Secrets

There's really no better way to lure in a roleplayer than to smack the word "secrets" somewhere in the title of the book. Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) knows this better than just about anybody (with the possible exception of White Wolf). Best known for their asian fantasy themed Legend of the Five Rings (L5R) collectible card game and roleplaying game, AEG put out an entire line of splatbooks called "Secrets of the [insert samurai clan here]" several years back and, living up to expectations as a good consumer, I bought every single one.

In 2001 AEG was trying something different. Partnering up with Wizards of the Coast (WotC), innovators behind the extremely successful d20 System (also known as Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition), they released L5R in a dual-system format. That is to say each book contained two sets of rules: the first for players of the original L5R system and the second for players of the extremely successful d20 System. The idea was to cater to both audiences, but it ultimately failed as players on both sides of the aisle felt as if they were paying for a whole book and only getting half of one. Regardless of whether the experiment failed or not, it did get AEG in the business of producing a lot of third-party products for the d20 System and one of the very best is Secrets.

There was no shortage of d20 books in 2004. In fact, the market was veritably glutted with them. It got to the point that there were only so many books one could afford and many of them slipped through the cracks. Secrets is one of those books. I only got around to purchasing it a couple of months ago and I'm really glad I did. This book does something rather unique in the world of D&D, providing the reader with alternate explanations for the various mysteries within a traditional fantasy setting. It does this by setting up a premise behind the tome's origin and presenting the material as if it came from various chronicles of sages and scholars.

The brief introduction sets all of this in order by including a letter of an adventurer who has spent a good chunk of his life tracking down the chapters contained within the book. He's done this not for his own curiosity or amusement, but at the behest of his master, all the while trying to keep one step ahead of someone he refers to only as "The Adversary". Fearing for his life, he's bundled up the scrolls and notes he's managed to collect, hastily written his letter and sent them to his lord. There's also some brief business about each chapter and what was necessary to win the works away from their guardians. All in all, it's a very stirring introduction and makes you really want to dive in right away.

The organization of the book is intentionally (and sometimes unintentionally) slipshod with some chapters missing and others out of order. In truth, each chapter is a short work unto itself and so there is no reason to read the book in any particular order. It's all done to make the book feel more like a real tome and less like a long list of rules or bland descriptions. AEG has always had a bit of a problem with editing, however, and so you'll find some fairly amusing sentences at times: "...[they] wear the finest silken blood silken red robes to signal they are followers of the god of retribution." Oh, really? If you're the sort who finds this sort of thing infuriating, then you'd probably be better off avoiding most of AEG's books. I personally think the quality of the ideas and the presentation more than makes up for some minor proofing errors.

There are seven main chapters, each with an evocative title like "Veritas Majere" or "The Mad Ravings of Gilibran the Old." They're all set up in generally the same way, a bit of fiction that speaks to the origin of the work or the fictional author thereof followed by the new concept or secret in question and, finally, rules for including this new knowledge in the game itself. The information may take the form of something vaguely familiar, such as a new race, class, spell or feat or it might be something entirely unheard of in the tradtional setting before.

I'm reluctant to give away too much of what the book offers because, hey, it's called Secrets for a reason! This is definitely a book for the Dungeon Master (DM) to keep away from the players because much of the information loses its appeal once the cat is out of the bag. However, this wouldn't be much of a review if I didn't reveal a few details, so here's some of what you'll find within:

*The Secret of Dwarf Children: In this tale, one Fazzil ibn Kardun discovers why he's never seen a dwarven child or a female dwarf for that matter (obviously this is using a very Tolkienesque approach to dwarves, because there are plenty of female dwarves in D&D art these days). While visiting a dwarven city under siege his hosts reluctantly evacuate him through a strange underground chamber filled with dwarf shaped rocks and statues. Indeed, he realizes then that dwarves are not born at all, but form out of the earth itself and when the time comes, emerge from the stone cocoon as fully grown dwarves! There's some follow-up information on certain dwarven priests whose entire duty lies in seeking out these dwarven stones and bringing them back to hidden grottos beneath dwarven cities so that the dwarves within might emerge in safety.

*Another chapter offers up the philosophical concept that the world we percieve is but an illusion and, by knowing this ultimate truth, great power can be attained by dedicated students. Included are eight levels of awareness called The High Aethyrs that represent various dimensions of "reality" and how one can transcend them. There's even a class called the Soldier of Truth who can perform the most amazing stunts based on his/her understanding of reality as illusion. Some pretty deep stuff for D&D!

*There's also a group of dedicated (and perhaps mad) paladins and clerics who believe they have discovered the source of all evil and seek to eridicate it entirely. While this might sound like something every good soul would be in favor of, the ramifications are astounding. Destroying evil entirely would end the delicate balance of the material world and likely be end of everything. Whether the order is aware of this and actively seeks to usher in the apocalypse or if they are simply ignorant in their fanaticism is difficult to say. They would make an interesting twist for the villians of a campaign in that they are, essentially, good men dedicated to a cause.

Those are but a taste of the new ideas presented in Secrets. For those of you more interested in "crunch," you won't find this book lacking, either. The book contains about a dozen classes, most of them variations on the core classes. The Seasonal Druid, whose power waxes with their chosen season and wanes during it's opposite, and the Chaplain, a Cleric variant for a setting where the gods do not exist, are among my favorites. Scores of feats are available, including an entirely new kind of feat called Past Life feats. These allow a character to gain various abilities based on the knowledge of previous incarnations or ancestors. If, for example, a character was a barbarian in a past life, he/she might have their ability to rage in this life, even though he/she is now of a different class.

There's plenty more I haven't even touched on here...from 10th level spells (traditionally in D&D the most powerful spells are 9th level) to ley lines and from the dragons of the nine rings of hell to the real truth about immortality, Secrets is brimming with new ideas and ways to shake up those players who've seen it all before. What the book offers is quite inspiring and it goes a long way in reintroducing mystique to fantasy settings where things can become fairly bland after a player has killed his/her hundredth orc. Even if you go through all of the ideas in the main chapters, there are a couple of handy tables in the appendix offering 100 more secrets and those who keep them.

The interior artwork, mostly by the amazing Amandine Labarre, is splendid; the cover by Matt Cavotta is one of his best and particularly fitting for a book of this kind. Despite the niggling detail of some poor proofreading and editing, Secrets is a success. It uses the same approach that fills almost every World of Darkness book, that of combining gaming ideas with fiction, but it benefits from being completely self-contained and not heavy-handed in it's approach. This is a book every d20 System (or Pathfinder) DM should own and every player should leave on the shelf. Trust me...you'll thank me later.

4 Dusty Tomes (out of 5)

Book of Auspices

I wanted to kick off my initial review of obsolete role-playing games with White Wolf’s final book for Werewolf: The Apocalypse (not surprisingly titled Apocalypse), because I derive a certain amount of pleasure from doing things ass-backwards. In the end (no pun intended), I couldn’t be bothered to digest that reference-heavy tome again just now, so I’ll be substituting a slightly older volume from the same system – the Book of Auspices.

A little background information is probably in order for the uninitiated, so here goes. Werewolf: The Apocalypse (W:TA) is set in White Wolf’s World of Darkness, a world very much like our own, but secretly inhabited by a number of supernatural creatures like vampires, werewolves and ghosts. In W:TA, Garou are not the victims of a disease called lycanthropy, however. They are living embodiments of Gaia’s energy and will, beings who live in both the material world and the realm of spirits (the Umbra), who are in fact composed of equal parts flesh and spirit themselves. Garou constantly walk this line between worlds and as such they are part of both, yet belong exclusively to neither. Gaia created the Garou to police the land, to keep the cycle of life moving along its natural course and, in essence, to protect the status quo. Due to an imbalance in the Triat, the world has derailed from that path dramatically in the last century with the rise of the Industrial Age and the focus on material rather than spiritual matters. Furthermore, a corruption has festered in human societies in recent decades, a putrid evil that threatens to bring about the apocalypse and the end of life as we know it. It’s up to the Garou to struggle against the oncoming tide of bleak materialism and devastating malevolence…and time is running out.

Now, anyone who has ever played W:TA knows that there are three major factors that determine a Garou’s basic character. These are: Breed (whether the Garou was born in human form, wolf form, or in the form of a baby werewolf…ouch), Auspice (the phase of the moon under which a Garou is born and what determines his/her role in society), and Tribe (one of the dozen social/genetic factions that divides the Garou Nation). Since W:TA’s meager beginnings back in 1992, plenty of material surfaced about Breeds (see Ways of the Wolf and Guardians of the Caerns) and Tribes (too many books to mention here), but it wasn’t until 2003, the same year it all came to an end in the eponymous Apocalypse, that they bothered to release a book about what might be the most telling selection a player makes when creating a Garou character – choosing an auspice. Better late than never, I suppose…


The Book of Auspices begins with a narrative, as pretty much all World of Darkness books do. This one, “Four Out of Five”, is a cautionary tale about why every Garou pack needs at least one member of each auspice. The story itself isn’t all that captivating, but it manages to get the point across: Every auspice plays a fundamental role in Garou society. An introduction follows, relating exactly what an auspice is, clarifying it as a blend of profession, mindset and obligation. As Garou exist to protect Gaia they are tasked by her with different responsibilities. Essentially one’s auspice represents this duty, but in a setting filled with such profound mysticism as W:TA one’s auspice indicates something beyond mere responsibility, it’s quite literally a Garou’s raison d’etre or “reason for being.” The rest of the Book of Auspices is divided into five chapters, one for each of the five possible auspices: Ragabash, Theurge, Philodox, Galliard and Ahroun.


The nights of the New Moon are the darkest of the month and Garou born at this time are experts in the fields of cunning and stealth. These sly individuals are known as Ragabash and they’re often identified as Tricksters. Don’t let the title fool you though, the Ragabash are not mere comedians. They’re the con artists, saboteurs, thieves, scouts and assassins, in addition to the mischief-makers and innovators. It’s their job to question tradition, to use humor as a method of instruction and to relieve tensions within the pack by remaining cool under pressure.

The chapter on the Ragabash begins with a story within a story. It’s fundamentally about a young Galliard by the name of Ian Gleam-In-His-Eye and his apprenticeship under a wily old Ragabash. As Ian learns about the Ragabash so does the reader. This is a common approach in World of Darkness books and it usually makes the reading both informative and entertaining. Unfortunately, it can also seem a little forced at times and tracking down a specific bit of information later is rather difficult (especially as there’s no index). Still, there’s plenty of information on renowned Ragabash, their place in the pack and how they differ in each of the twelve tribes scattered through out the prose. There’s some surprising stuff here, actually, like how Ragabash from the conservative Silver Fangs tend to be extremely eccentric, while those of the nomadic Silent Striders are often very effective hit-and-run combatants. There’s also a brief discussion on how Ragabash view the other auspices and, eventually, the fiction comes to a close.

The rest is basically a brief guide on how to play a Ragabash character. There are tips on avoiding using Tricksters as “comic relief goofballs” (after all no one wants a Jar-Jar in their pack), making sure they always question tradition and what to do if a player has second thoughts about playing a Ragabash. There’s even a section on Ragabash archetypes such as “Stereotypical Tricksters,” “Sneaky Scouts,” and “Trendsetters.” Each of these is discussed in general and then given additional notes on how Ragabash born under the waning or waxing phase of their auspice are unique. The chapter closes with some excellent gifts for the Tricksters, including a level six gift called Firebringer, which allows the user to steal virtually any supernatural power used against her. The catch is the Ragabash can’t use the stolen power, only teach it to others. Furthermore, they become more susceptible to the power if it’s used against them in the future. It looks like the last laugh may be on the Ragabash.


The Crescent Moon sheds little light, but by it things that cannot normally be perceived are made evident. Filling the role as priest, magician, healer, medium and visionary the Theurge perhaps shoulders greater responsibilities than any other auspice. It is the duty of the Seers to interact with the abundant spirit world, the Umbra, as well as entreaty, appease and, sometimes, combat its inhabitants. Theurges are the masters of ancient rites, the guardians of Garou wisdom, the crafters of items of great power, and the keepers of secret lore.

The anecdote opening the chapter on Theurges is a substantial improvement over the one regarding Ragabash. In this tale, a human Kinfolk is angry with a local Theurge who invaded her privacy and announced that she should abandon her current mate, the love of her life, and choose another. It’s up to Philodox Aaron Fourpaws to hear her out and try to resolve their differences, all the while explaining the basic functions of the Theurge in Garou culture. This added conflict makes for fine reading and the resolution is both considered and poignant. Included here is the legend of the first Theurge, the many functions Theurges must fill and, as before, information on the Seers of each tribe and their opinions about the other auspices. One interesting fact from the narrator is that his own people, the diverse Uktena, are often lead by their uncanny Theurges, a fact that troubles him to some extent. There’s also mention of how the Seers of the Children of Gaia tribe are among the most altruistic and self-sacrificing individuals within the Garou Nation.

Perhaps that’s the one word that best sums up a Theurge in general – sacrifice. From their Rite of Passage, during which they face a near death experience that mirrors that of the first Theurge (who sacrificed himself to the spirits to pay for the crimes of his fellow Garou), to their ongoing role as shamans and spiritualists, Theurges function as the soul of their people. The notes given in the second half of the chapter touches on this, but most of it is advice for Storytellers, not players. Apart from a slew of new gifts and some optional rules on rituals, there’s a new background here, as well. A Theurge’s Spirit Network rating determines the number and cooperation of watchful spirits he/she can call upon for reconnaissance or information; sort of like having an Umbral iPhone.


The Half Moon is equal parts darkness and light, therefore a potent symbol of balance. Philodox embody this concept of equilibrium as the lawmakers, intermediaries and arbiters of their people. As such, the Judges are often leaders during times of peace, standing as proud examples of what all Garou should aspire to be. It’s the duty of these wise counselors and philosophers to know and enforce the Litany, the ancient code of laws the Garou Nation is founded on, and to determine punishment for all transgressors.

Chapter Three begins with a mystery of sorts. Two Philodox, teacher and student, are summoned to an out of the way caern to investigate the death of one of their own. However, what initially looks like a clear-cut case of murder by one of the deceased’s packmates turns into a study on prejudice and perception with a twist ending. There’s also a record of distinguished Philodox, the roles Judges serve in the pack, how they differ in each of the tribes, their estimation of the remaining auspices and notes on the training they undergo from cub to elder. The idea that Philodox of the raucous Fianna tribe have perhaps the most thankless job imaginable is rather amusing, but it’s the revelation that the Judges of the Machiavellian Shadow Lords are the real masters of intrigue and stratagem in their clan that may be the most significant. Perhaps they should be called Lawyers…

The section on playing Philodox characters centers mainly on breaking stereotypes, providing ideas for solo or all-Philodox campaigns and offering up some very unusual models like “The Inquisitor,” “The Unready Leader” and “The Itinerant Adjudicator.” These are included to create unique Philodox and I applaud the effort, but I think they’re mislabeled as they’re anything but archetypical. Several gifts, rites and fetishes follow, most of them based on discerning truth and, unsurprisingly, rendering judgment. Commendably, several of these featured prominently in the preceding fiction.


The promise of fulfillment is an intrinsic aspect of the Gibbous Moon, auspice of passion and creativity. Galliards serve as celebrated historians, lorekeepers, teachers, diplomats and artists, crafting and preserving tales of the legendary Garou. These stories serve both as instruction and inspiration to the Bards’ packs, as well as the additional benefit of being high entertainment. Galliards are the firebrands, whipping war-parties into a frenzy prior to battle, and the funerary masters who howl out a dirge for fallen heroes after the encounter is long over. The Bards are also responsible for remembering the deeds of their pack, ensuring all members are fittingly honored for their actions.

In the opening of the chapter, two Bards with a passing dislike of one another take part in a challenge, officiated by another Garou, to find out which can best demonstrate what it truly means to be a Galliard. It’s a clever way of using an important component of the game, the challenge, to illustrate and describe an auspice. All the standard features are here: the origin of Galliards, their function in the caerns and in packs, a rundown of the different tribes and attitudes toward the other auspices, a view of their life cycle, but it’s the affirmation of the importance of the Gibbous Moon itself, that constant striving for, if never reaching, perfection that seems to be at the heart of the Galliards’ values. Most striking on the subject of tribal variations are the city-dwelling Glass Walkers who incorporate multimedia in their storytelling, such as synthesizers, computer-generated imagery and PowerPoint presentations. Even the corrupt Black Spiral Dancers get a surprise mention here, their Galliards being portrayed as gibbering prophets of doom. Good stuff all around.

The second half of this chapter is quite impressive too, presenting some interesting character concepts for Galliards. From the diplomatic “Manipulators” to the rowdy “Rabble-Rousers” to the introverted “Artists,” Bards seem to come in all stripes. There’s some very helpful advice for players who may not be performers themselves, but want to play a Galliard nonetheless. Advice such as staying in character and including the other players’ characters might seem like common sense, but they’re solid pointers for those unfamiliar with the game or the auspice. In addition, Galliards receive perhaps the most astonishing level six gift included in the book: Storyteller. This gift basically allows a Galliard to rewrite history, the danger being that the results are irreversible and may have “world-altering ramifications.”


The Full Moon is the moon of war among the Garou and those born under its radiance are the Ahroun, the Warriors of Gaia. While all Garou are blessed with unbelievable strength and stamina, the Ahroun have potent abilities that make them the ultimate killing machines. They are Warriors among a race of warriors and the most straightforward of all the auspices. They are the spearhead of every pack and form the frontline in the battle against the Wyrm.

Without a doubt the final chapter is the strongest of the book. While it includes the same kind of information as the earlier sections, the presentation takes a rather original approach. The fiction here is the 1949 testament of Ahroun William Bloodsong, born to the Aryan Get of Fenris tribe. Far from the stereotypical arrogant, bloodthirsty, war-monger normally associated with the Get, Bloodsong is angry with his own tribe after the events of WWII and pulls no punches in his opinions. There are sidebars to explain that many of Bloodsong’s opinions stray far from the norm, but ultimately that is what makes it such an interesting read. He stresses the fact that Ahrouns, powerful as they are, are ultimately only one-fifth of the equation. Apart from being the grunts and officers on the battlefield, however, Warriors inspire through action, being the vanguard in a spiritual war for Gaia. Ahroun are, quite simply, the heroes of legend. There’s a lot you wouldn’t expect in this chapter, really. Such as Bloodsong’s concern that tribes like the matriarchal Black Furies, through their chosen form of bigotry, might make a similar blunder as his own or that Ahrouns and Galliards are more likely to break the Litany in terms of mating with one another than any other auspice pairing. Still, it’s mainly the no nonsense style and unique presentation that makes this chapter such a winner.

The information for players is sweet and short, consisting of advice about not hogging the spotlight, understanding the Curse and a discussion on the source of Rage. The latter is the most remarkable; contesting the idea that Rage is simply Gaia’s anger at her own destruction, it hints that Rage may very well stem from the Garou Nation’s most significant foe – the Wyrm. This contrasts directly with Bloodsong’s personal opinion earlier in the chapter where he tries to dispel the myth of Rage being mindless and unmanageable, calling it a directed anger with a purpose. As usual, nothing in the World of Darkness is ever black and white; it’s all about the shadows somewhere in between. New gifts and a handful of Merits and Flaws bring the chapter and book to a close.


The artwork in Book of Auspices is pretty good, using some long-time contributors like Ron Spencer (one of my favorites), Jeff Rebner and John Bridges. Steve Prescott contributes both interior art and the cover, which depicts the same five characters used to illustrate the auspices in the revised version of the core W:TA book. It’s acceptable, but I prefer his take on the Glass Walker Ragabash on the back of the cover. Melissa Uran’s anime-influenced style (featured heavily in the Kindred of the East and Exalted lines) does little for me, but it befits the nature of a metaphysical Stargazer Theurge and is confined mostly to the corresponding chapter.

The Book of Auspices is written by three different authors and it shows. The introduction and the chapters on Theurges and Ahrouns were written by Julian Mensch and, for my part, they really stand above the rest. It’s interesting because the name doesn’t turn up on any other rpgs from White Wolf Studios or any other company for that matter. This almost makes me wonder if it’s a pseudonym, because the guy is too good for this to be his only rpg contribution. Matt McFarland (“Four Out of Five”; Galliards) and Deena McKinney (Ragabash; Philodox) are longtime World of Darkness writers. Their work here is reliable and informative, if not particularly rousing. Overall, the Book of Auspices is a solid effort; a satisfying way to dig a little deeper regarding Garou and the various roles they play.

4 Moons (out of 5)