Wolfenstein TTRPG Coming From Modiphius

Modiphius has announced plans to develop the Wolfenstein video game IP into a tabletop roleplaying game. The game will utilize Modiphius's 2d20 system, with a crowdfunding campaign planned for Fall 2026. Per a press release, the game will specifically focus on Wolfenstein: The New Order and Wolfenstein: The New Colossus.

For those unfamiliar with Wolfenstein, it's set in a world in which the Nazis defeat the Allies in World War II and then use advanced technology to conquer much of the world. Players are typically members of the resistance, stealing various weaponry from the Nazis and then defeating both Nazis and their monstrous science experiments.

Modiphius has a relationship with Bethesda, the owner of Wolfenstein, and makes a series of games based on the Fallout franchise. The Fallout RPG also uses a variation of the 2D20 system as well. Modiphius also develops a series of games based on Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series.

Modiphius has a sign-up page to be informed of when the crowdfunding campaign for the Wolfenstein RPG launches on GameFound.

 

[Reynard]

No, but I'd take a fan-made TES game using RuneQuest/BRP over a licensed one using 2d20. I don't even care for percentile systems, but anything else for TES is a non-starter.

Ok. I've never heard a convincing argument that 2d20 is actively bad. Some folks don't like it for... reasons. But I unapologetically roll my eyes when folks make an effort to complain about it.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I've heard...not good things about the 2d20 system. Anyone care to give the two sentence synopsis of why? I'd love for my group to be able punch some Nazis...maybe even back them into the random propeller (airplane, or boat, I'm not picky).

What not good things have you heard? "2d20 is bad" is not a valuable critique.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Those aren't licensed RPGs

Not sure what difference that makes. Both are RPG featuring a specific IP, and both are perfectly capable of being played.

 

[MGibster]

I've heard...not good things about the 2d20 system. Anyone care to give the two sentence synopsis of why? I'd love for my group to be able punch some Nazis...maybe even back them into the random propeller (airplane, or boat, I'm not picky).

It's not horrible. One of the biggest problems I have with it is the abstract nature of combat. Distance is divided into abstract zones like close medium, and long. What's long range? Oh, if you're fighting within the confines of a mansion then maybe long range is two rooms over. In an outdoor area long might be 100 meters away. The abstract nature of range, even when playing on a map, can make combat a little dull.

I've got the most experience with Fallout 2d20, and one of the problems there are the amount of hit points enemies have and how long it takes to whittle them down. If you've ever played the videogame, a radroach is pretty much the lowest level creature you can fight in the game. In Fallout 3 you run into them while armed with a BB gun. It generally takes a single 10mm pistol shot to down a radroach or two shots on rare occasion. In the TTRPG, it might take 2-3 shots for 1st level character armed with a 10mm pistol to down a radroach. That's just silly.

Combat just gets bogged down in my opinion. It probably works better for something like Star Trek where there's not as much fighting going on.

 

[Bill Zebub]

Modiphius' "reflexic habit" of "recycling" their 2d20 system?

Did somebody kick your dog this morning?

I think this is a rather purposeful strategy, rather than some sort of reflex. Why is this a problem, that Modiphius has their own house system? A lot of publishers do.


Modiphius does do a lot of IP adaptations, but not all of their games are. But again, why is this a problem?

Modiphius has had a lot of success and made a lot of fans happy with their adaptations of Star Trek, Fallout, and Dune (and others). What's wrong with that?

Why can't Modiphius make the games they want to make? As a fan, all you have to do is buy, or not buy, the games that look appealing to you.

If you don't care for their 2d20 system or for any of the particular games, that's fine. But why all the cranky over the new Wolfenstein game?

Lingering bitterness that Conan wasn't the game I was hoping for, tbh.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It's not horrible. One of the biggest problems I have with it is the abstract nature of combat. Distance is divided into abstract zones like close medium, and long. What's long range? Oh, if you're fighting within the confines of a mansion then maybe long range is two rooms over. In an outdoor area long might be 100 meters away. The abstract nature of range, even when playing on a map, can make combat a little dull.

I've got the most experience with Fallout 2d20, and one of the problems there are the amount of hit points enemies have and how long it takes to whittle them down. If you've ever played the videogame, a radroach is pretty much the lowest level creature you can fight in the game. In Fallout 3 you run into them while armed with a BB gun. It generally takes a single 10mm pistol shot to down a radroach or two shots on rare occasion. In the TTRPG, it might take 2-3 shots for 1st level character armed with a 10mm pistol to down a radroach. That's just silly.

Combat just gets bogged down in my opinion. It probably works better for something like Star Trek where there's not as much fighting going on.

Is that something that can be fixed by just manually adjusting the monster's HP?

 

[MGibster]

Is that something that can be fixed by just manually adjusting the monster's HP?

Sure. Just lower the radroaches hit points to 2-3 and you're pretty much set.

 

[JConstantine]

Ok. I've never heard a convincing argument that 2d20 is actively bad.

Just as well I never made that argument then, ey?

But I unapologetically roll my eyes when folks make an effort to complain about it.

It seems you read into my comment something I wasn't actually expressing. While I'm no fan of 2d20, I wasn't "making an effort to complain about it" so much as disclosing the sentiment that, for me, TES is inextricably tied to it's RuneQuest roots, that anything other than d100 wouldn't feel appropriate, despite not even caring for percentile systems.

 

[aramis erak]

I'm actually having a hard time seeing it. Maybe for gonzo one-shots? But not for campaign play and character development.

EDIT: Ok, and I'm a bit cynical about Modiphius' reflexic habit of recycling their one system to turn popular IPs into RPGs.

They tweak it QUITE a bit for each. The least tweaked I've seen was using STA's core atts for Space 1999... but the tone of the two is close enough that shared mechanics make sense.
The other games generally don't have the same att lists, tho most share the same ranges (dune doesn't quite - a touch lower due to the drives being lower than STA/Space1999 or Conan, nor does John Carter of Mars).
Even momentum costs vary a bit. Some settings use combat dice for damage/effect, others don't. STA 1e does, 2e doesn't, Captain's Log doesn't either.

 

[Bill Zebub]

They tweak it QUITE a bit for each.

Ok ok ok....maybe it's time to give them another chance. I do like punching Nazis.

(Now....a Duke Nukem RPG...that I could get behind...)