Iron Kingdoms

Ghost Whistler · May 25, 2011, 07:01:23 AM

What was so good about this setting? Why is it not on the shelf of my flgs in a decent format (or even as a 4e setting)? I hear good things about this game, and only good things.

Simlasa · May 25, 2011, 07:14:55 AM

It's out of print isn't it?

I was under the impression that it's been gone for a while, that copies of the books fetch big prices on Ebay... and fans wish Privateer would put out a new edition.
There are PDFs available on Drive Thru RPG... for some of the books at least.

It's comparable to the 40K RPGs for the Warmachine fans.
I kind of like the setting, but not the wargame... it's vaguely 18th century-ish... magical steam tech... big magical mechs battling it out... archaic guns... undead pirates.
I'm not sure if it ever included content from Hordes... which is about huge battling monsters and magical golems.

Ghost Whistler · May 25, 2011, 07:20:43 AM

Never played the wargame.

But the setting seemed to garner some degree of plaudits. I had heard some rumour of a new edition, but closer investigation points to rumours to the contrary. Not really surprising in these days of tightened belts.

Simlasa · May 25, 2011, 08:07:42 AM

I think, similar to Games Workshop, Privateer makes their dough off of miniatures... and they realize RPGs don't sell a lot of figures.
If a new edition comes out maybe it will be from FFG or somesuch.

Ghost Whistler · May 25, 2011, 08:28:39 AM

Did they print the rpg?

The Butcher · May 25, 2011, 08:50:42 AM

It was pretty much the best steampunk fantasy d20 setting out there.

It boasts an interesting and well-developed world, a "killer app" adventure (the Witchfire Trilogy, which I've never read or played so I can't comment) and spawned the Warmachine miniatures game which quickly became the company's cash cow and eventually made them turn their backs to RPGs, for some time now.

There's been sporadic talk of releasing a stand-alone Iron Kingdoms RPG with a new system, for some three years now, but no concrete signs of that happening. I wouldn't hold my breath...

danbuter · May 25, 2011, 10:36:59 AM

Considering how the GSL is worded, I strongly doubt Privateer will risk their IP by making a 4e version. I'd be very happy if they did a Pathfinder version, though.

If you like big clockwork/steampunk style robots powered by magic, wheelock pistols and rifles, a sorta-Soviet country, and similar stuff, you'll likely love the Iron Kingdoms.

Simlasa · May 25, 2011, 07:20:59 PM

Quote from: The Butcher;460417...and spawned the Warmachine miniatures game which quickly became the company's cash cow and eventually made them turn their backs to RPGs, for some time now.

Up until I read that I had been under the impression that the miniatures game came first by a fair bit... the miniatures were certainly on MY radar long before the RPG.
After googling it, yep, the RPG was 2001... wargame 2003... they'd originally planned an RPG and a video game... but once they saw how the designs of the mechs came out they thought it'd make for a cool wargame.

Actually, that makes me more enthusiastic about reading up on the RPG... knowing it wasn't an afterthought but the genesis of the setting.

danbuter · May 25, 2011, 07:31:36 PM

I'm pretty sure the first book of the Witchfire Trilogy was one of the earliest available adventure modules for 3e.

Sacrificial Lamb · May 26, 2011, 12:12:03 AM

I've always wanted to get this game, but never got around to purchasing it. Now that the books are out of print, they've become almost prohibitively expensive. That's too bad, since this looks like a great game. But you know what? I'm glad you started the thread, because I'll be picking this puppy up soon. My campaign can use a little extra mojo, and I hope IK hits the spot..

Blackhand · May 26, 2011, 02:52:47 AM

Iron Kingdoms material is really awesome. Just started a Warmachine army, and my club has started a new initiative for the minis game.

Setting material is great and rather exhaustive, at least from the wargames books I have. Most of the material filling main rulebook for MkII and the various Forces books is mostly fluff.

I have a firm grip on Western Immoren, and I've already gotten one of the main three Iron Kingdoms d20 books. They go for 60-70 USD apiece for the first two, and you can score the Monsternomicon for around 40 bones as well.

Simlasa · May 26, 2011, 03:27:05 AM

When I first got the Warmachine Prime book in their initial pre-order push... the fiction bits in it were awful... like they'd hired someone's 12yr old nephew to write the fluff. Like, bad for RPG fiction bad...

That... the 'play like you've got a pair' geek-macho nonsense... and the CCG feeling to the game-play was enough to turn me off the game... but I continued to collect the miniatures and use them in other games. We use the mechs as IG robots (homunculi) in games of 40K (Cryx for Chaos robots)... and they've shown up in one our Deadlands battles.

The setting still interests me though... I should to get a look at the RPG... maybe it's better written.

Blackhand · May 26, 2011, 12:10:06 PM

I thought it on par with most other game fluff/stories.

Then again, I have never gandered the WM Prime first edition, only the MkII.

As an aside, "Play Like You've Got A Pair" translates to : "Get Ready for Hand-to-Hand Combat".

Simlasa · May 26, 2011, 02:55:29 PM

Quote from: Blackhand;460655As an aside, "Play Like You've Got A Pair" translates to : "Get Ready for Hand-to-Hand Combat".

I took it to be a marketing ploy to make geeks feel studly about playing with dolls.

I'll have another look at Prime to see why it bugged me so...

Blackhand · May 26, 2011, 04:07:46 PM

It could be taken that way.

From a wargamer's perspective and the explanation in the MkII book, it roughly equates to: "Yes there are guns, but the longest range is 16 inches."

Meaning be aggressive and move your models into base contact, i.e. HtH.