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White Wolf Entertainment AB, formerly White Wolf Publishing, was an American
roleplaying game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, eith ...
and book publisher. The company was founded in 1991 as a merger between
Lion Rampant The lion is a common charge in heraldry. It traditionally symbolises courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour, because historically the lion has been regarded as the "king of beasts". The lion also carries Judeo-Christi ...
A Brief History of Game #10: Lion Rampant: 1987-1990
RPGnet (Retrieved 14 June 2007)
and ''White Wolf Magazine'' (est. 1986 in Rocky Face, GA; it later became "White Wolf Inphobia"), and was initially led by
Mark Rein-Hagen Mark Rein-Hagen, stylized as Mark Rein•Hagen (born 1964), is an American role-playing game, role-playing, card game, card, video game, video and board game designer best known as the creator of ''Vampire: The Masquerade'' and its associated '' ...
of the former and
Steve Wieck Steve Wieck (also credited as Stephan Wieck) is best known as one of the founders of the publishing company White Wolf, Inc. He is also one of the original writers of '' Mage: The Ascension''. Wieck is a co-founder of DriveThruRPG which later me ...
and
Stewart Wieck Stewart Douglas Wieck (May 10, 1968 – June 22, 2017) was one of the founders of the publishing company, White Wolf, Inc. He was also one of the original writers of Mage: The Ascension. Career Stewart Wieck was born in Freeport, Illinois, in 1 ...
of the latter. White Wolf Publishing, Inc. merged with
CCP Games CCP ehf., doing business as CCP Games (short for Crowd Control Productions), is an Icelandic video game developer based in Reykjavík. Novator Partners and General Catalyst had previously collectively owned a majority stake in the company, and ...
in 2006. White Wolf Publishing operated as an imprint of CCP hf, but ceased in-house production of any material, instead licensing their properties to other publishers. It was announced in October 2015 that White Wolf had been acquired from CCP by
Paradox Interactive Paradox Interactive AB is a video game publisher based in Stockholm, Sweden. The company started out as the video game division of Target Games and then Paradox Entertainment (now Cabinet Entertainment) before being spun out into an independ ...
. In November 2018, after most of its staff were dismissed for making controversial statements, it was announced that White Wolf would no longer function as an entity separate from Paradox Interactive. In May 2025,
Jason Carl Jason Carl is a game designer who has worked on a number of roleplaying games for companies such as White Wolf, TSR and Wizards of the Coast, Kenzer & Company, and Exile Game Studio. He is currently the Brand Marketing Manager of Paradox Intera ...
, Brand Marketing Manager at White Wolf, announced the company's return as the official licensing and publishing entity for all World of Darkness transmedia properties. The name "White Wolf" originates from
Michael Moorcock Michael John Moorcock (born 18 December 1939) is an English writer, particularly of science fiction and fantasy, who has published a number of well-received literary novels as well as comic thrillers, graphic novels and non-fiction. He has wo ...
's works.


Overview

White Wolf published a line of several different but overlapping games set in the "
World of Darkness ''World of Darkness'' is a series of tabletop role-playing games, originally created by Mark Rein-Hagen for White Wolf Publishing. It began as an annual line of five games in 1991–1995, with ''Vampire: The Masquerade'', ''Werewolf: The Apocaly ...
", a "modern
gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, a Germanic people **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Gothic alphabet, an alphabet used to write the Gothic language ** Gothic ( ...
" world that, while seemingly similar to the real world, is home to supernatural terrors, ancient conspiracies, and several approaching
apocalypse Apocalypse () is a literary genre originating in Judaism in the centuries following the Babylonian exile (597–587 BCE) but persisting in Christianity and Islam. In apocalypse, a supernatural being reveals cosmic mysteries or the future to a ...
s. The company also published the high fantasy ''
Exalted ''Exalted'' is a high fantasy tabletop role-playing game originally published by White Wolf Publishing in July 2001. The game is currently in its third edition. It was originally created by Robert Hatch, Justin Achilli and Stephan Wieck, a ...
'' RPG, the modern mythic ''Scion'', and
d20 system The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast, originally developed for the Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition, 3rd edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The system is named after ...
material under their
Sword & Sorcery Sword and sorcery (S&S), or heroic fantasy, is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures. Elements of romance, magic, and the supernatural are also often present. Unlike works of h ...
imprint, including such titles as the ''
Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical ...
'' gothic horror campaign setting ''
Ravenloft Ravenloft is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game. It is an alternate time-space existence known as a '' pocket dimension'' or demiplane, called the Demiplane of Dread, which consists of a collection of land piece ...
'', and
Monte Cook Monte Cook (born January 29, 1968) is an American professional tabletop role-playing game designer and writer, best known for his work on ''Dungeons & Dragons''. Role-playing industry career Early years Cook has been a professional game d ...
's ''
Arcana Unearthed ''Arcana Unearthed'' (full title ''Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed''), first published in 2003, is a role-playing game created by Monte Cook and based on the d20 System developed for ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3rd edition. The game is notable for i ...
'' series. In order to complement the ''World of Darkness'' game line, a
LARP A live action role-playing game (LARP) is a form of role-playing game where the participants physically portray their characters.(Tychsen et al. 2006:255) "LARPs can be viewed as forming a distinct category of RPG because of two unique featur ...
system dubbed ''
Mind's Eye Theatre ''Mind's Eye Theatre'' is a live action role-playing game (LARP) based on the White Wolf World of Darkness universe and shares the setting with the tabletop role-playing game '' Vampire: The Masquerade'', among others. In most editions of the ...
'' has been published. White Wolf also released several series of novels based on the
Old World of Darkness ''World of Darkness'' is a series of tabletop role-playing games, originally created by Mark Rein-Hagen for White Wolf Publishing. It began as an annual line of five games in 1991–1995, with '' Vampire: The Masquerade'', '' Werewolf: The Apoca ...
, all of which are currently out of print (although many are coming back into availability via print-on-demand). White Wolf also ventured in the
collectible card game A collectible card game (CCG), also called a trading card game (TCG) among other names, is a type of card game that mixes strategy game, strategic deck building elements with features of trading cards. The genre was introduced with ''Magic: The G ...
market with ''Arcadia'', ''Rage'', and '' Vampire: The Eternal Struggle'' (formerly ''Jyhad''). ''V:TES'', perhaps the most successful card game, was originally published by
Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast LLC (WotC or Wizards) is an American game Publishing, publisher, most of which are based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science-fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail game stores. In 1999, toy ...
in 1994, but was abandoned just two years later after a revamped base set, name change and three expansions were published. White Wolf acquired the rights to the game in 2000, even though no new material had been produced for the game in over four years. Since then, several ''V:TES'' expansions have been released, and the game was the only official source of material for the
Old World of Darkness ''World of Darkness'' is a series of tabletop role-playing games, originally created by Mark Rein-Hagen for White Wolf Publishing. It began as an annual line of five games in 1991–1995, with '' Vampire: The Masquerade'', '' Werewolf: The Apoca ...
, until 2011 when the 20th Anniversary Edition of '' Vampire: The Masquerade'' was published and the
Onyx Path Onyx Path Publishing is a publisher of tabletop role-playing games that produces company-owned and creator-owned games as well as licensed products. History The name "The Onyx Path" and the company's logo appeared on White Wolf products and th ...
was announced.
Video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...
s such as '' Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption'' and '' Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines'' are based on White Wolf's role-playing game '' Vampire: The Masquerade''. There are also several ''Hunter: The Reckoning'' video games.


Merger and MMO

On Saturday, 11 November 2006, White Wolf and
CCP Games CCP ehf., doing business as CCP Games (short for Crowd Control Productions), is an Icelandic video game developer based in Reykjavík. Novator Partners and General Catalyst had previously collectively owned a majority stake in the company, and ...
, the Icelandic MMO development company responsible for EVE Online, announced a merger between the two companies during the keynote address at the EVE Online Fanfest 2006. It was also revealed that a World of Darkness
MMORPG A massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a video game that combines aspects of a role-playing video game and a massively multiplayer online game. As in role-playing games (RPGs), the player assumes the role of a Player charac ...
was already in the planning stages. This game was cancelled in April 2014 after nine years of development.


The Onyx Path

At
GenCon Gen Con is the largest tabletop game convention in North America by both attendance and number of events. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, live action role-playing ...
2012 it was announced that CCP Games/White Wolf would not continue to produce table-top RPGs . Onyx Path Publishing, a new company by White Wolf Creative Director Richard Thomas, purchased the Trinity games and Scion from CCP and became licensee for the production of World of Darkness titles (classic and new), as well as
Exalted ''Exalted'' is a high fantasy tabletop role-playing game originally published by White Wolf Publishing in July 2001. The game is currently in its third edition. It was originally created by Robert Hatch, Justin Achilli and Stephan Wieck, a ...
. Onyx Path does not, however, hold a license to the
Mind's Eye Theatre ''Mind's Eye Theatre'' is a live action role-playing game (LARP) based on the White Wolf World of Darkness universe and shares the setting with the tabletop role-playing game '' Vampire: The Masquerade'', among others. In most editions of the ...
titles.


Purchase by Paradox Interactive

On Thursday, 29 October 2015,
Paradox Interactive Paradox Interactive AB is a video game publisher based in Stockholm, Sweden. The company started out as the video game division of Target Games and then Paradox Entertainment (now Cabinet Entertainment) before being spun out into an independ ...
and CCP announced that Paradox had purchased White Wolf and all of its intellectual properties. Tobias Sjögren would serve as the CEO of the revived company, which would remain a subsidiary of Paradox. Martin Ericsson, formerly a developer on the World of Darkness MMO, served in the "Lead Storyteller" role for the company. In November 2018, as a result of backlash generated by material pertaining to " murder of gay Chechens" published in a ''Vampire: The Masquerade Fifth Edition'' source book as well as the inclusion of optional neo-Nazi aesthetic in the Brujah vampire clan, it was announced that White Wolf would no longer function as an entity separate from its parent company, and would cease developing and publishing products internally.


RPG products


The Old or Classic World of Darkness game lines

The games of this series use White Wolf's
Storyteller System The ''Storytelling System'' is a role-playing game system created by White Wolf, Inc. for the Chronicles of Darkness (formerly known as the New World of Darkness), a game world with several tabletop role-playing games tied in. The Storytelling Sys ...
. Several games inspired spinoffs in the form of historical
period Period may refer to: Common uses * Period (punctuation) * Era, a length or span of time *Menstruation, commonly referred to as a "period" Arts, entertainment, and media * Period (music), a concept in musical composition * Periodic sentence (o ...
settings such as the Dark Ages. In addition to those game lines a series of books was produced under the title ''World of Darkness''. These provided stand-alone materials for multiple game lines with the focus on a specific region or theme, e.g. ''WoD: Blood-Dimmed Tides'' (about the oceans), ''WoD: Combat'' (an alternative 'crossover' combat system to resolve contradictory mechanics and add some sophistication), ''WoD: Tokyo'' and '' WoD: Mafia''. For the Third Edition of ''
Ars Magica ''Ars Magica'' is a role-playing game set in 'Mythic Europe' – a historically grounded version of Europe and the Levant around AD 1200, with the added conceit that conceptions of the world prevalent in folklore and institutions of the High Mid ...
'', White Wolf connected that game's pseudohistorical setting to the future ''World of Darkness'' setting. This was a simple adjustment (since the core premise of both settings is 'Earth as we know it' + 'supernatural fiction is reality') and particularly suited to the 'Tremere connection' between a clan of vampires from the original ''Vampire'' and a House of magi in the '' Order of Hermes'' (the central organization of ''Ars Magica'' as well as one of the 'Traditions' in '' M:TA)''.


The Chronicles of Darkness game lines

The games of this series use White Wolf's newer
Storytelling System The ''Storytelling System'' is a role-playing game system created by White Wolf, Inc. for the Chronicles of Darkness (formerly known as the New World of Darkness), a game world with several tabletop role-playing games tied in. The Storytelling Syst ...
. For over a decade it was also known as "World of Darkness," causing it to be referred to as the "new World of Darkness" or nWoD to distinguish it from the prior line of games. In December 2015, it was renamed "Chronicles of Darkness" by its new publisher Onyx Path in order to more clearly distinguish the two given Paradox Entertainment's intention to reboot the original setting.


Age of Sorrows

*''
Exalted ''Exalted'' is a high fantasy tabletop role-playing game originally published by White Wolf Publishing in July 2001. The game is currently in its third edition. It was originally created by Robert Hatch, Justin Achilli and Stephan Wieck, a ...
''


Trinity Universe

Trinity was originally named Æon, but a trademark issue with
Viacom Viacom, an abbreviation of Video and Audio Communications, may refer to: * Viacom (1952–2005), a former American media conglomerate * Viacom (2005–2019), a former company spun off from the original Viacom * Viacom18, a joint venture between Pa ...
related to the
MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
show ''
Æon Flux ''Æon Flux'' () is an American adult animated avant-garde science-fiction adventure television series that aired on MTV from November 30, 1991 until October 10, 1995. It premiered on MTV's '' Liquid Television'' experimental animation show as ...
'' resulted in a name change. *''
Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, thr ...
'' (
science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
and
psychics A psychic is a person who claims to use powers rooted in parapsychology, such as extrasensory perception (ESP), to identify information hidden from the normal senses, particularly involving telepathy or clairvoyance; or who performs acts that ar ...
) *''
Aberrant An aberration is something that deviates from the normal way. Aberration may also refer to: Biology and medicine *Form (zoology) or aberration, a rare mutant butterfly or moth wing pattern *Cardiac aberrancy, aberration in the shape of the EK ...
'' (near-future
superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...
es) *''
Adventure! ''Adventure!'' is a pulp action role-playing game originally printed by White Wolf Game Studio, the third and last book in the Trinity Universe line of games. The game, printed in black and white on pulp-like sepia paper to resemble a period pie ...
'' (1920s pulp heroes)


Other

* ''
Pendragon Pendragon, or (, ''pen dragon''; composed of Welsh , 'head, chief, top' and / ''dragon'', 'dragon; warrior'; borrowed from the Greco-Latin word , plural , 'dragon , ; ) literally means 'chief dragon' or 'head dragon', but in a figurative sense ...
'' * ''
Scion Scion may refer to: Horticulture *Scion (grafting), in horticulture, the upper part of a combined plant Arts, entertainment, and media Characters *Atlantean Scion, a device in the ''Tomb Raider'' video game series *Scion, avatar of the warrior en ...
'' * '' Street Fighter: The Storytelling Game'' * '' Engel''


Mind's Eye Theatre (LARP)

The majority of the Old World of Darkness games were adapted into the original
Mind's Eye Theatre ''Mind's Eye Theatre'' is a live action role-playing game (LARP) based on the White Wolf World of Darkness universe and shares the setting with the tabletop role-playing game '' Vampire: The Masquerade'', among others. In most editions of the ...
format for live-action roleplaying. Product lines in this era include: Subsequently, the Mind's Eye Theatre was revamped for the New World of Darkness. A core ''Mind's Eye Theatre'' rulebook was published as the LARP analogue to the ''World of Darkness'' core rulebook, with several Mind's Eye Theatre adaptations following in suit: ''The Requiem'', ''The Forsaken'', and ''The Awakening'' each adapted their respective namesakes to the new system of MET rules. The license to produce Mind's Eye Theatre content was acquired by By Night Studios in 2013.


By Night Studios

At Midwinter Gaming Convention in 2013 it was announced that as a result of CCP Games' discontinuation of publishing, By Night Studios had acquired the license to all
Mind's Eye Theatre ''Mind's Eye Theatre'' is a live action role-playing game (LARP) based on the White Wolf World of Darkness universe and shares the setting with the tabletop role-playing game '' Vampire: The Masquerade'', among others. In most editions of the ...
titles. In May 2013, By Night Studios launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to rebuild the Mind's Eye Theatre: Vampire The Masquerade product specifically for the Live-Action Role Play audience. The book was published in December 2013. This was followed by ''Mind's Eye Theatre: Werewolf the Apocalypse'' in October 2016 and ''Mind's Eye Theatre: Changeling the Dreaming'' in 2020. In 2019, By Night Studios released ''Mind's Eye Theatre: Vampire the Masquerade, Volume II: Issue 1'', intended to be the first in a series of releases featuring new character options. Eventually each of these releases would be collected within a full edition of Volume II. This plan was eventually scrapped in favor of releasing the full version of ''Mind's Eye Theatre: Vampire the Masquerade, Volume 2'' in October 2021, featuring the additional new rules that were slated to appear in Issues 2 and 3. After publication of ''Vampire the Masquerade, Volume 2'', work began ''Mind's Eye Theatre: Werewolf the Apocalypse, Volume 2'', which was written but never scheduled for formal release. In February 2023, the manuscript was released on the By Night Studios website for free. In May 2023, By Night Studios announced a new ''Laws of the Night'', featuring new live action rules based on ''Vampire: The Masquerade, Fifth Edition''. A crowdfunding campaign was launched and successfully raised $111,165 with a target goal of $25,000. The PDF version of the book was released online in September 2023, with physical copies scheduled to ship in 2024. By Night Studios also published ''Mind's Eye Theatre: Vampire the Masquerade: War of Ages'' in 2023, which took the setting for ''Vampire the Masquerade, Fifth Edition'' and re-imagined the game in the style of Nordic
Live action role-playing game A live action role-playing game (LARP) is a form of role-playing game where the participants physically portray their character (arts), characters.(Tychsen et al. 2006:255) "LARPs can be viewed as forming a distinct category of RPG because of ...
s, focusing less on game mechanics in favor of a deeper focus on immersive role-playing.


Fiction

Starting in 1986, White Wolf published fiction in various formats, beginning with its eponymous magazine title (which ran 57 issues), then three comic book titles in 1987, and on to graphic novels, paperbacks and hardcover books. Works included novels and anthologies based on White Wolf's games, as well as general fantasy and horror fiction. White Wolf printed several
Elric of Melniboné Elric of Melniboné is a fictional character created by English writer Michael Moorcock and the protagonist of a series of sword and sorcery stories taking place on an alternative Earth. The proper name and title of the character are Elric VI ...
collections by
Michael Moorcock Michael John Moorcock (born 18 December 1939) is an English writer, particularly of science fiction and fantasy, who has published a number of well-received literary novels as well as comic thrillers, graphic novels and non-fiction. He has wo ...
. The company also put out general fiction collections by
Harlan Ellison Harlan Jay Ellison (May 27, 1934 â€“ June 28, 2018) was an American writer, known for his prolific and influential work in New Wave science fiction, New Wave speculative fiction and for his outspoken, combative personality. His published wo ...
, as well as several paperback editions of the "Borderlands" anthologies edited by
Thomas F. Monteleone Thomas Francis Monteleone (born April 14, 1946) is an American science fiction author and horror fiction author."Monteleone, Thomas F(rancis)", by Don D'Ammassa in David Pringle, ''St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost & Gothic Writers''. London : St ...
.


Imprints and labels

White Wolf had different imprints under which various books are published, most notably: * Arthaus - products for which White Wolf serves as publisher, not developer * Black Dog Game Factory - adult themed products (defunct) *
Sword and Sorcery Studios Sword and Sorcery Studios (S&SS) was an imprint of White Wolf, Inc., used to publish its d20 System & Open Gaming License material in from 2000 to 2008. The imprint also acted as publisher for other small press game developers, such as Monte Co ...
- products compatible with the d20 system by
Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast LLC (WotC or Wizards) is an American game Publishing, publisher, most of which are based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science-fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail game stores. In 1999, toy ...
Black Dog Game Factory was also a fictional company in the World of Darkness, as detailed in the ''Subsidiaries: A Guide to Pentex'' game supplement.


Reception

White Wolf won the 2004 Silver
Ennie Award The ENNIE Awards (previously stylized as ENnie Awards) are awards for role-playing game (RPG) products (including game-related accessories, publications, and art) and their creators. The awards were created in 2001 by Russ Morrissey of EN World ...
for "Best Publisher".


See also

*
Sword and Sorcery Studios Sword and Sorcery Studios (S&SS) was an imprint of White Wolf, Inc., used to publish its d20 System & Open Gaming License material in from 2000 to 2008. The imprint also acted as publisher for other small press game developers, such as Monte Co ...


References


External links


White Wolf
- Official web site. {{Authority control 1991 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state) 2015 mergers and acquisitions American speculative fiction publishers Card game publishing companies ENnies winners Game manufacturers Horror book publishing companies Publishing companies established in 1991 Role-playing game publishing companies