The Inside Scoop on Gaming

I've not been a big fan of the Trinity setting since way back when I got my nice and spiffy Limited Edition copy, back when it was still called Aeon, but I've peeked in now and then, and I buy the books that look especially nice to me. The Trinity Field Reports are some nice books on the whole, and now that I got Psi Laws, I thought I might review the lot of them.

First off, I have to say that the idea of the Reports is a great one, and I'm surprised that other lines haven't capitalized upon it. It's small, cheap, and increases product display. There's simply more stuff out there. I think that White Wolf should use the format for their other game, lines, myself.

Extrasolar Colonies

The first in the series, EC really set the standard for the others that followed. This is a must for anyone who wants to run a "Solar Campaign" in Trinity. If you're PCs are running all over the place dealing with high-level conspiracies and getting embroiled in the major events of the Trinity, then EC is a very nice supplement.

Not only does it provide a surprisingly large amount of information about the colonies (for such a small package), but it also gave a large number of hints and innuendoes about the Qin and their homeworld, as well as the actions of the Upeo and the trouble with the Chromatics.

I know that this is intended more to be a hold-over until a real solid, book-sized supplement can be published, but it is certainly a useful and interesting hold-over. Well worth the $5.

Alien Races

Not quite as good as EC, AR is still quite good. The information on the chromatics is interesting, and has the potential to develop further into very interesting directions. The Qin section is perhaps the best in the book, and adds to what was in EC quite nicely. The Coalition bit was a startling revelation that bodes well for interesting plots for Trinity in the future.

Overall, AR is no where near as essential to large-scale plots as EC, but if you intend some interaction with alien forces, then it is well worth buying while you wait until WW publishes an entire book on the aliens in Trinity.

Psi Laws

I just got this and I just finished it and I have to say that not only is this the best Report yes, but it is also an absolute necessity for any Trinity game. This is 23 pages of information that should have been in the basebook. No other Trinity product has so addressed some of my most basic problems with the setting as this nice, cheap supplement.

Psi Laws is a startlingly well done Report, with nice descriptions of how the legal process works in the future. While the description is brief, it is also nicely done and provides enough information to run through a few legal scenes in a game. While a legal chronicle would be difficult, using The Law to show the psions that they are not Masters of the Universe is very easy, and needed.

The rest of the book deals with specific countries, and the inclusion of case studies and major legal precedents was brilliant. They serve to demonstrate both how the courts work, how the feel (important in the game), and just what the laws are.

This book was so well presented and thought out that it almost makes me want to go out and play a by-the-book Trinity game. All of the darker side human nature and the fear and prejudice that I did not see presented really in any way in the main book was at least glanced at in Psi Laws. If this is the direction that Bates is intending to take the game, I'm anxious to see where he ends up.

Media

The latest Report, this one is perhaps the second most important for any game, behind Psi Laws. Media details just that, the media. There are sections on shows, movies, theater, holidays, the "internet", and even some mention of what retro includes in the Trinity universe.

One the whole, Media is not flashy or so absolutely necessary as Psi Laws and it doesn't have the same conspiracy breeding feel of Extrasolar Colonies, but it certainly is a very solid, basic supplement to a game. If it products like this one that actually take a look at the science fiction aspects of Trinity, something I think is generally lacking in the game.

In closing…

In closing, all I have to say is "buy the Field Reports, they're worth it." And they really are, they are cheap, fast, and great source material. You can even use them as hand-outs in the game. Quite a brilliant idea, really.

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

Trinity Field Reports (all of them)
Author: various Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Game Studio Line: Trinity Cost: $4.95 each Page count: 24 Capsule Review by Derek Guder on 04/08/99. Genre tags: Science_fiction Space	I've not been a big fan of the Trinity setting since way back when I got my nice and spiffy Limited Edition copy, back when it was still called Aeon, but I've peeked in now and then, and I buy the books that look especially nice to me. The Trinity Field Reports are some nice books on the whole, and now that I got Psi Laws, I thought I might review the lot of them. First off, I have to say that the idea of the Reports is a great one, and I'm surprised that other lines haven't capitalized upon it. It's small, cheap, and increases product display. There's simply more stuff out there. I think that White Wolf should use the format for their other game, lines, myself. Extrasolar Colonies The first in the series, EC really set the standard for the others that followed. This is a must for anyone who wants to run a "Solar Campaign" in Trinity. If you're PCs are running all over the place dealing with high-level conspiracies and getting embroiled in the major events of the Trinity, then EC is a very nice supplement. Not only does it provide a surprisingly large amount of information about the colonies (for such a small package), but it also gave a large number of hints and innuendoes about the Qin and their homeworld, as well as the actions of the Upeo and the trouble with the Chromatics. I know that this is intended more to be a hold-over until a real solid, book-sized supplement can be published, but it is certainly a useful and interesting hold-over. Well worth the $5. Alien Races Not quite as good as EC, AR is still quite good. The information on the chromatics is interesting, and has the potential to develop further into very interesting directions. The Qin section is perhaps the best in the book, and adds to what was in EC quite nicely. The Coalition bit was a startling revelation that bodes well for interesting plots for Trinity in the future. Overall, AR is no where near as essential to large-scale plots as EC, but if you intend some interaction with alien forces, then it is well worth buying while you wait until WW publishes an entire book on the aliens in Trinity. Psi Laws I just got this and I just finished it and I have to say that not only is this the best Report yes, but it is also an absolute necessity for any Trinity game. This is 23 pages of information that should have been in the basebook. No other Trinity product has so addressed some of my most basic problems with the setting as this nice, cheap supplement. Psi Laws is a startlingly well done Report, with nice descriptions of how the legal process works in the future. While the description is brief, it is also nicely done and provides enough information to run through a few legal scenes in a game. While a legal chronicle would be difficult, using The Law to show the psions that they are not Masters of the Universe is very easy, and needed. The rest of the book deals with specific countries, and the inclusion of case studies and major legal precedents was brilliant. They serve to demonstrate both how the courts work, how the feel (important in the game), and just what the laws are. This book was so well presented and thought out that it almost makes me want to go out and play a by-the-book Trinity game. All of the darker side human nature and the fear and prejudice that I did not see presented really in any way in the main book was at least glanced at in Psi Laws. If this is the direction that Bates is intending to take the game, I'm anxious to see where he ends up. Media The latest Report, this one is perhaps the second most important for any game, behind Psi Laws. Media details just that, the media. There are sections on shows, movies, theater, holidays, the "internet", and even some mention of what retro includes in the Trinity universe. One the whole, Media is not flashy or so absolutely necessary as Psi Laws and it doesn't have the same conspiracy breeding feel of Extrasolar Colonies, but it certainly is a very solid, basic supplement to a game. If it products like this one that actually take a look at the science fiction aspects of Trinity, something I think is generally lacking in the game. In closing… In closing, all I have to say is "buy the Field Reports, they're worth it." And they really are, they are cheap, fast, and great source material. You can even use them as hand-outs in the game. Quite a brilliant idea, really. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Trinity Field Reports (all of them)