, And two of the Dark Secrets. Lasombra's is briefly mentioned, and Ventrue's also. Plus, the Ascension war even makes it a brief cameo in here, in the Future Fates sidebar. Very nicely done. I say, if you're strong of heart, and aren't very religious, and storytell, are addicted to, or just like following the events of, Vampire the Dark Ages, then buy this book. It's worth it Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Cainite Heresy Sourcebook of Blasphemous Horror for Vampire: The Dark Ages