Pathfinder Player Companion: "Blood of the Moon" [RPG]

Blood of the Moon is all about lycanthropes--“true” lycanthropes like werewolves, humans with lycanthropic ancestors (skinwalkers), and (I guess most broadly) creatures whose abilities are influenced by the waxing and waning of the moon.  I can confess this has never been a concept that I’ve been particularly interested in, and I only bought the book because it contains some stuff for my Groetus-worshipping Oracle.  On the other hand, I recognise the book definitely does fill a demand relating to the “big three” pop culture monsters: vampires, zombies, and werewolves.

We’ll start with the cover, which is downright awesome!  I often think these Player Companion covers are better than many of the ones that went on the game’s main rulebook line.  The inside-front-cover has capsule descriptions of the new “skinwalker” races introduced in the book: werebat-kin, werebear-kin, wererat-kin, wereshark-kin, wereboar-kin, weretiger-kin, werecrocodile-kin, and werewolf-kin.  (Yes, I was a bit embarrassed to write that sentence).  The inside back cover is a lunar calendar for the year 4713, and includes a new trait called “Child of the Moon” that gives a bonus to a particular skill depending on what phase the moon is currently in.  I remember having a player in a campaign that took this for their PC, and it was kind of a pain always looking up what the phase of the moon was before rolling a simple skill check.

Most of the book is about the new race, skinwalkers, and the variations listed above.  Skinwalkers are humans who are descendants of true lycanthropes and offer some of the flavour of true lycanthropes, relatively minor special abilities, and none of the risk of being feral murder-machines.  For each of the eight variations of skinwalkers, the book devotes two pages of description, traits, and feats.  Frankly, most are fairly forgettable in my opinion and I’m not convinced they’re a worthwhile addition to the game.  And in contrast to the amazing cover, the interior artwork is stiff and even a bit goofy looking--who wants to play a werebat-kin as pictured on p. 8?

The book does devote some pages to true lycanthropes, with some interesting flavour and detail.  There are also two pages of “lycanthropic gear”--alchemical items to help in fighting off lycanthropes, but also a pelt of the beast magic item that’s essentially a no-brainer for skinwalkers.  Two pages of the book are devoted to “The Moon” in the broadest sense, and includes a new oracle mystery (“lunar”) that is quite detailed and very useful. (though I should note that one of the included revelations, Primal Companion, is a really OP option).

Overall, I’d rank Blood of the Moon as one of the lesser entries in the Player Companion line.  Maybe it scratches an itch for some people, but throwing what’s essentially eight new races at the wall in one little book doesn’t really do justice to any of them; and I doubt, in terms of game mechanics and respect for game balance, they let players achieve what they really want.