WFRP - THIRD Edition Announced from FFG

[Agamon]

Huh. Being a board gamer, $100 for a big chunky game doesn't bother me. But do you see what you get in a game like Descent, Twilight Imperium or Tide of Iron (all of which run around the same price)? Reams of die cut markers, plastic miniatures, cards, boards, dice. I have a hard time believing it's just a few skinny books a few dice and cards. Something isn't adding up right....

 

[coyote6]

It's not out yet, right? This is just the announcement, so the price could be wrong, could change, or the contents list might not be complete yet. Somebody get someone at the con to ask FFG!

 

[Korgoth]

Excuse me? Why do you wish people to lose their jobs and have their hard work and efforts gone for nothing?

Here's my best case scenario: May you live in interesting times.

Didn't mean to hurt your feelings, fraulein.

I don't wish them unemployment. I wish them to stop screwing up things I think are cool. In my best case scenario, after the ruination of FFG they all go on to become millionaire haberdashers and live long, well-adjusted lives.

 

[Obryn]

Didn't mean to hurt your feelings, fraulein.

I don't wish them unemployment. I wish them to stop screwing up things I think are cool. In my best case scenario, after the ruination of FFG they all go on to become millionaire haberdashers and live long, well-adjusted lives.

They're not screwing up something you think is cool. You can still think WFRP1e or 2e is cool forever, and they can never screw it up.

They're making a new version of something which you think is cool, which you don't expect to like.

There's a big difference that's often lost in conversations like this.

-O

 

[coyote6]

They're not screwing up something you think is cool. You can still think WFRP1e or 2e is cool forever, and they can never screw it up.

They're making a new version of something which you think is cool, which you don't expect to like.

There's a big difference that's often lost in conversations like this.

Well, I can see where one can be disappointed in a new edition, and think "Argh, they screwed it up!" -- where "it" is the new edition. The thinking would be, "This new edition could have been the Ultimate Earthly Incarnation of Utter Awesome. But it is not. Argh, they screwed it up!" (though probably with less hyperbole; much like a camera, the Internet adds 10 lbs. Of hyperbole).

OTOH, it isn't even out yet, the mechanics are barely hinted at, so while I can see feeling trepidation (are the weird dice actually necessary?), it seems a bit premature. But not unexpected; see prior discussions of the new version of pretty much anything.

 

[Primal]

I agree that the format won't work for my own home game, but I still have my WFRP2e books. FFG hasn't done anything to WFRP2e (or 1e for that matter) - it's still around, still playable, and still has all the stuff I could ever want (and even stuff I don't - Kislev? Seriously?)

Once again, it's just a company making a new game, which I may or may not like. It's nothing to get mad at. "HOW DARE THEY MAKE A GAME I DON'T LIKE?!? I HOPE THEY ALL DIE IN A FIRE!!1" I guess I don't feel a compelling need to have every new edition of a game I like also be a game I like.

Personally, I'd be interested in playing a session or two with it, but it won't be suitable for my own table, and I won't buy it as a result. I don't want to tell any of my 5-7 players "Sorry, guys, you need to sit out this session. We have too many players for WFRP!" And I shudder to think how much expansions would cost, if the core set is $100! So no matter how awesome it is - and it very well might be - it won't work for us.

-O

Obryn, that's just not fun -- don't try to prevent the WFRP Edition War!

Alright, seriously, I agree with your points -- in my group we're still enjoying 2nd Edition and there is so many books we're barely used... probably enough to entertain us for years. I don't think 4E was published "too early", but I definitely feel that FFG should have waited maybe two or three years more (and likely playtested their new concept with more groups; even better, they could have released it under a different brand name to see how it goes over without any "burden of history").

I might try this, but I don't think the GM will pay 100 dollars (in fact, this will cost 100 *euros* over here in Northern Europe). As I said before, if FFG has any business sense, they will release free quick-play rules soon.

 

[lutecius]

Of course it's too early to judge but that sounds awfully boardgamey to me. It's sad that they decided to call it wfrp3, even though I understand why from a marketing pov.
The old system could really use some balancing and streamlining. Now I'll have to wait at least another 5 years for that.

"Custom Dice give you unprecedented options for story-telling"

Has anyone ever found the type of dice you use to arbitrate mechanical elements give you "unprecedented options for story-telling"?

It wouldn't be the first time that entirely gamist mechanics are passed off as "narrative control/opportunities" (coughencounter/daily powerscough)

At the end of the day, FFG is trying something new, bringing some board game elements to roleplaying.

And oif it brings some board gamers into roleplaying even better.

Turning a rpg into something else doesn't bring boardgamers into roleplaying it just brings some roleplayers to play a boardgame (and lets down those who have no interest in it.)

I agree that the format won't work for my own home game, but I still have my WFRP2e books. FFG hasn't done anything to WFRP2e (or 1e for that matter) - it's still around, still playable, and still has all the stuff I could ever want (and even stuff I don't - Kislev? Seriously?)

Once again, it's just a company making a new game, which I may or may not like. It's nothing to get mad at. "HOW DARE THEY MAKE A GAME I DON'T LIKE?!? I HOPE THEY ALL DIE IN A FIRE!!1" I guess I don't feel a compelling need to have every new edition of a game I like also be a game I like.

That's when you think the game is fine as is.

If you think it can and should be improved, yes a new edition can screw it for you. This is not "just a company making a new game". The more successful it is...
1-the longer you'll have to wait for the next installment.
2-the more it will influence the design of future editions.

So wishing the version you don't like a speedy death makes perfect sense.

One thing that I think might get traction is that now WFRP and Warhammer Fantasy Battles may end up closer to one another in tone.

There's always been a weird disconnect between the two. You have awesomely powerful characters in WFB, and Rat Catchers in WFRP. This difference has never bothered me, but I don't think it's insane that GW would want WFRP to better reflect WFB.

I agree about the disconnect but I'm not sure how action cards and custom dice address the issue.

 

[Obryn]

That's when you think the game is fine as is.

If you think it can and should be improved, yes a new edition can screw it for you. This is not "just a company making a new game". The more successful it is...
1-the longer you'll have to wait for the next installment.
2-the more it will influence the design of future editions.

So wishing the version you don't like a speedy death makes perfect sense.

So because someone who doesn't owe you anything is making something you don't like, you wish them failure for it? That's a pretty short-sighted and selfish view of gaming, IMO.

I guess I can't muster up the selfishness required to wish a game line failure, assuming they can find enough players for it. I'll play what I want to play, and they'll play what they want to play. It's a win-win scenario, unlike waiting and hoping that someone somewhere will produce a version of a game that may only appeal to me. That's bound to end up in disappointment. A brand new version of WFRP gives me more options; nobody ever promised I'd have to like them.

Also... WFRP2e wasn't fine as it was? It's a brilliant game with a large line of high-quality supplements. I have enough stuff to last me years.

I agree about the disconnect but I'm not sure how action cards and custom dice address the issue.

No idea. I don't think I'll particularly like the mechanical aspects of it, but I'm not going to sign up for a torches-and-pitchforks rally, either.

-O

 

[guivre]

Sat through the seminar. Crap IMO.

Overly structured, extraordinarily limited, way too expensive, and the deal breaker: it's fiddly as all get out.

After hearing the talk, my suspicion is that this is a re-skinned game. It was probably in the design stages far before FFG got the WHFRP license and was re-purposed.

The tone and theme of the game have changed as well, enough to make a difference in the feel at least.

Taking maps out of the game doesn't make it less of a board game. This is pure FFG board game mechanics re-hashed, glued together and called WHFRP.

My bet is that it will flop. I'm definitely glad I snatched up as much 2e stuff as I could.

 

[Ariosto]

So because someone who doesn't owe you anything is making something you don't like, you wish them failure for it?

Call it "demand-side" economics. Nobody owes him a comfy living as a poop-producer, either.