me_in_japan wrote:depending on cost, I could even get that purely for fluff. If anything could convince me to RPG more, its playing as a chaos dude. Brilliant idea, FFG.
*edit* a question: I took a quick look at the deathwatch and dark heresy lines and suchlike, and there are a LOT of books for them. Theyre also damn expensive. Why? what's in these books? would a compulsive collector need to get em all? cos that could get expensive quick. If its good fluff, then I could be sold on it, but I 'm wary of investing a load of money into books of rules that will in all probability just sit on my shelf.
First off, the books are spanking gorgeous. Lots of jaw droppingly nice artwork inside. The books are (generally) hard back affairs, full colour inside and worth every penny I feel. Speaking as a compulsive collector, yes, you need to get them all. If you're not actually interested in playing the game, maybe not.
DH is the oldest book/system and has the widest range so far, so lets look at what they have released and you can decide for yourself if its something you want to spend time/money on.
Core Rulebook - EVERYTHING you need to play the game is in here. You never need to buy other books. There is enough fluff to get you going even if you have never heard of 40k before. 75/25 rules/fluff
Inquisitors Handbook - Some extra fluff about the inquisition, but primarily a list of wargear and equipment as well as optional choices for players. Seriously only get it for the rules. 90/10
Radicals Handbook - This is the fluff stuff. LOTS of info on the various radical factions in the Inquisition. Istvaanians, Recongregators and a whole slew of other stuff along with some rules 50/50
Creatures Anathema - A big book of scary beasties. It covers the basics like Eldar, Orks etc as well as introducing a lot of scary and unique monsters. Each alien gets its own write up in much more detail than the monster books for D and D. 50/50
Games Masters Kit – Contains a simple scenario and some rules for making your own aliens. 99/1
Purge The Unclean – Scenarios. All fluff is unique to that story/mission 90/10
Disciples of the Dark Gods – Everything you ever wanted to know about cults but were afraid to ask. 10/90
Haarlocks Trilogy – 3 Linked adventures. Again, the fluff only fits the story. 90/10
Ascension – For when acolytes become inquisitors. I haven’t read a lot, but it seems pretty much a rule book. 80/20
Blood of Martyrs – Fluff and rules specifically for the Adepta Sororitas. Lots of info on the Imperial Belief system and the first in a line of books detailing each career path in lavish detail. 50/50
As you can see the books vary a great deal in content. Some are just rules books. Others are pretty much all background. The range and variety that FFG is producing is very nice. I fully intend to buy every book anyway, so if you want to have a read through of any of them, just give me a shout and I’ll either let you know what the contents are like or even lend you the book.
