Hey all...hoping I'll get some good responses. Based on my recent troll through the forums, I'm confident this is the case.

Anyhoo...

I've not done any tabletop RPGs...ever. I've done my share of video game versions, but have recently put away the console for a nice collection of board games. I like all manner of table top board games, and have had a keen interest in RPGs. I've not had much interest in DnD, for no specific reason. I'm cool with the fantasy, just didn't seem to grab me. Rogue Trader, for whatever reason, has. Even the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.

My questions are:

1. Is Rogue Trader something to get into for a guy that has zero experience in the Wahammer world?

Looking forward to responses!

Hello Includingtacos,

I am very glad to see you have an interest in table top RPGs. It is always nice to hear about people wanting to keep the system alive and well. I have been playing a multitude of RPGs for over 4 years and feel very comfortable answering these questions so here it goes:

1. Rogue Trader IS something you can get into without knowledge of the 40k universe. HOWEVER, is is going to be very difficult and will take A LOT of reading. The 40k universe is so large and has had over 20 years to grow ridiculously in depth, but the rule book does an incredible job of giving you all of the lore you will ever need to know and more. Granted, there is probably about a novels worth of lore written in the rule book so it will take a lot of time to read it all, let alone remember it. With that being said though, RPGs are all about having fun, so even if you don't have the lore down 100% that doesn't mean your experience will be any less fun.

2. Rogue Trader is fun an definitely can be played by a first time RPG player. However, it is also one of the more difficult RPGs to play because the whole thing is based off of percentages so it can get stressful and repetitive at times. I definitely would say that you CAN start on RT and if you love the entire concept then go for it, but in my opinion, you SHOULD start with something a lot more simple and flexible in rules such as Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 or Shadowrun. In the end though, it all comes down to what interests you the most and how much time you are willing to dedicate before actually getting to the playing.

3. All you need is three people total to play (1 Game Master, 2 players). It never ends up being fun with just 1 GM and 1 Player. That being said, you will not get the whole experience without 1 GM and 3-6 Players. Because the game you are playing is in an informal situation you shouldn't have to worry too much about the specificity of rules so that is good, but I would highly recommend getting at least 1 GM and 3 Players for a real RPG experience. Watching a group of Players interact with each other is part of what makes RPGs so fun.

4. In my opinion, the Warhammer Fantasy RPG will probably be a better place to start off only because medieval fantasy is something that most people can grasp easily and it is very open to change within the world. In more futuristic RPGs, like RT, you can't change the world to fit you all that much because if you change one thing then it might set off a chain of events that make all of the things that exist within that future realm contradict one another. It is difficult to explain why futuristic games are harder to navigate through as a GM or player. Fantasy seems to offer more diverse game play with much more freedom to boot. I started off playing D and D and i can honestly say that it made it much easier for me to start on fantasy and then make my way to sci fi through games such as RT and Shadowrun.

In Conclusion, RT is an incredible game with some of the most incredible lore i have ever had the pleasure to experience. The most important part is that you pick whichever game you think you will have the most fun playing, because even if it is hard work, it will be worth it if you enjoy what you are learning. The whole RPG experience requires a rather hefty investment of both time and money and so that is why it is important that you pick whichever one appeals to you the most. Whatever you pick, just remember that it is all about having fun.

DrPersons said:

^^ Probably the best advice! ^^

I sincerely appreciate the response! This gives me more to chew on. I'll head to my local game store, and check with the owner [with whom I've become close] and have him point me in the direction so I can get a hands on look.

Thanks again for the advice! Looking forward to getting into it (whatever "it" is)!

No problem man. Good luck!