History TabletopGame / OldWorldOfDarkness

** Werewolves find themselves targeted by a CorruptCorperation and fighting a losing battle with cosmic forces, but it might be worth it to gain VoluntaryShapeshifting into a giant man-wolf hybrid with supernaturally damaging claws and the ability to regenerate from most injuries.

** In ''Vampire'', the player characters have been transformed into inhuman creatures who must constantly fight against their darker impulses or loose their minds. The various factions are constantly at war with each other and older vampires lord their power over younger ones (and humans), using them as pawns in their games and often treating them as disposable. And the end of the world is coming, but only the most violent, inhuman of the sects seems to acknowledge or care about this fact.

** Werewolf places a great deal of importance on the Umbra, a spirit realm that exists alongside our own and cab be reached by "stepping sideways"

* DarkerAndEdgier: Being this, by comparison with [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons DnD]] and its clones, became one of the main marketing points for World of Darkness games, when they first came out in the beginning of 1990s.
** This essentially caused it to be the Tabletop version of RatedMForMoney, where people insisted the game was good on ''basis'' of being DarkerAndEdgier, and were many fan made campaigns included blood, gore, sex, and "mature" themes for the hell of it.
* TheDarkSide: Vampires were like this, but PlayedForDrama as the degeneration carries nothing but severe penalties. Other beings had their own ways of falling to TheDarkSide: wraiths turn into spectres by giving in to their shadows (sentient embodiments of their negative emotions), mages can turn themselves into Nephandi by inverting their Avatars, werewolves can be turned against their will by forcing them into the Black Spiral Labyrinth, changelings who get particularly bent by Banality can become Dauntain, etc. And of course, there is good old getting drunk on power.
* DarkWorld: ''Several'' in both settings.

* CreativeSterility: Vampires and assorted others.
* CrossMeltingAura: Powerful Baali vampires can do this.
* CrossoverCosmology: Each game line in the Old ''[=WoD=]'' had a long, intricate BackStory, which was notoriously full of (intentional, in all likelihood) internal inconsistencies and an independent cosmology. Needless to say, they did not play well together. This was a reason for several {{Ret Con}}s and probably a contributing factor for [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt ending the world with a bang]] -- although, in some people's opinion, it was more of a whimper.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Compared to the rest of the playable creatures in this setting, Mages are this. They aren't immortal manipulators or unstoppable killing machines... but they ''are'' each a walking, talking RealityWarper and they know it. If the Mage is prepared, there is absolutely nothing any of the other creature types can do should he wish to twist them all like pretzels. One page of the Mage core rulebook literally describes how easy it is for a Mage to turn a two thousand year old powerhouse vampire into a piece of lawn furniture, permanently.
* CursedWithAwesome: At least frankly that's how most groups play it. Creators of the new ''[=WoD=]'' attempted to tune this down by downgrading powers and installing {{Karma Meter}}s in every game line.
** The [[KarmaMeter Morality systems]] hilariously backfired in this regard: they were supposed to punish the character for committing certain evils, but what actually ended up happening was players having a mechanical point at which their characters stop caring about committing mass murder.

* CrapsackWorld: The oppressive helplessness of the setting is what appeals to many. However, the old World of Darkness features some exceptions. There is ''Changeling: The Dreaming'', where the object is to prevent the world from ''becoming'' a Crapsack World. There is ''Mage: The Ascension'', where the characters strive to remake the world so that it ''stops'' being a Crapsack World. And while in ''Werewolf: The Apocalypse'' the Apocalypse is inevitable, you ''can'' win the Last Battle.

*** Unfortunately, ''Mummy'' wasn't especially well written. Since mummy powers are fairly weak (except for their ability to come BackFromTheDead, of course - but while that one certainly ensures that you will always live to fight another day, it doesn't really help you to ''win'') and mummy organisations are described in only the most sketchy way, it's very unclear just how mummies are supposed to go about saving the world. And since they have barely any identified antagonists, only references to some general "spawn of Apophis," it's also a bit unclear just what they're supposed to save the world ''from''...
** And when the second edition of ''Mage: the Ascension'' specifically mentioned in the Storyteller notes that Crapsack World needn't be the default, some players actually rebelled against it, claiming it was pandering to a more mainstream audience. And it probably wasn't merely one group, seeing that the third edition scrapped all the hopeful bits.
** The Hengeyokai (and possibly also the Kuei-Jin) believe that the crappiness of the world is cyclical and that, so long as the coming 6th age (the ultimate in crappiness) is finite and temporary, the universe will eventually become a better place to live.
** ''Wraith'', on the other hand, played Crapsack World straighter and harder than any of the other games. The world [[IncrediblyLamePun may bite]], but it's still a paradise compared to the despair and horrors of [[TheUnderworld the Shadowlands]].

** In ''Mage: the Ascension'', Paradox, the backlash created by the subconscious disbelief of non-mage humans, can be the strongest force against mages.
*** Except for [[GameBreaker Marauders.]] Normally, Paradox is a risky blur of ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve and CastFromHitPoints. Marauders, who are by nature insane, afflict other people with Paradox instead of taking it on themselves. In other words, Marauders cast from YOUR hitpoints.
** In ''Vampire: the Masquerade'', vampires are only affected by crosses/stars of David/credit cards of the truly faithful, who are rare.
** This is actually a matter of life or death for changelings in ''Changeling: the Dreaming'', as the central premise rests on the fae being driven into human forms by the growing unwillingness to believe in the fantastic amongst humanity. This tendency, referred to as "Banality," can drive a changeling to an early grave, and must be overcome if they wish to work magic on a target.
** And, of course, in ''Hunter: The Reckoning'', their powers worked on their willingness to stand against monsters and belief in themselves.

* TheCracker: Computer-savvy Nosferatu can become this. Virtual Adepts do this to ''reality itself''.

** Hunters have their eyes opened to the supernatural forces at work in their world and are given powers to fight them with, but find themselves in constant danger from creatures more powerful than they are and alienated from friends and family who can't perceive what they can.

** Changelings of the Pooka Kith each have an affinity with a specific animal and take on features of that animal, with most falling somewhere between this trope and ALittleBitBeastly

* BlessedWithSuck: It is ''not'' fun to be a supernatural being in many gamelines of the old ''[=WoD=]'' (in particular, in Wraith and often in Vampire, in other lines becoming a supernatural is more of a mixed blessing). In theory. Again, unless you're a Mummy.

* BornAgainImmortality: The Reborn are effectively human in every way that matters - but every time they die, they're [[{{Reincarnation}} reincarnated]] as babies, and have to grow up all over again. As they mature, each new incarnation recalls the memories of all their previous incarnations.

* ChurchMilitant: The Inquisition.

** Black Tooth, a [[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse Simba]] king who oversaw the attempted genocide of the Ajaba (were-hyenas) and used their skulls to decorate his palace and forcing benevolent spirits into slumber in case their presence touched off the apocalypse.

* BeneathTheEarth: Where you'll find Nosferatu warrens and Black Spiral Dancer hives.
* BewareTheSuperman: A common theme in several games. Several factions, such as Mages and Garou, are dealing with the far-reaching effects of their ancestors lording over humans.

* BlueAndOrangeMorality: The various alternate morality systems in Masquerade.

** Body horror is a common experience among Wyrm servants in ''Werewolf the Apocalypse'' as well. Fomori (living beings possessed by banes) take on grotesque physical characteristics. Black Spiral Dancers frequently exhibit mutations due to Wyrm taint, inbreeding, and generations of exposure to balefire.

** Plenty of princes fulfill this role. Also the actual Caligula was apparently a Setite plot, as revenge for the whole "Subjugation of Egypt" thing.
** Black Tooth, a Simba king, was regarded as a genocidal monster by some Garou and Fera, especially the Ajaba.

* TheArtifact: The references to [[TabletopGame/Exalted Exalted]] are ignored now that the game is no longer a prequel to the World of Darkeness.

* BeastMan: There are a lot of these, but generally this is the stereotype held against the vampire clan of Gangrel, the Pooka Kith of Changelings, and basically every Werewolf.

* BeingGoodSucks: Unless you're a Mummy.

* TheArtifact: Too many to count in the old World of Darkness. The Revised Edition books attempted to counter this, but it was too little, too late.
* AscendedDemon: Golconda for vampires, zero torment for demons.
* AstralProjection
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Well, the vast majority of roleplaying games use this trope at least sometimes, to reign in possible sociopathic behavior of {{Player Character}}s, but in the World of Darkness it is particularly prominent. Movers and shakers of the setting tend to be on a completely different level of power than normal starting characters and the main reason this is less noticeable in the new ''[=WoD=]'' is general downgrading of supernatural abilities, which makes the scale of abilities less steep.
* BadassNormal: Non-Imbued hunters in the old ''[=WoD=]''. At least those few of them who weren't using some form of magic or the True Faith.

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Most of the games had some always evil faction (Baali for Vampire, Nephandi for Mage, Black Spiral Dancers for Werewolf, etc.) that was unavailable for player characters.
** A least initially, then White Wolf came out with the "Black Dog" brand to publish what they considered ''evil'' groups. {{Splat}}books included Baali, Fomori, Giovanni, and Spectres.

** Clan Tzimisce is particularly notorious for this, thanks to their body-sculpting powers that allow them to reshape victims into house furniture, while keeping them alive and aware of their condition.

* {{Animorphism}}: Werewolves, vampire Clan Gangrel (and others), Changelings of the Pooka Kith, and ''Orpheus'' ghosts with the Marrow Shade.
* ApocalypseHow: The Time of Judgement.

The ''World of Darkness'' is a TabletopRPG published by Creator/WhiteWolf. The universe is a [[CrapsackWorld dark reflection]] of our own, where humanity is not the master of the world ''or'' its fate. Throughout all of human history, [[BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy supernatural forces have manipulated mankind from the shadows.]]

The original or "classic" ''World of Darkness'' and the Storyteller System began in 1991 with ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade''. Over the next 13 years, it expanded to nine different "gamelines" (with assorted setting- and era-based spinoffs) and hundreds of books, until it officially ended in 2004. Starting the same year, the new ''World of Darkness'', was created as a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] with a new system and is ongoing under the name ''TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness''.

In 2006, [[Creator/WhiteWolf White Wolf Publishing]] was acquired by CCP Games (the folks behind ''VideoGame/EveOnline''), who continued to release TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness products until 2010, when their focus shifted to releasing books as [=PDFs=] and Print-on-Demand volumes. The next year, White Wolf began adding copies of previously out-of-print Old World of Darkness books and, four months later, [[{{Uncancelled}} released new]] [[MilestoneCelebration "20th anniversary editions"]] of the ''[=oWoD=]'' gamebooks, rebranding them ''Classic World of Darkness'', with ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade, TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse, TabletopGame/MageTheAscension, TabletopGame/WraithTheOblivion'', and ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheDreaming'' all getting new corebooks and additional supplements.

CCP Games announced in 2013 that a MMORPG, tentatively called "World of Darkness Online", which would be based on the old ''World of Darkness''. It was [[http://www.ccpgames.com/en/public-relations/press-releases/article/77171/ccp-games-halts-development-of-world-of-darkness-mmo/ cancelled in April 2014]], with the company license eventually being sold to Creator/ParadoxInteractive in October 2015. White Wolf was renamed to White Wolf Publishing and Creator/ObsidianEntertainment expressed interest in making their own MMO.

The original or "classic" ''World of Darkness'' and the Storyteller System began in 1991 with ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade''. Over the next 13 years, it expanded to nine different "gamelines" (with assorted setting- and era-based spinoffs) and hundreds of books, ending with the apocalyptic ''Time of Judgment'' books in 2004. Starting the same year, the new ''World of Darkness'', was created as a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] with a new system and is ongoing under the name ''TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness''.

In later editions, the old ''[=WoD=]'' setting acquired an overarching {{back story}} and an ongoing {{metaplot}}, often via tie-in novels. The ''Time of Judgment'' books [[labelnote:note]]including ''[[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse Apocalypse]]'', ''[[TabletopGame/MageTheAscension Ascension]]'', ''[[TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade Gehenna]]'', and the book titled ''Time of Judgment'' itself which covered the other game lines (except ''Wraith'').[[/labelnote]] were dedicated to TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt, covering scenarios that were often exclusive to a particular gameline. ''TabletopGame/{{Orpheus}}'' was another gameline with its own end-of-the-world scenario, that also doubled as the end to ''TabletopGame/{{Wraith|TheOblivion}}''. One publication, however, an adventure titled ''The Red Sign'' was a crossover between ''TabletopGame/{{Vampire|TheMasquerade}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Mage|TheAscension}}''.

At one point ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' was set up as a prequel to ''The World of Darkness''; this is especially obvious in ''TabletopGame/HunterTheReckoning'' with the eponymous hunters being the equivalent of [[KingInTheMountain Solar Exalted returning]] yet again to a world that needs heroes. This eventually was changed and ''Exalted'' is now considered a separate game, despite sharing similarly named character with ''TabletopGame/KindredOfTheEast'', like the "Ebon Dragon" and "Scarlet Empress".

Notable events:
* 2004 -- The end of the old ''World of Darkness'' and the start of the new ''World of Darkness''.
* 2006 -- CCP Games (the folks behind ''VideoGame/EveOnline'') acquire [[Creator/WhiteWolf White Wolf Publishing]].
* 2010 -- White Wolf published their last book using the traditional methods, ''[[TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness World of Darkness: Mirrors]]''. While books will still be created, CCP Games and White Wolf shifted towards releasing books as [=PDFs=], as well as investing in Print-on-Demand (commonly used by most small RPG publishers).
* 2011 -- After seven years of being out of print, White Wolf put up a selection of their ''Vampire: The Masquerade'' books back into production in June, and then four months later [[{{Uncancelled}} began creating new]] "[[MilestoneCelebration anniversary editions]]" of the old ''[=WoD=]'' gamebooks, rebranding them ''Classic World of Darkness'', with ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade, TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse, TabletopGame/MageTheAscension, TabletopGame/WraithTheOblivion'', and ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheDreaming'' all getting 20th Anniversary corebooks and additional supplements.
* 2012 -- [[invoked]]White Wolf celebrated the [[MilestoneCelebration 20th anniversary]] of the old ''World of Darkness'' and the 8th anniversary of the new ''World of Darkness''.
* 2013 -- CCP Games announced that a MMORPG, tentatively called "World of Darkness Online", which would be based on the old ''World of Darkness''. It was [[http://www.ccpgames.com/en/public-relations/press-releases/article/77171/ccp-games-halts-development-of-world-of-darkness-mmo/ cancelled in April 2014]], with the company license eventually being sold to Creator/ParadoxInteractive in October 2015, with White Wolf being renamed to White Wolf Publishing and Creator/ObsidianEntertainment expressing their interest in making their own MMO.

The ''World of Darkness'' is a TabletopRPG published by Creator/WhiteWolf. The world is a [[CrapsackWorld dark reflection]] of our own, where humanity is not the master of the world ''or'' its fate. Throughout all of human history, [[BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy supernatural forces]] have manipulated mankind from the shadows.

The original or "classic" ''World of Darkness'' and the Storyteller System started in 1991 with the "gameline" ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade''. It expanded to over ten gamelines and hundreds of books for 13 years; and ended with the ''Time of Judgment'' books in 2004. Starting the same year, with a new system, the new ''World of Darkness'', was created as a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] and is ongoing under the name ''TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness''.

The ''World of Darkness'' is a setting where various types of supernatural creatures exist. Each has a unique niche, theme, and {{back story}}. The gamelines had conflicting backgrounds, as crossovers were initially meant to be optional. With the second edition of the old ''[=WoD=]'' too many books used crossovers actively, creating much confusion due not only to incompatible histories, but entire ''cosmologies'' and basic rules that were different. [[FantasyKitchenSink What crossovers did happen]] also had balance problems when it came to the [[PowerCreepPowerSeep relative strengths]] of each participant, as well as no clear equivalents of various supernatural power sources.

The original or "classic" ''World of Darkness'' and the Storyteller System started in 1991 with the "gameline" ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade''. It expanded to over ten gamelines and hundreds of books for 13 years; and ended with the ''Time of Judgment'' books in 2004. Starting the same year, with a new Storytell'''ing''' system, the new ''World of Darkness'', was created as a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] and is ongoing under the name ''TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness''.

The ''World of Darkness'', both old and new, is a setting where various types of supernatural creatures exist. Each has a unique niche, theme, and {{back story}}. The old ''[=WoD=]'' gamelines had conflicting backgrounds, as crossovers were initially meant to be optional. With the second edition of the old ''[=WoD=]'' too many books used crossovers actively, creating much confusion due not only to incompatible histories, but entire ''cosmologies'' and basic rules that were different. [[FantasyKitchenSink What crossovers did happen]] also had balance problems when it came to the [[PowerCreepPowerSeep relative strengths]] of each participant, as well as no clear equivalents of various supernatural power sources.

[[quoteright:275:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wodlogo348.jpg]]

** Mage stands out a bit by the players themselves frequently being the big bad threat to the stability of reality itself. Usually by accident. "Reality has enough of your bullshit and erases you" was actually the setting's primary ''antagonist'', and being a walking madness-inducing eldritch abomination was often one of your '''better''qualities once paradigms started combining with Avatar.

[[quoteright:275:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wodlogo_348.jpg]]

** Every combination of splats had issues of mismatched mechanics, but the real highlight of the "just don't ever cross-over, ever" rule was a Mage landing in a Vampire game, or vice versa. Vampire is based around casing out your enemy and playing politics, then turning on him with combat only once the mandatory dramatic bristling is done; all against a background of having to conserve a consumable substance (blood) as the core mechanic. So even the most combat oriented vampire can kill a wimpy mortal mage in about a round if the mage is unsupecting, but takes a few minutes to meet him, identify him as a hazard, decide to attack, and spend points into his abilities. A mage in most cases _automatically_ notes that that guy across the room isn't alive instantly, establishes that it's a vampire and a threat in one round with a no-cost spell, and then engages, usually half an hour before the vampire has even noticed anything weird is up.

** Mage stands out a bit by the players themselves frequently being the big bad threat to the stability of reality itself. Usually by accident. "Reality has enough of your bullshit and erases you" was actually the setting's primary _antagonist_, and being a walking madness-inducing eldritch abomination was often one of your _better_ qualities once paradigms started combining with Avatar.

** Garou can be very intelligent as well. The Garou Nation has produced poets, philosophers, historians, and scientists. Among the Black Spiral Dancers, W. Richard MacLish (a.k.a. Writlish) is a professor of anthropology and a walking repository of Wyrm history.

* MayContainEvil (Taken to insane lengths by the Pentex Corporation in ''Werewolf: The Apocalypse''.)

* OmnicidalManiac: The Giovanni want to bring about the end of life as we know it ForTheLulz. Setites are also working towards Gehenna, though most of them don't know it, but they are doing so in the name of their god.

* SerialKiller: The Wayward creed from ''Hunter: The Reckoning'', just... focused on supernaturals.

* BodyHorror: A large part of the Tzimisces' hat in ''Vampire: the Masquerade'' is inflicting AndIMustScream-style changes on their victims.

* TheCaligula: Plenty of princes fulfil this role. Also the actual Caligula was apparently a Setite plot, as revenge for the whole "Subjugation of Egypt" thing.
* ChurchMilitant; The Inquisition.

* EmptyShell: [[OurSoulsAreDifferent Soul loss]] turns a person into this over a period of time.

* StateSec: the Technocracy definitely has elements of this trope, what with the secret agents, cyborg and bio engineered soldiers and what-not.

** Supplementals also include mummies[[labelnote:note]]Originally as supplements called ''World of Darkness: Mummy'', and later ''MummyTheResurrection''[[/labelnote]], hunters[[labelnote:note]]Originally in ''The Hunters Hunted'', and later in ''TabletopGame/HunterTheReckoning''[[/labelnote]], gargoyles[[labelnote:note]]As servants to the Tremere clan[[/labelnote]], mad scientists [[labelnote:note]]The Mage Tradition, the Sons of Ether[[/labelnote]], hunchbacks[[labelnote:note]]A flaw that can apply to any character[[/labelnote]], gypsies[[labelnote:note]]In the controversial ''World of Darkness: Gypsies'' book, along with Silent Strider werewolves and Ravnos vampires being tied to them[[/labelnote]], and demons[[labelnote:note]]Referred to in many supplements until they were given their own game, ''TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen''[[/labelnote]]. There are even references to "Prometheans", who are effectively a race of [[FrankensteinsMonster Frankenstein's Monsters]].

** Supplementals also include mummies[[labelnote:note]]Originally as supplements called ''World of Darkness: Mummy'', and later ''MummyTheResurrection''[[/labelnote]], hunters[[labelnote:note]]Originally in ''The Hunters Hunted'', and later in ''HunterTheReckoning''[[/labelnote]], gargoyles[[labelnote:note]]As servants to the Tremere clan[[/labelnote]], mad scientists [[labelnote:note]]The Mage Tradition, the Sons of Ether[[/labelnote]], hunchbacks[[labelnote:note]]A flaw that can apply to any character[[/labelnote]], gypsies[[labelnote:note]]In the controversial ''World of Darkness: Gypsies'' book, along with Silent Strider werewolves and Ravnos vampires being tied to them[[/labelnote]], and demons[[labelnote:note]]Referred to in many supplements until they were given their own game, ''TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen''[[/labelnote]]. There are even references to "Prometheans", who are effectively a race of [[FrankensteinsMonster Frankenstein's Monsters]].

** Supplementals also include mummies[[labelnote:note]]Originally as supplements called ''World of Darkness: Mummy'', and later ''MummyTheResurrection''[[/labelnote]], hunters[[labelnote:note]]Originally in ''The Hunters Hunted'', and later in ''HunterTheReckoning''[[/labelnote]], gargoyles[[labelnote:note]]As servants to the Tremere clan[[/labelnote]], mad scientists [[labelnote:note]]The Mage Tradition, the Sons of Ether[[/labelnote]], hunchbacks[[labelnote:note]]A flaw that can apply to any character[[/labelnote]], gypsies[[labelnote:note]]In the controversial ''World of Darkness: Gypsies'' book, along with Silent Strider werewolves and Ravnos vampires being tied to them[[/labelnote]], and demons[[labelnote:note]]Referred to in many supplements until they were given their own game, ''DemonTheFallen''[[/labelnote]]. There are even references to "Prometheans", who are effectively a race of [[FrankensteinsMonster Frankenstein's Monsters]].

* MonsterMash: Essentially the premise of the game. The core game lines introduce [[VampireTheMasquerade vampires]], [[WerewolfTheApocalypse werewolves]], [[TabletopGame/MageTheAscension witches]], [[ChangelingTheDreaming fae]], and [[WraithTheOblivion ghosts]].