Warhammer Fantasy Role Play was Games Workshop’s answer to Dungeons and Dragons and other popular Tabletop RPG’s of the early 1980’s. Games Workshop started in 1975 as a distributor of tabletop games of all stripes, but soon found a market with both miniatures, and RPG’s, and eventually created their own with “Warhammer”, which was not taken as seriously in the RPG community due to its emphasis on miniatures in the game (Not that other RPG’s didn’t use miniatures, but they were more embedded in the game then they were in other RPG’s of the time). By the mid 1980’s Games Workshop decided to separate the Warhammer IP into 2 fantasy games (this is pre 40k) Fantasy Battle, which would be the miniatures wargame (which would for a while still retain RPG elements), and Fantasy Role Play, which would be the standard RPG.
It was at this time that tabletop RPG fans began to take the Warhammer-verse more seriously, and locked on to it’s late fall of the Roman Empire meets Medieval culture world gone grimdark and hysterical world. Of course, most fans at this point know that Games Workshop and their sub-company Citadel Miniatures have taken over the world with minis and wargaming leaving their RPG out to dry, and so the license for the title has gone to other companies over the years (including an ill-advised third edition through Fantasy Flight).
In 2018, the license was picked up Cubicle 7, who are now doing wonderful work with the 4th edition of the game. This edition is in keeping with the first and second editions of the game, while keeping the production values how both in the book quality, and the art. They are also keeping fans of the game satisfied with loads of books brought to market to keep the game going. I’ve only started getting back into the tabletop world in the last few years, so I’m going to take the time to review both the Core Rulebook, and one of the most recent releases Altdorf – The Crown of the Empire.
The opening of the book sets the tone of the book of the Old World/Empire. After that we are privy to character creation includnig picking or rolling for species, chosing class and career, attributes, skills and talents and adding details. The book describes using a randomized system for choosing things such as species as humans are the majority in the Warhammer world, and any other species should be rare. Also, your character is not going to be some great warrior or wizard hero (though magic is a possibility), you’re likely to be an average joe sent on a violent and dark adventure. This puts it more in line with a Call of Cthulhu then a Dungeons and Dragons.
Speaking of games like Call of Cthulhu, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay also uses a percentile based roll system where you attempt to roll under your skill and for every 10’s you get under your roll you get another level of success applied to your roll. Combat is initiative based with either rolls or fixed based on an ititiative stat. Within this you can perform a move and an action. The combat here is brutal and usually not good for any participants.
The book also goes into elements like corruption which like Call of Cthulhu’s sanity mechanic affects a character, but unlike that mechanic will affect that on a deeper gameplay level. The core rulebook for 4E is actually a complete package for the game, and contains details for the geography of the old world (though just enough to get started, as I said we’re also touching on the Altdorf book in this review), religions, magic, and a bestiary. There is also a section on how to run a game from a GM’s perspective making the core rulebook essentially a player’s rulebook, a GM’s guide, and a monster manual plus much more all in one.
I haven’t gotten the Fourth Edition of Warhammer Fantasy Role Play to my table either virtual or real yet, but with this book in tow I plan on it soon.
Altdorf – Crown of the Empire
Altdorf – Crown of the Empire is the latest book in Cubicle 7’s line of Warhammer Fantasy Role Play material. This book I believe from my research is meant to tie into the upcoming fifth part of the Enemy Within Campaign Empire in Flames with takes place in the Empire’s capital city of Altdorf. The book is a 224 page setting book which reveals the inner workings of the Empire’s largest city.
Inside the covers of the book are detailed maps of Altdorf and the various sectors of the city. These are truly gorgeous maps that not only give excellent details, but help bring the city alive. The illustrations throughout the vast tome, and in keeping with the rest of the Warhammer Fantasy Role Play line.
The opening of the book sets the tone for how the city is reviewed before the first chapter goes into an overall view of the city from its culture to its history and influence and royalty, and beyond.
After this chapter the book then breaks down into sections on various subject. The 2nd chapter goes into the cities governance from the Emperor and his family down to the council. The third chapter goes into the gangs of the city. The fourth goes into city festivals, entertainment, sleeping arranemetns, and financials.
Chapters 5,6, and 7 get into the geography of the main city being the South Bank, Easte End, and the City North, the various districts and locales, what make them up, and things that go on here, NPC’s and what can be done at these locations. Chapter 8 goes into depth about the Undercity, including the Skaven Lair (for those Horned Rat lovers in the audience), while chapter 9 goes what is beyond the walls. Chapter 10 details the spy networks, while 11 details the cults who are amongst the denizens of the city.
Altdorf – Crown of the Empire is a deep read, for those interested in this city in decline. It will apparently play an important part in the upcoming fifth part of Enemy Within, and even without, it’s a fascinating look at this part of the Empire. This one is easy to recommend.