13th Age vs Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
Compare 13th Age and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| 13th Age | Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy | Fantasy |
| Play Style | Tactical, Combat-Heavy, GM-Friendly, Heroic, Ascending AC | Gritty, Deadly, Career-Based, Dark Fantasy, Roleplay-Heavy, Atmospheric, Low-Fantasy, Investigation, Corruption, Lore-Heavy, Licensed Setting, Random Character Creation, Roll to Cast, Grimdark |
| Core Mechanic | Roll d20 + modifier vs. defense. The escalation die (a d6 that increases each combat round, adding to player attacks) builds momentum. One Unique Things and Icon Relationships tie characters to the setting and drive story. | Roll d100 under skill or characteristic. Success Levels measure degree of success by comparing the tens digits of the target and the roll. Advantage accumulates during combat, adding +10 per point to attack tests. |
| Dice | d20 | d100 |
| Complexity | Medium | Medium |
| Accessibility | High | Medium |
| Community | Medium | Medium |
| License | ORC License | No open license |
| Cost | $$ | $$$ |
| Publisher | Pelgrane Press | Cubicle 7 |
| Year | 2025 | 2018 |
| Best For | Groups who love d20 fantasy combat but want more narrative freedom, improvisational play, and story-driven character connections baked into the mechanics. | Groups who want dark, gritty fantasy where ordinary people face extraordinary dangers in a richly detailed setting. The career system creates unique character arcs from rat catcher to witch hunter. |
| Highlights | Escalation die keeps combat moving, One Unique Things and Icon Relationships create narrative hooks, streamlined monster design makes GM prep fast | Detailed grimdark setting, career system creates varied character arcs, combat carries real consequences |
| Considerations | Tightly coupled to its default setting through the Icon system, some classes have complex trigger systems | Tightly bound to the Old World setting, Success Level math can slow play, expensive supplement line |