If you are a fan of the Witcher video games or books, you might be interested in playing the tabletop role-playing game based on the same universe. The Witcher RPG is a pen-and-paper game that lets you create your own characters and adventures in the dark and dangerous world of Geralt of Rivia. Whether you want to play as a witcher, a mage, a bard, or any other profession, you can explore the Continent, fight monsters, cast spells, craft gear, and make choices that matter.
In this article, we will show you how to play the Witcher RPG, what are the basic and advanced rules, how to find and download the game materials, and where to get a free version of the game. By the end of this article, you will be ready to enter the world of the Witcher and have fun with your friends.
The Witcher RPG uses the Fuzion system, which is a simple and flexible rule system that combines dice rolling and skill checks. You will need a set of 10-sided dice (or a dice roller app) and a character sheet to play. You will also need a game master (GM) who will create and run the scenarios for you and your fellow players.
The Fuzion system is based on two types of dice rolls: attribute rolls and skill rolls. Attribute rolls are used when you want to test your innate abilities, such as strength, dexterity, intelligence, etc. Skill rolls are used when you want to test your learned abilities, such as swordsmanship, alchemy, persuasion, etc.
To make an attribute roll, you roll one 10-sided die (1d10) and add your attribute value. For example, if you want to test your strength (STR), which is 6, you roll 1d10+6. If you roll a 10 on the die, you roll again and add the result. This is called an exploding die. For example, if you roll a 10+6=16 on your first roll, you roll again and get a 4. Your final result is 16+4=20.
To make a skill roll, you roll one 10-sided die (1d10) and add your skill value plus your attribute value. For example, if you want to test your swordsmanship (Sword), which is 4, and your dexterity (DEX), which is 7, you roll 1d10+4+7. If you roll a 10 on the die , you roll again and add the result. This is called an exploding die. For example, if you roll a 10+4+7=21 on your first roll, you roll again and get a 6. Your final result is 21+6=27.
The GM will tell you the difficulty of the action you want to perform, which is a number that you have to beat with your roll. For example, if you want to hit an enemy with your sword, the difficulty might be the enemy's defense value. If you roll higher than the difficulty, you succeed. If you roll lower, you fail. If you roll equal, you tie and the result depends on the situation.
The Witcher RPG lets you create your own character that fits your style and preferences. You can choose from a variety of races, backgrounds, traits, and skills that will shape your personality and abilities. You can also customize your appearance, equipment, and relationships with other characters.
To create your character, you will need to follow these steps:
The Witcher RPG offers six professions that you can choose from to play as in the game. Each profession has its own special abilities, skills, and equipment that make it unique and useful in different situations. Here is a brief overview of each profession:
| Profession | Description | Special Ability |
|---|
| Bard | A charismatic entertainer who uses music, poetry, and storytelling to inspire allies and influence others. | Reputation: A bard can use their fame and charm to gain favors, information, and discounts from people who know them or have heard of them. |
| Craftsman | A skilled artisan who can create and repair weapons, armor, gadgets, and other items. | Crafting: A craftsman can use their craft skill and materials to make or fix anything they need or want. |
| Criminal | A cunning rogue who lives by stealing, smuggling, gambling, and other illicit activities. | Streetwise: A criminal can use their knowledge of the underworld to find contacts, opportunities, and secrets in the streets and alleys of any city. |
| Doctor | A professional healer who can treat wounds, diseases, and poisons using medicine, surgery, and herbalism. | Healing Hands: A doctor can use their medical skill and equipment to heal themselves or others from any physical harm or condition. |
| Mage | A powerful spellcaster who can manipulate the forces of magic to perform wonders and horrors. | Hex Weaving: A mage can use their will skill and stamina to cast spells, rituals, and curses that can affect themselves, others, or the environment. |
| Witcher | A mutated monster hunter who can use enhanced senses, combat skills, alchemy, and signs to fight and survive in a hostile world. | Witcher Senses: A witcher can use their witcher training and mutations to perceive things that normal people cannot, such as tracks, smells, sounds, auras, etc. |
The Witcher RPG also has some advanced rules that add more depth and complexity to the game. These rules cover the aspects of magic, combat, and gear that are essential for any Witcher adventure. Here is a brief overview of each aspect:
Magic is a powerful and dangerous force in the world of the Witcher. Only mages and witchers can use magic, but they have to pay a price for it. Magic can cause physical and mental strain, as well as attract the attention of enemies and authorities.
To cast a spell, a mage or a witcher has to spend stamina points equal to the spell's cost. They also have to make a will roll against the spell's difficulty. If they succeed, the spell takes effect. If they fail, the spell fizzles out. If they roll a 1 on the die, they suffer a backlash, which is a negative consequence of using magic.
Spells are divided into four categories: basic spells, advanced spells, rituals, and curses. Basic spells are simple and quick effects that can be cast in combat or out of combat. Advanced spells are more powerful and complex effects that require more time and concentration to cast. Rituals are special ceremonies that can create lasting or permanent effects. Curses are malicious spells that can harm or afflict others.
Combat is a common and deadly occurrence in the world of the Witcher. Whether you face humans, monsters, or other threats, you have to be ready to fight for your life. Combat is fast and brutal, and every hit can be fatal.
To initiate combat, you have to roll for initiative. You roll 1d10+REF and compare your result with your enemies'. The highest result goes first, then the second highest, and so on. You can act once per round.
To attack an enemy, you have to make a skill roll with your weapon of choice. You can use melee weapons (such as swords or axes), ranged weapons (such as bows or crossbows), or unarmed attacks (such as punches or kicks). You have to beat the enemy's defense value with your roll. If you succeed , you deal damage to the enemy equal to your weapon's damage value plus any modifiers. If you fail, you miss. If you roll a 10 on the die, you score a critical hit, which is a special effect that can cause extra damage or other consequences. If you roll a 1 on the die, you fumble, which is a negative effect that can cause you to drop your weapon, hit yourself, or other mishaps.
To defend yourself from an enemy attack, you have two options: dodge or parry. To dodge, you have to make a REF roll and beat the enemy's attack roll. If you succeed, you avoid the attack. If you fail, you get hit. To parry, you have to make a skill roll with your weapon and beat the enemy's attack roll. If you succeed, you block the attack. If you fail, you get hit. You can only parry with a melee weapon or a shield.
Gear is an important part of the Witcher RPG, as it can give you an edge in combat and survival. You can equip various weapons and armor that can improve your damage, defense, and other attributes. You can also craft your own gear using your craft skill and materials. You can also upgrade your gear using enhancements, such as runes, oils, potions, etc.
Weapons are divided into three categories: melee weapons, ranged weapons, and thrown weapons. Melee weapons are used for close combat and include swords, axes, maces, daggers, etc. Ranged weapons are used for long-distance combat and include bows, crossbows, slingshots, etc. Thrown weapons are used for short-distance combat and include knives, axes, grenades, etc.
Armor is divided into four categories: light armor, medium armor, heavy armor, and shields. Light armor is easy to wear and move in but offers little protection. Medium armor is balanced between mobility and defense but can be cumbersome. Heavy armor is hard to wear and move in but offers high protection. Shields are used to block attacks and can be combined with any armor.
The Witcher RPG is not just about rules and mechanics; it is also about stories and quests that immerse you in the world of the Witcher. You can create your own adventures using your imagination and creativity or play the official adventures that are provided by the game developers. You can also encounter and fight various monsters that populate the Continent.
If you want to create your own adventures for the Witcher RPG , you can use the adventure generator that is included in the core rulebook. The adventure generator is a set of tables and guidelines that help you create a plot, a setting, a conflict, and a resolution for your scenario. You can roll dice or choose from the options to generate the elements of your adventure. You can also customize and modify the elements to suit your preferences and style.
For example, you can use the adventure generator to create a scenario like this:
You can then use your imagination and creativity to flesh out the details of your scenario, such as the item, the location, the rival, the twist, etc. You can also add other elements, such as NPCs, monsters, traps, clues, etc. to make your scenario more interesting and challenging.
If you don't want to create your own adventures or you need some inspiration, you can play the official adventures that are provided by the game developers. The official adventures are pre-written modules that have a ready-made plot, setting, conflict, resolution, and other elements for your scenario. You can find the official adventures in the core rulebook, the supplements, or online.
For example, one of the official adventures is called A Grain of Truth. It is a short and simple module that is suitable for beginners or one-shot sessions. It is based on a short story by Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of the Witcher books. In this module, you and your party encounter a mysterious beast-man who lives in a secluded mansion in the woods. You have to decide whether to help him or kill him, and deal with the consequences of your choice.
The Continent is full of creatures that can be allies or enemies for you and your party. Some of them are natural animals, such as wolves, bears, or horses. Some of them are supernatural beings, such as vampires, werewolves, or ghosts. Some of them are unique monsters, such as griffins, wyverns, or leshens.
To encounter and defeat the creatures of the Continent , you have to use your skills, gear, and magic to fight them. You can also use your witcher senses, knowledge, and intuition to learn more about them. You can find the information and stats of the creatures in the bestiary, which is a section of the core rulebook that describes the appearance, behavior, abilities, and weaknesses of each creature.
For example, one of the creatures in the bestiary is the nekker. It is a small and agile humanoid creature that lives in underground tunnels and caves. It has sharp claws, teeth, and horns that it uses to attack its prey. It is vulnerable to fire, silver, and bombs.
If you are interested in playing the Witcher RPG, you might be wondering where to find and download the game materials. There are several options available for you, depending on your budget and preference. Here are some of the resources you can use:
The official website of the Witcher RPG is https://rtalsoriangames.com/the-witcher-trpg/. Here you can find all the information and news about the game, as well as links to buy the core rulebook and supplements. The core rulebook is a 336-page hardcover book that contains everything you need to play the game. It costs $50 USD. The supplements are additional books that expand the game with new rules, content, and adventures. They cost between $15 and $30 USD each.
If you want to try the Witcher RPG for free, you can download the Easy Mode PDF from https://rtalsoriangames.com/2019/07/05/the-witcher-trpg-easy-mode-is-here/. The Easy Mode PDF is a 32-page booklet that contains a simplified version of the rules, a pre-generated adventure, and six pre-generated characters. It is designed for beginners or casual players who want to get a taste of the game without spending money or time.
If you want to play the Witcher RPG online or use some helpful tools, you can check out these websites:
The Witcher RPG is a great game for anyone who loves dark fantasy, gritty combat, and moral choices. It is a game that lets you create your own characters and stories in the rich and immersive world of the Witcher. Whether you play as a witcher, a mage, a bard, or any other profession, you can explore the Continent, fight monsters, cast spells, craft gear, and make choices that matter.
If you want to play the Witcher RPG , you have several options to find and download the game materials. You can buy the core rulebook and supplements from the official website, get the free version of the Easy Mode PDF, or use the online tools such as the character sheet, dice roller, and wiki. You can also create your own adventures using the adventure generator or play the official adventures that are provided by the game developers. You can also encounter and fight various creatures that populate the Continent using the bestiary.
The Witcher RPG is a game that offers you a lot of freedom and fun. You can play it however you want, with whoever you want, and whenever you want. You can make it as simple or as complex as you like, as serious or as humorous as you like, and as light or as dark as you like. The only limit is your imagination.
So, are you ready to enter the world of the Witcher? If you are, grab your dice, your character sheet, and your friends, and start your adventure today!
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Witcher RPG: