|
Unfair comparison is, well, unfair...
Post originally by CaffeineBoy! at 2005-05-06 13:30:48
Converted from Phorums BB System
Let me start out by saying that I think Steve's review was brilliant, engaging and, for the most part, a spot-on representation of the game.
Also, let me say that I'm not a slavering, sycophantic WFRP and/or GW fanboy. I played the roleplaying game "back in the day" -- I ran a campaign for several years in the late eighties -- and I have dabbled in the fantasy battles game though, currently, I feel nothing but antipathy for Games Workshop and their mini games. I own and like the new version of WFRP, but I haven't burned every other RPG I own because of it.
My point: I don't agree with the reviewer's characterization of this edition's (admittedly) thin bestiary equating to "outright lousy design." I've seen this horse beaten well past death in the forums and I want to point out why I think it's grossly unfair.
WFRP version two is *not* WFRP version one. It's an entirely different book with a much cleaner, smarter design philosophy behind it. This version of the core rules contains absolutely everything you need to get your Warhammer campaign off the ground. It completely details chargen, combat, skill tests and magic. What it doesn't do and, more importantly, what it doesn't *intend* to do, is to be a complete roleplaying game between two covers.
The areas for which it has received low marks include not enough information on the world, not enough entries in the bestiary and, to a lesser extent, not enough spells in the magic section. It seems to me that these are all *perfectly* understandable design decisions. Each section has a tasty smattering of information, certainly enough to start a campaign with. The geopolitical information tells you chiefly about the Empire (the default campaign setting for the game) and provides a taste of what you can expect elsewhere. The magic section gives you a completely functional magic system with plenty of spells to make wizards functional well into their third or fourth career. And the much maligned bestiary provides you with the common creatures and foes beginning characters can be expected to handle.
No complaints have been registered that the beginning adventure doesn't carry the players through their entire adventuring lifetime. Why not? Because it's not *intended* to. It's an introductory adventure. Likewise, those parts of the core book that feel like they need to be expanded upon are that way because they absolutely require more space. An Empire campaign book (series) has been announced. A Realms of Sorcery expansion for magic has been announced. And I have the Old World Bestiary in my hot little hands as I type (well... metaphorically anyway).
And what a gorgeous piece of work it is. The Old World Bestiary is quite possibly my favorite monster book ever. For any system. Not only is it beautifully produced, but it's clever, dripping with plot hooks and provides a wealth of information segmented between general knowledge, specialized information and the real deal from the creature's point of view--great for dribbling out to players with varying degrees of familiarity. There are more creature careers, a challenge rating analog aptly (for this game, anyway) named the "Slaughter Margin", and tons of theme and variation on the trolls, giants and dragons that the reviewer found missing in the main book.
I can appreciate the reviewer's irritation. The second edition of this book clearly lacks some of the information that first presented. But to demand that they cover the same ground with the same completeness is simply unfair.
|
Linear Mode
