VtM - WhiteWolf: Genealogy

VtM - Review: Clanbook: Salubri
discussion of Golconda over there. Overall, an unsatisfying read indeed. The writing itself is good, and
the peppering of anecdotes and mentions of Salubri who bear them are wonderful, but each "caste"
within the clan is discussed separately, with no linkage between the two. Also, there is a distinct lack of
definite historical substance. Clanbook: Salubri lacks both the apparent clan focus shown in the history of
Clanbook: Cappadocius and the detailed and incredibly inspiring convolutions of Clanbook: Baali. There
are a few nice bits, generally those focusing on the behavior of Saulot before and after his two or three
trips eastward as well as a hint that the appearance of the Salubri antitribu in the Sabbat during the Final
Nights in Vampire: the Masquerade may not be the random accident it seems. Unfortunately, the book
was a tease, continually tantalizing me with possible hints that did not develop into the wonder they
could have. Spelling errors also peppered the section, and I actually noticed them, which says something
about their frequency, since I usually gloss over them completely, but "The Boke of the Watcher" caught
my eye.
Chapter three opens with a discussion of the third eye (with no conclusions being drawn) and then
swings right into directly into relations with the other clans and supernatural races in the dark medieval
world. After that, it moves back to discussions, on such topics as feeding, loneliness, and on the
Embrace. Nice all around, but the organization leaves me flabbergasted. We also learn definitely that the
Salubri dislike creating ghouls or Embracing children, and both of those discussions give some
interesting insight into the clan's convoluted mindset, but neither addresses it head-on, which is
annoying. The discussion of Saulot which moves into the infernal and the Baali Wars is interesting, if not
as meaty as the information on other ancients in either Clanbook: Baali or Clanbook: Cappadocian.
Again, we see the darker side of Saulot in his seemingly baseless assault and purges against the Gnostics.
The Via Dolorosa from the Dark Ages Companion is also dismissed as propaganda against the pure clan.
Chapter five is the worst part of the book, easily. Entitled "Powers of the Righteous," it really saddened
me. Blooding is introduced as a way to gain access to special powers, both of which would have been
better done as multidiscipline powers or Valeren/Auspex uses. As simple "kewl powerz," they are
pathetically disappointing. Blooding provides nothing of use to the game, and with a distinct lack of
detail on the culture behind it, Blooding is also hollow. We also get new powers for Valeren.
Frustratingly enough, we get new powers for below level 5. A somewhat questionable and dangerous (in
my view) precedent set in the Toreador section in the Libellus Sanguinus II, this is just a bad idea, and
none of the powers are actually compelling anyway. The higher level powers, which, like the lower ones,
are not delineated by warrior or healer path, are likewise bland. Some are downright lame in their
uselessness. Not only that, but White Wolf seems to have returned to printing level 10 Disciplines,
something I did not like much. Some of the merits are interesting, but others are just sad. An odd bag,
and none of them really, really good.
Chapter five begins with one of my favorite pieces of art by Christopher Shy, truly nice. I saw it on his
website and loved it then. I'm glad to see that it got printed, unfortunately everything of his that White
Wolf has printed has come out darker than the original. This chapter covered the templates. Some are
interesting, like the Holy Thief and Electra, and others are just okay, like the Demon Hunter. That is just
the way templates are.
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