Warhammer: The Old World Roleplaying Game brings a fresh, modern system designed to combine fast, intuitive gameplay with deep tactical and narrative layers.
At the heart of the game are basic test rules using pools of 10-sided dice. When you need to test a Characteristic (like Strength or Initiative) alongside its linked Skill (like Brawn or Awareness), you roll as many dice as your Characteristic score — usually three, reflecting the average stat from the Old World wargame — and look for rolls equal to or below your Skill Rating (which generally ranges from 2 to 4). One success means the task is done, but extra successes help determine how well you performed or settle contested actions.
Special conditions can add or remove dice from your pool, but these modifiers apply selectively to highlight tactical choices, clever positioning, character specialisation, and dramatic moments. This keeps gameplay streamlined while encouraging memorable, story-driven outcomes.
Beyond the core Skills — 16 in total, two tied to each Characteristic — characters have access to Talents, which unlock special abilities or unique options; Lores, granting expert knowledge on specific topics; and trappings, like weapons and armour, which improve combat effectiveness. These elements can boost tests, allow tests where none would normally apply, or sometimes let you bypass tests altogether.
Combat itself is designed for speed and impact, breaking the battlefield into zones and resolving actions in rounds. Players make immediate tactical decisions, weighing choices like retreating or absorbing devastating hits. The system minimises bookkeeping, keeping fights sharp and brutal — just as you’d expect from the gritty, unforgiving world of Warhammer.
Stay tuned, because upcoming previews will dive into the full range of combat options, giving you a better sense of how deadly and dynamic your battles in the Old World can truly be.
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