Umbral Domains

Introduction

Umbral Domains is a collection of additional powers as well as alternate rules and setting elements for use with the old World of Darkness games. I intend to focus largely on Changeling: the Dreaming, Mage: the Ascension and their related suppliments. However information relevant to Dark Ages: Fae, Werewolf: the Apocalypse and other games in the setting may also be included.

Regarding Canon

While players may enjoy a few new powers or abilities, many prefer the World of Darkness" (OWOD) as it was originally presented in material officially published by White Wolf. On the other hand others don't mind the inclusion of setting elements that dramatically conflict with or go far beyond the official setting. For this reason category tags have been used to differentiate between canon compatible and incompatible supplimentary material.

The line between canon compatible and imcompatible can be a thin one and for the purposes of these pages is considered thematic rather than mechanical. For instance if you came up with a system of Mage spheres that replaced Mind and Spirit with Information and Otherworlds, this would be considered a canon compatible change since it would still allow a similar array of diverse magical effects to be portrayed in the game. However, if you restructured things so that Fire, Earth, Air, Water, and Spirit were the only spheres Mages could use then that would be a canon incompatible change since it would force all mages to interpret things according to a much narrower set of paradigms.

If you're in doubt as to whether or not a change is compatible or incompatible with canon just ask yourself: Would inserting this change dramatically conflict with published fiction on a fundamental level? Or does it present only would minor technical differences which might be easily overlooked?

Supplimentary Reading

While theoretically the whole oWoD canon is considered in the writings included here, in practice more emphasis has been placed on some books than others. Each general category page (ie. "Changeling: the Dreaming") will include a list of books as well as official and unofficial websites which have been most influential in the shaping contents of that page.

Categories

World of Darkness (General)

Old World of Darkness

Changeling: the Dreaming

Changeling: the Dreaming

Mage: the Ascension

Mage: the Ascension

Werewolf: the Apocalypse (and spirit related material)

Werewolf: the Apocalypse (also other Changing Breeds and Spirits)

Storyteller System Alternatives

Storyteller Alternatives

• The Skaldic System - An alternative to the Storyteller dice mechanic, using 1d8 instead of many d10.
• The Paltery Bard's Dice Mechanic - Another alternative dice mechanic. This one a bit closer to the traditional but easier to calculate chances of success.
• The Paltery Bard's Attributes - This is an alternate Attribute system. It was originally paired with the Tattered Saga dice mechanic, but has since become unglued from for separate use elsewhere.

Legal-esque Mumbo-Jumbo

Disclaimer

In reference to games produced by White Wolf the terms "World od Darkness", "Changeling: the Dreaming", "Mage: the Ascension", "Werewolf: the Apocalypse", and all other terms frequently associated with these game lines are not intended as a challenge to any copyrights or trademarks these companies may have. It is this author's intent that works produced under the Umbral Domains category fall within the bounds of Fair Use based on their nonprofit nature, the minimal amount of quoted text, and the reduced market for this information now that the game is out of print in paper form.

Claimer

I think alot of the old World of Darkness setting rocks.

In spite of it's unavailability in dead tree format, alot of the books produced for this setting have inspired me over the years. Many are still available here in PDF form. If any of the stuff on these pages interests you then I encourage you to look at the supplimentary reading list and purchase something.

--Peter K. 09:21, 23 April 2006 (PDT)