Meet Changeling. A game where fairies of folklore shield on human hosts to protect themselves from the ravages of unbelief. The concept itself is a great one; one probably even greater than any other World of Darkness concepts.

Unfortunatelly, the main book seems to do it completely wrong. It's written in a way that it seems a nursery tale, and while it mentions a clear seelie/unseelie division among changelings, this division seems more of a plain good/bad one than what the fairy courts originally seemed to mean on Irish folklore.

Rules are completely upside down, too. The magic system (a combination of what you can do (Arts) that is frankly narrow, and to whom you can do it (Realms) that is completely annoying) is the worst White Wolf has ever created. The Kiths (the game splats) are based on wonderous creatures, but the descriptions used are completely uninspired. The Dreaming is a great concept, but how mechanics work around it are too rigid.

I've heard there are some great sourcebooks for Changeling, so I can't speak for the entire line. But this core book was a huge disappointment for me.


Best game in the World of Darkness - and needs so much WORK   August 7, 1999
 9 out of 15 found this review helpful

This is the best concept of the five games in the series. Even before the game actually arrived, I knew that I would set a campaign in the Haight district of San Francisco, and so did White Wolf. From there, however, we diverged completely...

As is common, the system is bland. Not bad, just bland. I have little use for faeries with uzis -- if one thing is just BRIMMING with Banality, it is guns. Followed swiftly by computers, automobiles, cd-players, etc.

The new version of the Seelie and Unseelie courts is unforgiveable. Hundreds of years of tradiation are, as is common with White Wolf, thrown out in favour of an odd combination of political correctness and ultra-teen-angst. Trolls as good guys? And just where did they come up with this interpretation of the sluagh? As a student of faery, I am offended -- read your Nancy Arrowroot and Katherine Briggs, guys!

The idea of the cantrips is amusing and quite workable; the notion of Banality versus Madness takes more work. Given the image of mundane reality presented in these books, I wonder if humans aren't just some version of the concept of Maya -- the illusion of the world. Are humans who are taken to Arcadia (a concept mentioned in the books) able to slowly understand their human side and able to ignore magic and Glamour? Or are humans just innately UNreal?

The biggest problem with this whole series of games is that they want to be taken seriously on a philosophical level, but their views are so inconsistent and contradictory that I just have to scream out loud.

My suggestion? Have your players choose one Court -- Seelie or Unseelie. Divide the kith appropriately, adding more kith if necessary for player choices. Bring back the balance/war between the Courts. Then try to run the game in the modern world. For my players (some of whom had played in "straight" versions of Changeling prior to my campaign) this created a much more satisfactory vision of the world.


The Fading Light in the World Of Darkness   December 17, 1999
 9 out of 11 found this review helpful

Some call it 'fluff', some scoff at the idea of playing a faerie; however, a look deeper into the heart of the book will reveal the Changelings have as much to fear about the Endless Winter as the other supernaturals of Gehenna, the Apocalypse, the Oblivion and the Ascension War. There is a constant battle between fantasy and reality, not only are Changelings caught in the middle they are expected to fight on either side. Second edition is truly a 'glamorous' work of art, with its artwork, cultural setting, clearer rules and WW system. It can be much more challenging to run a crossover chronicle with the other WoD games but it can be very rewarding. Changeling offers an outlet of pure creativity, however this does not always equate to silliness, for the themes of Changeling can be as subtle and dark as any of those in Vampire. I may be incredibly biased, but Changeling is by far my favorite game in the WW series, for its creative outlet and strong ties to history and mythology as well as continued White Wolf quality.


My Favorite Storyteller Game!   September 26, 1999
 5 out of 8 found this review helpful

I love this game! In order the list of the best to worst of the White Wolf WOD games in my opinion looks like this #1 Changeling, #2 Wraith, #3 Mage, #4 Vampire, #5 Werewolf, #6 Hunter.... Changeling is the best in my opinion because you are not playing totally angst filled Characters (Well except maybe Sluagh.) But they still fit comfortably into the World of Darkness. Its sad that most people overlook this game in the grand scheme of the World of Darkness because it is more "light" than the other games... Changeling is more fun because of that fact. No you are not on the run from the Wrym, fighting an Ascension War, participating in the Jyhad, or even having a constant battle with your Shadow. Instead you are trying to bring Imagination back to the world.. What a concept... :-)


Very good but needs some work   October 3, 2000
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Changeling is one of the most innovative rpg`s I have ever seen. But as in most of the White Wolf games the organization of the book is terrible you have to flip over pages to find the exact thing that you are looking for, but after some time you can get used to the book. The idea of playing faeries in world of darkness is a most challenging and enjoyable one. And the way that WW puts the elements of traditional faerie tales into their gloomy world is very successful. (`a faerie dies when someone sayas that she oes not believe in faeries` makes sense in the changeling the dreaming) If you are tired of dungeons and dragons style of fantasy and if you are not obsessively inlove with the darkness of vampire the masquarade, changeling is a good rpg for you. For those who think that changeling is not going along well with the other world of darkness games, because it is too "light" should consider that nothing can be more frightening or more beautiful than our dreams.