Please note that while we discuss these issues in the context of the Garou, this page applies to all Fera as well, although the specifics may sometimes vary slightly.

The Role of Renown

Gaining Renown (and thereby also eventually gaining rank) is an important part of Werewolf: the Apocalypse — not just inasmuch as it represents character progression, but also in a world- and character-building sense. The things that Garou society considers worthy of praise tell us, as players, a lot about how that society works and what it values. It’s also a mechanism to encourage characters to behave as their in-world upbringing would lead them to, even when players might normally choose otherwise; and it’s also a way to illustrate the hierarchical nature of the Garou and the way that sometimes leads them down self-destructive paths. The game would not be as immersive, or as compelling, without it.

At the same time, the tabletop methods of awarding Renown are not really practical for a game where players are encouraged to tell stories to one another. When anyone can lead a pack into Subterranean London and fight rogue Leeches or toxic Banes, giving Renown for doing so would result in incredibly rapid rank inflation — new characters could plausibly rise in rank in a matter of weeks, and that’s not the sort of game we’re after. We also don’t think it’s right to give out Renown exclusively for staff-run stories — not only does that devalue the stories players tell, it also goes against the ST-light atmosphere that the game as a whole is based around, and invites hard feelings between those whose play hours match those of staff and those whose don’t.

We could certainly give out Renown freely but deny all rank challenges up until some arbitrary point — but then why give out Renown in the first place? It would feel like a bait-and-switch that would do nothing but confuse, frustrate, and anger our players, and none of those are things we want to do.

How We View Gaining Rank

The ideas undergirding our approach to rank can be summarized as:

• Rank is both an IC and an OOC responsibility. In-character, higher-ranked Garou are expected to take on more dangerous missions, fulfill mentorship and leadership roles, and hold themselves to a higher standard. Out-of-character, the players of higher-ranked Garou are expected to tell stories for other players, help new players integrate into and find a place in the sphere, and set a positive example on how to make the game fun for everyone. This does not mean their characters need to be kind, gentle, easygoing sorts — just that they need to find ways to make being a hardass fun for both them and the players they interact with.
• Mo’ Rank, Mo’ Problems. Particularly at Rank 3 (Adren) and above, a werewolf’s time is no longer entirely his own — and even less so as rank increases further. They’re still playing vital roles in the defense of Gaia — more so than they ever did at lower ranks — but those roles become less and less about them and more about the sept as a whole. As with all in-character positions of power and responsibility, the more you have, the more your focus shifts from the individual to the group.
• Rank is a significant power-up. Higher rank allows characters to buy more powerful Gifts as well as providing them with increased IC authority. These things come with an XP cost in addition to the costs of the Gifts because we do not want rank gain to be an obvious and easy choice — we want players to think very hard about whether the gain is worth the price. In IC terms, the XP cost represents the fact that higher-ranked werewolves have more responsibilities, and therefore less freedom to devote to their own preferred priorities — the six hours a day you spend instructing cubs and dealing with sept business is six hours you can’t spend honing your klaive dueling skills.
• Higher ranks are rare. While we’re not saying it’s impossible, players who come into the game expecting to reach Rank 5 are almost certainly going to be disappointed. Even Rank 4 is likely to be extraordinarily rare — the very best, most experienced, most respected PCs will probably never rise past Rank 3. We have set the prices and requirements for the ranks accordingly.

How To Gain Rank

As outlined in XP and Advancement, rising in rank requires not just IC deeds but significant OOC efforts to support, promote, and include other players as well. Staff is far more likely to overlook a lack of spectacular kills and personal triumphs on the part of a prospective Fostern — and provide an opportunity for them to achieve them — than we are to approve someone lacking these sorts of OOC plaudits. A high-ranked Garou is expected to be a leader, and as with the rarer types of Fera, playing such a character is a responsibility to one’s fellow players and to the game, not just a reward for being a badass.

If you think that your character qualifies for a higher rank, we suggest you open a +request in the “Sphere” category in order to discuss it with staff. The expectation is that you will be able to provide an IC narrative of how the character’s actions, reputation, and accomplishments justify a rise in rank, or plan to do so; an OOC account of your work as a player that upholds the standards described above; and a discussion of how your character’s elevation in rank would benefit the sphere and the game as a whole, what plans you have assuming the promotion is approved, and so forth. This will need to be a sustained effort over a period of time and involving a variety of players from the sphere — a single storyline, no matter how fantastic, is unlikely to suffice unless it plays out over the course of weeks or months and draws in a variety of different packs.

• There is no specific time requirement to achieve Rank 2, although staff will, as mentioned, expect a significant track record as an asset to the sphere before applying. For ranks above 2, it is expected that the character will have spent a minimum of one real-world year demonstrating consistent good play at that rank.
• Reaching Rank 2 has a one-time cost of 50 XP. Reaching Rank 3 has a one-time cost of 100 XP. These numbers are subject to change and should not be considered final. We’ll worry about pricing ranks above 3 if and when someone gets there.

What Ranks Mean

Rank 1

A Cliath is an adult by werewolf standards, a warrior who is trusted to carry out missions, join in with war parties, and act independently for the good of Gaia. They make up the great majority of the Garou — not particularly well-known or well-regarded but accorded the respect due someone who has demonstrated their willingness to give their lives in the struggle against the Wyrm. PCs normally begin at Rank 1 — we generally do not support characters who have not already completed their Rite of Passage.

Rank 2

Reaching the rank of Fostern marks a Garou as the equivalent of an elite soldier, a veteran who knows the tricks of the trade, has fought repeatedly in life-and-death situations, and is unlikely to be easily fazed by the Wyrm’s ploys. Like tough sergeants, they lead their packs into the fray and serve as examples, not just of how to fight for Gaia, but when to fight as well. While they rarely serve in leadership in septs as large as London’s, they can usually expect a respectful hearing when they offer their opinion to the higher ranks — a Fostern has “been there and done that,” and only the most foolish or arrogant werewolves disregard their advice. PCs may achieve Rank 2 through the process detailed above.

Rank 3

The Rank 3 werewolves, or Adren, are the last rank that are constantly on the front lines of the war against the Wyrm. The higher ranks are devastating forces on the battlefield when the occasion demands it, and no one would think to accuse them of shirking, but once past Adren, a Garou will spend more of their time directing the affairs of their sept or tribe than personally leading a pack into combat. Most septs have at least some of their leadership positions filled by Rank 3 werewolves, and someone who hopes to achieve this rank needs to be not just a great warrior but an inspiring leader as well. Rank 3 is the highest level that is likely to be achievable by a PC that does not involve eventual retirement to NPC status.

Rank 4

Athro (Rank 4) are Garou of great experience, widely respected even when they travel far from home. Sometimes Athro will hold senior leadership posts like Warder or Master/Mistress of the Rite; in any but the largest septs, though, they’re more likely to serve as Alpha rather than in a subordinate post. Although Rank 4 werewolves are busier in Gaia’s service than most lower-ranking Garou can imagine, the weight of responsibility and leadership means that they are now strategists more than soldiers, generals rather than sergeants. PCs will almost never achieve Rank 4, and are very likely to be retired to NPC status, after a suitable interval, when they do.

Rank 5

The highest-ranked Garou that most werewolves will ever encounter are the Elders (Rank 5). Elders are the best that any of the Thirteen Tribes have to offer, veterans of the struggle for Gaia who have spent decades honing their skills and learning the ways of wisdom and honor. Elders are only rarely involved in the day-to-day business of Garou life — they’re much more likely to be worrying about thing that affect their city, tribe, or country than they are what’s going on among individual packs. It is extraordinarily unlikely that any PC will ever attain Rank 5; if they do, they will most probably be retired to NPC status after the conclusion of the current story.

Rank 6

A Garou who reaches Rank 6 (Legend) is literally “what it says on the tin.” This rank is reserved for the greatest heroes the Garou Nation has ever known, the very image of everything that the werewolves strive for (and that virtually all of them fall short of in some way). Legends are extraordinarily rare — the number of living Garou at this rank at any one time can probably be counted on one hand without using all of the fingers. Even meeting one is a once-in-a-lifetime honor for most werewolves, and as for actually becoming one — single-handedly defeating a Nexus Crawler is a more realistic ambition. Rank 6 is not available to PCs.