A Question of Breeding

 The third plank of a Werewolf the Apocalypse character's identity is Breed which have themes to aid in storytelling. The game offers three choices in this regard:

Homid - those werewolves (or Garou) who are born as humans and grow up in human society. They start off as the least spiritually attuned Breed, having only one point of Gnosis (which is one of the game's stats and is used to power some magic powers). Their theme is technology and human society.

Metis - who are born into the world of the Garou from the forbidden love between two werewolves and have both an advantage in knowing the ways of the Garou from birth, but are also shamed because of their parentage and because they are deformed. Their theme is rooted in body horror and being outcasts for no other reason than existing. They begin the game with three Gnosis.

Lupus - born as wolves, these characters discovered they were more than animals, they start chronicles with a disadvantage because they're metaphorical fish out of water. Their theme is one more focused on innocence and the community, which taps into the idea of packs. The most spiritually attuned characters, they begin games with five Gnosis. 

Like Tribes and Auspices, characters from different Breeds can access Gifts based on their strengths and there's a rough divide between Mental, Physical, and Social elements in line with the way the Storyteller system divides up Attributes. For instance, Homids can learn the Persuasion Gift at Rank 1, which makes them more... well persuasive. The majority of their other options (with the exception of the City Running Gift) also focus on elements of their humanity whether in the way they can use tools, the scent of man or ability to use fire. In contrast, the Lupus Breed's gifts are largely physical in nature allowing for greater leaps, enhanced senses, mix their Garou claws and teeth into a human form without shapeshifting. 

Metis, because of their outcast nature, gain different Gifts again, which are both more spiritual and in some cases more disgusting. Their theme of body horror is a useful one in this respect. Possibly the most useful Gift - from a pack perspective - at Rank 2 for these characters is Sense Wyrm, allowing the character to identify sources of corruption (though part of me wonders how useful this would be in the World of Darkness which is famously steeped in corrupt forces - I feel it might be overwhelming for the character using it).

Within Garou society each Breed is treated differently. 

Homids represent the most common sort of werewolf in the 21st Century, as the other Breeds face problems. The vast majority of Player Characters will come from the Homid, or rather human, background. They've been through the terrifying process of not simply coping with puberty but waking up covered in blood with no idea what's happened. If they're not lucky enough to be part of a Kinfolk family, then they may have run away from home and be living on the streets. If they're not teenagers, they may be Lost Cubs - who change later in life - and potentially risk losing their families and livelihoods as a result of sudden anger issues and a dramatic shift in their perspective. This could well lead to hospitalisation in secure facility or attempts to medicate the problem away, which would both feed into the theme of society and how alienated we've become from our own nature and the world's.

Lupus sit at the other end of the spectrum. They're rare, if only because wolves populations are lower than human ones - though in the real world wolves haven't been subject to concern since the late 1990s when they were removed from the Vulnerable category. In the World of Darkness, of course, that's not the case and so Lupus werewolves are highly prized.  Unlike humans there's no delayed First Change, Lupus characters change at the wolf equivalent of puberty. 

In contrast to the other Breeds, the Metis are viewed with an element of horror. Born in the wolfman form and cursed with some sort of hideous deformity, they are a sign of shame. Only created when two Garou succumb to their feelings for each other, Metis bear the stigma of forbidden love or lust, and are ostracised for it. Not so long ago, most were killed but the war with the Wyrm has led the Garou Nation to make hard choices including that every claw and fang is needed in the battles to come. Despite this, many Tribes do whatever they can to deny the existence of Metis in their ranks and many are adopted out to more 'forgiving' Tribes like the Black Furies or the Children of Gaia. 

Forgiving is a relative term, life is still hard for the Metis in these Tribes and, much like children in modern day cults, they're forced to labour to earn their keep. In the eyes of many Garou they're a living affront to Gaia and they sit at the bottom of the pecking order, with little chance of being accepted but with nowhere else to go.  

In the end, all three Breeds represent the themes of Werewolf, as a game, and the Garou's split nature. Having three Breeds reflects the uncomfortable nature of the Garou themselves, because they are creatures of the physical and spirit worlds, of great violence but also harmony with nature. They are capable of horrendous acts and the creation of art and laws - the Philodox and Gallaird auspices are testimony to that. Unlike the World of Darkness' vampire, the werewolves are much more involved in their heritage (in Vampire, as long as you bow to the Prince and follow the Traditions nobody cares about you very much - in Werewolf there's a stronger community and customs to participate in, your presence will be missed). 

These elements create a thick, meaty, stew of possibilities and only enrich the storytelling and playing possibilities. The three elements of Breed, Auspice, and Tribe can create some truly compelling characters that are a lot of fun to play. 

Now that we’ve delved into the distinct themes and storytelling potential of Homid, Metis, and Lupus Breeds, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Which Breed do you find most compelling for character creation, and why? Have you played a character that embraced the challenges of their Breed in an interesting way? Share your experiences or character concepts in the comments!

And if you’re new to Werewolf: the Apocalypse, what questions do you have about the Breeds and their role in the game? Let’s discuss how these elements enrich storytelling and gameplay!