The Walking Dead Universe RPG
Earlier in the year, Bless These Dice showcased The One Ring RPG, released by Free League Publishing (see that review here.) This December, we caught up with Free League at PAX Unplugged and got to see their newest RPG release: The Walking Dead Universe.
For our interview with Doug Shute of Free League Publishing, straight from the convention floor, visit our YouTube channel here. For our in-depth review of The Walking Dead Universe, keep reading below!
Free League Publishing + AMC = Braaaaains!
Maybe the zombies from AMC’s “The Walking Dead” don’t crave the cranium candy like zombies from other properties do. Regardless, someone had an overabundance of brains when they partnered AMC with Free League Publishing to put together an RPG offering of this beloved television and comic IP. The materials are steeped in the post-apocalyptic aesthetic that you would expect from the franchise, and the game was designed to cater to both the casual board game fan as well as hardcore RPG enthusiasts. Thus, this is a faithful IP adaptation that will resonate with table top gaming fans of all genres.
Everything But Barbed Wire Bats
Free League didn’t release any physical weapons or survival products to assist in your survival when the undead begin their march. They did, however, release a comprehensive game setting that might help you and your party visualize how you will survive in a virtual environment! Free League had many core products available for purchase at PAX Unplugged and were kind enough to gift us the following for review:
- The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Starter Set (priced $49.99)
- The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Core Rules Book (priced $59.99)
- The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying GM Screen (priced 24.99)
Here is my impression of each component.
Starter Set
I believe the starter set is the jewel in the Free League offering. I say that because it is the most feature-packed and versatile aspect of The Walking Dead Roleplaying products. The box contains
- A 40-page condensed rulebook
- 16-page The Wolves’ Den survival mode scenario
- Six pre-generated characters to play
- Carol, Gabriel, Glenn and Michonne from the TV series as playable pre-generated characters
- A double-sided area map depicting an area of north Atlanta, Georgia and a region in Virginia
- Three adventure maps showing locations in The Wolves’ Den scenario
- Ten custom Base Dice and as many Stress Dice, specifically designed for the game
- a Threat Meter
The two most important pieces in the set are the rulebook and scenario book. They explain the rules and game dynamics, and give you an opportunity to play a 1 – 2 session game, respectively. The rulebook, although condensed, contains enough of the rules to play a rudimentary longer-term campaign as well.
As indicated, the pre-generated characters can all be used for both game modes, as desired. The 3 adventure maps are helpful in that they are used in the Wolves’ Den scenario, but they could also be repurposed by a GM for a home-brew game.
The threat meter supports the tracking of an essential game dynamic. Free League applied a prefect design aesthetic to the two sets of dice! That said, two sets of standard d6 dice (possibly of 2 color schemes for clarity) will work as well.
All in all, this is a very well orchestrated set. It contains both essential and value-added items that will improve the game-play experience. At just under $50, I believe this is a fantastic game-in-a-box product. It has the ability to elevate itself above a board game and into the realm of the full fledged RPG that it is meant to be.
Core Rules Book
If you plan to immerse your players in The Walking Dead Roleplaying campaign mode, Free League has created a Core Rules book that will be an essential purchase for you. Game play is based on a d6 system of rolling, that supports a skill check vs stress factor mechanic. While a detailed explanation of the mechanic would be outside the scope of this review, I will say that I believe the mechanic is a lot less complicated than the 5e rules and d20 system most roleplaying gamers are familiar with. It also makes more sense in the “real world” where the things we want to do can be more limitless.
This is the part of the review where I bemoan the fact that print as a medium has become unnecessarily overpriced. I do not believe PDF can, nor should, replace print as the preferred method of delivery for rule books and other supporting literature. From that perspective, the almost $58 price tag for this rules book is a disappointment. However, that is not to say that Free League is intentionally fleecing anyone. I have come to expect it as a consequence of the industry and its markets. I also assure you that, once you explore the book and realize that it’s effectively a players guide and GM’s guide in one, the value proposition is much closer to being in your favor. And for all that, the book is very well written and illustrated!
GM Screen
GM screens, in general, are an incredibly useful tool for any GM to not only hide his rolls but to provide quick access to some of the more common AND esoteric rules and game mechanics within any given campaign setting. Free League provides a very robust GM screen. It is made of thick card stock and contains very valuable charts and data. I feel like the $25 price is commensurate with the value being provided. I will remark however that the screen only folds in one direction, which eventually won’t be a problem, once I actually remember which side to fold first.
General Observations
I believe fans of The Walking Dead as an IP will be pleased with this offering from Free League. I also think hardcore fans will be left wanting more. It’s somewhat surprising that the officially licensed game doesn’t include a larger volume of characters from the IP’s library and their associated stats.
I also believe that fans of a the zombie apocalypse genre will be please with this offering and find nothing lacking!
As a long-time TTRPG player, I find one thing conspicuously missing: miniatures. PAX Unplugged was full of games being released with miniatures, just for the sake of including them. That is to say, the minis didn’t necessarily elevate those games in any way. In the case of The Walking Dead Roleplaying, I believe the miniatures would have been a natural inclusion. They would partner perfectly with the many included maps. They would have also added value for fans of the show.
And finally, this is just something that I noticed and also appreciated. The GM screen fits perfectly in the box set. And, while a little snug to fit perfectly in the bottom of the box, the Core Rules book fits nicely in the top of the box. This means you can nest everything you need to run your game into the one box, for a grab-and-go experience. I don’t know if that was done by design, but, I appreciate that simplicity immensely.
Conclusion
The Walking Dead Roleplaying is a fantastic offering from Free League Publishing. While some hardcore walking dead fans might see some missed opportunity to expand on the franchise experience, both board gamers and serious RPG gamers will find something to love with this campaign setting. I advise you to run…don’t Walker (get it?)…to purchase a copy for your own party’s enjoyment.
