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White Wolf did Kindred of the East and now they need a playground. Hong Kong is supposed to be that playground. But it is falling somewhat short of my exspectations. First of all it is written for all the storytelling games - not a good idea. All you get is a bunch of supernaturals/shen where less would have been more.

To the details.

The book is done in usual White Wolf fashion, a chapter on mood and theme, then the history, then cames the city and last its residents.

Mood and theme are short and to the point, they did okay there. History is a very weak point. You get all the details on the mundane history, but the supernatural involvement is kept to a minimum - which is a pity. The shen are no longer the movers and shakers behind the scene, they just get swapped along with the mortals. The Western Kindred in particular are glossed over, there one hundred year rule (remember that Hong Kong is not much older)is just a mere footnote.

The city descreption is very well done. You get the mood, the scene, everything. Good work there.

The residents on the other hand were a disappointment to me. There are a lot of second row characters (most read like player characters to me), but were are the big ones? Hong Kong is the biggest cash cow in the world and the Western Kindred leave it with good graces, just leaving behind a few spies? The Eastern Kindred send in just one wu of despicable talents? Come on, this was supposed to be the battleground between west and east. Now its just a football field were a few Eastern Kindred do exactly what the Western do in there part of the world. But they do it in wu's, not individually. Looks like a gang war to me. (For the clash of east and west they left the Tremere Oliver Thrace behind and what I don't get is why the rest ever left, because Oliver alone is perfectly capable to sweep the floors with any handful of those Eastern -we got new disciplines-Kindred.)

The other shen (mages, mummies, fairies, werewolves, wraith) are all very cool characters (I love most of them)but what is the point? The city is not detailed enough for any other game then Vampire and Vampire games don't win by adding a few other white wolf creatures - mostly they lose or degenerate into a "we got two werewolver, two vampires a mage and a mummy in our group, we can take on anyone!".

Conclusion is, great characters, but the concept needs more thinking. I hope they do better in Tokyo. And for me the Camarilla elders stayed in Hong Kong and will not leave in good graces - I'll see what happens.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 3 (Average)

World of Darkness: Hong Kong
Author: Jackie Cassada and Nicky Rea Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Cost: 18 $ Page count: 152 ISBN: 1-56504-222-0 Capsule Review by Andreas Monien on 04/15/98. Genre tags: none	White Wolf did Kindred of the East and now they need a playground. Hong Kong is supposed to be that playground. But it is falling somewhat short of my exspectations. First of all it is written for all the storytelling games - not a good idea. All you get is a bunch of supernaturals/shen where less would have been more. To the details. The book is done in usual White Wolf fashion, a chapter on mood and theme, then the history, then cames the city and last its residents. Mood and theme are short and to the point, they did okay there. History is a very weak point. You get all the details on the mundane history, but the supernatural involvement is kept to a minimum - which is a pity. The shen are no longer the movers and shakers behind the scene, they just get swapped along with the mortals. The Western Kindred in particular are glossed over, there one hundred year rule (remember that Hong Kong is not much older)is just a mere footnote. The city descreption is very well done. You get the mood, the scene, everything. Good work there. The residents on the other hand were a disappointment to me. There are a lot of second row characters (most read like player characters to me), but were are the big ones? Hong Kong is the biggest cash cow in the world and the Western Kindred leave it with good graces, just leaving behind a few spies? The Eastern Kindred send in just one wu of despicable talents? Come on, this was supposed to be the battleground between west and east. Now its just a football field were a few Eastern Kindred do exactly what the Western do in there part of the world. But they do it in wu's, not individually. Looks like a gang war to me. (For the clash of east and west they left the Tremere Oliver Thrace behind and what I don't get is why the rest ever left, because Oliver alone is perfectly capable to sweep the floors with any handful of those Eastern -we got new disciplines-Kindred.) The other shen (mages, mummies, fairies, werewolves, wraith) are all very cool characters (I love most of them)but what is the point? The city is not detailed enough for any other game then Vampire and Vampire games don't win by adding a few other white wolf creatures - mostly they lose or degenerate into a "we got two werewolver, two vampires a mage and a mummy in our group, we can take on anyone!". Conclusion is, great characters, but the concept needs more thinking. I hope they do better in Tokyo. And for me the Camarilla elders stayed in Hong Kong and will not leave in good graces - I'll see what happens. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 3 (Average)

World of Darkness: Hong Kong