Werewolf: The Apocalypse is a gothic-punk tabletop RPG. Players take on the role of werewolves fighting urban corruption and also dark spiritual forces trying to bring about the apocalypse.
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Pros
Pro Flexible ruleset which encourages you to get creative
Although Werewolf has balanced and fair game systems in place, the makers White Wolf Games encourage players to be creative and make or take away rules as needed. It's stated right in the rulebook. This open approach gives Game Masters and players more flexibility when it comes to custom tailoring campaigns. There is no need to follow the strict ruleset if you feel like getting a little experimental, as the rules are intended to be bent to your will.
Pro Deep and interesting lore
Garou (werewolves) are defenders of Gaia, the Earth mother. Throughout history, it has been their duty to stop both the corruption of man, as well as protect the world against a wide variety of supernatural forces. They operate in secrecy and must keep their existence in the shadows. Over their long existence, they have constructed many belief systems, mythology, and lore which come strongly into play during adventures. This lore is so deep and vast that it consists of hundreds of pages of text. This gives Game Masters plenty of material to work with when constructing campaigns.
Pro Varied gameplay opportunities thanks to shapeshifting abilities
Werewolves have five different forms. Deciding which form to use can result in many interesting player choices and scenarios. Besides their full human form (Homid) and their full wolf form (Lupus), they have several other forms which can be utilized for gameplay reasons. This allows for a wide range of different actions per turn to be taken which are heavily form dependent.
For example, in full Lupus/wolf form, you will be much faster and more agile, but are unable to perform human actions such as opening doors or speaking. The next step up from Lupus is Hispo which is a massive wolf.
In Homid, or human, form, you will be able to interact freely with other humans, speak, and perform otherwise normal actions. However, your fighting capabilities are severely weak in this form. The next step up from Homid is Gabro, which is a hairy wolf man. You can still pass for human, but NPCs will notice something is not quite right about you, and you may draw suspicion.
Crinos is the full werewolf form and where the most combat advantages are gained, however human NPCs witnessing a Crinos suffer from delerium. Therefore, it is also against Garou code to be seen by humans in this form. While you're at your absolute strongest, you also must remain hidden from humans, which creates some interesting scenarios.
Sometimes a botched roll during shapeshifting will cause you to enter a form you didn't want, resulting in having to make quick and important decisions about how to adjust to your new form based on the situation.
Pro Lots of unique ways to define your character
When creating a character you will get to choose an auspice (phase of the moon you were born under) and also a tribe (clan of Werewolves). Your gameplay experience will take both heavily into account, as all auspices and tribes serve different functions and have different advantages. Having the freedom to choose both results in plenty of fun ways to help flesh out your character.
For example, the auspice Ragabash are seen as tricksters and thieves. Meanwhile, the auspice Ahroun are dedicated to war and are seen as true warriors among their peers. In total, there are five auspices to choose from, which serve as a rudimentary character class.
The tribe you hail from determine your racial background. The Bone Gnawers are a tribe usually consisting of the poor and come from the slums, and are usually good at interacting with people. Glass Walkers are those who are rather affluent and great with technology. The Red Talons want to wipe out humanity, and see them as a blight on the Earth and a sin against Gaia, the Earth Mother. In total, there are 13 playable tribes and 3 extinct tribes. Choosing a tribe will affect both how human and werewolf society view and treat you.
Pro Interesting premise
The story takes place on an alternate reality Earth. Humans are unknowingly living side by side with werewolves, vampires, mages, and other mythological entities. Werewolves, called Garou, are protectors of the earth and help to keep the spiritual balance of the world in check. This includes culling not only human corruption such as greed and violence, but also fighting a war against a dark force called The Wyrm - a godlike entity that has gone mad and is creating chaos and spawning twisted creatures.
Pro A great overall roleplaying experience
Thanks to the flexible but balanced ruleset, rich character customization, insanely deep lore, and fun premise, it's just incredibly fun to roleplay as a Werewolf. Having access to five different forms plus a whole character sheet jam packed with interesting, diverse abilities and backgrounds leaves a lot of room for creativity and customization. With tons of lore to draw from, creating campaigns and adventures is a breeze, and it's very easy to sink many months to years into this game.
Cons
Con Very dark and mature themes
Werewolf revolves around dark themes including corruption, greed, and violence. Depending on themes the Game Master wants to explore, games can be extremely brutal and bloody. This is certainly not a lighthearted RPG, and can be distressing for sensitive players.