Your character’s Backgrounds help to flesh out ties with mortal agencies, role in Garou society and beneficial resources available. Each Background is used differently.

In general, having multiple Traits in a given Background allows for better or more common use of that benefit. Some Backgrounds directly affect your character’s creation and development; others are called into play later during the game.

 

Allies

Allies represent specific human friends, colleagues, and partners who don't necessarily know about your supernatural secret life, but who will help you out in a pinch. Each dot in Allies represents one person with particular expertise, such as researchers, lawyers, craftsmen, and thugs. Each dot in Allies also represents the maximum number of Ability Traits each person can bring to bear on a problem.

 

Work with the Storytellers to define these Allies, and then mention them in your Downtimes to have them perform tasks for you. Each dot of Allies you expend in your Downtime brings one level of an ally's Ability to bear on a task.

 

For example, three dots of allies might represent Mary, Mark and Luke, who are a scientist, a spy and a smith, respectively. In your Downtimes you could spend three points of Allies to have Mark shadow a target with Stealth x3. Or you could have him shadow a target with Stealth x2, while Mary does research with Science x1.

 

• Restrictions: Shadow Lord characters may not possess the Allies Background.

 

Contacts

You maintain a number of informal connections with people in many walks of life. You can work these connections to gain information about activities going on in the city. In your Downtimes, tell the Storytellers what information you want to dig up, and the number of Traits in Contacts you will use to dig. You'll get information as if you had that number of Traits in an Influence appropriate to your inquiry.

 

• Restrictions: Get of Fenris and Wendigo characters may not possess the Contacts Background.

 

Fame

Your reputation precedes you. You are so well-known within your circles of influence that your name alone can often get things done, no matter where you happen to be. Be specific when you take this background on the details of your character's fame.

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Pure Breed

Pure Breed is your pedigree, a measure of your noble lineage. In your appearance and demeanor you bear a resemblance to your tribe's ancestral heroes: Silver Fangs have a regal bearing and a silver pelt, Shadow Lords have jet-black fur and a subtle intensity, Silent Striders appear as lithe-limbed Egyptian royalty, etc. Other Garou sense your good breeding instinctively and cannot help but concede a measure of deference to it. Each level of Pure Breed you possess provides a bonus to your Social Traits in Social Challenges with Garou.

 

Kinfolk characters who possess Pure Breed are very highly desired as breeding stock. Note that Garou respond to a Kinfolk's Pure Breed, but Kinfolk do not have the same instinct to respond to a Garou's Pure Breed.

 

If you have Pure Breed from a different tribe than your own -- if, say, you were a well-bred child of the Black Furies, given to the Children of Gaia for being male -- your Pure Breed provides no bonus. The spiritual incongruity between your tribe and your lineage confuses the Garou instinct to defer.

• Restrictions: Bone Gnawer and Glass Walker characters may not possess the Pure Breed Background. Silver Fang characters must possess at least three levels of it. Pure Breed at levels higher than three is restricted by the Storytellers.

 

 

Resources

You've got a source of cash income. You might hold down a job, receive money from a trust fund, or deal in illegal commodities on the side. At the beginning of a game session or during a Downtime, you may talk to a Storyteller to spend the standard income you earn. By permanently spending a level of Resources, you can spend ten times the standard amount -- effectively by liquidating some of your assets and holdings.

 

Resources Income per Month

Example 

None $100 Poverty -- you have roommates and a bus pass.

One Trait $250 You have an apartment and cheap transportation. 

Two Traits $500 You have a townhome or condo, plus a motorcycle or an economy car.

Three Traits$1,500 You have a decent savings; you own your house and a good car. 

Four Traits $5,000 You have a significant savings, a spacious house, two vehicles and expensive toys.

Five Traits $15,000 You're downright wealthy: you have land and an estate or multiple properties across the city, more vehicles than you can use, and frivolous luxuries.

• Restrictions: Bone Gnawer, Silent Strider, and Wendigo characters may not possess the Resources Background.

 

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