VtM - WhiteWolf: Genealogy

VtM - Review: World of Darkness: Blood-Dimmed Tides
how odd, was given for every game to have an interest in doing away with the base. I did not like that,
especially the Wraith and Changeling stretches.
It is the next chapter that the meat starts. The Gangrel Mariners are described as almost a bloodline of
Gangrel who use a version of Protean that is just a bit different from their land-bound brethren. There is
some interesting discussion of the Lasombra antitribu fleet as well, but no where near as much as I would
like. The Werewolf section is sparse, giving several paragraphs to the Garou Nation, some more to the
other Changing Breeds, and then another bit for the Rokea. I understand that the breedbook is being
planned, but some more information would have been infinitely helpful. Next is that pathetically small
and lean Mage section. No where near the level of information I wanted. Wraith was next, and it got a
large section (more than any of the previous lines) detailing the watery Shadowlands. I loved this section
for the most part. Well done and interesting, it explains some of the ways that the factions of the dead use
the oceans. Hierarchy, Heretic, and Renegade ships are all mentioned, as are just how ships function in
the underworld. Also included are rules for wraiths and water (it's solid to them, they need to go
incorporeal to swim) as well as new Arcanoi uses. I also loved the Heike Crabs, but that's because I'm
familiar with the Tale of the Heike. I found them perfect for Wraith. That is followed by an even more
extensive section on changelings and the sea, including a nicely-done in-character description of the two
undersea kiths (merfolk and murdhuacha), but I have to complain on general principle. In a book this
size, the space could have been put to much, much better use - there would have been more room for
Mage for example. The Changeling bit also suffered from a "good = pretty and evil = ugly" stereotype.
The murdhuacha have finally made me hate the idea of the thallain. They should be stricken from
Changeling for all time. The new Arts are amusing, and somewhat interesting, but nothing hugely
noteworthy. My final problem with this section was that while the changelings under the sea were
described as "rare" and "even more uncommon than on land," it also mentioned five (formerly six) coral
cities. Full-blown sprawling metropolises under the ocean and the fae are rare? And that's only one of the
kiths.
The next chapter is the White Wolf obligatory storytelling chapter, but it is actually better than most, it
wasn't a chore to read. Some interesting stuff, but nothing ground-breaking.
The Lurkers chapter had information on animals and monsters in the sea. I have to say that I really liked
the fomori presented, especially the flavor text for the bane lampreys. That's how the World of Darkness
should be, and it makes me pine for a mortal game where the average fomori makes half the part become
alcoholics while the other half goes insane and commits suicide. Generally a good chapter, it also
introduces the Chulorviah, an aquatic mind controlling race of squid. Interesting, perhaps, but it merely
made me feel like the World of Darkness just had another person squeeze into the "Supernatural races,
13th floor" elevator. I can feel the cable straining.
Oddly enough, it is the rules in the Appendix that I found to be one of the best parts of the book, and I
usually don't like rules. Ideas like depth sweat for vampires to lose vitae are really nice, as well as just
how much Fortitude is needed to survive crushing depths. Very nice rules overall.
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