this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2025
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Warhammer 40k

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Best edition for a TTRPG (upload.wikimedia.org)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk to c/warhammer40k@lemmy.world
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Many years ago I ran a couple of TTRPG mashups of Warhammer 40k and Dune. The emperor was much the same as 40k, the Sardaukar were marines, the Bene Gesserit were a plot manifested by Tzeentch, the Butlerian Jihad explained the lack of computers, etc., etc. It was - if I do say so myself - pretty awesome.

Now my kids are getting into role-playing and not interested in fantasy so I'm thinking about reviving my old mashup for them.

In the old days I used the 1st ed. Rogue Trader rules which seemed like the beginnings of an awesome TTRPG before Games Workshop committed fully to selling lead, then plastic, figures for skirmish wargames.

Is there a newer version of Warhammer 40k that is still TTRPG focussed, or should I dust off my old, loose-leaf copy of 1st ed. and work from that?

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[–] Apepollo11@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I know it's not directly what you asked for, but Stars Without Number is a fantastic Sci-Fi RPG, and is super open like Rogue Trader was. Honestly, reading it reminded me of when I first read Rogue Trader as a kid.

The single worst thing about it is that the cover of the book doesn't look very exciting when compared to other RPGs.

FWIW, you could easily map the lore of 40k (either the fun RT lore, or the modern stuff) onto the SWN game system without breaking anything.

Why would you want to use a different system than the original RT? Let's just say that in the 30-odd years since RT came out, much better game mechanics have been developed.

[–] Sanctus@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

Dark Heresy is a newer 40k TTRPG ruleset, that might help sort of.

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Stick to Rogue Trader, its way cooler than anything GW is putting out and your kids will have TTRPG cred later. "My first game was Rogue Trader" "...what, how is that possible?"

[–] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

You have a point there!

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I speak from experience. My first game as a kid in the mid-90s was with someone's old Blue Box around a campfire. That sticks with you.

Give them a tradition to be a part of and make their own.

[–] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

My first game was Red Box basic D&D with the GM buying the Blue Box about six months into the game. Good times, the early 80s!

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Im still a sucker for BECMI and its family tree.

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Not really what you're asking for, but if you like Blades in the Dark there's a hack called Blades of the Inquisition which sounds cool

[–] Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk 2 points 5 months ago

That's quite neat. Between that and a general history of 40k (plus the Dune stuff), I might have enough.

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 1 points 5 months ago

Oh hey, the stupid beaky helmets lol

[–] coreworlder@feddit.uk 1 points 5 months ago

I can't speak from experience, only observation.

GW put out a game called Inquisitor which was the closest thing to a 40K RPG they published directly. It was a 56mm game. It's been a long time since it has been supported, but it has lived on in the community under the heading Inq28 (using 28mm). https://www.reddit.com/r/Inq28/comments/182y7xi/where_are_the_rules_for_the_inq28_game/ is probably a decent place to start looking for rulesets, and https://28-mag.com/ has a lot of adjacent content.

In GW's current rulesets, Necromunda is probably their most narrativey campaign game. https://start-warhammer.com/necromunda/

If you want an actual RPG then C7 publishes two games. Imperium Maledictum and Wrath & Glory.