DISCIPLES OF THE DARK GODS review in RPG.net
Whoa, this is one review I don't agree with .. Disciples of the Dark Gods is the most evocative and tantalizing rpg sourcebook I have ever read.
Less of a review, more of a rambling rant and axe grinding methinks!
The Laughing God said:
Whoa, this is one review I don't agree with .. Disciples of the Dark Gods is the most evocative and tantalizing rpg sourcebook I have ever read.
I have to agree with what you said, Disciples may have occasionally stepped on the toes of the other books, and once or twice even itself(ie: Inquisitor's handbook says the Tranch War was fought between the Oligarchs, Rebels, and Mutants. Disciples says the Pale Throng were the rebels; which is it?), and it may have left out stats for the big bads(why couldn't they just give multiple levels of stats[lets say three sets] of varying levels of difficulty) which was made all the more nonsensical when they included stats for the bosses of every cult including three different sets of stats for the various stages of a halo device sample NPC, and it forgot about the Masks of Malfi. But let's look at the pros:
*They put the Tyrant Star into perspective, and did a masterful job of it. Enough to give us a good enough understanding of the type of and the scale of it's threat, but keeping it ambiguous enough to keep it frightening, and giving us contradictory stories to keep us guessing.
*They gave us detailed information on the various cults along with stats for the various threats of the cult, and in such a way as each cult came out unique both in story and in gameplay.
*Sorcery Traits and Blank Traits, I repeat BLANK traits
*Sample Stats for two different Inquisitors(This reason alone convinced me to buy the book and it was well worth it)
*It is a very well written book and was wonderful both as a player resource and for the sheer entertainment value of reading it. I only hope Radical's Handbook and Ascension come out this good, the boys and girls at Fantasy Flight really outdid themselves with this one.
*Did I mention the Inquisitor Sample Stats(Thank you FFG!)
Well, any review is only as accurate as the person writing it. Obviously the idiot who wrote the review is incompetent due to the fact he could come up with no better way to describe parts he didn’t like than cursing. In my book anyone who is that lazy in their use of language in any semi-professional way is asking to not be taken seriously. The only conclusion that I can jump to about the author is he is a 16 year old who has little real experience writing, speaking, or dealing with people in any mature way.
The complaints about the formulaic nature of the cults….I have never read or seen anything from Games Workshop that didn’t fall into that same formula of mysterious overseer controlling the cult. Seeing as how that is the basic formula for most intrigue/horror/space opera/40K novels I don’t see the issue.
The generic nature of the cults also allows for easier interpretation by the GM to mold and fit them into HIS world. I have never met a GM who did not tweak something to his preference.
The lack of stats on the Inquisitors….. I don’t normally use published stats for anything anyway. Players buy books and read stats. Why give them what they think they know? Besides, they are Inquisitors. They are a LOT more powerful than the players. I would just go with them having any skills they need at the moment. Besides are you really going to need stats for an Inquisitor? In my book they are always going to win, unless you are going to traumatize your players and kill their Inquisitor in front of them.
No mention of the Talents, Blanks, or other info is also a sad exclusion.
As for the quality of the writing….. The reviewer has obviously never read the majority of the GW novels. The quality of writing in DotDG is on par with or better than most of the GW novels I have read.
The DotDG wasn't what the reviewer wanted the book to be. Instead it is what it says in the title. A collection of dark and sinister organizations collected together as a GM reference.
Well...
While it was a little 'ranty' for sure i thought it was a pretty fair assessment of DotDG.
To state my position, i rather like DotDG,and think its one of the best DH books so far. I really like what the Pale Throng reintroduces into the 40k setting albeit now as a heresy (which is a shame), and there are a few other really interesting 'plot seeds' and kernels of ideas in there.
However, the reviewer makes a pretty good assessment of DotDG and also strays into the wider issues to do with 40k and the GW IP in general.
I think his core criticism; that DotDG presents a cliched and anaemic view of the potentially very rich background, themes and memes of 40k is unfortunately a valid point of view.
Dr Bloodmoney said:
Less of a review, more of a rambling rant and axe grinding methinks!
What you see here are the after-effects of the "Zero Punctuation - game reviews" on The Escapist website. Sure, it's entertaining, but not very constructive nor interesting really.
It's like several of the nerdy, socially insecure reviewers out there have gone thinking: "Oohh, that "yahtzee" guy is sooo badass because he rants and swears a lot! I want to be just like him when I grow up! 
"
//Varnias Tybalt - who still watch Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw rant about games every week and laugh my ass off, but still buy several games he dislikes nontheless
I would like to point out that 40K is nothing but cliché and convoluted ideas taken from recognizable sources. I didn’t think this was new knowledge. Herbert, Wells, Lovecraft, Smith, Orwell, etc, etc all have unknowingly contributed to the unholy convoluted mess of glorious grim darkness that is 40K.
Everyone has an opinion and is welcome to it. I just get annoyed when it’s as immature and self righteous as a foul mouthed six year old who didn’t get the big toy for Christmas.
Hola:
The reviewer is one of RPG.net's admins, methinks.
You ought to search his other "reviews". He was quite kind with Disciples. At least he makes you laff.
L
Who?
LETE said:
Hola:
The reviewer is one of RPG.net's admins, methinks.
You ought to search his other "reviews". He was quite kind with Disciples. At least he makes you laff.
L
Who?
Which just add credit to my point about the "Zero Punctiation -phenomena".
I dont' think he's a mod anymore, I think he stepped down from the position, but he's a respected member of the forum with a lot of reviews under his belt. I think he tends to be very critical, but when he points out a flaw, he tends to be right. His own preferences do show through on some points, obviously... but if you happen to share his opinions on certain things then you'll be greatful for the warnings.
Just to note: I don't share his feelings about most of DotDGs, which I think is one of the best DH supplements. But the book isn't perfect and some of the points he makes are very valid.
macd21 said:
I dont' think he's a mod anymore, I think he stepped down from the position, but he's a respected member of the forum with a lot of reviews under his belt. I think he tends to be very critical, but when he points out a flaw, he tends to be right. His own preferences do show through on some points, obviously... but if you happen to share his opinions on certain things then you'll be greatful for the warnings.
Just to note: I don't share his feelings about most of DotDGs, which I think is one of the best DH supplements. But the book isn't perfect and some of the points he makes are very valid.
My two main complaints of the review are that A) He plugs a website flat out in the first paragraph and B) he states (buried in the review) that he compares everything to Call of Cthulhu.
Both of these points suggest to me a highly, highly unprofessional review that is questionable and circumspect.