Lets talk about 3rd edition WFB

[ogryn]

Ok
There seems to be a cult around here pushing the awesomeness of 3rd edition Warhammer Fantasy Battles.
I started in that edition and have fond memories of it and See the value in it. BUT..... why play it?
If i remember correctly is very clunky and cumbersome to play? Sell me on playing it and joining this cult.
I have a friend who will jump in with his eyes closed if i even suggest we play this edition.
Do things get smoother as you learn more? Do you guys modify anything?
I know the army lists (and monsters) are the best part of that edition. What else.
Any tips?
And what sources will i need. I have rulebooks, seige book and armies book. Anything else useful?

(and i do not think it will take much convincing to push me into this cult........)

[Thantsants]

Come in the water's lovely!

For me its mainly about the minis, the memories, changing/bodging/making up new rules as you see fit, coming up with daft and completely imbalanced scenarios that play out as desperate last stands, daring raids, etc...

... like these

http://warhammerforadults.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/battle-report-its-fun-to-slay-at-wyemm.html

http://warhammerforadults.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/battle-report-shadow-of-koles-lorr-meet.html

http://nico-realmsofchaos.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/clash-of-evil.html

http://teasgettingcold.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/impasse-at-ortar-pass.html

http://teasgettingcold.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/keeping-wolf-from-door.html


These chaps have put it more eloquently than me  -

http://realmofzhu.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/oldhammer-contract.html

http://warhammerforadults.blogspot.co.uk/p/why-is-it-called-warhammer-for-adults.html

So now we're a cult do we get cool robes and stuff... 

[Viper]

Hmm, with the 1st and 3rd editions being the only ones I know nothing about this should be interesting, though I never actually played 2nd edition I've got the books somewhere handed down from my uncle and I always enjoyed reading them as a kid.

I didn't realise there was such interest in 3rd, recently I was thinking about asking friends if they wanted to have a go at playing some older editions (4-6th) but I'm happy to educate myself a little about 3rd too.

[Nightmask]

The charm about 3rd editionis the RPG like way it plays.
The gamemaster who can stirr things up a bit and such.
Plus the old figs were so full of character.
Play it ones and you'll get hooked, thrust me!

Nightmask

[Mr Brown]

I just recently managed to pick a copy for 99p on eBay and it's probably the best bargain I've seen. I started playing around 4th but I must say that the 3rd Edition book is fab.
Yes the rules may be clunky but it has, as has already been mentioned, a more rpg like feel. The book is very similar in style to the RogueTrader rules and WFRP books.

Personally I like the 'old skool' ideas and playing lv15 Wizards and the warband-esque lists. I'm really looking forward in getting some models and a scenario together to play at the local club.

[manic _miner]

 There are some people over my way who are doing forces for this edition.Must resist.

[Relic]

I have the book also and the reason I like the game is exactly what the others said, the RPG feel to it. Right now I got too many projects to even think of playong this..sadly. But I warmly recommend it

[Braxandur]

I would defenitly say that 8th ed is way more playable in a short amount of time, however it definitely misses the RPG vibe of 3rd ed. Pure Nostalgia also always helps a lot as well...
I won't be saying if 8th or 3rd edition is the best, both are doing a good job at what they are written for. I mainly play 8th since it's easier to find opponnent, but I would love to play 3rd if only because I notice that I start caring less and less about winning and more about the storyline

[Blue in vt]

That is exactly the difference in my mind...3rd edition was about having fun, telling a
Story, and flexibility....4th edition on are about fast play and tournament style
Rules and regulations.

I also really appreciate that combat has more of the grinding feel to it in 3e... You don't start taking rout tests until you have lost more than 25% of your unit strength...this gave larger units some staying power.  Also you don't have a unit being automatically destroyed if a
Pursuer catches up with it after a rout... You actually still have to
Cut down your enemy....free hack!  There are a number of special formations you can employ that disappeared in later additions... Like Sheildwall.  These add some interesting flavor to the game IMO.

The rules are a little more cumbersome....but when your playing for fun and telling a story who cares.

That's all ihave time to add now....more later.

Cheers,

Blue

[Spooktalker]

I   everything about GW late eighties. Except the rules. When I do D&D I do it with the old rules but I have no such desire at all when it comes to Warhammer. I started minis on Rogue Trader and WFB 3e but when I get come down off my D&D high and get back to Citadel I'll be going entirely in a new direction rules wise. It's a lot of things that kill it for me but a points based system for starters. That's a deal-killer for me right there and pardon the synecdoche but "where it all went wrong."

IMHO.  

[Andy H]

I too think its slightly odd, as a lot of the points people say they like about 3rd are actually more true of 2nd, in particular the issue of openness and the rpg quality, so I guess it more depends on when you first fell in love with the hobby. I actually find 3rd a bit too restrictive, and it has an underlying formality that comes from the focus on manoeuvring armies according to a classical model, but that's just me :-)

It represents the point where the writers started to recognise the relevance of tournaments over casual play, and of army lists as a means of shaping a collection and driving sales. Ironically, a lot of people are quite offended by such notions today!

Having said that, I've been tempted to buy a load of Gripping Beast plastic Vikings and use the Norse list that was published in White Dwarf around that time, so if anyone in Notts wants to join in just give me a shout 

[Nightmask]

Having said that, I've been tempted to buy a load of Gripping Beast plastic Vikings and use the Norse list that was published in White Dwarf around that time, so if anyone in Notts wants to join in just give me a shout 

O If you have the time could make a copy/scan of that army list or any other you might have?
I only have the ones from the Armies book.

Nightmask

[Braxandur]

O If you have the time could make a copy/scan of that army list or any other you might have?
I only have the ones from the Armies book.

good question! Is it a list for 3rd or 2nd edition and in would you know in which WD it is? I'm actually also painting up some grpping beast plastics for the same reason, but was planning to use them as an allied force, as described in the 3rd ed armies book.

I  everything about GW late eighties. Except the rules. When I do D&D I do it with the old rules but I have no such desire at all when it comes to Warhammer. I started minis on Rogue Trader and WFB 3e

Funny that you mention rogue trader. I wanted to mention on my post as well that I have the same feeling with rogue trader and 2nd ed. compared to the current (5th?) edition as I have with current warhammer compared to 3rd ed. Only when we once went back to 2nd ed. 40k (due to nostalgic reasons) we only had to play a few games to find out that it was a great skirmish/story driven rule set, but not that playable with big armies...

[rob_the_robgoblin]

Andy, I think it's a little odd too.

I can understand the nostalgic kick one may get out of it. The same reason I refuse to 'update' my Dwarf army for warhammer (mine are all puffy sleeves marauder miniatures).

Fair enough, however, coming into it with no experience of playing it myself sounds like hell!

I have the same thing with Flintloque, I really like the 1st ed rules, even if there are lots of gaps you had to fill in yourself, you had to have 3 people to play even the smallest game! I never used the pre-determined action rules, preferring the initiative rules in Orcs in the Hills Magazine.

That said, DRESDA is a fantastic set of Skirmish Fantasy rules... Mac wrote them with 3d simplistic roleplaying in mind...

[Blue in vt]

Fair enough, however, coming into it with no experience of playing it myself sounds like hell!

Why?  its no more confusing than any other set of rules.  It leaves room for interpretation and the use of house rules...and encourages using a GM to guide things along and smooth out the bumps one may encounter.  its a wonderful system.

And its really only restrictive if you use the Army book for lists...if you don't want to do that...than don't...I used to use them but as Ive gotten back into it I actually prefer the open ended unit creation...like if I want +2 shock elite goblins than I should be able to have them!

Cheers,

Blue