Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay

WARHAMMER FANTASY ROLEPLAY (WFRP) is a GRIMDARK LOW-FANTASY TABLETOP RPG set in Games Workshop's WARHAMMER FANTASY OLD WORLD — a doomed, plague-ridden pseudo-Renaissance Europe overrun by chaos cults, beastmen, skaven (ratmen), and daemonic incursions. FIRST EDITION 1986 (Games Workshop, designed by Richard Halliwell + Graeme Davis + Jim Bambra + Phil Gallagher). Currently in 4TH EDITION (2018-present, published by CUBICLE 7 under Games Workshop license). Editions: 1st Ed 1986 GW (widely beloved); 2nd Ed 2005 Green Ronin/Black Industries; 3rd Ed 2009 Fantasy Flight Games (radical redesign with special dice + cards, controversial); 4TH ED 2018 CUBICLE 7 (return to d100 roots). MECHANICS: uses d100 PERCENTILE system — roll d100 vs skill %; lower = success. 100+ CAREER PATHS from humble (Rat Catcher, Grave Robber, Boatman, Peasant, Apprentice, Rogue, Witch Hunter Apprentice) to legendary (Witch Hunter, Wizard Lord, Grail Knight, Slayer). CHARACTER CREATION: roll random career on class table (Academics, Burghers, Courtiers, Peasants, Rangers, Riverfolk, Rogues, Warriors) or spend XP to choose. CAREER PROGRESSION: complete career via skill purchases + advance to related careers. CHAOS CORRUPTION: characters can accumulate corruption points from exposure to chaos magic/daemons; too much = mutations (extra eyes, tentacles, madness). BRUTALLY LETHAL: critical hits + wound tables can amputate limbs, eviscerate, or instantly kill low-level PCs. Iconic ADVENTURES: The Enemy Within (1986-88 mega-campaign, considered one of the GREATEST RPG CAMPAIGNS EVER WRITTEN); Death on the Reik; Power Behind the Throne; Empire in Ruins. Iconic for its GRIM HUMOR + PEASANT-PERSPECTIVE PLOTS (players usually start as ratcatchers, apprentices, boatmen — not heroic knights). Setting: THE OLD WORLD centered on THE EMPIRE (pseudo-Holy Roman Empire) + Bretonnia (France) + Kislev (Russia) + Tilea (Italy) + Estalia (Spain) + Norsca + Skaven undercities. Considered THE DEFINITIVE GRIMDARK FANTASY RPG. Current 4th Ed 2018 by CUBICLE 7 has 15+ supplements + is well-received.

Narrative RPG; no VP. Track XP for career advancement + corruption/mutations for chaos exposure.

Win condition · No traditional win; campaign narrative survival.

Character sheets, GM screen, d100 (two d10) dice, optional battle maps.

• WFRP 4th Ed Rulebook ($60 USD)

  Cubicle 7 hardcover, 368 pages

• d100 (two d10 percentile dice) per player

  Percentile resolution

• Character sheets

  Track career + advances + wounds + fate + corruption

• The Enemy Within campaign ($50-70)

  Legendary mega-campaign, updated for 4th Ed

• Starter Set ($40)

  For new players, includes dice + adventures

• Spend Fate wisely

  Fate points are precious — only spend to escape certain death.

• Complete careers before switching

  Complete = all advances purchased; unlocks better next career.

• Avoid chaos exposure

  Corruption accumulates permanently; mutations are usually bad.

• Play smart, not heroic

  Very lethal; direct combat with strong foes often fatal.

Old World

WFRP setting; pseudo-Renaissance Europe overrun by chaos.

The Empire

Central Old World nation; pseudo-Holy Roman Empire.

Chaos

The great evil; four Ruinous Powers (Khorne, Slaanesh, Nurgle, Tzeentch).

Career

Character's profession; defines skills + advances available.

Advance

Skill or characteristic improvement purchased with XP.

Fate points

Permanent tokens; spend to escape death.

Fortune points

Per-session narrative pool; reroll dice.

Corruption

Chaos exposure accumulation; risk mutation.

Skaven

Ratmen underground civilization; frequent WFRP enemies.

Grimdark

Tone: grim + dark + doomed; genre WFRP popularized.

• 4th Edition Ennie Award 2019 Best Setting

  annual · USA · since 2019

• Multiple Origins Awards for editions

  annual · USA · since 1987

• The Enemy Within considered top-5 RPG campaign of all time

  ongoing · worldwide · since 1986

• 🇬🇧United Kingdom
• 🇺🇸United States
• 🇩🇪Germany
• 🇫🇷France
• 🇵🇱Poland
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇨🇿Czech Republic
• 🇳🇱Netherlands
• 🇸🇪Sweden
• 🇧🇷Brazil
• 🇦🇺Australia

• Cubicle 7 (current publisher 2018+)

  Founded 2010 · UK

• Games Workshop (IP owner)

  Founded 1975 · Nottingham, UK

• Cubicle 7 — Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay— Cubicle 7
• Wikipedia — Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay— Wikipedia