Dice mechanics
Dice pool basics in Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition
Rolling multiple dice and counting successes.
Explanation
Werewolf W5 uses d10 dice pools: roll Attribute + Skill, count successes on 6+, with criticals on paired 10s. Rage dice replace part of your pool and can push results brutal, power at the cost of control.
At the table (quick loop)
- Build your pool (Attribute + Skill), substituting Rage dice for your current Rage.
- Roll d10s and count successes (6+).
- Interpret Rage results: brutal outcomes and lost wolf control are story-forward consequences, not just failures.
Example: Two 10s make a critical; if Rage dice drove it, the win comes with the wolf off the leash.
Examples
Example: build the pool
Pick the two traits that match your approach (often Attribute + Skill), roll that many d10s, then count successes.
Example: raise/lower difficulty
Instead of stacking small modifiers, change the difficulty (required successes) so the decision is readable.
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Rolling without a clear pool. Fix: Say the approach, then pick the two traits that define the pool.
- Mistake: Counting successes inconsistently. Fix: Keep one quick reference open (cheat sheet) during play.