The section innocuously titled "Introduction" is a real gem. This deals with something called the "metaplot"- the overarching storyline of the World of Darkness. (The CLAN NOVEL series is based on the metaplot and so are THE TRANSYLVANIA CHRONICLES.) It discusses several important developments- the current problems facing the Assamite and Ravnos clans, the destruction of the Tremere antitribu (including some insights about the whole Tremere-Saulot thing) and gives a blow by blow on the Fall of New York to the Camarilla. You need to read this if you want to keep up at all.

A good thing about this is that alternate possible scenarios are frequently offered- different reasons why things are happening, for example. This book also backs off somewhat at a couple points from insisting that any player characters of certain clans would have to be destroyed in certain situations. The metaplot described here also diverges in small ways from what was described in the CLAN NOVEL series (so far) and in the TRANSYLVANIA CHRONICLES. There's a certain fuzziness in which there's plenty of room for storytellers to make their own decisions. I hope no one takes it into his or her head to fix that.

A word about this whole metaplot thing. When official game materials declare even one important storyteller character destroyed or give even a small glimpse of an Antedeluvian's machinations, it can go a long way in terms impact on existing storyteller chronicles. I'm currently really enjoying the metaplot but I can see that there's going to be a limit. Right now, I've got enough ideas from it to last me a couple lifetimes and it's great. At some point, though, anxiety about taking my chronicle in a direction that turns out to be at odds with furture developments in the metaplot is either going to get very inhibiting or I'm going to end up saying "to heck with the metaplot". In general the more open-ended, supportive way the metaplot was handled in this book was very encouraging.


Whats new in the world of darkness!   March 31, 2000
 2 out of 4 found this review helpful

This book is great! It tells you whats up with the kindred in the nights of impending Gehenna.I don't want to ruin it for you, but it's a great sourcebook for storytellers who want to keep up with the current setting of the game. A must have for vampire enthusiasts.


Perfect for a storyteller   May 19, 2000
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book is a combination of 5 seperate stories about events that are happening in the current years. The stories include the death of Baba Yaga, return of the succubus club and even a Kuei-jin interaction story between them and the kindred. I definately recommend the book. You seriously can't go wrong if you are a story teller or a wanna be. Best of all they also provide sweet sections on extra sub-stories to be added and how it can be handled. Sub-stories include the way the assamites broke the curse, the way Salout and Tremere interact for clan control and even the way camirella took back New York plus more.

Simply put....I really liked the book.


Great, even for begginers   March 13, 2002
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

This was the first thing I got after I bought the rulebook. and its great, I unlike many, am very new to rpg's in general, but armed with the rulebook, the many novels i read, and this book, I am already taking on storytelling myself. It gives detailed information and tips for the storyteller, including ideas and strategies to accomodate changes you wish to make yourself and some alternate routes to have in case you players get a little off track. one of the stories, the Succubus club, is great, as it is possible to take place in any city, and can include those party members who choose to be some of the clans that are not usually in the plot. as they can be guests at the club.
all in all great read... i almost want to stop reading so i could play it myself.