The PDF for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 5E is out in the wild!

Cubicle 7's new version of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay was announced in late 2025. Timed to coincide with the game's 40th anniversary, 5th Edition is now available for pre-order from Cubicle 7. And if you pre-order it now, you get the PDF immediately! Alternatively, you can simply buy the PDF from DriveThruRPG.

The classic British fantasy TTRPG launched in 1986 by Games Workshop. Over the years it has been published by Hogshead Publishing, Green Ronin, Fantasy Flight Games, and--currently--Cubicle 7, who launched 4th Edition back in 2018 along with a re-release of the iconic The Enemy Within campaign. The game is set in a 'grimdark' fantasy setting called the 'Old World', with various regions very loosely based on countries in the Middle Ages. One of the game's predominant themes is the battle against Chaos, as represented by beastmen, mutated ratmen (Skaven), and dark cults.

Cubicle 7's CEO Dominic McDowall, in an interview with Wargamer, indicated that this 5th Edition will be backwards compatible with 4th edition, retaining the classic d100 system, and set in a similar time period. There will be a conversion document of sorts, but most older material will be usable with ease.

The hardcover will not ship until Spring 2027, but the PDF is available now to those who pre-order.

 

[TheSword]

I’ve said elsewhere it’s very clever how the names and structure of has stayed largely consistent. Exactly the same number and name of skills, basic format of careers, spells, names of talents etc. So a stat block from any of the two dozen 4e books can be used. What has changed are the underlying mechanisms behind those. In small but significant ways, all collected in one book.

It’s like a car that looks the same but has had the engine, and electrics updated, so it drives completely differently. The maths is much simpler and I would give it a go face to face again now. Whereas before it was foundry only for me.

 

[EthanSental]

I ended up getting the 5e pdf based on the replies here, thanks.

 

[ngenius]

It is interesting to note that Cubicle7 is proudly marketing this revision/upgrade of Warhammer Fantasy 4th Edition as a new 5th Edition, while conversely, Wizards of the Coast struggled to even call the 2024 rules revisions to Dungeons and Dragons by the "5.5e" moniker until many months later and fans adopted that identity for 2024 D&D.

 

[TrippyHippy]

It is interesting to note that Cubicle7 is proudly marketing this revision/upgrade of Warhammer Fantasy 4th Edition as a new 5th Edition, while conversely, Wizards of the Coast struggled to even call the 2024 rules revisions to Dungeons and Dragons by the "5.5e" moniker until many months later and fans adopted that identity for 2024 D&D.

Cubicle 7s approach is better. Maintain continuity wherever possible but acknowledge that there is a change and allow customers and fans to make an informed decision about whether to purchase or not.

WotC made errors of judgement about the nature of their own marketing. They claimed complete compatabilty with the previous edition, when substantive changes were made, and slapped down any claims to the contrary. Only recently calling it 5.5 is sheepish.

For me, I have been put off from playing D&D because of this (and other announcements from WotC at the time). However, I am persuaded to continue with Cubicle 7.

 

[Staffan]

It is interesting to note that Cubicle7 is proudly marketing this revision/upgrade of Warhammer Fantasy 4th Edition as a new 5th Edition, while conversely, Wizards of the Coast struggled to even call the 2024 rules revisions to Dungeons and Dragons by the "5.5e" moniker until many months later and fans adopted that identity for 2024 D&D.

For whatever reason, Wizards of the Coast are reluctant to put any identifiers on D&D, beyond the D&D name itself. It was the same with 5.0: the playtest was called "Dungeons & Dragons Next" and when the final rules were published they were adamant that it was just "Dungeons & Dragons". I haven't scoured the PHB on this particular topic, but I think the only place "fifth edition" is mentioned is on the back cover, where it says "When you're ready for even more, expand your adventures with the fifth edition Dungeon Master's Guide and Monster Manual."

 

[EthanSental]

And the 2024 pub says the same, check out the 5th edition dmg (2024) and 5th edition monster manual (2025) or which ever dates the books came out. The DMG says check out the 5th edition pub 2024.

Back to tie this in with the actual thread…both companies tout backwards compatibility and 1 chose to call it 5th over the previous 4th edition. Another left it alone and said 5th…. Not a big deal or even a small deal on why they call it as long as I enjoy the game…that’s how and who I decide to spend my money on. Not based on nomenclature to previous game editions.

Granted I’ve bought both 4th and now 5th edition way]rammer and a few pdf related items from 4th and played zero sessions with friends and barely read the 4th but I think both companies produce quality products to support.

 

[TrippyHippy]

And the 2024 pub says the same, check out the 5th edition dmg (2024) and 5th edition monster manual (2025) or which ever dates the books came out. The DMG says check out the 5th edition pub 2024.

Back to tie this in with the actual thread…both companies tout backwards compatibility and 1 chose to call it 5th over the previous 4th edition. Another left it alone and said 5th…. Not a big deal or even a small deal on why they call it as long as I enjoy the game…that’s how and who I decide to spend my money on. Not based on nomenclature to previous game editions.

Granted I’ve bought both 4th and now 5th edition way]rammer and a few pdf related items from 4th and played zero sessions with friends and barely read the 4th but I think both companies produce quality products to support.

It matters what they call it if it has substantive rules that aren’t as compatible as they claim. I felt this was the case in D&D 5.5. It also made a difference to the OGL situation with third parties (which I suspect may have been a motivating factor).

Either way, I find the Warhammer 5E to be more compatible with its previous edition than D&D was.

 

[EthanSental]

Sounds like we’ll politely disagree as I’ve been using 5/5.5 with no issue or changes on the fly any more than on the fly for 40 years of D&D and minor edition changes like 3.0 to 3.5 to pf1 as an example.

 

[TrippyHippy]

Sounds like we’ll politely disagree as I’ve been using 5/5.5 with no issue or changes on the fly any more than on the fly for 40 years of D&D and minor edition changes like 3.0 to 3.5 to pf1 as an example.

Many of the spell effects are altered with more damage or other factors changed. The Backgrounds, Feats and the approach to character generation are different. The Classes are different with many getting boosted significantly in power and there are differences in Species/Races beyond then name change. Weapon Masteries are different. Equipment interaction is different. Monster design is different with higher average stats.

These are more significant changes than has happened in many other games edition changes. I find it barely compatible with the rules used in DnD 2014. I can however, use the rules used for Warhammer Fantasy 5th edition with 4th edition material as the changes are streamlining mechanics rather than changing the balance of character abilities.

 

[Staffan]

Many of the spell effects are altered with more damage or other factors changed. The Backgrounds, Feats and the approach to character generation are different. The Classes are different with many getting boosted significantly in power and there are differences in Species/Races beyond then name change. Weapon Masteries are different. Equipment interaction is different. Monster design is different with higher average stats.

These are more significant changes than has happened in many other games edition changes. I find it barely compatible with the rules used in DnD 2014. I can however, use the rules used for Warhammer Fantasy 5th edition with 4th edition material as the changes are streamlining mechanics rather than changing the balance of character abilities.

I believe their original statements were that (primarily) adventures and (secondarily) sourcebook material would be substantially compatible. So when an adventure says "There are four goblins mounted on worgs here", that works just as well with 5.5e as it does with 5.0e. And even bespoke monsters work the same – they might be balanced slightly differently, but you could easily use a 5.0 Black Earth Priest with 5.5e. Their spells may or may not work somewhat differently, but the stat block should work the same.