NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (abbreviated to WFRP or WHFRP) is a role-playing game set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links cover of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, published by Black Industries This image is a book cover. ... Rick Priestly is a game designer for Games Workshop. ... Graeme Davis (born 1958 in Isleworth, England) is a writer and editor. ... For the defunct company, see Game Designers Workshop. ... For other uses, see Fantasy (disambiguation). ... This article is about games in which one plays the role of a character. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The first edition of WFRP was noteworthy for having a sense of humour (albeit a dark and gruesome one) during a period when fantasy RPGs were almost universally serious, and for having much better production design than most of its competition at the time.^{[citation needed]}

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay is more widely played outside the United States than in the U.S. Over the years, it has been through a number of phases and different publishers, most related in some way to Games Workshop. After its initial launch it was well supported by Games Workshop. With increased focus on their tabletop miniature business, it was licensed out to a dedicated division and then to a third party company. With the release of WFRP version 2, the WFRP license has returned to Games Workshop, and is now developed through its Black Industries gaming subsidiary.

The first edition of WFRP spawned a well-known and highly praised campaign known as The Enemy Within. These five episodes were variously bound and collected. The first three episodes generally received the most praise; a rewritten version of the last episode, Empire in Flames, was to be issued by Hogshead Publishing under the title Empire in Chaos, but never saw the light of day. The Enemy Within campaign (commonly abbreviated to TEW) is a series of adventures for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (WFRP) and was originally published by Games Workshop in the late 1980s. ...

For the second edition, Black Industries elected to create a new campaign, entitled Paths of the Damned rather than reprint The Enemy Within. This has been followed by standalone adventures, such as Barony of the Damned and Terror in Talabheim, as well as shorter adventures in each country sourcebook, such as that for Bretonnia or for the Empire. Book Cover of 6th Edition Bretonnian Army Book In Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe, Bretonnia is a country located west of the Empire, between the Grey Mountains and the Great Ocean in the lands that were once part of the domain of the Elves. ... The 7th edition Empire army book In Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe, The Empire is one of the human political factions and armies, and is featured in many games and novels. ...

Setting

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay shares the same Germanic, doom-laden background as the Warhammer Fantasy Battle wargame that spawned it. Being a game devoted to individual characters rather than entire armies, WFRP depicts the setting in much closer detail than does its wargame counterpart. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Armies of warhammer be merged into this article or section. ... Glory, an American Civil War game by GMT This article is about the civilian hobby. ...

The primary setting for WFRP is the Empire, a region of the Old World based loosely on the Holy Roman Empire, specifically the medieval lands that would become present day Germany. Other prominent regions include Bretonnia, based on medieval France mixed with strong Arthurian mythology themes, Kislev, based on medieval Poland and Imperial Russia, the Wasteland, based on the Netherlands, and Tilea, based on city state/merchant era Italy.. In the fictional world of Warhammer Fantasy, the Old World refers to the main European setting where most Human nations are based. ... This article is about the medieval empire. ... Book Cover of 6th Edition Bretonnian Army Book In Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe, Bretonnia is a country located west of the Empire, between the Grey Mountains and the Great Ocean in the lands that were once part of the domain of the Elves. ... During the latter years of the elderly Charlemagnes rule, the Vikings made advances along the northern and western perimeters of his kingdom. ... In the Warhammer Fantasy setting, Kislev is the name of a Slavic-themed fictional country that sits northeast of The Empire, between it and the Realm of Chaos. ... In the first centuries of its existence, the Polish nation was led by a series of strong rulers who converted the Poles to Christendom, created a strong Central European state, and integrated Poland into European culture. ... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start...

The setting of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay is 'low fantasy', in contrast with the 'high fantasy' setting of the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Earthdawn and other popular fantasy settings. Chronologically, the Warhammer setting is slightly later than that of most fantasy games, being closer to the early Renaissance era in terms of technology and society. Firearms are readily available, though expensive, and a growing mercantile middle class challenges the supremacy of the nobility. Magic is widely feared and reviled, and not without good reason. The very essence of magic is derived from and thus corrupted by Chaos, and the practitioners of magic in the Warhammer setting tread a very fine line between death, corruption, and relative safety. Low fantasy is a term not devised to describe a specific subgenre but to contrast specific works with high fantasy. ... High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that is set in invented or parallel worlds. ... It has been suggested that Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting be merged into this article or section. ... The current edition Dragonlance logo, as seen on all books published in the more recent times. ... Earthdawn is a fantasy role-playing game, originally produced by FASA. It has since been licensed to Living Room Games, which is producing the Second Edition line, and RedBrick Limited, a company that is producing the Classic line (which is essentially an alternate second edition; see History below for more...

One of the most identifiable features of the Warhammer setting is Chaos. While the forces of Chaos in Warhammer Fantasy Battle are depicted primarily in the form of maurading dark knights and beastmen, Chaos in Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay is an insidious force gnawing at the fabric of society. Secret cults abound among all strata of society, seeking to overthrow the social order or to further their own power. Mutants lurk in the forests outside the great cities, while the Skaven tunnel beneath them.

System

The first edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay was very closely based on early versions of Warhammer Fantasy Battle. The same basic array of characteristics was employed for both games, with some traits rated 1-10 in WFB being rated 1-100 in WFRP. In version 2, all primary attributes are ranked 1-100. Attributes are tested using percentile dice, with penalties or bonuses applied to the roll or the target in response to various favorable and unfavorable circumstances.

One of the most notable features of every version of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay is the career system. Characters advance by entering a series of 'Careers' that provide access to a series of new or improved skills, and bonuses to attributes (called 'advances'). The menu of careers available to characters reflects the late medieval/early Renaissance setting of the Old World. Basic careers are those that might be filled by any individual in Old World society with a modest amount of training or instruction. Advanced careers require greater preparation and training, and, in version two particularly, are often more appropriate for the lifestyle of an active adventurer. The career system gives both an idea of what a character might have been doing before embarking on a career as an adventurer (working as a baker, night watchman, rat catcher, or farmer), and how they changed and developed through their career (becoming a mercenary, explorer, ship's captain, etc.).

Combat in Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay also descends from the system used for large-scale miniature combat, making it substantially more deadly than the combat featured in many other systems (Dungeons & Dragons being the most common comparison). Most human-level creatures and characters can absorb only one or two hits without receiving a serious injury in the form of a 'Critical Hit' that may instantly kill, cripple, or permanently maim a character. 'Fate Points', representing a character's fate or destiny, provide a limited number of opportunities to avoid crippling or killing results. â€œD&Dâ€ redirects here. ...

History

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay was first published in 1986 by Games Workshop. The product was intended as an adjunct to the Warhammer Fantasy Battle tabletop game. A number of early publications- such as the popular Realm of Chaos titles- included material for both WFRP and WFB, and a conversion system was published with the WFRP rules. Following the publication of The Enemy Within and a small number of additional supplements (including a character pack and GM screen, and the aforementioned Realm of Chaos books), Games Workshop made the decision to refocus their business. They had found that the miniatures business was much more profitable than pure publishing; WFRP sold very few miniatures, and adding WFRP material to WFB and WH40K supplements had done little to boost the sales of those products. Cover of Slaves to Darkness Realms of Chaos is a two-volume publication by Games Workshop concerning the forces of Chaos. ...

Publication of WFRP material was turned over to Flame Publications in 1989, a spun-off division of Games Workshop focused exclusively on roleplaying. Flame published a new series of adventures (the Doomstones Campaign, adapted from a set of AD&D modules written by a freelancer), and published the first issue of what was intended to become a monthly or quarterly publication, Warhammer Companion. In 1992, Flame ceased operations following financial problems. For other uses, see Dungeons & Dragons (disambiguation). ...

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay remained in limbo for several years. A reported deal with Steve Jackson Games to buy the WFRP license fell through. Fan websites continued to publish new material and adaptations of Warhammer Fantasy Battle materials, but no new official material appeared for several years. Steve Jackson Games (SJG) is a game company that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games. ...

In 1995, British publishing house Hogshead Publications received the license to publish new and reprinted WFRP material. Hogshead published a revised edition of the main WFRP rulebook, as well as reprints of the Enemy Within campaign. New supplements also appeared, including (after having been promised for 15 years) the Realms of Sorcery magic supplement and a number of new adventures. Hogshead was subject to a number of restrictions in its rights regarding the WFRP license; Games Workshop retained extensive editorial control over the line, wanting to ensure that new WFRP material did not contradict the tone and details of the changes to the Warhammer Fantasy Battle line. In 1996 GW brought out Warhammer Quest (WQ) (a game not unrelated to Advanced Heroquest which had been co-produced with Milton Bradley). Besides it basic ruleset WQ had an advanced rule set of some 192 pages with a lot of role-play material which was also expanded upon in White Dwarf for the next two years or so. Warhammer Quest is a board game created by Games Workshop and set in the Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ... The Original Board Game Released in 1989 HeroQuest, sometimes also written as Hero Quest, is an adventure board game created by Milton Bradley in conjunction with Games Workshop and, set in the Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ... Milton Bradley (1836 - 1911) was a game pioneer, credited by many with launching the game industry in North America. ...

In 2002, Hogshead owner James Wallis sold his business to a newcomer to the roleplaying industry and returned the WFRP license to Games Workshop, leaving the future of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay in doubt. Several Hoghsead projects were abandoned, including a Skaven supplement and a complete rewrite of the final episode of the Enemy Within campaign. The Sixth Edition Skaven army book The Skaven are a race of man-sized rat-like creatures in Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy setting. ...

In 2004, Games Workshop announced that the WFRP line would once again be published. Black Industries, a division of GW's Black Library publishing arm, would oversee the publishing and distribution of a new second edition of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, designed by Green Ronin Publishing. The new edition uses the same basic system released in 1986, but revises and updates a number of features of the system (replacing the magic system, for instance). The new WFRP version 2 also brings the Old World setting of WFRP in line with the timeline and tone of the Warhammer tabletop game, by setting the events of the game after the Storm of Chaos. The new rulebook appeared in March of 2005, and was soon accompanied by an aggressively published slate of supplements and sourcebooks, including a new epic campaign (the Paths of the Damned series), monster, equipment and setting supplements, and a number of single adventures. Editions of the game have also appeared in German, French, Polish, Italian, Spanish and a Japanese edition is slated for 2007. Black Industries is the role-playing game imprint of BL Publishing, the publishing arm of Games Workshop. ... The Black Library is a section of BL Publishing (itself a division of Games Workshop) devoted to publishing novels, art books, background books, and graphic novels set in the Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000 fictional universes. ... Green Ronin Publishing is a company based in Seattle, WA, USA. They have published several role-playing game related products. ... The Storm of Chaos was a massive narrative campaign created by Games Workshop for their Warhammer Fantasy setting, to be played by Warhammer players in the northern hemisphere summer of 2004. ...

Awards

At the 2005 Annual Gen Con EN World RPG Awards, the 2nd edition's core rulebook, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, won Gold in the Best Production Values and Best Game categories. Old World Bestiary, the 2nd edition's primary adversary publication, also won Gold in the Best Adversary / Monster Product category.^[1] The ENnies are annual, fan-based awards for tabletop role-playing game products and publishers. ...

See also

This bibliography of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay publications is a list of all officially published products containing rules and background relating to the various editions of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st Century. ... is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Categories: Wikipedia articles needing style editing | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since June 2007 | Fantasy role-playing games | Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay For the defunct company, see Game Designers Workshop. ... It has been suggested that Armies of warhammer be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the tabletop miniature wargame and the fictional universe in which it is set. ... The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game (abbreviated as LotR SBG), often referred to by players as Lord of the Rings, is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop (GW). ... Specialist Games is division of Games Workshop which sells tabletop wargames aimed at older gamers who seek more tactically challenging wargames than those sold to Workshops core market (which is served by such games as Warhammer 40,000). ... Goliath Ganger having fought off a Milliasaur. ... Epic is a series of tabletop wargames set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... Blood Bowl is a Fantasy Football game created by Jervis Johnson for the British games company Games Workshop) (but now under the aegis of their Specialist Games division) as a parody of American Football. ... Inquisitor is a tabletop miniatures game based in Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 Universe. ... This article is about the tabletop miniature dogfighting game and the fictional universe in which it is set. ... Mordheim is a tabletop wargame set in the Warhammer Fantasy world, produced by Games Workshop. ... The Warmaster rulebook. ... Battlefleet Gothic is a tabletop miniatures game based in Games Workshops fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe, and is sold by Specialist Games. ... Cover of the first edition of Space Hulk Space Hulk was a board game by Games Workshop. ... Necromunda is a tabletop skirmish war game produced by Specialist Games (a division of Games Workshop). ... Cover of the Gorkamorka starter set Gorkamorka is a vehicle-using campaign game produced by Games Workshop. ... Ultra Marines is one of a series of 4 introductory games released by Games Workshop in the mid-1990s. ... Modular board game published in 1993 by miniature hobby company Games Workshop, set in the gothic sci-fi Warhammer 40,000 universe. ... Man O War (sometimes also written as Manowar) is a now out-of-print table top war game by Games Workshop. ... Warhammer Quest is a board game created by Games Workshop and set in the Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ... The Original Board Game Released in 1989 HeroQuest, sometimes also written as Hero Quest, is an adventure board game created by Milton Bradley in conjunction with Games Workshop and, set in the Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ... Cover of White Dwarf issue 90, June 1987. ... Cover of Battle Games in Middle Earth Pack 78, January 2006 (UK). ... â€œComputer and video gamesâ€ redirects here. ... There have been several computer games set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ... There have been several computer games set in the Warhammer Fantasy setting. ... Space Hulk is a first-person shooter/strategy computer game based upon the board game of the same name, Space Hulk, and it also incorporated elements from the Deathwing expansion. ... Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is a Real Time Strategy game for the PC developed by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ. Based on Games Workshops popular tabletop wargame, Warhammer 40,000, Dawn of War was released in September 2004. ... Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior is the name of a Warhammer 40,000 computer game available for the PlayStation 2 and PC. The game is a first person shooter, where the player takes the role of a Tau Fire Warrior, Kais, defending his race against the aggressive Human Empire. ... The Citadel Miniatures Logo Citadel Miniatures Limited is a producer of metal and plastic miniatures for tabletop wargames, such as Warhammer Fantasy Battle. ... The term Forge World can relate to one of two concepts related to Games Workshops tabletop wargame, Warhammer 40,000; one within the games fictional universe, one in the real world. In Warhammer 40,000 A Forge World in the Warhammer 40,000 universe is a collective term... The Black Library is a section of BL Publishing (itself a division of Games Workshop) devoted to publishing novels, art books, background books, and graphic novels set in the Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000 fictional universes. ... Sabertooth Games (STG) is a Memphis, Tennessee based game company, founded in 2001. ... Games Day is a yearly event run by Games Workshop to promote their products and takes the form of a large convention. ... The Golden Demon is the most prestigious miniature painting events by Games Workshop, and is held during the Games Day Event. ... The US Games Workshop Official Forum. ... Steve Jackson is a games reviewer and writer is one of the best known authors in the gaming industry. ... Ian Livingstone (born December 1949 in Prestbury, England) is an English fantasy author and entrepreneur. ... Bryan Ansell is a British roleplaying and wargame designer. ... Adrian Frederik H Smith (born February 27, 1957 in Hackney, East London, England) is a songwriter and one of three guitarists/songwriters in the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. ... HeroQuest, sometimes also written as Hero Quest, is an adventure board game created by Milton Bradley in conjunction with the British company Games Workshop and set in the latters Warhammer Fantasy fictional universe. ... Space Crusade is a board game produced by Milton Bradley in conjunction with Games Workshop and was first made in 1990. ... Battle Masters was a boardgame distributed by Games Workshop in collaboration with Milton Bradley. ... Fighting Fantasy is a series of single-player role-playing gamebooks created by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, originally published by Puffin and now by Wizard Books. ...

Contents

Setting GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");