The Apocalypse is coming! (Werewolf)

Member Name: a-true-ben

Product:	Werewolf
Date:	18/05/01 (460 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: quick and simple, fun, endless possibilities

Disadvantages: system limitations, 'hack n slash' fests

For those unfamiliar with the White Wolf 'Storyteller' series, I'll begin with a brief general part, then I'll explain a bit about Werewolf in particular. I'll do my best to explain things to newcomers, but the main part of this will be my opinion on the game, not an explanation of it, so I won't promise to make everything clear - feel free to leave comments or email me via my page for further elaboration!

The White Wolf Storyteller system covers a range of RPGs (role-play games, like Dungeons and Dragons if you're unfamiliar with the concept). It all began with Vampire (which has now been successfully translated to PC format) but now includes other supernatural creatures - such as Mages (wizards), Wraiths (ghosts), Changelings (faeries), Mummies and, of course, Werewolves. The games are set in an alternate 'World of Darkness' not too dissimilar from our own, and given the secrecy of the supernaturals, it could almost be our own (it's up to individuals whether to play up the 'horror' aspects involved...)

The brilliance of the system is it's immense playability. The White Wolf system is based around d10 (that's 10-sided dice) and a skill-based character system. All the aforementioned games use this system, and can be run compatibly. The system is quick, simple and realistic - probably the best role-play system I've come across in my experience. It's also very flexible, so it's up to you whether you concentrate on the story or the dice!

When the World of Darkness was confined to Vampires, Werewolves were the bad guys - violent savages who hunted down and mercilessly slayed the kindred (as Vampires call themselves; Werewolves are garou). This game, however, can be used as a supplement fully detailing the garou. It gives their own, quite different, perspective too.

The garou were created by the earth mother, Gaia, to protect her from the depredations of the Wyrm.
The Wyrm is identified as 'evil', representing entropy in the spiritual trinity completed by the Wyld (dynamism, life) and Weaver (stasis, pattern). The game is subtitled 'the Apocalypse' because the garou know, in an age where Gaia is ravaged by pollution and multi-national companies (such as Pentex Inc.), they've failed. The game thus represents their last ditch efforts, doing all they can to protect Gaia and save the Earth. In particular, it's worth noting that Vampires, the walking dead, are abominations to the natural order, and should be destroyed whenever possible :)

Werewolves come in various types: Breed (dependent on their birth), Auspice (caste, dependent on the moon-sign they were born under) and Tribe (lineage). The lycanthrope gene is recessive, most garou are born of seemingly human (or wolf) parent carriers, known as kinfolk, but there are fewer and fewer garou left to save Gaia. The principal characteristics of the types are outlined below:

Breed:
Homid - Born of two human parents. Useful knowledge of the human world, but unattuned to their 'spiritual' side. Now accounting for over 90% of garou.

Lupus - Wolf born garou are especially rare now wolf packs are in decline. They may be ignorant of such basics as (human) language and technology, but are highly prized for their rarity.

Metis - Deformed outcasts born of the forbidden union between two garou, but at least garou society is less alien to them.

Auspice:
Ragabash (new moon) - The trickster

Theurge (crescent moon) - The seer

Philodox (half moon) - The judge

Galliard (gibbous moon) - The bard

Ahroun (full moon) - The warrior

Tribes:
Black Furies – Almost exclusively female, but fierce like Valkyries or amazons.

Bone Gnawers – Adapted to an urban lifestyle, tramps and scavengers.

Children of Gaia – Pacifistic (for ga
rou), as the name suggests, religious and advocates of toleration.

Fianna – Principally Irish, mainly bards and poets but competent fighters when roused.

Get of Fenris – Arguably the most war-like, principally from Scandinavia and Germany they resemble Viking warriors.

Glass Walkers – Another urban tribe, but unlike the Bone Gnawers the Glass Walkers dabble in business, computers and the Mafia.

Red Talons – An all lupus tribe (bar the odd metis) who strive to reduce/eradicate the human race!

Shadow Lords – Corrupt and scheming Machiavellian politicians, seeking to become leaders of the garou.

Silent Striders – Exiled from their native Egypt by the Vampire Set the Silent Striders are now nomadic Gypsies and messengers for the garou.

Silver Fangs – Garou royalty, once embodying all that was noble, many are now in-bred or anachronistic.

Stargazers – Wise eastern seers and philosophers, but also mystic warriors.

Uktena – Native American shamen and mystics.

Wendigo – The northern cousins of the Uktena, less spiritual and more warrior-like.

Like Vampire etc the game has a rich background drawn from research into folklore, supplemented or ignored where the game designers deemed it necessary. In particular, all garou can assume at will (or sometimes by reflex!) any of five forms, from human-seeming Homid, through Glabro, to Crinos (the traditional half-man, half-wolf killing machine), Hispo and Lupus (‘wolf’, or, if you’re lucky, ‘dog’…). The garou also possess many other powers, notably regeneration and the ability to 'step sideways' into a parallel spirit world (the 'umbra').

Anyway, now I’ve outlined the background, stay with me for the opinion, and I’ll tell you why I think Werewolf is the best of the Storyteller series.

Many d
ismiss it as just a combat game, like D&D. This is far from the truth, although the game can turn that way. This is normally the case with novices, and a pack who are all intent on being Get of Fenris Ahrouns. In that case, it’s not much of a problem – if they get what they expect they can have fun. This is a rather shallow interpretation, however, that may eventually lead to boredom.

The deeper potential of Werewolf can be best explored by social interaction. Vampires are limited to their human or their own kindred politics. Garou can interact in either human or wolf community, as well as their own rich society and the world of spirits and other supernatural creatures. What’s more, the fact that all garou are incredibly hard in Crinos form means players can stress non-combat traits in their character, but still be strong enough to survive the almost inevitable fight.

Plus the system is fully detailed to include other lycanthropes (bears, big cats, sharks, coyotes, giant spiders, etc) as well as the wide variety of what’s contained in the game. As already mentioned, Werewolf can be a stand-alone game, or used in conjunction with other titles from the series. Having played quite a bit of Vampire, Mage and Werewolf, and having looked at much more, I have no hesitation in saying this is my favourite. Plus you have the advantage of being a truly ‘good’ guy and the pleasure of wiping Vampire scum off the Earth they defile!

There are, admittedly, some problems with the game. However, I feel these mainly concern the game system and apply to the others too. For example, the ‘secondary abilities’ problem and balancing the relative powers of the different supernaturals (I warn you, the inability of most Vampires to ‘soak’ or heal the aggravated damage caused by werewolf claws makes combat potentially one-sided and messy!). While these problems are endemic to the system, I feel they can e
asily be overcome by an intelligent Storyteller and players, and don’t detract from the game in particular. Now, what are you waiting for? Gaia needs you!

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