The World of Darkness is a tabletop roleplaying game set in the modern world. It comprises several different modules each able to be played seperately or together. These modules include Vampire the Masquerade, Werewolf the Apocolypse, Mage the Ascension, Wraith the Oblivion, Changeling the Dreaming and several smaller groups such as Mummy, Hunter, Sorcerer, witches and other character types. Each primary module includes many sub cultures such as Different vampire clans, Different Mage traditions and seperate Were creatures.
Lets start with Vampire, often considered the flag ship of the World of Darkness. Vampire the Masquerade usually takes place in cities around the world and are broken into four different groups. There is the Camerilla, often considered the good Vampires, but that is a misnomer as the Camerilla only protects mankind with the knowledge that if they join forces the vampires would stand little chance due to numbers. They hold to the masquerade which holds that vampires should never let the regular humans know.
The Sabbat is often considered the evil vampires, but they are no more evil than any other vampire group. They believe that they are superior and should control the humans. They often fight the Camerilla and have some very powerful vampires in their midst.
The Anarchists often think that they are only rebelling against both the other groups and see humanity as cattle and below their attention. They often will protect humanity, but see it as farmers protecting their cattle more than anything else.
The last group are those who do not see the same as the rest and often comprise some of the oldest and most powerful of the vampires. While not all independents are powerful or old there are some none of the other groups would tresspass against.
The werewolves are the protectors of Gaia and see the vampires as their natural enemy. They believe the vampires are creatures of the Wyrm, an ancient evil out to destroy their mother Gaia. They are set between many clans that believe in different ways to protect Gaia.
There are other were creatures in the World of Darkness that have mysterious and strange powers including Rats, Aligators, Bears and Cats. While it is possible to play any of these groups they are often considered more difficult than the standard werewolf.
Mages are humans endowed with wonderful power. There are two different groups fighting for control of reality. There is the Technocracy and the Traditionss. The traditions were the first of the mages before the veil split the earth from the spirit world. Then the Technocracy started to gain power bringing about the world of today. Mages have different powers or spheres that can grant them great power but they must beware because humans are the bane of that power. Changing reality can have draw backs if an unawaked sees it.
While there are more and different creatures and even humans from the Governments of the world, the creatures of the far east, or even ancient creatures that still walk the world. There are demons and angels and minor creatures that can be played as. You can choose any creature and join the wars or the struggles to save humanity or doom it. Only you can choose where you go in this World of Darkness.