Garou Character Creation Guide

Unlike other supernatural creatures in the world of darkness most Garou are not created through some curse or spell rather they are born. Kinfolk, those mortals and wolves who carry the Garou gene in their bodies, will give birth to a Garou roughly 10% of the time. The Garou is indistinguishable from other kinfolk (unless he is a Metis) until he reaches puberty after which he will undergo his first change. As a Garou can be born into wolf, human or Garou society directly it is important to take this into account when designing your character as different breeds will have different forms of upbringing and outlooks on life. Follow the steps bellow to create a Garou.

Step 1 – The Basics

Fill in your name, your characters name, the characters age and gender. The XP section remains empty as it is meant for the accumulation of XP points during Sessions.

Step 2 - Attributes

Fill out 1 dot in each attribute and then add an additional number of dots as advised:

• 10 additional dots if playing a low-level character with you’re the highest Attribute not exceeding 3 dots.
• 12 additional dots if playing a mid-level character with your highest Attribute not exceeding 4 dots.
• 15 additional dots if playing a high-level character with your highest Attribute not exceeding 5 dots.

Step 3 - Skills

Now assign your skills. Assign the number of dots bellow to your skills in any fashion you decide, while following the guide provided:

• 20 dots if playing a low-level character with the highest Skill not exceeding 4 dots.
• 30 dots if playing a mid-level character with the highest Skill not exceeding 5 dots.
• 40 dots if playing a high-level character with the highest Skill not exceeding 5 dots.

This is usually the most time-consuming step.

Step 4 - Choose your Specializations

Chose 3 skills in which you have at least 1 dot and create a specialization for each. Specializations are areas of expertise in a particular skill. In game terms if the action your character is performing involves a specialization, he possesses in the given skill than the character rolls an additional dice in the test (or in other words gains 1 Bonus Point). Specializations have to be specific enough to not apply to every situation but common enough that they are useful.

Step 5 - Calculate your Special Attributes

Now it is time to calculate your special attributes. Follow the guide provided:

• Initiative = Wits + Dexterity
• Connections = The highest combination of 2 of the following Attributes: Charisma, Intelligence and Manipulation.
• Defence = 0 - this value is only improved by supernatural abilities, cover or armor and is adjusted as needed.
• Endurance = Strength
• Appearance = 2.
• Corruption = 0.

Step 6 - Health

Health is the equal of your Stamina rating +5. It cannot exceed 10. Scribble out any health boxes you do not possess starting from the right-hand side.

Step 7 - Willpower

Willpower is the equal of your Composure + Resolve + 3. It cannot exceed 10. Scribble out any health boxes you do not possess starting from the right-hand side.

Step 8 - Humanity

Unless advised differently your Humanity always starts at 7.

Step 9 - Never Recalculate

At this point it is important to note that your Special Attributes, Health and Willpower are set. Do not recalculate them if the Attributes which you used to establish them change, only adjust them through character creation bonuses (such as Advantages, Flaws, Flourishes or Species Bonuses).

Step 10 - Your a Garou

Begin by having a look at the Garou bonuses. Specifically pay close attention to the More Than Human heading and add 1 bonus dot to your Athletics, Animal Ken, Occult and Awareness Skills as well as 1 dot to your Appearance

Step 11 - Breed

Choose your characters Breed (Lupus, Homid or Metis). Remember that the character's breed gives you your starting Primal Urge level, provides you with a permanent Gift, establishes your breed form, advises you on the number of gifts you can possess at most and grants you several other smaller bonuses and penalties which stay with you throughout the entire game.

Step 12 - Auspice

Chose your characters Auspice (Ragabash, Theurge, Philodox, Galliard or Ahroun). Remember that the characters auspice (the moon phase under which the Garou was born) establishes your characters permanent Rage and Gnosis, provides you with a permanent Gift and establishes your starting Renown. Depending on your Auspice you might also get bonuses in starting Rites or other advantages.

Step 13 - Tribe

Chose your characters Tribe. Apply your Tribal Trait and the tribes bonuses & penalties. Remember that the characters tribe gives the character a permanent Tribal Gift.

Step 14 - Camp

Optionally select one of the camps available to your Tribe and apply the Bonus & Negative.

Step 15 - Character Flourishes

You may optionally select your character flourishes for Vice, Virtue, Disorders and Addictions (make sure you confirm these with the storyteller first). Remember that as a Garou you may chose Garou specific flourishes for your character as well.

Step 16 - Advantages

Chose your advantages from the advantages section. You may choose any number and level of common advantages equal to the number of dots you possess in Connections with the minimum number of points being 5. This means even if you have only 2 dots in connections you may still chose at least 5 points worth of advantages.
Remember that as a Garou you may chose Garou specific advantages for your character as well.

Step 17 - Flaws

Now chose 3 points worth of flaws from the flaws section. Remember that as a Garou you may chose Garou specific flaws for your character as well.

Step 18 - Spark of Life

Write a short story, no more than a few paragraphs long about your character, where does he work, what are his goals and ambitions, what brings him joy, does he have family? etc.

Step 19 - The Hook

Speak to the storyteller about why your character is in this story and what his connection is to the other players.

Step 20 - Finished

Your Garou character is now completed.