Post originally by cj.23 at 2003-11-18 12:05:55
Converted from Phorums BB System

I have just finished reading this review. I have ordered my copies of the Wraith books, and if Ottakars ever manage to get their act together I shall have them soon. However, here I am not commenting on Orpheus, I'm commenting on this review...

There are two reasons for this. Firstly and primarily, I can not comment on a book Ihave not yet read. The author of Orpheus has taken a difficult job, and I suspect has done a fine job of handling it. I loved Wraith with a passion, but I never ran it. If Orpheus is a third as good, and playable, then I will love Orpheus. In the real world I am a psychical researcher, an academic parapsychologist specialising in spontaneous cases, working at the moment in making the UK's biggets ghosthunting show. It is not easy to deal with these themes, and if Orpheus was to be the worst book of all time the author would still have my respect, for taking the WoD back to the edge, back to making me consider personal mortality, and those glorious intimations of immortality that make life on this planet worthwhile. So good luck to Orpheus.

Secondly Chaosium have just published my Parapsychologist's Handbook for Cthulhu, looking at real world investigations and studies of psychic powers, and in enough detail to actually give you a pretty thorough grounding if you ever give it a go in real life. Someoene review it here please! Hence I will not be reviewing Orpheus - I could be considered to have a personal interest.

However - the review was beautiful. It told me what the content was, it told me how the system worked, it made clear to me the strengths and weaknesses of that system, pointed out the pitfalls, and it compared it to other games many of us know. It was constructive, and as far as I can see objective. It criticised, but did so succinctly, wittily, and without scorn or contempt. I would buy this game on the strength of this review - but I would buy something by the reviewer first. And why? Because the reviewer can write, and writes beautifully. I missed the name, but the analysis, the humour, the passion and the use of language made me want to read the review. From the opening epigram, through to the end, they engaged me. They spoke as a gamer to gamers. I can not see why people would insult this review - it was one of the best I have ever read, and I feel saddened that it has been accused of being biased, prejudiced and uncritical. The author was none of these - and I doff my hate to them. Iw ill now go and search for more of their reviews, and say again - thank you. The contents of this capsule review have made me awareof pitfalls I would only otherwise have learnt in play, and if that saves my first campaign, rather than learning the errors, then starting a new game with the needed corrections, I owe you gratitude for more than just a good read.

all the best
cj x