Book of the Weaver

Rating:
Summary: Pure Lands Before 1492
Review: As both a player and ST for Werewolf: the Apoclaypse, I've always had a bias towards the Pure Ones, so I was quite pleased when this book was released. In addition to finally providing information on the Croatan, it also gives an overview of the Pure Lands in general before the coming of the European Garou. The book opens with fiction about the Three Brothers (Uktena, Croatan and Wendigo), as well as an introduction telling of the theme, mood and setting.

The book then goes on to chronicle the history of the Pure Lands, telling of the Pure One's arrival, the Mound Builder civilization, the arrival of the Europeans and ultimately the fall of the Croatan. It also gives some small histories from both the Uktena and the Wendigo, telling of bane-binding, contacts with the Europeans and so forth. Chapter Two covers the lands and peoples, listing several examples of Croatan Caerns in the Mississippi and along the east coast, Uktena Caerns in the Southwest, California, Southeast and California, and Wendigo Caerns in the far north, Great Plains, Northwest Coast and Northeast. It briefly mentions the Corax, Gurahl, Nuwisha and Bastet, alongside spirits and some differences in settings (like no written languages or metal tools), plus info for some pre-Columbian chronicles. The neatest part though was an examination of kinfolk for all three Tribes. The Croatan claim the Lene Lenape, Iroquois, Mound Builders and so forth, while the Uktena claim the Comanche, Kiowa, Anasazi, Pueblos, Osage, Miwok, Apache, Navajo, Seminole and other southern Nations and the Wendigo claim the Inuit, Algonquians, Iroquois, Tsimshian, Lakota, Cheyenne, Pawnee, Haida, Arapaho and other northern Nations. Theres nothing here you couldn't get out of a good ethnography or history book, but its nice to have if you know next to nothing on Native cultures but still want to add depth to a character.

After this, there is an extensive look at storytelling, giving some basic info for major time frames such as the Great Migration, First Contact, the Wild West and even modern times, plus a look at past lives, multi-generational games and so forth. Information on basic stuff like other Tribes (mainly Get, Stargazers, Fianna and Talons), the Pure Lands gauntlet, systems for fighting and major spiritual themes are all adressed. This stuff I feel is good for almost any historical game. Theres also a look at monsters like cannibal heads, witches, horned water snakes and the little people. The next chapter covers the rules changes, like Willpower for all the Tribes, new and changed Abilities and Backgrounds, Merits and Flaws, Fetishes and Talens, and Gift changes. In addition to some new Rites and new Gifts for the Wendigo and Uktena, theres also a complete list of Gifts for the Croatan. There are also guidelines at the back for creating and running Kinfolk characters, which is really nice to see for a change of pace.

Ultimately this is a wonderful book. I've seen some comments that this book is too Native-centric, but as it is focused on pre-Columbian settings I feel that is quite appropriate. I was also pleased to see the use of Nation in lieu of tribe to refer to Native groups, and the occaisonal use of proper names (Dine instead of Navajo, for example, or Hasinai instead of Caddo). It really struck me that the authors were trying to be respectful of RL Native cultures. My only real gripe was that it stops at the Mexican border, leaving out the Aztecs, Maya and other Native Americans in Mexico and further south. Still, if you want a book that will help with a historical setting (like the Wild West, or even pre-Columbian times), or want more information on the Croatan, this is the book to get.

Rating:
Summary: What Croatan Song Is
Review: Croatan song is an expansion to werewolf the apocalypse. This book contains detailed informatin on how to create and play a Croatan AND Kinfolk characters. It also contains a format for how to create new monsters. This book is a great source of information of the fictional croatan's history, as well as the non-fictional people of north america (navajo, hopi, apache, cherokee, gwich'in, and many, many more) Even if you just want new abilities, rites, gifts, fetishes (magical items), totems -including the lost totem of turtle... this book is for you! This book contained much more information than I had expected, a pleasant surprise.

Rating:
Summary: The Croatan have fallen....
Review: Finally a book devoted to the Croatan! The tales of the brave who sacraficed themselves to the Eater-of-Souls. This book gives detailed, informative descriptions about the tribe, history, and present (if there is one). Basically required for anyone that is truly interested in the STORY of Werewolf, not just the hack-and-slash that so many make it.

Very well written. Adds an great new avenues to both Werewolf history, and the White-Wolf universe in general.

Find out; was their sacrifice worth it?

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Source for Astrological Wolves
Review: If you missed the planetary merits and flaws from the first edition player's guide, well they are now back. Along with that, there are other merits and flaws based on the Incarnae that inhabit those planets, as well as a wealth of new gifts, fetishes, and story hooks, including the fulfilling of the child of two metis prophecy. It continues to explain the cosmology of the Garou where Umbra: The Velvet Shadow left off, particularly the Aetherial Realm. It also explains how Garou view the stars and constellations. Overall, a very good addition to the Storyteller's repetoire for Werewolf, or even Mage.

Rating:
Summary: This book opens your eyes...
Review: Man they should have had this book a long time ago the Weaver is just too fascinating a spirit to ignore... While I dislike the villanous slant that they give the Weaver in this book. ( I am a major Glass Walker fan.) I really loved this book it was long overdue and just makes me wonder if they are going to do a book on the Wyld as well...?

Rating:
Summary: Finally a guide to the Triat's REAL baddie!
Review: The Book of the Weaver is an excellent resource for the Weaver in the World of Darkness. For once the White Wolf-folks have come off their behinds and written a book that actually compares Mage: The Ascension with Werewolf: The Apocalypse (for instance, a new background: Device!). A good run-down on the history of the Weaver is included (and, for once, from a fairly subjective point of view), as well as a guide to the different fractions that, knowingly or unknowingly, serve the Weaver, which will be most helpful. Some good points on shapechangers vs. technomagick helps put things in perspective, especially about implants. All in all, this book is a must for anyone who pretends to know anything about the Triat and technology in the Garou cosmology, i.e. any Werewolf Storyteller worth mentioning. This book is also recomended for Mage storytellers as well, though remember which game this book is meant for. When WWGS will print The Book of the Wyld is anyones guess, but one can only hope that it will be of the same prime quality that Book of the Weaver is of. This is by far one of the best Werewolf-sourcebooks in a long time.

Rating:
Summary: Useful infor for a storyteller to potray the Weaver Agents
Review: This book is a very useful source for storytellers. It provides a different look at the triad as well as a lot of good information about how to play members of DNA. I would recommend this only for storytellers and not players. I beleive almost all of the information is not covered in other books which is why I gave it 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Useful infor for a storyteller to potray the Weaver Agents
Review: This book is a very useful source for storytellers. It provides a different look at the triad as well as a lot of good information about how to play members of DNA. I would recommend this only for storytellers and not players. I beleive almost all of the information is not covered in other books which is why I gave it 5 stars.