The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Well, I guess White Wolf finally lost their mojo. I mean, a hardcover sabbat tome is a great idea, but wtf? For starters, there isn't much in this book that wasn't already in the original sabbat players guide, and besides new art, this book is a real disappointment.

I know that the Lasombra and Tzimisce Clans were included in 2300, but don't they really belong here? Tzimisce isn't even in the flippin' INDEX for crying out loud! As usual (witness AD&D) when a good thing gets popular, the publisher feels the need to 'revamp it' so they don't embarass themselves with a few typos. I mean, at least TSR waited 10 years to do a 3rd edition. As much as I am dreading the release, at least I can see that there will be some pretty radical changes in game structure, not just a bunch of new fonts. Nothing has really changed in this edition of the vampire rules, besides spicing up the names of some of the powers and paths.

Having played and run many, many campaigns using the storyteller system, I fail to see how much of this material is an improvement on the original. If anything it is one step forward and two steps back- and if this sourcebook is any indication of things to come from white wolf in the 'year of the reckoning', I reckon it's time to quit buying hardcovers while I'm ahead of the game. I pity the poor suckers who bought the limited edition at $70.00 US.

What I'd like to see would be a hardcover entitled 'the complete world of darkness' detailing all the powers, spheres, paths, etc...you know, something with some meat on the bones that I could refer to in a session, instead of flipping through a multitude of fluff to find the attribute + skill I need for an NPC ambushing the players. Remember that groovy chart of all the gifts in the back of the Werewolf Storytellers? Gimme more of that. SOURCEbook, should have SOURCE material, not a bunch of scattered reprinted drivel.

Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 1 (I Wasted My Money)

Guide to the Sabbat
Author: Justin R. Achilli, W.H. Bourne, Anne Sullivan Braidwood, Joanne Fitzroy, Jess Heinig Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Line: Vampire 3rd ed Cost: 25.95 US Page count: 224 ISBN: 1-56504-263-8 SKU: WW2303 Capsule Review by Greg Charlebois on 02/16/00. Genre tags: Horror Vampire Gothic	Well, I guess White Wolf finally lost their mojo. I mean, a hardcover sabbat tome is a great idea, but wtf? For starters, there isn't much in this book that wasn't already in the original sabbat players guide, and besides new art, this book is a real disappointment. I know that the Lasombra and Tzimisce Clans were included in 2300, but don't they really belong here? Tzimisce isn't even in the flippin' INDEX for crying out loud! As usual (witness AD&D) when a good thing gets popular, the publisher feels the need to 'revamp it' so they don't embarass themselves with a few typos. I mean, at least TSR waited 10 years to do a 3rd edition. As much as I am dreading the release, at least I can see that there will be some pretty radical changes in game structure, not just a bunch of new fonts. Nothing has really changed in this edition of the vampire rules, besides spicing up the names of some of the powers and paths. Having played and run many, many campaigns using the storyteller system, I fail to see how much of this material is an improvement on the original. If anything it is one step forward and two steps back- and if this sourcebook is any indication of things to come from white wolf in the 'year of the reckoning', I reckon it's time to quit buying hardcovers while I'm ahead of the game. I pity the poor suckers who bought the limited edition at $70.00 US. What I'd like to see would be a hardcover entitled 'the complete world of darkness' detailing all the powers, spheres, paths, etc...you know, something with some meat on the bones that I could refer to in a session, instead of flipping through a multitude of fluff to find the attribute + skill I need for an NPC ambushing the players. Remember that groovy chart of all the gifts in the back of the Werewolf Storytellers? Gimme more of that. SOURCEbook, should have SOURCE material, not a bunch of scattered reprinted drivel. Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 1 (I Wasted My Money)

Guide to the Sabbat