The Wolf: An Apocalypse World 2nd ed. Playbook

The Wolf is a creation of Patrick Henry Downs, originally written for the first edition of Apocalypse World, by D.Vincent Baker.
This version of the playbook contains a number of modifications, mostly cosmetic, that  I applied to the original playbook to suit my personal taste and my vision of how this playbook could work, as well as an update for the second edition of Apocalypse World. They’re small touches here and ther to the original playbook.

I started working on it before finding out that Patrick did update his playbook for the second edition, so I contacted him to ask for permission to post this on itch, and here I am, doing just that, with his blessing. Thank you, Patrick, for your kindness!

When I first read The Wolf, a response to D.Vincent Baker’s The Solace, I fell in love with the concept, and the ideas it contained. Most of the changes I applied are to the Hx system, the names and gear sections, as well as some of the options of the Suitcase Full of Secrets, and three moves. The Wolf being the specular opposite from the Solace, I felt like these changes would reflect that concept in a way that better suits my personal taste and playing style. I love dissecting mechanics in a game and ask myself “but what if...?”. Patrick’s playbook inspired me so much, I felt this enthusiasm and dived into it.

You can, and indeed should download the original playbook from nerdwerds.itch.io.

I also overhauled the graphic design of playbooks in this project because I was never too enamoured with Apocalpyse World’s graphic design. It is a great game, one of the best you will ever play in my opinion, and a manual is there to provide rules for play, not flashy graphic designs to look at. Some games manage to do both things beautifully. Please forgive the visual artist in me for wanting to change something I understand by now has become iconic. I always like to provide my vision, and if you saw my other works on itch.io under the Atomic Gear imprint, by now you know that.

Do visit Patrick’s page and his blogspot blog at nerdwerds.blogspot.com -he has some really awesome playbooks and material you will want to try in your Apocalypse World games.

This playbook’s artwork and graphic design is created
by Tazio Bettin. Find my other works at atomicgear.itch.io