....Why I Love and Hate the Sabbat....

Eric's Rant #2! Collect them all!

When you think about it, the Sabbat, as a faction, is one hell of an impressive thing, just chock full of role-playing possibilities.

I mean, think about it. The Sabbat is a group filled with contradictions, paradoxes and enigmas. It's all wonderful role-playing fodder.

What do I mean when I say "contradictions, paradoxes and enigmas?" Let me give you a few examples....

The Sabbat is a sect of Kindred devoted to individualism and freedom. They fight against the enslavement of the Antediluvians, who have taken over the Camarilla and are controlling them. They are individualists, free-thinkers and non-conformists. But.... They are hierarchical, with a system of self-government based on both a mock-Catholic Church structure (i.e., pack priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and a Regent/Pope). They also believe in the philosophy of "might makes right" (it is perfectly acceptable to kill your opponents and leaders if you believe they are weak or wrong). And, if you disobey your superiors, you can be maimed, tortured killed or worse. (Unless, of course, you can kill your superiors....)

That's paradox/enigma/contradiction #1. You are a member of a group that claims to support freedom, fight tyranny and liberate Kindred (by any means necessary), but you must follow orders, obey those above you (who, incidentally, came to power through treachery, back-stabbing and flat-out violence), and face death if you don't follow orders.... You are free, but only to do what your superiors want.

Now, let's talk about Blood Bonds and the Vaulderie.... See, the Sabbat are concerned with freedom, right? They fear "blood bonds," which are those insidious things that the Antediluvians and Methuselahs use to control the hearts and minds of their Camarilla pawns. In their infinite wisdom, they managed to create a ritual that breaks all blood bonds and prevents them from being applied in the future (as long as you continue to occasionally perform the ritual). This ritual is the Vaulderie, and it results in each person performing the Vaulderie gaining a "vinculum" rating to each person also performing it. Oh, and by the way, a vinculum is a modified blood bond. Yep, the reason why the Sabbat can't be blood bound by the Antediluvians is because they're blood bound to each other already... So, in order to be free from unacceptable blood bonds, you have to be blood bound to acceptable people. That's paradox/enigma/contradiction #2.

Paradox/Enigma/Contradiction #3 concerns the whole "Humanity vs. Path of Enlightenment" argument and it gets played out when dealing with mortals. When you read the descriptions of the Paths of Enlightenment, one thing is clear (at least, it's clear to me, your mileage might vary): these Paths of Enlightenment are incredibly complicated philosophical ideologies all designed to prevent a character's slow descent into the Beast. They are alternatives to Humanity, because the Sabbat fundamentally believes that they are "More Than Human." But, at the same time that they mock the Camarilla and their "pathetic Masquerade" designed to keep the mortals from finding out that Kindred are real, the Sabbat practices it's own version of the Masquerade (formally called "non-disclosure" in the Third Edition books). So, although the Sabbat are powerful beings, more than human, they still cower in fear at the thought of the mortals all massed against them, and do their best (at least, at higher levels of power) to keep the mortals as ignorant as the Camarilla do with their Masquerade. So, you're better than human, but be afraid of them. That's paradox/enigma/contradiction #3.

There are more contradictions, paradoxes and enigmas in the Sabbat, but I'm not going to go into them right now. The only reason why I brought them up in the first place is to show things that should, if handled right and thought through, create potentially wonderful role-playing experiences! I mean, think about it.... The more a Sabbat member learns about the organization he or she is in, the more and more like the Camarilla (the Sabbat's sworn enemies) it becomes! It's really wonderful role-playing fodder; it's all a massive amount of glorious things that can flavor a character and create fantastic personal struggles to be played out.

Pity it never seems to happen when people play Sabbat characters.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the Sabbat is stupid and wrong, or anything like that. What I'm saying is that there are these incredibly rich and vibrant backgrounds that should inform Sabbat players, but they often get ignored. Often, playing Sabbat characters turns a game into a maelstrom of players shooting each other, blowing stuff up and running around trying to commit diablerie on a regular basis.

Now yes, I know (and can hear some of you protesting already), these are the sort of things that (according to some) are supposed to happen when the Sabbat lay siege to a Camarilla town. And yes, even the best organized military force gets a little crazy during wartime (just ask the citizens of My Lai). And you know what? I'm willing to forgive some of these actions in a "siege" game or set up. People will always ignore the "rules" during wartime and look out for Number One, no matter what.

But I've seen this stuff happen at all Sabbat games! (And no, I am not naming games, chronicles or names here, I am deliberately leaving my evidence unsaid and anecdotal so I don't hurt or offend anyone).

I could rant more and about the "bad Sabbat shit" (my phrase) I've seen at games, but I'm not going to. Let's not let this rant turn into a sixteen-page diatribe. Let's just say that 99% of the time, I see people play the Sabbat as gun-toting violence-mongers who are looking for someone (anyone) to sink their fangs into in the hope that they can drop a generation because "it's okay to diablerize in the Sabbat" (which, incidentally, it is, only if you are following one particular Path of Enlightenment! Otherwise, it's considered almost criminal!).

Anyway. That's why I love the Sabbat. They are an incredible group, with a wonderfully rich background that can liven up and inform almost everything that a Sabbat character does (hell, I'm passionate about the Lasombra - I love them so!). But, I almost also see this rich background get thrown out. That's why I hate the Sabbat.

(And, yes, of course, this doesn't apply to you - you play the Sabbat correctly, every time. So please don't email me to tell me about it. Thanks.)