Werewolf: The Apocalypse#Uktena

File:Mark Rein·Hagen - Lucca Comics and Games 2015.JPG designed Werewolf: The Apocalypse.]]

The basic premise of the game is that the player characters are Garou, or werewolves, who have undergone some training and succeeded in a rite of passage. After this, they advance in rank by working together to gain fame.

The five main forms of the Garou are: Homid (human), Glabro (wolfman), Crinos (war-form), Hispo (near-wolf) and Lupus (wolf).

The game takes place in a fictional world where werewolves, vampires, and other legendary creatures secretly live beside humans. This setting is a dark reflection of the real world filled with corruption, apathy, violence, and hopelessness. The setting is also described as "Gothic-Punk."

The Garou battle to maintain this world before all the negativity leads to a total collapse, the titular "apocalypse". They hide it from the public eye and live in secret from humanity in general. In their war, the Garou often hunt down and kill humans and supernatural creatures that either actively pursue the apocalypse or unwittingly contribute to it, due to their parasitic nature. This includes fallen Garou, vampires, evil spirits, mages, and humans (and other creatures) possessed by demons. In doing so, the Garou regard themselves as the immune system of the planet.

Other themes of the game include the inability of the Garou to live as humans, although they were born in human form due to "the curse"; and interaction with spirits that are separated from the physical world in a realm that the Garou can enter. This is part of an ornate game mythology.

Players are given the opportunity to create Garou, the werewolves of the setting, or their allies or rivals. Lycanthropy in the World of Darkness setting is an inherited trait, and thus players are born with their abilities. However, these abilities only manifest in what is called the “first change”: an event, generally occurring during puberty, that causes the character's latent powers to surface. Players are given the opportunity to have their character inherently know that the Garou exist, or be an effective “orphan” from Garou society, necessitating discovery by others. It is after this point that they join that society and cut off their ties to their previous worlds, except to make sure their blood relatives remain safe.

There are three archetypes that the player can use that define how their character was born, referred to as a "breed" in the games. A Garou's parents are generally one Garou and a non-Garou human or wolf with strong Garou heritage, referred to as kinfolk.Brian Campbell, et al. Werewolf: The Apocalypse Revised Edition (White Wolf Publishing, 2000, {{ISBN|1-56504-365-0}}) - Page 30{{Self-published inline|date=October 2022}} Garou with human parentage are called "homid", and Garou of wolf parentage are "lupus", that gain intelligence and the ability to turn into humans. There is also the option to play as a "metis", a Garou born from the union of two Garou parents; metis are born already transformed, have horns, and are infertile and deformed, and usually result in the death of the mother. Such unions are forbidden in Garou society. Each breed has its own benefits and disadvantages. In addition to these variables, players select the lunar phase under which the character was born (the “auspice”) and the tribe to which the character belongs. Each of these contributes to the advantages the character may enjoy. More advanced rules include references to other “changing breeds” in this world.

{{Main|List of Werewolf: The Apocalypse books}}

The first title in the series, Werewolf: The Apocalypse, was published by White Wolf Publishing in 1991.{{cite book |last1=Rein-Hagen |first1=Mark |title=Werewolf : the apocalypse |date=1991 |publisher=White Wolf |location=Stone Mountain, GA |isbn=1-56504-027-9}} The game was the second to integrate the fictional universe in a game system (the Storyteller System) which had been introduced in the Vampire: The Masquerade line, released earlier in the year.

Starting in 2011, as part of the "Classic World of Darkness" series, Werewolf: The Apocalypse books have been sold digitally through DriveThruRPG. DriveThru has also made some older books available as print on demand.[http://www.white-wolf.com/community/news/white-wolf-release-schedule-2011-2012 White Wolf Release Schedule 2011-2012] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910054210/http://www.white-wolf.com/community/news/white-wolf-release-schedule-2011-2012 |date=2011-09-10 }}DriveThru RPG White Wolf "Now in Print" Products [http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?&filters=0_0_0_0_44294&manufacturers_id=1] (retrieved January 20th, 2012) New titles in the series have also been released, such as the Werewolf Translation Guide in April 2012.Werewolf-Translation-Guide Werewolf Translation Guide on DriveThru [http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/100710/Werewolf-Translation-Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415053346/http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/100710/Werewolf-Translation-Guide|date=2012-04-15}} (retrieved April 17th, 2012)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse is among the White Wolf properties licensed to be developed by Onyx Path Publishing.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzjC6lD7JCs |title=What is the Onyx Path? Panel from GenCon on YouTube |website=YouTube |date=22 August 2012 |access-date=2016-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204160230/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzjC6lD7JCs |archive-date=2016-12-04 |url-status=live }}

In 2017-01-19, Paradox Interactive AB announced the a video game adaptation of the franchise with Focus Home Interactive,{{cite web|url=http://www.paradoxinteractive.com/media/press-releases/press-release/white-wolf-partners-with-focus-home-interactive-for-a-video-game-adaptation-of-the-world-of-darkness-storyteller-game-werewolf-the-apocalypse |title=White Wolf partners with Focus Home Interactive for a video game adaptation of the World of Darkness Storyteller game, Werewolf: The Apocalypse.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208012601/http://www.paradoxinteractive.com/media/press-releases/press-release/white-wolf-partners-with-focus-home-interactive-for-a-video-game-adaptation-of-the-world-of-darkness-storyteller-game-werewolf-the-apocalypse|archivedate=2022-02-08}} under the title Werewolf: The Apocalypse – The Official Video Game.[http://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/2017/01/focus-home-interactive-and-cyanide-announces-werewolf-the-apocalypse-title/ Focus Home Interactive and Cyanide Announces Werewolf: The Apocalypse Title][https://web.archive.org/web/20180910183419mp_/http://werewolf-videogame.com Werewolf: The Apocalypse] The release title would become Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood around June 2019.[https://web.archive.org/web/20190621083255/http://werewolf-videogame.com/en Werewolf The Apocalypse]

A fifth edition of the game was released in August 2023. It is planned to be supported by the online toolset World of Darkness Nexus, which includes rules and lore compendium, tools for creating and managing characters, matchmaking, and video chat functionality.{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/world-of-darkness-nexus-vampire-the-masquerade-demiplane/ |title=World of Darkness Nexus Announced, Adds Digital Toolset to Vampire: The Masquerade and Other Games |author=Hoffer, Christian |date=2021-11-16 |website=Comicbook.com |publisher=ViacomCBS |access-date=2021-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116233325/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/world-of-darkness-nexus-vampire-the-masquerade-demiplane/ |archive-date=2021-11-16 |url-status=live}}

Mike Nystul reviewed Werewolf: The Apocalypse in White Wolf #33 (Sept./Oct., 1992), rating it a 4 out of 5 and stated that "I highly recommend Werewolf, especially to gamers who bought Vampire and never got around to playing it."{{Cite magazine |last=Nystul |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Nystul |date=September–October 1992|title=Werewolf The Apocalypse Feature Review |magazine= White Wolf Magazine |number=33 |pages=32–37 |url=https://imgur.com/a/xEPdDI4}}

Rick Swan reviewed the game twice in the magazine pages of Dragon.

• In the April 1993 edition (Issue 192), Swan was not impressed by the editing: "Much of the book is haphazardly organized; the section on storytelling precedes the chapter on character creation, breed types are introduced in Chapter Two but not detailed until Chapter Six, and I had to search three chapters to round up all the pertinent material about Renown. Skills lack adequate descriptions; specialties are barely described at all.” However, he still gave the game a thumbs up, saying, "With its emphasis on storytelling over mechanics, Werewolf gets closer to the heart of what role-playing’s supposedly all about than any new game I’ve seen in a long time."{{cite journal|last=Swan|first=Rick|author-link=Rick Swan| date=April 1993 |title=Roleplaying Reviews|journal=Dragon|publisher=TSR, Inc.|issue=192|pages=83–85}}
• However, 18 months later, in the October 1994 edition (Issue 210), Swan had revised his opinion after a long play-test. He said "I couldn’t keep track of the complicated mythology (What the heck is the Impergium?), my players weren’t sure how their characters were supposed to behave (What is it you do with totems again?), and none of us were able to keep the tribes straight (Are the Shadow Lords trying to overthrow the Silver Fangs, or vice versa?). The Werewolf game was great, to be sure. But it made us feel stupid. So we gave up." Swan did give a thumbs up to the recently published Werewolf Player's Guide, which he called "a handy — make that indispensable — tome that clarifies the game’s murkier concepts."{{cite journal|last=Swan|first=Rick|author-link=Rick Swan| date=October 1994 |title=Roleplaying Reviews|journal=Dragon|publisher=TSR, Inc.|issue=201|pages=91–92}}

Dustin Wright reviewed 2nd Edition for Pyramid #10 (November 1994) and stated that "Overall, Werewolf: The Apocalypse 2nd Edition is much better than the first book. Bill Bridges and the pack are to be congratulated for putting out an outstanding product; I heartily recommend it to those out there already playing the first edition. For those of you who have not tried playing Werewolf yet, I suggest picking this game up and giving it a try. Go rage!"{{Cite web |url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=1054 |title=Pyramid: Pyramid Pick: Werewolf: The Apocalypse, 2nd ed |access-date=2019-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112163801/http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=1054 |archive-date=2016-11-12 |url-status=live }}

• In 1995, Werewolf: The Apocalypse was nominated for Casus Belli{{'s}} award for the best role-playing game of 1994, and ended up in second place after Chimères.{{cite magazine |date=April–May 1995 |title=Trophées Casus Belli 1994 du jeu de rôle |language=fr |magazine=Casus Belli |issue=86 |pages=16–17 |publisher=Excelsior Publications}}
• In a 1996 reader's poll conducted by Arcane magazine to determine the 50 most popular roleplaying games of all time, Werewolf: The Apocalypse was ranked 33rd. Editor Paul Pettengale commented: "Being the second game in the Storyteller series - which includes Vampire, Mage, Wraith and Changeling - Werewolf shares the same system and setting, the World of Darkness. It contains lots of background for the Garou, and their struggle to fight the forces of the Wyrm. It can be fast, vicious, or tragic and thought-provoking."{{cite journal|last= Pettengale|first=Paul|date= Christmas 1996 |title=Arcane Presents the Top 50 Roleplaying Games 1996|journal=Arcane|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=14|pages=25–35}}

• Valkyrie #1 (Sept., 1994)
• Casus Belli #72 (Nov 1992){{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/casus-belli-079/page/19/mode/2up | title=Casus Belli #079 | date=1994 }}
• Dosdediez (Número 8 - Jul 1996){{Cite web|url=https://www.rpggeek.com/rpgissuearticle/177057/novedades-nacional|title = Novedades - Nacional | Article | RPGGeek}}
• Rollespilsmagasinet Fønix (Danish) (Issue 3 - July/August 1994){{Cite web|url=https://www.rpggeek.com/rpgissuearticle/21352/anmeldelser|title=Anmeldelser | Article | RPGGeek}}
• Pyramid - Revised Edition{{cite web | url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=2076 | title=Pyramid: Pyramid Review: Werewolf: The Apocalypse Revised Edition }}
• Backstab #26{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/backstab-026/page/n79/mode/2up | title=Backstab #026 | date=2001 }}
• Backstab #34 (as "Loup-garou: l'Apocalypse") (3e edition)https://archive.org/details/backstab-034/page/n105/mode/2up

{{Anchor|Video games}}{{See also|List of World of Darkness video games}}

• In 1995, White Wolf Publishing released Rage, a collectible card game based on the Werewolf property.
• A PC adventure game named Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of Gaia were developed by DreamForge Intertainment and ASC Games but the companies went bankrupt before it finished.{{cite web |last1=Mullen |first1=Micheal |title=ASC Games To Shut Down |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/asc-games-to-shut-down/1100-2446015/ |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=2 October 2023 |date=26 April 2000}}
• A PlayStation/Sega Saturn game by Capcom titled Werewolf: The Apocalypse was announced{{cite magazine |title=Next Wave|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=75|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=October 1995|page=88}}{{cite magazine |title=E3: Werewolf: The Apocalypse |magazine=GamePro|issue=95|publisher=IDG|date=August 1996|page=48}} but cancelled in early 1997.{{cite magazine |title=Parade of Popular PC and Arcade Titles Coming to Home Systems this Winter|magazine=GamePro|issue=104|publisher=IDG|date=May 1997|page=24}}
• Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest, a visual novel role-playing video game developed by Different Tales, was released on October 13, 2020.{{Cite web|title=Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest – Different Tales|url=http://differenttales.com/werewolf/|access-date=2020-12-01|language=en-US}}
• Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood, an action role-playing video game, was developed by Cyanide{{cite web |url=https://www.hardcoregamer.com/2018/11/23/bigben-to-publish-distribute-upcoming-werewolf-the-apocalypse-earthblood/318748/ |title=Bigben to Publish, Distribute Upcoming Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Earthblood |author=Riaz, Adnan |date=2018-11-23 |website=Hardcore Gamer |access-date=2019-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125001429/https://www.hardcoregamer.com/2018/11/23/bigben-to-publish-distribute-upcoming-werewolf-the-apocalypse-earthblood/318748/ |archive-date=2018-11-25 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamereactor.eu/grtv/360773/Werewolf+Earth+Blood+Martin+Ericsson+Julien+Desourteaux+Interview/ |title=Werewolf: Earth Blood - Martin Ericsson & Julien Desourteaux Interview |date=2018-02-16 |website=Gamereactor |publisher=Gamez Publishing |access-date=2019-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217192839/https://www.gamereactor.eu/grtv/360773/Werewolf+Earth+Blood+Martin+Ericsson+Julien+Desourteaux+Interview/ |archive-date=2018-02-17}} and released on February 4, 2021 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.worldofdarkness.com/werewolf-the-apocalypse}}

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Category:Werewolf video games

Category:Role-playing games introduced in 1992