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Clanbook: Giovanni (A Source Book for Vampire: The Masquerade)

Clanbook: Giovanni (A Source Book for Vampire: The Masquerade)

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best Clanbook of them all, period.
Review: Before this book came out, I didn't really care about the Giovanni.

Then I read it, and they have been my favourite clan ever since.

The book is organized like all other clanbooks, with sections on history, unlife in the clan, templates, etc. However, Justin Achilli avoids the mistakes found in previous "splatbooks" and produces a coherent work which adds an incredible depth to Clan Giovanni.

Just be warned, there is "language" and smut and gore in this book (in fact, I'd rate this baby as Black Dog material), but ironically, unlike most of the aforementioned Black Dog material, it *is* mature, because it serves a purpose.

The bottom line is, even if you've never been a fan of the Giovanni, give this book a try. Like me, you might end up loving these sick Italian bastards.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Makes interesting a frigtening concept
Review: Considering the nature of the Giavonni, this book actually makes them somewhat attractive to play. It has it's share of disgusting descriptions(the front story for example) but that is part of the point.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Family Affairs
Review: Finally we get the book that will tell the tale of the Necromancy Paths! If you, like many of us long-time Giovanni players wanted to understand what happened, this is the answer! A fine sourcebook to both players and storytellers, a must-have!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Hard to read, harder to stomach
Review: First of all, this sourcebook should have been identified as part of the "Black Dog" series ('Adult' rated White Wolf supplements), then I would have completely ignored it on the shelves.

Written primarily in the voice of a stereotypical mafioso Giovanni, the book is worthless as it is vulgar. The only point of value I found in the whole thing was the information on the Endless Night (why the clan is so interested in the afterlife).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A well written perspective into the Giovanni lifestyle.
Review: Justin Achilli obviously impressed a number of people with his writing as he was responisble for the development of Vampire: The Masquerade (3rd Edition). One of those he impressed is me. Clanbook: Giovanni is one of the better Clanbooks I have read, partly because of the information but mainly because if the insider's view that it portrays. Even though it has very few rules/systems updates for Necromancy and other such sought after items (now contained in Vampire:The Masquerade 3rd Edition)it contains enough story and roleplaying background to 'flesh out' the Giovanni Clan. Another suggested series of White Wolf books if interested in the Giovanni would be the Giovanni Chronicles, "The Last Supper", "Blood and Fire" and "The Sun Has Set".

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Insular Necromancers Reviewed
Review: The revised version of Clanbok: Giovanni is truly impressive. It's very well written and the graphic part is algo good. It contains a in-depht history of the Clan (since the Roman Empire, when their name wasn't Giovanni yet) like the previous version, and much information on the modern affairs. The lesser families (like the Dunsirn and the Pisanob) are explained with much more detail than it was in the previous version of this book. There's also more and new information on the Endless Night, and be prepared: it's shocking news!

It features much more interesting character templates (not just the generic "necromancer-business men" like before), including a Dunsirn and a Pisanob. The only thing that's missing is any follower from the Path (of Enlightment) of Bones, however. There are however revised rules for using Necromancy in the times of the Maelstrom, as well as new Necromancy Rituals, Pisanob Necromancy Rituals and mechanics, and a new Path for Ghilberti Necromancers. It also features rules for using Wraiths and Spectres without the need for Wraith: The Oblivion, a new Background and really interesting Merits and Flaws. All the rules also described in the MET system.

The previous book was a blast, and this one it much, MUCH better. A must buy, whether you're a Giovanni player or not. It's succesful in its task to provide in-depth and accurate information as well as picture how inhuman, dark and complex the Giovanni are.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An excellent info source...
Review: This is either a book you'll love or hate, and I LOVED it! I noticed that a few other reviewers rated this source poorly due to the "graphic content". Well that's what the Giovanni are all about, pure unadulterated EVIL. This book contains little mini-stories, just like any other White Wolf book, and just like in all their other books the stories are related to the info and statistics contained within, and as previously stated the Giovanni are PURE EVIL, so of course the stories aren't pretty. Besides, doesn't it say "Games for mature minds" on all White Wolf books? Of course this isn't a book you'd want a little kid to read (or even a your teenager for that matter) but the game in general is not intended for young audiences. Bottom line is, if you're a storyteller that wants to include Giovanni in your campaign, or justs want more backgroud info about the World of Darkness, then this book is for you. If you want to play a Giovanni, then most diffinetly READ THIS BOOK, you've gotta realize what kind of clan you're going to be involved with, and how challenging of a roleplaying experience it will be. However if there are young role players in your group or your house hold, then for the love of god put it someplace safe, so that you can use it for a reference, but they won't be able to browse through it (I find it had to think of many things that could warp a young child more than a story about the making of a snuff film). Or...if you're just squemish or easily offended, perhaps a copy of the Salubri handbook would be a better choice for you ;)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An excellent info source...
Review: This is either a book you'll love or hate, and I LOVED it! I noticed that a few other reviewers rated this source poorly due to the "graphic content". Well that's what the Giovanni are all about, pure unadulterated EVIL. This book contains little mini-stories, just like any other White Wolf book, and just like in all their other books the stories are related to the info and statistics contained within, and as previously stated the Giovanni are PURE EVIL, so of course the stories aren't pretty. Besides, doesn't it say "Games for mature minds" on all White Wolf books? Of course this isn't a book you'd want a little kid to read (or even a your teenager for that matter) but the game in general is not intended for young audiences. Bottom line is, if you're a storyteller that wants to include Giovanni in your campaign, or justs want more backgroud info about the World of Darkness, then this book is for you. If you want to play a Giovanni, then most diffinetly READ THIS BOOK, you've gotta realize what kind of clan you're going to be involved with, and how challenging of a roleplaying experience it will be. However if there are young role players in your group or your house hold, then for the love of god put it someplace safe, so that you can use it for a reference, but they won't be able to browse through it (I find it had to think of many things that could warp a young child more than a story about the making of a snuff film). Or...if you're just squemish or easily offended, perhaps a copy of the Salubri handbook would be a better choice for you ;)

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Where did the quality go?
Review: This is the last of White Wolf's clanbooks for the Vampire game -- and thank heavens, because the quality has gone steadily downhill. Though this is a definate improvement over the Clanbook: Tzimisce, it's still far too vulgar and disgusting to bring into a family household. I hope that, with the release of the new edition of the game, the darkness and brooding mood will remain, but the vulgarity will be done away with.


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