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My original feeling, when I read the solicitation notice in a magazine was that White Wolf (aka Black Dog) was nuts to release anything like this at all. The idea of angsting goth wanna-be's roleplaying SS commandants filled my head with disgust. A discussion with the products developer, Richard E. Dansky, led me to open my mind and purchase CHoE as soon as it was available, locally.

I am very glad that I did.

Charnel Houses of Europe is a supplement for Wraith: The Oblivion, the WoD game of the dead. It has 128pgs, most of which are filled with easy to read text, and black & white art. The book is divided into 6 Chapters, plus a Foreword and a short fiction piece. The art is evocative, though some pictures seemed to have little to do with the subject matter, they did create a mood of dread and loss.

So how exactly does it approach the Holocaust as the subject of a roleplaying game? With a great deal of respect, insight and research. The foreword by Janet Berliner makes it clear that Richard Dansky's vision in developing this project was to provide another method to remind us of the Holocaust, and the evil of which mundane human beings (not Garou, Vampires, Pentex, Mages, etc. etc.) are capable. Mr. Blacke and Mr. Hatch have done an excellent job of it.

The book consists primarily of a recounting of the factual history of the Holocaust and some of the sights of its horrors (the ghetto of Warsaw, the death camp of Auschwitz), and how these facts are placed into the World of Darkness. Elements that are no t factual are clearly marked, or easily recognizable from context. There is no possibility of confusing the reality with the game, here.

As for the game elements, the effects of the Holocaust and the resulting influx of victims on the Shadowlands is well handled and described. Wraith is largely a game of unfinished business and driving passions, and the victims of the Holocaust have no sh ortage of either. Rather than approach the matter in black & white terms (Germans bad, Jews good), CHoE attempts to find a balance and treats its subjects are human beings, complete with flaws and virtues.

This is an amazing work, and something I am glad to see the gaming industry produce. I don't know that it will be to everyone's taste, and I'm not sure that it is a must have product for every Wraith player, but CHoE is something I am proud to have on my shelf.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Charnel Houses of Europe: The Shoah
Author: Jonathan Blacke and Robert Hatch Category: game Company/Publisher: Black Dog Game Factory Reviewed by Jason Langlois on 07/16/97. Genre tags: none	My original feeling, when I read the solicitation notice in a magazine was that White Wolf (aka Black Dog) was nuts to release anything like this at all. The idea of angsting goth wanna-be's roleplaying SS commandants filled my head with disgust. A discussion with the products developer, Richard E. Dansky, led me to open my mind and purchase CHoE as soon as it was available, locally. I am very glad that I did. Charnel Houses of Europe is a supplement for Wraith: The Oblivion, the WoD game of the dead. It has 128pgs, most of which are filled with easy to read text, and black & white art. The book is divided into 6 Chapters, plus a Foreword and a short fiction piece. The art is evocative, though some pictures seemed to have little to do with the subject matter, they did create a mood of dread and loss. So how exactly does it approach the Holocaust as the subject of a roleplaying game? With a great deal of respect, insight and research. The foreword by Janet Berliner makes it clear that Richard Dansky's vision in developing this project was to provide another method to remind us of the Holocaust, and the evil of which mundane human beings (not Garou, Vampires, Pentex, Mages, etc. etc.) are capable. Mr. Blacke and Mr. Hatch have done an excellent job of it. The book consists primarily of a recounting of the factual history of the Holocaust and some of the sights of its horrors (the ghetto of Warsaw, the death camp of Auschwitz), and how these facts are placed into the World of Darkness. Elements that are no t factual are clearly marked, or easily recognizable from context. There is no possibility of confusing the reality with the game, here. As for the game elements, the effects of the Holocaust and the resulting influx of victims on the Shadowlands is well handled and described. Wraith is largely a game of unfinished business and driving passions, and the victims of the Holocaust have no sh ortage of either. Rather than approach the matter in black & white terms (Germans bad, Jews good), CHoE attempts to find a balance and treats its subjects are human beings, complete with flaws and virtues. This is an amazing work, and something I am glad to see the gaming industry produce. I don't know that it will be to everyone's taste, and I'm not sure that it is a must have product for every Wraith player, but CHoE is something I am proud to have on my shelf. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Charnel Houses of Europe: The Shoah