Vampire: The Dark Ages

by Kevin Hassal, Ethan Skemp, Jennifer Hartshorn, et al.

In the WORLD OF DARKNESS series, this book includes everything necessary for playing the Damned of the Middle Ages, allowing characters to experience the events that have influenced our age. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565042751
• ISBN13: 9781565042759
• Release Date: December 1995
• Publisher: White Wolf Games Studio
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.6" x 11.1"

Customer Reviews

The Way Vampire Was Meant to be Experienced

I find that, when comparing Vampire: The Dark Ages (VDA) to it's modern counterpart, Vampire: The Masquerade (VM), VDA seems to always come out on top.Unlike VM, VDA allows the players to exist in a world much more open and less ruled by the extremely irritating, corrupt web of the Camarilla and Sabbat. In fact, those two sects don't even exist: every vampire becomes an entity unto itself, under complex rule by no one. This allows for great freedom of expression in gameplay--expression that is all too stifled in VM.Also, the book itself has MUCH more in the way of setting. The VM book, Revised Edition, seems extremely vague in the descriptions of the 13 clans. I could not help but be enraptured by the mysterious Dark Ages Assamites: in the modern day, they are static and more or less boring (at least based upon the meager descriptions found in the main core book). In the Dark Ages, they burn with life and passion. This is only one example--virtually every clan falls into this category.The Dark Ages' own inherent mysteriousness and superstition allows for much more varied gameplay as well--the science of the modern day detracts much from the vague--but interesting--origin of vampiric power. That strange sense of wonder is present in the Dark Ages, but in the modern day VM it is simply in the way. One feels like vampires should have been scientifically explained by now, in our day.Anyway, in short, the Dark Ages are a much better setting to be a vampire. You have more power, more mystery, more varied gameplay, and above all: freedom. Also, that whole blasted "punk" thing is done away with--when I think of vampires, I think very little of rebel hoodlums on a street corner. ;)

Look what's that in the darkness?!?!?!

It could just be a vampire. This is a much cooler game then it's present time counter part.You get to make history. Was your character a viking, a warlord, a king,a serf, a baron, or a noble? those and many more await your choice of character. I am a huge fan of the actual dark ages and it is a pretty acurate account. Plauges dominate and normal people die at the ripe old age of thirty or younger.it's great!!! I hope more games of this magnitude surface!

Dark Ages History Combined with Gaming

This book is an absolute must for anyone considering playing the dark gothic genre in the dark ages of man. The historical sources are accurate and well thought as they pertain to the various clans at this time. Of great use is the overview of the dark ages world, helping the Story Teller immensely in selecting ideal areas to run a chronicle. The glossary is a great addition, asa it helps give players a feeling for the language of the time.

Main Rulebook for VtDA (White Wolf)

This is basically the same rules-system as Vampire: The Masquerade. But the whole timeframe is different. Instead of modern-era we're looking at Dark Ages. The book is very well put together, a much easier read then other WW rulebooks have been in terms of finding what you need in the book quickly. There are different Clan options, as well. I noted that Humanity is handled much differently between the two rulebooks: VtDA uses "Roads" as guidelines to correct action, instead of just assigning a Humanity value to a character. Anyone who likes the time period or enjoys the Gothic Horror genre will find this a very interesting game.

Good artwork, and new information make this book a must!

Just when you thought the guys at White Wolf had thought of everything, they publish a new book with vital information and gothic artwork. Dark Ages takes you back to a day before the inquisition or the masquerade, when Kindred were free to do as they please and all of humanity trembled in their wake. With a new twist on an old favorite, use this book as a sourcebook for your campaign, or start a new one set in old Europe. Highly recommended.