Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game
Encyclopedia
Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game is a role-playing game
line published by Sword & Sorcery in 2003, based on the Warcraft
computer game (and later also World of Warcraft
) and set in the Warcraft Universe
. The second edition is officially called World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, but both editions are commonly referred to as the "Warcraft RPG" or "Warcraft tabletop" to avoid confusion with the World of Warcraft
MMORPG
.
All first edition books include art from renowned artists like Sam "Samwise" Didier (Art Director at Blizzard Entertainment), Travis Thammer (concept art for Warcraft III) and Chris Metzen (Blizzard's Vice President of Creative Development).
updated the rules for the game into a new edition and renamed the series World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game to tie in with the success of World of Warcraft
, under the Open Gaming License.
The Art in second edition continued to have Samwise Didier in its crew but no longer Metzen. Instead it had been praised with likewise talented artists as Glenn Rane (who also created many of the recent covers for novel books and Burning Crusade concept art). Glenn was responsible for the entire art found in the Monster Guide marking it as the only book to have just one artist.
The early version of the game was full of short stories throughout the series. Unfortunately there are little or no short stories printed in the new series with only the core rulebook containing a simple anecdote in the introduction to the book. This has since changed, as the Alliance Player's Guide, the Horde Player's Guide, and Dark Factions all include several short stories in the format of sidebars instead of full-pages.
Like the MMO, Chris Metzen is in charge of the lore, and he uses the books to expand upon things in his view of the World of Warcraft. Many things do not show up in the MMO, due to limitations the game's scale, and other gameplay mechanics. Metzen's personal view is that the history of Azeroth is not found in just one source, but includes the RPG, Novels, Comics, Manuals, and Games.
Most of the books are placed chronologically before World of Warcraft, and authors such as Brann Bronzebeard cover many alternate legends believed by the people of Azeroth covering various topics. Many of the books are located at earlier points in the timeline, and the culture, and population factors, and other historical events have taken place or changed since the point in time they cover.
Many cultures have changed since the period of time when the RPG books take place, and even between the events of the books. Some cultures mentioned no longer exist at the time of World of Warcraft, and some are cultures that existed thousands of years before or during the "War of the Ancients".
Still, the books of the roleplaying game is one of the major sources for lore of the Warcraft universe, and is often quoted on several Wikis related to the different games.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
line published by Sword & Sorcery in 2003, based on the Warcraft
Warcraft
Warcraft: Orcs & Humans is a real-time strategy game , developed by Blizzard Entertainment and published by Blizzard and Interplay Entertainment. The MS-DOS version was released in November 1994 and the Macintosh version in late 1996. Sales were fairly high, reviewers were mostly impressed, and the...
computer game (and later also World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
) and set in the Warcraft Universe
Warcraft Universe
Warcraft is a franchise of video games, novels, and other media originally created by Blizzard Entertainment. The series is made up of Four core games: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and World of Warcraft...
. The second edition is officially called World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, but both editions are commonly referred to as the "Warcraft RPG" or "Warcraft tabletop" to avoid confusion with the World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
.
All first edition books include art from renowned artists like Sam "Samwise" Didier (Art Director at Blizzard Entertainment), Travis Thammer (concept art for Warcraft III) and Chris Metzen (Blizzard's Vice President of Creative Development).
The First to Second Edition Transition
In 2005 White WolfWhite Wolf
White Wolf is a publisher of role-playing games, notably the World of Darkness.White Wolf may also refer to:*White Wolf , a location in Yosemite National Park*White Wolf , a Canadian heavy metal band...
updated the rules for the game into a new edition and renamed the series World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game to tie in with the success of World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
, under the Open Gaming License.
The Art in second edition continued to have Samwise Didier in its crew but no longer Metzen. Instead it had been praised with likewise talented artists as Glenn Rane (who also created many of the recent covers for novel books and Burning Crusade concept art). Glenn was responsible for the entire art found in the Monster Guide marking it as the only book to have just one artist.
The early version of the game was full of short stories throughout the series. Unfortunately there are little or no short stories printed in the new series with only the core rulebook containing a simple anecdote in the introduction to the book. This has since changed, as the Alliance Player's Guide, the Horde Player's Guide, and Dark Factions all include several short stories in the format of sidebars instead of full-pages.
Like the MMO, Chris Metzen is in charge of the lore, and he uses the books to expand upon things in his view of the World of Warcraft. Many things do not show up in the MMO, due to limitations the game's scale, and other gameplay mechanics. Metzen's personal view is that the history of Azeroth is not found in just one source, but includes the RPG, Novels, Comics, Manuals, and Games.
Most of the books are placed chronologically before World of Warcraft, and authors such as Brann Bronzebeard cover many alternate legends believed by the people of Azeroth covering various topics. Many of the books are located at earlier points in the timeline, and the culture, and population factors, and other historical events have taken place or changed since the point in time they cover.
Many cultures have changed since the period of time when the RPG books take place, and even between the events of the books. Some cultures mentioned no longer exist at the time of World of Warcraft, and some are cultures that existed thousands of years before or during the "War of the Ancients".
Still, the books of the roleplaying game is one of the major sources for lore of the Warcraft universe, and is often quoted on several Wikis related to the different games.