Rage against the dying of the light
Rage is a collectible card game (CCG) originally published by White Wolf in 1995 based on the roleplaying game, Werewolf: The Apocalypse. The game is based around packs of werewolves battling each other and various evil monsters while trying to save the world.
Note that this website is mostly about Rage: Apocalypse, the original game produced by White Wolf. For the game briefly produced by FRPG, see Rage: Tribal War.
Note that this website is mostly about Rage: Apocalypse, the original game produced by White Wolf. For the game briefly produced by FRPG, see Rage: Tribal War.
Game summary
Each player starts with a pack. In the basic game, the pack are all "Garou", werewolves fighting to prove they are the best pack to protect the world. While most of the time this achieved by killing Enemies or other packs, there are other ways of winning or gaining advantage. For instance, you can win votes or go on quests. In the full game, you can include other shapeshifters such as various werecats ("Simba") or Ratkin. Alternatively, you can play a team of the enemy, the Wyrm, seeking to corrupt, possess or destroy everything good.
As per your traditional CCG, Rage requires each player to build a deck from all the cards available. That includes 963 released by White Wolf and about 500 from fan sets. In Rage however your "deck" is actually three: your Characters, your sept deck (resources and tricks) and your combat deck (which contains most of the blood-letting). Your Characters start in play so determine a lot about your deck. Your combat deck is only used for combat; but there is a lot of combat so often gets recycled many times.
Turns are mostly simultaneous, so you play your resource phase out at the same time (Territories, Allies, Enemies... or Victims for Wyrm players), call votes at the same time and choose your main fighter for the turn (your "alpha" at the same time. Players can interrupt play with a variety of cards and effects. Then in the combat phase, each alpha gets a chance (or more than one) to attack something. Rarrr! The first two 20 Victory Points wins the game.
As per your traditional CCG, Rage requires each player to build a deck from all the cards available. That includes 963 released by White Wolf and about 500 from fan sets. In Rage however your "deck" is actually three: your Characters, your sept deck (resources and tricks) and your combat deck (which contains most of the blood-letting). Your Characters start in play so determine a lot about your deck. Your combat deck is only used for combat; but there is a lot of combat so often gets recycled many times.
Turns are mostly simultaneous, so you play your resource phase out at the same time (Territories, Allies, Enemies... or Victims for Wyrm players), call votes at the same time and choose your main fighter for the turn (your "alpha" at the same time. Players can interrupt play with a variety of cards and effects. Then in the combat phase, each alpha gets a chance (or more than one) to attack something. Rarrr! The first two 20 Victory Points wins the game.
Fans
Rage is currently supported by an international community of active fans. They are led by a "design team" somewhat supported by former White Wolf staff and with approval from White Wolf to produce sets using their copyrighted mechanics. The community:
- has created this website
- is active on the forum
- have created three blocks of cards (over a dozen sets), fully playtested and with full art
- have created new card templates
- have created and maintain plugins for online play using Lackey CCG
- play regular games both online and using Play-by-Post on the forums
- has developed and rewritten the rules and card errata to reduce extremes and confusion. You can still do crazy things!
- continues to develop the game, bringing in new abilities, strategies and ways to enjoy it
