What is Wraith: The Oblivion?

Wraith: The Oblivion is one of a series of several role-playing games (or RPGs) put out by White Wolf Publishing. An RPG is a game in which you create and assume the identity of a character, guiding them through plots, battles, mishaps and puzzles. Games can go on for hours, days, months, or even years.

For Wraith, you assume the guise of a ghost or spirit who has somehow found their way to the underworld, known to wraiths as the Shadowlands. The Shadowlands are places of despair and decay, with an ever-present storm of immense power called the Tempest. The Tempest constantly churns up evil creatures and hammers at the cities of the Shadowlands, eating away at the populations within. It also covers the much deeper nightmare that is known simply as Oblivion. Within the Shadowlands are two sets of lands; one is a deathly reflection of our world, and the others stable “islands” within the Tempest where the seats of Shadowland power reside.

One becomes a wraith by dying with unfinished business of some sort behind them. These objects, people and emotions serve as Passions and Fetters that bind you to the Shadowlands; when they are resolved, there is a chance you can Transcend beyond the darkness of the Tempest and Shadowlands. Luckily, as a wraith, you are granted abilities called Arcanoi that can enable you to visit the world of the living temporarily, fly through the Tempest with ease, and manipulate the emotions and minds of those around you. Nothing comes without a price however; you also are burdened with a Shadow. Shadows are dark parts of the psyche that try to coerce you into destruction, rather than attempt to resolve what you left incomplete. Shadows compel you to kill companions, destroy cities, and simply throw yourself into Oblivion and be done with it. It all comes down to winning out over yourself to survive the Shadowlands and go on to a truly better place.

There have been two editions of Wraith put out by White Wolf, along with several source books to add on to the complex world of the Shadowlands. Unfortunately, the Wraith line was discontinued by White-Wolf a few years ago and is no longer being published. Copies of the original books can occasionally be found on sites such as Ebay and half.com. If you are interested in playing, I highly recommend locating a copy of the 2nd edition of Wraith: The Oblivion and the Wraith Player’s Guide, and then adding on with other books, depending on where your interests take you.