The p-Code Machine

It’s been a while since I last played a roleplaying game, and I’m not talking about the online ones. A couple of years back I regularly played Dungeons & Dragons (still called AD&D back then), I also played a bit of World of Darkness here and there. But along the way I somehow lost interest.

However the other night I played a short session of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, which is plain amazing. With most RPGs players can create their characters to their liking. WFRP takes a different approach akin to birth. Your race is randomized (I’m not talking black or white here… more like Human, Elf, Dwarf or Halfling), you just are what you are and have to deal with it.

The other cool thing about WFRP is that it doesn’t use abstract classes like warrior or wizard along with a level indicating your experience, instead it has very concrete professions and most professions are not as glamurous as you might expect. Say for example you might become a Halfling Ratcatcher or a Dwarf Valet.

Another big difference with traditional roleplaying games is that WFRP doesn’t let you start out as a superhuman with the possiblity of becoming a demi-god. When you first start out playing WFRP you are a bum. And most of the time you’ll be happy you didn’t become poorer, crippled or dead after playing a session, let alone reaching demi-godhood.

We basically had a blast screwing each other over during play, definately worth repeating. Definately worth recommending if you’re into RPGs.