Review of Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses

Noblesse Oblige: The Book of Houses is a supplement for Changeling: The Dreaming. The book covers the five houses mentioned in Changeling. House Dougal, House Eiluned, House Fiona, House Gwydion, and House Liam each have a chapter in the book. If you would like to add additional politics to your Changeling games, or you have a high majority of Sidhe as your character base you will want this book.

Content and Look

The book contains five chapters and a final appendix. Each chapter covers one of the houses in complete detail, from the point of view of the house. The appendix is the standard White Wolf collection of character templates giving players and storytellers a sample character from each house. Every house has a different author and artist that worked on the chapter. The range of skills of these authors and artists are not equal; some are noticeably better than others are. The different styles does give each house a unique feel, helping get rid of the carbon copy feeling of some white wolf supplements, but with some lesser skilled parts of the book seem amateurish.

The houses follow a similar format, not laid out in the same pattern but include the same information. All chapters open with a short story. Most stories tell of the changeling that the house was named, but a few were confusing stories that did not seem to have a point or interest in the house. Following the story, most chapters have a narrator that starts leading the reader into the information on the house.

The history of the house is covered. The reader is taken from the Mythic Age to the exiling from Arcadia, shown where the house was and where it now stands. Society within the house is introduced. The reader learns of organizations within the house and what intrigues are involved within the house. Relationships of the house are revealed. How house members treat and respond to unseelie, other kith, prodigals, and other houses are detailed. Throughout each chapter house oaths, treasures, and merits and flaws are explained. The end of the chapter has notable characters listed with a few paragraphs on each character.

Noblesse Oblige

The supplement is necessary for storytellers that are interested having the houses prominent in the chronicles or a majority of the players is sidhe. It also adds to the overall history of Changelings for those storytellers and players interested in finding all they can about the background of the changelings. If the chronicle contains few sidhe characters, and does not deal with the intrigue of courts, the supplement would not be of much use to the storyteller.

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