The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Another book from the Year of the Hunter cross game supplement set. The Inquisition was the first installment and is from the Vampire line.

PHYSICAL BOOK

After I got this book one thing surprised me. No fiction to start the book off. This means that they either didn't have any appropriate fiction or they just didn't have room for it. The book is a standard sized soft cover held together with the familiar "perfect binding". The page count was 109, a rather standard size for a supplement from White Wolf. The book follows all of the standard layout conventions, such as two columns of text with a stylish boarder. The art in this supplement is basic black and white line art from a pool of different artists. The art from this book seems more middle of the road in quality, nothing that leaps out at you, but nothing that makes you shake your head.

SETTING

The Inquisition sets the stage in the World of Darkness for the Society of Leopold. In the angsty, brooding world, the Society of Leopold is a religious group that has for 700 years hunted the supernatural around the world. The writer gives a well planned out history, with sidebars containing information to help those who are not up on medieval history surrounding the real inquisition. The writer is also careful to provide Latin and foreign language words and phrases that pertain to the at the beginning of the book. These words and phrases are used extensively in the book, so providing them up front rather than in the back was appreciated. A group with a 700 year history revolving mostly around the Catholic church can become discouraging for those with little or no knowledge of the church. The writer again provides sidebars and sections to help clear up things like the general difference between religious groups such as Dominican, Franciscan and Jesuit.

CONTENT

Introduction: This is a familiar area if you have read any other White Wolf material. The author discusses moods themes and how to use this book. Extra goodies placed here are a list of references and inspirations along with a small section titled Parlance giving the reader some Latin and foreign language terms used in the book.

Chapter 1: Way of the Martyr - This chapter gives a history of the Society of Leopold from its inception to present day. Many of the side bars list satellite factions that were folded into the Society or remain separate allies. Brief paragraphs give the reader an idea of how networked the Society is by listing numerous countries and the influence held there. At the end of this chapter a few pages are given to describing the main base of operations held by the Society of Leopold.

Chapter 2: Catechism - This chapter gives the reader what the Society knows about the supernatural factions and what they know about other hunter factions. The reader is also given the basic divisions of the Society of Leopold with description of the different faction contained in the society.

Chapter 3: Character Creation - This chapter gives the common information for making a mortal in the World of Darkness. New skills, merits and flaws are listed in this chapter. Also a few paths of hedge magic are here as well as the expanded rules for true faith.

Chapter 4: Storyteller's Aids - Here the storyteller is given a great deal of themes for games they can use for an Inquisition game or hunter game in general. Generic NPCs are provided for each of the Society's factions along with information on the effects of holy ground on supernatural beings. Rounding out this chapter the storyteller can find descriptions of common torture methods, relics the society possesses and ideas for running historic games.

Chapter 5: Inquisitor Personalities - Here the reader is given a few ready to play templates as well as more information on the major personalities in the Society of Leopold.

Appendix: Cenaculum Construction - this three page appendix goes into great depth as to what each level of the new background Cenaculum will produce. A cenaculum is the term Society members use for their base of operation usually on holy ground.

SYSTEM

The Inquisition was written under the second edition World of Darkness. Systemwise, little is added except a handful of skills, backgrounds, merits and flaws. The Numina ability of Faith is given a very in-depth and thorough treatment in this book as well.

SPRINGER-ESQUE FINAL THOUGHTS

As the first book of the "Year of the Hunter" series, The Inquisition is an amazing piece of work. Although it was released under the Vampire line, the Society of Leopold is far more than a group of religious vampire hunters. The society has contact with other supernatural forces and other mortal groups in the World of Darkness. It is this rounding out of the Society of Leopold that makes this book so good.

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

The Inquisition
Author: James Estes Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Game Studio Line: Vampire Cost: 12.00 US Page count: 109 ISBN: 1-56504-228-X SKU: WW2020 Playtest Review by Malcontent on 02/28/00. Genre tags: Modern_day Horror Vampire Gothic	Another book from the Year of the Hunter cross game supplement set. The Inquisition was the first installment and is from the Vampire line. PHYSICAL BOOK After I got this book one thing surprised me. No fiction to start the book off. This means that they either didn't have any appropriate fiction or they just didn't have room for it. The book is a standard sized soft cover held together with the familiar "perfect binding". The page count was 109, a rather standard size for a supplement from White Wolf. The book follows all of the standard layout conventions, such as two columns of text with a stylish boarder. The art in this supplement is basic black and white line art from a pool of different artists. The art from this book seems more middle of the road in quality, nothing that leaps out at you, but nothing that makes you shake your head. SETTING The Inquisition sets the stage in the World of Darkness for the Society of Leopold. In the angsty, brooding world, the Society of Leopold is a religious group that has for 700 years hunted the supernatural around the world. The writer gives a well planned out history, with sidebars containing information to help those who are not up on medieval history surrounding the real inquisition. The writer is also careful to provide Latin and foreign language words and phrases that pertain to the at the beginning of the book. These words and phrases are used extensively in the book, so providing them up front rather than in the back was appreciated. A group with a 700 year history revolving mostly around the Catholic church can become discouraging for those with little or no knowledge of the church. The writer again provides sidebars and sections to help clear up things like the general difference between religious groups such as Dominican, Franciscan and Jesuit. CONTENT Introduction: This is a familiar area if you have read any other White Wolf material. The author discusses moods themes and how to use this book. Extra goodies placed here are a list of references and inspirations along with a small section titled Parlance giving the reader some Latin and foreign language terms used in the book. Chapter 1: Way of the Martyr - This chapter gives a history of the Society of Leopold from its inception to present day. Many of the side bars list satellite factions that were folded into the Society or remain separate allies. Brief paragraphs give the reader an idea of how networked the Society is by listing numerous countries and the influence held there. At the end of this chapter a few pages are given to describing the main base of operations held by the Society of Leopold. Chapter 2: Catechism - This chapter gives the reader what the Society knows about the supernatural factions and what they know about other hunter factions. The reader is also given the basic divisions of the Society of Leopold with description of the different faction contained in the society. Chapter 3: Character Creation - This chapter gives the common information for making a mortal in the World of Darkness. New skills, merits and flaws are listed in this chapter. Also a few paths of hedge magic are here as well as the expanded rules for true faith. Chapter 4: Storyteller's Aids - Here the storyteller is given a great deal of themes for games they can use for an Inquisition game or hunter game in general. Generic NPCs are provided for each of the Society's factions along with information on the effects of holy ground on supernatural beings. Rounding out this chapter the storyteller can find descriptions of common torture methods, relics the society possesses and ideas for running historic games. Chapter 5: Inquisitor Personalities - Here the reader is given a few ready to play templates as well as more information on the major personalities in the Society of Leopold. Appendix: Cenaculum Construction - this three page appendix goes into great depth as to what each level of the new background Cenaculum will produce. A cenaculum is the term Society members use for their base of operation usually on holy ground. SYSTEM The Inquisition was written under the second edition World of Darkness. Systemwise, little is added except a handful of skills, backgrounds, merits and flaws. The Numina ability of Faith is given a very in-depth and thorough treatment in this book as well. SPRINGER-ESQUE FINAL THOUGHTS As the first book of the "Year of the Hunter" series, The Inquisition is an amazing piece of work. Although it was released under the Vampire line, the Society of Leopold is far more than a group of religious vampire hunters. The society has contact with other supernatural forces and other mortal groups in the World of Darkness. It is this rounding out of the Society of Leopold that makes this book so good. Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 4 (Meaty)