The Inside Scoop on Gaming

With the Vampire: the Dark Ages line, White Wolf has managed to keep up a rather high standard of quality throughout its products, even the Clanbooks, surprisingly, which were a raging sore upon the face of Vampire: the Masquerade. Clanbook: Cappadocian and Clanbook: Baali were both truly superb and exemplary works. The Libellus Sanguinus series of Clanbooks of the modern clans revised for the medieval world (which were packaged in a much nicer three-in-one deal) were also great, always better than their modern-day counterparts.

Clanbook: Salubri, the latest Clanbook for Vampire: the Dark Ages followed hard acts to top. The previous books (Clanbook: Baali especially) were amazingly well done. I held out hope, though, because I had heard that Cynthia Summers had done good work before and I always have confidence in Richard Dansky. Sadly, the book did not deliver. While not bad, neither was is good when compared to other Vampire: the Dark Ages Clanbooks or even the better modern-day ones. It was more an unsatisfying workhorse than an tantalizing and untamed stallion, like Clanbooks Baali and Cappadocian were.

The cover is simply retched. I have nothing against John Bolton as an artist, but the blue-skinned, lip-stick wearing, battle-axe toting, orc-wannabe is not material for the cover of Clanbook: Salubri. It just does not work.

The fiction is serviceable and good enough, but not much more. No real spark.

Chapter Two: the Triumvirate is where the meat begins. Narrated by Simon (who is, if memory serves, the Toreador scholar living on an island in the Mediterranean mentioned in the Libellus Sanguinus II), it has a nice tone to it. Sadly, it is horribly laid out, with bits of history here and culture there and a discussion of Golconda over there. Overall, an unsatisfying read indeed. The writing itself is good, and the peppering of anecdotes and mentions of Salubri who bear them are wonderful, but each "caste" within the clan is discussed separately, with no linkage between the two. Also, there is a distinct lack of definite historical substance. Clanbook: Salubri lacks both the apparent clan focus shown in the history of Clanbook: Cappadocius and the detailed and incredibly inspiring convolutions of Clanbook: Baali. There are a few nice bits, generally those focusing on the behavior of Saulot before and after his two or three trips eastward as well as a hint that the appearance of the Salubri antitribu in the Sabbat during the Final Nights in Vampire: the Masquerade may not be the random accident it seems. Unfortunately, the book was a tease, continually tantalizing me with possible hints that did not develop into the wonder they could have. Spelling errors also peppered the section, and I actually noticed them, which says something about their frequency, since I usually gloss over them completely, but "The Boke of the Watcher" caught my eye.

Chapter three opens with a discussion of the third eye (with no conclusions being drawn) and then swings right into directly into relations with the other clans and supernatural races in the dark medieval world. After that, it moves back to discussions, on such topics as feeding, loneliness, and on the Embrace. Nice all around, but the organization leaves me flabbergasted. We also learn definitely that the Salubri dislike creating ghouls or Embracing children, and both of those discussions give some interesting insight into the clan's convoluted mindset, but neither addresses it head-on, which is annoying. The discussion of Saulot which moves into the infernal and the Baali Wars is interesting, if not as meaty as the information on other ancients in either Clanbook: Baali or Clanbook: Cappadocian. Again, we see the darker side of Saulot in his seemingly baseless assault and purges against the Gnostics. The Via Dolorosa from the Dark Ages Companion is also dismissed as propaganda against the pure clan.

Chapter five is the worst part of the book, easily. Entitled "Powers of the Righteous," it really saddened me. Blooding is introduced as a way to gain access to special powers, both of which would have been better done as multidiscipline powers or Valeren/Auspex uses. As simple "kewl powerz," they are pathetically disappointing. Blooding provides nothing of use to the game, and with a distinct lack of detail on the culture behind it, Blooding is also hollow. We also get new powers for Valeren. Frustratingly enough, we get new powers for below level 5. A somewhat questionable and dangerous (in my view) precedent set in the Toreador section in the Libellus Sanguinus II, this is just a bad idea, and none of the powers are actually compelling anyway. The higher level powers, which, like the lower ones, are not delineated by warrior or healer path, are likewise bland. Some are downright lame in their uselessness. Not only that, but White Wolf seems to have returned to printing level 10 Disciplines, something I did not like much. Some of the merits are interesting, but others are just sad. An odd bag, and none of them really, really good.

Chapter five begins with one of my favorite pieces of art by Christopher Shy, truly nice. I saw it on his website and loved it then. I'm glad to see that it got printed, unfortunately everything of his that White Wolf has printed has come out darker than the original. This chapter covered the templates. Some are interesting, like the Holy Thief and Electra, and others are just okay, like the Demon Hunter. That is just the way templates are.

The notable Salubri mentioned are okay. Rayzeel and Nuriel are interesting, and Ahab the Traitor (the one who betrayed his fellow Salubri to the Baali) is great. Not as good as some, but good.

The "dirty secret" for Clanbook: Salubri (every Vampire: the Dark Ages Clanbook has had one) is apparently that Saulot did sire the first three Baali. From evidence from a penitent Baali and a weathered tablet, it seems that Saulot ravaged a city of demon worshippers and so spawned the Baali as he returned home from the East. Exactly what this means is uncertain, but I hope that it is drawn out more in Kindred of the East as well.

Overall, a solid book. If you simply must have information on the Salubri, this Clanbook works fine, just ignore chapter five. If you were expecting something to top Clanbook: Baali and answer the questions we have with more intricate and convoluted history, you will be as disappointed as I.

Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 3 (Average)

Clanbook: Salubri
Author: Cynthia Summers Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Game Studio Line: Vampire: the Dark Ages Cost: $12.00 Page count: 72 ISBN: 1-56504-212-3 Capsule Review by Derek Guder on 06/14/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Historical Horror Vampire Gothic	With the Vampire: the Dark Ages line, White Wolf has managed to keep up a rather high standard of quality throughout its products, even the Clanbooks, surprisingly, which were a raging sore upon the face of Vampire: the Masquerade. Clanbook: Cappadocian and Clanbook: Baali were both truly superb and exemplary works. The Libellus Sanguinus series of Clanbooks of the modern clans revised for the medieval world (which were packaged in a much nicer three-in-one deal) were also great, always better than their modern-day counterparts. Clanbook: Salubri, the latest Clanbook for Vampire: the Dark Ages followed hard acts to top. The previous books (Clanbook: Baali especially) were amazingly well done. I held out hope, though, because I had heard that Cynthia Summers had done good work before and I always have confidence in Richard Dansky. Sadly, the book did not deliver. While not bad, neither was is good when compared to other Vampire: the Dark Ages Clanbooks or even the better modern-day ones. It was more an unsatisfying workhorse than an tantalizing and untamed stallion, like Clanbooks Baali and Cappadocian were. The cover is simply retched. I have nothing against John Bolton as an artist, but the blue-skinned, lip-stick wearing, battle-axe toting, orc-wannabe is not material for the cover of Clanbook: Salubri. It just does not work. The fiction is serviceable and good enough, but not much more. No real spark. Chapter Two: the Triumvirate is where the meat begins. Narrated by Simon (who is, if memory serves, the Toreador scholar living on an island in the Mediterranean mentioned in the Libellus Sanguinus II), it has a nice tone to it. Sadly, it is horribly laid out, with bits of history here and culture there and a discussion of Golconda over there. Overall, an unsatisfying read indeed. The writing itself is good, and the peppering of anecdotes and mentions of Salubri who bear them are wonderful, but each "caste" within the clan is discussed separately, with no linkage between the two. Also, there is a distinct lack of definite historical substance. Clanbook: Salubri lacks both the apparent clan focus shown in the history of Clanbook: Cappadocius and the detailed and incredibly inspiring convolutions of Clanbook: Baali. There are a few nice bits, generally those focusing on the behavior of Saulot before and after his two or three trips eastward as well as a hint that the appearance of the Salubri antitribu in the Sabbat during the Final Nights in Vampire: the Masquerade may not be the random accident it seems. Unfortunately, the book was a tease, continually tantalizing me with possible hints that did not develop into the wonder they could have. Spelling errors also peppered the section, and I actually noticed them, which says something about their frequency, since I usually gloss over them completely, but "The Boke of the Watcher" caught my eye. Chapter three opens with a discussion of the third eye (with no conclusions being drawn) and then swings right into directly into relations with the other clans and supernatural races in the dark medieval world. After that, it moves back to discussions, on such topics as feeding, loneliness, and on the Embrace. Nice all around, but the organization leaves me flabbergasted. We also learn definitely that the Salubri dislike creating ghouls or Embracing children, and both of those discussions give some interesting insight into the clan's convoluted mindset, but neither addresses it head-on, which is annoying. The discussion of Saulot which moves into the infernal and the Baali Wars is interesting, if not as meaty as the information on other ancients in either Clanbook: Baali or Clanbook: Cappadocian. Again, we see the darker side of Saulot in his seemingly baseless assault and purges against the Gnostics. The Via Dolorosa from the Dark Ages Companion is also dismissed as propaganda against the pure clan. Chapter five is the worst part of the book, easily. Entitled "Powers of the Righteous," it really saddened me. Blooding is introduced as a way to gain access to special powers, both of which would have been better done as multidiscipline powers or Valeren/Auspex uses. As simple "kewl powerz," they are pathetically disappointing. Blooding provides nothing of use to the game, and with a distinct lack of detail on the culture behind it, Blooding is also hollow. We also get new powers for Valeren. Frustratingly enough, we get new powers for below level 5. A somewhat questionable and dangerous (in my view) precedent set in the Toreador section in the Libellus Sanguinus II, this is just a bad idea, and none of the powers are actually compelling anyway. The higher level powers, which, like the lower ones, are not delineated by warrior or healer path, are likewise bland. Some are downright lame in their uselessness. Not only that, but White Wolf seems to have returned to printing level 10 Disciplines, something I did not like much. Some of the merits are interesting, but others are just sad. An odd bag, and none of them really, really good. Chapter five begins with one of my favorite pieces of art by Christopher Shy, truly nice. I saw it on his website and loved it then. I'm glad to see that it got printed, unfortunately everything of his that White Wolf has printed has come out darker than the original. This chapter covered the templates. Some are interesting, like the Holy Thief and Electra, and others are just okay, like the Demon Hunter. That is just the way templates are. The notable Salubri mentioned are okay. Rayzeel and Nuriel are interesting, and Ahab the Traitor (the one who betrayed his fellow Salubri to the Baali) is great. Not as good as some, but good. The "dirty secret" for Clanbook: Salubri (every Vampire: the Dark Ages Clanbook has had one) is apparently that Saulot did sire the first three Baali. From evidence from a penitent Baali and a weathered tablet, it seems that Saulot ravaged a city of demon worshippers and so spawned the Baali as he returned home from the East. Exactly what this means is uncertain, but I hope that it is drawn out more in Kindred of the East as well. Overall, a solid book. If you simply must have information on the Salubri, this Clanbook works fine, just ignore chapter five. If you were expecting something to top Clanbook: Baali and answer the questions we have with more intricate and convoluted history, you will be as disappointed as I. Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 3 (Average)