Werewolf: The Forsaken - Blank It

MOOD
As befits a game about creatures both wolf and
human, the mood of Werewolf is two-pronged. On one
hand, werewolves are creatures of savage violence, and
a mood of fury — barely leashed or wholly unrestrained —
is sure to permeate a story. On the other hand, the world
of Werewolf is one of dark tension and strange mysteries,
of things that owe very little to the “natural” world. The
layer of spirituality adds a more subtle form of menace to
the mood. It adds a sense that the universe is more vast
and frightening than humans will ever understand.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This Introduction is a short overview of what to
expect from the werewolves of Werewolf: The Forsaken
and the overall game-play experience.
Chapter One reveals the world of the Uratha. It details
their society and legends, as well as the entities that
hunt them and that are hunted in turn.
Chapter Two focuses on character creation and the
traits granted thereby, from the strengths granted by moon
sign and tribe to the strange powers that werewolves wrest
from the Shadow Realm.
Mechanical systems specific to werewolves are the focus
of Chapter Three. These systems represent the various capabilities
and challenges common to all werewolves, from their
powers of shapeshifting and rapid healing to the moral imperative
of Harmony and the terrible dangers of the Death Rage.
Storytelling is the main concern of Chapter Four.
Here you’ll find advice on how to fine-tune a Werewolf
game into a dramatic, entertaining ride. It also provides
antagonists to serve as the pack’s hunters or prey.
Appendix One describes the spirit world, showcasing
the animistic side of Werewolf. It shows what happens
when werewolves enter the spirit wilds, and it provides the
systems governing spirit creation.
Finally, Appendix Two covers the sample setting of
the Colorado Rockies, an area recently recovering from a
shadow war. A pack can find plenty of opportunities there
to carve out a territory and make a name for itself.
SOURCES AND INSPIRATION
Werewolves have been interpreted in many different
ways. Yet too many werewolf movies or books either dial in
the story with sensationalism or force werewolves to share the
screen with other monster types (to regrettable effect). The
titles listed here are some of the more prominent examples of
works that focus on the werewolf sufficiently to add interesting
roleplaying ideas. The “Additional Inspirations” sections
include titles that don’t necessarily feature werewolves but are
thematically or dramatically suitable for consideration.
FICTION
Murcheston: The Wolf’s Tale by David Holland. A story
about werewolves in the trappings of Victoriana, the real lure
of the book is the journal kept by the werewolf. The werewolf
character both welcomes his transformation and elaborates
on the sensation of his hyper-acute senses — two things that
are rarely seen from the werewolf’s point of view.
Moon Dance by S. P. Somtow. This book paints a picture
of conflict between immigrant European werewolves
and Native American werewolves in the 1880s and doesn’t
pull any punches. Very gory, but satisfying.
Additional Inspirations
King Rat by China Mieville, The Wolf by L. David
Mech.
MOVIES
An American Werewolf in London, directed by John
Landis. This is sometimes held up to be one of the first
good werewolf movies since The Wolf Man. The lead
character’s visions of the dead are a unique addition to
the genre, and the transformation sequences are detailed
with loving affection. The sequel, set in Paris, suffers from
adopting CGI before CGI was ready for werewolves.
The Howling directed by Joe Dante. Released the same
year as An American Werewolf in London, this movie bothers
less with black comedy and focuses more on pure horror.
The original is a solid werewolf story, but the sequels
aren’t worth the extra effort.
Ginger Snaps directed by John Fawcett. A clever
movie that documents a teenage girl’s coming of age side
by side with her transformation into a werewolf. This
movie isn’t as cute as its title would have you believe — in
a good way. An excellent portrait of what a werewolf’s life
just before the First Change can be like.
Dog Soldiers directed by Neil Marshall. Billed as “not
a werewolf movie with soldiers, but a soldier movie with
werewolves.” It’s still a fine werewolf movie, even if the
werewolves seem a touch low-budget. The werewolves
are strong examples of how a solid pack is much more
dangerous than a lone wolf, and the soldiers demonstrate
teamwork a werewolf pack could learn from.
The Wolf Man directed by George Waggner. It never
hurts to have a foundation in the classics. This is where
werewolves begin to be inextricably linked with silver.
Wolf directed by Mike Nichols. Notable largely for the
exploration of what it might be like to have lupine instinct
guiding the way you deal with human problems. Another
interesting take on life before the Change.
Additional Inspirations
Brotherhood of the Wolf, Predator, Wolfen, Princess
Mononoke, The Blair Witch Project, Wolf’s Rain, The Ghost
and the Darkness
OTHER INSPIRATIONS
Inspiration for a game can be found almost anywhere.
Classical music such as Holst’s “Mars, the Bringer of War”
or Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain” can work well,
as can a selection of powerful heavy metal songs. To go
farther afield, the paintings of Goya might suggest the
visual energy of a violent encounter, while journalistic
How to Use This Book
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