Tips on Writing Your Werewolf’s First Change
Written by Harry
October 31, 2008
All characters who become supernaturals go through a transitional period when they start to become what they’re destined to be.
For the Forsaken, this transitional period is usually a long process, often starting months before the actual change happens. The closer the time comes to the actual change and shift to animal form, the more the symptoms magnify.
So how do you write this process effectively? Turning into a werewolf or another supernatural character isn’t an everyday occurrence. There’s really no one you can ask to recount theirfirst-hand experience.
The Best of Times and The Worst of Times
For the player, the First Change is one of the most exciting periods in your character’s life. Your character is still the same person, but now the character is forced to face traumatic changes.
A First Change will tear your character apart. He will have nightmares and long periods of missing time. She’ll start doing things that normal people don’t usually do. His personality might become more animalistic as instinct overrides reason. Emotional levels run high and it doesn’t take much to set off an argument or a fight.
Unless your character is lucky enough to have mentors around him, his First Change usually ends in tragedy. A simple domestic dispute takes a bad turn when the inner Rage takes over. Sometimes the new werewolf wakes up bathed in the blood of his loved ones.
Depending on the auspice, a new shifter might take a nosedive into hedonism or try to run away from everything. They might get lost in the spirit world and lose touch with reality. They might have dreams and visions that make no sense at all, further blurring the lines of reality.
Resources
One of the best resources for before, during and after a First Change is the Forsaken sourcebook, Blood of the Wolf. If your character is about to go through this ordeal, you’d be doing yourself a favor by picking up this book.
Another excellent book is Robert R. McCammon’s Hour of the Wolf. This spy thriller with a werewolf twist is set during World War II. The book alternates between the lead character’s childhood in Russia, his adolescence as a new werewolf, and his adult life as a spy and assassin for the Allied forces.
The way McCammon takes Michael through the process of becoming a werewolf is very close to the way we view the First Change in Escaping Reality.
Movies are another excellent resource. There’s the 1981 American Werewolf in London series, and Wes Craven’s 2005 film Cursed with Christina Ricci. Cursed isn’t the best movie I’ve ever seen, but it does have some good First Change ideas.
There’s also 2004’s VanHelsing, which in my opinion, has the best looking werewolves I’ve ever seen.
The Best Laid Plans
A First Change isn’t something you can map out in advance. You could try, but chances are that your character is going to surprise you. This is one time you will have to take some risks and resign to the fact you will have to hurt your character while he or she lives through a dramatic situation.
It’s a wild ride to be sure. Enjoy it and get as much as you can from the experience. Explore all avenues and leave no stone unturned. Although you may create other characters that go through a First Change, your first character’s change will always be special. Make it rock.
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He will have nightmares and long periods of missing time. She’ll start doing things that normal people don’t usually do. His personality might become more animalistic as instinct overrides reason. Emotional levels run high and it doesn’t take much to set off an argument or a fight.
Sounds a lot like something I deal with about every twenty-eight days or so, and that I can handle.
Although you may create other characters that go through a First Change, your first character’s change will always be special. Make it rock.
Sort of a birds and bees speech for role playing werewolves! Your first time should be special and shared with someone you love… unless they can’t handle you trying to tear them to shreds.
[...] fun and challenging, especially when you have the opportunity to take your character through a First Change. While playing a werewolf is great, though, not everyone wants to be a [...]