I will not go into the Storyteller system's revisions in depth here - others have covered those better. Suffice to say that the system is better than in the Vampire 2nd edition, but worse than in Trinity.
I will also not go into the changes of the World of Darkness. I hate the "grand" World of Darkness and couldn't care less how it's changed since the 1st or 2nd edition. Again, other reviewers have put it all up before.
What I want to bring up in this review is that Revised Vampire is a very different game from the 2nd edition Vampire. As a friend of mine put it, this is blunt. Whereas the 2nd edition could be gotten reall acquintanced with and made feel like a home like any well-supported RPG setting, the revised Vampire does not want to be liked.
Don't get me wrong. This is the best-written, best-illustrated, best-edited, best-looking RPG out there, by far. It's just that it has grown up and put forth a genuine attitude. No more trendy goth stuff. No more teenage angst. No more Sisters Of Mercy.
Most of the 2nd edition World of Darkness fans are likely to feel like kicked in the stomach (or rather lower, actually, but this is a familychannel, people). "Grand" WOD is often scoffed at. The horror aspect of Vampire is played up. Teenage goths are repelled with mature attitude.
New Vampire deals with it's themes much more efficiently than before, although it could've discussed feelings and the loss of them at length. The game leaves a lot for the reader to figure out on her own, but provides all the material to do the thinking.
One thing that's often "criticized" about the revised Vampire are the clans and their illustrations. Many non-Vampire players laugh at the clans, with their apparently childish archetypes. Well, sorry, folks. You've just been had. The clans are a minor aspect of the revised Vampire character creation. In the example character provided, the clan is added as an afterthought. Their importance is downplayed by a huge notch. The illustrations are mainly there to lead the observer astray: they show the popular archetype of the clan which is actually never to be encountered.
I haven't seen any valid critic towards the revised Vampire (apart from the damned index which just doesn't work - although it's better than in previous editions). All old (-school) Vampire players should pick up the revised edition and truly read it, word to word. It's a whole different game, people - and lovers of the 2nd edition should think twice before switching to the revised. You may not like it, if you're not ready to grow up.
Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)
