Fulminata reviewed Manacle and Coin (Exalted) by Malcolm Sheppard
Review of 'Manacle and Coin (Exalted)' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
A look at the Guild in the world of Exalted. This book is 95% background/fluff. There are a few mechanical things here and there. A couple items, a few drugs, a price list for goods that can be bought, and a few more odds and ends.
The book has four chapters. The first is the Guild's history and structure. The second is the drug trade in the world of Exalted, the third is the slave trade, and the fourth is a look at money and finance in Exalted. The first three chapters focus on the Guild and the influence it has on the world of Exalted. The last switches focus to the Realm as they have a generally more advanced financial system than is found in the Threshold where the Guild operates.
Overall this is a depressing book. The only "civilized" place in the world that ostensibly bans slavery is …
A look at the Guild in the world of Exalted. This book is 95% background/fluff. There are a few mechanical things here and there. A couple items, a few drugs, a price list for goods that can be bought, and a few more odds and ends.
The book has four chapters. The first is the Guild's history and structure. The second is the drug trade in the world of Exalted, the third is the slave trade, and the fourth is a look at money and finance in Exalted. The first three chapters focus on the Guild and the influence it has on the world of Exalted. The last switches focus to the Realm as they have a generally more advanced financial system than is found in the Threshold where the Guild operates.
Overall this is a depressing book. The only "civilized" place in the world that ostensibly bans slavery is also a major hub of slave trading due to deliberate loopholes left in the law. The Guild manipulates entire populations with drugs to increase their profits. The Realm is in the process of destroying what little wealth anyone not in the upper class has as the Houses maneuver to take the empty throne. It's not called the Age of Sorrows for nothing!
This is OK though, because characters in Exalted are powerful enough to try to change things, even on a macro level like this. This book really gives them some massive things to work against. Overturning an entire economic system is far more difficult that overturning a single powerful despot.
Given that this is a supplement for first edition, and that Masters of Jade was published for second edition, is this worth getting? I haven't finished reading it yet, but Masters of Jade seems more focused on applying things to a game, and if you can only get one I'd probably suggest that you get it, despite it being around half the size of Manacle & Coin. I think the two books complement each other, and if you have a character or campaign that heavily involves the guild, you could probably get good value from both.
Edit: after reading more of Masters of Jade, I have to change my position and say that if you can get only one you should get Manacle & Coin. For the reasons why you'll have to wait until I finish Masters of Jade and write my review.