XP Spread

[Rockerfella]

Heres a basic run down of how to spend XP, for people like myself who have hardly player White Wolf games

• Attributes (current level x 4)
  Attributes can be raised over time. Appearance cannot be raised with XP.
  
  
• Abilities (Current Level x 2) / 3 points for a new ability.
  Talents: Can be raised with a little bit of a practice.
  Skills: Require time and effort dedicated to learn a skill.
  Knowledges: Require studying or a tutor.
  
  
• Gifts (Rank x 3)
  Gifts require a tutor. Pack Garou can learn any of the gifts that their packmates know, as long as they fall into their tribe, breed, and auspice gifts.
  Otherwise, gifts need to be taught by another Garou or a Spirit, and this will not come for free.
  Out of tribe/breed/auspice gifts are usually not allowed.
  
  
• Willpower and Rage (current Level)
  Both willpower and rage require an in-game event to raise. What has happened to make your character's will stronger? What has happened to make them angrier? A pack-mate's death for example, or a couple of weeks being tortured, might be good in game events to raise these traits.
  
  
• Gnosis (Current Level x 2)
  Same as above. What has happened to make your character more spiritual? Did they complete a spirit quest?
  
  

Rank and Renown cost depends on your werewolf type and other characteristics.

[Tony Vasara]

Few things more.

Getting Rank is free if you have enough Renown for your Auspice. You do need to challenge someone of your future rank to actually gain the Rank.

Renown doesn't cost exp either, it comes (and goes, mind you ) only from characters actions.

And finally:
Gift out of your characters tribe/breed/auspice costs Rank of Gift x 5 and you need someone to teach you the Gift. And I guess it would be good and nice thing to ask Dannys permission for it too.

[WoDBerlin]

Here are some things that can "be assumed" to happen during downtime to further your character along.

Renown

The rite of accomplishment can be performed whenever your character has collected 10 temporary renown. This can happen automatically during downtime, and the rite does not always need to be played out.

Spending XP

Gifts:
Characters can automatically spend their xp on gifts during downtime provided the following apply:
1. The gift fits their tribe, breed, or auspice
2. Someone at the Sept knows the gift or it is a gift taught by their totem/familiar spirit (provided they have one)
3. They spend the appropriate 3*current level xp on it

Otherwise, the gift needs to be learnt the traditional way. Find/Summon a spirit, convince them to teach you, and learn the gift.

Backgrounds:
Totem is the only background that players can raise with xp. Totem costs 1*current level to raise, and the first level costs 2 XP.
Rites do not require xp. They require a tutor and a successful rituals roll. If your character wishes to learn rites, contact me and I will let you know if it's allowed.
Other backgrounds can also be raised through gameplay.

Attributes, Talents, Skills, Knowledges:
All these can be bought freely during downtime, as long as they come with an explanation.

Gnosis, Rage and Willpower:
These cannot be raised over downtime. They require an in-game event to be applicable. I will usually be more lenient at lower levels, but don't expect to be able to raise gnosis to 4 unless your character has done something to make them more spiritual over the game.

[Tristain]

If Totem is current level *1, how much does the first level cost?

[Minion]

2
Those are also the rates used for secondary abilities like languages.

[Danny]

As far as I'm aware, secondary abilities cost as much to raise as regular abilities. See the Player's Guide to Garou page 177.