The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Another formulaic suppliment, using four chapters and a "Who's Who" appendix- with the usual four-page character sheet in the back- signals the last of the Camarilla clans in the series.

Is it worth it? Well, it could be a lot worse. (See Clanbook: Malkavian.) It could also be better.

Chapter One begins the trip, using the now-familiar short story to showcase the clan's ethics. It's written from Sire to Childe, using some Orwellian double-speak dressed up in old-school vocabulary and mannerisms to justify their existances. The blue-blooded mentality arises, exhibiting their elitist ethos, as does their insistance that what's good for Clan Ventrue is good for all Kindred- dissidents be damned! I like that kind of honesty, even if I'd rather see them staked 'n' baked.

Chapter Two is the history chapter. The worst style flaw here are the multiple fonts, one for each major era of Ventrue history. (There are separate ones for sidebars.) Not long after the First Nights, a mention of the clan's mysterious enemy crops up in a sidebar. They're called "The Secret Masters" and they are believed to be behind all of the evils (as defined by the Ventrue) in the world. They have their own version of Carthage- "The Brujah were diabolists and had to die!"- and they claimed control of ancient Rome. They claimed control of the Church- until the Inquistion- and claimed credit for creating the Camarilla. (They also claim that they have hordes of agents within the Sabbat, awaiting orders to cripple that sect when the Camarilla makes its final blow.) They spread with the Age of Exploration and now claim dominion over the Western World- and poised to take the East as well. (No wonder the Kuei-jin are pissed!)

Chapter Three covers Ventrue traditions. It starts with how the clan used to govern itself; first it used a Senate, then a system of Subclans and finally a series of Hidden Orders. These ended with the establishment of the Camarilla. (There are those who want to revive one of these past systems, but they are (usually) ignored.) It goes on to explain how Ventrue interpret the Traditions (strictly) and how they build upon them (Sanctuary & Embrace Nights). There's also a sidebar on how the clan subverts the election process, alongside a brief about the clan's involvement with the business world. It ends in the usual fashion- how the clan views the rest of the World of Darkness.

Chapter Four has the parade of character templates. The ones that stand out are the Young Turk- a bike-riding power-broker- and the Military Man- a silver-spooned officer with a gonzo attitude. The others aren't bad, but they are stereotypical.

In the appendix, the only member of note is Fabrizio Ulfila. He's the clan's strongest tie to the Roman Catholic Church, as well as to the Celestial Chorus mages that religion conceals. His profile is worth the time to read.

Nope, you need not this book. You might want to get it anyway, but only if you have nothing else to buy and that money threatens to burn a hole in your pocket.

Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 3 (Average)

Clanbook: Ventrue
Author: Andrew Greenberg Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Game Studio Cost: $10 (US) Page count: 72 pages ISBN: 1-56504-129-1 Capsule Review by Bradford C. Walker on 06/05/98. Genre tags: none	Another formulaic suppliment, using four chapters and a "Who's Who" appendix- with the usual four-page character sheet in the back- signals the last of the Camarilla clans in the series. Is it worth it? Well, it could be a lot worse. (See Clanbook: Malkavian.) It could also be better. Chapter One begins the trip, using the now-familiar short story to showcase the clan's ethics. It's written from Sire to Childe, using some Orwellian double-speak dressed up in old-school vocabulary and mannerisms to justify their existances. The blue-blooded mentality arises, exhibiting their elitist ethos, as does their insistance that what's good for Clan Ventrue is good for all Kindred- dissidents be damned! I like that kind of honesty, even if I'd rather see them staked 'n' baked. Chapter Two is the history chapter. The worst style flaw here are the multiple fonts, one for each major era of Ventrue history. (There are separate ones for sidebars.) Not long after the First Nights, a mention of the clan's mysterious enemy crops up in a sidebar. They're called "The Secret Masters" and they are believed to be behind all of the evils (as defined by the Ventrue) in the world. They have their own version of Carthage- "The Brujah were diabolists and had to die!"- and they claimed control of ancient Rome. They claimed control of the Church- until the Inquistion- and claimed credit for creating the Camarilla. (They also claim that they have hordes of agents within the Sabbat, awaiting orders to cripple that sect when the Camarilla makes its final blow.) They spread with the Age of Exploration and now claim dominion over the Western World- and poised to take the East as well. (No wonder the Kuei-jin are pissed!) Chapter Three covers Ventrue traditions. It starts with how the clan used to govern itself; first it used a Senate, then a system of Subclans and finally a series of Hidden Orders. These ended with the establishment of the Camarilla. (There are those who want to revive one of these past systems, but they are (usually) ignored.) It goes on to explain how Ventrue interpret the Traditions (strictly) and how they build upon them (Sanctuary & Embrace Nights). There's also a sidebar on how the clan subverts the election process, alongside a brief about the clan's involvement with the business world. It ends in the usual fashion- how the clan views the rest of the World of Darkness. Chapter Four has the parade of character templates. The ones that stand out are the Young Turk- a bike-riding power-broker- and the Military Man- a silver-spooned officer with a gonzo attitude. The others aren't bad, but they are stereotypical. In the appendix, the only member of note is Fabrizio Ulfila. He's the clan's strongest tie to the Roman Catholic Church, as well as to the Celestial Chorus mages that religion conceals. His profile is worth the time to read. Nope, you need not this book. You might want to get it anyway, but only if you have nothing else to buy and that money threatens to burn a hole in your pocket. Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 3 (Average)

Clanbook: Ventrue