WH40K Wrath & Glory Is Here!

As of right now, you can pick up the Warhammer 40K: Wrath & Glory core rulebook PDF from Cubicle 7 if you pre-order the hardcover (which is expected to ship this Autumn). UPDATE -- you can also pick up the PDF on DriveThruRPG, and if you previously purchased the Ulisses version of the book, it will be automatically updated for you for free there.


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Morrus

Well, that was fun
Staff member
I loved Cubicle 7's AIME and I hope to try out Wrath and Glory sometime.

The network effect with d20 and DnD is huge though. Best support, richest ecosystem, most players who are willing to read the actual rules. That's been the biggest stumbling block on trying other systems. People get home from work and don't want to... work more. And reading rules feels like work.

The problem is that people tell themselves learning to play a new RPG is hard. It’s not. It’s usually really easy. The easiest thing they'll probably do that day, and pay dividends for years. I’ve joined in convention games of a new RPG and been playing in 5 minutes. The bizarre myth that learning a new RPG is hard is pervasive and damaging. And the fact that I’ll get pushback for just saying that contributes to that myth.

People learn new recipes, new board games, new video games every day. Whoever convinced everybody that learning a new RPG was hard was a marketing genius. If WotC was actually evil, that would be #1 in their marketing plan!
 

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Jaeger

That someone better
The problem is that people tell themselves learning to play a new RPG is hard. It’s not. It’s usually really easy. The easiest thing they'll probably do that day, and pay dividends for years. I’ve joined in convention games of a new RPG and been playing in 5 minutes. The bizarre myth that learning a new RPG is hard is pervasive and damaging. And the fact that I’ll get pushback for just saying that contributes to that myth.

This is especially true from the players perspective where they are usually having the game explained to them, (like your Con example) with the GM having done most of the heavy lifting digesting the rules.

I believe that most of this does stem from the "d20 Uber Alles" attitude that has taken hold of the hobby since the OGL was released.

I have 5e - I have the 5e compatible AiME.

The time spent Learning and digesting the differences between AiME and 5e, so that your group can play AiME; Is no different that the time it would take to learn any other different game system with a similar level of complexity.


People learn new recipes, new board games, new video games every day. Whoever convinced everybody that learning a new RPG was hard was a marketing genius. If WotC was actually evil, that would be #1 in their marketing plan!

WOTC actually did exactly that!

In a very clever and roundabout way!

By touting how easy to learn d20 will be compared to having to learn a "new system" for your RPG group.

Right at 39 minutes in:


Dancey (the evil genius.) starts talking utter nonsense about all the different RPG systems causing the destruction of gaming groups before the OGL came in and saved the hobby...


.
 
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imagineGod

Legend
I loved Cubicle 7's AIME and I hope to try out Wrath and Glory sometime.

The network effect with d20 and DnD is huge though. Best support, richest ecosystem, most players who are willing to read the actual rules. That's been the biggest stumbling block on trying other systems. People get home from work and don't want to... work more. And reading rules feels like work.
You nailled it. I enjoy all Warhammer 40,000 games because I already know the lore, so Cubicle7's version in the new Imperium Nihilus matches the new lore with the fall of Cadia and the galactic rift. As for the d6 dice pool mechanics, dice roll like Blades in the Dark.

Similarly, Cubicle7's currentl Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay uses the known d100 system of first edition and I also know its lore including "The Enemy Within" campaign arc.

So this leaves the Age of Sigmar Mortal Realms the unwanted guest at my table party. Do not know the lore, the d6 character sheet looks different from Cubicle7's Wrath and Glory, hence, seems like too much work for my table.

Addendum to some recent comments. Yes, it is poosible to learn new RPGs. People do that daily. And yet game engines are popular because Re-using pre-existing knowledge is easier than all new stuff. Hence, I look upon the awesome free Degenesis RPG, got the core book, perused it, but then just said, no, too much new lore, even though dice mechanics look okay.

Contrast the above to Fria Ligan's (Free League), Year Zero Engine, award winning alongside well established Aliens IP, and, boom, runaway success with GMs and Players.
 
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imagineGod

Legend
Sadly, the reality of the pervasiveness of the myth on learning new systems, got me trying to convince a friend whose Kickstarter is already years delayed, to create a verrsion using the Free League d6 OGL instead of his own d6 system.

Because, of the Alien RPG and Tales from the Loop, I told him that I strongly suspect more new Players will more likely gravitate towards a game using Free Leagues OGL than a totally new unknown RPG.

Proof in this line of thinking could be influenced further by the new Stargate RPG based on the D&D 5e SRD without the common magic or monsters of D&D, which also begs the question, why even bother using the D&D 5e SRD if more than half of it is ignored for Stargate?
 

Fenris-77

Small God of the Dozens
Supporter
Plus the Free League OGL rules are awesome. The appearance of non-d20 OGL systems has really changed the design part of the hobby a lot. Now you can use PbtA, FitD, FL or a whatever to build 'your game' and legally sell it there's less need to build systems from the ground up. I think we've gotten a lot of very good games because of this. I do think it's useful to be able to keep the engine but switch genres to mix things up for a group.
 

Jaeger

That someone better
...Proof in this line of thinking could be influenced further by the new Stargate RPG based on the D&D 5e SRD without the common magic or monsters of D&D, which also begs the question, why even bother using the D&D 5e SRD if more than half of it is ignored for Stargate?

Pure perception.


...The appearance of non-d20 OGL systems has really changed the design part of the hobby a lot. Now you can use PbtA, FitD, FL or a whatever to build 'your game' and legally sell it there's less need to build systems from the ground up. I think we've gotten a lot of very good games because of this. I do think it's useful to be able to keep the engine but switch genres to mix things up for a group.

OGL systems are popular because designing a new system that doesn't suck is HARD.
 


DWChancellor

Kobold Enthusiast
There are a lot of harsh feeling here for people being "wussy" about learning new rules.

Here's a truth: how often do players do something new/different WITHIN a ruleset (barbarian/barbarian/two-handed barbarian/two-handed fighter)? Most people like familiarity.

My most successful campaign worked because I gave up my pretentious DM nonsense and ran it like a mostly generic Matt Mercer game (yes, his games are really generic; his DMing and players are NOT).

It doesn't matter how much we love Warhammer, or Star Trek, or Numenera, or Tiny Cthulhu D6 or... Unless we have 3-5 players who agree, we don't have a game to play.

I'll go hide in my bunker from Critters now =) Love you guys!
 
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Jaeger

That someone better
There are a lot of harsh feeling here for people being "wussy" about learning new rules.

You are projecting into the conversation a tone and words that no one intoned.

Simply calling out the myth of "learning to play a new RPG is hard." for what it is.

A Myth.


My most successful campaign worked because I gave up my pretentious DM nonsense ....

This is key in any game system and in any campaign.


It doesn't matter how much we love Warhammer, or Star Trek, or Numenera, or Tiny Cthulhu D6 or... Unless we have 3-5 players who agree, we don't have a game to play.
...

The two groups I game with have no Problem switching systems for Long and short campaigns, and one shots.

I am blessed with players and GM's to whom "Lets play an RPG" does not = D&D only.
 

Jaeger

That someone better
Yup, even professional studios don't manage it as often as they maybe should. :p

Does kind of blow you away doesn't it?

Good OGL systems are popular because all the heavy lifting has been done.

I'm on the third revision of my homebrew rules system for my stars wars game. I am blessed with players that gladly show me the difference between what I think is a cool idea written down as a rule, and what actually works in play at the table.

It has actually been a very educational process that has taught me several things about RPG design:

Playtest is everything.

Any kind of complication has to justify itself in actual play at the table.

Published RPG designers (even the big names) are in possession of no special skill set or insight. It is all about desire. Being willing to put in the time and work.

And never ignoring what happens at the table during actual play.


.
 

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