fullmoonfury wrote:On a side note: And I hope that nobody takes offense with this, but I have read a number of posts which proclaim, "Wolves don't do this... Wolves wouldn't do that.. so werewolves shouldn't either." Huh?
When did werewolves become synonymous with RL wolves? Werewolves are supernatural creatures (and no, that doesn't mean magical), and their attributes should never be confused with that of the wolf.
Since werewolves don't really exist (to the best of our human knowledge), the only things we really have to go on here are logic and legend. These two are generally in direct conflict, so it is only natural that there would be conflict between those who support differing opinions.
Our goal here is to make "the ultimate werewolf," but unfortunately there is no such thing. Everybody has their own idea of what that would entail. Nobody is happy with a compromise, but what else can this democracy yield?
So one person believes werewolves are all about magic, or curses, or spiritual matters.
So one person believes werewolves should kick a** and climb walls.
So one person believes werewolves should be only minimally supernatural.
So one person believes werewolves should be dictated entirely by logic.
And one person believes werewolves should be more like real wolves.
So what?
So you don't like someone else's ideas. Let it be. Is it really that important? Give your opinion to match theirs, and hope you can be more persuasive about it. And maybe, if you're lucky, the final product will have some little piece that you can point to and say, "Hey! That was me." But don't begrudge someone else the same opportunity--doing so isn't going to win anyone to your point of view!
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Anyway, here are my thoughts on the subject at hand:
My views on a werewolf can be split up into many different categories, depending on the situation. For example, what I want to see in a werewolf movie might be completely different from what I would expect to see in a real werewolf, or in werewolf art, or in my ideal view of what a werewolf should be.
In a movie, I want to see something that has value. Something to give meaning to the time I spend watching it. Maybe I would like to see something entertaining. Maybe I would like to see a dream fulfilled, or something magical. Maybe I want to get an adrenaline high. Just maybe I want to see something that makes me ponder, or something that gives me a new view of the world. Maybe I want something I can't see in the real world, or perhaps I want a look into an entirely different world altogether.
When it comes to werewolves, I would like to see something that is downright awesome. It should at least be somewhat believable, but I don't mind if it's not 100% logical, because I know that could have unappealing results. So, I want to see werewolves that are bigger and more massive than humans. I want them to be unbelievably fast, intelligent and agile (I want to see two werewolves fight to their utmost potential, and root for both sides every step of the way!). I want to see a creature that would make me tremble in fear to stand before it, yet leave me feeling excited for simply having the opportunity to view such a beautiful and rare thing, and perhaps just a bit jealous. Give me something impressive.
But don't go too far. Nothing impressive can possibly exist in an environment without limits. There's no reason to be in awe when something is too far out of balance. Suspension of disbelief to a certain point, but logic from then on. And contrast is key.
As for the topic at hand, I don't find an incredible power of healing to be all that incredible at all. However, a reasonable amount is fine, and perhaps even expected.
In my ideal view, I want to be the werewolf. I am human; I can't help but want more than I have--to be more than I am. My mind is logical and experience tells me that even if I got what I asked for, I would eventually desire even more and more, always above and beyond what I currently possess. But that doesn't keep me from wanting it anyway. I am human, and my ideal view of a werewolf must include some way for me to become one.
So: werewolves are intelligent, rather than uncontrollable beasts (I wouldn't want to be on either side of
that situation!). Werewolves spread by bite, claw, birth or exchange of bodily fluid. And werewolves are common enough that I might someday run across one (maybe tomorrow! =P).
As a werewolf, I would want to feel powerful. I would want to feel aware, and I would want to be free and in control. I would want a tail. I would be one seksay beast!
In my ideal world, I would not want my time as a werewolf cut short, so a certain amount of regeneration would no doubt be present.
Yeah, it ain't gonna' happen, but there are worse dreams out there.
In a real werewolf, I would expect the laws of this world to reign as they always have. There would be no shapeshifting. No spreading of lycanthropy (except in the same manner as most mammals spread). They would live alone, away from humans. They would speak their own tongue, have their own culture, and have their own problems. And perhaps, they would look up at the sky and daydream of being dragons.
-- Vilkacis