Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Following on from the recent audiobook set, now Deathwatch, Rogue Trader and a load of expansions or adventures or something are up for grabs

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/warhammer-deathwatch-and-rogue-trader-cubicle-7-books?utm_content=cta_button&mcID=102:633dc620884f4ee60d07ee6at:56de80cc733462ca89698a03:1&linkID=633dc622e4281d3e6305a7ef&utm_campaign=2022_10_06_warhammerdeathwatchandroguetradercubicle7_bookbundle&utm_source=Humble+Bundle+Newsletter&utm_medium=email

Any one have any info to share about these? My son and I like reading 40k fluff. Are these alot of full books with good value, or a bunch of short booklets?

Very tempted by this.

These are pdf(?) versions of two of the Fantasy Flight tabletop RPG systems, Rogue Trader and Deathwatch. They're meant for RPing as a Rogue Trader crew, or as Space Marines, respectively. It's a pretty great deal for RPers interested in the games, as they're physically out of print and FFG no longer has a 40k publishing license. For purely reading entertainment, probably a pass. There's plenty of lore-dump in the books, but they're game manuals, not novels.

What's the potential value here for folks looking for fluff and scenario ideas for Inquisunda style gaming?

 Eilif wrote:
What's the potential value here for folks looking for fluff and scenario ideas for Inquisunda style gaming?

Where you using the old Inquisitor rules? Then it's fairly close but better balanced as as game system.
Rogue Trader might be a step above what you're looking for, as one of the interesting things RPGwise it introduced is that you play more than one character depending on the scenario. Your main character might be an Archmilitant and part of the command staff, but you'll also play the Armsman who has to go inside the hulk on an away mission - because this isn't Star Trek throne damn it! We have people for that!

No, I'd be using Planet 28 or Space Weirdos or some similar rules light system. I'm very close to buying this just for inspiration and ideas.

HBMC can probably sell you on the value of these books better then anyone here, but there'd be heaps of good inspiration for Inquismunda scenario building to be had here.
I've picked them all up through Humble over the last couple of years purely for reading purposes and they're well worth the price in that regard. Any 40k veteran is likely going to know a lot of what is contained within these books already, but if you are coming in fresh to 40k, then you'd be well primed to delve into the wider setting after getting through them. But they also do a really good job (deathwatch in particular) on expanding on the established setting, so even aforementioned 40kVets are likely to find something new.

Deathwatch can get a bit samey with how things play out. Being a Space Marine with special-issue ammo, gadgets galore, class rules, and Chapter rules can get a bit bananas.
If I were to do DW again, I'd definitely limit the player choices a lot more with regard to classes, wargear, and Chapters but I would also not go soft on them for early missions. Huge chunks of enemy types don't do any damage to Marines so you have to either craft specific reasons to use them or just use enemies that can both dish out and take damage for any sort of real challenge.

 Eilif wrote:
What's the potential value here for folks looking for fluff and scenario ideas for Inquisunda style gaming?

The fluff is fantastic, but generally restricted to the sector of space the RPGs are based in. They are however very evocative of the setting at large.

Dark Heresy is the Inquisition focused set, but the books usually get Humble Bundled somewhat frequently.

 Gert wrote:
Deathwatch can get a bit samey with how things play out. Being a Space Marine with special-issue ammo, gadgets galore, class rules, and Chapter rules can get a bit bananas.
If I were to do DW again, I'd definitely limit the player choices a lot more with regard to classes, wargear, and Chapters but I would also not go soft on them for early missions. Huge chunks of enemy types don't do any damage to Marines so you have to either craft specific reasons to use them or just use enemies that can both dish out and take damage for any sort of real challenge.

I've always felt Deathwatch lends itself more to a series of loosely connected, very action oriented one shots more than a traditional campaign despite how it's set up.

It's every book for each game, from the mainline expansions through to the Free RPG Day stuff and even the free stuff they published on their website. So if you get everything you get everything for Deathwatch and Rogue Trader.

I know of plenty of people who have purchased these books for the background information alone with no intention of ever playing the game. There's tons of stuff in there for people to devour even if you haven't played an RPG in your life.

They're wonderful resources for background information (and artwork!) from everything to 15 different versions of Bolt Weapons (far fewer than we have in 40k proper) to obscure creatures and aliens, to void ships and their various components, and whole new worlds to explore.

Fun Rogue Trader Fact: During the writing of The Koronus Bestiary, they added the weapon quality "Razor Sharp", which doubles armour penetration when you get a very good hit on something. They then failed to give that rule to any weapon or creature in the book. I pointed this out to them, thankfully before it went to the printers.

 Eilif wrote:
What's the potential value here for folks looking for fluff and scenario ideas for Inquisunda style gaming?

If they are the FFG books, they are full of fluff and flavor, especially the Rogue Trader expansions. I’ve really enjoyed reading them for background without ever playing the game.

For scenarios, the books give advice for new gamemasters that might be useful. I don’t know how that translates to the tabletop games, though.

While fluff is fluff, these are likely to be more use to a Wrath & Glory GM than an Inquisimunda player.

RPG scenarios and story hooks don't always translate well to the tabletop.

It should also be noted for anyone not aware, that all these FFG RPG's are pre-8th edition. So there's none of this Great Rift, Cawl/Guilliman, Primaris Bullgak.

Cadia Stands. The 13th Black Crusade is ongoing. The Guard are still that and the Imperium is still slowly pin-wheeling out of control. The status quo is maintained!

Thanks, picked this one up

Thanks for raising this to my awareness, a very good deal

Well you folks have sold me. Lots of good info and I appreciate it.

The final straw might be the note that it's all pre-8th. A very good thing fluff-wise, IMHO. Wasn't even planning on spending much time with the Deathwatch side of the package, but Marines without Prymareeees is my jam.

Hopefully Dark Heresy will come back up bundled. I'd definitely pick that up.

 Eilif wrote:
Well you folks have sold me. Lots of good info and I appreciate it.

The final straw might be the note that it's all pre-8th. A very good thing fluff-wise, IMHO. Wasn't even planning on spending much time with the Deathwatch side of the package, but Marines without Prymareeees is my jam.

Hopefully Dark Heresy will come back up bundled. I'd definitely pick that up.

Yeah I’ll probably pick this bundle up, but I’d definitely pick up Dark Heresy and whatever the Chaos one was - Dark Crusade?

Black Crusade
Dark Heresy
Deathwatch
Only War
Rogue Trader

Black Crusade, that’s it. Dark Crusade was Dawn of War.

It has the Battlefleet Koronus book, so I am sorely tempted by this!

It should also have the Koronus Bestiary, right? Both good reads.

For Deatchwatch, I remember enjoying the Jericho Reach quite a bit.

Koronus Bestiary is in there, yes.

And Jericho Reach might be my fav DW book.

I picked it up, seemed silly not to at that price when I’ve kicked myself multiple times for not getting the books when they were actually available (although in my defence I was 13 when Dark Heresy came out and had no idea I’d get into role playing like 13 years later).