Werewolf: The Apocalypse 5th Edition auspice
Philodox
Philodox is an auspice in Werewolf W5: The Half Moon judge, keeper of the Litany and the pack's arbiter in disputes.
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Key facts
- Moon
- Half Moon
- Gift Themes
- Law, balance, justice
Overview
The Philodox is the Half Moon auspice, balanced between the trickster's questions and the warrior's certainty. They keep the Litany, settle disputes, and deliver the ruling everyone else has to live with. Gift themes are law, balance, and justice, which in play means reading people and holding a line in conversation rather than in a brawl. A Philodox gets the scenes other auspices dodge: two tribes claiming the same territory, a packmate who broke a promise to a spirit, a human witness who has to be handled without a body count. You are also the pack's negotiator with other supernaturals. Expect to spend Willpower, which equals Composure plus Resolve, holding that line while an Ahroun's Rage climbs beside you.
How it works
Moon: Half Moon Role: Judge and mediator, keeper of the Litany Gift Themes: Law, balance, justice Starting Gifts: 3 at creation, one of which must come from your auspice list Renown: Upholding Garou law is usually recognized as Honor. You assign 3 dots at creation, no more than 2 in one category Key Traits: Willpower equals Composure plus Resolve, and both feed the auspice's actual job
Tips and playstyle
Best For: Players who enjoy negotiation, moral weight, and being the one who has to decide. Playstyle: Buy Insight, Intimidation, and Etiquette before another combat Skill, and put at least one of your 3 starting Specialties in a social area you will lean on every session. Character Concepts: Sept judge, former defense lawyer, union arbitrator, the pack second who keeps the alpha honest, an ex-cop who kept the ethics.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Philodox just the pack's lawyer?
Judging is the role, but the auspice is enforcement as well as argument. A Philodox who rules that a Garou broke the Litany is often the one who has to make the ruling stick, in Crinos if it comes to that.
How do I play a judge without stalling the table?
Rule quickly and live with it. The auspice is at its best when your call turns out to be wrong and you own the consequence, not when the group debates for twenty minutes.
Which Renown should a Philodox take at creation?
Honor tracks the auspice's work most closely. You assign 3 dots with a maximum of 2 in any one category, so most Philodox open with 2 Honor plus a dot in whatever category their tribe favors.