In myth werewolves where much different then they are portrayed in the movies, it was for example an undead form that came forth during the full moon rather then the living and breathing werewolves with which we are most familiar. In the sixteen hundreds it was believed that were wolves where in fact sorcerers who took the form of the wolf to kill those who had angered them or for battle. Much of what the werewolves where was people who had made some deal with a magical entity in order for power. Gaining a salve and a girdle which would change them into wolves. At times whole tribes especially those forced into hiding or to flee from their homes would choose the transformation.



In fantasy role playing games this same idea of the purposeful transformation through the use of magical potions could be utilized to turn whole peoples into werewolves. Such transformations would allow the game master the opportunity to create a fearsome opponent that would be more interesting in for the RPG. In many massive battle situations, in which some dark ruler is attempting to take over the world the villain’s minions are often stupid or weak, having merely numbers on their side. In the case of werewolves the opponent could be cunning and strong, though fewer in number they would be impossible for larger forces to catch and thus would require smaller groups. The werewolf strategy in such cases could be quick attacks within a city, hidden among the populace. Indeed in 1542 it was said that Constantinople was plagued by werewolves among the populace.

Another potential strategy of the werewolves would be to prevent the transport of food, making it so dangerous for the people to move food, hunt, or farm in some areas that the risk of starvation becomes very real. This in turn would play into the hands of the werewolves as starvation would lead people to do things they might not otherwise. For example in folklore the eating of an animal killed by a werewolf would cause a person to be cursed as a werewolf. As the people starved the werewolves could leave them dead animals in and around their village, causing many people to choose lycanthropy over death, and so would increase the armies of the werewolves.

In England historically the wolf was so feared that people where given land grants in return for the agreement that they would kill all the wolves in the area. While this is a sad fact of history, it can be used in role playing games, in reasons over run with werewolves and other such creatures, people like the player’s characters could get the grants. Or the characters could get ready jobs working for those who have gotten such grants helping each clear their land in turn. As with England this could lead to the end of the creatures being hunted. Then what happens to the pc’s and the world as a whole?