Burning Wheel and WFRP

[MonkeyWrench]

I've had BW for awhile now but I haven't really had a chance to get a game going seeing as how when I got it my turn to GM had just finished. Well pretty soon it will be my turn again and running a game of BW is one of the options I'd like to look into.

In reading the Character Burner I immediately took notice of the fact that Lifepaths appear very similar to WFRP's Careers, and from then on I couldn't get the thought of running a WFRP game using the BW ruleset.

I've searched the forums (both here and RPG.net) and I didn't really find anything useful other than a few people have made the same connection that I have. Has anyone developed the idea further? Has anyone played a game of WFRP with BW? What changes, tweaks, etc would I need to make to get the Warhammer setting to fit BW rules?

-Jim

[SirEktar]

I too would like to see some example of combining WFRP and BW. While I don't own either books (yet) but I imagine that some work would need to be done in rewriting the WFRP careers into BW lifepaths.

FYI, there is a 2nd edition of Warhammer FRP in the works being developed by Green Ronin Games, due for early 2005 release.

[Kublai]

BW is a big fan of WH and many an army sit in cases surrounding the BW HQ! It would only be natural for some of it to rub off. However, I am pretty sure no one has ever played WHRP there.

Anyway, it's all about setting, isn't it? And that's pretty much an easy thing to convert over, especially once the Monster Burner is released in the coming months.

I am not aware of any special cases that need consideration, such as magic or creatures. Please post questions and we'll give it a looksee.

[Ulfendar]

It's been a long while since I cracked a WFRP book, but I seem to recall that using magic opened you up to the influence of Chaos? I'm not sure about that, but if I were going to do WFRP with Burning Wheel I would definitly come up with some kind of "corruption" rules. Hmm I wonder if my FLGS has a copy of WFRP.

-Drew

[SirEktar]

Anyway, it's all about setting, isn't it? And that's pretty much an easy thing to convert over, especially once the Monster Burner is released in the coming months.

Well, my copy of BW is still on order bit I'd imagine that there may be some conversion between WFRP's careers and BW. A lot of the flavor of WFRP is in these occupations (IMO) but I'm not sure how easily they can be included in BW.

[MonkeyWrench]

There should definetly be a corruption mechanic for magic. I've always been of the opinion that in the WFRP universe magic is an inherintely bad things, you're messing with things man wasn't meant to mess with.

Perhaps there should be a Hatred type mechanic for Beastmen and Followers of Chaos. Something to keep them from being mindless 2D/stereotype minions.

I wouldn't use any of the current WFB background or metaplot. In the game I hope to run everything west of the shores of the Old World is unknown save to elves and they aren't talking.

These are really just some initial thoughts. It's been awhile since I've sat down with the BW rules and I still haven't ran a game of it so they haven't stuck yet. MOre ideas are appreciated.

[luke]

Well, my copy of BW is still on order bit I'd imagine that there may be some conversion between WFRP's careers and BW. A lot of the flavor of WFRP is in these occupations (IMO) but I'm not sure how easily they can be included in BW.

Actually, I loved the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying game. It was very evocative and quite different from what else i'd played up to that point. So WFRP is definitely mixed into the homages that BW presents.

Ektar, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised when you crack the Character Burner (and the Monster Burner, for that matter). There's a Ratcatcher lifepath just for Warhammer fans....

As for dangerous corruptive magic... check! Either way you want go, BW's got you covered. Sorcery is dead dangerous to toy with, and use the Abstraction rules and it just goes hog wild. It's lovely, really. Last year we had demon crawl out a player character's chest after he was interrupted while casting a spell. Oops!

Or if you want to go less dangerous and more corruptive, you could use the Orc Hatred rules or adapt Wolves' Spirit Taint or Elven Grief. Spell-casting would take on a more open form, but would ultimately result in DOOM!

Ahem.

Oh, and did I mention that there are some very Beastmen-like critters in the Monster Burner? And they are not nice? And did I mention that they are perform unspeakable acts on you as they pay homage to their Dead Gods?

um...
-Luke

[Ulfendar]

I threw together some quick and dirty rules for the Corruption of Chaos based on my memories and some quick web research (mostly for spelling). I obviously haven't playtested these or anything, but prehaps they'll inspire someone else:

The Corruption of Chaos:
When a sorcerer calls upon the winds of magic he opens himself to the corrupting influence of chaos, imperiling his soul. A careful sorcerer can avoid the taint of chaos, but careful sorcerers are a rare thing. Whenever a sorcerer rolls for variance on the wheel of magic he has a chance of drawing the attention of the gods of Chaos. If the player rolls a 6 for the number of steps varied, he has done just that. If the player has never before drawn the notice of Chaos he gains the Trait “Touch of Chaos”, and proceeds normally, for now. If the player already has “Touch of Chaos” then the fun beings.

When a sorcerer who is already Touched by Chaos draws the notice of the Chaos gods with his sloppy sorcery they will attempt to corrupt him. The sorcerer must make a Will roll (open ended) with an obstacle of 1+ the number of Chaos traits they posses (including “Touched by Chaos”). If they succeed they are able to ward off the influence of the Chaos gods, this time. If they fail they gain one of the Marks of Chaos.

After receiving his Mark of Chaos the sorcerer must attempt to control the chaotic energy running through him, to prevent it from completely warping him. The sorcerer must make a Steel test (open ended) against an obstacle equal to the number of Marks of Chaos they bear (“Touched by Chaos” does not count in this instance). If they meet the obstacle nothing happens, if they fail they are turned into a Chaos Spawn.

Mindless half demons, Chaos Spawn know only pain. Upon the creation of a Chaos Spawn immediately roll two dice, the character gains that many more Chaos Marks, selected at random. The metamorphosis takes one exchange for every two marks gained. When the transformation is complete the Chaos Spawn attacks the nearest non-demon, entering a berserker rage that can end only with its destruction. Obviously Chaos Spawn are no longer player characters.

In addition to the influence of sorcery men may be corrupted in several ways. Dark rituals exist that allow the layman, through human sacrifice, to draw the attention of the Chaos Gods. Additionally demons have the power to bestow the marks of their masters, and will be more than happy to do so, you need only ask. Legends say that men journeying to the Chaos Wastes are warped by the unholy power of the land itself.

New Traits:

Touched by Chaos: The first step along the path to corruption. The touch of Chaos has not dice effect, however it can be detected by Demons, The Sight, and some holy men. People touched by Chaos have only felt the brush of the Chaos gods, and are safe for the moment. However they will be subject to much suspicion from interested parties, and exactly the wrong kind of attention from the forces of Chaos.

Marks of Chaos: There are an infinite variety of Marks the Chaos gods can bestow. Any existing trait could be bestowed as a mark. Many Warhammer products have a wide variety of suggestions for Marks of Chaos, and many even have nice random tables to roll on. Below are the primary marks of the four main Chaos gods. One of these will likely be the first Mark bestowed, particularly if the character is inclined towards, or has devoted himself to, one of the Chaos gods.

Mark of Khorne: The blood god bestows a berserker rage upon his chosen. Whenever the character fails a steel test instead of hesitating he immediately goes into a berserker rage. He must script Strike against the closest target for every action. He may not defend himself in any way, nor make use of any advanced combat maneuvers. If there is no one in striking range the character must advance on the closest target. If the character goes an entire exchange without being able to make an attack, then he may make another steel test with an obstacle equal to the number of Chaos Marks he has. If he succeeds he comes out of the rage, and may act normally. Characters with the Mark of Khorne may voluntarily enter this state at any time, and doing so will greatly please Khorne.

Mark of Nurgle: The Chaos god of Decay marks his disciples with disease. The character is infected with Nurgle’s rot. Similar to leprosy, the disease has no effect on the chosen of Nurgle, however it can infect others. Nurgle’s rot actually benefits the chosen of Nurgle, protecting them from other diseases and poisons. This trait acts as a call on trait for all tests to resist disease and poison.

Mark of Slaanesh: The Chaos god of Pleasure marks his disciples with some of his preternatural charm. The Mark of Slaanesh can be used as a call on trait for most any social roll, especially seduction.

Mark of Tzeentch: The Chaos god of Magic marks his disciples with the Gift of Magic. The Mark of Tzeentch allows his followers to cast spells as though they had the Gift. This trait does not, however, provide any of the training necessary to use that Gift. The god of Magic is whispered to grant his followers access to spells more powerful than any mortal can comprehend, if they can gain sufficient favor with him.



I think it would also be appropriate to include rules for the Winds of Magic, but it's late, and I'm tired.

-Drew

[eruditus]

Very cool. May I suggest the Shadows over Middenheim adventure setting. this is excellent source material and a fantastic gritty setting for your Burning Wheel game.

All you would have to do is convert the statblocks to BW. Hey Lictor, could you write up a conversion? i know you were going to run a WFRP game in BW.

[MonkeyWrench]

With luck I'll have all the books to run Enemy Within using BW. In all my years of roleplaying I've never ran the scenario and from the looks of it the players are getting excited about it.

[Drozdal]

Shadows over Middenheim Ok Eru that was Shadows over Bogenhafen module, Middenheim was an city sourcebook.

Dro

[eruditus]

Those books rock! nuff said.

[Drozdal]

Sure they do! I do not know if you already noticed but Warhammer line has another jewel called Marienburg: Sold Down The River - imho one of the best fantasy city sourcebooks evar!

Dro

[MonkeyWrench]

Bad News - My group turned down the idea of running a WFRP game using BW and opted to go for a more mythic bronze-age game using Exalted.

Even though I won'y be able to use some of the info I still want to use this thread as a brainstorm of sorts for BW/WFRP. Lets keep the ideas coming.

[Viper]

I think the orc lifepaths would translate very well for chaos leggionaires... just dump the orc racial traits.