It's wild seeing you in these videos. I'm glad your channel has found such success, it seems like yesterday we were kids playing Blood Bowl or D&D in your basement.
With regards to the adventure being 'railroady' IIRC from an interview back in the day this was intentional. The early adventures in the Enemy Within Campaign were more straightforward to ease new GMs and players into the game without overloading them. As the campaign progressed the adventures opened out with more options.
I remember being part of a group who, years of in-game time after the mistaken identity/shadows over bogenhafen double bill, even after the thourough debunking of the inheritance, would still invariably ask NPCs if they knew who Kastor Lieberung was.
Ran this for one of my groups, but converted to my own game/setting (Mithgarthr). They decided not to stop the cultists because dealing with that kind of evil was "above their pay grade." So yeah... one of the major cities in my setting ended up getting besieged by demons. Good times.
I am planning to running this Campaign - and am sold on the content based on your review. Still using the WFRP system, but have toyed with the idea of switching it up to LoFP / DnD per your example.
I love this adventure from playing it 15 years ago. I’m buying it, post haste! Regarding railroading; it’s not really a problem if the GM tricks the players into not noticing it. 😄
Absolute must buy. Have also bought the companion and am now running the follow-up, Death on the reik . This is the most fun I've had running a game in a Long, Long time!
Thanks so much for reviewing this and describing it so well! I got into AD&D 2nd ed back in 92 when I had just became a teen, I had grown up watching the cartoon in the 80"s along with movies like Conan and reading any kind of fantasy books I could get my grubby little hands on so finding AD&D was life changing for me, especially Ravenloft . I think it's a bit unfair you calling D&D the big Mac but I kinda see what you mean. Anyhow even with working all the time for my dad's construction company and helping out local farmers with bailing hay and other things money didn't even allow me to get all the Ravenloft things I wanted, let alone many other companies products . I was aware of WHF but obviously missed out on so much, so thanks again! I would love to hear your opinion on the VanRichten guides because they are by far my favorite gaming supplements , and calling them anything less the the finest ribeye I would find insulting LOL.
I often hear that comparison. "D&D is high fantasy... the characters are superheroes." I get that from a mechanical standpoint. Yet, I've never had a problem scaring my players and making my worlds feel dangerous. I often add elements of horror and dread to my game despite running 5e D&D combat almost exclusively as written. I never considered myself an amazing dungeon master... But the more I read online and the more I watch videos like this... I realize how difficult DMing is for most people.
I have 3 veteran players (we're all in our mid to late 40s) and they destroy content. Perhaps your players are young/newer to RPGs and/or don't optimize their characters for combat. I can assure you, you would not scare this group. 13/2 bladesinger/paladin, 15 berserker barb, and 13/2 divine soul sorcerer/paladin with his NPC love interest whos a 15 divination wizard.
@@IndyMotoRider True when you have veteran players it is a lot harder to scare them but it is also a lot easier to set the mood with a mystery. There a lot of DM maneuvers you have to do but the only horror available at this point of the game are either so grand that it affect all their loved one who or an unknown threat. When you have character that high level, nothing will probably scare them.
That's probably because your a decent DM but the way Wotc has been creating D&D over the past decade they are definitely shooting for a high fantasy superhero vibe and ruleset
"Schaffenfest" translates more to "work fair". "Schaffen" meaning to work (implying tough or manual labor) and "fest" meaning fair or party (and could also be translated to tight or rigid if out of context). "Schaffest" would be sheep festival .
Beat me to it. Schaffen is also create. so in a round about way it could be a makers fair. perhaps a nod to the makers fairs of today. Basically the same as mentioned.
I guess it would be Schafsfest. But anyway, it's kind of an unwritten rule that you must use broken german when making up words in Reikspiel, so it's all good.
I agree wish you on this being one of the best premade adventures to run hands down. The ticking time element that can and with falure makes it truly a game to be matched. Keep up the amassing work ol professor!
Excellent review, Professor. I'm getting ready to launch a Dungeon Craft inspired OSR campaign with UDT, but haven't gotten much campaign material together yet: this may be a good start. Cheers!
So many good games, so little time. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Yo, Deathbringer, brother! Snot coin for the Goblin youtube metric. Entertaining as always.
I have never played War Hammer, I have always played D&D. I thought War Hammer was a massive army only type game. I will definently be looking for this book. Thank you so much for posting! I am currently getting ready to run the D&D Murder in Baulder's Gate campaign. Any advise?
Warhammer started alot like D&D did with chainmail, as a small scale miniatures skirmish game with a narrative and a third party referee who was almost like a DM (something unheard of in wargamming today). over the years that evolved into the larger scale miniatures battle game it is now but Games Workshop has always experimented with spin off games based on their IP, including the venerable HeroQuest and also some really odd stuff like Blood Bowl. Warhammer Fantasy Role Playing (WFRP) was just their foray into a fully-fledged role playing game in their main fantasy setting, and it just happened to be one of the best products they ever made.
There is a dedicated Warhammer Fantasy Battle, where miniature armies battle on table top maps. And on the other hand there is the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, which is like DnD, Runequest etc. They both share the same universe / setting but have very different rule systems.
@@TheFeanor74 Worth pointing out that the 1st ed WHFRP rulebook contained a section for converting statlines between the rulesets (specifically 3rd WHFB), so you could import/export characters and creatures from one to the other. On a couple of occasions, back in the day, it was a very useful means of handling large scale combats that our group sometimes blundered their way into.
I'm going to have to pick this up when I get a chance to run the Warhammer Fantasy RPG system, I've heard the original Enemy Within Campaign is considered one of the best Campaigns anyway. Your videos are slowly putting Warhammer closer and closer to the top of my "To-Run/Play" list now especially now that I am getting them into Low Fantasy style of games and worlds.
I bought this book when this review first came up..... and its been on hold.... Until today. Our regular game is on hold for the next 3 weeks, so I am going to run a 3 week game. I have run many games before, but never a premade module. What are the odds I can get through this whole thing in three weeks?
Great review! Ordered it right after. Btw. you mentioned The Schaffenfest and that you believe that the term "schaffen" is derivative of the word sheep. You were close. :D "Schafe" would be sheep. "Schaffen" is to accomplish something. And a fest is, you already guessed it, a festival. I do love all those weird and quirky german names in Warhammer, especially since most of them are more of a parody of a real word which makes it really funny, especially if you're a German. :D
I recently ran it with Deathbringer rules, but I was using the old Shadows over Bogenhafen, which was badly in need of a rewrite. The original was poorly organized for DMing purposes, imho. But very good adventure even so... hopefully the new version is better assembled and explained.
I just picked this up (along with the Companion book) on a Black Friday sale, thanks to this review. Do you think the grim dark nature of the modules would translate well to the Ravenloft setting (ala 2e’s Domains of Dread book)? I imagine it would be easy enough to treat Bogenhafen and it’s surrounding hinterlands as an Island of Terror (a domain separate from the Core)?
Hey Professor Dungeonmaster, I only recently found your content and have been thoroughly enjoying it and in general I strongly agree with your takes on things: HP, skills, initiative, and magic in particular. Was introduced to D&D with AD&D2e and DMed for years in the 3.x system, but only getting back into it now. I was wondering if you could give some insight on a few things. 1) how do you roughly re-balance spells to work in tandem with scaled-back hp and do you scale non-damaging effects as well? 2) you cover how critically failing a caster check could make a spell backfire, do you have a similar situation happen when martial attack fail? 3) whats your opinion on mana-based casting as opposed to spell-slots/spells per day? 4) With hp scaled back, how do you approach magic weapons or feat combos which can give insane damage output? Any input is greatly appreciated, looking forward to future content as well!
I just can't get a handle on the WFRPG system (and it doesn't seem like my style anyway and my players are reluctant to do anything outside of the d20 D&D system), but I've been wanting to run this campaign for years. In another video the Professor says he prefers OSR systems for doing this style of game. Are there any suggestions on how to just convert this over to something like oD&D, Basic, etc.? It's really the plot/story/theme that makes this so great anyway, right?
I have a question for you PDM. How have your PCs motivated staying together? The PC that looks like Kastor Lieberung stands to gain a lot by ditching the party and going to Bögenhafen by their own. This is especially true if the other PCs are strangers and this is their first adventure together.
Where did you get a physical copy? Even I can’t find these except in PDF. Fun fact: I used to submit stuff to GW back in the day but they sure did like to steal author’s work
Hah I find it funny that it's Warhammer but you show in the thumbnail a 40k character the Inquisitor chick I forgot the name of from Dawn of War II the expansion Hmm, I hope that they might re-print the Dark Heresy/Rogue Trader modules one day. But I doubt that. The Haarlock legacy trilogy (which I own) Is amazing.
@@rolanejo8512 So that I know if it's something I'm interested in: can you tell me how he handles the magic system? Does he switch it to Vancian magic like DnD or keep it as a risk reward system? and does he preserve the WFRP Colleges of magic or use DnD Schools?
Just a suggestion. Next time when you review an adventure, don't go through it and tell what happens. It kind of kills the whole idea. I had to shut off your video at 1/3...
It's wild seeing you in these videos. I'm glad your channel has found such success, it seems like yesterday we were kids playing Blood Bowl or D&D in your basement.
With regards to the adventure being 'railroady' IIRC from an interview back in the day this was intentional. The early adventures in the Enemy Within Campaign were more straightforward to ease new GMs and players into the game without overloading them. As the campaign progressed the adventures opened out with more options.
Please, please, please do the same thing with Death On The Reik. This was way too enjoyable to end here!
I remember being part of a group who, years of in-game time after the mistaken identity/shadows over bogenhafen double bill, even after the thourough debunking of the inheritance, would still invariably ask NPCs if they knew who Kastor Lieberung was.
The second part, Death on the Riek, was released this summer.
Ran this for one of my groups, but converted to my own game/setting (Mithgarthr). They decided not to stop the cultists because dealing with that kind of evil was "above their pay grade."
So yeah... one of the major cities in my setting ended up getting besieged by demons. Good times.
Perfect! I'm gonna be running this campaign soon for a bunch of people who've never roleplayed before.
Cool! Let me know how it goes.
I am planning to running this Campaign - and am sold on the content based on your review. Still using the WFRP system, but have toyed with the idea of switching it up to LoFP / DnD per your example.
Enjoy!
This looks awesome, I wish my player group was more inclined toward low fantasy like this. Maybe they’ll get there someday!
i prefer low fantasy, the problerm is a lot of rpers want the power fantasy aspect but wit non of the setting or buildup
@@bobbobbing4220
Warhammer is not low fantasy, its mor gritty but it is not low
@@jackmalin2528 not sure why you are telling me
Yeah--don't waste this on them yet. I've done that. Wait until they're ready--then spring it on them!
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1
I love this adventure from playing it 15 years ago. I’m buying it, post haste! Regarding railroading; it’s not really a problem if the GM tricks the players into not noticing it. 😄
Glad to see this has been reprinted! The grognard sections will be handy :) Thank you for this video!
You're very welcome. Thanks for watching DungeonCraft!
Maybe the real monsters... were the friends we made along the way
In my case? Yep.
Absolute must buy. Have also bought the companion and am now running the follow-up, Death on the reik . This is the most fun I've had running a game in a Long, Long time!
Thanks so much for reviewing this and describing it so well! I got into AD&D 2nd ed back in 92 when I had just became a teen, I had grown up watching the cartoon in the 80"s along with movies like Conan and reading any kind of fantasy books I could get my grubby little hands on so finding AD&D was life changing for me, especially Ravenloft . I think it's a bit unfair you calling D&D the big Mac but I kinda see what you mean.
Anyhow even with working all the time for my dad's construction company and helping out local farmers with bailing hay and other things money didn't even allow me to get all the Ravenloft things I wanted, let alone many other companies products . I was aware of WHF but obviously missed out on so much, so thanks again!
I would love to hear your opinion on the VanRichten guides because they are by far my favorite gaming supplements , and calling them anything less the the finest ribeye I would find insulting LOL.
I often hear that comparison. "D&D is high fantasy... the characters are superheroes." I get that from a mechanical standpoint. Yet, I've never had a problem scaring my players and making my worlds feel dangerous. I often add elements of horror and dread to my game despite running 5e D&D combat almost exclusively as written. I never considered myself an amazing dungeon master... But the more I read online and the more I watch videos like this... I realize how difficult DMing is for most people.
I have 3 veteran players (we're all in our mid to late 40s) and they destroy content. Perhaps your players are young/newer to RPGs and/or don't optimize their characters for combat. I can assure you, you would not scare this group. 13/2 bladesinger/paladin, 15 berserker barb, and 13/2 divine soul sorcerer/paladin with his NPC love interest whos a 15 divination wizard.
@@IndyMotoRider True when you have veteran players it is a lot harder to scare them but it is also a lot easier to set the mood with a mystery. There a lot of DM maneuvers you have to do but the only horror available at this point of the game are either so grand that it affect all their loved one who or an unknown threat.
When you have character that high level, nothing will probably scare them.
That's probably because your a decent DM but the way Wotc has been creating D&D over the past decade they are definitely shooting for a high fantasy superhero vibe and ruleset
"Schaffenfest" translates more to "work fair". "Schaffen" meaning to work (implying tough or manual labor) and "fest" meaning fair or party (and could also be translated to tight or rigid if out of context).
"Schaffest" would be sheep festival .
Beat me to it. Schaffen is also create. so in a round about way it could be a makers fair. perhaps a nod to the makers fairs of today. Basically the same as mentioned.
I guess it would be Schafsfest. But anyway, it's kind of an unwritten rule that you must use broken german when making up words in Reikspiel, so it's all good.
@@biseinerheult78 let's settle on regional dialekt.
Maybe, but in the German version it is indeed translated/corrected to "Schafsfest": whfb-de.lexicanum.com/wiki/Schafsfest
@@TheDocAstaroth So the english version is incorrect, ok.
Love that you referenced Hot Fuzz!
Great movie.
my man, another great review! I hope a look into the companion book is coming
and if you don't have it get me a p.o. and i will get one to you just as a thanks for the content
It's coming for sure. Next month.
I agree wish you on this being one of the best premade adventures to run hands down. The ticking time element that can and with falure makes it truly a game to be matched. Keep up the amassing work ol professor!
As always, one of the best RPG channels around! Thanks for the in-depth review!
Glad you enjoy it!
This would be crazy fun to convert to a 5e hardcore mode style campaign for my group!
Woohoo - a new PDM video!
Thanks for watching!
More RPG content needs those grognard boxes. Always fun to have small tweaks you can make to this stuff!
I am usually a PDF guy, mostly because I am out of room :) but damn! I have got to get this book.
I'm running this for my group at the moment. It's great :-) an absolute classic.
You should really do more warhammer roleplay stuff.
I had such a great time playing the original of this back in the day. I totally agree about the cover it really set the whole scene
Literally ordered it right away during watching this video.
This sounds like a great adventure. I want to read it just for the story.
Excellent review, Professor. I'm getting ready to launch a Dungeon Craft inspired OSR campaign with UDT, but haven't gotten much campaign material together yet: this may be a good start. Cheers!
Hot Fuzz reference! A+!
Love that movie!
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Grawp
So many good games, so little time. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Yo, Deathbringer, brother! Snot coin for the Goblin youtube metric. Entertaining as always.
I have never played War Hammer, I have always played D&D. I thought War Hammer was a massive army only type game. I will definently be looking for this book. Thank you so much for posting!
I am currently getting ready to run the D&D Murder in Baulder's Gate campaign. Any advise?
Thanks for watching!
Warhammer started alot like D&D did with chainmail, as a small scale miniatures skirmish game with a narrative and a third party referee who was almost like a DM (something unheard of in wargamming today). over the years that evolved into the larger scale miniatures battle game it is now but Games Workshop has always experimented with spin off games based on their IP, including the venerable HeroQuest and also some really odd stuff like Blood Bowl. Warhammer Fantasy Role Playing (WFRP) was just their foray into a fully-fledged role playing game in their main fantasy setting, and it just happened to be one of the best products they ever made.
There is a dedicated Warhammer Fantasy Battle, where miniature armies battle on table top maps. And on the other hand there is the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, which is like DnD, Runequest etc. They both share the same universe / setting but have very different rule systems.
And you will diff not regret it!!!:)
@@TheFeanor74 Worth pointing out that the 1st ed WHFRP rulebook contained a section for converting statlines between the rulesets (specifically 3rd WHFB), so you could import/export characters and creatures from one to the other. On a couple of occasions, back in the day, it was a very useful means of handling large scale combats that our group sometimes blundered their way into.
I'm going to have to pick this up when I get a chance to run the Warhammer Fantasy RPG system, I've heard the original Enemy Within Campaign is considered one of the best Campaigns anyway. Your videos are slowly putting Warhammer closer and closer to the top of my "To-Run/Play" list now especially now that I am getting them into Low Fantasy style of games and worlds.
I bought this book when this review first came up..... and its been on hold.... Until today.
Our regular game is on hold for the next 3 weeks, so I am going to run a 3 week game. I have run many games before, but never a premade module. What are the odds I can get through this whole thing in three weeks?
Great review! Ordered it right after. Btw. you mentioned The Schaffenfest and that you believe that the term "schaffen" is derivative of the word sheep. You were close. :D "Schafe" would be sheep. "Schaffen" is to accomplish something. And a fest is, you already guessed it, a festival. I do love all those weird and quirky german names in Warhammer, especially since most of them are more of a parody of a real word which makes it really funny, especially if you're a German. :D
Good as usual. Thanks for the review.
Great review, picking up a copy ASAP. Hot Fuzz, one of the greatest movies ever - For the Greater Good!
Great review of one of the best modules ever written. Sham I didn't had the chance to play it.
Great review!
Any idea how long it'll take to run? I want to run it, but I'm worried about out pacing Cubicle 7's release schedule.
Is it a railroad? Are there options if the players do not follow certain steps? Or miss something?
I recently ran it with Deathbringer rules, but I was using the old Shadows over Bogenhafen, which was badly in need of a rewrite. The original was poorly organized for DMing purposes, imho. But very good adventure even so... hopefully the new version is better assembled and explained.
New PDM video
Let's feed the ALG monster
Thanks, as always!
only 360p quality?
I just picked this up (along with the Companion book) on a Black Friday sale, thanks to this review.
Do you think the grim dark nature of the modules would translate well to the Ravenloft setting (ala 2e’s Domains of Dread book)? I imagine it would be easy enough to treat Bogenhafen and it’s surrounding hinterlands as an Island of Terror (a domain separate from the Core)?
360 only? Or is it just my phone not giving me higher resolution?
Where is the post that has a Warhammer to DnD Conversion by the way? Would love to pay on patreon and get that!
Hey Professor Dungeonmaster, I only recently found your content and have been thoroughly enjoying it and in general I strongly agree with your takes on things: HP, skills, initiative, and magic in particular. Was introduced to D&D with AD&D2e and DMed for years in the 3.x system, but only getting back into it now. I was wondering if you could give some insight on a few things. 1) how do you roughly re-balance spells to work in tandem with scaled-back hp and do you scale non-damaging effects as well? 2) you cover how critically failing a caster check could make a spell backfire, do you have a similar situation happen when martial attack fail? 3) whats your opinion on mana-based casting as opposed to spell-slots/spells per day? 4) With hp scaled back, how do you approach magic weapons or feat combos which can give insane damage output? Any input is greatly appreciated, looking forward to future content as well!
I just can't get a handle on the WFRPG system (and it doesn't seem like my style anyway and my players are reluctant to do anything outside of the d20 D&D system), but I've been wanting to run this campaign for years. In another video the Professor says he prefers OSR systems for doing this style of game. Are there any suggestions on how to just convert this over to something like oD&D, Basic, etc.? It's really the plot/story/theme that makes this so great anyway, right?
Wow! That's quite an endorsement. I'll have to check it out.
Oh no! 360p? Ouch. PDM now with a limited edition Vaseline Filter. TH-cam must not like the Enemy in Shadows. Illuminati confirmed!
I presume this would be easy to convert to Zweihander? That's what we'll be playing next after wrapping up our Swords & Wizardry campaign.
Sometimes Warbringer feels like everything is falling into place, and other times he feels like Left Shark.
Will you play this with the WHFRP rules or you D&D homebrew?
9:02
Hank loves his timers!
For some reason I don't have 720p video on mobile
Great walkthrough. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
it look's great, thanks for the review!
This video came out earlier than usual.
I have a question for you PDM. How have your PCs motivated staying together? The PC that looks like Kastor Lieberung stands to gain a lot by ditching the party and going to Bögenhafen by their own. This is especially true if the other PCs are strangers and this is their first adventure together.
Was there an Enemy Within for 2nd Edition? I want to run it with 2nd edition rules
Nice over view. This is one that I have read about and wanted to run / play for years. I think I'll use shadow of the demonlord rpg to run it.
What's the most recent edition of Warhammer Fantasy RPG? Me and my players have been itching to play this
4th. Many people still play 2nd tho.
Where did you get a physical copy? Even I can’t find these except in PDF.
Fun fact: I used to submit stuff to GW back in the day but they sure did like to steal author’s work
Can this be adopted to play in D&D 5e with our own homebrew rules or is it strictly for War Hammer Fantasy?
Deathbringer brought me here
Great review.
Prof Dm will you ever review a sci fi RPG game? I recommend the Aliens rpg.
Am I the only one that seems to be getting some feedback in the opening intro? This has now happened on the last two vids.
Hah I find it funny that it's Warhammer but you show in the thumbnail a 40k character the Inquisitor chick I forgot the name of from Dawn of War II the expansion Hmm, I hope that they might re-print the Dark Heresy/Rogue Trader modules one day. But I doubt that. The Haarlock legacy trilogy (which I own) Is amazing.
Love the hair!!
One Deathbringer is a like
Sounds awesome
late again, but here for ya prof
Can this adventure be adapted to 5e rules? I’m sure it could.
Anyone willing and talented enough to convert that masterpiece to D&D 3.5, 5e or 5e Hardcore mode?
PDM has a short how to convert Warhammer to DnD in his Patreon. Really worth the gold pieces.
@@rolanejo8512 So that I know if it's something I'm interested in: can you tell me how he handles the magic system? Does he switch it to Vancian magic like DnD or keep it as a risk reward system? and does he preserve the WFRP Colleges of magic or use DnD Schools?
@@thelaughingman4791 i think he rolls to cast (as in DCC), have never read WHRPG but I know PDM is allergic to Spell Slots.
Isole Best Wifu
Hey just a helpful trick for pronouncing Grognards, it's Gro/gnar. the gn sounds like the gn in "to gnaw ".
Ask Ladies to roleplay more often, got it ;)
3rd time watching this
Just a suggestion. Next time when you review an adventure, don't go through it and tell what happens. It kind of kills the whole idea. I had to shut off your video at 1/3...
comment.