The Inside Scoop on Gaming

The introduction is very good, describing the Sabbat without using prejudicial terminology to make either sect sound better, and providing a collection of rumors about the Sabbat which can be shared with Camarilla members or used as plot ideas.

Chapter One: Inside the Sabbat presents one of the more pointless lexicons in White Wolf material. Some of the terms (Paths of Enlightenment and their followers, new Disciplines, etc.) are useful, but most of them are simply weird, and I can't imagine why the Sabbat would use many of these terms (or how most of them could use the terms with a straight face). The "Sabbat Ideology" section makes the Sabbat sound like heroes. This strikes me as a good thing, honestly; how can you play a member of an organization you can't sympathize with? "The Uses of Kine" explains candidly exactly why the Sabbat disregards mortals. It's not that they hate mortals--indeed, they rarely go out of their way to hurt mortals--it's just that, as they consider humans to be a form of animal life and nothing more, they are no more inclined to cry over hurting one than a human would regret stepping on an ant.

Chapter Two: Running with the Sabbat details the nature of Sabbat unlife: the packs, the Sabbat Embrace, the games Sabbat members play to entertain themselves (often quite damaging to incidental mortals--not because the Sabbat vampires enjoy hurting mortals per se, but because humans make useful toys and the Sabbat don't care whether they break or not), the Vaulderie ritual Sabbat members use to ensure loyalty, many other Sabbat rituals, and a list (obviously incomplete, unfortunately) of acts the Sabbat regards as crimes.

Chapter Three: Character Creation details the slight changes in character creation for making a Sabbat character, as well as the 13 bloodlines of the Sabbat. One problem--the Sabbat Conscience-replacement Virtue is Callousness, which is described as "a vampire's ability to witness and commit vile deeds without suffering mental anguish." It works better for some Paths of Enlightenment--Sabbat belief systems--than others, but it doesn't work terribly well for any of them. Unlike the Camarilla, most Sabbat bloodlines seem quite fond of each other.

Chapter Four: The Paths of Enlightenment is arguably the most important part of the book. It details the belief system practiced by the Sabbat, which replace Humanity. Unfortunately, again, some of them make no sense with the Sabbat Virtues. The Paths of Caine and Death and the Soul both insist on stringent self-control, which is incompatible with the Instincts Virtue, and the Path of Harmony emphasizes being in tune with nature--being callous and detached should weaken this Path, but, as written, the Path of Harmony depends on the Callousness Virtue like every other Path.

Also, the Path of Cathari seems pretty pure evil--why is it considered more acceptable for a player character than Evil Revelations? More emphasis on the Paths' inhumanity, less comparisons to humanity (and Humanity), and just generally more detailed write-ups would have been better. On the whole, though, the Paths are well thought out and interesting. Warning here: It's very easy to let players get away with things they shouldn't get away with on the Paths. Remember that the Paths are meant to be at least as strict as Humanity.

Chapter Five: Sabbat Traits details new Secondary Abilities, Disciplines, Backgrounds, Merits and Flaws, and (sigh) Virtues. Callousness still doesn't make sense.

Chapter Six: Sabbat Templates. Okay-ish, nothing terribly good or bad.

The book ends with two appendixes--one with weapons, another with magical devices--an index, and a four-page Sabbat character sheet.

Overall, the Sabbat comes across as a viable alternative to the Camarilla--more honest yet more violent, heroic and villainous at the same time.

Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

The Players Guide to the Sabbat
Author: Steve C. Brown Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Game Studios Line: Vampire: the Masquerade Cost: $15.00 Page count: 160 ISBN: 1-56504-042-2 SKU: WW2055 Capsule Review by Kish on 07/07/99. Genre tags: Modern_day Horror Vampire Gothic	The introduction is very good, describing the Sabbat without using prejudicial terminology to make either sect sound better, and providing a collection of rumors about the Sabbat which can be shared with Camarilla members or used as plot ideas. Chapter One: Inside the Sabbat presents one of the more pointless lexicons in White Wolf material. Some of the terms (Paths of Enlightenment and their followers, new Disciplines, etc.) are useful, but most of them are simply weird, and I can't imagine why the Sabbat would use many of these terms (or how most of them could use the terms with a straight face). The "Sabbat Ideology" section makes the Sabbat sound like heroes. This strikes me as a good thing, honestly; how can you play a member of an organization you can't sympathize with? "The Uses of Kine" explains candidly exactly why the Sabbat disregards mortals. It's not that they hate mortals--indeed, they rarely go out of their way to hurt mortals--it's just that, as they consider humans to be a form of animal life and nothing more, they are no more inclined to cry over hurting one than a human would regret stepping on an ant. Chapter Two: Running with the Sabbat details the nature of Sabbat unlife: the packs, the Sabbat Embrace, the games Sabbat members play to entertain themselves (often quite damaging to incidental mortals--not because the Sabbat vampires enjoy hurting mortals per se, but because humans make useful toys and the Sabbat don't care whether they break or not), the Vaulderie ritual Sabbat members use to ensure loyalty, many other Sabbat rituals, and a list (obviously incomplete, unfortunately) of acts the Sabbat regards as crimes. Chapter Three: Character Creation details the slight changes in character creation for making a Sabbat character, as well as the 13 bloodlines of the Sabbat. One problem--the Sabbat Conscience-replacement Virtue is Callousness, which is described as "a vampire's ability to witness and commit vile deeds without suffering mental anguish." It works better for some Paths of Enlightenment--Sabbat belief systems--than others, but it doesn't work terribly well for any of them. Unlike the Camarilla, most Sabbat bloodlines seem quite fond of each other. Chapter Four: The Paths of Enlightenment is arguably the most important part of the book. It details the belief system practiced by the Sabbat, which replace Humanity. Unfortunately, again, some of them make no sense with the Sabbat Virtues. The Paths of Caine and Death and the Soul both insist on stringent self-control, which is incompatible with the Instincts Virtue, and the Path of Harmony emphasizes being in tune with nature--being callous and detached should weaken this Path, but, as written, the Path of Harmony depends on the Callousness Virtue like every other Path. Also, the Path of Cathari seems pretty pure evil--why is it considered more acceptable for a player character than Evil Revelations? More emphasis on the Paths' inhumanity, less comparisons to humanity (and Humanity), and just generally more detailed write-ups would have been better. On the whole, though, the Paths are well thought out and interesting. Warning here: It's very easy to let players get away with things they shouldn't get away with on the Paths. Remember that the Paths are meant to be at least as strict as Humanity. Chapter Five: Sabbat Traits details new Secondary Abilities, Disciplines, Backgrounds, Merits and Flaws, and (sigh) Virtues. Callousness still doesn't make sense. Chapter Six: Sabbat Templates. Okay-ish, nothing terribly good or bad. The book ends with two appendixes--one with weapons, another with magical devices--an index, and a four-page Sabbat character sheet. Overall, the Sabbat comes across as a viable alternative to the Camarilla--more honest yet more violent, heroic and villainous at the same time. Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

The Players Guide to the Sabbat