Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay

[SA]

Has anyone ever played it?  Second edition in particular?

I have never played either the tabletop game or the rpg, but I am nevertheless an ardent fan of the Old World setting.  So if anyone's ever played it, what's it like, because if it even approaches the dark flair of the setting itself, I'll snatch it up in a second.

[Thanuir]

I played very little of some edition. Maybe two sessions.

It is gritty enough (I have heard that some supplements less so, like the Bretonnia one giving a more heroic PoV). Single hits can be very deadly. The edition I played had binary skill rules; you either had them or didn't have.

Random character generation was practically mandatory. Careers are cool, and in extended play will make the starting one less important.

Players had fate points with which to keep PCs alive even if they would normally die. Humans more than other races.

You can find more information and links to reviews at RPG.net index.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

We've been playing it (2nd Ed) for a while now.  Thanuir's pretty much summed it up, though.  It's been a welcome change of base with its more down-to-earth mechanics, low-magic, gritty world.

[Wrexham3]

I've played it extensively 1st ed. and a bit of 2nd ed. WFRP was an early influence of my campaign world.  The Empire is well presented but the rest of the world is really generic.  The magic system in second ed. is very good, really Faustian.  The range of character classes in brilliant.  Yes, randomly generated characters tend to be the norm, which is weird but can be fun.  Its also very dark and gritty in atmosphere - no matter how hard your character gets a dragon presents a serious challenge and is quite likely to kill you (something I always liked).  Overall, its a good system, but believe me, the Dystopia world background is a lot, lot better.
     

[Wensleydale]

I made my own D20ish system for Warhammer... love the setting, dislike the RPG.

[SA]

Overall, its a good system, but believe me, the Dystopia world background is a lot, lot better.

Heh.  Then I might just stick to what I've got...

What about Untold Armies?  Anyone heard of or played it?

[Thanuir]

Unknown Armies?
Never played, never seen, but there are enough reviews at RPG.net for most purposes. The game is in favour there.

I have not heard of Untold Armies.