Werewolves of Briarwatch
A role playing game of dark paranoia
"Werewolf" is a very well known party game(And is very commonly played "forum based") that is very much like a role playing game as it is.
Since I am bored, since I like role playing games, since I have a weird werewolf fetish, and since yesterday I have finished a very nice book by one S. King, I have decided to experimant a little with it.
This game is going to be, by all "mechanical" means just another game of werewolf. The rules are extremely simple(In the unlikely case that you really don't know the rules, they can be found here: http://www.eblong.com/zarf/werewolf.html), the premise extremely fun, and the private message feature of the forum gets used A LOT. But this is part of the fun, nay?
Anyway, besides being a simple game of Werewolf, I also want to try playing it like a role playing game for all intents and purposes. That means that you have a character with a background, a personality, and maybe even motives, and that the relationships between the different characters can actually have an effect on the way the plot turns. Being forced to kill your old friend or the woman you love because they are dangerous monsters, is a far more interesting situation than simply pointing at another player and putting him out of the game so that you can win. Dark drama is, after all, a lot of fun. Especially if claws are involved.
This game of drama, horror, investigation and maybe even some action will take place in the small, fictional town of Briarwatch, Massachusetts. A very nice town, very nice people, quiet and peacful, there is a beutiful small lake nearby, and the winters are bearable. The town also has that little problem with the lycanthropes. The curse was assumed to have been broken more than a hundred years ago, but it appears that it is slowly returning to the region nowdays.
You will play as the residents of the town of Briarwatch as they simply live their lives, trying to ignore the shadow of the cursed wolves that rests upon the town. Each day "turn" will represent one month during which the players may speak to each other, go to work, have sex, whatever it is people do during their day to day lives. Once a month, inevitably, the full moon will rise above the town. As the sun goes down and the honest people of Briarwatch go to sleep, a few marked with the old curse will transform into bloodthirsy, wild beasts who will prowl the town looking for prey. They are silent and deadly, and nigh unstoppable. They will very probably kill someone on the night of the full moon. The morning after will also be... Dramatic. The frightned people of Briarwatch might have heard about the dark story of their town. They know that the only way to kill the werewolf would be to cut out it's heart with a silver blade. Unfortunately, human beings also tend to die when their heart is cut out. The people will have to be cunning and insightful if they wish to avoid a needless bloodbath. Paranoia abounds. Horror is everywhere, and everyone.
Will you survive to see the light of next year in the city of Briarwatch? Will the curse ever be truly lifted?
Play along.
All will become clear, when the time comes.
Rule Variants:
Character Sheet:
Got any questions? Got any ideas or suggestions? Got any complaints? Send them to me PM.
Have a good time playing.
Darkness is coming to Briarwatch.
Players:
A role playing game of dark paranoia
"Werewolf" is a very well known party game(And is very commonly played "forum based") that is very much like a role playing game as it is.
Since I am bored, since I like role playing games, since I have a weird werewolf fetish, and since yesterday I have finished a very nice book by one S. King, I have decided to experimant a little with it.
This game is going to be, by all "mechanical" means just another game of werewolf. The rules are extremely simple(In the unlikely case that you really don't know the rules, they can be found here: http://www.eblong.com/zarf/werewolf.html), the premise extremely fun, and the private message feature of the forum gets used A LOT. But this is part of the fun, nay?
Anyway, besides being a simple game of Werewolf, I also want to try playing it like a role playing game for all intents and purposes. That means that you have a character with a background, a personality, and maybe even motives, and that the relationships between the different characters can actually have an effect on the way the plot turns. Being forced to kill your old friend or the woman you love because they are dangerous monsters, is a far more interesting situation than simply pointing at another player and putting him out of the game so that you can win. Dark drama is, after all, a lot of fun. Especially if claws are involved.
This game of drama, horror, investigation and maybe even some action will take place in the small, fictional town of Briarwatch, Massachusetts. A very nice town, very nice people, quiet and peacful, there is a beutiful small lake nearby, and the winters are bearable. The town also has that little problem with the lycanthropes. The curse was assumed to have been broken more than a hundred years ago, but it appears that it is slowly returning to the region nowdays.
You will play as the residents of the town of Briarwatch as they simply live their lives, trying to ignore the shadow of the cursed wolves that rests upon the town. Each day "turn" will represent one month during which the players may speak to each other, go to work, have sex, whatever it is people do during their day to day lives. Once a month, inevitably, the full moon will rise above the town. As the sun goes down and the honest people of Briarwatch go to sleep, a few marked with the old curse will transform into bloodthirsy, wild beasts who will prowl the town looking for prey. They are silent and deadly, and nigh unstoppable. They will very probably kill someone on the night of the full moon. The morning after will also be... Dramatic. The frightned people of Briarwatch might have heard about the dark story of their town. They know that the only way to kill the werewolf would be to cut out it's heart with a silver blade. Unfortunately, human beings also tend to die when their heart is cut out. The people will have to be cunning and insightful if they wish to avoid a needless bloodbath. Paranoia abounds. Horror is everywhere, and everyone.
Will you survive to see the light of next year in the city of Briarwatch? Will the curse ever be truly lifted?
Play along.
All will become clear, when the time comes.
Rule Variants:
Some are imposed in order to cope with the fact that this is a forum based game. Some were practically invented by me in order to make the whole thing more interesting.
1. Roles will be handed out before the game actually begins by me, your narrator, in PM.
2. Since a month is a long time, we will strive to only focus on the parts of it that will be intersting and that will contribute to the story or the the realationships between the different characters. Basically, that means that each player may, at anytime during the Day phase of his turn, simply state that he is out of drama for this month. Once all players have done so, the Night phase of the game will begin.
3. It is not enough for the werewolves to point at their desired victim to kill him. They will have to role play the assault. It might require some planning... Ever since the curse returned, almost everybody in town has kept a gun near his bed. Try to be sneaky and elegant with the kill. You will also like to have a good escape route should you need it, and a good alibi and way to cover your tracks.(Appearing next morning in town with a limp after someone managed to shoot the werewolf's leg is... Unwise)
4. Werewolves can instinctively recognise each other by scent. They will know who their packmates are, but they are not telepathic or anything. They will have to be careful planning their attacks. Others might listen. Players who are in the same place will be able to speak to each other with PM's(Send a copy of the conversation to your narrator). Other character's who are in the same place might here you, how ever. Watch out.
5. As the narrator, once dawn breaks after the night of the full moon(During which only the werewolves and the victim/s are active), I will present to everybody a summery of the situation. Basically, I will tell you who was killed and any clues and details about the case that might help the people reveal the monsters.
6. There is currently no limit to the number of players who may register. It will probably depend upon the number of players who wish to do so. The game will not open with less than 8 players. The more that turn up, the merrier.
7. Special roles might be involved if many players register. If you have a special role, you will be notified about it as usual with a PM, and the special powers it grants you will be explained.
1. Roles will be handed out before the game actually begins by me, your narrator, in PM.
2. Since a month is a long time, we will strive to only focus on the parts of it that will be intersting and that will contribute to the story or the the realationships between the different characters. Basically, that means that each player may, at anytime during the Day phase of his turn, simply state that he is out of drama for this month. Once all players have done so, the Night phase of the game will begin.
3. It is not enough for the werewolves to point at their desired victim to kill him. They will have to role play the assault. It might require some planning... Ever since the curse returned, almost everybody in town has kept a gun near his bed. Try to be sneaky and elegant with the kill. You will also like to have a good escape route should you need it, and a good alibi and way to cover your tracks.(Appearing next morning in town with a limp after someone managed to shoot the werewolf's leg is... Unwise)
4. Werewolves can instinctively recognise each other by scent. They will know who their packmates are, but they are not telepathic or anything. They will have to be careful planning their attacks. Others might listen. Players who are in the same place will be able to speak to each other with PM's(Send a copy of the conversation to your narrator). Other character's who are in the same place might here you, how ever. Watch out.
5. As the narrator, once dawn breaks after the night of the full moon(During which only the werewolves and the victim/s are active), I will present to everybody a summery of the situation. Basically, I will tell you who was killed and any clues and details about the case that might help the people reveal the monsters.
6. There is currently no limit to the number of players who may register. It will probably depend upon the number of players who wish to do so. The game will not open with less than 8 players. The more that turn up, the merrier.
7. Special roles might be involved if many players register. If you have a special role, you will be notified about it as usual with a PM, and the special powers it grants you will be explained.
Character Sheet:
Everybody knows everybody in a small town like Briarwatch. Your character sheets are visible to all players.
Character name:
Character age:
Character gender
If not specified, assumed to be the player's gender as it is present in your profile page)
Character professionYou are working inside the town. If you are young, there is a school. A job far away will not save you from the beasts)
Character personality: Only general guidelines. Write down what is logical for other townspeople to know about you.
Character appearance: Be as detailed as you want. Give us a picture, if you must.
Character Relationships: If you think the idea is cool, you may want to contact another player OOC to create related characters. They may be friend, family members, whatever. Big drama value.
Notes: If you want to say anything to the other players or to the narrator, say it here.
Character name:
Character age:
Character gender
If not specified, assumed to be the player's gender as it is present in your profile page)Character profession
You are working inside the town. If you are young, there is a school. A job far away will not save you from the beasts)Character personality: Only general guidelines. Write down what is logical for other townspeople to know about you.
Character appearance: Be as detailed as you want. Give us a picture, if you must.
Character Relationships: If you think the idea is cool, you may want to contact another player OOC to create related characters. They may be friend, family members, whatever. Big drama value.
Notes: If you want to say anything to the other players or to the narrator, say it here.
Got any questions? Got any ideas or suggestions? Got any complaints? Send them to me PM.
Have a good time playing.
Darkness is coming to Briarwatch.
Players:
Zombie_Fish
Character name: Frank Pillson
Character age:20
Character gender:Male
Character profession:Shopkeeper (Usually for this game I pick really stupid jobs, like Crack dealer or pimp or local neighborhood Spiderman but this time, I'm being serious.)
Character personality: Usually either tipsy or drunk. Can be very confusing with what he says. Smarter than you'd think though.
Character appearance: Fairly tall, short brown hair that sticks up. Lanky, unshaven chin. Usually wears a leather jacket, shirt and jeans with black shoes.
Character Relationships:None
revolverwolf
Character name: Jonathon Wilks
Character age: 14
Character gender: Male
Character profession: School pupil
Character personality: Boisterous, quick to act and slow to suffer consequences.
Character appearance: Caucasian. Brown scruffy hair. Green eyes. Taller and fatter than the average. Wears black jeans, a green polo shirt and blue nike shoes.
Character Relationships: Son of Marcus, the town's bartender.
ThreeWords
Character Name: Jess Hansen
Character Age: 15
Character Gender: Female
Character Profession: Schoolchild
Character Personality: Affectionate, and intelligent, she puts her all into everything she does. Often reckless, it is as if she is consciously defying the 'weak female' stereotype. Quite the tomboy, she is usually getting into trouble/minor peril, and some males resent her for being more brave then many boys. She is well know for having accidents in the name of adventure, which by rights should have killed her, but she has never suffered any injury worse than a few scratches.
Character Appearance: Tall, slim, with red hair and grey-blue eyes. Surprisingly strong and athletic.
Character Relationships: Friends with Jon (Revolverwolf) and Cokesy (Tomtom94)
Dragonrabbit
Character name: Marcus Wilks; goes by Mark.
Character age: 39
Character gender: Male
Character profession: Marcus owns the local tavern, he works as the bartender
Character personality: Marcus is friendly and trusting, he believes everything everyone tells him for the most part and enjoys gossiping about it later. Marcus is usually a very peaceful man, often called the gentle giant by other village-folk. He likes to tell stories.
Character appearance: Marcus is a giant of a man, he stands at 6'8 and is quite chubby. He is bald on his head, but has a great red beard. His eyes are green. Marcus often wears flannel shirts under his favorite pair of denim overalls, he also wears large black boots.
Character Relationships: Father of Jonnie.
tomtom94
Character name: John "Cokesy" Cokes
Character age: 16
Character gender: Male
Character profession: Schoolchild (because that's all I can relate to)
Character personality: He is famous for being bottom of most classes at school. Mother died when he was young and father fell into a cycle of alcoholism and women and went missing last year, so he lives with foster parents (ambiguity is a good thing). He is also a closet homosexual. The scar on his left wrist appeared recently and no-one can work out why.
Character appearance: About 5' 7". Dark hair covering one eye. Pale skin tone and a scar on his left wrist. Usually found wearing a pair of jeans and a dark blue top. He sometimes wears a bracelet because it reminds him of his mother.
Character Relationships: Good friends with Will Hansen. Unconfirmed relationship with other characters?
Notes: As I've played something similar to this, all I wonder is if the above is fine.
Outcast117
Character name: Richard Smith
Character age: 24
Character gender: Male
Character profession: Hunter
Character personality: He lives by himself and tends to keep to himself from the others. Not much known is about him, but he tend to go out at night to hunt for animals, claims it better hunting that way a more fun when he did talk to someone about why he went out at night.
Character appearance: He about 5'7, not far tall or have muscles. He has short black hair and blue eyes. He wears a normal shirt that is red, pants ,and boots for hiking in the forest.
He has no relation with anyone as he is new to the town since he just move in a month ago.
I hope thats good enough, Need anything else just tell me.
Vic Sage
Character Name: Alastair McGuinnnes
Character Age : 28
Character Gender: Male
Character Profession : Journalist + Photographer for the Briarwatch paper
Character Personality: Cynical, quickly angered with a violent streak, Alastair Mcguiness was raised in Scotland orignially before moving to Briarwatch, overly sarcastic and always turns what people say into an innuendo.
Character Appearence: 6'2, built but not overly so from four years of War Journalism, shaven head, dark brown/black goatee, hazel eyes, black T-Shirts, black jeans, black combat boots, and Black leather Trenchcoat, all of which hide numerous tattoos, always seen with a Digital Camera (If you wish to know what type for a post then ask) and a second hand Dell Laptop.
Also a Chain smoker and heavy drinker, two habits he refuses to shake even after being asked to do so by many people.
Character Relations: besides people at the paper, Alastair keeps to himself, talking to freinds from 'across the pond'
Hope thats okay, if anything needs to be changed then quote it and tell me what you want me to do
Berethond
Character name: Tyr Ellington
Character age: 23
Character gender:Male
Character professionrofessional musician - he composes and records in his own private studio.
Character personality: Keeps to himself mostly. Never goes into the bar, church, the most people know is that his wife was viciously murdered three weeks after their wedding. A few people know that he served in the military for two years after high school.
Character appearance: Shoulder-length blond hair, green eyes, very good muscle tone but he's not overly large. Likes to wear Miles Davis t-shirts. Listens to Horace Silver.
Character Relationships: None - he doesn't like to go outside.
Character name: Frank Pillson
Character age:20
Character gender:Male
Character profession:Shopkeeper (Usually for this game I pick really stupid jobs, like Crack dealer or pimp or local neighborhood Spiderman but this time, I'm being serious.)
Character personality: Usually either tipsy or drunk. Can be very confusing with what he says. Smarter than you'd think though.
Character appearance: Fairly tall, short brown hair that sticks up. Lanky, unshaven chin. Usually wears a leather jacket, shirt and jeans with black shoes.
Character Relationships:None
revolverwolf
Character name: Jonathon Wilks
Character age: 14
Character gender: Male
Character profession: School pupil
Character personality: Boisterous, quick to act and slow to suffer consequences.
Character appearance: Caucasian. Brown scruffy hair. Green eyes. Taller and fatter than the average. Wears black jeans, a green polo shirt and blue nike shoes.
Character Relationships: Son of Marcus, the town's bartender.
ThreeWords
Character Name: Jess Hansen
Character Age: 15
Character Gender: Female
Character Profession: Schoolchild
Character Personality: Affectionate, and intelligent, she puts her all into everything she does. Often reckless, it is as if she is consciously defying the 'weak female' stereotype. Quite the tomboy, she is usually getting into trouble/minor peril, and some males resent her for being more brave then many boys. She is well know for having accidents in the name of adventure, which by rights should have killed her, but she has never suffered any injury worse than a few scratches.
Character Appearance: Tall, slim, with red hair and grey-blue eyes. Surprisingly strong and athletic.
Character Relationships: Friends with Jon (Revolverwolf) and Cokesy (Tomtom94)
Dragonrabbit
Character name: Marcus Wilks; goes by Mark.
Character age: 39
Character gender: Male
Character profession: Marcus owns the local tavern, he works as the bartender
Character personality: Marcus is friendly and trusting, he believes everything everyone tells him for the most part and enjoys gossiping about it later. Marcus is usually a very peaceful man, often called the gentle giant by other village-folk. He likes to tell stories.
Character appearance: Marcus is a giant of a man, he stands at 6'8 and is quite chubby. He is bald on his head, but has a great red beard. His eyes are green. Marcus often wears flannel shirts under his favorite pair of denim overalls, he also wears large black boots.
Character Relationships: Father of Jonnie.
tomtom94
Character name: John "Cokesy" Cokes
Character age: 16
Character gender: Male
Character profession: Schoolchild (because that's all I can relate to)
Character personality: He is famous for being bottom of most classes at school. Mother died when he was young and father fell into a cycle of alcoholism and women and went missing last year, so he lives with foster parents (ambiguity is a good thing). He is also a closet homosexual. The scar on his left wrist appeared recently and no-one can work out why.
Character appearance: About 5' 7". Dark hair covering one eye. Pale skin tone and a scar on his left wrist. Usually found wearing a pair of jeans and a dark blue top. He sometimes wears a bracelet because it reminds him of his mother.
Character Relationships: Good friends with Will Hansen. Unconfirmed relationship with other characters?
Notes: As I've played something similar to this, all I wonder is if the above is fine.
Outcast117
Character name: Richard Smith
Character age: 24
Character gender: Male
Character profession: Hunter
Character personality: He lives by himself and tends to keep to himself from the others. Not much known is about him, but he tend to go out at night to hunt for animals, claims it better hunting that way a more fun when he did talk to someone about why he went out at night.
Character appearance: He about 5'7, not far tall or have muscles. He has short black hair and blue eyes. He wears a normal shirt that is red, pants ,and boots for hiking in the forest.
He has no relation with anyone as he is new to the town since he just move in a month ago.
I hope thats good enough, Need anything else just tell me.
Vic Sage
Character Name: Alastair McGuinnnes
Character Age : 28
Character Gender: Male
Character Profession : Journalist + Photographer for the Briarwatch paper
Character Personality: Cynical, quickly angered with a violent streak, Alastair Mcguiness was raised in Scotland orignially before moving to Briarwatch, overly sarcastic and always turns what people say into an innuendo.
Character Appearence: 6'2, built but not overly so from four years of War Journalism, shaven head, dark brown/black goatee, hazel eyes, black T-Shirts, black jeans, black combat boots, and Black leather Trenchcoat, all of which hide numerous tattoos, always seen with a Digital Camera (If you wish to know what type for a post then ask) and a second hand Dell Laptop.
Also a Chain smoker and heavy drinker, two habits he refuses to shake even after being asked to do so by many people.
Character Relations: besides people at the paper, Alastair keeps to himself, talking to freinds from 'across the pond'
Hope thats okay, if anything needs to be changed then quote it and tell me what you want me to do
Berethond
Character name: Tyr Ellington
Character age: 23
Character gender:Male
Character profession
rofessional musician - he composes and records in his own private studio.Character personality: Keeps to himself mostly. Never goes into the bar, church, the most people know is that his wife was viciously murdered three weeks after their wedding. A few people know that he served in the military for two years after high school.
Character appearance: Shoulder-length blond hair, green eyes, very good muscle tone but he's not overly large. Likes to wear Miles Davis t-shirts. Listens to Horace Silver.
Character Relationships: None - he doesn't like to go outside.
