A Guide to Werewolves

​A new way to enjoy the blog. Click below to listen to the blog post

Overview

The newest game pack to grace the Sims 4 franchise is Werewolves, a highly-anticipated expansion that features a fresh occult - Werewolves. Players with this pack can have a howling good time as their Sim befriends, researches, explores, and becomes the elusive supernatural phenomenon that is werewolves.

Werewolves in CAS

When a Sim becomes a werewolf, whether through gameplay or directly through Create-a-Sim, the player can change the Sims’s wolf appearance in CAS. The game creates a werewolf form based loosely on the Sim’s human form. For example, if the Sim in question has a large, bulbous nose, the player can expect the corresponding wolf-form will have a similarly large snout.

However, by unlinking the wolf-form from the Sim-form in Create-a-Sim, the player can customize their ferocious fursona any way that pleases them.

There are a variety of pre-made pelts to choose from in Create-a-Sim, ranging from regular natural wolf fur to more supernatural appearing fur.

In addition, players can choose different nose shapes, teeth arrangements, ears shapes, and chin and cheek tufts. Players can even choose a new shape for the top of the wolf’s head. Naturally, manipulating the wolf’s form by pushing and pulling with the mouse is also still available.

Perhaps most excitingly, however, is the ability to paint directly on the wolf’s form. Just as players can design pets with the in-game paintbrush, they can do the same with werewolves. There are malleable brush sizes, colors, stamps, and even pre-made stencils.

Transformation 101

There are three ways to become a werewolf: asking to be bitten in game, accidentally being bitten and contracting werebies, and directly becoming a werewolf in CAS.

After befriending a wolf in-game, the player can choose the dialogue “As for Cursed Bite.” The target wolf will more than likely oblige, and the Sim will be on his way to becoming a werewolf.

The first moodlet a player’s freshly bitten Sim will display is an uncomfortable one, labeled “Painful Bite.” From here, the Sim’s hunger bar will begin deteriorating rapidly as the Sim slowly begins the transformation process.

After several hours, the Sim will finally reach peak hunger, realizing that they are indeed transforming into an insatiable beast.

Following transformation, the Simwolf will have a new needs interface sporting a a clawed hand holding a crystal ball. When the ball is filled with red, that indicates that the player’s wolf is filled with Fury.

Fury

Fury acts as a spectrum in the game, a barometer that measures the balance between a given wolf’s humanity and more beastly instincts. An empty crystal means peak humanity; a full crystal means the Sim has gone full beast.

When full beast, the Sim will “rampage,” wanting to do little more than roar and destroy things.

Because a rampaging, full-fury wolf cannot use facilities the way a normal Sim would, they instead urinate outside, sleep on the floor, lick themselves clean, and run on all fours. Because the fury crystal is a spectrum, however, Sims who are still in human form will show beast like behavior as the orb fills. They might stalk around their homes angrily or curl up on the floor to nap like a pup.

How does the fury orb fill? A given Sim gains fury when practicing certain werewolf abilities, during the full moon, according to Sim preferences and according to the wolf’s temperament.

Temperaments are random but loosely based on Sim personality. A werewolf who is “prideful” will gain fury when embarrassed or uncomfortable. Flirty Sims will
gain fury when frisky; “wracked with guilt” Sims when gain fury when sad.

Joining a Pack

As one might expect, werewolves often travel, live in, and commune in packs.

In Werewolves, the player can choose from two different packs that tout wildly different philosophies: The Wild Fangs and the Moonwood Collective.

Those in the Moonwood Collective value tradition, communing with nature, and controlling the inner beast for the greater good.By contrast, the Wildfangs believe that wolves should embrace the beast, explore the world, play hard, and work harder.

To join either pack, the player must, as a werewolf, befriend the Alpha and ask for their blessing. After this, the Alpha will direct the Sim to complete a series of trials. They may have to howl, give food or a similar high-quality gift, werewolf spar, or discuss other werewolf business. Some of these tasks are only able to be completed once the werewolf has gained certain skills, so this task may take time.

Once the Sim has joined either pack, they can view the standing pack expectations. The Wild Fangs, as pictured below, believe encourage member participation, exploring, and self-improvement. Players can do this by contributing to the pack’s resources, exploring the world and meeting other wolves, and increasing their wolf abilities.

Simwolves can practice these requirements to rank up from an Omega wolf to a Beta wolf. At any point, however, a given wolf can challenge the Alpha, the leader of the pack, for supreme leadership.

Werewolf Skill Trees

Just like many other occults, werewolves have received a full skill tree in this pack. Through practice, werewolves can gain a many helpful skills like learning to control themselves during a rampage, digging up precious artifacts, turning other werewolves, and much more.

If this were not enough, werewolves can earn other abilities through gameplay. For example, if a wolf manages to remain away from innocent bystanders while rampaging, they will earn “Transformation Mastery, allowing them to change into beast-form at will and while maintaining their humanity.

There are many abilities like this, including the ability to read ancient wolf writings, win over werewolf allies, mentor other wolves.

There are many things to love about being a werewolf. What’s your favorite part? Tell us on Twitter or Instagram!