Are the books that come in the box-set hardcover or paper?

I saw some pics that honestly made the books look hardcover(like most RPGs).

They are not, they are soft cover and perfect bound, but very nice quality.

Nights Dark Master's or Realm of the Ice Queen style soft cover?

Neither, more like Descent soft cover (but thicker).

By which you mean "Descent: Road To Legend" I assume? because Descent's main rulebook is just stapled paper:)

I look forward to obsessively sniffing the pages of those books while reading them on my daily bus rides to work

Here are some pics of the books:

Pic of the Main rulebook (right) compared to the v2 rulebook (left)

Pic of all 4 WFRP3e rulebooks (right) next to v2 rulebook (left)

Another pic of the 4x 3e rulebooks (right) next to the v2 Rulebook (left). You can see all together they are quite a bit thicker than the v2 rulebook. Considering all the stuff that *isn't* in the rulebooks and are on cards, that's a lot more information. Also consider a third of the v2 book's height is due to the front&back hardcover.

Closer look at the size/binding of main rulebook

Main rulebook (right) next to a No2 pencil. Main rulebook and Tome of Adventure are slightly thicker than a No.2 pencil.

Tome of Blessings and Tome of Mysteries are about half the size of the main rulebook.

I hope this helps. The books are thicker than you might think, and pretty sturdy for softcovers, and have a decent heft to them.

Huh. That's actually a lot better than I was expecting - thanks NezziR

phobiandarkmoon said:

It was Dvang who posted the pictures actually, but other than that I would say the exact same thing.

Very insightful indeed!

Now that we're talking about the books, I have one more question:

how much of the books' content is about "fluff"? I actually really dislike that word as it makes vital info on the setting sound like filler material, but it gets the job done. I hope to get some inspiring insights in the Warhammer world along the way.

I always thought they were paper, and I don't know why the main rule-book looked like a hardcover in one pic.

Anyways, is there much lore/detail in the books?

Ludlov Thadwin of Sevenpiecks said:

Practically all of the Tome of Mysteries and the other Blessings book are 'flavor' (I like that better than fluff) with the back part being about the actual play mechanics of those characters and all of chapter 10 (iirc) of the main book being world flavor as well. Plenty of background to get started I think.

{I'm very excited to learn tons more about the Warhammer universe!}

I found the background in the rulebook to be of particular interest; it's written from an "in character" perspective, so gives an appropriate player view of the setting; including important common knowledge, like the fact that the skaven are a myth and fairy tale.

Dvang Said:
... You can see all together they are quite a bit thicker than the v2 rulebook. Considering all the stuff that *isn't* in the rulebooks and are on cards, that's a lot more information. Also consider a third of the v2 book's height is due to the front&back hardcover.

So more information but less content given that some of the wizard/priest orders arent covered, and the smaller scope of careers and advancement capability, among no doubt other things.

Loswaith said:

Yeah, you have to wonder what all's in there knowing the careers, actions, talents, insanities, spells, and most tables are now on cards. What's taking up all that space!?!

Well, there are a lot of new concepts introduced. One of my favorites is the fresh perspectives on writing games and running campaigns. They devote a lot of space to that and there's some really great ideas in there.

There's also a lot of flavor and source material (in the ToB and ToM, and some in the ToA, not so much in the main rulebook). The Bestiary is a chunky section, and there's a really nice scenario in the ToA. There are a lot of full page, full color spreads with play aids on them. They really made full use of the full color format.

The books have a solid amount of information in them. They aren't filled to overflowing with space eating art. I mean, there's plenty of art, but it's not so much that they are obviously trying to take up slack space.

Loswaith said:

Depends on your definition of content, I suppose. I'd say they collectively have more background than the v2 book, which is, my mind, some of the best and crunchiest of content. Much of the background is presented in a detailed "ground up" view, so all but the GM's book can be given to new players to give them a proper, spoiler-free, view of the Warhammer world. A really great presentation overall.

Ah, that puts my mind at ease