My current favored race to roleplay is the Undead, with the elves coming in a close second. However, I have a distinct feeling they might both be knocked down a notch when I get into the worgen. Of all the races so far, the opportunity to create and get into a worgen’s mind has me more enthralled than I’ve ever been when compared to roleplaying the other WoW races. If you’re feeling the same way, or if not, please read on while I share some worgen RP concepts I have prowling around in my head.

We’ll begin the same as the Roleplaying for Goblins article, by listing five facts that are known about the worgen:

1. Feral wolf-beasts.
2. Summoned from another dimension by Archmage Arugal.
3. Created by Archmage Arugal before his death.
4. Created by Archmage Arugal after his death.
5. Search is on for a cure.

An Alliance Werewolf in Lordaeron
Yes, WoW has werewolves, and soon we’ll actually be able to roleplay as one, instead of merely roleplaying that we’re roleplaying a werewolf. Now is the time to start watching a long list of essential werewolf movies. How did your character happen to get the worgen curse? Does he know he has it, or not? Is it considered a blessing instead of a curse?

Archmage Arugal, Act I
The next time you’re running through Shadowfang Keep, stop a moment and give the Book of Ur and read. It describes worgen in detail, and even has some mention of their home.

“They may not be from our world, but avenues exist between their home and ours and powerful magic can pull them here.”

“The worgen’s home is a dark place, a place of nightmare.”

So, is it possible someone is tampering with the dark arts, like Archmage Arugal did, and has once again opened an portal to the worgen world? Considering the whole Deathwing resurrection, I would say that’s very possible. Or, perhaps a powerful worgen-mage on their home planet has found the way to open the portal from their side. Maybe they see that, with Deathwing’s revival, now may be a prime time to let loose the full strength of the worgen onto Azeroth, either for the good or ill.

Archmage Arugal, Act II
Arugal wasn’t content with the worgen he had summoned. No, in his madness, he turned to vile magic again and created a way to turn people into worgen, which he tested on the entire village of Pyrewood, with great success. The one con is that they only turn into worgen at night.

Perhaps your character is one of those original Pyrewood villagers, or maybe even a descendant of one. Do you see Archmage Arugal as someone you should give thanks to for making you this way, or do you want to exact your revenge on him and all his other creations?

Archmage Arugal, Act III
After Arugal’s death at the hands of the Horde, the Lich King had him resurrected as a ghost. Arugal then went to the Grizzly Hills and again began building a band of loyal followers. Calling them the Wolf Cult, they were mostly turned worgen by being bitten, voluntarily and involuntarily. However, this version of Arugal’s worgen found out they could turn at will, day or night.

Now, with the world seemingly destroying itself, no place is safe to hide. What’s a worgen to do? Wander aimlessly through the turmoil? Seek out the solace (and hopeful generosity) of family and friends? Or meet the challenges of a new world with all the intellect and ferocity you can muster?

Where There’s a Wordwill, There’s a Way
Do you know who Adolphus Wordwill is? Maybe only hardcore roleplayers and lore hounds do, I’m not sure. Anyway, Wordwill is found in the World of Warcraft Roleplaying Game books; the WoW version of Dungeons & Dragons. Wordwill is a Dalaran mage “studying the Worgen Curse on the people of Pyrewood. He writes that, given time and funding, he could possibly discover a cure that would cure the madness and blood thirst that the transformation brings, but leave the transformation ability itself intact, allowing the Worgen to use their skills to fight “the Forsaken, the Scourge, and other evil powers.””

Here’s a chance to roleplay that Wordwill has found or created that cure, and you are one of his test subjects. How brilliant is it that now, after so many years of torment, you have control over the beast within? And just in time to make use of your new power in the fight against (or for) Deathwing! Or, maybe the cure only worked a short while for your character. Every day, you feel the cure weakening, and you do what you can to will it back. Taking cues from such prominent characters as David Banner / The Hulk, or Jekyll and Hyde, you may see there are many RP paths that can be followed from here.

This will conclude RoleCraft’s look at roleplaying the upcoming goblin and worgen races. I hope I have shared something fresh with you, given you something new to think about when you prepare to start roleplaying your way in Cataclysm. For more discussion on this article through the week, follow RoleCraft on Twitter (@RoleCraft), or on the official RoleCraft Facebook group. Until next Monday, role on!