Are Werewolves More Dangerous Than Vampires in Modern Gaming Contexts?

Games like White Wolf have long captured the imagination of role-playing enthusiasts. While the dangers within these games are numerous, a pack of young werewolves is undoubtedly one of the most formidable threats a player can face. This article explores the differential strengths and weaknesses of werewolves and vampires, specifically in the context of tabletop role-playing games (RPGs).

Physical Strength vs. Societal Cohesion

Arguably, the strength of an elder vampire is unmatched. With attributes like Potence 5, Celerity 5, and Fortitude 5, these powerful beings seem invincible. However, Potence, which primarily grants additional successes, does not boost physical strength. Therefore, the raw physical power of a vampire, while formidable, cannot fully account for their overall threat.

A major drawback in vampire society is the requirement for a reason to unite. Elder vampires, in particular, are reluctant to assemble. In contrast, werewolves have always been known to form packs, making teamwork come naturally to them. Pack animals, like wolves, rely on collective strength and strategy.

Damage Absorption and Combat Efficiency

Vampires face a significant challenge when it comes to absorbing damage. Without the benefit of Fortitude, vampires have no natural resistance to aggravated damage. Fortunately for vampires, other beings also lack Fortitude and thus cannot withstand the attacks of werewolves.

Werewolves, on the other hand, can absorb aggravated damage gracefully, thanks to their stamina. In the Crinos form, werewolves can roll around 6 or 7 dice for aggravated damage, making them difficult to defeat. Players who prioritize physical attributes in their werewolf builds frequently back up their figures with high stamina. This means even a well-constructed vampire like Vlad, with a maximum of 5 soak dice, faces significant challenges.

Combat Analysis: Werewolves vs. Elder Vampires

Let's dive into a hypothetical battle scenario. Consider a pack of five young Garou (werewolves) against an 8th generation elder vampire with straight fives across Celerity, Fortitude, and Potence.

Taking turns, the vampire can make six actions per round due to Celerity 5. Werewolves, playing to their advantage, might spend rage for extra actions, allowing each to take three actions per round. This means the vampire must dodge multiple attacks from five different werewolves, leaving limited opportunities for offensive actions.

Assuming the vampire dodges five times, he has one attack available. Even if he rolls hot, he'll still face a significant number of attacks (15 in total). For the sake of argument, let's say seven out of these 15 attacks connect. The werewolves' average soak roll will be around 2, while the average incoming damage is about 8 (6 or 7 strength plus potential bonus from bite or claws). If the vampire has the Huge Size merit, which grants an additional health level, he would still run out of health in the first round.

This type of analysis demonstrates the efficiency and collective power of werewolf packs. While vampires can be incredibly powerful individuals, their reliance on strategy and unity makes them an equal fight against a cohesive pack of werewolves.

Conclusion

In summary, while elder vampires possess raw power and can be formidable opponents, the societal structure and strategic advantages of werewolves make them a strong collective threat. Werewolves like the pack of young Garou in the example scenario can overwhelm an elder vampire, showcasing that in many RPG contexts, werewolves may indeed be more dangerous than individual vampires. This highlights the unique and essential dynamics of these mythical creatures within the role-playing game context.