Vampire: The Requiem 2nd Edition RPG Mega Review 

Up until this video I had no idea that Requiem even got a second edition. So glad I picked it up along with the redone Werewolf and Mage. Totally agree that it makes the new World of Darkness way more focused and easier to pick up on, and I love that as a Vamp you finally feel powerful. Thanks for the video and the recommendation! I'm already brewing campaign ideas for my gamer group.

"Owls aren't scary." The owl in Secret of NIHM was terrifying.

Any chance of a Demon: The Descent review sometime soon? I already love the game, but your reviews are great. They really open the game up a lot for me.

My dear gentleman gamer, I have a sincere suggestion for you kind sir. Since your videos are entertaining to a certain point I would recommend to acquire a new camera. It is a pain to watch your videos some times eventhough the content is highly fascinating.

I read some of Thousand Years of Night from a friend's copy and I just had to get it. It is THE book I have waited for Vampire since Masquerade, it is wonderfully written, engaging and is a pleasure to read while setting the stage for the monolithic Eldritch beings--the Elders came and how they came into being and segues wonderfully into the Eras of Darkness texts as a possible thread of the tangled web of history behind any one Elder. It does a magnificent job illustrating how truly alien and removed they are from us while making them doubly invested into the affairs of both kine and kindred worlds. I am sincerely looking forward to more of your work, you have a magnificent way with words, world building and story telling, my good sir.

Please do Werewolf 2nd ed review!

Want a imposing owl? Watch The Secret of NIHM

Hey, can you do one about Mage the Awakening 2nd edition?

This has to be fate, i ordered my copy of vampire the requiem 2nd edition yesterday :D

I've had peeps try repeatedly to sell me on 2nd Ed but I can't get over the change to humanity being linked more to your connections to people rather than sinking into monstrosity through your actions.

Wow, that intro story was well done, love your voice dude.

Did you write for Mage 20 or Forsaken 2nd ed? I'd love to hear what you think about them.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only who thinks that way about the Strix. I like them, I think they make excellent antagonists but you wouldn't want to use them all the time. When I read about them in the Night Horrors: The Wicked Dead book it made sense, an optional monster to use in vampire campaigns. But having them as a major antagonist in Requiem 2nd edition confused me. They get a whole chapter dedicated to them. That's a lot of space for a monster that you're only going to use on rare occasions. But like you said Gentleman Gamer, that's really my only criticism with the book. Other than that this is a fantastic book. And a fantastic review.

I just got off work fella but if you're going to be like that good day

I think for me it would have been a little more interesting if Strixs were like the other part of the soul that is lost when some is made vampire and they just multiply even out living the vampires that's why there are so many.

Annoying dead pixel

This video mirrors my thoughts on Blood and Smoke perfectly.

Might have to give this whole role-playing thing a go at some point! Really like the sound of this game, think about how I'd cope with the day to day (night by night) reality of being an undead monster is really compelling.

I too enjoyed wraith the unplayed

Thank you for your review. It was quite interesting. I bought the book unfortunately but I was disapointed by a few things, mainly the resistance to daylight, as in my opinion a vampire story should not have that aspect of the curse of being a creature of night negated so simply. It reminds me of Blade, Twilight or Vampire diaries *shudder* So, since I am reluctant to make the same mistake twice, I was wondering if you have gotten a look on the Werewolf second edition and what did you think. I am very intrigued about the renewal of that particular template but know almost nothing about what the book actually contains.

Very good review! I agree with the unfortunate lack of Strix anywhere but in their own chapter, they could have put mentions of them in the fiction throughout the book, or added Merits to deal with them specifically (though that could have reduced their effectiveness as an unknowable antagonist), or perhaps include some Strix-specific rules related to some Discipline powers (ex: how does Nightmare work on a Strix and such things). It could have been nice to have them mentioned in each Covenant's entry, maybe each Covenant could have it's own pet theory regarding the nature and origins of the Strix. I could see the Lancea et Sanctum believing the Strix to be avenging angels (or demons) sent by God (or the Devil) to punish unworthy Kindred who don't follow the righteous path. The Circle of the Crone could see them as just powerful spirits, servants of the Crone that remind Kindred that they are not at the top of the ladder. The Ordo Dracul would probably just see them as another species of vampire (or some sort of mutated offshoot) to be studied and learned from. I'm not quite sure what the Invictus and Carthians would make of the Strix but I'm sure it would be possible to come up with something interesting.

Well, this sound good. Requiem never really grabbed me (other than Requiem for Rome) but I think this has enticed me. I feel enticed!

The art of that book looks fantastic.

I really like the VTR 2nd edition... Also with the knowledge that I have now... It seems like it was a good "bridge" between VTM and the new V5... (I still prefer V20 and This VTR: 2nd edition).. I like to mix and match this vtr and vtm actually.. taking a little bit from each "al la carte" style to cobble together a more personal story that has the POTENTIAL to extend outward if the players like it... So kinda the best of both worlds.. The covenants also give a LOT of needed to the whole question of "what does a vampire DO with the night-to-night of ETERNITY?", always before in VTM we had the clans and the courts... BUT usually it boiled it down to "sabbat vs. camerilla" and somehow this TERRIFYING nightly war going on ALL the time between beings that should be TERRIFYING all by themselves. Having different "clicks" they belong to with the covenants just give an easier way to transition a "normal" person into a new way of life and what do they gravitate toward? The Strix?.. AHhh.. yeah, a little too "gimmick" for me... But I can see their use... Maybe if used extremely sparingly, or tweaked a bit.. They'd make a good "what the heck is that?" type situation...But they showed up entirely to often in the following lore... Vampires are STRANGE enough for newly made characters to deal with, but throwing everything and the BOOGEY-MAN at them, tends to snap people straight out of immersion and just makes it a REGULAR game. But hey NOTHING is PERFECT.... All in all I liked the review and the book/series.

Excellent review, I was a die-hard VtM fan till I read Blood & Smoke, but the ideas, rules, and quality of writing, really won me over. I was a little surprised that you glossed over the "Climbing the Ladder" section, which is nothing to do with Covenants, but is a brilliant collaborative character, and chronicle generation tool for a group. I think there are nice little hints at a shared origin between Vampires and the Strix; the level 5 Protean power being particularly evocative.

I really enjoyed Requiem I, did I hear right Requiem II is using a D20 system now? I really have to read one of these.

"covenants" book? You mean there was another one(or more) book(s) for the covenants that are coming out yet? Or did they get nixed?

Dat intro!

Does the 2nd ed have the great gothic punk art still, or is it the more cartoony art?

An excellent review, I very much enjoyed reading the B&S book when I got it and am now going through it again (with a view to reacquainting myself with the WOD rules and perhaps running a campaign online).

Thanks for this excellent review, sir! I'm looking forward to a time when I can actually indulge my love of nWoD in either a player or storyteller capacity, but for now, I must be content to delight in the books. I'm highly anticipating your review of a certain other 2nd edition book in which the wolf hunts. ;)

I love the second edition as I think Onyx Path really learned what worked best with the first addition and improved on everything. I'm really looking forward to seeing what they do with the new edition of Changeling as its my favourite of the New World of Darkness games. Have you been tapped to make any contributions to it?

I liked the book but I don't think it will ever work in a Larp setting which is what I primarily play in with Mind's Eye Society. It's asks I feel a bit too much from casual players which is what I deal with, however I wish I could get my players to focus on the details this book asks for.

does anyone who has bought the print-on-demand of this (or other onyx path titles, for that matter) from drivethrurpg have an opinion on premium vs. standard color? $20 is kind of a lot for brighter colors, but then again I like pretty things.

Excellent review, and very timely, as I will be running my first game of Requiem 2e at a con tomorrow! With regards reviewing Onyx Path products I don't see a conflict of interests if you didn't write for the product, and if you did then you can simply do a "promotional" video instead :)

I actually disagree with the point that vampires were among the weakest of the supernatural types of 1E. Vampires had swift, immediate, and often great power in experienced hands. Forsaken on the other hand had a built in sink of diminishing returns in the form of the expense of renown compared to the value of gifts. However we just got 2E Forsaken, so that's going to be interesting to scrutinize.

Diddn't like the Strix then (Requiem for Rome), surely won't like them now!Still imma buy this book because it is indeed well written,interesting and absorbing!Thanks for the review!

Great review! I was looking for insight on the new stuff: Is it entirely a retitled Blood and Smoke, or does it hold any differences from what was offered in Strix Chronicles? Also, it seems your recording equipment is causing small artifacts (those yellow and blue dots).

Well, Gentleman. I must say I enjoyed this review. You hit all the points that stood out to me as I read it as well. I love how the writing is in character instead reading like an encyclopedia. It grabs immediately and invites you to imagine. This is especially true for the Clan descriptions. I was very pleased with the new take on Humanity, banes, touchstones and the like. So far, it's really a high point for World of Darkness.

hello ^_^ i have a question for ya. it has been ages since I've played and i have only played requim but i fell in love with it back in the day. but my question is i am planning on making a dark ages campaign using this book since my friends prefer reqiuems rules over masquerade and stuff. i know they have a dark ages book and i looked into it and it sounds great. could i incorporate reqiuem using the story of dark ages book. havent read into it to much and also any pointers on it

I love your reviews. Honestly, even if you work on something, I'm not sure it's a conflict of interest as long as you acknowledge the parts you worked on. But that's just me.

Thanks for the review! I was on the fence about picking this up, since I can never find anyone to play with. But I think I will pick this one up now.

Well. I just bought this edition because of you. I love the reviews! Thanks for painting such an accurate interpretation of the world of darkness.

Wonderful review (just like everything you do and have on your channel) very much appreciated thank you sir ;)

you look like 100% real ventrue

anyone like vampire try BloodLust Shadowhunter

Gentleman just to warn you, that it seem your camera have damaged pixels

Oh the Stryx are still a thing... how disappointing.

This will be an odd question but I was wondering what your oppinion was of the fiction whithin the book (specifically no church in the wild). I myself found that particular story hard to follow. odd question I know but I will say I enjoyed what they did with 2nd edition compared to first. Its infinity more enjoyable :)

Do they mention Australia? Melbourne?

Is the standard Target Number still 8?

Hello gentleman I really appreciate your reviews on these types of things. I haven't really studied all of the specifics to this form of gaming but have been really interested in the form for a good while. I really hope to buy this but should I start at the beginning point or is it relevant to start at a first book for this. Similar to the final fantasy series where you don't necessarily need to play them in a sequential order? Hope I get a reply and keep on going strong man! Adieu

Fantastic review, I am thinking on running a Blood and Smoke chronicle for newcomers. One question: Do you think that thr GM intrusion rule from Numenera would be a good addition to the game? I think that the critical "vanilla" error almost never occurs on the games I run or play.

will you review Demon The Decent ?

I tried Requem for a bit (mainly LARPing), but I didn't like it. Ok, more like I HATED it. Firstly, it took the terms from Masquerade, mixed them and spewed in a random order. It felt like hearing about a army where 'the colonel commands his squad of 10 popes, reports to the cocktail waitress who reports to the bishop, who takes orders form the sergeant ...' . I constantly thought 'what?'. Then you had the first encounter rule (apparently abandoned now), no traveling and the fact that the vampires got really weak. Now this wasn't necessary a bad idea - you don't feel omnipotent anymore. You aren't James Bond, you are a corner cop with pepper spray. But I felt this went to far - the cons overweight the pros. The things I liked: the factions you belong to in addition to a clan and the health attribute (now people of different build have different amounts of health levels). Another thing I disliked is the lack of enemies. Belial's Brood and XIII? Well XIII is what the MG makes of them. The BB is so self-destructive that you have to be a complete idiot to join them. Compare this to Masquerade - the Infernalists sacrificed their souls for power and are POWERFULL. You had two huge vampire sects with multiple clans, independent clans with a lot o assets each (like the type of ghuls of the Tzimizi: shlachta, war g, Vhozd and revenents or the ushabti of the Setites) werewolves, mages, wrights, Wyrm spawn (banes, fomori, monsters), wrights, faeries etc. Even an experienced player didn't immediately know what he was facing. They put the whole story in the trash, mixed the terms (because inventing new ones was to much of a job? ) and said 'we made something new'. No, they didn't. They just cut a few peaces from the TRUE game and stitched them together. Now, as I said, there are things you might like (the approach to sex I like to) and have good games, but how much time before Requiem gets really repetitive?

I don't think I've met anyone I would trust to run my first Vampire game (never played), but man I think you would make a great Storyteller.

I tend to stay away from Requiem, as I was a Malkavian fan, and Requiem seems to have killed them off.