I may be miles off here, but are you talking about Star Wars?

PzVIE said: So, sex is one of the most important things in real life (comes right after food and shelter). Why should it be different in WFRP (or any other RPGs)? Point well made, if you can make it work. If it works in your group, great, I say. Nevertheless, I don't think going to the toilet, which is a fairly essential part of life as well, needs to be of particular importance in an RPG. Although you could use it...

sorry, I should say DWARFS instead of Dwarves Anyway, I can really imagine a very atmospheric box set called "Secrets of the Drakwald" or something, full of plot hooks, creatures, NPCs, history, etc. purely about this huge, dark forest.

I would like to see something like a series of "source box sets". Each one doesn't necessarily feature a completely detailed storyline, but general hooks and ideas to develop your own. The box is focused on a particular region (for example: The Drakwald), style of play (the "war" set, the "detective" set, the "adventure" set), race or "faction" (Vampire Counts, Greenskins, Chaos but maybe also Dwarves or The Empire in general). It adds new spells, careers, flavour, creatures, etc. all somehow connected to this main theme. I'd be more interested in that than a supplement only about magic, only about religion or only about careers, personally.

My girlfriend is no hardcore gamer or anything but she is a fantasy fan and she has played Descent with me and enjoyed it. She's interested in trying Warhammer 3rd edition as well, so I'm lucky in that respect. Still, it's true that roleplay night is generally considered "guys night" among my friends. Which is a healthy, good thing IMO. Perhaps this topic should have its own thread:) Anyway, back on topic: besides sexual forms of love, there are other kinds of love that can be introduced in a roleplaying game to give much more depth to a character. In our Star Wars game last night, the young Jedi in the group saw his mentor dying before his very eyes. He has since grown quieter and quieter, other party members start worrying about him. That's love too. And it may be even more helpful to game immersion than romance subplots.

Well, Varnias, the conversation you described certainly made me laugh out loud, so thank you for that :-) I'm lucky enough never to have had that experience myself. Mostly when I tell people about my roleplaying hobby, they tend to be curious. But I also know there is a certain stereotype around that depicts roleplayers exactly like these guys and I'd like to see more stuff/people out there that prove that most RPG fans are mentally healthy, sociable, level-headed people.

Varnias Tybalt said: Mal Reynolds said: suggested treatment: exessive to moderate dosages of real-life exposure. Or get a girlfriend Sorry but getting a girlfriend doesn't really remedy the roleplaying "disease" at all. Or rather, if you're proud of who you are and don't feel unecessary shame of your hobbies then a girlfriend isn't likely to make you quit playing. I know some roleplayers have quit as soon as a girl is brought into the picture (some girls even act as a Yoko Ono towards "The Beatles" that is the gaming group), but those players tend to consider their RPG hobby as a dirty little secret and something that you don't want to mention about yourself in casual conversation. Granted these feelings can be brought about due to growing up in a pretty intolerant society, especially if they play at a rather sensitive age (mainly their teens). But once grown up or you've acquired a serious dosage of confidence, you tend not to be very afraid of outside judgement anymore. And you wouldn't have any difficulties telling even a potential girlfriend that you like to dork it out playing RPG's with your friends from time to time, because if she were to actually see that harmless hobby as an actual problem in a relationship, then you would have the confidence and self-respect to dump her before a relationship has even started. Still, any activity is only as shameful as you make it out to be. If you assume that people are going to judge you badly and thus try to hide your hobbies, then the more appalled other people will be the moment they find out. After all, most people don't know much about RPG's, and if they see an actual roleplayer act or feel ashamed of his/her hobby, then they are going to assume that it is something to be ashamed about. It's one of those things you can simply chalk up to human psychology I guess. However, if you're shameless about your hobbies, only the prejudiced bigots are going to object. And based on my own experience, roleplayers tend to consist of a large majority of pretty intelligent people, who have no difficulties tackling bigotry. So, in the case of a shameless and intelligent roleplayer, a girlfriend really wouldn't cure him. In fact, even if he's never actually had a girlfriend before, he'd become more adamant about his hobby, because then he'd see that apparently roleplayers also get girls, and might even become even more smug than before. In general I agree with you, Varnias, but I think Mal was referring to that video which showed two rather unhealthy examples who DO need a cure :-) Whlie video was funny in a "The Office" kind of way (not really my style of humour to be honest, just a bit too awkward and embarrassing), I'm afraid of what people would think who don't know anything about roleplaying and saw that video. They'd probably laugh and go "ewww" and think that that's what all roleplayers are like. Which would be terrible.

phobiandarkmoon said: It tends not to come up in my games, unless it makes sense from the plot. I certainly wouldn't focus on it. Beyond, y'know, calling for a Toughness or Agility Test. I'd say Fellowship would be rather important as well

Mal Reynolds said: variation in techniques: Fading out... When handling such adult matters, I use several techniques on dealing with them. My one favorite is the fading out. A part of may be role-played but then it fades to the background leaving most to the player`s imagination. When I pick up again I might add some description of how it might have been like. Example: Your priest wakes up in the middle of the night by a soft knock on the door. There is a soft grunt from one of the gypsy girls in your bed, but they are still in heavy sleep, sprawled out, exhausted.. On your way over to the door, wrapped only in sheets, you almost stumble on an empty wine-jug, images of a pleasant night with companionship still shifts through your head, and the body feels sore. Who could it be that would disturb you in the middle of the night? The player in question, who went for a young disillusioned Sigmar priest, where very pleased by this outcome. He smiled happily for the rest of that evening, even though he had to pry the sewers of Marienburg just minutes after answering the door. Yes, when my players want to have sex, I tend to solve it that way as well. And indeed, it seems to satisfy them. I guess they just like the sense of conquest or something:-) Mal Reynolds said: I almost never initiate a flirt with my npcs but I am soon to pick up the notes if my players seems to wish for something. As a male I find it difficult to portray women that are being flirted with by my players. So I usually end up with saying something like this: She respond well to your charming ways, and move closer to you even put her hand on your knee and, brushing her hair close to your face. I actually don`t like to talk in first person when this happens, and move to a third person telling technique. But it works okay. Oh, that's good... I'll keep that in mind. I can't tell you how stupid I've felt actually roleplaying the part of a woman being hit on by one of my PCs. I don't put on an effeminate voice or anything, as that would just be really offensive and stupid. So I try to behave like a normal woman would, and it's just weird and disturbing. Often, I'll have the woman refuse the PC's advances, especially if she's of higher standing than he is. The character's humiliation can lead to huge laughs from the player, and myself of course.

Ah, that puts my mind at ease

"But the silence was unbroken and the stillness gave no token..."

If light roleplay and dungeon crawling is what you're looking for, I would recommend Warhammer Quest. Sadly, it is not published anymore and old copies sell for ridiculous amounts of money on ebay but... it is whispered that one day, the game will return and take up its rightful place in the throne of... the magical land of Lightroleplayanddungeoncrawlingia As a competitive board game, Descent is fantastic. I love it. Its combat is ridiculously fun. But it isn't "roleplayish" at all. There is NO fluff in the rulebook or the quest guide. You can't really get into your character's skin, you can only go on quests, kill monsters and save the day. In focusing entirely on those things, Descent is very successful in my opinion. Warhammer Quest, on the other hand, does provide you with more "roleplayish" elements and can be played both with and without a GM. Warhammer Quest is incredibly unbalanced and the combat rules, while simple, make you roll the dice so often your wrist will hurt in the morning, BUT... it is tons of fun. I particularly like the "travelling events" and "town events" in that game. So it's all down to whatever you prefer

Farin, I may be mistaken, but I seem to recall that you announced you'd be putting a video online of a filmed session. I'd be very interested in seeing that if you would. I live in Belgium where there was no Emperor's Decree and no sign of the game being made available in any store, be it online or in the real world... I pre-ordered the core set at iguk.co.uk as that seemed to be my best option to get the game asap.

Now that we're talking about the books, I have one more question: how much of the books' content is about "fluff"? I actually really dislike that word as it makes vital info on the setting sound like filler material, but it gets the job done. I hope to get some inspiring insights in the Warhammer world along the way.

phobiandarkmoon said: Huh. That's actually a lot better than I was expecting - thanks NezziR It was Dvang who posted the pictures actually, but other than that I would say the exact same thing. Very insightful indeed!

By which you mean "Descent: Road To Legend" I assume? because Descent's main rulebook is just stapled paper:) I look forward to obsessively sniffing the pages of those books while reading them on my daily bus rides to work

That was a very interesting read. The man has some unique insights which ring true. He also speaks very candidly, like a man who has nothing to lose and that makes me respect him but simultaneously feel kind of sorry for him. He sounds disappointed and somewhat bitter. I would never want to go through that kind of experience but I salute the guy for giving it his best shot. I particularly agree about his views on the future of the hobby: RPGs need to move forward. Ordinary people, not just stereotypical geeks, could be drawn in. Kids in school should be playing RPGs again. This is a hobby that brings people together, turns their eyesockets away from a computer screen for a few hours and trains their imaginations, strategic skills, planning etc. It's a good, healthy, positive hobby that really deserves to be more popular and shouldn't just be for grognards and those who aren't daunted by huge, dusty tomes of rules. Again, the whole point of roleplaying is to be fun and bring people together. Therefore it should never be elitist. I can't stress enough how much I'm opposed to the elitism that's hurting our hobby. Perhaps the gaming industry is like fresh water: it has to keep moving forward in an nice and energetic river and exploring new territory lest it become a smelly, unhealthy pool you really wouldn't want to drink from.. Sorry for ranting a bit there. I usually don't tend to do that

I would like to applaud the initiative behind Board to Death TV, though. I really appreciate the concept. It's not like video versions of board game reviews are all over the place. It's something I, for one, very much like to see The execution still needs some work, but you guys are clearly doing this with a passion and that's wonderful. Having said that, I have to say I don't really agree with some of your viewpoints on Descent. I've only played the game a few times but I don't think it's that easy for the players (or that hard for the Overlord). It really depends on the scenarios and the experience of the players involved. I don't think there's anything wrong with the game design itself. I know I got brutally slaughtered in Quest number 3 by allowing my girlfriend, the Overlady, to spawn far too many monsters. Of course, I do have to add that I have the tactical insight of a peanut.

Heheh, I also think of James Bond when I hear that. But I have to say, I can enjoy those ridiculously over the top titles. They're goofy fun, but I'd hate it if something like "Project Thunderbolt" were actually used on a WFRP project. As a code title, it's pretty funny, though. People shouldn't be too serious about these things. And let's not forget Warhammer is still a pretty over the top world, even if you're just looking at WFRP and neglecting WFB completely (WFB being absolutely, completely and utterly so over the top that the top must be lost somewhere in the deep mists far beneath).

Really, Brad Pitt? I knew Vin Diesel was, but I didn't know about Brad Pitt :-) Anyway, great read, Yipe. It's wonderful to see people discovering things they end up loving.

I certainly hope there will be "new book smell"... I don't know what I would do without!

Thank you, bearded friend. I've read them and all three of them seem decidedly positive to me. Looking forward to being able to play the game myself!

phobiandarkmoon said: ... so what you're saying is that the latest good thing about 3rd ed not coming from FFG you could get was from 4 months ago? It's not "the latest good thing", as far as I know it's the *only* playtest report on the net. All other "things", good and bad, have been speculation so far. Living in Belgium, I can't participate in any Emperor's Decree event, but I'm looking forward to seeing pictures and reading playtest reports.

macd21 said: WFRP v3 isn't a boardgame. The only people who are going to be interested in this are gamers and warhammer fans, both groups who will be subjected to advertisements for this product. I seriously doubt FFG are expecting a vast horde of boardgamers to pick up a hobby they haven't been interested in before just because it has cards in it. They certainly won't be depending on their support. I don't know... The fact that it looks so different from what RPGs have been looking like for the past two decades may draw the attention of some folk who would otherwise not give much thought to roleplaying games, being put off by what they perceive as huge tomes full of rules. It may prove a worthy risk to FFG to advertise to a wider audience.

It would be nice if they would do that. One question, though: why don't you just run the adventure in the core set when you get it?