The Orphan's Survival Guide (Mage: The Ascension) [Paperback]

Phil Brucato (Author), Aldyth Beltane (Illustrator), Brad Beltane (Author), Justin R. Achilli (Author), Rachelle Udell (Author), Lawrence Snelly (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: White Wolf Publishing (November 19, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565044363
• ISBN-13: 978-1565044364
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,409,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Gaming > Mage

More About the Author

SatyrPhil Brucato, aka Phil Brucato, Satyros, or just plain Satyr, sold his first professional story to Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword & Sorceress IX anthology in 1990. During White Wolf's "classic WOD" period, he co-created the Mage, Sorcerers Crusade, Werewolf, Changeling and Vampire: Dark Ages lines, contributing to over 80 books for the Wolf. The next decade saw him author Deliria: Faerie Tales for a New Millennium, Everyday Heroes, Goblin Markets: The Glitter Trade, and popular columns for Realms of Fantasy, Witches & Pagans, and NewWitch magazine.

Satyr's fiction has appeared in Weird Tales, Steampunk Tales, a slew of collections, and the Bad-A$$ Fairies series. Recently, he co-edited the benefit collection Ravens in the Library, founded Silver Satyr Studios, and produced the webcomic series Arpeggio. An occasional hiker, avid dancer and constant reader, Satyr lives in Seattle with his partner Sandra Buskirk, two ragdoll cats, and a snake named Silk.

Check out Satyr's blog at http://satyrblade.livejournal.com, his webcomic at http://www.arpeggiothecomic.com/, and his Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=126494504028229.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Recommend a Dose of Cold, Harsh Reality, January 7, 2000

By 

C. G. Maupin "cgmaupin" (Seattlish) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Orphan's Survival Guide (Mage: The Ascension) (Paperback)

Amidst the plethora of truly unimpressive books White Wolf has been putting out over the past couple years, there are actually a few worth purchasing. If your interests lie in running a "street level" Mage game, this is one of them.

Picking up where Outcasts left off, this book takes an in-depth look at the lives, attitudes, and spirituality of the Orphans and manages to present material that's both new and useful. The lessons from characters at the beginning, and the more analytical look at Orphans near the end, can be good inspiration in your own game as well.

Unfortunately, as with most WW books, the vast majority of the pregenerated characters, templates, settings, and rotes in the book are dull and smack of a 'look how original I am!' attitude. Worse, there are far too many sections in this book where the authors feel the need to talk down to the reader. In fact, this tiresome trend has become increasingly prevalent in all WW books lately.

Lastly, well, it's the art. It's not bad, as such, just mediocre. Another trend in WW books in recent days.

Overall, my complaints with the book are largely aesthetic and don't nearly outweigh the valuable information and inspiration you can find. As long as you can put up with a little snottiness and the other typical WW garbage, you'll probably enjoy this book. In short, I highly recommend it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only for the complete collection, July 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Orphan's Survival Guide (Mage: The Ascension) (Paperback)

If you're interested in the "orphan lifestyle" the book is fantastic. Great info on a true street-level game. However, it doesn't make the orphans more interesting or complex. No new character enhancements. Don't buy it if you're looking for a way to make orphans more appealing as a character option. Buy it if your looking for the harsh reality of orphan life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best in a while, March 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Orphan's Survival Guide (Mage: The Ascension) (Paperback)

Well, okay, you might get turned off by some of the content, thats okay, its the WoD, your supposed to be uncomfortable, anyways, it is very, very good, and may give you a brand new prespective on mage, like it did to me, buy it, read it, and you will begin to see Mage through Orphan eyes...