In November, there was one announcement. So far for this month, there have been none. Previous to November, the most silent month was September (with two). All other months had around 5 or so for each month; sometimes 4, sometimes 6.

The silence is something I find troubling, considering the relative amount of announcements priors to that. Also, there are several new products just around the corner, or recently arrived (as it is the case across the Atlantic).

Now, I don't actually expect or demand an official response to my concerns. I am simply letting them be known. Prior experience with RPG lines have shown to me that long silence is a bad thing, especially considering new product is on its way. Of course with that prior experience, a long silence was measured in the span of several months.

In my opinion FFG aren't unusually silent right now we've just been spoiled with an unusual high level of news and updates which makes the inevitable silent periods more noticeable.

It would be nice to know if they are working on something. That they are present here on the forum, exchanging thoughts etc...

Some small adventures at least, from time to time...

me dont like this quietness at all too

The other high activity lines (Deathwatch, Rogue Trader, Warhammer Invasion and COC card game) have kept up a similar level of announcement activity. Rogue Trader is the only one that has comparable down times, as far as official reports go. Which coincided with Deathwatch coming out.

So, again, I'm not demanding some kind of official speak. If there is some kind of printing problem, or problem otherwise, I can imagine why it would need to be kept internal.

My observations have been thus:

* Any announcement is met with much hostility and people biting the heads off the announcers. They are notably shy. This has reduced a little as hate-everything-grognards have started getting on with their lives

* This forum is notoriously quiet (not being at all user-friendly and not having a "gamers seeking gamers" area doesn't help draw people either)

jh

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay ‘cue the sound of leaves blowing in the wind’

I’ve noticed that not only is FF quiet on the boards but the community is quite here as well. Sometimes there are only a few posts per day and almost always by the same people. I have everything for this game and sadly almost no one wants to play it near me in the quaint little town I live in called NYC. Really even in the biggest (and only) game shop in town everyone just wants to play Pathfinder or D&D 4.0 and few people even want to discuss the game here, it was a no starter from birth. I’ve even been able to find a few Savage Worlds games quickly, and I know people who want to play Dark Heresy or Deathwatch (now there is a gaame to complain about imop) but getting anyone excited about WFRP 3 is like pulling teeth. Not sayin that this is a global situation just my own experience. I personally love the cards and dice but I wonder if FF shot itself in the foot by not releasing the counterless, cardless version first and the accessories second? I really hope they release everything they promised so far for the game at the very least. Now it’s back to SW of Solomon Kane for my Witch-Hunter needs.

I was referring to the main page. We had a developer post in a thread not too long ago, about the adventure in Signs of Faith.

Heretek - I've been one WFRP3 group here, and I'm about to start my own. In my case I started a group for Traveller, and then switched after using a couple of different systems, bringing us to Warhammer. It also helps that I've proselytized a large amount to friends and other people who were not previously into Warhammer. I've found they make better gamers anyway, as opposed to someone reared on D&D or some other distinct, fantasy system, since they have ingrained habits and will try to turn Warhammer into that.

As Heretek said, everything seems relatively quiet lately: this board, other Warhammer boards I'm on, other gaming boards in general. Personally, I've been swamped at work, since winter's one of my busy times. Still, it's a bit weird that there's not more hoopla about new product given that it's time to buy and give gifts. I wouldn't panic just yet; maybe they find other lines of games more lucrative for this season. Still, it's something to keep an eye on.

Maybe Jay & Friends are on vacation for a month after designing six concurrant releases. Minnesota can be a little cold in the winter; perhaps they are adventuring in more tropical sewers, or somesuch. I think they deserve a little vacation - working vacation, of course.

Yeah, my guess would be along the lines of busy-ness and other stuff happening. Nov.-Jan tends to be a busy time for people, after all.

Of course, it pisses me off because I'm just starting my first campaign and want ENERGY! to inspire me. But I understand it.

It would, however, be nice to know either what's happening in the US with the Guides & Vaults, or to have a little information as to why there's no information. ("Hey guys, there's a little delay at whatever. We'll let you know more when we can let you know more..." something.

I think FFG is working hard on Omens of War, so they will post when there is enough for some designer note or something.

Maybe they also working for a free PDF Supplement to for downloading or e free adventure...

First of all it's important to note, that they've just puplished 7 supplements in quick succession (Signs of Faith, 3 guides, and 3 vaults), most companies would regard that as enough "news".

News are needed when there's a long time between stuff being puplished, otherwise people figure it's a dead project. But when you actually "spit" out material, this is not needed. News are thereby meant to keep people interested, and buy you time to get some work done, without loosing their customers.

So... it's not till 2011 that "no news" can be a bad sign, unless we keep getting new stuff every 2 months or so. Also keep in mind that we pretty much know what will happen the next full year (2 chaos gods sups, witch song and dwarven sup), so news are not needed much till then. And if they puplish all that... I don't care if they stop, I'd be full of stuff to do!!!

Second, warning rant incomming... what is it with people's fascination for high fantasy like D&D??? I'm surprised people still cling on to a system where your character progresses through levels, it worked well for me till I was 13, but then I began to want systems where you never became demi-gods.

I just don't see why... and I agree, it's bloody hard to find players. People are eager to play Jedi-Knights, Paladins, Drows, fight Mindflayers and dragons, recieve magic loot like deck of wonders, staff of supreme magery and what's not... But play a low and down smuggler and know the high point (after tons of sessions) will be being able to maybe possibly solo an ogre, or cast magic that makes a 5th level mage chuckle, that's no fun.

Did wonder why this board doesn't have a "looking for players" thread, Dark Heresy has one, though no clue how used it is.

The silence on this forum is partly because it doesn't work on iphone and ipad.

Spivo said:

I would not say that WFRP3 is "dead" only because these boards or the FFG sites are silent. I know many players which never frequent any boards here or on other sites.

Maybe the makers are just busy or there is a change in staff. It was one of the better selling rpgs on this planet the last quarters so I guess they dont give up that soon, unfortunately.

Spivo said:

Its not that difficult to understand. IMO it depends on the fact that not everyone plays rpgs because of the same reasons. Most "roleplayers" are powergamers and not actors. D&D perfectly caters those powergamers from its video game like rule mechanics (levels, XP, myriards of magic items and hitpoints which allow easily the slaying of giant monsters etc.) Throw in a staple of money into marketing and bingo you have a market share of 80+%.

You're right, and it was just a rant. I just have a hard time accepting why everyone doesn't love wrfp like I do...

Oh, and I even know people who play D&D/Pathfinder, who're not powergamers, they just play it because it's what they grew up with and know.

I've noticed that the forums have become more quiet in recent months. I couldn't persuade my local gaming group to take up WFRP either, but I've made up for it by starting two online groups. Playing online isn't the same as playing in person, but it's still fun

Illustrious said:

I feel your pain... I know, 100% certainty, that I'll loose 2 members in my group within 2-4 months, so while we have fun, we also know that when that happens it falls apart.

Copenhagen is not a large city, compared to NYC and London and such, but still anoyingly hard to find people to play wfrp here

Heretek said:

I would love to see FFG regularly post on these forums - answer our queries, or little hints... I thought that was a benefit of having 'official' forums...

Heretek said:

People actually PLAY D&D 4ed? I'd heard it was an unplayable mess of a game, that was a wannabe boardgame. 3.5ed is the one to play. If you want something with a multitude of cards etc, 4ed is NOT it - WHFRP 3ed is (ironically).

And levels SUCK. Several sessions of no change in your character followed by a big leap of power when you level up. Naff. Mate of mine is about to start running a level based system, and has said he's doing away with XP altogether - instead will level us up when he deems it right... *shug*

Sausageman said:

Maybe it was just the heady days of the first year/initial releases, but it seemed to me like Jay (and Dan) used to post here pretty often. I miss the big lug(s). And I miss the positive/hopeful/active tone of the then-excited forum. It's not the same over at RPGnet where bringing up WFRP3 triggers either crickets or the flamepocalypse, depending on the day.

Sausageman said:

Dude, D&D4e rocks. It's a *totally* different play-style, but for what it's intended (tactical/grid-based fantasy combat sim) it's the best there's ever been (IMHO/YMMV). Of course, I'm a big fan of stuff in the miniature game/chess vein, so it may be my bit-twiddling nature that makes it appeal to me.

Yeah there's been a reason for the "hiatus" (I wouldn't even call it that), but it's not my place or business to say why. I'm sure that everything will be explained in due time- after all, this IS the busiest and most hectic time of the year for retailers.

All I know is that everything is good and that we've got a tonne of great stuff on the way (as others have said). I mean, all the Vaults and Guides... that's... what? SIX products being released in the next few months? Kick ass!

It isn't completely honest to say we have 6 new products. The monsters vault & guide are the only "new" products, and they are not even completely made up of unpublished material. As far I know, the GM guide & vault are comprised entirely of republished material, and the players guide (apparently) has some clarifications and extended examples. So they're not new like Signs of Faith was new. They also apparently didn't update the players guide with errata either. Maybe that's why the Europeans got their copies before we did, they are having to reprint the guides to reflect the errata...

It would be nice to have the developers post on here, but time they spend on the forum is time they are not spending on the game. And I certainly do not expect them to spend their personal time here, either. If FFG was a bigger company, I might wonder why they do not have an official community outreach person (like you see on MMO forums) but its pretty clear as to why that isn't the case.

I'll say it again: My initial obeservation is that is has been well over a month since they made their last official announcement on the WFRP splash page. Considering their previous rate of announcements, that is strange. I imagine we are in store for a shifting through shadows soon.

(Hopefully my quote isn't butchered below...)

CaffeineBoy said:

That's what kills me about rpg.net. Its like there is a pro-2e lobby that is going out to derail every single 3e thread. Same group of *ahem* "gentleman" every time. Then after the 3e thread, the same jokers make a few 2e threads to counter it. It is very strange. I had previously hoped such insanity was left to D&D. But I guess that's why we can't have anything nice...

Well I never posted on this board to complain that the game was 'dead' simply that in a city of 8,000,000+ people (25,000,000+ if you count the tri-state area) I'm having issues finding a group who wants to play with the new system. I am nervous of the overall state of any game that is a licensed GW product because after buying stuff from them for over 25 years I know how quickly lines become a casualty of GW’s notoriously short attention span concerning anything that is not their main line table top games, not to mention that the Games Workshop store in my area has pretty much forbidden any Warhammer fantasy or 40k rpg related player adverts or even to ask too much around the store if anyone is interested in playing since you are 'annoying' there players and the reception there becomes quite icy. I also realize that WFRP 3 is not FF’s bread and butter and it is an expensive system so the quite unnerves me a bit I guess, though I’m guilty of sometimes being much more of a lurker than a frantic poster most of the time. It’s sad that FF could not find some middle ground with the older 2nd edition fans who left the game in droves (I actually blame some of the overzealous oldsters who trashed the game at every opportunity before the game was even released or played but this is a different topic and one that’s been done and is now closed I guess) I’m simply stating that while the new game has it’s awesome fan support as well who have done awesome things with strange eons and map tools and such.. It’s a really small group compared to the heyday of WFRP and I strongly feel that the developers should have a strong presence on the forum, as well as continual little freebies being released on the site along the lines of say pinnacle entertainments one page adventures and stuff. As for D&D games it's always been the game with the most players and the game is much more than a game to many of the players, it's a lifestyle and personally I can't stand it.. would be nice if I did..lol, than I would be swimming in games. I've posted on pen and paper games and a few other sites for players and 80% of the time I get is "you don't do D&D?" and than thats that : ( It could be my age group 35-40 and well many old timers are really into D&D and can't wrap their heads around new rules sets, not just wfrp.. and for some reason SCi-Fi games seem really popular with the young college set when I chat with them and fantasy less so.. well I'm still trying : )) Anyway this post is getting long so I’m gonna close with “For Sigmar, For the Emperor” For Warhammer role-play!!

I would recommend running a few demos at your local game stores. That seems to really help people know about the game and get over their misconceptions of how it plays in my experience.

As far as silence from Jay, I truly expect they are just *very* busy right now with all the material being produced/released now.

Oh my game store has had several demos of the game that it advertised and all were poorly attended... it's actually pushed the game quite a bit at launch and does not hide the stuff in the back away from higher selling games like D&D and WoD so it's not the stores fault on this one, there is also bunch of Darkheresy/Rogue Trader/Deathwatch players around. It's just there are 3 types of rpg gamers these days I notice D&D 4/Pathfinder 3.5 freaks, WoD geeks and Sci-Fi junkies and occasionally a few other systems get some love as well but the big Wotc, Paizo and WW get the vast majority of the 'love' where I live and it;s hard to ween them away from this stuff.

Here comes Jay H's lovely rant (beware):

Lets be honest folks. WFRP is not a good RPG marketing idea and it is made worse by US, the fans. WE have destroyed this game by demanding that it be a grim, dark world where your character is always going to suck, be broke, weak, diseased and/or insane. You'll never have any cool stuff and levelling is meaningless. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh FUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! Heaven forbid there by any kind of "high" fantasy, crazy-arze gyrocopters, funny-orcs, magical items, structured-leveling fun, or anything else that could create a diverse enough world to attract TODAY'S GAMERS..yea, let's just throw all that * out and keep telling potential players that anything that generally draws people to an RPG game, WON'T BE IN THIS GAME.

But all that stuff IS in this game. We just have a vocal group of people who think they're helping by telling people that this game is a dark, sucky game..wanna play?

What SHOULD we tell potential players? I think that we are self-sabotaging the game by not saying the right things..and competing with the hateful grognards who badmouth the game doesn't help. We don't have the luxury of a "Pathfinder" version of the game..we just have an out of print game that many players thought was too dark and miserable the last time around..and we're repeating the same crap about a NEW game and world that is NOT that old, dark game.

WE NEED A NEW SLOGAN AND THE FANS NEED TO WAIVE THE BANNER.

I tell people that the new WFRP character is the equivalent of a 4th level D&D character..but I don't think that helps

jh