Werewolf: The Apocalypse Rulebook is the first-edition rulebook for Werewolf: The Apocalypse, the storytelling game of savage horror.
Summary[]
From the White Wolf 1992 catalog:
The storytelling adventure which began with Vampire: The Masquerade continues with the long-awaited Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Fully compatible with the best selling game of "personal horror," Werewolf describes a new aspect of horrific adventure in which the monster is somewhat heroic. In Werewolf the players are Garou, powerful but dying protectors of a despoiled earth. They are the immune system of Mother Nature, desperately battling the ancient enemy they know only as "The Wyrm." The Wyrm and its minions seek the ruin of nature and the destruction of all. They descend upon earth to possess those mortals of weak will, animals of corrupted spirit, and even the machines of modern society. Only one thing stands in their way, the Garou. This secret war has been waged for millennia, but now the Wyrm has gained new strength... now it seeks to exterminate its enemy once and for all. This is the age of the Apocalypse.
From the Back Cover:
- These are the final days —
- The signs are clear:
- Even our pups know
- That this is the age of the Apocalypse.
- The Homids have Corrupted the Earth
- Destroyed the Trees
- Slaughtered the Beasts
- Choked the Air
- Poisoned the Soil
- Clogged the Waters
- Unleashed the Eternal Fire
- There is no garden to which we can flee.
- There is nowhere to hide.
- The end is upon us.
- —When will you rage?
Contents[]
The Prophecy of the Phoenix[]
The Sacred Ways[]
Garou through Garou eyes
Book One: Background[]
A look at Storytelling in the world of Werewolves
Chapter One: Introduction[]
Wherein the Werewolf and its Story are Introduced
Chapter Two: Setting[]
Wherein the Gothic-Punk world is Discussed
Chapter Three: Storytelling[]
Wherein the Art of Storytelling is Considered
Book Two: Basics[]
The basic foundations of game and character are laid
Chapter Four: Rules[]
Wherein the Rules of this Game are Explained
Chapter Five: Character[]
Wherein the Creation of Characters is Detailed
Chapter Six: Traits[]
Wherein the Character Traits are Defined
- Breeds
- Auspice
- Tribes
- Physical Attributes
- Strength
- Dexterity
- Stamina
- Social Attributes
- Charisma
- Manipulation
- Appearance
- Mental Attributes
- Perception
- Intelligence
- Wits
- Talents
- Alertness
- Athletics
- Brawl
- Dodge
- Empathy
- Streetwise
- Expression
- Subterfuge
- Intimidation
- Primal-Urge
- Other Possible Talents: Seduction, Search, Guile, Intrigue
- Skills
- Melee
- Drive
- Repair
- Firearms
- Performance
- Etiquette
- Animal Ken
- Stealth
- Leadership
- Survival
- Other Possible Skills: Pilot, Cook, Boating, Police Procedure
- Knowledges
- Enigmas
- Investigation
- Law
- Linguistics
- Medicine
- Occult
- Politics
- Science
- Computer
- Rituals
- Other Possible Knowledges: Psychology, Bureaucracy, Finance, Art, Philosophy, Theater, Journalism, Military Science, Genealogy, Geography, History, Theology, Trivia
- Background
- Allies
- Pure Breed
- Resources
- Contacts
- Past Life
- Kinfolk
- Fetish
- Mentor
- Rites
- Totem
Book Three: Permutations[]
The full exploration of the setting and rules
Chapter Seven: Spirits[]
Wherein the Spirit World and its Inhabitants are Elaborated
- Fetishes
- Fang Dagger - Level 3, Gnosis 6
- Harmony Flute - Level 1, Gnosis 5
- Phoebe's Veil - Level 3, Gnosis 7
- Spirit Whistle - Level 4, Gnosis 8
- Baneskin - Level 3, Gnosis 7
- Sanctuary Chimes - Level 3, Gnosis 6
- Monkey Puzzle - Level 4, Gnosis 6
- Spirit Tracer - Level 2, Gnosis 5
- Silver Sword - Level 5, Gnosis 8
- Talens
- Bane Arrows - Gnosis 4
- Death Dust - Gnosis 6
- Moon Glow - Gnosis 8
- Moon Sign - Gnosis 5
- Wyrm Scale - Gnosis 8
- Nightshade - Gnosis 5
- Spirit Charms
- Airt Sense
- Materialize
- Reform
- Possession (Banes)
- Break Reality (Wyldings)
- Solidify Reality (Weaver Spirits)
- Cleanse the Blight (Glade Child)
- Open Moon Bridge (Lune)
- Updraft (Air Elemental)
- Atomic Blast (Atomic Spirits)
- Incite Frenzy (Scrag)
- Blighted Touch (Blight Child)
- Corruption (Kalus)
- Disorient (Vortex)
- Shapeshift (Lesser wyldling)
- Calcify (Pattern Spider)
- Spirit Static (Net-spider)
- Spirits: Naturae
- Glade Child - Stats
- The Wild Hunt
- The Huntsman - Stats
- The Hounds - Stats
- The Wendigo
- Lune - Stats
- Spirits: Elementals
- Fire Elemental - Stats
- Air Elemental - Stats
- Electricity Elemental - Stats
- Glass Elemental - Stats
- Atomic Spirits - Stats
- Spirits: Banes
- Nexus Crawler - Stats
- Scrag - Stats
- Blight Child - Stats
- Kalus - Stats
- Psychomachiae - Stats
- Spirits: Wyldings
- Vortex - Stats
- Lesser wylding - Stats
- Spirits: Weaver Spirits
- Pattern Spider - Stats
- Net-spider - Stats
Chapter Eight: Systems[]
Wherein the Complexities and Ramifications of the Game System are Revealed
- Gifts
- Homid
- Persuasion - Level One
- Smell of Man - Level One
- Jam Technology - Level Two
- Staredown - Level Two
- Reshape Object - Level Three
- Disquiet - Level Three
- Cocoon - Level Four
- Spirit Ward - Level Four
- Assimilation - Level Five
- Reduce Delirium - Level Five
- Metis
- Sense Wyrm - Level One
- Create Element - Level One
- Burrow - Level Two
- Curse of Hatred - Level Two
- Eyes of the Cat - Level Three
- Mental Speech - Level Three
- Wither Limb - Level Four
- Gift of the Porcupine - Level Four
- Madness - Level Five
- Totem Gift - Level Five
- Lupus
- Heightened Senses - Level One
- Leap of the Kangaroo - Level One
- Scent of Sight - Level Two
- Sense the Unnatural - Level Two
- Catfeet - Level Three
- Detect Spirit - Level Three
- Beast Life - Level Four
- Gnaw - Level Four
- Elemental Gift - Level Five
- Song of the Great Beast - Level Five
- Ragabash
- Scent of Running Water - Level One
- Blur of the Milky Eye - Level One
- Open Seal - Level One
- Blissful Ignorance - Level Two
- Taking the Forgotten - Level Two
- Sense of the Prey - Level Two
- Open Moon Bridge - Level Three
- Gremlins - Level Three
- Luna's Blessing - Level Four
- Whelp Body - Level Four
- Thieving Talons of the Magpie - Level Five
- Violation - Level Five
- Theurge
- Sense Wyrm - Level One
- Spirit Speech - Level One
- Mother's Touch - Level One
- Sight From Beyond - Level Two
- Name the Spirit - Level Two
- Command Spirit - Level Two
- Exorcism - Level Three
- Pulse of the Invisible - Level Three
- Ultimate Argument of Logic - Level Four
- Spirit Drain - Level Four
- Feral Lobotomy - Level Five
- The Malleable Spirit - Level Five
- Philodox
- Resist Pain - Level One
- Truth of Gaia - Level One
- Scent of the True Form - Level One
- Call to Duty - Level Two
- King of Beasts - Level Two
- Strength of Purpose - Level Two
- Wisdom of the Ancient Ways - Level Three
- Weak Arm - Level Three
- Scent of Beyond - Level Four
- Roll Over - Level Four
- Wall of Granite - Level Five
- Geas - Level Five
- Galliard
- Beast Speech - Level One
- Call of the Wyld - Level One
- Mindspeak - Level One
- Dreamspeak - Level Two
- Call of the Wyrm - Level Two
- Distractions - Level Two
- Song of Rage - Level Three
- Eye of the Cobra - Level Three
- Bridge Walker - Level Four
- Shadows by the Fire Light - Level Four
- Fabric of the Mind - Level Five
- Head Games - Level Five
- Ahroun
- Razor Claws - Level One
- Inspiration - Level One
- The Falling Touch - Level One
- Sense Silver - Level Two
- Spirit of the Fray - Level Two
- True Fear - Level Two
- Silver Claws - Level Three
- Heart of Fury - Level Three
- Clenched Jaw - Level Four
- Stoking Fury's Furnace - Level Four
- Strength of Will - Level Five
- Kiss of Helios - Level Five
- Black Furies
- Sense Wyrm - Level One
- Heightened Senses - Level One
- Sense of the Prey - Level Two
- Curse of Aeolus - Level Two
- Visceral Agony - Level Three
- Coup De Grace - Level Three
- Wasp Talons - Level Four
- Body Wrack - Level Four
- Wyld Warp - Level Five
- The Thousand Forms - Level Five
- Bone Gnawers
- Cooking - Level One
- Scent of Sweet Honey - Level One
- Odious Aroma - Level Two
- Blissful Ignorance - Level Two
- Gift of the Skunk - Level Three
- Reshape Object - Level Three
- Attunement - Level Four
- Infest - Level Four
- Riot - Level Five
- Survivor - Level Five
- Children of Gaia
- Resist Pain - Level One
- Mother's Touch - Level One
- Calm - Level Two
- Luna's Armor - Level Two
- Dazzle - Level Three
- Spirit Friend - Level Three
- Serenity - Level Four
- Beast Life - Level Four
- Halo of the Sun - Level Five
- The Living Wood - Level Five
- Fianna
- Resist Toxin - Level One
- Persuasion - Level One
- Glib Tongue - Level Two
- Howl of the Banshee - Level Two
- Faerie Kin - Level Three
- Reshape Object - Level Three
- Phantasm - Level Four
- Balor's Gaze - Level Four
- Call the Hunt - Level Five
- Gift of the Spriggan - Level Five
- Get of Fenris
- Razor Claws - Level One
- Resist Pain - Level One
- Snarl of the Predator - Level Two
- Halt the Coward's Flight - Level Two
- Venom Blood - Level Three
- Might of Thor - Level Three
- Scream of Gaia - Level Four
- Hero's Stand - Level Four
- Horde of Valhalla - Level Five
- Fenris' Bite - Level Five
- Glass Walkers
- Control Simple Machine - Level One
- Persuasion - Level One
- Cybersenses - Level Two
- Power Surge - Level Two
- Control Complex Machine - Level Three
- Elemental Favor - Level Three
- Attunement - Level Four
- Doppleganger - Level Four
- Summon Net-Spider - Level Five
- Clam the Flock - Level Five
- Red Talons
- Beast Speech - Level One
- Scent of Running Water - Level One
- Beastmind - Level Two
- Sense of the Prey - Level Two
- Trackless Waste - Level Three
- Elemental Favor - Level Three
- Quicksand - Level Four
- Avalanche - Level Four
- Gaia's Vengeance - Level Five
- Curse of Dionysis - Level Five
- Shadow Lords
- Fatal Flaw - Level One
- Aura of Confidence - Level One
- Clap of Thunder - Level Two
- Luna's Armor - Level Two
- Icy Chill of Despair - Level Three
- Paralyzing Stare - Level Three
- Open Wounds - Level Four
- Strength of the Dominator - Level Four
- Obedience - Level Five
- Shadow Pack - Level Five
- Silent Striders
- Sense Wyrm - Level One
- Speed of Thought - Level One
- Be Ignored - Level Two
- Messenger's Fortitude - Level Two
- Adaptation - Level Three
- The Great Leap - Level Three
- Speed Beyond Thought - Level Four
- Attunement - Level Four
- Gate of the Moon - Level Five
- Reach the Umbra - Level Five
- Silver Fangs
- Sense Wyrm - Level One
- Lambent Flame - Level One
- Luna's Armor - Level Two
- Awe - Level Two
- Silver Claws - Level Three
- Wrath of Gaia - Level Three
- Mastery - Level Four
- Mindblock - Level Four
- Paws of the Newborn - Level Five
- Luna's Avenger - Level Five
- Stargazers
- Sense Wyrm - Level One
- Balance - Level One
- Surface Attunement - Level Two
- Inner Strength - Level Two
- Merciful Blow - Level Three
- Clarity - Level Three
- Preternatural Awareness - Level Four
- Ultimate Argument of Logic - Level Four
- Wisdom of the Seer - Level Five
- Circular Attack - Level Five
- Uktena
- Sense Magic - Level One
- Shroud - Level One
- Spirit of the Fish - Level Two
- Spirit of the Bird - Level Two
- Call Flame Spirit - Level Three
- Invisibility - Level Three
- Hand of the Earth Lords - Level Four
- Call Elemental - Level Four
- Fabric of the Thoughts - Level Five
- Fetish Doll - Level Five
- Wendigo
- Call the Breeze - Level One
- Camouflage - Level One
- Cutting Wind - Level Two
- Speak With the Wind Spirits - Level Two
- Chill of Early Frost - Level Three
- Sky Running - Level Three
- Attunement - Level Four
- Call the Cannibal Spirit - Level Four
- Invoke the Spirits of the Storm - Level Five
- Heart of Ice - Level Five
- Homid
- Rites
- Rite of Contrition - Level One
- Rite of Cleansing - Level One
- Ritual of the Questing Stone - Level One
- Rite of Talisman Dedication - Level One
- Rite of the Opened Caern - Level One
- Moot Rite - Level One
- Gathering for the Departed - Level One
- Rite of Binding - Level One
- Rite of Wounding - Level One
- Baptism of Fire - Level One
- Rite of Spirit Awakening - Level Two
- Rite of Becoming - Level Two
- Ritual of Summoning - Level Two
- Rite of Passage - Level Two
- Rite of Ostracism - Level Two
- Stone of Scorn - Level Two
- Voice of the Jackal - Level Two
- The Hunt - Level Three
- Satire Rite - Level Three
- Rite of the Fetish - Level Three
- Rite of the Totem - Level Three
- Rite of the Winter Wolf - Level Three
- Rite of the Opened Bridge - Level Four
- The Badger's Burrow - Level Four
- Rite of the Shrouded Glen - Level Four
- The Rending of the Veil - Level Four
- Rite of Caern Building - Level Five
- Gaia's Vengeful Teeth - Level Five
Chapter Nine: Drama[]
Wherein the Creation and Playing of Peak Moments in the Story is Developed
- Firearms Chart
- Weapons Chart
- Maneuvers Table
- Brawl
- Bite
- Body Slam
- Overbear
- Immobilize
- Evasive Action
- Fur Gnarl
- Hamstring
- Jaw Lock
- Kick
- Leaping Rake
- Punch
- Rake
- Taunt and Threaten
- Complications
- Immobilization
- Stunned
- Complications
- Miniatures and Werewolf
Appendix[]
An exploration from Story Seed to Index
- Antagonists and Mortals
- Chimera - Stats
- Fomor (plural Fomori) - Stats
- Fomori Powers:
- Extra Limbs
- Immune to the Delirium
- Berserker
- Covered in tumors filled with a noxious pus
- Eyes
- Tongue
- Claws and fangs
- Fungoid substance/Mucus
- Fomori Powers:
- Black Spiral Dancers
- Gifts
- Eyes of the Bat - Level Two
- Patagia - Level Three
- Foaming Fury - Level Three
- Crawling Poison - Level Four
- Balefire - Level Five
- Governments
- Police Officer - Stats
- Police Detective - Stats
- Government Agent - Stats
- SWAT Officer - Stats
- The Inquisition
- Witch-hunter - Stats
- Minister - Stats
- The Arcanum
- Scholar - Stats
- Vampires
- Neonates - Stats
- Ancillae - Stats
- Elders - Stats
- Methuselahs - Stats
- Antediluvians
- Gifts
- Ghouls - Stats
- The Magi - Stats
- Appendix: Pack Totems
Index[]
Character Sheet[]
Last Words[]
Upcoming Werewolf Products
There are a number of supplements which will be soon be available for Werewolf: The Apocalypse. They are listed below in order of appearance. We generally try to release one supplement a month.
- Rite of Passage
- Werewolf Screen
- Rage Across New York
- Book of the Wyrm
- Ways of the Wilderness - A Wellspring of information on the lupus Garou.[1]
- Under a Blood Red Moon
- Caerns: Places of Power
- Ways of the City - The sourcebook of the homid Garou.[2]
From the sketchbook of Josh Timbrook[]
An inside look at the development of the Garou.
White Wolf Survey[]
Fill out the following questionnaire and receive free stuff!
"However, in case you are not interested in being a nice person and performing this service, we are going to bribe you with a free Werewolf poster. This full-color poster is 33" x 22", featuring the work of Tony Harris."
Background Information & Trivia[]
- An art piece by John Cobb on Pg. 198 would be later re-used for the cover of the HarperCollins novel, Conspicuous Consumption, and as a Rage Card Promo: Sower-of-Thunder.
- Black Spiral Dancers weren't fully fleshed out in the rulebook, they were just described as a corrupted Garou tribe serving the Wyrm. And that their totem is Whippoorwill. It would be until one year later through The Book of the Wyrm 1st ed. that the White Howlers back story was added.
- The Bunyip are mentioned as a tribe of Garou (Tasmanian wolves) that were wiped out by the Wyrm.
- It is mentioned in the back that the next upcoming part of the Storyteller Tetralogy is Mage, then Faerie, and finally Ghost. White Wolf would later change the titles of Faerie and Ghost, as well as moving Ghost's release before Faerie. An ad for Mage (August 1993) is at the back of the book.
- Special Thanks is made to Fodor for permission to reprint their map of Central Park from Fodor's 92 New York City.
- The book is dedicated to Neil Gaiman.
- Playtesters are credited in the book as: Jeff Leggett, Glen Harper, William Hale, Michael Hill, Torn McNulty, Greg Whigham, Alan Harris, Jamie Tidwell, Shawn McDermott, James Woodey, Matt Burke, Wade Racine, Jane Wright, Lucinda Knight, Matt Baskett, Scott Hungerford, Terry Wyatt, Territ Jones, Ceresa O'Bryan, Kevin O'Bryan, Jess Harris, Tom Molday, Trevor Stamper, Shawn Williamson, Kin Yee, Dave Fancelle, Adam Blyth, Steve Crow, J. Allen Shknor, Rhonda Stolle and Steven Kaye.
Memorable Quotes[]
In the geography section (Setting Chapter), the following is said of other shapeshifters:
South America
"A variety of werejaguars, weresnakes, werebats and werealligators live in the shrinking jungles of the Amazon. The Garou, concerned about the destruction of the rain forest, have attempted to ally with these other lycanthropes, but the denizens of the jungles remember well the days of the Impergium, when other werecreatures were routinely destroyed as "blasphemies of the Wyrm"; Garou trespassing on their domain are often punished with death."
Asia
Japan: "Both they (Glass Walkers) and Shadow Lords are actively seeking to establish footholds in Japan, as well as to find out whether the Black Spiral Dancers are behind the legends of malevolent transforming foxes in Japanese mythology."
Indonesian: "The Indonesian jungles are home to the last of Asia's other werecreatures, and Garou fear to go here, as it is rumored that many of these others have turned to the Wyrm. Recently, the markets and bazaars of Jakarta and other cities have been rife with whispers of weresharks, shapechanging pythons, and men who can turn into enormous orangutans. Something big is happening in the jungles, but as yet it is a mystery to the Garou."
Characters[]
- Amara Windcrusher - Pg. 9
- Rainchild - Example Character, Lupus Garou, Pg. 24
- Harold - Example Character, Metis Garou, Pg. 24
- Sara - Example Character, Homid Garou, Pg. 24
- Hemmel - Philodox Garou Loremaster, Pg. 24
- Torch - Ragabash Metis Garou, Pg. 24
- Central Park: A Setting for Werewolf
- Little White Feet aka Central Park Caern, New York
- Totems: Mera and the Great White Mouse
- Fetish: Ever Meal
- Mother Larissa
- Fengy
- Howard Koar (Bareback)
- Simon Gentle (Flash)
- Spotlight ("Zoo")
- Calvert Vaux - Kinfolk
- Frederick Law Olmstead - Kinfolk
- Little White Feet aka Central Park Caern, New York
Terminology[]
Lexicon: Common Parlance: Apocalypse, Auspice: Ahroun, Galliard, Philodox, Ragabash, Theurge; Bawn, Blight, Breed, Caern, Celestine, The Concord, Corruption, Crinos, Deep Umbra, Delirium, Domain, Feral, Gaia, Garou, Hispo, Homid (Breed and Form), Impergium, Incarna, Kenning, Klaive, Litany, Lupus (Breed and Form), Metis, Moon-Calf, Moon Bridge, Moots: Concolation, Grant Moot, Imperial Moot, Revel, Tribal Moot; Mule, Near Umbra, Pack, Reaching, Realms: Gaia Realm, Arcadia/Faerieland, Hell, Underworld, Dream-Realms; Sept, Tellurian, Totem, Tribe: Black Furies, Bone Gnawers, Children of Gaia, Fianna, Get of Fenris, Glass Walkers, Red Talons, Shadow Lords, Silent Striders, Silver Fangs, Stargazers, Uktena, Wendigo; Umbra, The Ways, The Wyrm, Wyrmhole; Vulgar Argot: Ape, Cadaver, The Flock, Going Sideways, Gremlin, Leech, Run, Sheep, Throat; Old Form: Adren, Airts, Aisling, Anamae, Anruth, Athro, Awen, Banshi, Brugh, Charach, Chiminage, Cliath, Fomora, Fostern, Gallain, Harano, Inceptor, Kinain, Pericarp, Phoebe, Praenomen, Urrah; Anarch, Anchorhead, Arcanum, Bane, Battle Scars, Black Spiral Dancers (Whippoorwill), Blood Bond, Board of Directors, Brujah, Bunyip, Camarilla, Charm, Children of the Bear/Sons of the Bear, Clan, The Curse, Developmental Neogenetics Amalgamated, Domains: Chimare, Glen, Hellhole, Trod, Web, Wylding; Dominance: Facedown, Gamecraft, Ritual Combat; Elder, Faerie, Forms: Glabro; Fetish, Frenzy: Fox; Gaffling, Gangrel, Gauntlet, Ghost, Ghoul, Gift, Gnosis, Honorifics: -ikthya, -rhya, -yuf; Howls: Anthem of War, The Call to Hunt, The Call for Succor, The Chant of Challenge, The Curse of Ignominy, Dirge for the Dead, The Hymn of Praise, The Song of Mockery, The Snarl of Precedence, The Symphony of the Abyss (BSD), The Wail of Foreboding, Warning of the Wyrm's Approach; Inquisition, Jaggling, Kinfolk, Lineage, Losing the Wolf, Lost Cubs, Lunatics, Magi, Marrow-Eaters (BG Pack), Masquerade, Membrane, Moon-gate, Mummy, Nosferatu, Old Ones, Order of Hermes, Past Life, Patron, Pattern Web, Peeking (Umbra), Pentex, Inc., Peoples: The Green Knights (Kinfolk Group, Ecoterrorists), The Wagnerians (Garou Camp, trying to find another Realm); Phoenix, Power, Protectorate, Pure Breed, Rage, Rank, Renown: Glory, Honor, Wisdom; Renunciation, Rite, Rite of Passage, Ronin, Sabbat, Spirit, Silver, Sire, The Society of Leopold, Stepping Sideways, Toreador, Trait, Tremere, Vampire, Veil, Ventrue, Weaver, Werewolf, White Monks, Witch-Hunters, Wonder Guy (Pentex Toy), Wyld, Wyrm Caerns,
References[]
- ↑ Simply re-titled as Ways of the Wolf.
- ↑ Ways of the City was never published during the first edition years. It wouldn't be until Revised that a book with a similar concept was published instead, Book of the City.
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