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Twists of Obscenity: Esoterica of the Baali $12.99
Average Rating:4.6 / 5
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Twists of Obscenity: Esoterica of the Baali
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Twists of Obscenity: Esoterica of the Baali
Publisher: White Wolf
by Daniel R. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 06/14/2022 00:28:50

A delightfully definitive treatment of the Baali for V20. Two new disciplines inspired by Infernal Investments and Demon Shintai, and a nihilistic history that builds on the narrative of Lore Of The Bloodlines.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Twists of Obscenity: Esoterica of the Baali
Publisher: White Wolf
by DSC T. G. C. _. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 02/01/2021 11:41:32

Twists of Obscenity Esoterica of the Baali takes a deep dive into the Baali bloodline, This book is a very well put together and provides us with new paths, disciplines, bloodlines, merits, flaws, demonic investments, and even new bloodlines. The final chapter gives us various NPCs that represent the many different ways that a Baali could be played.

The Tabletop Gaming Club liked this book, but we would never ever allow it into a player's hand. But if you want to flesh out your Baali NPCs, this is a must have book. We could say a lot more about this book, but we would just be repeat what other reviews have already stated. We strongly recommend this book for those storytellers wanting to explore the depths of evil that are the Baali.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Twists of Obscenity: Esoterica of the Baali
Publisher: White Wolf
by Scott W. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 01/21/2021 21:45:17

Its a fun read!

The bones are solid. The meat and viscera hung off those bones offers some strong narrative physique. The storytelling bits are... maybe a little too late-90's "quippy" for my tastes... but it does suit the tone and timbre of established source material.

This is not your grandad's Baali, though. This is "Harry Dresden got flayed alive, went to Hell, and all I got was this stupid tee-shirt."-Baali. Which is not at all saying anything is bad. It's just an acquired taste. Maybe you'll dig it. Maybe you won't.

However, if the notion of Josh Whedon and Quentin Tarantino having a discussion over plates of cannibal BBQ in an abattoir (that was very recently a classic 50's diner) appeals to you... I think you'd like this book.

Also, grandad's Baali were delusional prats and this infernal tee-shirt speaks only The Truth™.

Anyhow, Boomer & Weinberg successfully manage to get sinister and insidiously macabre on the subject matter of demons and cultists. They do so without making this chapter of the World of Darkness look like yet another RPG rendition of a heavy metal album's cover art. Instead, they get in your head and make you ponder the Baali mindset through flavorful storytelling opportunities. Those opportunities are often hinged on deceptively insightful game mechanics. Moreover, they offer a sense of humor and thoughtfulness in the process.

They know the game. They know gamers. They know you're going to jump straight to the part of the book with the special fun toys, tools, and trinkets. So they display the right decor in the obvious places. They tuck the dark stuff just out of sight in your peripheral vision. Then they let you experience the horror for yourself... letting it hang in the negative space where it can get a good look at you rummaging through the toy bin.

Frankly, that's a fuckin' accomplishment.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Twists of Obscenity: Esoterica of the Baali
Publisher: White Wolf
by Bryan S. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 01/19/2021 12:32:53

A great read! If I had only one critique from a creative standpoint, it would be that the Baali always played off to me as a secret, clandestine organization behind the scenes. Some of the things they are doing in this book are a little over-the-top in the open, in my opinion.

Very good quality writing and balanced game play, however.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Twists of Obscenity: Esoterica of the Baali
Publisher: White Wolf
by BENJAMIN P. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 01/01/2021 21:29:01

It's often a challenge to sit down and write a review for a product. We've all been there. What do you say? What deserves criticism, and what deserves praise? How does one take their thoughts and turn it into meaningful words that accurately encapsulate and state just what others may be getting into? Often, this is because a work is balanced in both positive and negative qualities. This .. Is not one of those cases. It's still difficult, sure, but not because of the negativity; Mostly, it's because I don't feel that there's much that's ACTUALLY negative about the work.

I dunno about anyone else, but I often am skeptical about reviews that offer only swimming praises. It makes me wary. So.. Let's see if I can get to something concrete that is helpful, eh?

First and foremost, this work does proper respect to the tone of the Baali. No one can kid themselves about these creatures -- They're dark, they're evil, and they are most assuredly f'd up. This is a given from anything that typically falls under the Black Dog imprint. What separates this book from the original source material, however, is where it expands upon that evil and provides alternative contexts. Sure, you can run with a moustache-twirling, baby-eating monster. That's fine. I guess. It works for a monster, which the Baali are. There's other kinds of monsters, however. Things defined not from within the moral ethos of humanity, but rather by the very lack thereof. "Alien" is an appropriate term, and this book does a solid job of presenting some of that sort of perspective as existing.

For the discerning and lore-thirsty, there's some quality spins on existing concepts here, and a Dramatis Personae at the end that runs the absolute gamut of expression, suitable for just about any sort of morality play you and your table want to explore.

From a rules and crunch standpoint, the addition of two full Discipline-trees is, itself, an awesome thing. What stands out for me, though, is the "Build-a-Blasphemy" approach -- Rather than a small, defined list of powers and sure progression, you have wildly diverse array of potentiality. From a player standpoint, the possibilities of design are immense; And from a Storyteller perspective, it's incredibly useful to not have to worry about your players immediately guessing just what they're dealing with based on the powers manifested by an antagonist. When combined with the particular type of grit and appeal that I've come to love out of Clinton Boomer's work, you get something that's sure to spice up the table and keep people on their toes.

Then there's the Merits, Flaws, Combo Disciplines, new Paths to explore, a new system of infernal investitures..

.. You know, I was once told that I often should keep things simple, and to the point. To not indulge in diarreha of the mouth (or written word, in this case). That peoples' attention only goes so far, and even if you have that attention wrapped up, it's still disrespectful to keep them going on, and on, and on, and on, and..

The fact of the matter is simple, and it is this: This book is worth every penny.

Buy it.

I'll see you in the Organ Pit. /salute



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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