Archetypes
As human beings, we're no strangers to roleplaying. We layer different personalities around ourselves, presenting false faces when they're more "acceptable" and offering our true faces when we feel comfortable. We take on roles when necessary, roles that guide gu ide and shape our behavior. beh avior. The optional system of personality Archetypes is a way of encouraging this in c haracters, and of rewarding players for adding extra detail. A character typically has two Archetypes: Nature & Demeanor. N ature is the character's true personality; Demeanor guides the way he behaves around others. These Archetypes are presented here for players who wish to enrich their roleplaying (or at least get a better handle on regaining Willpower). Certain Archetypes tend to overlap some of the roles that are already set in Garou society, such as Philodox or Galliard. To a certain degree, all Philodox are Judges, just as Ragabash are Deviants and Jesters, but such roles are more duty to auspice than true personality traits. Just as with humans, a Garou can let his perceived role in life define his personality — or not. These rules provide a deeper level of psychology and some variety in roleplaying for troupes who wish to use them. If the Storyteller allows, players can recover Willpower by achieving goals appropriate to their Natures, as well as through ones pertinent to their Auspices. The key to using Archetypes is the interaction between the character's Nature & Demeanor. Their Nature is the true personality of the character, which she is but might not reveal to others. Most people don't want others to know them intimately, and they therefore create facades behind which they can hide. Their Demeanor, the personality she "shows" to others, may be as consistent as her Attributes, or it may change from minute to minute. An extraordinarily open, honest or simple-minded individual often h as the same Demeanor & Nature. Archetypes have a practical impact on the game, for each Archetype A rchetype provides a different way to regain Willpower points. The Nature of the character is thus v ital in regaining Willpower. If a character succeeds at something important to her Nature, the Storyteller can at times allow the character to regain Willpower. If the Storyteller deems the effort valid, he awards anything from 1-3 Willpower points, depending on the character's actions. The Storyteller shouldn't reward a character if he thinks the player took certain actions simply to regain Willpower and not for a valid roleplaying reason. NOTE: The Storytellers encourage you to develop your own Archetypes, thus to create truly unique characters, Don’t forget to make sure to explain how h ow the character can regain willpower, and lose it, in opposite situations! Alpha You believe that you were born to lead and that your instinct proves you correct. It's your driving goal to become the leader of the pack, sept, tribe—whatever. You are an "alpha," the lead wolf— even when others don't necessarily recognize you as such. Thus, you feel the need to prove p rove your dominance to others constantly in order to reinforce your leadership to them and to yourself. This approach has brought you many challenges and is to bring many more in the future. Any Garou can take this Archetype, and the Storyteller should judge when to award Willpower. Everyone expects to follow an Ahroun or Philodox; Garou of these auspices don't regain Willpower for this Archetype unless they've truly earned it. — Regain Willpower whenever you successfully successfully prove your right to lead others, either through challenge or by convincing them, through roleplaying, to follow you. •
Analyst Anything can be explained rationally, and you will explain it. — Regain Willpower when your rational/scientific method helps solve a major problem. •
Architect The Architect has a sense of purpose pu rpose even greater then herself. She is truly happy only when creating something of lasting value for others. People will always need things, and the Architect strives to provide at least one necessity. You are the type of person who makes an effort to build something of value: va lue: to found a town, create a •
company or in some way leave a lasting legacy. Inventors, pioneers, town founders, entrepreneurs and the like are all Architect Archetypes. — Regain Willpower whenever you create create or establish establish something of importance or lasting lasting value. Autist You must hide your secrets from others. Even more importantly, you hide your true self. Anyone who understands you can hurt you, so no one must ever see the real you -- no one can come close. Give away as little of yourself as possible -- adopt a false personality if you like -- but just make sure no one gets hold of o f the truth about you. Knowledge is power, and those who know you can do anything they like to you. This is a Nature found among many Uktena — Regain Willpower whenever another character confesses an inability to to understand you, you, or whenever someone makes a false assumption about you that gives you an advantage. •
Autocrat The Autocrat wants to be in charge. He seeks prominence for its own sake, not because he has an operation’s best interest at heart or because he has the best ideas (though he may certainly think so). You must have complete control of the situation, complete control over those around you and as much control over fate as you possibly can. Control is the only thing you understand; it is what you worship. Authority is what you desire, and it is what you gain when you have control. The more authority you have, the more control you gain. One hand feeds the other. Others may consider you domineering, b ut they just aren’t up for the job - you are the only one who can do it. He may genuinely believe others are incompetent, b ut ultimately he craves power and control. Dictators, gang leaders, bullies, corporate raiders and their ilk are Autocrat Archetypes. — Regain Willpower whenever you achieve complete control over a situation involving involving other individuals, individuals, group or organization. •
Avant Garde You must always be in the forefront - always the first with a piece of news, a dance or fashion trend, or a discovery in the arts. Nothing pains you more than hearing news secondhand, or o r someone else telling you about a hot new band. New discoveries are your life, and you devote a great deal of time and effort to keeping up with things. After all, if you’re not in the forefront, you’re nowhere. — Regain Willpower whenever you are first first with a piece of news or some other significant discovery. discovery. •
Barbarian Civilization is for weaklings. Intrigue is for cowards. You know that the only things that matter are personal strength, honor and bravery, and you live your life by an unshakable code. cod e. No one earns your respect unless u nless he’s powerful enough to hold his own ow n in a straightforward contest. The weak are a re fit only to serve the strong. Not to say that you only respect physical violence; you may be very intelligent, caring and merciful. You cannot, however, abide weaklings or craven bastards who die behind pretty words or others’ bodies. A title means nothing unless it is earned through personal p ersonal valor or wisdom, and an oath means nothing unless the one who makes it will die to uphold it. As for the trappings of civilization, you find them a waste of time. What was good enough for your forefathers is good enough for you. After all, the measure of a man (or a woman) is endurance to hardship and honor in the face of adversity. — Regain Willpower whenever you or your code of honor clearly clearly triumphs over some overtly ‘civilized’ opponent or situation. •
Benefactor You have a bounty boun ty of riches or some other resources which you feel compelled to share. — Regain Willpow Willpower er when you help someone someone by providing somethin something g no one else around you can. •
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Beta
Second to the alpha, the beta is his favoured companion and lieutenant. Your place is not to lead, but you do not believe in going against the grain. Your strengths are counsel and support, not only to the alpha, but also to the rest of your pack. You act as the alpha's right arm, and the pack is often dependant on the beta's wisdom before making decisions. — Regain Willpower whenever your counsel or aid is the direct cause for your packs success. Conversely, you lose one point of Willpower whenever your council results in a loss, or when the alpha you have been blindly following and supporting is proven unfit for his role. Bon Vivant The Bon Vivant knows that life - and unlife - is shallow and meaningless. As such, the Bon Vivant decides to enjoy her time on Earth. The Bon Vivant is not necessarily irresponsible. Rather, she is simply predisposed to having a good time along the way. Most Bon Vivants have low Self-Control scores, as they are so given to excess. Hedonists, sybarites, and dilettantes are all examples of the Bon Vivant Archetype. — Regain Willpower whenever you have you truly enjoy yourself and can fully express your exultation. At the Storyteller’s option, a particularly fabulous revelry may yield multiple Willpower points. •
Bravo You are known as a bully, a tough guy and a thug. Things must always go your way, an d you do not tolerate anyone who crosses you. Power and might are all you respect; indeed, you heed only individuals who can prove their power to you. You see nothing wrong with forcing your will up on others. There is nothing you like better than to persecute, antagonize, heckle and intimidate anyone for whom you have contempt — and you respect few people indeed. The emotions of kindness and pity are not completely foreign to you, but you hide from your own sense of weakness through cruelty to others. You might protect the weak, but you do not tolerate such weakness in yourself. — Regain Willpower whenever you intimidate intimidate or physically force another person person into doing what you you want. •
Builder Your sense of purpose goes beyond your own needs; you try to create something of lasting value for all who come after you. People need many things, and you gain satisfaction by providing whatever you can. You are the type of person who makes an effort to build something of value: to found a sept, create a caern, raise strong and wise cubs or in some other way leave a lasting legacy. — Regain Willpower whenever you create create or establish establish something of importance or lasting lasting value. •
Bureaucrat Laws were created for a reason, and you have to be sure to follow them. Rules weren't made to be broken. The Litany exists to protect the Garou, the laws of the wild influence every lupus and mankind's laws aren't as easy to forget as some Garou would hope. You must follow the rules to a "T." If nobody follows the laws, civilization breaks down into chaos. You know the rules, and you know kn ow that by following them, they lead to victory. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you resolve resolve a situation situation "by the book" and can get others to follow follow the correct procedures. •
Capitalist Why give it away for free when you can sell it? You are the ultimate mercenary, realizing that there is always a market to be developed - anything can be a commodity. You have a keen understanding of how to manipulate both kine and Cainites into thinking that they need specific goods or services. Appearance and influence are everything when it comes to the big sale, though you'll use anything to your adva ntage. Salesmen, soldiers of fortune and bootlickers all adhere to the Capitalist Archetype. •
— Regain Willpower whenever you make a successful successful "sale" or barter of any commodity. Commodities need not be physical items; they may be bits of information, favors or other such intangibles. Caregiver You have a soft place in your heart and feel the need to care for the unfortunate. People around you depend on your stability and strength to keep them steady and centered. You are the one to whom people turn when they have a problem. As a wolf, you nurture and care for smaller wolves and the weak. This is an Archetype found among many Children of Gaia. — Regain Willpower whenever you successfully protect or nurture nurture someone else. This This comfort can be as small as a smile of support or bringing food to an elderly wolf. You must help the other person in some way, though he need not acknowledge (or even be aware of) your assistance. •
Cavalier You are bold, intrepid, valiant and fearless as you need to be to complete your duty. You are the hero who tries to live up to glorious ideals and codes of justice. By protecting that which is goo d, you seek to preserve the society that made you what you are. If your Nature is Cavalier, and your Humanity ever falls below four, you have to choose a new Nature. You probably hate Deviants, though you may not always recognize them. — Regain Willpower when you manage to accomplish accomplish a significant significant task that positively affects the group to which you belong. •
Celebrant You live for the joy of what you do. Your cause, be it enthusiasm for battle, the telling of tales, or for weaving intricate political plots, is what sustains you, and you love it. It gives you the little edge that will make you victorious, and even inspire those around you with your fervor. — Regain Willpower when you manage to rejoice rejoice over your cause, or when you successfully win win another over to your passion. Conversely, lose one p oint of Willpower whenever you are deprived of o f your pursuit, or you for some reason lose your zealousness. •
Chameleon Independent and self-reliant, you manage to blend into any situation. You carefully study the behavior and mannerisms of everyone you come in contact with so you can pass yourself off as someone else later. You spend so much time altering your mannerisms and ap pearance that your own sire may not even recognize you. Spies, con artists, drag queens and impostors best represent the Chameleon. — Regain Willpower whenever you fool someone into thinking you're you're someone else for for your own (or your pack's) benefit. •
Child The Child is still immature in personality and temperament. He wants what he wants now, and often prefers someone to give it to him. Although he can typically care for himself, he would rather have a caretaker-type cater to his bratty desires. Some Child Archetypes are actually innocent rather than immature, ignorant of the cold ways of the real world. Children, spoiled individuals and some drug abusers are Child Archetypes. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you manage manage to convince someone someone to help you with no gain to herself, herself, or to nurture you. •
Competitor It's all or nothing for you. The thrill of victory is the only thrill that you recog nize; it is the thing that drives you forward. You see life as a contest and society as a dichotomy of winners and losers. You try to turn every situation into a contest of some kind — it is the only way you can relate to anything. You are capable of cooperating with others, but only by turning the g roup interactions into another contest: You must be the leader, or the most productive, or the most indispensable, o r the best liked — anything, as long as it means you win, in some way or another. This Archetype is found among many Shadow Lords. •
— Regain Willpower whenever you win a contest of any sort, formal or informal. For truly impressive victories, the Storyteller may award more points. Confidant You understand others, and, more importantly, you like them. You are a facilitator who listens and advises. People confess to you and in return you give them advice, most of it good (though sometimes your advice is more to your own benefit than to that of its recipient). You are very interested in other people, in who and what they are. Personality fascinates you, as does the brutality and the beauty of Garou nature. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever someone someone confides confides in you on a personal and intimate intimate level. •
Conformist The Conformist is a follower, taking another's lead and finding security in the decisions of others. She prefers not to take charge, instead seeking to throw in with the rest the group and lend her own unique aid. The Conformist is drawn to the most dynamic personality or the individual she perceives to be the "best." Being a Conformist is not necessarily a bad thing - every group n eeds followers to lend stability to their causes. Groupies, party voters and "the masses" are Conformist Archetypes. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever the group group achieves one of its goals goals due to your support. support. •
Conniver Why work hard and break your back ba ck when you can get someone to do your work for you? You always try to find the easy way out, the fast track to success and wealth. Some people might call what you do swindling or even outright theft, but you know that you just do what everyone else does doe s — except that you do it better. Additionally, it's a game, and you get great pleasure from outwitting someone. Connivers play many roles, so you may be a thief, a swindler, a street waif, a con man or just a finagler. This Nature is one found among many Bone Gnawers and Glass Walkers. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you trick trick another person person into doing what you want. want. •
Contrary Opposites are necessary in order to have balance. Without conflict, all life devolves into stagnation. You embody the art of reminding others the 'other' way. You do not disagree simply fo the sake of disagreeing; rather, you do so to shake the complacency of others so that they do not act without questioning the truth of their actions or speak without considering the oppo site point of view. Your approach to life sometimes takes the form of deliberately acting contrary to the expectations of societal or gender roles. If you are male, you question the standard of maleness by assuming the dress or responsibilities of women. If you are female, you challenge the restrictions of your gender by dressing or acting as a male. You may sometimes speak in riddles or say the opposite of what you mean. This Nature is suitable for Ragabash Garou in particular. — Regain Willpower Willpower whenever whenever your contrary contrary actions cause another another person to question question a previous previous assumption. •
Crackerjack Whatever it is you do, you're the best, and people can't help but be impressed. — Regain Willpower whenever you pull off an impressive stunt stunt in the face face of incredible odds (this may may include making a roll of 4 successes or more on something). •
Creep Show You strive to shock and disgust those around you with gratuitous acts and ostentatiously "evil" mannerisms. You realize, of course, that it's all show a nd merely a way to intimidate and control co ntrol others. Outsiders, on the other hand, think you are the Devil incarnate, and you revel in this image. Shock-rockers, rebellious teenagers and the attention-starved exemplify the Creep Show Archetype. — Regain Willpower whenever someone recoils from from you in horror or otherwise otherwise reacts in in fear. •
Critic Nothing in the world should be accepted without thorough scrutiny and examination. Nothing is ever perfect, and the blemishes must be pointed out ou t in order for the good to be truly known. Your standards are high for everything, and you insist on their being met. Yo u encourage the same ideals in others, because laxity and low standards reduce the quality of life of everyone. O thers will thank you later, once they discover the purity of your perspective. You seek out and expose the imperfections in every person or thing you encounter. You are never satisfied with anything that is less than perfect, unless it is within yourself - after all, you’re not a perfectionist. — Regain Willpower whenever you are are able to to discover a significant imperfection imperfection that has escaped the attention of others. •
Cub You are still immature in personality and temperament: a kid who never grew up. Although you believe you can care for yourself, you prefer the security of being watched over by others. You often seek out someone who can look after you — a caretaker of sorts. Some see you as a spoiled brat, while others see you as an innocent pup pu p unaffected by the evils of the world. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever someone someone does something something to help you with no apparent apparent gain for herself. herself. •
Curmudgeon You're an irascible, churlish old wolf at heart, w ith a severely grim outlook and a black b lack sense of humor (if any). Whether your cynicism is fed by the oncoming Apocalypse, or whether you put up a stern front to hide your true sorrow, you're well known for naysaying just about anything. Of course, to you it may not be "cynicism," "c ynicism," but rather "a perfect understanding of how h ow the world really works." — Regain Willpower whenever someone does something stupid, just as you predicted. You must must predict it it either out loud to the other characters or in private to the Storyteller. •
Dabbler The Dabbler is interested in everything but focuses on nothing. He flits from idea to idea, passion p assion to passion and project to project without actually finishing anything. Others may get swept up in the Dabbler's enthusiasm, and be left high and dry as a result when he moves on to something else without warning. Most Dabblers have high Intelligence, Ch arisma and Manipulation ratings, but not much in the way of Wits or Stamina. Toreador are often Dabblers, particularly those afflicted with the derisive sobriquet "Poseurs." — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you find find a new enthusiasm and drop your your old one completely. completely. •
Decoder You thrive on puzzles and riddles, be they the obvious sort, found in books and games, or hidden within seemingly benign texts or even a person's face. — Regain Willpow Willpower er when you solve a particularl particularly y challenging challenging puzzle or mystery. mystery. •
Defender Not everyone can be a warrior. You can, however, and whatever your chosen field of combat may be - warfare, law, medicine, religion, whatever - you bend your efforts towards defending those who deserve a fighting chance. Perhaps you are (or once were) a guardian on the road to Damascus, a city watchman or a healer. Maybe you achieved whatever title you hold ho ld (or held) by protecting your vassals, not by favoring a lord; or turned your sword-arm to God’s will. Whatever history you may have, your task in life is to defend some patron. Some protect the weak, others protect the throne. — Regain Willpower whenever you successfully ward you protectorate protectorate or patron from from some hostile hostile threat. •
Deviant There are always people who don't don 't fit in, and you are such a miscreant. The status quo doesn't suit you, and your beliefs, ethics and motivations fly in the face of co nventional thinking. You don't give a damn about other •
people's morality, but you do adhere to your own strange code of conduct. condu ct. Deviants are typically irreverent, and some have truly bizarre tastes and desires. — Regain Willpower whenever you are able to thumb your nose at society and its precepts without retaliation (a hard task in tradition-bound Garou society). Director You despise chaos and disorder, and you tend to take control and organize things as a means of suppressing supp ressing anarchy. You like to be in charge, live to organize and habitually strive to make things work smoothly. You trust your own judgment implicitly and tend to think of things in black and white terms: "This won't work"; "You're either for me or against me"; "There are two ways to do this—my way and the wrong way." This Archetype is not the same as Alpha, for a Director can be perfectly happy working under an Alpha — as long as things go the Director's way. — Regain Willpow Willpower er when you are able to lead a group and accomplish accomplish some significan significantt task. •
Enigma Your actions are bizarre, puzzling and inexplicable to everyone except yourself. Your strangeness may be residual effects from the Creation Rites, or the most effective way for you to carry out the work of the Sabbat to see the movements of the Antediluvians A ntediluvians and counter them. To the rest of the world, however, your erratic actions suggest that you're eccentric if not completely crazy. Conspiracy theorists, deep-cover agents and jyhad fanatics all live up to the Enigma Archetype. A rchetype. — Regain Willpower whenever someone is completely completely perplexed or baffled baffled by one of your actions actions that later turns out to be a fruitful endeavor. •
Explorer There is much you haven't done do ne or seen in your life. There's an entire world out there to explore. New people to meet, new places to visit, new things to see... you want to take it all in. Just think! Once you've finished exploring this world, there's always the Umbra! You know that the Umbra is full of new and exciting things. Discovery fuels your fire, and you spend as much time as possible exploring and traveling to new places. — Regain Willpower whenever you make a significant significant discovery such as finding a lost fetish, fetish, a new area of the Umbra or even something new about yourself or others. •
Eye of The Storm Despite your calm subtle appearance, chaos and havoc seems to follow you. From burning cities to emotional upheaval, death and destruction circle you like albatrosses. For you, unlife is a never-ending trial with uncertainty around every comer. Gang leaders, po litical figures and other influential individuals exemplify the Eye of the Storm Archetype. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever a ruckus, ruckus, riot or less violent violent phenomenon phenomenon occurs around you. you. •
Fanatic You are consumed by the cause, the primary force in your life. You direct every ounce of blood and passion you possess toward it; in fact, you may feel very guilty about spending time on anything else. You let nothing stand in your way. You and others around you may suffer, but your cause is everything — the end justifies the means. Before the game begins, make sure you describe your cause and define how it may affect your behavior. Fighting the Wyrm is every Garou's cause, so it is not recommended as a cause here. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you accomplis accomplish h an act that furthers your your cause. •
Follower All great leaders need followers, and you stand ready for your orders. Taking charge is just not your style. You find it very distasteful to go against the flow or to rebel. You work incredibly well with others when you are all trying to reach a common goal. You never aspire to be the alpha of the pack; all you want to do is follow and •
support your leader. You hate inconsistency and instability, and you know that supporting a strong leader prevents chaos from occurring. — Regain Willpower Willpower whenever whenever your pack accomplishes accomplishes something something because of your support support and aid. Gallant You are as flamboyant as you are amoral; some see you as a rogue, a Don Juan, a rake or an idol to many — but you see yourself as all of the above. You are a consummate actor who loves to make as big a show of things as possible; nothing attracts your attention more than an appreciative audience. You love people, and you love to impress them even more. Gallants vary widely in temperament and ambition, as little unites them beyond their love of attention. This Nature is found among many Fianna. — Regain Willpower whenever you manage to dazzle dazzle or impress another person. The Storyteller Storyteller is always the judge, even when characters are involved. •
Guru Your enlightenment draws others to you. You may be a mentor of a particular Path of Enlightenment, a priest with the Church or merely an idealist in your pack. Whatever the case, your presence motivates and moves others to engage in spiritual or ideological pursuits. Your peers view you as calm, centered and an d "with it" even when you are preaching about violence as a means to an end. Cult leaders, Zen masters and pack priests are examples of Gurus. — Regain Willpower whenever someone seeks out your help in spiritual matters and your guidance moves that individual to an enlightened action that he normally would not have taken. Also, regain a point of Willpower whenever you achieve an epiphany that relates to your personal philosophy. •
Hedonist The Apocalypse is coming — so have as good a time as possible. A human would call you a bon vivant, sensualist, epicure or voluptuary — but your fellow Garou call you an idler, loafer, layabout and irresponsible pleasure seeker. You are quite the party animal, though: The words austerity, self-denial and self-discipline have no place in your life. You much prefer the concept of instant gratification. Still, you don't mind a little hard work, as long as a good time awaits you upon its completion. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you have a truly truly good time and can fully express express your exaltati exaltation on (or perhaps even more points if you enjoy an especially boisterous night). •
Honest-Abe You have a moderate temperament, and refrain at all cost from telling lies and stealing from others. You were brought up to live honestly and openly, and to be good to others - you have lived your life (or unlife) by these simple truths ever since. You are not a dogmatist and do not insist that others live as you do, nor have you constructed a complicated set of rules for yourself. You are flexible in your behavior, but always carefully evaluate your actions against your beliefs. — Regain Willpower if your honesty harms you or your friends in some some way, but later turn turn out to help you. In other words, your honesty turns out to have been the proper way to do things, even from a pragmatic point of view. •
Idealist The Idealist believes - truly, madly, deeply - in some higher goal or morality. The object of his idealism may be something as pragmatic as the Camarilla's eventual triumph or as amorphous as the ultimate good, but the belief is there. Idealists are frequently either very new to the Blood or very old, and many seek after Golconda as the final expression of their idealism. In the meantime, an Idealist tries to reconcile his beliefs with the demands of vampiric existence, often acting contrary to self-interest to do so. — Regain Willpower any time an action action in pursuit of your ideals furthers furthers your goals and brings your ideal closer to fruition.
Innovator There are always better ways to achieve a goal; you will find those better ways. Inventors, traders, philosophers and strategists are examples of your kind. You are the path-blazer; the visionary; the critic who is never satisfied, even with seeming perfection. Tradition, to you, is a snare which binds imagination. Whatever you do, strive to improve upon what went before. — Regain Willpower whenever your quest to to create some new way of doing something succeeds. Dramatic Dramatic breakthroughs are worth more confidence (and thus more Willpower) than simple improvements. Jester You are the fool, idiot, quipster, clown or comic, forever making fun of both b oth yourself and others. You constantly seek the humor in any situation, as you strive always to battle the tides of depression inside yourself. You hate sorrow and pain, and you constantly try to take others' minds off the da rk side of life. Sometimes you'll do nearly anything to forget that pain exists. Your particular brand of humor might not always impress your friends, but it makes you feel better. Some Jesters manage to escape pain and are truly happy, but most never find release. — Regain Willpower when you lift the spirits spirits of persons around you through the the device of humor, especially when you are able to escape your own pain in the process. •
Jobsworth You are dedicated to the unbroken routine of your existence, and a nd refuse to do anything that compromises your routine and established practices. No matter how urgent or deserving an individual case may be, the preservation of established practices and routines is more important. Individual decisions and considerations are fallible, whereas routines and established procedures are the distilled wisdom of years or decades of decisionmaking. Routines are what separate order from chaos. Make an exception once, and it sets a dangerous precedent; make an exception twice, and the door to anarchy is opened. — Regain a Willpower Willpower point each each time you are able to preserve preserve your routine, routine, and each time you avoid reevaluating anything or making a decision about a situation based on its individual merits. At the Storyteller’s Storyteller’s option, more points may be awarded for truly impressive feats of generalization. •
Judge You seek to make things better b etter by acting as a mediator, arbitrator and peacemak er. You pride yourself on your rationality, your judgment and your ability to deduce a reasonable explanation when you process p rocess the facts. You struggle to promote truth, but you understand how difficult it is to ascertain. You respect justice, for it is the means by which truth can reign. In your view, people are resources, though ones that are most difficult to manage and employ. You hate dissension and arguments, and you shy away from do gmatism. Sometimes Judges make good leaders, though a lack of vision can sometimes cause them to maintain the status quo instead of searching for a better way. Philodox naturally gravitate toward this Archetype. — Regain Willpower when you are successfully successfully able to separate the truth truth from a web of lies (without using a Gift) or when you can convince disputing individuals to agree with your judgments. •
Lone Wolf You are the type of Garou who is always alone, even in the midst of a crowd. You are the wanderer, the hunter, the loner. Although others might think of you as lonely, forsaken, isolated or remote, in truth you prefer your own company to that of others. There are many potential reasons you are this way: You don't understand others, you understand others too well, others dislike you, others like you too much, or you are simply lost in your own thoughts. Your reasons are your own. Despite the name, most Ronin are not Lone Wolves by Nature, and therein lies the pain of being outcast. — Regain Willpower when you manage, without the aid of others, to accomplish accomplish some significant significant task on your own that aids the group (pack, sept, tribe) in some way. •
Maker Your sense of purpose goes beyond your own needs; you try to create something of lasting value for those who will come after you. People need many things, and you gain satisfaction by providing whatever you can. You are the type of person who makes an effort to build something of value: a sept, create a caern or in some way leave a lasting legacy. Many American pioneers were of this Nature. — Regain Willpower whenever you create create or establish establish something of importance or lasting lasting value. •
Manipulator You have always been fascinated by others. Why do people behave as they do? What thoughts and emotions affect their actions? The cognitive processes that influence the choices people make intrigue you. Sometimes just asking people questions about their actions can yield important information, but often people do not truly understand their own motivations and concerns. In these cases, it is far easier to set up situations - exp eriments, if you will - to see how people behave. You attempt to manipulate these situations for your own personal advantage, in order to discover d iscover more information about your chosen subject. Some might call these experiments cruel, but to you it is mere scientific necessity. — Regain Willpower whenever you manage to set set up an incident incident or situation situation that allows you you to gain new insight into your subject’s psyche. •
Martyr Many Garou possess the martyr instinct, but few act upon it. Even fewer live the life of a martyr, but you are such an individual. You work twice as hard as anyone else and expect no reward beyond some recognition for your efforts. You are able to endure long-lasting an d severe suffering because of your beliefs and ideals. At worst, a Martyr expects sympathy and attention because of h er suffering, and she may even feign or exaggerate pain or deprivation. At best, a Martyr chooses to suffer injury or even death rather than renoun ce her beliefs, principles, causes or friends. — Regain Willpower when you sacrifice yourself in a real and immediate way for your beliefs or for another individual. •
Masochist The Masochist exists to test his limits, to see how much pain he can tolerate before he collapses. He gains satisfaction in humiliation, suffering, denial and even physical pain. The Masochist defines who he is by his capacity to feel discomfort - he rises each night only to greet a new pain. Certain extreme athletes, urban tribalists and the clinically depressed exemplify the Masochist Archetype. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you you experience experience pain in a way you never never have before. before. •
Masquerader You enjoy pretending what you're not, and a nd may be doing so to hide from others-or yourself. Particularly, Particularly, you try to hide your true supernatural identity. — Regain Willpower when you resolve a situation without anyone finding out that you're a supernatural being (or, depending on the situation, the true supernatural being you are, rather than the one you're pretending to be). •
Mediator The world is full of people who want things, sometimes people want the exact same thing. Some people have what other people want and would be willing to talk about working out a deal, but just don’t know how to start. These people often have immense trouble finding and communicating with each other. That is where you come in. You are dedicated to mediating between people - fulfilling needs, smoothing over disputes, and generally helping people talk to one another. You are the diplomat, the middle child, the perpetual person in the middle. — Regain Willpower whenever you are able to act as a go-between between two individuals or groups, and regain another point if you bring things to a satisfactory conclusion. The Storyteller may award more points for particularly outstanding mediation. •
Mercenary You are driven by your need to make the best possible deal, to acquire goods or services that add to your own personal wealth at the least possible cost to yourself. You avo id quick sales in order to experience ex perience the simple joy of bargaining. The contest itself is often more pleasurable than your inevitable victory. You enjoy the daily challenges of commerce and watch the fluctuations of your coffers with fascination. This mercantile attitude influences more than your finances. In fact, it ca rries over into every aspect of your unlife. You hu nt for victims with the same eye for efficiency that you turn toward purchasing a new wagon. You avoid waste whenever possible, taking only what you need and nothing more, unless it can be stored safely or sold. Arguments and bargaining are, in your opinion, the only way for individuals to resolve their differences and still maintain respect for one another. — Regain Willpower whenever you use your bargaining skills to acquire something something for much less less than it is worth, or whenever a clever investment turn a substantial profit. •
Omega You know your place, and it's at the bottom of the social rank. You expect no mercy, no compassion, no nothing. You get the scraps after everyone else has eaten. You get a butter knife when everyone else has klaives. You struggle to keep up, but hardly manage it, and always with your tail between your legs. To be the omega is the worst place to be for a Garou, and your ambition should be to some day rise above your station and prove your worth. This archetype is common among metis in tribes where they are disdained. — Regain Willpower whenever you achieve something that -should- gain you recognition, even when you don't receive that recognition. Gain one on e -permanent- Willpower when you manage to rise on the social ladder, and earn yourself a place of acceptance, then choose a new archetype. Since an Omega is pushed around all the time, she can only have a maximum of five temporary Willpower points at an y time. As such, she does not lose Willpower through her Archetype. •
Optimist "Everything always turns out for the best." That is the motto o f your life, and you know if you can just stay cheerful and stop worrying, your problems will never be with you forever. Some call you a fool, but b ut even they have to admit you’re happier than they are. Certainly you’ll encounter difficulties from time to time, but there’s no sense in worrying yourself to death in advance. Don’t worry, be happy and have hav e a nice day. — Regain a Willpower Willpower point whenever things turn out for the best, just just like you said they would. would. You must predict such an outcome, either out loud to the other characters or to yourself (tell the Storyteller). •
Pedagogue The Pedagogue knows it all, and desperately wants to inform others. Whether thorough a sense of purpose or a genuine desire to others, the Pedagogue makes sure his message is heard - at a t length, if necessary. Pedagogue Archetypes may range from well-meaning mentors to verbose blowhards who love to hear themselves talk. Instructors, the overeducated and "veterans of their field" are Pedagogue Archetypes. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you see or learn learn of someone who has benefited benefited from the wisdom wisdom you shared with them. •
Penitent The Penitent exists to atone for the grave sin she commits simply by being who she is. Penitents have either low self-esteem or legitimate, traumatic past experiences, and feel compelled to "make up" for inflicting themselves upon the world. Penitent Archetypes are not always religious in outlook; some truly want to scourge the world of the grief they bring to it. Repentant sinners, persons with low self-esteem and remorseful criminals are examples of the Penitent Archetype. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you feel that that you have achieved achieved absolution absolution for a given grievance. grievance. This redemption should be of the same magnitude as the transgression- the greater the crime, the greater the penance. The Storyteller is the ultimate arbiter of what constitutes a reasonable act of reparation. •
Perfectionist Perfectionist Archetypes simply demand the best. A half hearted job gives the Perfectionist no satisfaction, and she expects the same degree of commitment and attention to detail from others that she demands from herself. Although the Perfectionist may be strict and exacting, the achievement of the end goal drives her - and often for whom she is responsible. Prima donnas, artist and conceptual designers exemplify the Perfectionist Archetype. — Regain Willpower whenever you accomplish accomplish your goal without any demonstrable flaw or impediment. •
Plotter Everything you do is planned. Very little springs form you spontaneously. Your plans are often long and involved, sometimes extending beyond the lives of the mortals involved in them. Details must be exact, for you believe any deviation could bring ruin. You try to plan everything in your life; each thing you do must accomplish something in the greater scheme. Deviation from routine, however, is bothersome, not traumatic. You are organized, not deranged. You tend to be neat and precise in everything you do. — Regain Willpow Willpower er when one of your plots comes to fruitio fruition n in the exact manner you planned. planned. •
Poltroon Meeting trouble (or anything else) head-on is the tactic of fools and optimists. The sensible way to deal w ith trouble is to deny it a target. While some people peo ple might accuse you of sticking your head h ead in the sand, they d o have to admit that it has remained on your shoulders for quite some time, and looks like it will continue to do so indefinitely. You never confront what you can evade, and never face anything unless there is no other option. Courage is not high on your list of virtues, but then the line between courage and folly is virtually nonexistence to your eyes. — Regain Willpower whenever you are able to avoid a problem problem or situation situation without dealing with with it. •
Praise Seeker Your self-worth is based entirely on the opinions of others. You crave approval and praise, and will go to extreme lengths to get such - even risking yourself and things you love. Unlike the Sycophant, you do not think of protection, and you have no thought of using others’ good opinions to your own advantage - you simply crave praise and approval for their o wn sake, so you can feel good about yourself. — Regain Willpower whenever another character offers unprompted praise, admiration admiration or appreciation. appreciation. If the appreciation is truly great, and/or the other character is powerful or particularly admired, the Storyteller may award extra points. •
Predator The urge of the wild is strong within you. Kill or be killed, survival of the fittest — these age-old instincts are imprinted in the deepest recesses of your brain. Let the others talk of merciful Gaia all they wish — you know Mother Nature takes no prisoners. The surest way to render yourself safe from harm is to place yourself firmly at the top of the food chain—whether this "food chain" is metaphorical or all too carnal depends on you. — Regain Willpower whenever you single-handedly single-handedly stalk, attack and defeat defeat another creature creature in order to ensure your own survival (said creature may be p rey or an actual threat). The defeat of particularly deadly foes may warrant additional Willpower points. •
Rebel You do what you want, when you want, where you want. You are a defiant free-thinker. You are so independent minded and free-willed that you are not willing to join any particular cause or movement. You are simply yourself and desire only the freedom to be yourself. You're not a good follower and you aren't usually a very good leader either (unless your followers are willing to go wherever you lead). You tend to be insubordinate toward authority to the point of stupidity. — Regain Willpower whenever your rebellion against authority or the status quo turns out to be for the best. Recognition Seeker The opposite of most Garou, you love being the supernatural being you are, and despite the danger, long to let other people know about it. — Regain Willpower when someone realizes for the first time that you you are more than than merely mortal. mortal. •
Reluctant Garou Being a werewolf is cool, you guess, and you can understand the need for "change," but why does it have to be you? You were enjoying being human (or wolf), and now you can never go back. You want to have a normal life, to go shopping without guilt, to go g o to school, watch MTV, fall in love, have a family or a career like a normal person. Or, if you were a wolf, you would much prefer to roam the wilderness with your pack. Your eyes have been opened to things you never wanted to see, and you miss being half-blind. Granted, there are certain compensations in being a Garou; still, given the chance, you'd rather be b e the human (or wolf) that you never really were. — Gain one permanent permanent point of Willpower Willpower when you you realize and accept your your true place in the world world and establish peace between your warring sides. This rapprochement should occur after some long soulsearching and excellent roleplaying. Afterward, choose another Nature, perhaps one related to the catalyst of your change: Did you realize your true self when you took control of your pack (Alpha) or while helping people (Caregiver)? •
Renunciate For some reason, you want to leave your past far, far behind you; though as hard as you try to forget it, the past will forever haunt you. — Regain Willpower when you shake aside someone/something that reminds reminds you of your past, and do so without consequences. •
Reveler The Apocalypse is coming -- so have as good a time as possible. A human would call you a bon vivant, sensualist, sybarite and party animal, but your fellow Garou call you an idler, loafer, layabout and irresponsible pleasure seeker. You are quite the partier, though; the words austerty, self-denial and self-discipline have no place in your life. You much prefer the concept of instant gratification. Still, you don't mind a little hard work, as long as a good time awaits you upon completion. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you have a truly truly good time and can fully express express your exaltati exaltation on (or perhaps even more points if you have an especially fun night). •
Revolutionary You hold freedom dearly and desire justice, and will do whatever is necessary to hold on to these precious liberties. Unlike the Rebel, your urge is not to resist ALL authority, but rather to fight corruption in the system where you find it. — Regain Willpower when your questioning or resisting leadership or the status status quo turns out to be best best for you/your party/or those you are trying to protect. •
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Rogue
Only one thing matters to the Rogue: herself. h erself. To each his own, and if others cannot protect their claims, they have no right to them. The Rogue is not necessarily a thug or o r bully, however. She simply refuses to succumb to the whims of others. Rogues almost universally possess a sense of self sufficiency. They have their own best interests in mind at all times. Prostitutes, capitalists and criminals all embody the Rogue Archetype. — Regain Willpower when your self-centered self-centered disposition leads you to profit, profit, materially or otherwise. At the Storyteller's discretion, accumulating gain without exposing your own weaknesses may let you regain two points of Willpower. Sadist Your exist to inflict pain and suffering upon others. Killing is too easy - torture is the best way to truly harm a person, and you seek the Slowest, most painful means to push others to the ultimate limits. Pain - others' pain gives you immense pleasure. Drill sergeants, jilted ex-lovers and some of the terminally deranged may all display Sadist Archetypes at one time or another; sadism is rare enough to appear only in aberrant cases, rather than reliably in one type of person or another. — Regain Willpower whenever you inflict pain upon someone for no reason other than your own pleasure. •
Sage Knowledge is your treasure and your joy, and you enjoy both learning as well as teaching others your wisdom. — Regain Willpow Willpower er when you help someone someone through your vast knowledge knowledge or uncover uncover an obscure piece piece of lore. •
Scientist To a Scientist, existence is a puzzle which she can help to reassemble. A Scientist logically and methodically examines her every situation and maneuver, looking for logical outcomes and patterns. This is n ot to say that the Scientist is always looking for a scientific or rational explanation, but rather, that she examines her surroundings rigorously and with a critical eye. The system a Scientist attempts to impose on the world may be completely ludicrous, but it is a system, and she sticks by it. Scientists have high Mental Attributes, and often hold low-ranking positions in Camarilla city governments. — Regain Willpow Willpower er any time a logical, logical, systematic systematic approach approach to a problem helps you solve solve it, or information gathered logically is of use in another, similar situation. •
Sensualist Sensation is your addiction, and you'll do anything to experience a new one. — Regain Willpow Willpower er when you experience experience a new, exciting sensation sensation and live live to tell about it. •
Show-Off You get your self-worth entirely from others. You crave approval and praise, and you go to extreme lengths to get it —even risking yourself and things you love if necessary. You do not think of protection, and you have no compunctions about using others' good opinions o pinions to your own advantage — you simply crave approval for its own sake, so that you can feel good about yourself. — Regain Willpower whenever your antics bring you praise, admiration or appreciation. However, the the more points you get, the harder and harder they will be to gain thereafter; your feats must grow increasingly spectacular — and dangerous. •
Sociopath All inferior beings both living and undead should be exterminated in order to bring about a harmonious existence. You likely feel no remorse when you kill (depending upon your Humanity or path). On the contrary, you are doing a glorious deed for society. Some Sabbat are critical of your violent nature, but you sometimes manage to sway them with arguments like, "Darwin wo uld agree that I'm only helping nature along!" and, "Only the Sabbat shall survive!" •
— Regain Willpower whenever you are the greatest contributor to a body count after everything has settled down. This count includes times when you are the only killer, and it needs not result from a massive combat - like killing every member of a movie audience or gunning down defenseless patrons in a bank robbery. Soldier You exist for the War, be it the war against the Wyrm or your own personal war. However, you know that you're one of many, and therefore your goals are tied to the leadership of others. Of course, you're a soldier, not a blind follower, and might some day strive for leadership yourself. You are willing to do everything it takes to make sure your orders are carried out, no matter the price. — Regain Willpower when you carry out your orders to a tee. For more complex complex and complicated orders, the Storyteller may feel free to award more points, especially for outstanding success in the face of almost certain doom. However, should the Soldier choose -not- to carry out her orders, she may suffer Willpower loss should it prove that her choice was wrong. If the choice proves correct, she is celebrated for this, but does not gain Willpower. •
Supplicant Whatever you do, it is in the service of the Divine Being which you honor, fear, and/or love. — Regain Willpower when you significantly advance the aims of your Benefactor (M:tSC (M:tSC says, "Without endangering yourself in the process," but that doesn't really make sense to me...). Remember, of course, that the deity you follow does not necessarily have to be nice. •
Survivor Living is what you are best at and enjoy most. No matter what, you always manage to survive. You can endure, pull through, recover from, outlast and outlive ou tlive nearly any circumstance. Sure, you've been at death's door so many times you've lost count. You have more scars, patches of fur missing and badly reset bones than any other Garou you know. When the going gets tough, you get going. Nothing angers you as much as a person who doesn't struggle to make things better — except a person who surrenders to the nameless n ameless forces of the universe. — Regain Willpower whenever you survive a difficult situation situation by barely winning or by escaping from overwhelming adversity. (Considering that this sort of thing happens in almost every Werewolf story, Storytellers should be cautious when rewarding this Archetype.) •
Sycophant In the grand scheme of things, you are small and weak and unfit for survival. Your best hope is to find someone who is more powerful than you are and persuade her to take care of you. In return you will serve, admire ad mire and follow her. You will do anything she says, unless it puts you in great risk. In any type of uncertain situation, you will attach yourself to the strongest-seeming person, siding with her, performing various barely necessary services and generally trying to ingratiate yourself. Thereby you hope to earn some kind of protection. There is no limit to the depths to which you will lower yourself in order to be accepted, and you have no pride. — Regain Willpower whenever a stronger stronger character to to whom you have attacked attacked yourself acts in your defense, be it siding with you in an argument or protecting you form physical harm. •
Theorist The world around you is something to try and an d explain, and your theories drive your purpose for being. — Regain Willpower when an observation based on your theory comes to pass. This has to be a wellthought-out, complex theory, not something that's already blatantly obvious. •
Thrill-Seeker The Thrill-Seeker lives for the rush brought on by da nger. Unlike those of arguably saner disposition, the ThrillSeeker actively pursues hazardous and possibly deadly situations. The Thrill-Seeker is not consciously suicidal •
or self-destructive - he simply seeks the stimulation of imminent disaster. Gangbangers, petty thieves and exhibitionist are all examples of the Thrill-Seeker Archetype. — Regain Willpower any time you succeed at a dangerous task that you have deliberately deliberately undertaken. Thrill- Seekers are not stupid, however, and the Storyteller may choose -not to reward a player who heedlessly sends her character into danger for the sole intent of harvesting Willpower. Traditionalist You are an orthodox, conservative co nservative and extremely traditional individual. You know that history repeats itself, so you look to the past for solutions to today's problems. What was good enough for you when you were young is good enough for you now. You almost never change. In general, you are opposed to change for the sake of change — things could get worse, not better. — Regain Willpower Willpower whenever whenever an old-fashioned old-fashioned solution solution proves effective. effective. •
Trickster Sorrow and pain scare you, or at the extreme, hurt you. Therefore you seek to bring humour, laughter and mirth wherever you go. You always strive to find the joke in every situation, play the fool and a nd ridicule what you can, but unlike Ragabash, you do it to lift other's spirits, spirits, not to test them. Most of all, you do it for yourself; when you laugh, you do not feel sad. — Regain Willpower when you manage to brighten brighten your packmates' moods with your clownish antics, and your humour kills pain. Lose Willpower if you fail to lift your own moods, or lose a -permanent- point if you fall into Horano. •
Tyrant No one can do anything right except you. Whenever you leave something in someone else’s care, that person fouls it up. Therefore, you must watch over those you care for, and take matters into your own hands whenever possible. You may have been an innkeeper before your embrace, or a knight whose squires simply couldn’t achieve the chivalric ideals. Perhaps you ove rsee your ghouls the way you once commanded your household servants. Whatever you do, make sure that no n o one make a mess of it. People may not like you for it, bu t at least things will be done right, this time. — Regain Willpower whenever you succeed succeed through stubbornness, stubbornness, forcefulness and attention to to detail. •
Visionary Very few are brave or strong or imaginative enough to look beyond the suffocating embrace of the mundane for something more. Society treats such people with both respect and contempt — for it is the Visionary who both "perverts" society as well as guides it into the future. You are always looking for something more. You see beyond the bounds of conventional conv entional imagination and create new possibilities. Although you might have your head in the clouds and are often of an impractical bent, you are filled with new ideas and perceptions. This Archetype is one found among many Stargazers. — Regain Willpow Willpower er whenever you are able able to convince others others to believe in your dreams dreams and follow the course of action outlined by your vision of the future. •
Warrior Nothing seems more important than pitting your skill as a fighter against someone or something that threatens your pack, your Kinfolk or your duty to Gaea. You live for battle and direct most of your attention towards honing your mind and body into the perfect weapon. You delight in the thrill of combat and in the preparation and aftermath of war. You respect others for their fighting prowess and can appreciate a worthy opponent (except in the case of creatures who have no honour). honou r). You view other activities as if they were tactics in a larger war. — Regain Willpower whenever you achieve a decisive decisive victory in single combat with with a foe that that is at least your equal. •
