OK onto the good stuff.    The Tome of Corruption - More thorough review.
 
The book comes in at around 250 pages and initially I was concerned.  If you may recall the original Chaos Books for 1st ed were massive tomes around 450 pages each and there was 2 of them each dedicated to two opposing gods.  Khorne with Slaneesh and Nurgle with Tzeentch.  So  looking at this book I was wondering just what exactly they could have packed in to rival two of the best RPG books ever produced.
 
First, let me just start by saying that the quality of this book is on par with the core, Bestiary, Realms of Sorcery and Skaven books.  Since it's a rule book and not an adventure it's been given the full color treatment and is a fantastic looking book.   But still 250 pages?
 
I must admit I am still stunned at what they packed into those 250 pages.  Does it have as much detail as the original books of Chaos - No.  But is there enough there to make it worth while and usable?  Definitely and without a doubt.
 
I'm honestly shocked at how much usable information the cramed in here.  
* Over 150 new mutations to create unique and awful Mutants, customisable based on the Dark God they serve.
    * Detailed information on Cults in the Old World such as the perverse Sybarites and the Foetid Maw.
    * Guidelines for building new cults, as well as details for creating cult leaders like the Cult Acolyte and Cult Magus.
    * An assortment of Chaos Objects such as The Grim Feast and the Catalogue of Flesh.
    * Exhaustive information and guidelines on creating Beastman foes, drastically expanding the information found in the Old World Bestiary.
    * A slew of new Chaos-touched monsters such as the Amphisbaena, Basilisk and Jabberwock.
    * A gazetteer on Norsca, with guidelines for creating Norscan Characters and running Norscan campaigns.
    * Details on the savage peoples of Chaos, including the Kurgan and the Chaos Dwarfs.
    * Extensive rules for playing servants of Chaos with new careers, rewards, and gifts of the Chaos Powers.
    * Over 100 new Chaos Weapons and bizarre magic items to better fight for the favour of the Dark Gods.
    * Expanded Lores of Chaos for those Black Magisters who worship Nurgle, Slaanesh, and Tzeentch, including new spells including acquiescence and flesh puppet.
    * Expanded Side-Effects tables for those who dabble in Dark Magic.
    * Full statistics for all the iconic Daemons of Chaos, including everything from the pathetic Nurgling to the dreaded Keeper of Secrets.
    * New insanities and diseases.  
 
I mean that stuff just scratches the surface.  The original books did go into a little more detail on social aspects of Minotaur's, Dragon Ogres and other nasties.  But there is still enough information contained in here to cover those topics with justice.  Basically you take the first two books strip out the army lists and well you've got this book.  They've got plot seeds littered throughout the book on how to use cults, magic items, and of course the various ruiness powers.  
 
I wanted to mention the magic items in particular.  Now I'm not talking about the various chaos items like Collars of Khorne and the random chaos/deamon weapon tables from the first books - yes they are all here though.  No I'm talking about true items of chaos.  Things artifact like things that have histories about them and pop up from time to time.  Paintings that make you go mad and slaughter your whole family.  Books that cause summon beings from beyond, necklaces that slowly consume you.  Wonderful things that can be dropped into a setting as very cool devices.
 
Also what they failed to mention is a few new non-chaos player careers as well as some nice info on ways to play a witch hunter.  As well as rules for creating other daemons not devoted to any of the 4 main chaos gods.  To that add in sections on Chaos Shrines, and other sacred areas and really this is a very comprehensive book.  
 
The bad.  I want more I'm greedy.  There are some odd layout issues where they'll list a new feat or ability on one page and then have it referenced some where else.  It's all there but an index that just listed all the new skills/talents would have been nice (it may be there and I missed it though).   The sections on the Norse are a little confusing.  On one hand they give the impression that all Norse tribes are swaying to Chaos yet they have rules for making Norsemen who are normal PC's.  But then part of their career path is back to Chaos.  So there is a slight conflict of styles there but it can be made to work with not to much of an issue.
 
I would have liked to see some more detailed physical descriptions for some of the various creatures/races.  A few are kinda vague and others suffer from the 'Totally unique random mutation looking' descriptive.  Also not every creature was given some artwork and in lack of a physical description that's a must.
 
All in all this is a must have book for any Warhammer GM that wants to include a more detailed variety of chaos into their games.  As a player resource it's not worth buying.  Unless you just want it of course.

How detailed is the Norsca gazeteer? What's in it?

RPGPundit

The Norse section contains rules on creating player Norsemen, Norse dwarfs and I forget the name but basically Norse Berserkers that frenzy and transform into half were-wolf or bears.  They have about 10 new careers for them some are PC friendly while others are decidedly Chaos based.  They make a note of Norse spell casters which essentially follow the Witch rules from Realms of Sorcery.  For flavor they've also added in a Norse name generator.

On the non-mechanic side they go into what a typical community is like, their laws, punishments and religions.  They talk about the true Chaos worshiping Norsemen and the more civilized style that have trade routes with the empire.  Basically all the sorta background info on what you'd need to make a Norse setting in your campaign.

They also have information on the Kurgan which are even more brutish and sever then the Norse.  Then there are the Hungs which are like 'Huns' and another asian based tribe of legend that sound like the equivolent of the Reavers from Firefly.

There are no real detailed maps but there are some places of interest mentioned and some adventure seeds as well.  If you are hoping for 'A Guide to Noricsa' style section you'll probably be dissapointed.  But if you just want some more grounded information to give flavor and feel then there should be enough there to satisfy.

Ok, that's enough to help me decide to put it on my "probably will get eventually" list,  but not my "must get it right now" list. Thanks.

RPGPundit

I, on the other hand, am pricing different copies of it as we speak.  Thanks for the review, Kryyst.

No problem.  Bottom line is it's a good product but the depth of knowledge in it does very depending on what specifically you are looking for.  For a general overview of all things Chaos it's fantastic.  For most standard WFRP campaigns either typical good guys or chaos based it's got you covered.  If you were hoping for very detailed information on a particular ruinous power, or area then it may be lacking for you.

I think too much detail would wreck the whole Chaos aesthetic.  All you really need to know about Khorne is "Blood for the blood god!"  More than that, and it ruins the mystery.

Yea, Like the Skaven book, its probably way more than what I want or need right now.

RPGPundit

Bump to say that Tome of Corruption allows for Were PCs.  I love this book.  Everyone with the slimmest interest in WFRP's take on Chaos should own one.

I'd suggest mentioning what game the supplement was for somewhere in the review. It took me a while to figure it out.

Hey, did you submit this as a "review" on the website?
It's very good!

Ummm no actually I didn't submit it as a review to the website.  Didn't think of it.

Quote from: ColonelHardissonI'd suggest mentioning what game the supplement was for somewhere in the review. It took me a while to figure it out.

And links to the website would help. I want pretty pictures.

...you could win valuable prizes!

RPGPundit