b1llz1lla's review
3.0
Daeva: Kiss of the Succubus
Published by White Wolf Publishing
Written by Russell Bailey and Benjamin Baugh
More than any other vampire clan in the World of Darkness, the Daeva are all about appearances: vanity, thy name is Daeva. Of course, most vampires have to put on a good show to avoid detection, but Daeva have mastered the art like no other. In Daeva: Kiss of the Succubus White Wolf Publishing gives the kiss of life to the most outwardly self-centered of the vampire clans.
From their beginnings in ancient Sumeria, the Daeva have specialized at blending in with human society. In game terms, Gangrel may be the most overtly kick-ass clan due to their mastery of the Protean powers of shape-changing — able to sink into any patch of earth at sunrise, or to instantly grow claws and throw down. Daeva, on the other hand, have mastery over social skills, and the most efficient character builds tend to reflect this and play to that strength. Daeva may not be quite the combat powerhouse that a Gangrel can be, but they excel at manipulating others, inspiring desire, devotion and need. On a lonely patch of country road Gangrel rule, but put that road in the middle of any city – with people around – and you’d have a tough time finding the equal of a Daeva.
A large chunk of the early book is taken up by a diary of sorts – a patchwork monologue written by a former vampire’s lover. He hungers still for the lady who both victimized him and drove him to heights of ecstasy, after which she abandoned him and left town. A pathetic creature now, he bounces from job to job, his former wealth and skills (and lover) abandoned. He fears the vampires he finds easier to spot these days, yet he documents them as a means to understanding them. He hopes by solving the riddle they represent he will find this woman with which he is obsessed and fall into her arms again – even if only for the last time. As a reader I both envy and despise him; it’s clear from the writing he feels the same way. Later sections are culled from the journals, letters, and notes of several Daeva. As with the other clan books, Daeva includes new Merits, Devotions and Bloodlines, plus two sample Daeva characters to whet the appetite.
The rest of this review can be found at: http://www.flamesrising.com/daeva-clanbook-review/
Published by White Wolf Publishing
Written by Russell Bailey and Benjamin Baugh
More than any other vampire clan in the World of Darkness, the Daeva are all about appearances: vanity, thy name is Daeva. Of course, most vampires have to put on a good show to avoid detection, but Daeva have mastered the art like no other. In Daeva: Kiss of the Succubus White Wolf Publishing gives the kiss of life to the most outwardly self-centered of the vampire clans.
From their beginnings in ancient Sumeria, the Daeva have specialized at blending in with human society. In game terms, Gangrel may be the most overtly kick-ass clan due to their mastery of the Protean powers of shape-changing — able to sink into any patch of earth at sunrise, or to instantly grow claws and throw down. Daeva, on the other hand, have mastery over social skills, and the most efficient character builds tend to reflect this and play to that strength. Daeva may not be quite the combat powerhouse that a Gangrel can be, but they excel at manipulating others, inspiring desire, devotion and need. On a lonely patch of country road Gangrel rule, but put that road in the middle of any city – with people around – and you’d have a tough time finding the equal of a Daeva.
A large chunk of the early book is taken up by a diary of sorts – a patchwork monologue written by a former vampire’s lover. He hungers still for the lady who both victimized him and drove him to heights of ecstasy, after which she abandoned him and left town. A pathetic creature now, he bounces from job to job, his former wealth and skills (and lover) abandoned. He fears the vampires he finds easier to spot these days, yet he documents them as a means to understanding them. He hopes by solving the riddle they represent he will find this woman with which he is obsessed and fall into her arms again – even if only for the last time. As a reader I both envy and despise him; it’s clear from the writing he feels the same way. Later sections are culled from the journals, letters, and notes of several Daeva. As with the other clan books, Daeva includes new Merits, Devotions and Bloodlines, plus two sample Daeva characters to whet the appetite.
The rest of this review can be found at: http://www.flamesrising.com/daeva-clanbook-review/
More...