I’ve been reading the reaction to the arrival of the new ‘Old World RPG’ from Cubicle 7. One of the threads has been a criticism that the current Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition (WFRP 4e) is low powered, producing less than heroic common folk that can barely wade through the considerable filth, smeared across the swelling underbelly of the Empire. Although I can see where that criticism is coming from, like many RPGs, you only really need to start characters at a more experienced level to manage this, and the ability to do so is baked into the system. Before long, your character is starting to feel capable, with some talents and significant advances in a range of attributes and skills. Even starting Savage World Novices are a bit on the weak side.
Of course, part of the tone of the game is to be ordinary folk in extraordinary circumstances, set in a grounded and messy world. I think that WFRP 4e does a remarkably good job of delivering that experience, whilst giving extensible head room to lift player characters out of the mire and into a somewhat more heroic tone of play. The unnecessary proliferation of meta-currencies help to give player characters a considerable edge over their fellow citizens. The game isn’t High Fantasy, and therein lies a refreshing change.
Which, neatly, brings me to the other strand of criticism I’m seeing about the current WFRP 4e: it’s overly fiddly rules. Bring me back to my Warhammer 1e or 2e experience is the cry. Although I don’t know the earlier editions, I have enjoyed the new Zweihander Reforged, which delivers a ‘Grim & Perilous’ game with a simpler set of rules. So, I acknowledge this criticism and recognise that, for many, the new Old World game will simplify the rules and get a game going where the current one is just too much. WFRP 4e is also a fluid game, in continuous development and re-expression, with a growing line of extension books that revisit elements of the rules and build out careers and talents into yet more detail. It’s a lot.
The proliferation of Warhammer RPGs creates a rich set of options to explore the worlds of 40K and Old Empire. I’m completely happy to see this, without any understanding of the business efficacy of the strategy. Further, I am looking forward to playing a good number of them. My brief experiences of both Wrath & Glory and Soulbound were excellent. Cubicle 7 produces highly approachable games that know exactly what they are doing and what the table play is about. I hope to play the Old World RPG at some juncture.
However, as a GM and game buyer, I need to pick a game line and devote time to it. Much as I am tempted to ‘have them all’, I don’t think that is particularly sensible. I know that I will get diluted, perhaps to the extent that I take the stunned or paralysed condition, and whirl around uselessly, not really using any of them.
So, for me, and right now, I plan to double down on the existing WFRP 4e game, buy some more tomes and continue to run it. After all, I have a growing reputation as a skilled ‘clunkmeister’, running involved and fussy heavyweigths in an approachable fashion, so that others don’t have to!
PS: I happen to really love WFRP 4e for what it is and think it plays great.