Renown

In this section we will go over a widely debated topic: Renown in Werewolf: The Apocalypse.

While we have stated that Ahadi: East Africa follows the Renown Charts located in Werewolf: The Apocalypse Revised, Werewolf: Storyteller’s Companion and Players Guide to the Changing Breeds, there is an aspect of renown that is often overlooked in the online gaming community. We seek to bring light to this issue in the renown method we use here on Ahadi: East Africa.

To understand Renown as a gaming system is simple, if you refer to the renown charts in the books listed above, it’s easy to see that you gain points in certain aspects (i.e. Glory, Honor, Renown, etc.) for completing certain deeds. However, to understand renown as a realistic concept is somewhat different. To further this point we must first define exactly what renown is.

A popular online dictionary defines renown as the following:

re-nown (rĭ-noun')
noun: the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

synonyms: celebrity, glory, distinction, note, eminence, fame

The reality of this definition for Table Top or Online gamers has become rather abused. Players see this trait as a ‘gimme’, something that they feel their characters are entitled to for completing the deeds listed in the book. Quite a few people ‘nickel and dime’ the system, grabbing 1-pointers here and there for deeds that are certainly not note-worthy of their rank. For example: Adren A. has been role playing his character as a Wise (worthy of Wisdom) Garou in Kenya. Because Adren A. is seen in the society as a well-known, honorable citizen he is looked upon as a paragon of the three tenets (Glory, Honor and Wisdom) of his Member Breed, the Garou, but he is also held to higher standards because he is a hero and a role model for his people.

Adren A. has been giving advice in the community about breaking away from Weaver-ties and removing most of, if not, all technological devices that have been brought into the Sept so that they can appease their Totem. While this seems a wise thing to do, it’s not particularly unexpected from an Adren of the Garou Nation. People should be coming to Adren A. for advice about such issues. While Adren A. is still looked upon as a paragon of Wisdom, this is not particularly deserving of renown, especially by someone of his rank. At a typical Moot, a Talesinger (or Galliard) would probably omit the mention of this deed for the mention of his wise dealings with the spirits in his Umbral Quest with his fellow pack mates. This would be seen as a truly wise deed and, as such, would be recognized by the community.

The same such omissions would be had if Adren A. were dealing kindly, or being friendly, with the local kinfolk. Because Adren A. already has, and has had, ties with the local kinfolk this would not particularly be something hailed by the community or the nation. Had Adren A. done something truly inspiring, such as convincing the local kinfolk fellowship to help stop the illegal export of Ivory in return for protection, this would be deserving of “Having good relations with the nearby Kinfolk +0.1 Wisdom” in addition to any other renown that may apply.

So, what is and is not worthy of renown on Ahadi: East Africa?

At the end of the month, just as Werewolves do, the Ahadi holds a Rite of Communion in which all members of the Ahadi are honored. This rite is more commonly referred to as a ‘Moot’. During this time the Talesingers (Galliards, Bards, etc.) of each Pack, or Timu, will come forth to announce the deeds of their pack mates. This will be your chance, as a player, to bring forth all of the things you think your character has done that is deserving of renown.

This process will take place on the Forums and will be in correspondence with the end-of-the-month Experience (XP) Submissions. A Storyteller post will be made, at this point you have two options: You may message the Storyteller (via Forums Private Messaging), or you may post out of character (OOC) all of the deeds your character has done that you believe is deserving of renown. A Storyteller will then make another in character (IC) post that will announce the deeds of your character which they have felt shined above the others. Remember: renown is social and knowledge of your deeds is infectious. You absolutely must do something that is worthy of reaching your Elders’ ears. Consider the things that you have done, which ones are most likely to get recognition for your Rank, Tribe and Breed. The final part of this process will be at the bottom of the in character (IC) post that is made by the NPC (Non-Player Character) that is representative of your Race. You will encounter a final count of renown that will appear as follows: (Adren A. received a total of +0.3 Glory, 0.5 Honor and 0.7 Wisdom for his deeds this month).

We realize that this is a blind process but it is the blind process that makes the reward all that more realistic. This leads us to another point: Slow-Gain Systems.

Ahadi: East Africa has a slow-gain experience point process. You can gain a maximum amount of 9 experience points per month on a sliding scale (this completely omits any extra experience you may gain per your Storyteller’s discretion for showing initiative, superb role playing, etc.). We believe this system is appropriate to a realistic advancement for a character. One of the most common mistakes of character development is to reach ranks before your character has the skills needed to do so. For example, Adren A. has just gained third rank and wants, now, to challenge for a position of pack leader… there’s a problem with that, Adren A. despite his advancement in rank has no dots in the skill for Leadership. This is a common theme of online role playing, characters advance before they are ready. To put it in more common terms, Adren A. bit off more than he could chew.  A blind, slow-raise system does not completely solve this matter, but it serves to control these matters from getting out of hand and allows players to flesh out their characters before leaping to the next step.

Rising in rank will be covered next…