ZWEIHÄNDER RPG Starter Set Review. Was it worth the effort?

[@Zweihander_RPG]

Thank you so much for giving our game an honest look!

[@GMSMagazine]

It was a pleasure! Loved reading the adventure as a piece of literature. The story development is great!

[@omarzgdz]

I blame you for the fact that I just ordered this starter kit for myself! Thank you for a nice quick review, as well as the unboxing video. While I do know that it kind if is a Warhammer rip-off it stands out as different enough to be not just a 1:1 copy cat but a reimagined version of the game.

[@GMSMagazine]

LOL; I love to be blamed for things like this! I hope you enjoy the game!

[@valorin5762]

Starter kit is on the way! But I think they made a poor approach with marketing, since the Zweihänder Revised Rulebook is out since 2017 I think, and this starter box is still based on those rules, as far as I know. That said, the developers wanted to make something new which you can see in the layout and art of the starter kit, which is different from the Zweihänder Revised book, and they just finished a Kickstarter for Zweihänder Reforged which will come in early 2025. I'm really looking forward to that one!!!

[@GMSMagazine]

Same here... it's gonna be pretty amazing!!

[@andrewmarrington5654]

I think it lacks information about the world because it's based on Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay and that obviously that world doesn't belong to them. I don't have this set but the ZH books are very well produced and if I wanted to run a "Warhammer-like" game in a homebrew fantasy world, I think the game is great for that. Thanks for the great review of the starter set!

[@GMSMagazine]

Yes, I would say it feel very "warhammeresque" in how dark and gritty it is. I do like that they have gone their own way, though. I feel they have more freedom to do whatever they want rather than having to follow canon or pre-established lore.

[@omarzgdz]

That's one system that constantly pops to my mind. If not for the fact that I play only remotely that box would be on my shelf straight away! Thanks for a really nice review. I just found your channel recently and do enjoy your slow paced, focused style rather than the usual YT fast paced babble 😂

[@GMSMagazine]

Thank you so much!!! Very glad to have you around!

[@guysmcfellas615]

This looks like such a great deal. Our daughter is 11, and loves horror movies, but is also very interested in learning how to run an RPG game. Violence isn't an issue, as she knows the difference between real life and fantasy, but aside from that, is there anything "inappropriate" in this? I'd love to order this for her.

[@GMSMagazine]

I don't think there is anything else, to be honest. The authors are careful enough to leave any explicit s*xual scenes out and, in any event, I reckon it should be very easy to tone down anything you feel necessary. I wouldn't sweat it.

[@guysmcfellas615]

@@GMSMagazine Thanks! I assumed that would be the case, but it's hard to tell these days. People force that stuff into everything😅

[@Wraithing]

…so the Zweihänder Starter Set (to easily parse the differences with Warhammer FRP) with maybe Blackbirds or Flames of Freedom could be a pretty good combination of system and world-book then? Or, in your opinion, do you still need the Zweihänder Corebook?

[@GMSMagazine]

That is a good question. I guess that depends if you want to play the adventures already published without having to do any work. If you are OK with changing the lore so it fits Wharhammer, then I'm not sure I would need it. However, considering how tight is the Warhammer (at least fourth edition) RPG, I reckon it would need a fair amount of work.

[@Wraithing]

@@GMSMagazine lol Sorry, Paco. It must've been the way I wrote that comment 😁 there was far too much room for alternative understandings. Thanks so much for your thoughtful answer 🙏 Actually my Warhammer comment was just to say any rules tweaks and differences (to the WFRP original this clearly comes from) in the Zweihänder system look as though they are probably much easier to see in the shorter text of the Starter Set. What I meant was: it looks like this Starter Set would be a far better primer to start using the system (rules as written), then get away from the WFRP clone world of the Zweihänder Corebook. Maybe in order to try Blackbirds or the American Colonial struggle for Independence setting etc… It sounds like the included adventure's great - which makes it tempting too. For WFRP, it seems so much easier just to use the old stuff, or buy the Cubicle 7 reboot.

[@GMSMagazine]

Ah gotcha! Sorry... and yes... I think I am with you there.

[@Wraithing]

Now I'm heading back eight months to rewatch your unboxing/unbooking. Very tempting to consider getting this after the Christmas holidays is done for another year. I do love a good percentile system and Zweihänder keeps "pinging" on my radar.

[@scottwalker6947]

This has always confused me. What is the difference between this new starter set, and the existing edition?

[@GMSMagazine]

In a nutshell this is a summarised and more limited version of the game. It contains enough to play up to certain point and it doesn't have everything the full game has. For those wanting to try it before commiting, or for people who like to try different games all the time, this box is perfect.