Character
Creation	
	
Starting Character:
Characters are created in much the same way as in W:TA or LotW. The player creates a character concept and chooses Breed, Tribe and Auspice to match. These then give the character some abilities to which the player adds by spending XP. Each character begins with:
•	Will 1 
•	A Profession 
•	a Rank 1 Gift from each of Breed, Tribe and Auspice (see Gifts) 
•	Breed, Tribe and Auspice benefits 
•	Most characters begin at Rank 2 (with 6-9 Renown determined by Auspice), but your Storyteller may ask you to take a different Rank; all characters begin with the minimum Renown needed for their Rank (as given in Werewolf: the Apocalypse).  For instance, players new to werewolf may be given innexperienced Garou (Rank 1) or even cubs (Rank 0).
•	A typical character has 20 Experience (XP) to spend at character creation; note that Rites and Gifts cost more at character creation than if roleplayed for. 

Adjustments by Breed
Homid: 1 Gnosis and a Hobby
Metis: 3 Gnosis and a Deformity
Lupus: 5 Gnosis, Lupus characters must choose a starting profession appropriate to their background.

Adjustments by Tribe
Black Furies: must be female (or Metis male)
Bone Gnawers:  extra Background, may not take Pure Breed or Greater Backgrounds
Children of Gaia:  +1 Skill bead
Fianna: extra creative hobby, 
-1 draw for Frenzy (min 2)
Get of Fenris:  +1 Fire bead
Glass Walkers:  Free Resources, Weaver Affinity
Red Talons:  +1 Rage, may not take Greater Influence or Resources, Wyld Affinity
Shadow Lords:  no adjustments
Silent Striders: Death Affinity
Silver Fangs:  Pure Breed background; derangement
Stargazers: +2 Skill bead, Backgrounds cost +1xp
Uktena: +1 Lore, extra Ban
Wendigo: no adjustments

Adjustments by Auspice
Ragabash:  	Rage 1 and +6 XP 
Theurge:  	Rage 2, Lore 1, 3 Rites and may learn Rites of the Rank above 
Philodox:  	Rage 3, Lore 1 and 2 Rank 1 Rites
Galliard: 	Rage 4 and 2 Rank 1 Rites 
Ahroun:	Rage 5

Costs:
Rage, Will, Gnosis, Lore	3
New Hobby or improved Profession - 9
Background	3
Greater Background	+6 
Gifts	3/level
Rites	1/level	
	
 Gifts and Rites can only be bought up to your Rank, and you may only have a number of Gifts equal to your renown. 

For more information on Backgrounds see Expanded Rules.  All backgrounds are also available at Greater level once the basic level has been bought.

Lore
Characters gain lore according to their auspice; they have access to other Lores at -2:
Galliard Lore:	Tales of the Garou, Garou Who’s Who
Philodox Lore:	Garou and Spirit Law
Theurge Lore:	Understanding of Spirits, Spirit’s Who’s Who, Knowledge of the Umbra

Equipment
At character creation, you may also buy Equipment - some equipment may be included with your profession or Resources, but rarer and inappropriate mundane equipment will cost 1-5xp. Fetishes (mystical devices imbued by spirits) cost 1-10xp.  The possession of a fetish also imbues the holder with both honour and responsibility for that fetish.  For details of equipment (mundane and Fetish) and their costs, see Equipment.

Merits	Flaws	
Bad Taste (1pt) - your skin tastes bad if bitten or licked
Berserker (2pts) - you may Frenzy at will, but must test as usual otherwise
Calm Heart (4pts) - pull extra bead in Frenzy tests
Fair Glabro (4pts) - your Glabro form can pass for human
Mentor (2pts) - an elder is looking out for you
Metamorph (4pts) - you can change to any form instantly; +1 Fire bead: this does not alter when you changer forms
Resistance to Wyrm (6pts) - Toughness +1 vs Wyrm toxins, balefire etc
Spirit Affinity (6pts) - add 1 sx when crossing the gauntlet
Tough (2 or 4pts) - you have one or two free health levels
Umbral Sight (4pts) - you may peek into the Umbra in the same way as peeking out	Carnivore (1pt) - you can only eat meat, the fresher the better
Deformity (3pts) - as Metis
Derangement (2pts)
Enemy (2 or 4pts)
Hatred (2pts) - when facing the object of your hatred, test for frenzy at -1 Pull
Hunted (2pts) - someone or something wishes to capture or kill you
Illiterate (2pts) - implies little understanding of humans
Low self-control (4pts) - pull one less bead in Frenzy tests (min 2)
Mark of the Predator (1pts) - animals and humans fear you instinctively
Phobia (2pts) - you have an irrational fear of something; may also lead to Fox Frenzies
Weaver Affinity (2pts) - only regain Gnosis in cities or Caerns
Wyld Affinity (2pts) - only regain Gnosis in wilderness or Caerns
	
Other Traits:
•	Death Affinity *pending* - may only be taken by Silent Striders 
•	Nightmares (0pts) - You are prone to dark dreams, some of your own making, some visions of terrible events. You must spend a Will each day or remove one Skill from your Pull bag for that day.