Warhammer 3e Demo Experiences -OR- How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bits

[Cam Banks]

I bought a copy of the game. I posted the following over at RPG.net:

It's a great looking game, all the components and books feel good, and I have to say that despite all of the uproar over the fact that it has special dice, stand-up counters, play aids, etc, this is still very much a role playing game. In fact, I will go so far as to say that it really doesn't need all the component stuff, which I feel are there primarily for people who want a tactile/visual sensation to go with their game and like bits and pieces to help deliver rules info.

You could write up a character using a traditional pencil and paper character sheet just as you may have done in previous editions. The only thing you'd really need are the dice, and I don't find that too odious. If you were so inclined you could make more of your own using blanks.

It's a strong entry into the fantasy gaming market, it's priced accordingly based on what you get in the box (which weighs a ton), and I look forward to seeing the line's development. I give it an A for first impressions. I'll wait on an overall grade until I play a few games and try out more of the details.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Mark]

Paul ran the demo at Games Plus which coincided with the last Chicago EN World Gameday -



Funny, perhaps, that we were playing a game of Descent just about ten feet away -

 

[Ssadral]

For those who have it. How important is mini's with this edition? Can it be played without mini's easily? (Not as the, yes you can play D&D 4e without miniatures) but play without miniatures with no loss in combat etc.

The dependence of miniatures that D&D 4e has is what prevents me from ever buying it.

If Warhammer does not have this same dependence then it becomes even that much more appealing.

 

[Trolls]

For those who have it. How important is mini's with this edition? Can it be played without mini's easily? (Not as the, yes you can play D&D 4e without miniatures) but play without miniatures with no loss in combat etc.

The dependence of miniatures that D&D 4e has is what prevents me from ever buying it.

If Warhammer does not have this same dependence then it becomes even that much more appealing.

I don't have the game yet, but from what I gather of the previews, minis aren't even a part of the game.

Relative positions are abstracted as a simple close, medium or far range. The counters etc. are just for ease of visualization, so you can remember who is near or far, and what terrain effects might apply (if any). There is no battle grid.

 

[Cam Banks]

I don't have the game yet, but from what I gather of the previews, minis aren't even a part of the game.

Relative positions are abstracted as a simple close, medium or far range. The counters etc. are just for ease of visualization, so you can remember who is near or far, and what terrain effects might apply (if any). There is no battle grid.

Bingo. You don't need minis at all. If you used them for the game, it'd be as replacements for the stand-up character tokens that are only used in an abstract sense. You could probably run the game without those, too.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Iron Sky]

The dependence of miniatures that D&D 4e has is what prevents me from ever buying it.

Are you talking about dependence on minatures or on grid-based combat? We've been running 4e since before it came out without minis with no problems at all (we use magnets on a whiteboard).

I would say 4e has 0 dependence on miniatures, but 95% dependence on grid-based combat.

 

[Ssadral]

Are you talking about dependence on minatures or on grid-based combat? We've been running 4e since before it came out without minis with no problems at all (we use magnets on a whiteboard).

I would say 4e has 0 dependence on miniatures, but 95% dependence on grid-based combat.

Both. I like my combats abstract. I've tried the grid/mini's thing and I just don't like it. To me it is too jarring to stop and go to a board to act out combats... it really disrupts the flow that I like to maintain.

I'm sure there are many, many people who really enjoy grid/mini's I'm just not one of those people.

 

[DMfromdimensionX]

From the FFG website. . .



Also, a link.

You'll notice though that there is no mention of how large the first print run was.
It also says that a large number of those are being sold to hobby stores throughout 3 different countries.

A hobby store buying the game does not mean it is being accepted by the general consumer base or that there wont be a giant box of fiddly bits on the bargain shelf in a few weeks.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

You'll notice though that there is no mention of how large the first print run was.

I just had a Déjà Lu!

To paraphrase Indiana Jones: "We do not follow sales ranks to find succesful games and a sold out print-runs never, ever, marks a succesful game"

 

[CharlesRyan]

So, my take on things after a quick read of this entire thread is that opinion is sharply divided--among people who haven't actually tried the game. Among those who have, it's (not without exception) very positive.

And very much "it's an RPG, not a board game."

Can't wait to try it myself!