The Inside Scoop on Gaming

This ain't about savage horror. This is a dark urban fantasy, and it should appeal to the same audience that Tribe 8 does. (It should, but it doesn't- this I speak on below.)

You're a werewolf, and your job is to be one of Gaia's holy warriors. Your enemy is The Wyrm, which is responsible for the state of the world today. Your goal is to obliterate the Wyrm. It's a big task.

What your PC doesn't know is that this task is almost impossible. The horror is that of knowing you're on the right side, and also knowing that your on the losing side. Evil may lose many a battle, but so far they're winning the war. It is hoped that, somehow, your PCs will do whatever must be done to turn this tide.

Welcome to the campaign. Get ready for The War That May Never End.

Unfortunately, this game often devolves into Champions With Fangs and this is because the players realize that this is a hopeless situation. Most people don't like to play hopeless situations, so they ignore the printed one in favor of one they can win. Usually this consists of many fights over power, prestige and points of pride. This can be against the Wyrm, but most of the time it's against vampires, mages and other werewolves.

Get the hint, developer-folks: No Hope=No Reason To Play.

However, there are Werewolf campaigns where the players (and their PCs) do what the book expects of them. Almost all of them made one key change, and that is the elimination of the no-win situation in the official setting. It often remains grim, but since there is a real chance to win the war the players are more willing to go along and that makes for an easier time for the GM.

This is what I suggest to any Werewolf GM; give the players real hope. If you do this, you can drag them through the Black Spiral and they'll still love you for it. That's all you must do to make this RPG playable.

With this in mind, I recommend this RPG all urban fantasy fans. You have to tweak it a bit -- I recommend using the new die mechanics from Vampire 3 -- but once done you'll enjoy yourselves for a long time.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Werewolf, The Apocalypse: Second Edition
Author: *Mark ReinHagen, Robert Hatch and Bill Bridges Category: game Company/Publisher: White Wolf Game Studio Cost: $29.95 (US) Page count: 304 pages ISBN: 1-56504-112-7 Playtest Review by Bradford C. Walker** on 03/15/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Science_fiction Modern_day Horror Conspiracy Gothic	This ain't about savage horror. This is a dark urban fantasy, and it should appeal to the same audience that Tribe 8 does. (It should, but it doesn't- this I speak on below.) You're a werewolf, and your job is to be one of Gaia's holy warriors. Your enemy is The Wyrm, which is responsible for the state of the world today. Your goal is to obliterate the Wyrm. It's a big task. What your PC doesn't know is that this task is almost impossible. The horror is that of knowing you're on the right side, and also knowing that your on the losing side. Evil may lose many a battle, but so far they're winning the war. It is hoped that, somehow, your PCs will do whatever must be done to turn this tide. Welcome to the campaign. Get ready for The War That May Never End. Unfortunately, this game often devolves into Champions With Fangs and this is because the players realize that this is a hopeless situation. Most people don't like to play hopeless situations, so they ignore the printed one in favor of one they can win. Usually this consists of many fights over power, prestige and points of pride. This can be against the Wyrm, but most of the time it's against vampires, mages and other werewolves. Get the hint, developer-folks: No Hope=No Reason To Play. However, there are Werewolf campaigns where the players (and their PCs) do what the book expects of them. Almost all of them made one key change, and that is the elimination of the no-win situation in the official setting. It often remains grim, but since there is a real chance to win the war the players are more willing to go along and that makes for an easier time for the GM. This is what I suggest to any Werewolf GM; give the players real hope. If you do this, you can drag them through the Black Spiral and they'll still love you for it. That's all you must do to make this RPG playable. With this in mind, I recommend this RPG all urban fantasy fans. You have to tweak it a bit -- I recommend using the new die mechanics from Vampire 3 -- but once done you'll enjoy yourselves for a long time. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Werewolf, The Apocalypse: Second Edition