Quote from: David RA single complete rpg and sourcebooks, right? It seems to me that there's a lot of ground to cover. Of course when they do finally publish all the books and the pertinent info from all three could be fit in one rpg book - then of course it's online bitching time.

Regards,
David R

how much info do you need? 40K itself is a hardback book.

Supplements are always just that.

Quote from: signoftheserpenthow much info do you need? 40K itself is a hardback book.

Supplements are always just that.

*shrug* It depends I guess. If we are talking about one book like 40K then I suppose there's a lot of stuff in there to get a campaign off the ground. On the other hand I do see the advantages of concentrating on different aspects of the 40K setting.

I was just thinking out aloud that even with one core rule book there would be supplements covering different aspects of the 40K setting - I'm sure even with three rulebooks there would be supplements, but for me having three books covering in some detail I hope   different aspects of the setting is an okay idea...leaving aside economics.

Regards,
David R

Well, WFRP comes with the default setting - you are a party of freelance adventurers doing odd jobs for fun and profit. Its a fantasy cliche, but it WORKS. And that is what all the adventures are written for.

But you couldn't use that structure for 40K. Well, it doesn't seem as natural as it does in fantasy anyway. So you need more of a hook.

Star Wars had a freighter full of rebels fighting the empire, and Traveller had a freighter full of middle aged ex-miliatary types, and cyberpunk had it black ops crew doing shadowruns. You need a core story to hang the game off.

In short, I endorse Dark Heresy as a game concept. I reckon.

Good point Erik. But I do admit that one of the reasons I like this concept is  the different points of entry into the setting appeals to me for various reasons. I like the idea of the possibility of having three very different types of adventures/campaigns in the 40K setting.

Regards,
David R

Quote from: David RGood point Erik. But I do admit that one of the reasons I like this concept is  the different points of entry into the setting appeals to me for various reasons. I like the idea of the possibility of having three very different types of adventures/campaigns in the 40K setting.

Yeah - having different line allows the possibility of them supporting different campaign types. All the WFRP adventures are for freelance adventurers, but with 40K you may eventually see specialist Marine adventures or Trader adventures or whatever.

Slike WoD really - you've got your vampire and your mage and your orpheus and what have you. Or Exalted, where the different fatsplats give differing game experiences. I dig it.

This thread made me want to make a Traveller movie, loosely based off of Jack Vance's Port of Call, where the characters are dressed like they walked right off the set of Good Times or Welcome Back, Kotter, except with a high-tech gadget or two hanging off their belts. Snappy yet laid-back dialogue with unshaven faces, handlebar moustaches, too-tight t-shirts, feathered hair: working class space traders, college dropouts or kids just back from the 'nam or ordinary joes trying to bang and hustle their way off a dead-end planet.

Quote from: Erik BoielleSlike WoD really - you've got your vampire and your mage and your orpheus and what have you. Or Exalted, where the different fatsplats give differing game experiences.

Yes, that's why it sucks ass so very much. It takes freedom away from the players and puts it in the hands of the game designers saying "this is how you must run a 40k campaign!", and then forcing you to buy more books if you want the "whole experience".

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPunditYes, that's why it sucks ass so very much. It takes freedom away from the players and puts it in the hands of the game designers saying "this is how you must run a 40k campaign!", and then forcing you to buy more books if you want the "whole experience".

RPGPundit

Forcing ? Three books covering three different aspects of a vast setting. IMO you could cover more ground this way and gamers have a choice of buying the books they want. Are they doing it for money, of course, but who isn't?

Regards,
David R

If they'd put out a single book, people would no doubt complain that it was too vague and didn't offer enough direction for how to play/run it. It's a no-win situation with a setting like that.

And comparisons with WFRP are largely invalid, since that setting allows for pretty standard groups and adventure hooks. It's not unusual to have an elf, a couple of imperials, a dwarf and a halfling wandering around the countryside in search of adventure and fortune. Such a setup is practically impossible in 40k, where every faction hates every other one with such unrelenting hateful hatred. You're not going to see an Eldar, a space marine, a mutant, a Tau and a techpriest wandering around the left spiral arm of the galaxy in search of fortune and adventure.

The only time you'll see anything resembling such a motley crew would be in the context of a rogue trader expedition, and that's one of the scheduled games. An inquisitor's retinue is the second-closest thing (minus the aliens, of course), and that's one of the games as well. The space marine game is different, but they probably just couldn't get away without doing one of those. The only other workable style of game I could think of would be some kind of hive-world intrigue. Otherwise, you may as well be playing the miniatures game, since most conflict is going to be on a large, military scale rather than the more personal level that RPGs model.

why does a single book have to be too vague?

There aren't that many approaches to 40K that necessitate this approach at all.

Given the nature of the setting there are really very few choices; it's supposed to be the most oppressive, cruel and brutal time to live in.

Quote from: signoftheserpentGiven the nature of the setting there are really very few choices; it's supposed to be the most oppressive, cruel and brutal time to live in.

Yeah, but IMO there are so many different ways to express this. Like I said, I'm aware it's about money, but honestly three different books describing three different entry points into the setting does not sound like a bad thing.

Regards,
David R

it's not even as if all 3 are coming out simultaneously either.

Quote from: CalithenaThis thread made me want to make a Traveller movie ... where the characters are dressed like they walked right off the set of Good Times or Welcome Back, Kotter, except with a high-tech gadget or two hanging off their belts. [More fun snipped]

QFT, my brutha.  DY-NO-MITE!

My ship would have a horta-like creature called Petrock. And extra-capacity EVA helmets to accommodate the feathered hair or 'fros. And I'm pretty sure it would be called the Viva Knievel.

Quote from: stu2000My ship would have a horta-like creature called Petrock. And extra-capacity EVA helmets to accommodate the feathered hair or 'fros. And I'm pretty sure it would be called the Viva Knievel.

In my game the helmets would be normal size. When taken off hair would spring out (possibly after the character shakes his head a few times) looking perfect.