
Prepare to dive into a world steeped in sorrow, intrigue, and the eternal struggle against oblivion in Wraith: The Oblivion. This tabletop role-playing game (RPG), part of the World of Darkness setting, challenges players to embody tormented souls trapped between life and death. It’s not your typical dungeon crawler; Wraith delves into existential themes, exploring the psychological landscape of lost souls yearning for closure and seeking meaning in their ethereal existence.
The Shadowlands: Where Ghosts Roam Free
Imagine a realm mirroring our own but veiled in shadow and sorrow. This is the Shadowlands, a place where wraiths – the ghostly remnants of the departed – wander. Each wraith carries the weight of unfinished business, unresolved emotions, and often a lingering connection to the world they left behind.
The Shadowlands are not merely a backdrop; they are dynamic and respond to the emotional state of wraiths within them. This means that a wraith’s despair can twist its surroundings into nightmarish landscapes, while hope and resolve can illuminate paths forward.
Beyond Death: The Wraith’s Purpose
What drives these spectral beings? Their ultimate goal is to achieve peace and transcend their ghostly existence. But the path to this serenity is fraught with peril.
Wraiths are constantly bombarded by the Spectre, a terrifying force that embodies their darkest fears and regrets. They must resist succumbing to Oblivion, a state of utter nothingness from which there is no return.
Embracing the Passions: The Arcanoi
To navigate this perilous realm and confront their inner demons, wraiths possess unique supernatural abilities known as Arcanoi. These powers are tied to their passions in life – love, ambition, creativity, or even vengeance.
Here’s a glimpse into some of these intriguing Arcanoi:
Arcanos | Description |
---|---|
Dread Powers | Manipulate fear and despair, influencing the emotions of others. |
Motility | Control their ethereal form, phasing through objects or manifesting physical presence. |
Necromancy | Interact with the dead, gleaning information from spirits or animating corpses for a limited time. |
Puppetry | Influence and control living beings remotely. |
The Legacy of Oblivion: A Rich Setting:
Wraith: The Oblivion is not just about individual struggle; it’s also about the interconnectedness of souls. Wraiths can form bonds with others, creating “Legacies” – groups united by common goals or shared destinies. These Legacies explore complex relationships and moral dilemmas.
Imagine a Legacy seeking redemption for past transgressions, another striving to protect the living from the Spectre’s influence, or even a faction driven by ambition, seeking to usurp control of the Shadowlands.
A Game for the Soulful Gamer:
Wraith: The Oblivion is not your typical action-packed RPG. It encourages introspection, exploration of complex emotions, and creative storytelling.
It’s perfect for players who enjoy delving into philosophical themes, crafting intricate narratives about loss, identity, and the struggle to find meaning in an uncertain afterlife.
The game mechanics are designed to reflect this focus on emotional depth. Dice rolls often incorporate a wraith’s Pathos – a measure of their emotional state – influencing the outcome of actions.
Wraith: The Oblivion offers a hauntingly beautiful experience, a chance to confront existential questions and explore the shadows within ourselves. It’s not for everyone, but for those seeking a truly unique and thought-provoking roleplaying journey, Wraith: The Oblivion is a game that will linger in your mind long after the dice have been put away.
Beyond the Veil: Exploring Further
If you’re captivated by the world of Wraith: The Oblivion, there’s a wealth of material to delve into. Numerous supplements expand upon the lore, introducing new Arcanoi, Legacies, and stories set in different corners of the Shadowlands.