The Only War RPG is a standalone tabletop roleplaying game where you and your friends play soldiers of the Imperial Guard. It’s the ground-level view of Warhammer 40,000: mud, lasguns, and the people who hold the line.
What the only war rpg is
Only War is a complete, standalone RPG from Fantasy Flight Games, released in 2012. You play as a Guardsman in the Imperial Guard, the vast human army of the Imperium. The game’s set in 817.M41, so it sits in a specific slice of 40k history.
It’s fully compatible with FFG’s other 40k RPGs (Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader, Deathwatch, Black Crusade), so you can mix characters and rules if you want. But it works fine on its own.
Why it matters
Most 40k stories focus on Space Marines or Inquisitors. Only War flips that. You’re not a super-soldier; you’re a regular human with a flashlight and a prayer. That makes every fight feel desperate and every survival a victory.
It’s also the only FFG 40k RPG with a martial focus on the Imperial Guard. If you’ve ever wanted to roleplay the guys on the cover of a Guard novel, this is the game for you.
The books you’ll want
The line ran from 2012 to 2014 and includes a core rulebook, a GM kit, supplements, and adventures. Here’s the full list.
| Title | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Core Rulebook | Core | 2012 |
| The Game Master’s Kit | Core | 2012 |
| Eleventh Hour | Adventure | 2012 |
| Hammer of the Emperor | Supplement | 2013 |
| Final Testament | Adventure | 2013 |
| Enemies of the Imperium | Bestiary | 2013 |
| No Surrender | Adventure | 2013 |
| Shield of Humanity | Supplement | 2014 |
| Salvaging Solace | Adventure | 2014 |
How it connects to the wider 40k rpg line
Only War is one of five independent games in the FFG Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay system. Each has a different focus: Dark Heresy is Inquisition agents, Rogue Trader is interstellar traders, Deathwatch is Space Marines, Black Crusade is Chaos followers, and Only War is Imperial Guard.
Because they share a core system, you can cross over between them. A Deathwatch Marine can fight alongside an Only War Guardsman without much fuss. That compatibility is a big part of the appeal.
Key facts
- Only War is a standalone RPG where players are Imperial Guardsmen.
- It was published by Fantasy Flight Games in 2012 and set in 817.M41.
- It’s fully compatible with other FFG 40k RPGs like Dark Heresy and Deathwatch.
- The line includes a core rulebook, GM kit, two supplements, a bestiary, and four adventures.
- Official support ended in 2016, but the books remain popular among fans.
FAQ
Is Only War still supported?
No. Fantasy Flight Games stopped official support in 2016, and the license moved to other publishers. But the books are still available second-hand or as digital reprints from Cubicle 7.
Do I need other 40k RPG books to play Only War?
Nope. The core rulebook has everything you need to run a full campaign. The supplements just add more options.
What’s the tone of Only War compared to other 40k RPGs?
It’s grittier and more grounded. You’re not a hero; you’re a soldier in a meat grinder. Expect survival horror, military drama, and dark humour.