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The book is about playing Technocracy agents : guardians of reality who protect the masses from Reality Deviants (mystics, vampires and other freaks) and their alien masters and servants ...

STYLE :

The style is OK, sometimes really fun to read such as the instructions to process your Character Form (use a #2 pencil, fill the circles completely, etc.).

The mood is a mix of "serious" conspiracy and satire : it's unsettling at first (there is often an hesitation between "we" and "they") but you get used to it.

Many styles of play are covered in the book : "X-Files" conspiracy, "Men in Black" tongue-in-cheek action , "Starship Troopers" happy fascist mayhem, etc. You have the choice and everything is done to make a Technocracy Chronicle something very different from what you've already experienced in "Mage".

There's not much flavor text (only a prologue) : the book is quite dense - good news.

SUBSTANCE :

The book clarifies many things about "Enlightened Science" (Technocracy "Magick") : there's a 15-page chapter about it, not at all rules-oriented but very clear. A "Magickal effect" requires the use of hypertech devices : often a burden, but very efficient (you re-roll 10's and have -1 difficulty if you use standard procedures with the right device). In most extreme cases jury-rigging, "coincidence" or even "psionic powers" are acceptable.

You have an History overview, details about the goals and methods of the Conventions, chronicle ideas : well done but not really surprising.

The bulk of the book is just what you've been expecting :

New abilities, new merits and flaws, new backgrounds, rules to create Technocrat characters : well done and quite complete (event if they tell you that you'll have to wait for another supplement for complete rules about biotech constructs. argh !!!)

Many gadgets and procedures (rotes) are detailed at the end of the book : these are mere examples but it's a good start. You have enough material to make your Men in Black happy and your Reality Deviants hiding away.

You also have rules about life in a big big organization : requisitions, conditionning, etc. You can have Background dots up to 10 to have big big allies, influence, libraries... You need Enlightenment (Arete) but you also need other ressources to enforce the Paradigm.

This book is THE supplement you need to know everything about the Technocracy. Reality Deviants are doomed.

Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Guide to the Technocracy
Author: P. Brucato ; B. Campbell ; S. Long ; T. de Mayo ; S. Taylor Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Game Studio Line: Mage the Ascension Cost: $25.95 Page count: 248 ISBN: 1-56504-417-7 SKU: WW4014 Capsule Review by Philippe TROMEUR on 07/24/99. Genre tags: Science_fiction Modern_day Espionage Conspiracy	The book is about playing Technocracy agents : guardians of reality who protect the masses from Reality Deviants (mystics, vampires and other freaks) and their alien masters and servants ... STYLE : The style is OK, sometimes really fun to read such as the instructions to process your Character Form (use a #2 pencil, fill the circles completely, etc.). The mood is a mix of "serious" conspiracy and satire : it's unsettling at first (there is often an hesitation between "we" and "they") but you get used to it. Many styles of play are covered in the book : "X-Files" conspiracy, "Men in Black" tongue-in-cheek action , "Starship Troopers" happy fascist mayhem, etc. You have the choice and everything is done to make a Technocracy Chronicle something very different from what you've already experienced in "Mage". There's not much flavor text (only a prologue) : the book is quite dense - good news. SUBSTANCE : The book clarifies many things about "Enlightened Science" (Technocracy "Magick") : there's a 15-page chapter about it, not at all rules-oriented but very clear. A "Magickal effect" requires the use of hypertech devices : often a burden, but very efficient (you re-roll 10's and have -1 difficulty if you use standard procedures with the right device). In most extreme cases jury-rigging, "coincidence" or even "psionic powers" are acceptable. You have an History overview, details about the goals and methods of the Conventions, chronicle ideas : well done but not really surprising. The bulk of the book is just what you've been expecting : New abilities, new merits and flaws, new backgrounds, rules to create Technocrat characters : well done and quite complete (event if they tell you that you'll have to wait for another supplement for complete rules about biotech constructs. argh !!!) Many gadgets and procedures (rotes) are detailed at the end of the book : these are mere examples but it's a good start. You have enough material to make your Men in Black happy and your Reality Deviants hiding away. You also have rules about life in a big big organization : requisitions, conditionning, etc. You can have Background dots up to 10 to have big big allies, influence, libraries... You need Enlightenment (Arete) but you also need other ressources to enforce the Paradigm. This book is THE supplement you need to know everything about the Technocracy. Reality Deviants are doomed. Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Guide to the Technocracy