Warhammer Fantasy Role Play 4th Edition

[deganawida]

I’ve recently gotten into the Total War: Warhammer series, and rather enjoy the world that was created, which I find surprising as I had always heard that Warhammer was grimdark to the extreme. I have also been looking at other systems to get ideas, especially as I’ve come to conclude that D&D isn’t really the best system for something that plays more akin to a fantasy novel. To that end, I am considering purchasing a copy of Warhammer Fantasy Role Play 4th Edition, but the sticker shock has me hesitant. Seeing as I’ve only ever played AD&D 2nd Edition through 5e, including the DragonLance Fifth Age, as well as some Palladium games (TMNT, HU, Rifts) and Shadowrun, what would those of you’ve who’ve played it think of it?

 

[Retreater]

I'd recommend getting the Starter Set. It will show you how to play and let you decide if you want to invest in the system. It has pregens, an adventure, and a setting book you can use after the game.
For me, I've been running it for about 4 months. It's nearly at my maximum level of complexity to GM. I've had 4 different players walk away from the game due to the complexity of character creation.
The books have beautiful production values and are wonderful to read. But to play? The jury is still out for my group - but I think we're falling on the side of not liking it.

 

[aramis erak]

I’ve recently gotten into the Total War: Warhammer series, and rather enjoy the world that was created, which I find surprising as I had always heard that Warhammer was grimdark to the extreme. I have also been looking at other systems to get ideas, especially as I’ve come to conclude that D&D isn’t really the best system for something that plays more akin to a fantasy novel. To that end, I am considering purchasing a copy of Warhammer Fantasy Role Play 4th Edition, but the sticker shock has me hesitant. Seeing as I’ve only ever played AD&D 2nd Edition through 5e, including the DragonLance Fifth Age, as well as some Palladium games (TMNT, HU, Rifts) and Shadowrun, what would those of you’ve who’ve played it think of it?

Warhammer FRP is darker than D&D, certainly. It's also prone to, in older editions, lower total improvement (WFRP2/3); WFRP4 is more frequent but much smaller increments, albeit with the same peaks as 2E.

Also, WFRP 4E is a bit convoluted in combat mechanics.

So, if you're used to D&D, the differences may be a shocker - PCs are relatively fragile, tend to go off the deep end, and while 4E is rapid on the improvements, they're pretty low granularity. It will be a very different experience. (I'll be honest: 4E's changes don't appeal to me. But I'm not trying to discourage you from any edition - just warning about the issues with editions 1,2,& 4. I like 1st ed.)

Also, mechanically slightly different, Zweihänder is the best parts of 1E and 2E mechanics, from its author's point of view, blended and refined a bit, with a few other changes. Same tone.

Also, WFRP & Zweihänder, due to open ending damage, means a lucky hit can kill just about anything.

 

[Tun Kai Poh]

So, if you're used to D&D, the differences may be a shocker - PCs are relatively fragile, tend to go off the deep end, and while 4E is rapid on the improvements, they're pretty low granularity. It will be a very different experience.

As I've heard it said, "you'll think you're supposed to play it like D&D, but you'll end up playing it like Call of Cthulhu."

Anyway, my experiences with WFRP 2nd and 3rd Edition were short but enjoyable. Not sure how it'll go as a longer campaign.

 

[aramis erak]

As I've heard it said, "you'll think you're supposed to play it like D&D, but you'll end up playing it like Call of Cthulhu."

Anyway, my experiences with WFRP 2nd and 3rd Edition were short but enjoyable. Not sure how it'll go as a longer campaign.

Playing it like D&D results in badly crippled and insane PCs rather quickly under 1E/2E.

 

[deganawida]

Thanks, all! The complexity would make it a no-go for me. I have a hard enough time getting my daughters to fill out the character sheets; I’d go crazy if more complexity was added.

 

[Retreater]

Thanks, all! The complexity would make it a no-go for me. I have a hard enough time getting my daughters to fill out the character sheets; I’d go crazy if more complexity was added.

There are simpler games that are inspired by the lore and feel of Warhammer you may want to consider. A few that come to mind are Warlock!, Ten Dead Rats, & Small but Vicious Dog. (In case you can't tell, I also researched this thinking WFRP would be too complex for my group - which it ultimately was. I kinda wish I had gone with one of these variants from the get-go.)

 

[TheSword]

Interestingly, the new Fighter supplement they have released today has a mechanic for group advantage. It’s actually very clever. The party can contribute to building advantage as a group but instead of getting that number as a bonus to all rolls, individual team members can spend it to gain mechanical bonuses.

I like it. Only two numbers to track and it gives something useful for non-combat characters to do, and encourages the party to work together to build strategy.

 

[Ancalagon]

I personally prefer the 2nd edition of Warhammer frpg over the 4rth.

For a simple system that would work great with Warhammer, I recommend Troika! The "feel" of the system is much, much too "zanny" for Warhammer, but that "feel" can be stripped away and you are left with a system which has a lot of commonality with Warhammer but is much simpler to run.

 

[aramis erak]

I picked up Warlock - this thread got me curious - it's a simple system, with careers in a warhammerish mode, using 1d20+skill >= 20. The tone looks lighter on first skim. But that's as far as I've gotten into it.