VtM - WhiteWolf: Genealogy

VtM - Review: The Ashen Knight
The Ashen Knight
WW 2826 $17.95 Apr-00
Written by Robert Barrett, Bruce Baugh, Richard E. Dansky, Wendy L. Gash
Developed by Philippe R. Boulle and Richard E. Dansky
● Review by Myranda B Kalis (1 Apr 2000)
Review by Myranda B Kalis (1 Apr 2000)
As nearly anyone can tell you, I waited with bated breath and drooly chin for The Ashen Knight to come
out.
And, my, was I not disappointed when it did.
With The Ashen Knight, the Vampire the Dark Ages line continues its internal standard of excellence
and also verges on becoming the best and most consistent of all White Wolf's game lines.
BREAKDOWN
The Ashen Knight is comprised of an Introduction, five Chapters, and an Appendix. No beginning
fiction, but the lack is not missed, as there are fictional snippets scattered throughout the book for an in
character view on key points of the text.
Introduction: The Knight's Finest Hour is the standard White Wolf introductory fare, including the
ubiquitous How To Use This Book notes and the Recommended Reading and Resources, broken down
by country of origin for fictional resources dating from the actual time period (such as French and
German romances); historical and cultural resources; resources for the history and organization of
Knightly Orders; and modern fictional sources. The list of these sources is by no means exhaustive but
more than adequate, and this section immediately impressed me with its opening quote from Shota
Rustaveli's "The Knight in Panther's Skin"-- especially since few people outside of world literature
classes and Russian studies specialists even know this epic poem exists.
Chapter One: The Chivalrous World gives a detailed look at the state of Chivalry in the year 1197. This
chapter shows a truly impressive depth of research with regards to the devlopment of Chivalry and
knighthood as social phenomena--this Chapter, and Chapter Two, lay down with exquisite detail the
priviledges and difficulties of secular knighthood within midieval society. This is enlivened by "Cainite
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