Shifter Backgrounds
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On this page are Backgrounds that are specifically for Shifters and Kinfolk. All listed will be available for all Shifters/Kinfolk unless otherwise noted.
Specific Sections:
General
Ancestors
- Book Reference: Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Revised Ed. p. 120
Familiar Spirit
- Book Reference: Werewolf Players Guide, 2nd Ed. p. 34
You have a special relationship with a spirit, one who freely and without compunction is your companion.This spirit can be an animal spirit (perhaps associated with a totem), an affiliated spirit (such as a spirit of War),or in some cases even a faerie spirit. The spirit follows you wherever you go in the Umbra, and it’s always waiting for you when you step sideways. It can act as a “battery” for extra Gnosis, Rage or Willpower points;you can give these points to your familiar to hold until they are needed. This Background can be bought only with freebie points.
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Your familiar is the smallest Gaffling and not too bright. The only ways you can speak to it are with the Gift:Spirit Speech or by direct communication when you’re near it in the Umbra. It can store three extra points of Gnosis, Willpower or Rage (choose one at a time) for you. It normally cannot Peek through the Gauntlet, so it rarely knows what’s going on in the Realm. |
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Your familiar is a decent-sized Gaffling and almost intelligent. The only ways you can speak to it are with the Gift: Spirit Speech or by direct communication when you’re near it in the Umbra. It can store five extra points of Gnosis, Willpower or Rage (choose one at a time) for you. It knows instinctively where you are, and it can Peek to see you from time to time. |
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Your familiar is a Jaggling of average intelligence. You can speak aloud to it easily through the bond you share, as long as it is nearby. It can store five extra points of Gnosis, Willpower, or Rage (choose two) for you.It knows instinctively where you are, can see through your eyes and can also Peek through the Gauntlet. |
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Your familiar is a fairly bright Jaggling. You can speak telepathically to it through the bond you share, aslong as it is nearby. You always know where it is. You can see through its eyes and "it can borrow your sight as well. It can store five extra points of Gnosis, Rage or Willpower (all three in any combination) for you. It knows instinctively where you are. It can Peek into (and can even Manifest in) the Realm. |
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Your familiar is an intelligent Jaggling affiliated with a specific Incarna. You can speak telepathically toit no matter how far away it is. You and it always know each other’s location. You both can share any of it’s five senses and knowledge from any Gift (such as Scent of the True Form or Truth of Gaia). It can store a total of six extra points of Gnosis, Rage or Willpower (all three in any combination) for you. |
Fate
- Book Reference: Player's Guide to the Garou p. 169
Fetish
- Book Reference: Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Revised Ed. p. 121
- Kinfolk cannot take this Background. Must buy Fetish merit instead or have a PC give you one.
- Only available at Chargen
- A +note is required and all Fetishes MUST be written up in a book. The Book Reference must be included in the +note. You can change the name of the fetish, even a bit of the flavor (ex: Pipes of the Otherworld is traditionally a Fianna fetish made with bag pipes, but you can change it to a flute, or some other wind instrument). Ask staff if you have any questions.
Kinfolk
- Book Reference: Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Revised Ed. p. 121
Numen
- Book Reference: Player's Guide to the Garou p. 170
To offer a child protection in a harsh and unforgiving world, many native peoples bind a spirit to a newborn child, so that the two may both protect each other. Whether or not this works for humans, it certainly works for the Garou who adopt the practice. At birth, the Garou parent of the child (the Black Furies have a Crone enact the ritual instead) calls a spirit to the newborn and offers it the security of a Garou’s protection in exchange for its service. Usually, this spirit also acts as the Kin-Fetch. Since a parent’s love is not necessarily limited to Garou alone, Kinfolk may also possess this Background. When taking this background, players should specify what type of spirit accompanies them, both as a specific type (such as a Pattern Spider or fire elemental) and if it qualifies as a spirit of Glory, Honour or Wisdom. By spending one point of Gnosis, the Garou can draw upon his friend’s strength, adding his Numen rating to a single Physical (Glory, Social (Honour), or Mental (Wisdom) roll. Alternatively, the spirit may lend the Garou the use of a Charm it possesses for a single use. In addition to this, the spirit may act as a straight forward ally and aide, and a Garou with a Numen of the same type may instinctively feel a kinship. Maltreatment or neglect may weaken the bond between a Garou and their Numen. Storytellers can represent this by denying the player the ability to obtain extra dice. In addition, the spirit is a real, living spirit that can be hurt and killed. The Background rating determines how large the bound spirit is.
| Numen | |
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Gaffling |
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Potent Gaffling |
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Lesser Jaggling |
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Strong Jaggling |
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Very strong Jaggling. Your parents were clearly owed some favours. |
Pure Breed
- Book Reference: Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Revised Ed. p. 121
Rites
- Book Reference: Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Revised Ed. p. 123
- Note: Only available in character generation. Must also have Rituals (Primary Knowledge) at level of highest Rite. See the character generation cheat sheet for additional details.
- Kinfolk cannot take this Background.
Spirit Heritage
- Book Reference: Player's Guide to the Garou p. 169
Spirit Network
- Book Reference: Book Of Auspices p. 58
Totem
- Book Reference: Werewolf: The Apocalypse, Revised Ed. p. 123
- See also house rules
Touched
- Book Reference: Player's Guide to the Garou p. 171
Kinfolk
Equipment
- Book Reference: Kinfolk: Unsung Heroes p. 49
Renown
- Book Reference: Kinfolk: Unsung Heroes p. 51
- Chargen only, requires +note describing IC circumstances
Fera
Bastet
Den Realm
- Book Reference: Player's Guide to the Changing Breeds p. 160
- Requires Shifter Rank 3+
Jamak
- Book Reference: Breedbook: Bastet p. 84
- See also house rules
Trinket
- Book Reference: Breedbook: Bastet p. 85
Corax
Other People's Secrets
- Book Reference:
Umbral Maps
- Book Reference:
Gurahl
Umbral Glade
- Book Reference: Breedbook: Gurahl p. 88
Kitsune
Batsu
- Book Reference: Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East p. 161
Go-en
- Book Reference: Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East p. 161
Sempai
- Book Reference: Hengeyokai: Shapeshifters of the East p. 162
Mokole
Mnesis
- Book Reference: Player's Guide to the Changing Breeds p. 162
Wallow
- Book Reference: Breedbook: Mokolé p. 54
Ratkin
Colony
- Book Reference: Breedbook: Ratkin p. 64
Freak Factor
- Book Reference: Breedbook: Ratkin p. 65
Rokea
Remora
- Book Reference: Breedbook: Rokea p. 63
