WFRP: Graeme Davis is back with WFRP

Just a short note to ... erm ... note that the author for the upcoming WFRP adventure The Edge of Night is none other than Graeme Davis! 

Read more about it here!

It will be very interesting to see what he will make out of the current WFRP rules and setting, and I have high hopes that it will harken back to the early WFRP pieces penned by the esteemed mr Davis.

/Magnus

FAL News: Deathwatch RPG announced

In a surprise move FFG yesterday announced the Deathwatch RPG, the third installment of the WH40kRP line.

Read more about it here!

The reason I am surprised is that the timing seems odd. I was expecting it a bit later, after Rogue Trade picked up steam and got a few more supplements added to the lineup. But maybe this was needed after those pictures from GW revealed a bit more than they should last week.

Still, I think it is tremendously exciting, and I'm hoping that I can find some energy to run a Dark Heresy/Rogue Trader/Deathwatch crossover some time next summer. Given I get some interest from my players for such a setup of course.

/Magnus

FAL News: One Ring to Rule them All

Today Cubicle 7 and Sophisticated Games announced that they have picked up the license for an RPG set in Middle-Earth. So we will have yet another version of this epic fantasy license, with lots of market speak in the press release.

Read the press release here!

It looks like it'll use a new system, but apart from that there's not much to be gleaned from the press release. Apart from the name, which is The One Ring: The Lord of the Rings® Role-playing Game, complete with an awkward ® screwing things up.

Still, I'm looking forward learning more about the game, and the inevitable discussions about whether a LOTR RPG will have the power to wrest customers from the almighty juggernaut that is D&D:

One Game to rule them all
One Game to find them
One Game to bring them all
and in the darkness bind them
In the land of Renton where the shadows lie.

Nah, kidding. I play D&D4e, and it's great fun. I hope The One Ring: The Lord of the Rings® Role-playing Game can be great fun as well.

/Magnus

FAL News: WFRP Game Master's Toolkit announced

Well, it was only a question of how long we'd have to wait. Just recently FFG announced the future release of the Game Master's Toolkit for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.

Read more about it!

A GM screen and gobs of new cards are to be expected. No new careers though as far as I read it, which is boring. There's a preview coming in a week or so.

/Magnus

WFRP: First impressions

So I went to my FLGS today. They know me there, so all I had to say was "you've got something for me". The reply was "a big box?". Sure thing, WFRPv3 comes in a big box. It feels massive, it is massive. If this had been released way back when, I would have been totally floored by it. I really like the package.

Unboxing it (pictures to come) revealed a box half packed with stuff. Some padding, but after trying to put it all back, the box was crammed. Well, that's life. The pieces and rulebooks and everything looks really neat. Really, really neat. They've avoided some typographical errors that plagued the BI releases, which is nice. They are reusing a lot of art which is ok in my book, but a bit disappointing.

Initial impression is that it looks cool, that it heaves closer to WFB imagery than earlier editions but that it tries to appease the WFRP fans of yore by introducing some familiar themes. One peculiar thing I haven't seen mentioned is that they stuck in a bag of extra ten-sided dice, since they deemed that the original dice didn't measure up quality-wise. A bit odd, and I'm not sure what to think of it. Nice that they put in the extra dice, a bummer that the original set didn't hold up ... it's one of those things that won't bother the fans, but will be forever used as fodder against WFRPv3 by the most vocal of critics.

Ok, that's the initial impressions. I'll post pictures later.

/Magnus

FAL News: Tales of a Rat-Catcher? Is this signs of WFRPv3?

Clicking around on the FFG site checking for clues to what the hell is going on with WFRP, I stumbled upon something called A Ratcatcher's Tale.

A Ratcatcher's Tale

Color me confused as I delve deeper into this mystery product. It's evidently set in Altdorf, which could be cool, or frustrating, depending on if the designers deigned to use my map as part of their research. If they didn't, well then I'll just have to see what they've done and adjust to that.

EDIT: found the forum and a PDF flier of the Daily Altdorfer giving more background. If this is something akin to Space Hulk, I'll be pleased as punch. Although I get apprehensive to read a lot about Altdorf ...

Forums for A Ratcatcher's Tale.

/Magnus

FAL News: Warpstone to close after 2009

In a surprise announcement over on the Warpstone forums, John Foody yesterday communicated that number 30 will be the last issue of the smashingly fabulous independent WFRP magazine.

Read the announcement here!

The current issue is 28 and is to be released any day if it isn't already out. This leaves us with two more issues to look forward to in the coming year. Well, it's a shame and a surprise and all that, but I'll keep the tearful farewell blog post in the can until the last issue is released.

Until then, use all your powers to get hold of as many back issues of Warpstone as humanely possible. You will not regret it, even if you don't play WFRP!

And so, let the conspiracy theories begin to bloom among the WFRP fans. Why is Warpstone shutting down? Why, isn't it obvious? You see ... (insert pet theory about the evils of other people/GW/BI/WFRPv2/WFRPv1/fanboys/D&D here).

/Magnus

FAL News: Cover for next WFRP supplement revealed!

Just noticed that Steve Darlington posted the cover of the next WFRP supplement coming down the Reik:

The cover!

I'm of two ways about this: it's cool to see a cover because it means there's a book coming, but I also feel that this is not the strongest of the WFRPv2 covers. I think maybe a sinister merchant, a degenerate noble or a pious priest would have been my choice rather than the "pirate" which was chosen to pose for the painter's leisure.

Still, way to go FFG! Now get that thing to the printers!

On a related note, I have had two people ask me if I've abandoned the blog in the last couple of days. Just to let everyone know, I'm continuing the Altdorf Correspondent, I am not starting a new WH40kRP campaign as was the plan, and I'm still too overworked to focus on the blog.

Still, I've done some Warhammer-related writing for PC Gamer in Sweden, and I'm script doctoring a new computer game about to be released. So it's not all work and no play, because that would make me a dull boy. So it's not all work and no play, because that would make me a dull boy. So it's not all work and no play, because that would make me a dull boy. So it's not all work and no play, because that would make me a dull boy. So it's not all work and no play, because that would make me a dull boy. So it's not all work and no play, because that would make me a dull boy.

Erm ... well, be seeing you!

/Magnus

FAL News: FFG reveals name of new WH40kRP book

Ross Watson at FFG has revealed in his latest design diary that work on a new book for the WH40kRP is going smoothly.

I am very pleased to say that the next book for the Dark Heresy line is making great progress. It is called Creatures Anthema, a tome describing Aliens, Beasts, and Daemons lurking in the Calixis Sector… and how to kill them in the Emperor's Name.

No mention of a release date, but it is good to see progress being made on new books. There's still life in the game, although when it comes to WFRP and WH40kRP, history tells us to never rejoice until a book is on the shelf of our local game store!

/Magnus

FAL News: ENnies 2008

The ENnie awards have been announced. You’ll find the results here.

Three lifetime awards; Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson and Erick Wujcik. Of note is that Mr. Gygax and Mr. Wujick passed away this year, so it is high time to honour those that blazed the trails of our hobby before it is too late. I’m particularly pleased that Mr. Arneson was awarded, all too often he is forgotten for his contribution to the birth of D&D.

Paizo Publishing netted seven gold and one silver award, Wizards of the Coast collected five gold and three silver awards, White Wolf picked up three gold and five silver awards. The big names scored big, as usual. It’s going to be interesting to see if Paizo can keep up with their strategy and continue to be successful with the development of Pathfinder and their relations with their fans.

As for the products that were honoured, the games I’m interested in are Trail of Cthulhu and Changeling. The first was already on my radar, but the ENnies brought Changeling to my attention.

As for best fan products, Dungeon Mastering won the gold, and Flames Rising the silver! Good work!

/M

FAL News: Rogue Trader set to release 2009

News from GenCon indicates that the next core rule installment in the WH40kRP, the Rogue Trader book, is slated for the next GenCon in 2009! Interesting times, and something I look forward to immensely!

I'll comment on the contents when details are released.

EDIT 09.44 CET: Having seen a picture of the poster that FFG are displaying at GenCon, we now have a link as well: www.roguetraderrpg.com. For now it redirects to the official WH40kRP forums, but presumably some info will get posted at the new page at one time or the other.

/Magnus

FAL News: N. Robin Crossby, 1954-2008

N. Robin Crossby has passed on. He is remembered for his creation of HarnWorld, a detailed fantasy world firmly grounded in the pursuit of realism in a fantasy environment. Crossby was passionate about his creation, and his writings brought joy and adventure to countless fans. He will be sorely missed by his fans.

You can read more about this here and here.

/Magnus

FAL News: Mutant Chronicles Teaser Trailer

It is a curios thing, watching the teaser trailer for Mutant Chronicles, the movie. The short scenes we see are grey and dark, not much colour left in the world, not much hope. Which is sort of what it should be like, of course.



But I can't shake the feeling that something is missing, something is very different from when I wrote the roleplaying game all those years ago.

Balance. That's it.

The movie picks up on the noir elements we introduced to the setting, but it seems as if the counter-balance to this, the garish over the top imagery, is missing. I'll ponder this while I wait for the release of the movie, and return with a review then. Until then, here's the teaser.

The Mutant Chronicles Teaser!

/Magnus

FAL News: FFG reveals WFRP web page

To the relief of fans all over the globe, WFRP line developer Jay Little announced the launch of the offical WFRP web page on the FFG forums. Join the hordes of rampaging fans as they make their way to the new focal point of offical web support, or whatever will show up on the page some time or another!

Click here to view the new WFRP web page!

The first updates are a character sheet and a design diary. Interesting reading in the design diary, and I'll get back to that later. For now, enjoy the web site, and post comments to FFG on the official forums.

Magnus

FAL News: New senior developers at FFG

Today Fantasy Flight Games revealed that Jay Little is the new senior developer of WFRP. He presented himself officially on the FFG forum, confirming the suspicions of many posters, after dropping not so subtle hints about the fact over the last month or so.

Read more about it here!

Also, Ross Watson is the new WH40kRP senior developer.

Nice that things are moving along. Now that we have an official representative in place, we will hopefully get a clearer picture of where WFRP and WH40kRP are headed.

/Magnus

FAL News: Two new WFRP adventures announced

It seems that Fantasy Flight went and announced two adventures for WFRP at the GAMA convention a couple or so weeks ago. The titles are allegedly Shadows of Empire and Tomb of Thieves. There's also mention of two titles for WH40kRP; Dark Heresy Gamemaster's Toolkit and Disciples of the Dark Gods. Whether the first of these WH40kRP titles is a reprint of the previous Dark Heresy Game Master's Kit, I'm not sure. The second was previously scheduled by Black Industries, if I recall correctly. Here's the source!

It's understandable that they chose to do two adventures to start with. Adventures are fairly easy to get going with for a developer, and it will be a way for FFG to get a feel for the system and the world. Also from a commercial viewpoint, they are up against the roll-out of fourth edition D&D during this year. This means that they probably don't want to sink too much money into launching yet another 256 page rulebook to compete for the few gaming dollars going round the block.

The titles, Shadows of Empire and Tomb of Thieves, don't conjure any immediate WFRP images in my head. The first sounds like the Star Wars campaign book I've got in my shelf, and the second sounds like it's a module for Thieves World. I'm sure FFG are aware of this, and will work hard to work the right WFP atmosphere into the books.

What I don't understand is why FFG didn't announce this news at their own website.

/Magnus

WFRP: New Fan Supplement

I have two pieces of good news today. First, Dave Graffam's excellent WFRP site, known as The Encroachment of Chaos, is once again online after a short and terrifying hiatus. It turns out Dave was just in transition between hosting solutions, and that has all been sorted now. As for the second piece of good news ... to mark the return of the site, Dave has released a new fan supplement: Hugelstein’s Curiosities, a shop with a vast collection of odds and ends for your characters to buy, use and abuse. I haven't looked through the document completely yet, but any fan work that lists me as a contributor has to be brilliant! Honestly, I can't remember what I wrote when Dave asked for input, but I'm glad he's still around working his magic with word processor and layout program.

Click here for Hugelstein’s Curiosities!

And don't forget to check out Dave's other stuff. It's all there at his site, which was named Best of the Fans by The Altdorf Correspondent last year.

Click here for The Encroachment of Chaos!

Magnus

WFRP: Black Industries put down

In an incredibly disappointing move, Black Library today announced that Black Industries, the publisher of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay and Talisman will cease publication of games. In a spectauclar display of corporate lingo, Black Library claims they will take this opportunity to focus on the core business of publishing novels.

Well, it was a good run while it lasted, and WFRP have emerged from this stronger than ever. It's going to be interesting to see how WFRP fans deal with this. If the past is anything to go by, there will be much gnashing of teeth and boasting of prophetic prowess as people fire up their "I told you so"-engines.

The fact remains; BI put out a great game and some great supplements, and their efforts will be sorely missed.

EDIT: here's the link to the announcement:

The terrible news!

/Magnus

WFRP: Fumbling the scenario competition

Well, to make it official: I couldn't get my manuscript done in time to enter the BI scenario competition. The scenario is still mostly bare bones and after the playtest on tuesday last week, I realised that some stuff had to be added and other stuff changed, but alas ... I couldn't find the time. Well, such is life, I guess.

But to all who did manage to get their entries in ... I'm impressed!

And good luck to all of you. My scenario might show up some other time, when I've assembled the pieces. One such piece is Uriah Hepp, which was posted yesterday, and most likely more pieces will show up in due time. In the meantime, look forward to an update to the iAltdorf project in a few weeks.

Magnus

FAL News: Rackham bites the dust?

Rackham, French game and miniature producer extraordinaire, has filed for protection from bankruptcy. This occurs as a result of slow sales of AT-43 in Europe. It should be noted that the situation is not the same as Rackham going bankrupt, as it appears that they have a positivt cash flow, but are experiencing difficulties that might be insurmountable in the long run.

As Rackham makes some of the most visually spectacular miniatures on the market I hope they pull it through!

Magnus