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Well, this one's showing it's age, yes, but it's still really, really useful to depict the darker factions in the Ascension War. It has been re-released in this 1999 edition, so probably White Wolf consider these rules still useful too!

The usual Prelude is another chapter in the excellent Amanda Jansen chronicle, this time depicting something that happened before the Prelude to 2nd Edition, when Amanda encounters her lover in her last life, the Nephandus Alexander Gericault.

The first Chapter is a whole section dedicated to the all-time bad guys from Mage: the Nephandi. I found this Chapter really good because it explains the reasons why these Mages sell their souls to darker powers, and the consequences this brings. It also has a detailed explanation about Nephandi society, ranking and methods, which can be really useful if you're planning to use Nephandi as major antagonists in your chronicle. It's not recommended for players to take a Nephandi as a PC, but for torytellers this chapter is a collection of really good information.

Chapter Two is all about the most misunderstood element in Mage; and although it leaves all themes open for each character to give his/her own point of view, it makes clear some basic points that were really obscure before. It also has some game mechanics for the Storyteller to run Paradox backlashes and to include some extra Paradox spirits besides the ones described in Mage 2nd Edition. It's a great chapter recomended for any ST.

The next chapter is all about Marauders. Although the Book of Mirrors has some of this information, this chapter is a lot more developed than the one in the Book of Mirrors. This chapter explains why are the Marauders "insane", and how this madness is a supernatural one that shields them from almost all forms of Paradox. It also depicts their divisions and methods, a vital information if a ST is planning to throw a few nutheads in his/her chronicle.

Chapter Four is a rather polemic one. Depicting Demons and their mortal cults is dangerous in a setting that is based on what people believe rather than on something that is; but this chapter explains different views on Demons by different Mages and other people alike. It has also a great explanation about Demon ranks, which can be used to depict these bizarre beings in the WoD, and lets any ST a better view on them rather than just saying "it's a really bad and nasty being!".

The last chapter depicts the Umbrood (spirits). The first section (the one about the three layers in the Umbra) is better explained in the 2nd Edition corebook or in Book of Worlds, but the rest of the chapter is nicely done, and as in Chapter Four, depicts Umbrood ranks and powers. The Characters section is excellent, and has some very good ideas to include in your chronicle.

The Appendix is a collection of rules to implement the information seen in Chapters 2, 4 and 5, and although Umbral Combat and Spirit Charms are explained in a great variety of other sourcebooks, the Appendix of the Book of Madness is necessary to complement this already excellent book.

As a whole. the book has a section dedicated to all those nasty things you always wanted to know about the World of Darkness in Mage but were afraid to ask. Ok, not that much, but the book prooves to be really useful for any Storyteller. Anyway, STs should try to stop their players from reading it, as doing so could ruin the fun of encountering one of such bizarre beings.

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

The Book of Madness
Author: Bill Bridges, Phil Brucato, Steve Brown, Sam Inabinet, Kathleen Ryan Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Publishing Line: Mage Cost: 15 Page count: 144 ISBN: 1-56504-137-2 SKU: WW4251 Capsule Review by Andres F Pabon on 04/17/00. Genre tags: Fantasy Modern_day Conspiracy Gothic	Well, this one's showing it's age, yes, but it's still really, really useful to depict the darker factions in the Ascension War. It has been re-released in this 1999 edition, so probably White Wolf consider these rules still useful too! The usual Prelude is another chapter in the excellent Amanda Jansen chronicle, this time depicting something that happened before the Prelude to 2nd Edition, when Amanda encounters her lover in her last life, the Nephandus Alexander Gericault. The first Chapter is a whole section dedicated to the all-time bad guys from Mage: the Nephandi. I found this Chapter really good because it explains the reasons why these Mages sell their souls to darker powers, and the consequences this brings. It also has a detailed explanation about Nephandi society, ranking and methods, which can be really useful if you're planning to use Nephandi as major antagonists in your chronicle. It's not recommended for players to take a Nephandi as a PC, but for torytellers this chapter is a collection of really good information. Chapter Two is all about the most misunderstood element in Mage; and although it leaves all themes open for each character to give his/her own point of view, it makes clear some basic points that were really obscure before. It also has some game mechanics for the Storyteller to run Paradox backlashes and to include some extra Paradox spirits besides the ones described in Mage 2nd Edition. It's a great chapter recomended for any ST. The next chapter is all about Marauders. Although the Book of Mirrors has some of this information, this chapter is a lot more developed than the one in the Book of Mirrors. This chapter explains why are the Marauders "insane", and how this madness is a supernatural one that shields them from almost all forms of Paradox. It also depicts their divisions and methods, a vital information if a ST is planning to throw a few nutheads in his/her chronicle. Chapter Four is a rather polemic one. Depicting Demons and their mortal cults is dangerous in a setting that is based on what people believe rather than on something that is; but this chapter explains different views on Demons by different Mages and other people alike. It has also a great explanation about Demon ranks, which can be used to depict these bizarre beings in the WoD, and lets any ST a better view on them rather than just saying "it's a really bad and nasty being!". The last chapter depicts the Umbrood (spirits). The first section (the one about the three layers in the Umbra) is better explained in the 2nd Edition corebook or in Book of Worlds, but the rest of the chapter is nicely done, and as in Chapter Four, depicts Umbrood ranks and powers. The Characters section is excellent, and has some very good ideas to include in your chronicle. The Appendix is a collection of rules to implement the information seen in Chapters 2, 4 and 5, and although Umbral Combat and Spirit Charms are explained in a great variety of other sourcebooks, the Appendix of the Book of Madness is necessary to complement this already excellent book. As a whole. the book has a section dedicated to all those nasty things you always wanted to know about the World of Darkness in Mage but were afraid to ask. Ok, not that much, but the book prooves to be really useful for any Storyteller. Anyway, STs should try to stop their players from reading it, as doing so could ruin the fun of encountering one of such bizarre beings. Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

The Book of Madness