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Thursday, October 17, 2024

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)

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* 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.

© The Weirding, 2024

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