Quick questions for the GMs and the players out there that play Warhammer 40,000 RPGs.

If I have never played the Miniature game or read any of the novels, how hard will it to get into these RPGs - Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader and Deathwatch?

Speaking from experience, not at all.

I started out playing Dark Heresy not knowing anything at all about the universe beyond skimming the books. Soon, I was reading them in detail and running to Lexicanum to check on any term I didn't understand. Very quickly, I had started my own campaign, with the help of a couple more experienced friends who I went to for fluff advice.

I've started reading novels now. I read Ravenor, and I'm about to pick up Eisenhorn. I still rely a lot on my friends for second opinions, but I now have a fairly substantial knowledge base that was generated mostly from the books and from hearsay.

Good luck.

I agree w/ The Boy Named Crow. I got into Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay v. 2 because I liked Chris Pramas's game design. Knew nothing of WHF, just had seen cool mini battles at game shops. Got most of my background from the WFRP books and the GW boards.

I don't like most novels set in game worlds, and read a total of one WHF novel. I like to read about new worlds, not worlds that the author has no control over.

After 2 WFRP campaigns (the 2nd one I ported the Freeport Trilogy to the old world (Sartosa)), one of my players wanted a SF game. DH had come out, used the same system. I read the Eisenhorn series, and liked them. I got most of my fluff from these boards and the DH books. Now I can wing 40k fluff enough for my fun and my group.

In some ways, RT will be easier, as you're leaving the Imperium.

In my group, I had some serious WHF & 40k fiends, but they were also good players and helped me out and never seemed to mind if I strayed from the cannon. "Well, in *my* galaxy, Dark Eldar do this...."

Good players will like it if you run a good, fun, game. Pick up the fluff as you go, don't wait to become the world's biggest 40k geek.

I would begin with Dark Heresy. It is more or less about an inquisitor taking a couple of lowlifes and shows them the way of the universe. Rogue trader is a little bit harder, you have a place of responsibility. Deathwatch, umm no. You are a killing machine.

Anonymus said:

Why?

I don't think there is anything about any one of the games that makes it more or less suited to introducing the setting.

I think you have an advantage as you don't have the weight of all the accumilated background weighing down on you.

Dark Heresy (at least in the begining) is more limitied in scope, allowing you to handwave over a few large chunks of the fluff. (you really only need to know about the Imperium-Chaos stuff, no xenos/space/etc) Rogue Trader has the posibility of running into almost anything, but has the advantage of not having to go as far in depth about any single thing. Deathwatch isn't out yet, but you'll only likely need to know about the Alians, which might give a bit more leway.

So of the ones currently out, if your better at focusing on one thing in depth, go for Dark Heresy, if it's easier for you do keep a wide survay in your mind, go for Rogue Trader. Eather way FFG's fluff section is pritty good, and you can always ask here for any specific questions you have.

Thanks for all the info everyone.