An illustration by Howard Pyle featuring a pirate ghost
A 1902 illustration of a pirate ghost, by Howard Pyle. In Wraith: The Oblivion, players take the roles of wraiths.

Wraith: The Oblivion is the fourth game in the World of Darkness series of horror tabletop role-playing games. They share the same setting – a dark, gothic-punk interpretation of the real world, rife with corruption, where supernatural beings exist. These are featured as the playable characters; in the case of Wraith: The Oblivion, players take the roles of wraiths in the afterlife.[1][2]

The game was first released by White Wolf Publishing in 1994, and was published in new editions in 1996 (second edition) and 2018 (20th Anniversary Edition), which updated the game rules.[2] These have been supported with supplementary game books, expanding the game mechanics and setting.[2][3] The books from the game's original run were published by White Wolf Publishing,[2] sometimes under their imprint Black Dog Game Factory for books considered more adult.[3] Supplements for the 20th Anniversary Edition were published by Onyx Path Publishing, a company formed by ex–White Wolf Publishing staff.[2]

The supplements include the Guildbook series, describing wraith guilds; sourcebooks about character types; books describing locations as they are portrayed in the setting; game guides; and various other books.[3] The line was critically well received for its mood and consistency, but still underperformed commercially during its original run, which led to its cancellation in 1998; the adventure module Ends of Empire was published a year later to give the game an ending.[2] On the other hand, the 20th Anniversary Edition was successful, overperforming at Onyx Path Publishing's crowdfunding campaign for its production.[4]

Books

First edition (1994–1996)

Game books for Wraith: The Oblivion's first edition
Title Original release ISBN Publisher Notes
Wraith: The Oblivion August 18, 1994[5][6] 1-56504-133-X White Wolf Publishing[5] Core rulebook for the game's first edition.[5] Went under the working title Ghost.[2]
Wraith Character Kit September 1994[5] 1-56504-132-1 White Wolf Publishing[5] Booklet about character creation and archaic firearms. Bundled with small storyteller[a] screen.[7]
Haunts December 1994[8] 1-56504-610-2 White Wolf Publishing[8] Sourcebook for haunted locations where wraiths seek shelter[9]
Midnight Express 1994[10] 1-56504-156-9 White Wolf Publishing[3] Sourcebook for the Midnight Train, and a collection of six adventures[3][11]
Necropolis: Atlanta 1994[12] 1-56504-164-X White Wolf Publishing[3] Sourcebook for the land of the dead in Atlanta.[3] Crossover with Vampire: The Masquerade.[12]
Wraith Storytellers Kit 1994[13] 1-56504-168-2 White Wolf Publishing[13] Booklet about character creation and crossover play with other World of Darkness games. Bundled with storyteller[a] screen.[13]
Love Beyond Death February 1995[14] 1-56504-611-0 White Wolf Publishing[14] Sourcebook for romance, and a collection of adventures[3][14]
The Sea of Shadows April–May 1995[15] 1-56504-612-9 White Wolf Publishing[15] Sourcebook for the Tempest, the ocean of the land of the dead[9]
The Quick & the Dead July 1995[16] 1-56504-613-7 White Wolf Publishing[16] Sourcebook for ghost hunters[17]
The Hierarchy August 1995[16] 1-56504-614-5 White Wolf Publishing[16] Sourcebook for the bureaucracy of the land of the dead[16]
Dark Reflections: Spectres November 1995[18] 1-56504-650-1 White Wolf Publishing[18] Sourcebook for malevolent entities. Published under the Black Dog Game Factory imprint.[3]
Dark Kingdom of Jade 1995[19] 1-56504-615-3 White Wolf Publishing[3] Sourcebook for the land of the dead in Asia, with a focus on China[3]
Wraith Players Guide 1995[20] 1-56504-601-3 White Wolf Publishing[20] Guide to the game for players[20]
Guildbook: Artificers January 1996[21] 1-56504-661-7 White Wolf Publishing[21] Sourcebook for the Artificers guild[3]
Dark Kingdom of Jade Adventures March 1996[22] 1-56504-617-X White Wolf Publishing[22] Sourcebook for locations in Asia, and a collection of adventures[23]
Guildbook: Sandmen March 1996[24] 1-56504-662-5 White Wolf Publishing[24] Sourcebook for the Sandmen guild[24]
The Risen June 1996[25] 1-56504-663-3 White Wolf Publishing[25] Sourcebook for dead spirits who have returned to their bodies[25]

Second edition (1996–1999)

Game books for Wraith: The Oblivion's second edition
Title Original release ISBN Publisher Notes
Wraith: The Oblivion August 8, 1996[26][27] 1-56504-600-5 White Wolf Publishing[26] Core rulebook for the game's second edition[26]
Guildbook: Masquers September–December 1996[3][28][29] 1-56504-604-8 White Wolf Publishing[28] Sourcebook for the Masquers guild[29]
Buried Secrets 1996[30] 1-56504-603-X White Wolf Publishing[30] Companion to the core rulebook, including playing advice and an adventure set in Atlanta[30]
Shadow Players Guide January–March 1997[31][32] 1-56504-602-1 White Wolf Publishing[31] Guide for playing as Shadows[31]
Charnel Houses of Europe: The Shoah March–April 1997[33] 1-56504-651-X White Wolf Publishing[33] Sourcebook for World War II. Published under the Black Dog Game Factory imprint.[2]
Guildbook: Haunters April–May 1997[34] 1-56504-604-8 White Wolf Publishing[34] Sourcebook for the Haunters guild[35]
Mediums: Speakers with the Dead September–October 1997[36] 1-56504-619-6 White Wolf Publishing[37] Sourcebook for spirit mediums[37]
Guildbook: Pardoners and Puppeteers October–November 1997[38] 1-56504-665-X White Wolf Publishing[38] Sourcebook for the Pardoners and Puppeteers guilds[38]
The Book of Legions December 1997[39] 1-56504-652-8 White Wolf Publishing[39] Sourcebook for the Hierarchy's legions[39]
Guildbook: Spooks and Oracles February 1998[40] 1-56504-666-8 White Wolf Publishing[40] Sourcebook for the Spooks and Oracles guilds[41]
Ghost Towns April 1998[42] 1-56504-343-X White Wolf Publishing[43] Sourcebook for ghost towns. Crossover with Werewolf: The Wild West.[43]
Doomslayers: Into the Labyrinth June 1998[44] 1-56504-635-8 White Wolf Publishing[44] Sourcebook for wraiths who hunt spectres and other malevolent entities[44]
Renegades August–October 1998[45] 1-56504-636-6 White Wolf Publishing[45] Sourcebook for wraith revolutionaries[45]
Ends of Empire August–October 1999[46] 1-56504-618-8 White Wolf Publishing[46] Adventure about the Sixth Great Maelstrom engulfing the Underworld, and an ending to Wraith: The Oblivion[2][47]

20th Anniversary Edition (2018–2019)

Game books for Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition
Title Original release ISBN Publisher Notes
Handbook for the Recently Deceased July 11, 2018[48] — Onyx Path Publishing[49] Booklet introducing new players and storytellers[a] to the game and setting[49]
Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition August 8, 2018[50] — Onyx Path Publishing[49] Core rulebook for the game's 20th Anniversary Edition[49]
The Book of Oblivion August 14, 2019[51] — Onyx Path Publishing[51] Sourcebook for shadows, spectres, and the game's setting[51]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c The person leading the game is called the "storyteller" in World of Darkness games, a role called "gamemaster" or "dungeon master" in other role-playing games.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Allison, Peter Ray (2020-02-06). "Shedding light on World of Darkness, the gothic-punk universe of RPG Vampire: The Masquerade". Dicebreaker. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Appelcline, Shannon (2014). Designers & Dragons: The '90s (2nd ed.). Evil Hat Productions. pp. 7–52. ISBN 978-1-613170-84-7.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Colin, Fabrice; Lhomme, Tristan (May 1996). "Loup-garou, Mage, Wraith & Changeling : Les petits frères de Vampire" [Werewolf, Mage, Wraith & Changeling: Vampire's little brothers]. Casus Belli (in French). No. 94. Excelsior Publications. pp. 26–29.
  4. ^ "Onyx Path". Casus Belli (in French). No. 13. Black Book Éditions. January–February 2015. pp. 34–35.
  5. ^ a b c d e "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 82. Excelsior Publications. August–September 1994. p. 15.
  6. ^ "Convention Calendar". Dragon. No. 207. TSR, Inc. July 1994. p. 38.
  7. ^ "Players Kit". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  8. ^ a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 84. Excelsior Publications. December 1994. p. 16.
  9. ^ a b Colin, Fabrice (August–September 1995). "Haunts, Sea of Shadow". Casus Belli (in French). No. 88. Excelsior Publications. p. 26.
  10. ^ Hartshorn, Jennifer (1994). Midnight Express. White Wolf Publishing. p. 4. ISBN 1-56504-156-9.
  11. ^ Duvivier, Hugo (January–February 1997). "Midnight Express". Backstab (in French). No. 1. FC Publications. p. 54.
  12. ^ a b "Necropolis : Atlanta". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  13. ^ a b c "Storyteller's Kit". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  14. ^ a b c "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 85. Excelsior Publications. February–March 1995. p. 16.
  15. ^ a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 85. Excelsior Publications. February–March 1995. p. 16.
  16. ^ a b c d e "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 88. Excelsior Publications. August–September 1995. p. 13.
  17. ^ Lhomme, Tristan (October–November 1995). "The Inquisition, The Quick & the Dead". Casus Belli (in French). No. 89. Excelsior Publications. p. 26.
  18. ^ a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 89. Excelsior Publications. October–November 1995. p. 15.
  19. ^ "Dark Kingdom of Jade". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  20. ^ a b c "Players Guide". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  21. ^ a b "White Wolf (Loup blanc)". Casus Belli (in French). No. 90. Excelsior Publications. December 1995. p. 12.
  22. ^ a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 92. Excelsior Publications. March 1996. p. 11.
  23. ^ "Dark Kingdom of Jade Adventures". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  24. ^ a b c "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 91. Excelsior Publications. February 1996. p. 14.
  25. ^ a b c "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 95. Excelsior Publications. June 1996. p. 11.
  26. ^ a b c "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 96. Excelsior Publications. July–August 1996. p. 11.
  27. ^ "Cons & Pros". Dragon. No. 231. TSR, Inc. July 1996. p. 74.
  28. ^ a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 98. Excelsior Publications. October 1996. p. 8.
  29. ^ a b Tinworth, Adam (December 1996). "Guildbook: Masquers". Arcane. No. 13. Future plc. p. 70.
  30. ^ a b c "Buried Secrets". Guide du Rôliste Galactique (in French). Association du Guide du Rôliste Galactique. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  31. ^ a b c "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 102. Excelsior Publications. February 1997. p. 11.
  32. ^ Tinworth, Adam (March–April 1997). "Shadow Player's Guide". Backstab (in French). No. 2. FC Publications. pp. 52–53.
  33. ^ a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 104. Excelsior Publications. April 1997. p. 11.
  34. ^ a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 105. Excelsior Publications. May 1997. p. 11.
  35. ^ Tinworth, Adam (June 1997). "Guildbook Haunters". Arcane. No. 20. Future plc. p. 71.
  36. ^ "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 109. Excelsior Publications. October 1997. p. 13.
  37. ^ a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 108. Excelsior Publications. September 1997. p. 11.
  38. ^ a b c "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 110. Excelsior Publications. November 1997. p. 12.
  39. ^ a b c "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 111. Excelsior Publications. December 1997. p. 12.
  40. ^ a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 112. Excelsior Publications. February–March 1998. p. 12.
  41. ^ Winninger, Ray (July 1998). "Role-playing Reviews". Dragon. No. 249. TSR, Inc. p. 113.
  42. ^ "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 113. Excelsior Publications. April–May 1998. p. 12.
  43. ^ a b Delage, John-Ross (May–June 1998). "Ghost Towns". Backstab (in French). No. 9. FC Publications. p. 52.
  44. ^ a b c "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 114. Excelsior Publications. June–July 1998. p. 12.
  45. ^ a b c "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 116. Excelsior Publications. October–November 1998. p. 12.
  46. ^ a b "White Wolf". Casus Belli (in French). No. 122. Excelsior Publications. October–November 1999. p. 90.
  47. ^ Rowe, Jon. "Ends of Empire". Valkyrie. Partizan Press. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  48. ^ Watson, Ian A. A. (2018-07-11). "Now Available: Handbook for the Recently Deceased". Onyx Path Publishing. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  49. ^ a b c d Lippold, Björn (January–February 2019). "Wraith: The Oblivion". Mephisto (in German). No. 69, online add-on. Verlag Martin Ellermeier. p. 25.
  50. ^ Watson, Ian A. A. (2018-08-08). "Now Available: Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition!". Onyx Path Publishing. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  51. ^ a b c Watson, Ian A. A. (2019-08-14). "Now Available: The Book of Oblivion". Onyx Path Publishing. Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2020-12-30.

External links

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