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Hi dakkas

Been looking at Only War by FFGs and my friends and I are interested in playing it. However, none of us have any RPG experience (though i remember playing D&D with my father at a very young age). I was wondering how these games play out. I'm sure there are tons of rules that need to be followed but how do events play out? Is it like 40k where we're on a 4x6 gaming table except now it has RPG aspects to it? Or is it like D&D where it all plays out in dungeon type deal. I read that you could hop in tanks in Only War so I assume it plays out on a gaming board.

Also could you guys point me in the right direction as to where I could get basic beginner tips on how to play RPGs? I'm deployed right now so I can't necessarily go to the store and pick up a copy.

Thank you for your time.

It's like D&D, except instead of being largely "in a dungeon", it plays out in fields, trenches, bunkers, space stations, etc. Like D&D, miniatures are optional.

Here's a slideshare that illustrates some basic concepts pretty well:
http://www.slideshare.net/Nickogibson/what-is-an-rpg-intro-to-rpg-games

Will Wheaton's Tabletop plays Dragon Age (Fantasy RPG) so you can see kind of what it's like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-61i3R5y9Y

A Gentle Introduction to Role Playing Games.
http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~kel/KDD/playerintro.shtml#index1

 Ifepy wrote:
Hi dakkas

Been looking at Only War by FFGs and my friends and I are interested in playing it. However, none of us have any RPG experience (though i remember playing D&D with my father at a very young age). I was wondering how these games play out. I'm sure there are tons of rules that need to be followed but how do events play out? Is it like 40k where we're on a 4x6 gaming table except now it has RPG aspects to it? Or is it like D&D where it all plays out in dungeon type deal. I read that you could hop in tanks in Only War so I assume it plays out on a gaming board.

Also could you guys point me in the right direction as to where I could get basic beginner tips on how to play RPGs? I'm deployed right now so I can't necessarily go to the store and pick up a copy.

Thank you for your time.

I haven't played Only War, but I have read the earlier Rogue Trader game. Most of the below is not setting/rule set specific, so...

One player is the GM (games master). On the one hand, his rulings are law. On the other hand, if he is a pain in the rear he will have no players.

It is the GMs job to be the 'director' of the 'movie' that is the game, along with handling extras, other characters, etc. The GM sets up a scene, provides the players with background and motivation for their characters, and lets things go. Some scenes are focused on role playing, some on combat. The combat ones can use a grid map and minis if desired: My group often uses custom PC (Player Character) minis, but we use whatever we can find for opponents.

Being a GM is a definite chore. Being a good GM is hard work both in prep time (designing an adventure that is interesting, balanced, and fun) and actually running (you're describing the scene to the players, need to spotlight them, and need to resolve all actions fairly (Did the players find an innovative way out of a puzzle/trap you didn't expect? Let them do it: they're having fun and it costs you nothing.) without getting offended.

Players generally 'run' one character, although small groups might allow more, and I've heard Only War has a few options to add 'helpers'. Your character is one of the protagonists in a 'movie' you are all working together to create.Your character is a lead and thus is the focus of the story, but you are probably not the most powerful character.

Basic play is the GM sets up a scene by describing what is going on and the characters react. Characters have stats which influence die rolls to see if an attempt to do something succeeds or fails. Combat is a more structured version of this.