[WH40kRPG] Warhammer 40K Roleplay announced

[BigRedRod]

In a move which I'm surprised didn't happen years back, Black Industries (the publishing part of Gamesworkshop) has let out a Press Release about a Warhammer 40K Roleplaying Game. Thanks to The Alcotroll for keeping me informed, even though its a bit old I thought it was worth a thread given the generally postive reception that WHFRPG had on here.

MARCH 14 2006 (Nottingham, England) 2007 will mark the 20th anniversary of the first publication of Games Workshop’s legendary Warhammer 40,000 game system. It’s no coincidence that March 2007 will also see one of the most eagerly awaited events in gaming history – the release of Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay (40KRP)! Rumours have been circulating in the roleplay community for many years about such a game. Now Black Industries, fresh from the success of the revamped Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, can reveal that it really will be happening, and in a way no one is expecting. Because there won’t be one 40KRP game, but three!

Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy will be the first 40KRP game, allowing players to take on the role of an Inquisitor’s retinue. Their task is to uproot the taint of Chaos in Imperial society, to smash dark cults and foil sinister plots. It’s a game of investigation and will be an ideal introduction to the dark and gothic universe of the 41st Millennium. Dark Heresy is just the beginning, however. After this basic game, two further games released eighteen months apart will allow the players to progress and explore the universe first as Rogue Traders and alien pirates, and eventually experienced players will be able to roleplay the devastating warriors of the Adeptus Astartes Deathwatch.

All three games use the same game system, which is itself based in part upon the award-winning Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. Players will be able to progress from one system to the next, as they gain experience and a measure of understanding of the vastly detailed universe of Warhammer 40,000. Each of the games will consist of a core rulebook accompanied by regular releases of sourcebooks and adventures.

Game design is being handled by Green Ronin (http://www.greenronin.com/), the team who helped create the sensational new version of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay so successfully in 2005, and much of the background is being handled by the Black Library’s (http://www.blacklibrary.com/default.asp) team of writers.

For more information as it becomes available keep an Inquisitorial eye on www.blackindustries.com (http://www.blackindustries.com/default.asp). But remember, heretic: innocence proves nothing.

40KRP Q&A (http://www.blackindustries.com/default.asp?template=dh-qa) Online Now!
So it's essentially WHFRPG but set up so that the players are Inquisitors. I'm not really on board with them releasing the ability to play as each new thing as its own game, especially given how BI likes to price its books.

Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

[nightinverse]

Hurm... interesting, but it doesn't sell me on the game. Quite frankly, I've rather cooled off about Games Workshop over the years. Too expensive, too illogical, too difficult to get players for... not to mention the lamentable lack of Squats in the modern Imperium!

That said, I need to get some more figures for and eventually paint my Harlequin Army.

[Mercutio]

Never played in any Games Workshop campaign, and the way I was treated at my local GW when I went in to ask questions about terrain building for use in a D&D campaign, I'll never frequent GW again. Those snobby, uppity bastards can eat me. And it's sad because I like the terrain building aspects of the game and was willing to learn.

[treehouse]

Yeah, the first tabletop game exposure I ever had was a big Warhammer terrain display in what I now know is my FLGS. I was seven at the time, and my mom was looking for some rare copy of an Asterix book. I remember being pretty impressed at the time.

[BigRedRod]

Never played in any Games Workshop campaign, and the way I was treated at my local GW when I went in to ask questions about terrain building for use in a D&D campaign, I'll never frequent GW again. Those snobby, uppity bastards can eat me. And it's sad because I like the terrain building aspects of the game and was willing to learn.
Generally Games Workshop stores are staffed by nice by but over enthusiastic men. I can't actually imagine a scenario where one might by snobby. You could talk to them about anything even tangentily connected to wargaming and they'd bend over backwards to help. I still won't go near one of the shops without a damn good reason though, they tend to be filled with smelly geeks.

Incidently, perhaps I've been misleading. This isn't a new miniatures wargame they're releasing, it's a new RPG (or three RPGs, or one RPG three times depending how you see it). It shares the backstory with the wargame and that would be about it.

[LeadPal]

They vary from store to store. The GW near my home is staffed by some of the most rude pukestains I've ever had the displeasure of meeting; those at the GW way the heck on the other side of town are pleasant, but have the significant disadvantage of being way the heck on the other side of town. Hence I do most of my 40king at independent shops. They're cheaper, anyways.

I'm not sure what to think about this new trilogy of games (or, rather, singular game with repeatedly reprinted core rules and new side rules each). Unless the game mechanics are the greatest thing ever devised by man, I'm not sure I'm going to be willing to pay the almost certainly high price tag that's going to go with these.

[BigRedRod]

Look at the WFRPG rules these will likely be almost identical at the base level.

[Flagg Thornington]

BRR, Can we use the WHFRP rules and still play as inquisitors? I'm think the rules are good and a good change from the D20 system. There's already three players interested from the Shadows and the Reik game. Can we be witch hunters????

[BigRedRod]

Witch Hunter is one of the professions, so it's possible, althoug I'm not sure how high level a profession it is (I have a feeling it isn't entry level though). If you're asking me to DM, that's a different story :)

[The Alcotroll]

BRR, Can we use the WHFRP rules and still play as inquisitors? I'm think the rules are good and a good change from the D20 system. There's already three players interested from the Shadows and the Reik game. Can we be witch hunters????

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Edit: I have to say, I've never had problems with GW staff being rude or snobby with me. The only difficulty I have is holding my breath long enough to buy models and exit.

[nightinverse]

When I went to England, I visited a Games Workshop store, expecting a similar reception to the Legends in my area, albiet with fewer roleplayers and more wargamers.

Very pretty place, with very arrogant regulars. I still enjoyed the displays, though.

[AoM]

I play WH, but I don't frequent GW shops, because they often are staffed with intimidatingly arrogant geeks. The only one I've ever had a good experience in was the Bunker store in Boston... and I don't live in that state so... :P

WHFB and WH40k players, on the other hand, are generally good people. I haven't found a player yet who I didn't like or at least respect (with the exception of the 14 and under crowd).

That GW is producing a three part RPG for their one universe is a shocking display of how badly GW treats their customers and fans. Well, no, I shouldn't say that, because all the shock value has gone out of it with the years of price gouging that they've already logged.

Even though I'd love to play a game in that setting, I refuse to buy into their scheming.

[BigRedRod]

You are an Acolyte in the service of the Emperors’ Inquisition. You stand in the front line of a great and secret war where your duty is to hunt out the foul stench of heresy, the vile alien, and the twisted influence of Chaos. You will tread where others fear, venturing to distant planets, ancient space hulks and the unsavoury depths of the under-hive.

You will never know fame nor reward, yet if you stand resolute your deeds will be whispered to the God-Emperor of Mankind and your name will be revered for millennia.

Fast character creation to get you into the game quickly, followed by a lifetime of possibilities with an expanded advanced careers system.

Dynamic rules for all eventualities th at let you handle everything from social interaction to deadly fast-paced combat, psykers and psychic powers to insanity and mutation.

Comprehensive background on the Calixis Sector, the official setting for Dark Heresy written by best-selling Warhammer 40,000 novelists Dan Abnett and Ben Counter.

A galaxy of guns to equip your acolyte, from lasguns to inferno pistols, chainswords to power blades.

Pitch your players straight into the midst of dark events with a complete adventure to get you started.The Dark Heresy core rulebook contains everything you need to start your adventure in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Released on the 4th February

Look at the WFRPG rules these will likely be almost identical at the base level.
Or not as it turns out. There's a couple of previews out, if you look here (http://www.blackindustries.com/?template=40K&content=40K-dh-rulebook) and can deal with very poorly put together, but pretty, pdfs. Looks more like you choose a class and then it branches out to specialise, a little. I'm still reading the previews myself.

Suffice to say that £35 is a whole lot of money. A whole damn lot.

Edit: Remember, Remember, you're in an on topic forum, son.

[Lando The Archmagi]

I've spent some time with some Warhammer 40K folks at the shop I play RPGs at and they're pretty good overall. The owner of the shop is a huge player himself. I also checked out Dark Hersey (the store's copy) and it's pretty neat am making a pc for a pbp game on another site. I ordered a copy $21 off from Buy.com and am waiting on it since their original release all sold out. Looks like they're not going to support it very well though, as BI cancelled anything beyond this year in favor of their "novels" instead, which is just stupid since they sold out of their initial release already.

At least it looks like the folks at my shop will play it and maybe an online game or two. I'm only vaguely familiar with 40K and the whole Warhammer universe so I'll be learning it some it seems.

[Palanthias]

I have a 1980's copy of WHFRP in my office. I played it quite a bit in the early 90's. I hope with a new system I hope they fixed the problems with advancement. I think it could be cool if they had. The races where terribly unbalanced as well. I hope that would be fixed too.

[Lando The Archmagi]

Fantasy Flight Games now owns and produces the fantasy and 40K RPGs.

http://new.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=50&enmi=Dark%20Heresy

The pbp game I joined has been pretty slow, but I was really enjoying it. Anyone consider doing any of it here?