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This is the first of the Traditions Gathered sourcebooks. You won't find the separated Traditions sourcebooks available anymore, so if you want to know more about a Tradition, you'll have to know more about three. This of course doesn't sound like a big deal, but having in mind they're 3 books for the price of 2, things get a little bit better.

Ok, on with this one. Since this book is really 3 books I guess it would be better to review each one separately:

Sons of Ether

This book looks like if it was a special issue of the Etherites' scientific magazine Paradigma, which, in my humble opinion, is a great idea. The artwork is also good looking, reflecting the pulp setting in which the mad scientists (don't call them that way near one of them!) are based; but unfortunately, the contents could be a lot more detailed. Although the historic section gives you a very nice approach to the Etherites, the next section, describing their society, runs really short on what being one of them feels like. You're left with quite a good amount of doubts, like what their philosophy is really like. I mean, you get some info on how they perform science, but what if some of them believe in a supreme being? How do they explain the beginning of the universe (in their unique scientific approach)? Are they all really stereotypical mad scientists?

The rest of the book is quite good, although the issues about their paradigm are never cleared up.

In general, the SoE Trad book is not a bad one, but is not as good as I expected it to be (I love the Etherites). I'd give it 4 points in style (great Paradigma layout and great artwork), but just 3 points (Average) in substance.

Virtual Adepts

When you first read the prelude to the Adepts Trad book, you get shocked. Besides being a great story, you get a whole new view on the hacker mages, thinking to yourself "Hey, they're not just computer geeks tied to their desks!".

The history section is a little bit scarce, to say the least, but nicely presented in the form of pieces of messages. Plus, having in mind that the Adepts are information collectors, the section gives you just what you could expect.

From the next section on, though, the layout suffers greatly from what I call "the first edition syndrome" (I never liked first edition layout, sorry). It's a plain-looking and rather boring layout. The contents are not bad, though, so the book is definitelly a good read. It gives you a lot of details to differenciate the hacker mages from their old partners, the Technocracy. It also gives you some info about their metaphysics beliefs (like that all Reality is made up of Information, which they believe to be the fabled 10th Sphere) and the idea of making the section about external relations a chat really was a good one in my opinion.

The templates section is rather weird (A couch potato?) but not really bad, but the goodies section is only 3 pages long and gives you completely lost in magick systems for the Adepts. Fortunatelly, books like Digital Web or Technomancer's Toybox make a great job expanding what was left out here.

All in all, you can clearly tell this was the first Trad book, and the unexperience is noted. I'd give it a 2 style (except for the first chapter, but that 2 goes for the great majority of the book) and a 3 substance (some good info, but very scarce on some items).

Order of Hermes

Now, this is the book that makes Traditions Gathered 1 worth it's price! I'll start by saying this: unless you're also an Ars Magica player, you definitelly need this book if you're planning to play a Hermetic. And even then you might consider reading this great book...

Presented like the footnotes for the Apprentice Hornbook (the main Apprentice book for young Hermetic students) it gives you a great approach to this ancient Tradition without getting too involved in touchy issues (like Kabbalah) but briefly metioning them.

The history section is given in the form of a timeline, where you can find some cool "facts" you can include in your chronicle if you're a ST. The Hermetics claim that a lot of influential people along human history were indeed among their peers, and this makes for a good alternative history. It also gives you details about the Massasa War (the House Tremere turning into Vampires and their later expulsion and failed hunt), so you could even use it in your Vampire chroncile. It ends with a good modern timeline on what has happened to the Tradition.

The next section is an excellent description of Hermetic society, including their degrees from Apprentice to Master, and the path a Mage must follow. It also gives you some protocols that all Hermetics vow to respect, and the punishments for the violations of these.

The third section is probably my favorite, talking about the nine Houses that currently compose the Order of Hermes. The Houses are so different that you could run a chronicle with just Hermetic characters and still have to restrict some character types... Each House receives (as in the 2nd Edition) a full two-page section, each with their full description, their symbol and a nice picture by Mark Jackson.

The later sections, talking about their relations with others and their style of magick, are also very good, and keep from detailing Hermetic practices too much in order to prevent offending real life practicers.

This book really shines, and is in my opinion, next to the Euthanatos book, the best Tradition book written. I'd give it a 4.5 style (great layout and attonishing artwork!) and another 4.5 for it's substance.

The Bundle For $20 you get the great OoH book and 2 other books that although not the best reads are somehow enjoyable, especially if you're an Etherite or Adept player or plan to be one some day. Deciding the rating for this book is rather hard because it's really 3 books in one (and the 3 books were written in different years), but as a summary, the style is just Average (except for the OoH book) but it's a good read (Substance 4).

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

The Traditions Gathered Vol. 1: Songs of Science
Author: SoE: Bill Bridges; VA: Darren McKeeman, Harry Heckel; OoH: Allen Varney, Nicky Rea, Beth Fischi, Jackie Cassada, Mary Denning, Steve Long, Phil Brucato Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Publishing Line: Mage Cost: 20 Page count: 216 ISBN: 1-56504-445-2 SKU: WW4053 Capsule Review by Andres F Pabon on 04/11/00. Genre tags: Fantasy Modern_day Conspiracy Gothic	This is the first of the Traditions Gathered sourcebooks. You won't find the separated Traditions sourcebooks available anymore, so if you want to know more about a Tradition, you'll have to know more about three. This of course doesn't sound like a big deal, but having in mind they're 3 books for the price of 2, things get a little bit better. Ok, on with this one. Since this book is really 3 books I guess it would be better to review each one separately: Sons of Ether This book looks like if it was a special issue of the Etherites' scientific magazine Paradigma, which, in my humble opinion, is a great idea. The artwork is also good looking, reflecting the pulp setting in which the mad scientists (don't call them that way near one of them!) are based; but unfortunately, the contents could be a lot more detailed. Although the historic section gives you a very nice approach to the Etherites, the next section, describing their society, runs really short on what being one of them feels like. You're left with quite a good amount of doubts, like what their philosophy is really like. I mean, you get some info on how they perform science, but what if some of them believe in a supreme being? How do they explain the beginning of the universe (in their unique scientific approach)? Are they all really stereotypical mad scientists? The rest of the book is quite good, although the issues about their paradigm are never cleared up. In general, the SoE Trad book is not a bad one, but is not as good as I expected it to be (I love the Etherites). I'd give it 4 points in style (great Paradigma layout and great artwork), but just 3 points (Average) in substance. Virtual Adepts When you first read the prelude to the Adepts Trad book, you get shocked. Besides being a great story, you get a whole new view on the hacker mages, thinking to yourself "Hey, they're not just computer geeks tied to their desks!". The history section is a little bit scarce, to say the least, but nicely presented in the form of pieces of messages. Plus, having in mind that the Adepts are information collectors, the section gives you just what you could expect. From the next section on, though, the layout suffers greatly from what I call "the first edition syndrome" (I never liked first edition layout, sorry). It's a plain-looking and rather boring layout. The contents are not bad, though, so the book is definitelly a good read. It gives you a lot of details to differenciate the hacker mages from their old partners, the Technocracy. It also gives you some info about their metaphysics beliefs (like that all Reality is made up of Information, which they believe to be the fabled 10th Sphere) and the idea of making the section about external relations a chat really was a good one in my opinion. The templates section is rather weird (A couch potato?) but not really bad, but the goodies section is only 3 pages long and gives you completely lost in magick systems for the Adepts. Fortunatelly, books like Digital Web or Technomancer's Toybox make a great job expanding what was left out here. All in all, you can clearly tell this was the first Trad book, and the unexperience is noted. I'd give it a 2 style (except for the first chapter, but that 2 goes for the great majority of the book) and a 3 substance (some good info, but very scarce on some items). Order of Hermes Now, this is the book that makes Traditions Gathered 1 worth it's price! I'll start by saying this: unless you're also an Ars Magica player, you definitelly need this book if you're planning to play a Hermetic. And even then you might consider reading this great book... Presented like the footnotes for the Apprentice Hornbook (the main Apprentice book for young Hermetic students) it gives you a great approach to this ancient Tradition without getting too involved in touchy issues (like Kabbalah) but briefly metioning them. The history section is given in the form of a timeline, where you can find some cool "facts" you can include in your chronicle if you're a ST. The Hermetics claim that a lot of influential people along human history were indeed among their peers, and this makes for a good alternative history. It also gives you details about the Massasa War (the House Tremere turning into Vampires and their later expulsion and failed hunt), so you could even use it in your Vampire chroncile. It ends with a good modern timeline on what has happened to the Tradition. The next section is an excellent description of Hermetic society, including their degrees from Apprentice to Master, and the path a Mage must follow. It also gives you some protocols that all Hermetics vow to respect, and the punishments for the violations of these. The third section is probably my favorite, talking about the nine Houses that currently compose the Order of Hermes. The Houses are so different that you could run a chronicle with just Hermetic characters and still have to restrict some character types... Each House receives (as in the 2nd Edition) a full two-page section, each with their full description, their symbol and a nice picture by Mark Jackson. The later sections, talking about their relations with others and their style of magick, are also very good, and keep from detailing Hermetic practices too much in order to prevent offending real life practicers. This book really shines, and is in my opinion, next to the Euthanatos book, the best Tradition book written. I'd give it a 4.5 style (great layout and attonishing artwork!) and another 4.5 for it's substance. The Bundle For $20 you get the great OoH book and 2 other books that although not the best reads are somehow enjoyable, especially if you're an Etherite or Adept player or plan to be one some day. Deciding the rating for this book is rather hard because it's really 3 books in one (and the 3 books were written in different years), but as a summary, the style is just Average (except for the OoH book) but it's a good read (Substance 4). Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

The Traditions Gathered Vol. 1: Songs of Science