"The massive Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition box"

So it IS actually 3rd edition... good to know that.

I'm going to buy it, although I'm not very keen on using "ZILLION SPECIAL DICE WITH FUNNY SYMBOLS ZOMG". I've seen enough solid products from FFG to give it the benefit of the doubt, though.

I just hope it's gonna be geared towards supporting real storytelling - meaning it's gonna be more like WFRP 2nd Ed and Dark Heresy than like Descent and Arkham Horror.

Claven said:

And the Chaos God of False Hope was?

No seriously. I'm trusting him that he'll not make an appearance.

Well, for one, neither Descent nor Arkham Horror are marketed as RPGs. Second, FFG has already a Warhammer themed board game in the works (and a Warhammer themed card game as well).

Back in the day, I used to play a RPG called TORG that incorporated dice and cards into an RPG, and it worked pretty well. The cards reinforced the theme of the game, and gave characters creative input to the plot. As long as the mechanics don't get in the way of the game itself, I'm cool with the new Warhammer RPG. What I don't want is a game that's so mechanics-crunchy, like D&D 4e, that the game devolves into min-maxing character builds and endless combats.

As has been mentioned this isn't the first rpg to use special dice/cards/gimmicks. That doesn't mean it will suck. Now the promo material looks far too boardgame-like for my taste, but there's so little material that making any kind of judgment is premature. I'm sitting at "cautiously optimistic, not favorably impressed by the first tidbits."

RebelDave said:

This is my worry as well. With a $100 price tag, I think they've effectively priced the new edition out of most gamers' reach. Sure, games like Arkham Horror have sunk more money out of pockets over the years, but to my knowledge no single product costs that much. In all honesty, I can't see myself paying this much for a third edition of WFRP, even if it is my favorite RPG; and I was willing to embrace this new edition despite the fact the rules didn't sound like something that would appeal to me, because I don't mind purchasing a game exclusively for the flavor text and new ideas.

I can't see casual roleplayers who've never tried WFRP giving the new edition a shot with the cover charge being as high as it is. Neither can I see board gamers wanting to play the game when a ton of other products are available at a much cheaper cost and aren't such a risky buy. In fact, I'm struggling to think of who FFG's target audience is with this game. The last RPG product I can think of that had this price tag was Monte Cook's Ptolus, and that was a massive city supplement aimed at diehard gamers willing to pay a premium. If FFG are planning to release a 'lite' version of WFRP 3rd edition, I hope they announce so soon, otherwise I don't think this will sell well, and that worries me since I want both FFG and WFRP to succeed, despite what I may think of the new game.

I cannot buy this. I will not buy this.

Why you ask? Because I do not want a new edition, plain and simple. I wanted a fix up of flubs in 2nd ed and more 2nd ed content. They gave us the career compendium and then said '3rd edition time!' ? What is that about?

Aside from some dice mechanics it looks like GW and FFG have decided to drift closer to the Warhammer Online envisioning of the game. The art and trimmed down careers are a good indicator (200+ to 40 careers including Sword Masters from Warhammer Online). Us old farty gamers won't be around forever and someone has to pick up the hobby. Just a bit of a shame they had to (potentially) puppy-coffin a great longstanding game to entice people from the MMO realm to pen and paper.

As always I'll need to get some examples of the meat of the game before I smother 3rd edition with my pillow and throw a drinking fountain through the window. But at least FFG left the 2nd edition forum up for those of us that want to hang with that version of the game, and there is a decent chance we'll be able to at least have access to pdfs of those books...

As I saw the headline "WFRP 3rd edition" my heart skipt beat. And I thought the day couldn't get any better. But as I read what the new ed is all about I was finding my self very dissappointed. With this new system of theirs they have very effectivly killed the spirit of WFRP. We loved and worshipped WFRP for the huge collections and choices, the dice system which kept you living on the end of a sword no matter what you did. The hard work you had to put behind a character before it really became a "hero". All of this that I have mentioned, all of this is what we loved about WFRP, and with a single stroke, FFG has killed and destroyed that which we loved so greatly.

Maybe it's just me who is being a traditionalist, but this seems less than an RPG and more like a bloody board game. Of course I will give this "3rd ed" a chance, but it will be with a critics eyes that I do that. Because so far I am very dissappointed about what they have done about our beloved RPG.

"Hail Sigmar, and death to the enemy"

As an aside, the symbols on some of the specialty dice match the symbols described on the Ratcatcher's Tale page. This new edition also indicates new storytelling possibilities through the dice. So I'm guessing that the dice you roll will determine what encounter you have? For example, rolling the twin-tailed comet means the part stumbles on a safe point? That's assuming there's at least some truth to the information on the Ratcatcher's Tale page. If that turns out to be the case, does that mean this new edition will have random encounter building integrated into the core game as a major feature?

It looks like that could be how it is, it also looks like it could be used for skill resolution from the text they currently have under description.

Too soon to tell people, hate it after it comes out. I just might too. Till then I'll give it a look. Might not buy, but a stern look.

Sythorn said:

Hey, well spotted! All but the water drop symbol are visible on the dice.

I think I'm going to be sick.

I really like the fact that they've gone for a very different system - so it isn't just WFRP 2.5. I was never entirely satisfied with the old rules (they worked adequately but didn't seem great to me) so I'm more than willing to buy this and see how it works.

And 100$ for 4 books and extra stuff actually seems rather cheap to me.

42!

I don't like the look of this.

My copypaste from sts forums.

Awright, my two copecks...

At least, the mystery is solved - there is WFRP3, at last.

I don't know anything at all about the game design, so I wouldn't dare to predict, but one thing that already worries me most - is that the game is designed only for four people (3 players + a GM). This is ridiculous! Why limit the amount of players? Who told them that the WFRPers play in the groups of four?? Mostly, this is not the case. I'm hoping against hope that it is possible to somehow overcome that artificial barrier.

Next most weird thing: why only 40 careers?? WFRP2 had 200+ careers and it was a really great achievement. Now, it seems they're taking a step back. Of course, they will release some new Career Compendium, but will that be able to at least quintuple the core amount? I doubt, and I'm worried again.

As for the larger picture: I don't really care if they substitute d10s with some other dice. I don't really care if they change the concept of the character sheet by introducing "cards" or whatever. I only hope that:

1) the mechanics are easily as playable *and* versatile as in the v1 and v2;

2) there is freedom of play, like before.

(Amongst other things, "freedom of play" is what we have/had in v1/v2: ability to generate a lowly halfling ragpicker and over real time years become something to be reckoned with. And of course, means to attain goals via very different and non-specific ways. And other things...).

On the other hand, I can understand why FFG did so. I'm almost sure, that one of the reasons to introduce custom dice, action cards, etc. was the piracy concern: you can scan books, but with action cards, custom dice it becomes more difficult.

Resume: me and my crew are definitely buying it, as soon as it becomes available. 100 bucks for a load of books and other shiny new paraphernalia are worth it, not to mention that we'll divide the price between at least four people (so, the price is really not that high).

P.S. This is really funny to read how people waste themselves in anger against something they have not even seen, let alone tried out. Free your mind! C'mon, guys, you're not THAT old to be so grognard, already. As one said:

The wind of freedom blows away the binding chain,
Independent minds are sowing their grain.
Boundless power will tear the wall apart
So don't give in be a rebel at heart.

Fantasy Flight Games (“FFG”) announced today they will release Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition, a new version of the classic roleplaying game set in Games Workshop's Warhammer world. This version features an entirely new innovative approach to role-playing, one that FFG hopes will attract a whole new generation of gamers to the role-playing experience

This is taken from the News page, please notice FFG hopes it will attract NEW gamers.

Basically this game is not designed for any of us. Black Industries did their best to drive out the Grogards, FFG is doing their best to drive away everyone. macd21 has been claiming this was what was coming for a while (many of us have suspected he had inside information) and most of us thought that FFG would never go in the direction that they have because it soooooooooooooooooooooooooo un-Warhammer and as a result it was almost certain to piss off about 90% of the fan base. Obviously we were wrong.

What really upsets me is that in order to release what is essentially a new HeroQuest, FFG have decided to kill a great roleplaying game. I would not have a problem with FFG releasing a Dungeon Crawling game in the vein of HeroQuest/Warhammer Quest as a seperate game.

Will I buy this game? I did love HeroQuest when I was a kid and this may well be a very good game, but from what I have seen it is not an rpg at all and it costs $100 so about £60, it's a lot of money just to have a look. In all honesty £35 for Dark Heresy made me think twice about a game I wasn't sure of.

Why only 40 careers??

Probably because they want to sell expansions with new careers, and the core box set might only hold so many cards and books. 40 sounds like a good number to get started. Maybe they're all basic careers, but I'm hoping to get at least a few complete career paths in the core game.

Of course, they will release some new Career Compendium

I wouldn't expect that, based on the card format they're using. I think they'll just release expansions that include new careers (on cards).

(Amongst other things, "freedom of play" is what we have/had in v1/v2: ability to generate a lowly halfling ragpicker and over real time years become something to be reckoned with. And of course, means to attain goals via very different and non-specific ways. And other things...)

The product description leads me to think that's the kind of game it is, so I don't think you have to worry about that.

DagobahDave said:

I really doubt they will be able to release 200+ careers via no matter which expansions to match v2. I'm certainly no doomsayer, but I'm concerned that they are going to narrow the focus to more fighting mechanics and less storytelling. And WFRP is first about storytelling.

EGALOR: I really doubt they will be able to release 200+ careers via no matter which expansions to match v2. I'm certainly no doomsayer, but I'm concerned that they are going to narrow the focus to more fighting mechanics and less storytelling. And WFRP is first about storytelling.

The Envoy career seems to consist of lots of diplomatic and social abilities, and the promo mentions of investigative play and social gambits. Like any RPG, you should be able to run really social-heavy games where fights are rare if that's what you want, just by plotting out your homebrew scenarios at your preferred pace. I don't think there's anything forcing the GM's hand here.

The party mechanics in WFRP3 seem to exist only to encourage roleplaying, so that might be a step in the right direction. Or maybe it's a step too far? I'm guessing that the party rules are optional, but I'm looking forward to trying them out.

If each new career requires cards etc. to define its abilities, how do they release new careers in future expansions without making those expansions box sets as well? Or at least books packaged with a separate set of card sheets?

I can see this pushing up the cost of future expansions to go along with the high cost of the basic set. Plus if everything's either boxed or shrink-rapped with the cards it puts an end to browsing the book to see if it's worth buying. Personally, I don't buy things without knowing what I'm shelling out money on.

I'm actually pretty excited about this.

The main reason being that my friends and I are all getting older and more and more busy with our careers, families and other responsibilities that come with age.

Most of us just don't have the time to devote energy to creating complex long stories anymore. We also get pretty bummed out and tired after long roleplaying sessions.

Recently, we took a break and dusted off the rules for Warhammer Quest, and we've been having such a blast.

From the rumours, I'm getting the impression that this will be the ultimate verison of Warhammer Quest / Hero Quest that my friends have been waiting for all these years.

Huzzah! I'm so getting this.

40 careers, 4 races? mmmmm sounds like 10 careers per race. Just my guess.