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VtM - Review: Vampire Diary: The Embrace
Vampire Diary: The Embrace is an interesting idea, and as much as I wanted to like it (every time
something is hyped as much as this book is -- you'll be seeing ads for it everywhere by the time you read
this -- you want it to do well because if it succeeds, it strengthens the genre as a whole), I can't. I'm sure
Vampire Diary: The Embrace looks quite nice; now if it only had a little substance to go along with that
style. Not Recommended.
Review by Casca (15 Feb 95)
Okay, I'll admit it: I'm a prop junkie. I love the goodies included in boxed sets. Even if it has no bearing
to the game, if it's neat, I love it. I'll find some way to work it into the game.
Vampire Diary: The Embrace is one of those items. It's a real diary, with working lock on it. (Want to
really frustrate your players? Give them the diary, but not the key. Have them find it. And no, don't allow
them to rip it open.)
With the exception of a page of copyright info waaaaay in the back of the book, it looks completely
authentic. (If you don't want to spoil the effect, get some double-sided tape and tape the offending page to
the thicker liner sheet that faces it. The players won't know the difference.)
It's written from a first-person viewpoint, with neat stuff like doodles, rambling thoughts, spelling errors,
even bloodstains. The only problem is that the words and 'stains are quite obviously photostatic copies (is
this the right word?) and not the real things, ie, the paper is too perfect -- not warped and stained on both
sides, yabbada yabbada. A minor fault, methinks.
It's got two enclosed item, too, which did disappoint me -- not in the quality, which was excellent, but
because I was expecting more. Then again, its vampire diary, not scrapbook. Ah well.
Nice treatment of how a mortal would freak out after the embrace without the guidance of a caring sire.
Remember this next time a Caitiff is made, Storytellers. Be sure to play up that "Beast I am" bit.
All in all: Nice effect. Great prop to give to a hunter group, especially since it was supposedly sent to the
brother of the diary's owner. ("I just got this in the mail from my brother out in California...I need your
help.") Maybe a way to jumpstart a Hunters Hunted Chronicle? Especially if one of the players is said
brother....
Just get it. It's nifty.
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