D&D vs WHFRP

[Dragon-Slayer]

As many have mentioned, Warhammer is moody, grim, sinister, weird and fun. While the fluff may be explicit about aspects of the game like magic, in the end, the game, as any rpg, is a toolbox for the GM to run as they choose. For example, the colleges of magic are the general rule for the Empire, but there are scads of wizards that have a large variety of spells that are not affliated with any college, taking the spells from many of the posters at the Black Industries forum.

When it comes to careers, I make a list, depending on the general mood or starting point of the game to begin at, and branch out from there. Considering the nature of the Warhammer world, I am a bit more lenient with starting careers, mainly because I love seeing the looks on the player's faces when the character they are building up is about to get mashed into a pulp.

 

[Tinker]

I haven't played 2e WHFR but it sounds good. I've played 1e plenty and love it. Our main campaign started as the Enemy Within and got a bit side-tracked (aliens invading Lustria, y'know) but the group's second GM started a more low-fantasy campaign. He wanted everyone to have weaker, poorer characters that the standard generation rules create.

None of us got starting gold, just basic trappings (my Rat Catcher lucked out on his d6 roll and got 5 dead rats tied to a stick!). We didn't start with all the skills for our first careers, nor a free advance. The guy playing the elf (high Initiative as I think someone mentioned) had to be missing a leg. You get the picture. We're having great fun. There isn't much fighting but we've infiltrated a cult hideout through the sewers and rescued a bunch of orphans from being sacrificed. The characters don't know about the cult. My ratcatcher just thinks the kidnappers had funny taste in interior design. He's used to all sorts in people's cellars.

Enough anecdote, the point is that if the players and the GM come to an agreement about the power level and the flavour of the campaign you can choose appropriate careers and don't need a slavish adherence to the rulebook. I'm not really a fan of random rolling in principle, though I doubt I'd have played a physician's apprentice in the Enemy Within of my own choice and so the illustrious career of Doktor Sir Henrik Falkenstein, Member of the Middenheim College of Physicians, Knight Panther, Bachelor of Surgery (Kislev), wizard, scholar, explorer, former deputy librarian of the White Temple, ex-undead and accidental chaos warrior, might never have got started.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

One strange aspect of the game is that sooner or later the PCs always find themselves on the run from the law.

Even when the GM isn't actively trying to get them into trouble with the authorities...

 

[Tinker]

...the GM isn't actively trying to get them into trouble with the authorities...

I don't think I've ever known that happen.