The Werewolf in Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel RPG (UniSystem)

Werewolf
-3 Drawback or 11-12-point Quality

Werewolves, like vampires, lack a little bite in the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel RPG from Eden. That is, they're a bit overpowered without the attendant Drawbacks that round-out the werewolves we know and love, both from traditional folklore and movies and TV. You need both books to accurately play a Werewolf, vampire, or the game (honestly). These Drawbacks do not just balance-out the package or XP costs though, they also provide a lot of plot hooks for possible gameplay and interesting narratives.

Werewolves all have Uncontrollable Power -5, Supernatural Form (Dual) -1, and Secret -2 (or -1, GM's determination). They also receive Moonlight Regeneration at +3 (per minute). This makes the total XP cost for the Werewolf package (BtVS, p.51) a -3 Drawback or 11-12 point Quality with full control over transformation/Supernatural Form.

Some other good Drawbacks for Werewolves include Emotional Problems, Mental Problems, Outcast (-3, ARPG Core, p. 44, which replaces Misfit -2 [BRPG Core, p.43]), and Reckless. Werewolves tend to distance themselves from others, especially those they love, to protect them, so Dependent is not a good fit.

We also missed-out on a full wolf-form write-up for the general wolfie. Although the werewolves on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show (WB) rarely went full-on wolf, we never got an Angel/Buffy Bestiary, so here's one for good measure:

Wolf*

STR 4 INT 2
DEX 8 PCN 2
CON 7 WPR 7

LP          74       Combat    18
Brains    7        Muscle    16
Leap    6'/7h

3 Animal Instinct/[Savagery]
Acute Senses (+3 PCN Smell)
Situational Awareness
H2K x2 (+6 LP/+2** ST [Survival Tests])
AV 2—Fur/Leather
Bite 8 LP
Slam-Tackle (Pounce) 4 LP
+2'/2h Jump (Pounce)
- Pounce Combo Leap, Slam-Tackle, and Bite 6'/7h 12 LP
1 Tactics (2 for Alpha**)
Tough (Increased LP) +10 LP
4 Sports
2 Notice

ACT 3
INIT 8 (+d10)
MUSCLE 12 (+1)
COMBAT 20 [18+Savagery] (+5[/+4])
BRAINS 6 (-2)
PCN 9 (+d10)
Jump 6'/7h (4'/5h)

---
* Technically, Gray Wolf.
** +1 STR, INT, H2K, Tactics 1 for Alpha Wolf

If you are converting this to your favorite game system, the MUSCLE, COMBAT, and BRAINS scores should convert directly into 3d6/d20. I've included the SRD_CC bonuses.

Werewolves are detailed in Encylopedia Demonica, p.103-104 and discussed in Ghosts of Albion. For my world, werewolves will keep the Moonlight Regeneration (only).

© The Weirding, 2024

Teen Wolf Comes to Comics

Following the immediate success of MTV's newest hit show Teen Wolf, Top Cow Productions and MTV Comics are presenting a three issue comics series based on the show that will hit store shelves and digital platforms soon. When the new comic book series was announced at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the fans of Teen Wolf swarmed Top Cow's booth for the exclusive preview of the comic and stood in line for hours waiting to meet the cast and creators of their newest favorite teen horror drama.

This three issue miniseries will begin shipping in a week and, like the break-out successful MTV Television series, will appeal to the fans of the original films as well as cultural icons such as the Twilight Saga and Vampire Diaries. Written by David Tischman (True Blood, Bite Club) with art by Stephen Mooney (Angel) and covers by Joe Corroney (True Blood: Tainted Love), the series will act as both an introduction to new fans of Teen Wolf and augment the viewing experience of the hit MTV show.

"TEEN WOLF reimagines the worn-out werewolf genre, and turns it into a modern story of horror and hot love," explained writer David Tischman. "The scripts are so smart, and I worked with [showrunner] Jeff Davis to keep the same scary horror we see each week on the show; the personal horror of Scott dealing with being a werewolf, and the predatory horror of the werewolf culture. But I also really wanted to focus on the relationship moments between Scott and Allison. In those scenes, I think everybody remembers what that first love was like -- the scary, gut-wrenching 'Does she like me?' and 'Can I touch that?' moments we all have growing up. The book's been a lot of fun to write, and I can't wait to see what Jeff comes up with for Season 2."

Scott McCall's life is a living nightmare. Sure, he's co-captain of the Beacon Hills High Lacrosse Team and his hot new girlfriend, Allison, adores him, but Scott was bitten by a werewolf. And every time he gets excited, the claws come out. And the hair. And the fangs. That might be okay, except Allison's father leads a specially trained group of Hunters who want him dead. Scott's managed to keep his secret safe, but what happens when he can't reverse the process?

TEEN WOLF: BITE ME #1 (JUL110434), a full color comic will be on sale in stores on September 21^st for $3.99, along with a limited photo variant cover at participating retailers.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

FOX Courts Bitches

Fox has ordered a script for a dramedy called Bitches, described as a "hairy Sex and the City." Bitches is about four, quirky, female friends in New York... who happen to be werewolves. The script is by Michael Dougherty, screenwriter of the horror flick, Trick r' Treat - another werewolf tale.

Some weeks back, Vulture was already hyping "the return of the werewolf," pointing to the recent resurgence of vampires (True Blood, Twilight). I was going to bring you the story - even bookmarked the article - and poo-pooed the idea (cough); this is planted hype and it's insulting.

A little over 10 years ago, a gaming company called White Wolf released a little game you might have heard of, called Vampire. Quick on the heels of its massive success came a game called - wait for it! - Werewolf. Coincidence? Maybe. But a few years before that saw a rash of vampire movies - including some obscure cult favorites you might have missed, like Near Dark and Lost Boys - which came a scant decade or so after a rash of vampire-related releases featuring some guys with names like Frank Langella and Christopher Lee.

You can continue to trace this cycle back, with differing spans between the times, all the way back to around the 1930s.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008