The Talk of Talagaad - Landmarks in Warhammer: the Old World Roleplaying Game
Talagaad is throwing open its gates and rolling out the mud-stained carpet to visitors — but all is far from well in Talabec's most infamous port. It’s time to pull on your best pair of boots, sharpen your blade, and whisper a prayer to Taal, as we dive into the brand new Starter Set for Warhammer: the Old World Roleplaying Game!
The new Warhammer: the Old World Roleplaying Game Starter Set is a self-contained introduction to the World of Legend, that can be played without any other books in the gameline. But the box set is more than a standalone adventure – it’s also designed as the first step in the journey, so that as you move onto the Player’s Guide, Gamemaster’s Guide and beyond, you’ll be discovering more about the port town of Talagaad, its people, and its districts. To see how game systems combine for deeper, more exciting adventures, let’s find a spot at the Boyar’s Rest, one of the many detailed landmarks found in the Starter Set.
Excerpt from Talagaad Town Guide. Art by Cristiana Leone.
The Boyar’s Rest is the most notorious tavern in Flussdreck, Talagaad’s roughest district. Frequented by criminals and ne’er-do-wells, it’s the perfect location for would-be-heroes to meet with their Contacts — key NPCs who connect characters to the Old World, providing information and occasional guidance. In the Starter Set, all characters have a common ally in Jaime de Sabatin, a vagabond who deals in looted artefacts. Players will learn more about him and The Rest during the first part of The Hand That Feeds adventure, also part of the set.
But de Sabatin is not the only figure of influence the characters might bargain with around the rowdy tables at the Boyar’s Rest. Found among the regulars are the likes of the elder Yury Kagan, the disgraced noble Horst von Schmettoch, and the old soldier Rosamunde Nemevich. If your character starts with one of these NPCs as a Contact, it’s likely that they’re also frequent patrons of the tavern — which provides even more opportunities to introduce the adventure hooks at that location.
Excerpt from Gamemaster’s Guide page 26. Art by David Astruga.
A pub favoured by Kislevite folk, the Boyar’s Rest is widely rumoured to be a den of criminals and cutthroats which the Watch and State Troops strictly avoid. Those who gather enough courage to visit the ‘Rest are usually surprised by what they find — a ramshackle, bustling tavern filled with drinking, talking, and friendly gambling, but no violence. This is because for all its infamy, the Boyar’s Rest values discretion. The reason for that, and why such a contradictory location would have among its features a shrine to help the destitute of Flussdreck are detailed at the Talagaad Town Guide, a booklet that details the ‘Rest and many other points of interest in the region.
The Starter Set, its characters and plot hooks will set you up well for more adventures after you’ve finished The Hand That Feeds. With the rules for making your own character in the Player’s Guide, you might even own the Boyar’s Rest if you acquire a tavern on the Random Asset table.
Excerpt from Player’s Guide page 61.
From here, new and dramatic stories should emerge seamlessly from the game’s interlocking systems. For example, GMs will know from the Dark Threads in the Gamemaster’s Guide that the local State Troop regiment, the Talagaad Longsights, usually turn a blind eye to activities by the Redgrins street gang. It stands to reason that Redgrins gang members would patronise the Boyar’s Rest. But we also know from Horst von Schmettoch’s description that he is commonly in trouble with the Longsights — and the Boyar’s Rest is a likely spot for them to find him. If the Longsights arrested the noble in the Boyar’s Rest, how would the Redgrins react to having State Troops on their turf, and whose side would the characters be on?
Excerpt from Gamemaster’s Guide page 52.
Of course, that story emerges from just one landmark, one Contact, and two nodes on the Dark Threads. Between the Starter Set and the Gamemaster’s Guide, there are dozens of combinations to explore — enough to keep your campaign going for years to come.
The Starter Set for Warhammer: the Old World Roleplaying Game is now available for pre-order. Purchase now here, and get your digital copy immediately. And, when you're ready to further explore the World of Legend, the Player’s Guide and Gamemaster’s Guide are also available for pre-order with digital copies readily available.
the Old World
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