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Hey everyone, a friend and I were discussing older editions, and decided that we want to try playing 1st Ed. The problem is, neither one of us really knows where to start. I've been looking the rulebook(s) over, and I honestly don't know where to start with it.

I guess what I'm asking is, how does it play, is it difficult to learn, and how do you come up with army lists? I saw stat profiles, but I didn't see points values anywhere. I'd really appreciate any advice that anyone has.

Thanks,
B

When I played RT back in the day, we played it more like a role playing game then a wargame. There was a compendium of white dwarf articles that had some of the army lists with points and the like. But IIRC the core rules required either a GM or the players to agree on what scenario to play.

To be honest, it's been a long time since I gave the book a comprehensive read. There might be more hiding in there.

I've got the core book, the white dwarf compendium, and a few other ones. The biggest thing that I had noticed was the character generator in the core book, I kind of like that

You need to find Rogue Trader (from 1987)... that's "1st" edition....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warhammer-40k-Rogue-trader-rulebook-Chapter-approved-book-of-the-astronomicon-/141179997153?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item20defbcbe1

The first edition of the game, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, was published in 1987. Game designer Rick Priestley created the original rules set (based on the contemporary second edition of Warhammer Fantasy Battle) alongside the Warhammer 40,000 gameworld. The game play of Rogue Trader was heavily oriented toward role playing rather than strict wargaming. This original version came as a very detailed, though rather jumbled, rulebook, which made it most suitable for fighting small skirmishes. Much of the composition of the units was determined randomly, by rolling dice. A few elements of the setting (bolters, lasguns, frag grenades, Terminator armour) can be seen in a set of earlier wargaming rules called Laserburn (produced by the now defunct company, Tabletop Games) written by Bryan Ansell. These rules were later expanded by both Ansell and Richard Halliwell (both of whom ended up working for Games Workshop), although the rules were not a precursor to Rogue Trader. In addition, supplemental material was continually published in White Dwarf magazine, which provided rules for new units and models. Eventually, White Dwarf provided proper "army lists" that could be used to create larger and more coherent forces than were possible in the main rulebook. These articles were from time to time released in expansion books along with new rules, background materials and illustrations.

I have both 1st and second edition, and you are really better off playing 2nd. For Rogue Trader to be really fully playable, you need a bunch of White Dwarf compendiums that add a bunch of what we recognize as "common" 40K stuff. Basically 2nd edition cleaned up and compiled all the best Rogue Trader stuff into something more recognizable as modern 40K and re-released it.

Things like vehicles changed drastically between 1st to 2nd edition, where in 1st they were basically large monsters, and in 2nd they had armor values and hit location tables.

Think about 2nd or 3rd....

Second Edition (1993)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warhammer-40k-2nd-Edition-1993-Dark-Millennium-Supplement-Set-1994-Complete-/370999821810?pt=Games_US&hash=item56615005f2

The second edition of Warhammer 40,000 was published in late 1993. This new course for the game was forged under the direction of editor Andy Chambers. The second edition came in a boxed set that included Space Marine and Ork miniatures, scenery, dice, and the main rules. An expansion box set titled Dark Millennium was later released, which included rules for psychic powers. Another trait of the game was the attention given to "special characters" who had access to equipment and abilities beyond those of others (the earlier edition only had three generic 'heroic' profiles for each army: champion, minor and major hero).

Third Edition (1998)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warhammer-40-000-Rule-Book-3rd-edition-Games-Workshop-1998-oop-VG-condition-/201029793550?pt=Games_US&hash=item2ece4f370e

The third edition of the game was released in 1998 and, like the second edition, concentrated on streamlining the rules for larger battles. Third-edition rules were notably simpler and were less prone to give characters abilities only on the roll of a die. The rulebook was available alone, or as a boxed set with miniatures of Space Marines and the newly introduced Dark Eldar. The system of army'codexes' continued in third edition, enjoying some popularity.Towards the end of the third edition, four new army codexes were introduced: the xeno (that is, alien) races of the Necron and the Tau and two armies of the Inquisition: the Ordo Malleus (called Daemonhunters), and the Ordo Hereticus (called Witchhunters); elements of the latter two armies had appeared before in supplementary material (such as Realm of Chaos and Codex: Sisters of Battle). At the end of the third edition, these armies were re-released with all-new artwork and army lists. The release of the Tau coincided with a rise in popularity for the game in the United States

I had actually also gotten second edition, and for a lot if things (dreadnoughts, vehicles, etc) it said "see datafax" under the entry...

baritowned wrote:
I had actually also gotten second edition, and for a lot if things (dreadnoughts, vehicles, etc) it said "see datafax" under the entry...

Yeah, you can't really play 2nd ed with just the rulebooks. The game also came with a metric tonne of cards. Most of the vehicle rules were on a card called a 'datafax' ... a separate one for each type of vehicle. Then all of the vehicle upgrades, psychic powers and character wargear were also on cards.

Is there anywhere to get the datafaxes?

Ebay is probably your best bet. Otherwise, try the Swap Shop. It's possible that someone still has a set they would be willing to part with.

Aren't all the datafaxes, strategy cards, wargear cards, mission cards, etc. In the 2nd Edition Battlebible? A very good resource.

Also, I second the idea to go with 2nd ed rather than Rogue Trader.

You are correct, you can get all the vehicle datafaxes in the 2nd edition Battle Bible, as well as profiles for all the other kinds of cards (psychic, wargear, scenario etc). Though they are best made into actual reference cards in the case of vehicle datafaxes/ psychic cards.

It's an incredibly useful resource to have as the actual cards are so incredibly hard to get. The codexes are awesome for the fluff contained, but a battle bible is all you need for playing 2nd edition.

Unfortunately there are several new(er) vehicles that had White Dwarf-punch out cards that are not in it, like Scorchas and Trukks, to name a couple.

So I found the battle bible, I'm speechless. Was this a player-made compilation?

I sent the PDF to my friend, I have a feeling that he will love it as well


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I need to make up rules for imperial robots/AdMech now... This pleases me.