White Wolf rises again! Paradox shakes up World of Darkness, brings RPG development in-house
White Wolf rises again! Paradox shakes up World of Darkness, brings RPG development in-house
Interesting, I just started a Werewolf 5e games. I wonder what kind of changes we are in for? I liked 2nd/3rd rules better for being a werewolf. It feels like renegade stripped the humanity out of werewolves, much like happened with The Forsaken and made them the thing that goes bump in the night. In Crinos they are not much more than a rage machine, even out of combat.
I like both styles but for different reasons. I like horribleness in WoD. It's half the point in WoD. It's a World (deep lore) of Darkness. (no heroes, only gritty reality turned up to 11)
Old WoD made the horribleness a part of everything. Even the 'good guy' werewolves, who battle the metaphysical representation of suffering and decay, are full of hate, prejudice, and hypocrisy. 5th puts part of its horribleness in you rather than your culture, which I like as a fan of CoC as well. The thing that gives you power is also a powerful threat, because it's the one thing you can't turn your power against, and in the darkest moments, when you are at risk of losing your life, you have to risk a deal with your devil to get through.
Product formerly known as one thing but then renamed, is now known as the old thing! Brands, IP, MARKETING!
No mention of the writers, which is the only part that actually matters, we should kill and compost all marketing douchebags and CEOs.
I think that's a little unfair in this case. This isn't quite like the HBO Max farce where it was purely some terrible brand marketing. White Wolf was disbanded because the organisation had some pretty fundamental issues. Allegations of sexual abuse of minors by high-ups. Some big errors with the sensitivity of their product (especially bad given how many WoD fans are queer). Paradox decided to basically disband the company entirely and bring the product development into their own hands. And now, a few years later, they feel removed enough from that that they can bring back the brand into what is effectively an entirely new (subsidiary) company. And, around the same time, also tease some much-wanted upcoming releases, like Mage and Changeling 5e, and a return to their Dark Ages line.
Most people don't want the WoD 5E crew back. But if nobody from the original writers are present, and the new "White Wolf" is just brand with no new writers mentioned, then this is purely a marketing douchebag move.
Save your hopes and expectations for something that isn't obviously poisoned well.
Ít's great to bring back the old name but beside a marketing stunt, what does it bring to players ?
I really enjoyed white wolf games back in the days, and I am glad to see the whole World of darkness back among the popular games. but let's see whether they can please both the old fans and the new players
I still have the onyx path WoD 2e books, and I enjoy them. I find it confusing that there several variations of "World of Darkness"
I'm down with this. If they can avoid going back to the type of writing that got the development punted to Renegade, I'm anticipating a jump in quality of the books going forward.
I'm hoping they can walk the tightrope of edgy lore without resorting to outright racism and sexism. Would also love for werewolves to get more attention in terms of flavour and worldbuilding, and for a new edition of DtF (a guy can dream).