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Book of Crafts: Whispers of Dissent
 
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Book of Crafts: Whispers of Dissent
Verlag: White Wolf
von Terry R. [Verifizierter Käufer]
Hinzugefügt am: 02/07/2020 10:16:19

Book of Crafts is a much needed entry into the canon of Mage outlining the Crafts in the world of Mage. Crafts are magickal societies that do not actively participate in the Ascension War (an impossible goal) or that refused the call of the Grand Convocation. Additionally they are tied to some cultural group and possibly some geographic area. The fact that the Bata'a are listed as being the size of a small Tradition that suggests combined the Crafts may be something like 1/3 to 1/4 the size of the Traditions.

All the groups presented seem to reflect research but vary in terms of how involved their historical, cultural, and magickal practices are presented. The magick of the templars is uninspired but appropriate and the magick of the Sisters seemed largely uninspired. The way each group treated magick was also hit or miss with the Bata'a having an indepth look at what their magick looked like and the culture that created it vs the Children of Knowledge which seemed to mostly be included as a way to have a "where are they now?" plus a "this is how a group can change over time".

Some Notes: Bata'a - Huge, book indicates there are over 100 million Sleepers supporting it and 200-300 Awakened. Had an opportunity to present magick different and it wasn't used. Very bloody internal conflicts. It's good to know that fights between mages aren't always as civil as one would expect. Being ridden by spirits grants additional physical dots which was interesting.

Children of Knowledge - Interesting that they have a "one weird trick" mentality that there's some sort of phase change they can cause that will cause the world to Awaken. That's a view on the Awakened world that I think is fascinating but no mechanics or setting material really advances it beyond this idea. Their ties to the Hermetics and Wu Lung are flavorful.

Kopa Loei - Best intro of the groups using the patois/pidgin, took a little to get used to. They're surprisingly polite to the Celestial Chorus who killed them all and the hatred for the Technocracy seems smaller than one would expect. The kapu systems of bans should have been presented more fully if someone is expected to use it in a game.

Hem-Ka Sobk - Servants of an alien crocodile god who eats the organs of sinners and helps mages atone for sins they committed. Amazing and flavorful but likely unplayable in a traditional game. Still, pretty fascinating and weird groups like this do much to expand the game.

Sisters of Hippolyta - Interesting history and a good contrasting world view, but the magick side was kind of lightly explained. The focus on Life magick seemed like stereotyping but many of the other associations simply seemed appropriate. Not sure how with such a small group they maintain rotes that have very high barriers to learning with 4 and 5 dot effects being part of their standard canon. Also feels too small to keep itself going.

Knights Templar - We get HIT Mark IIIs so that's good. The history with the Order of Reason and the Cabal of Pure Thought seemingly being behind everything devious is an interesting extension of the brand as the Gabrielites get blamed for everything. Interesting that they accept any Christian which can be a pretty wide gamut. Magick again was meh.

Wu-Keng - I thought this group was going to sound more problematic but besides the cross-dressing which is never much played up, the group seems fine. Interesting that the Wu-Keng and Wu Lung are both serving demons and may not quite know it. Magick was interesting but little information was given as to how the Spheres are used. The "you have a mission every month" angle is neat.

Wu Lung - Again, they secretly serve demons and aren't aware of it seems odd for a group that specializes in Spirit vs the Wu-Keng for whom it is banned.

Overall the book greatly expands the world of magick in Mage but has some spotty areas. The idea that a group decimated by the Technocracy is somehow not active in the Ascension War seems questionable and I'm never quite sure how to interpret a text saying an area of the world is fundamentally more magickal than another. The opening fiction didn't quite make sense as Richard Somnitz was seemingly killed out of nowhere.

I'm a little surprised that the Hollow Ones weren't presented here rather than in World of Darkness Outcasts but that's up to the developers of the line.

For some of these groups, no future material was provided while others are updated in Dead Magic, Dragons of the East, and a perfunctory expansion in M20. Wish we got a Book of Disparates, but alas...



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Book of Crafts: Whispers of Dissent
Verlag: White Wolf
von greg m. [Verifizierter Käufer]
Hinzugefügt am: 08/13/2015 11:33:33

This was an earlier entry into the M:tA line of CWoD books, and introduced many Crafts into the mix of the Ascension War. Crafts differ from the Traditions and Conventions in that they are geographically or culturally limited. Each Craft gets it's own chapter complete with a full page piece of art and a fluff short story to set tone. The history of each Craft is discussed, a few signature Rotes (magick spells) are given, and one or two templates for PC's are given. The Crafts presented are an Epytian throwback; a group of Hawai'ian traditionalists; the Sisters of Hippolita, a Greek cult; the Knights Templar, who left the nascent Order of Reason, which became the Technocracy; and also a Chinese magickal society. Artwork ranges from good to passable, and there are several typos, so grammar police may be annoyed. The groups presented in the book all have a specific, local focus, so use in games is questionable, but still entertaining to read.



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