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V20 The Hunters Hunted II $14.99
Publisher: Onyx Path Publishing
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by Megan R. [Featured Reviewer] Date Added: 06/20/2016 10:38:57

Opening with some evocative fiction that sets the scene, this book is about those mortals who have realised that vampires actually exist and have decided to do something about them: the Hunters. The Introduction expands on this, explaining that whilst vampires are predators, there are also those who prey on them... and that 'vampire hunters' are one of the few things that actually scares a vampire. They hunt for various reasons and use a variety of methods, but they all have the same purpose: to rid the world of these evil creatures.

Hunters are generally driven by hate. They often don't know that much about vampires, and what they do know is a mix of fact and fantasy. After all, it's not a topic of respectable study, it's even hard to find anyone who will agree that yes, the monsters are real. The main themes here are personal horror and sacrifice, and the mood is one of desperate determination. Vampire hunters often do not last long, even if they escape the nearest lunatic asylum and public ridicule for their beliefs. There are two ways you can use this book: either you run a game based around a party of vampire hunters or you use the material herein to create potent adversaries for your coterie.

Chapter 1: Alone in the Night looks at how people come to be hunters in the first place. Delivered as a monologue that at times seems deranged, it's a good rundown of why people become vampire hunters, what motivates them and what they actually do. Many start curious, just wanting to know more, but nearly all end up wanting to destroy the vampire menace. There's a lot of ideas for how to combat vampires and their special abilities too, as well as the warning that using most of those ideas will likely attrack police attention, and the average cop will not be impressed when you start going on about vampires... There is also material about working as a group of hunters rather than a solo vigilante.

Then Chapter 2: Character Creation and Traits shows you how to generate hunter characters (whether you want to play them or use them as well-detailed adversaries). It starts will getting the group together (players, I mean) and deciding what sort of game you want. This will help the Storyteller build the right sort of chronicle and the players create appropriate hunter characters. Of course, the process works as well for a Storyteller who wants to use hunters as major antagonists in a conventional Vampire game, but then it will be a more solitary thing.

Next, Chapter 3: Tools and Tactics expands on the ideas already expressed and provides a wealth of new ones. It is also replete with story hooks and suggestions that spawn plots of their own accord as you read. There's also some notes on how to plan and run a hunter operation (as hunters, that is) - along with rules suggestions on how to judge its efficacy in a way that makes it exciting to all participants. Then Chapter 4: Numina gives hunters that extra edge, assorted mystical powers some of them can tap into to help them in their fight. There's hedge magic, divine powers, healing, psychic powers and more.

Chapter 5: Storytelling goes behind the scenes with masses of good advice for Storytellers, particularly those who want to run a chronicle based on vampire hunters. It looks at what is different about a Vampire game run from that angle, and what is still the same as in a regular game. It explores the themes and moods you might want to use, and how to construct a chronicle from a bunch of misfits getting together to... well, whatever climactic battle ends your chronicle. You may be after action/adventure, mystery, horror, survival, investigation... or probably a bit of a mix. There are plenty of ideas here to help you. It's well worth a read, and ideas spawn as you do so, never mind the actual hooks and story seeds liberally scattered throughout.

Next, Chapter 6: Organisations and Resources provides some organisations that hunt vampires. Your hunters may join them, work with them or even come into conflict with them. Many have specialised tools, techniques and contacts which members can use to effect. Everyone from the Catholic Church to the US Government and organised crime seem to be getting in on the act, so there's plenty of scope to twist your game in whatever direction you fancy. Loads of examples and ideas here...

Finally, an Appendix presents Sample Characters. Perhaps you cannot wait to run your game, or you want a few hunters to throw at your vampires... or maybe you just want some examples of what can be done.

This puts a whole delightful spin on a Vampire game, and fills your head with ideas, whether you want to hunt a few vampires or threaten the ones you've got with something other that vampire intriques and power struggles. Well worth a read.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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V20 The Hunters Hunted II
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