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Table of Contents
I realized that it’s been over a month since I wrote anything about Werewolf: the Apocalypse. My goal this October was to write as many horror-based articles as I could. While Werewolf: the Apocalypse might not fit into that theme neatly, it does have darker elements than your average tabletop RPG…which means I’m counting it.
So today, I’m going to focus on WtA again by looking at a specific aspect of it: auspices. I’ll be explaining where to find auspices in Werewolf: the Apocalypse and what they are.
What are Auspices and Why are they Important?
Before I tell you more about where you can find information on auspices, let’s start with a basic explanation on what they are. As you know, WtA is a game about shapeshifters, which have long been associated with the moon phases.
Put simply, auspice refers to the phase of the moon your shapeshifting character – usually a werewolf – was born under. Different changing breeds will have different words for auspice, and some even care about the particular time of day you were born in rather than the moon phase.
Why does this matter? Your auspice impacts the role you’ll have in werewolf society. Depending on the phase of the moon you were born under, you could be a warrior, mage, judge, trickster, or bard.
These are the names of each auspice and their associated roles:
- Ragabash (New Moon) – Trickster
- Theurge (Crescent Moon) – Mage
- Philodox (Half Moon) – Judge/Mediator
- Galliard (Gibbous Moon) – Bard
- Ahroun (Full Moon) – Warrior
Where to Find Auspices
Obviously, the first place you’ll need to go to find more information about auspices is the core rulebook, depending on which edition you’re playing. My personal suggestion is the W20, or the 20th anniversary edition.
I’ll be telling you where to find information on auspices based on the way the 20th anniversary edition is laid out.
Ragabash
Information on the Ragabash auspice can be found on page 77 of the rulebook. This is the perfect auspice for anyone who’s hoping to play tricky characters who use pranks to impart lessons on their victims.
They might seem crazy, but it’s important to note that the Ragabash often have an underlying wisdom to them. In other words, there’s a method to their madness.
If you don’t have the rulebook yet, you can read more about the Ragabash on their wiki page.
Theurge
Like with Ragabash, open your rulebook to page 77 to get more information on the Theurge auspice. If you think the idea of a magical and mystical werewolf sounds appealing, this is the auspice for you.
I’m partial to theurges and will likely make one myself if I get the opportunity to play this game again.
They also have a wiki page if you’d like to read more about them and don’t have the book on hand.
Philodox
Philodox can also be found on page 77. Philodox werewolves are good leaders in times of peace, and during times of conflict, they’re natural arbitrators.
Make a Philodox if you’re looking for a character that can represent your whole party. They’re also ideal for situations where you anticipate there will be a lot of conflict among your characters.
You can also check out their wiki page for the basics.
Galliard
Information on the entertaining Galliards can be found on page 78 of the rulebook. If you want a character that can party with the best of them and tell stories that will have everyone on the edge of their seat, pick a Galliard.
Galliards could be fantastic historians, given their interest in lore. I could also see them potentially being excellent “face” characters that you use as a sort of representative for your party…especially if the other characters are all too weird to introduce to strangers.
You can take a glance at their wiki page for some more essential info.
Ahroun
All right, so what if you want to make the most bad ass character possible when it comes to eviscerating enemies on the battlefield? What if you want a character that opponents will tremble before like fragile leaves in the wind?
Then you want to make an Ahroun. These are the ultimate warriors of werewolves – a society of people that are already by default excellent fighters – and leaders in times of war. They’re not my favorite type because they predictably have Rage problems, which makes it easier for them to lose control, but I can’t deny their usefulness.
Here is their wiki page for a little extra light reading. In the rulebook, on the other hand, you’ll find them on page 79.
Wrap Up
Choosing an auspice is an important part of building your character in Werewolf: the Apocalypse. Before you choose one, stop and think about the type of role you want your character to have in the overall society.
There are some hard benefits to stats, too, of course. If you don’t already have it, I strongly recommend picking up the rulebook so you can check out the benefits of each auspice. Otherwise, if you want me to dive into more detail, let me know in the comments below.