Customer Reviews

*OP Players Guide to Changing Breeds (Werewolf)

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After a long-time in the waiting, this book finally collects together the previous 10 Changing Breeds splat books and expands on them. This book is invaluable to players and STs, though the individual Changing Breed books are still quite useful (since they have way more Gifts, Rites, Merits, Flaws and info). The book starts with an introductory tale on why the Changing Breeds must cooperate, and then goes on to introduce the Changing Breeds. All 11 species get a look, along with some tips on running all-Fera, Garou-Fera or mixed games (and why some Changing Breeds are easier than others). Mention is also made that players should study the animals and that most Fera games are going to be non-western in part because the Garou don't really exist in numbers in Africa, South America and other such areas.
The book then takes a look at general Fera history, from the War of Rage onward. Then it takes a look at the various continents, telling of how each of the Changing Breeds fits in (ie ebola spreading Ratkin in Africa, Mokole in the south-eastern US, the Bubasti's attempts at retaking Egypt, the Nagah's homeland of India and so forth). This is really great, considering how little WW has published on these more obscure areas in their other books. Then the book goes into introducing a brief write up for each of the 11 Fera, all of which contain enough information, Gifts, Rites and Traits to allow you to run members of that particular Changing Breed, either as an NPC or a player's character. The first one revises the Ajaba were-hyenas of Africa and India, finally making them more than "evil Bastet". They are made a breed unto themselves, the warriors of Africa, complete with their own auspices, Gifts and traits.
Next the book takes a look at the manipulative Ananasi were-spiders and their struggle to save their queen, and a wonderful (and long-needed) revision of the 9 tribes of Bastet were-cats. The "sensuality" of the old book is toned down, making them seem more like predatory cats. Each one is brought up to date, including the Balam (were-jaguar) in the Amazon War and the Simba (were-lions), Swara (were-cheetahs) and Bagheera (were-leopards) in Africa's Ahadi alliance. Also, consideration is given to the RL cat's ranges (ie, lynxes in Spain, lions in India, leopards and cheetahs in the Middle East and pumas in South America) which I found pleasing. Next the Corax (were-ravens) are examined, who also get something of a revision. They now have Tribes and are much more into the role of messangers and spies. From there things move to the Gurahl (were-bear) who seek to heal nature, the cunning Kitsune (were-foxes) of the Far East, the Mokole (were-crocodilians/lizards) who preserve memories of the dinosaurs and the subtle Nagah (were-snakes) who enforce Gaia's laws. A toned down version of the Nuwisha (were-coyote) tricksters is also given, followed by the Ratkin (were-rats) who cull the herds of humanity with disease and death and finally the mysterious Rokea (were-sharks).
Sadly, some stuff was cut out, like the Ratkin's "freak auspices" and the Kitsune's magic, but that sort of stuff can be found in the individual books. The next chapter covers some general new/altered Abilities, Backgrounds and Merits/Flaws, along with combat manuevers, Delirium and Renown. Very brief, but very clear as well. The next chapter does a very brief summary of the Beast Courts of East Asia. Social structure, history, renown and the Laws of the Emerald Mother (their Litany) are covered, along with all of the Breeds; the Hakken (Japanese "Shadow Lords"), Khan (were-tigers), Kumo (Wyrm tainted were-spiders), Nagah (were-snakes), Nezumi (were-rats), Same-Bito (were-sharks), Tengu (were-ravens) and Zhong Long (were-lizards/crocodilians) are given, along with differences between them and their western kin, some new Gifts and other members of the Beast Courts (like the Boli Zouhisze Glass Walkers of Hong Kong and the Stargazers).
The final chapter, and imho one of the most interesting, covers the Ahadi, a newly formed alliance of shape-shifters in Africa. It gives a brief description of the Ahadi's formation following (and Black Tooth's death) along with some general guidlines on it's laws and how it works. The members are all looked at, including the Silent Striders, Bastet (were-cats), Ajaba (were-hyenas) and Mokole (were-crocodiles), aside with affiliated Ananasi (were-spiders), Ratkin (were-rats), Rokea (were-sharks) and Corax (were-ravens; in this case white-necked South African ravens). An updated look at Africa and it's supernatural events, like the conflicts between the Ahadi and Setites in Egypt, Wyrmed taint in Nigeria and a horror lurking beneath the Kalahari. The book closes out with a couple Ahadi rites. Ultimately, this book was long overdue, and is quite useful in my opinion. Even if you have all the Changing Breed books, this book is still useful because of the reivisions, updates on things and the information on the Fera of Africa and India.

This is a great book that combines information and revised-edition updates for all 11 Changing Breeds other than Garou, plus a specific look at the two regional confederations, the Beast Courts and the newly-formed Ahadi. This book is an excellent overview of the Breeds, providing updated information and rules, comparing them all to each other, and combining all the new Backgrounds and Abilities in one place. There is full information on the renown systems for each Breed, including renown scales that were not available before. That said, it is not a replacement for the individual Breedbooks, which have much more information.

The chapter on the Ahadi is a real treat, seeing as they had not yet had a comprehensive description, and the Ajaba chapter was badly needed. However, I'm not entirely pleased with the re-worked Ajaba. Being a separate Breed is certainly a great improvement, but they have barely graduated from being second-hand Bastet to being second-hand Garou. Despite having slightly different auspices and forms, otherwise the Ajaba are almost identical to the Garou. They are just another group of "Gaia's warriors" instead of having their own purpose. The original story of their conflicts with the Bastet has been replaced by a plausible but much less interesting concept. I would also have liked more information on them, since they don't have a Breedbook, but I understand that the book could only be so long.

The Bastet needed a re-working, and their Revised purpose for Gaia in this book is very well-done. The original concept has been overhauled with a much better idea for their purpose on Gaia's face. They are no longer redundant with the Corax. The Yava are gone and the Ceilican are dead (YAY!), and the form stats were tweaked to make them more realistic (though the Qualmi stats were misprinted). The "sensuality" from 2E is reduced a lot, however no spark of predatory, ferocious, perfected, feline grace has been injected to replace it. This is probably because like the other Breeds, this one is written entirely in third person, so the Breed's personality is harder to show.

The Corax section is well-written, and meshes well with the original Breedbook while providing some needed changes. This is the only Breed description written in-character, giving it more personality.

The Hengeyokai and Kitsune have not been changed much. The chapters on the Kitsune and the Beast Courts are well-written, summarizing the Wheel of Ages, the Breeds, and the Way of Emerald Virtue.

As for the Mokole, the only other Breed for which I have read the original book, I do not like the treatment of them at all. The writing is stale and uncomfortable. The author of the Mokole section somehow turned them into bad science-fiction jokes, talking all about mitochondria and genetics, and purposeless longings for human extinction, without any of the heavy feeling of great antiquity and wisdom from the Breedbook. Making them more monstrous is desirable, but this revision goes too far and makes them evil, hating humanity for no apparent reason. And all the talk of genetics is totally out of place in a book about spirit creatures!

I am slightly disappointed with the overall information for the various Breeds, as some vital information is left out for several, such as how they reach the Umbra, and how they relate to totems. I understand that space was a consideration, but a few sentences with this extremely important information would easily have fit. Also, considering how little coverage the Fera have had, I would have preferred slightly more new information and crunchies and less reprinted material. Overall the book feels a little rushed (and the editing is sloppy).

The art in general is great, especially the pictures of all 5 or 3 forms of each breed, and I love the chapter headings showing the Breeds of each Continent, and especially the Lost Breeds (drool)! Two of my favorite Werewolf artists worked on this: Ron Spencer and Steve Prescott. Considering the short space available, however, they could have taken out a few of the less relevant pictures to make room for more information.

Despite the shortcomings and missed opportunities, overall I am very happy with this book. PGttCB is an extremely useful revision and update of all the Changing Breeds, a very much needed description of the Ajaba and Ahadi, and a wonderful summary for those who don't want to buy all the Breedbooks.

If you want to get all 9 Breedbooks, plus Hengeyokai, for less money, forget it. If you want to know a little something about all the Breeds, get Revised Edition updates on them and the Ahadi, and maybe see if you want the Breedbook for a specific race, this is exactly what you're looking for. Overall, a highly recommended book.

I am a big fan of the original changing breed books. This book is almost a travesty to their name. By trying to fit in every single other type of shapeshifter, they give none the space it needed. The book serves well if you plan on using the other shapeshifters as NPCs, but if you want one as a PC, then ignore this book and get the specific book that just covers that one specific type.