The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Recently, there seems to have been a disturbing trend at White Wolf to contiunally forcefeed quantity over quality, in my opinion at least. Each book seemed to introduce some new splat, or some odd new array of powers to have your players drooling over. It seemed like I was buying RIFTS books instead of White Wolf (although Palladium has been getting better). Well, finally, it's over. With Shadow War, I belive that White Wolf has finally gotten over splatophilia and has returned to publishing books that have actual setting information.

Shadow War is for lack of a better description, how the Kuei Jin fight their political battles, and their less than political battles. Although the main book made refrence to Midnight and Twilight war, and gave hints as to the use of Scarlet Screens. Finally, with Shadow War, we get actually descriptions of the ritual and formality behind these practices, and, as an added bonus, insight into the Kuei Jin invasion of California.

The book is broken up into 5 chapters and an appendix. Chapter one, Twilight war, deals with the most "honorable" and structured of Kuei Jin conflicts. Not only does it include the formailities and rituals invovled in declaring such a conflict, but it also goes on to include information on historical incidents of Twilight War, helping to demonstrate just how convoluted "honorable" combat can get.

Chapter 2, Midnight War, is when the Kuei Jin get NASTY. Still incredably formal, with rituals for almsot every step, Midnight Wars can kill hundreds if not thousands, with almost no tactic or weapon being taboo. Of course, this chapter is peppered with sidebars, elaborating on the ritual and tactics explained in the main body of the text, or giving a historical example of a Midnight war. These are vicious things, and getting your players cought up in the private little war of a group of elder Kuei-Jin can be a vicious foray into the politics of the eastern undead.

The Third Chapter, Underground War, deals with the battle of the younger Kuei Jin against their repressive and xenophobic elders. It includes tactics and orginizational information which any young rebellious Kuei Jin should find useful. One of the more intersting parts of the chapter to me was a small sidebar on Maoist Wu trying to bring communist principles to the Kuei Jin. An amusing thought, and an intersting potential encounter for your player's Wu.

Chapter Four, Scarlet Screens, was dissapointingly short, as Kuei-Jin's interaction with mortal residents of the Middle Kingdom requires a bit more attention in my opinion, as since the Kuei Jin lack Ghouling and the blood bond, they need be all the more subtle. The guidelines on how to maintain a proper screen were rather sparse, instead more of the chapter was devoted to diffrent sorts of mortals and the benifits of maintaining them as a screen. Good, but not great, and in my opinon, the low point of the book.

Chapter 5, Crimson war, is about the Kuei Jin invasion of California. I must admit that i gave this chapter only the slightest of glances, as i do not plan to use this aspect in my chronicle, but from what i did read, for any storyteller who wishes to use the invasion there's more than enough information on the sorts of confusion running rampant amongst both sides. Also, it confronts the problem of numbers that the Kuei Jin face, since they can't embrace, their forces are severely limited, although the chapter hints at a possible change in this. . . .

And finally the appendix details a class of rare artifact, and describes one's power, and two rites, one of which is oddly useful, and one which almost any wu could do with having someone learn. Finally, a "who's Who" of famous Kuei jin warriors finises off the appendix.

Shadow War, while it could've been longer, manages to give a deeper insight into the politics of the Kuei Jin, helping to bring their society to life. I heartily suggest it for any ST intersted in running a Kindred of the East game.

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

Shadow War
Author: Edward McGregor and Bryant Durrell Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Game Studios Line: Vampire the Masqureade/Kindred of the East Cost: $15.95 Page count: 101 ISBN: 1-56504-227-1 SKU: WW2903 Capsule Review by Perry Lyons on 10/15/99. Genre tags: Modern_day Horror Asian/Far_East	Recently, there seems to have been a disturbing trend at White Wolf to contiunally forcefeed quantity over quality, in my opinion at least. Each book seemed to introduce some new splat, or some odd new array of powers to have your players drooling over. It seemed like I was buying RIFTS books instead of White Wolf (although Palladium has been getting better). Well, finally, it's over. With Shadow War, I belive that White Wolf has finally gotten over splatophilia and has returned to publishing books that have actual setting information. Shadow War is for lack of a better description, how the Kuei Jin fight their political battles, and their less than political battles. Although the main book made refrence to Midnight and Twilight war, and gave hints as to the use of Scarlet Screens. Finally, with Shadow War, we get actually descriptions of the ritual and formality behind these practices, and, as an added bonus, insight into the Kuei Jin invasion of California. The book is broken up into 5 chapters and an appendix. Chapter one, Twilight war, deals with the most "honorable" and structured of Kuei Jin conflicts. Not only does it include the formailities and rituals invovled in declaring such a conflict, but it also goes on to include information on historical incidents of Twilight War, helping to demonstrate just how convoluted "honorable" combat can get. Chapter 2, Midnight War, is when the Kuei Jin get NASTY. Still incredably formal, with rituals for almsot every step, Midnight Wars can kill hundreds if not thousands, with almost no tactic or weapon being taboo. Of course, this chapter is peppered with sidebars, elaborating on the ritual and tactics explained in the main body of the text, or giving a historical example of a Midnight war. These are vicious things, and getting your players cought up in the private little war of a group of elder Kuei-Jin can be a vicious foray into the politics of the eastern undead. The Third Chapter, Underground War, deals with the battle of the younger Kuei Jin against their repressive and xenophobic elders. It includes tactics and orginizational information which any young rebellious Kuei Jin should find useful. One of the more intersting parts of the chapter to me was a small sidebar on Maoist Wu trying to bring communist principles to the Kuei Jin. An amusing thought, and an intersting potential encounter for your player's Wu. Chapter Four, Scarlet Screens, was dissapointingly short, as Kuei-Jin's interaction with mortal residents of the Middle Kingdom requires a bit more attention in my opinion, as since the Kuei Jin lack Ghouling and the blood bond, they need be all the more subtle. The guidelines on how to maintain a proper screen were rather sparse, instead more of the chapter was devoted to diffrent sorts of mortals and the benifits of maintaining them as a screen. Good, but not great, and in my opinon, the low point of the book. Chapter 5, Crimson war, is about the Kuei Jin invasion of California. I must admit that i gave this chapter only the slightest of glances, as i do not plan to use this aspect in my chronicle, but from what i did read, for any storyteller who wishes to use the invasion there's more than enough information on the sorts of confusion running rampant amongst both sides. Also, it confronts the problem of numbers that the Kuei Jin face, since they can't embrace, their forces are severely limited, although the chapter hints at a possible change in this. . . . And finally the appendix details a class of rare artifact, and describes one's power, and two rites, one of which is oddly useful, and one which almost any wu could do with having someone learn. Finally, a "who's Who" of famous Kuei jin warriors finises off the appendix. Shadow War, while it could've been longer, manages to give a deeper insight into the politics of the Kuei Jin, helping to bring their society to life. I heartily suggest it for any ST intersted in running a Kindred of the East game. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)