FFG wrote:Begin Your Crusade
Preview New Ways to Launch a Black Crusade in The Tome of Decay




“Your boasts are empty, little sorcerer. All eventually fall to the Grandfather, no matter how they might scheme or plot.”
–Gullivox Arcul, Plaguemeister of the Burrowing Flies

With The Tome of Decay, the upcoming Black Crusade sourcebook devoted to Grandfather Nurgle, you join the putrefying disciples of Nurgle to spread disease and plague across the worlds of the False Emperor and throughout the galaxy. The Tome of Decay introduces six new Archetypes worthy of the Lord of Ruin, a new adventure, and rules for organizing and launching a Black Crusade against the hated Imperium.

Today, contributing writer Jordan Goldfarb writes on how you can become Warmaster and lead your own crusade.

Jordan Goldfarb on Launching a Black Crusade

Greetings, Black Crusade fans!

I’m here to talk about what we’ve all been dreaming of since the beginning – running your own Black Crusade and trampling the servants of the False Emperor beneath the legions of Chaos. Of course, it’s possible to do this using only the Black Crusade Core Rulebook, but in The Tome of Decay, there’s a new system designed for high-level strategic play that allows you to conquer whole sectors without compromising roleplaying or losing the personal touch that the best Warmasters are known and feared for!

When setting out on a Black Crusade, as an able Warmaster, you must choose your target well. The system in The Tome of Decay guides you to work with the Game Master to define the scope of your efforts, whether it be conquering the Calixis Sector, storming the Warp gate into the Jericho Reach, or even battling across a full Segmentum of the galaxy. The GM uses players’ input and his own plans for the campaign to prepare a Crusade Map for the forces of your Black Crusade to battle upon.



A Call to Arms

After declaring themselves Warmasters of a Black Crusade, you and your fellow servants of Chaos must quickly gather other forces under your command, ranging from other Chaos warbands or cults in service to the Ruinous Powers, to alien mercenaries and pirate fleets. The Crusade Forces system abstracts these armies during the strategic play of a Black Crusade, leaving an end result complex enough to be interesting, but not so much that you and the other Warmasters cannot intervene personally.

The Crusade Forces system invites you and your fellow Warmasters to gather support at the beginning of your own Black Crusade. Previous characters and groups from the campaign can become Hosts, Cults, Covens, Fleets, or even Lieutenants in your service, and other followers of the Dark Gods are sure to join fighting for a promising Warmaster. As leaders of a new crusade, you can put some gathered Infamy to use calling more followers to your banner. It’s generally a good idea to do this, even if you’ve gathered many allies during normal play, although if your army grows too large, you risk weakening your ability to intervene personally.



Ruin or Glory

There’s no way to talk about the lure of Chaos without discussing the perils as well as the prizes. To hold your forces together, you must intervene personally on key battlefields, instilling a proper fear into servants and foes alike. This opportunity to influence the battlefield personally allows you to wreak their own brands of destruction and terror across the battles of the crusade.

If you can’t control your wild forces, or if they fall on the field of battle, a dismal fate awaits. When a Warmaster appears weak, his own forces inevitably turn on him, and the Imperium doesn’t take long to rally if given room to breathe. All Black Crusades work on a time limit, calculated out along with the scale and the map, meaning that you have only one chance to make yourself into a living legend of terror. The greater the risk, the greater the reward – and though the consequences for failure are absolute, the chance to bring havoc, destruction, and disease to the Imperium is well worth the risk.

Thanks, Jordan!

Your crusade will bring the pestilence of Nurgle out of the Warp to engulf the galaxy in his foetid embrace. Prepare to launch your Black Crusades in the service of the Grandfather! Preorder The Tome of Decay at your local retailer today.

FFG wrote:Manifest the Power of Chaos
A Preview of Apotheosis and Possessed Heretics in The Tome of Decay



One ultimate ambition consumes every Heretic serving the Chaos gods: to rise to Daemonhood. In The Tome of Decay supplement for Black Crusade, you’ll find two ways to acheive this lofty goal. You must choose whether to take the long, slow path to Apotheosis and become a Daemon Prince, or to quickly gain power at the cost of your life by becoming a Possessed Heretic. Today, contributing writer Tim Cox explores both options and the unmatched Daemonic power you access through them.


Tim Cox on Possessed Heretics and Apotheosis
In The Tome of Decay, I worked on something that players have looked forward to since the release of Black Crusade: rules for playing Daemonic characters. In fact, The Tome of Decay offers a Heretic two new ways to embrace Daemonic existence and become closer to the gods. He might fulfil the ultimate goal of any Heretic by obtaining Apotheosis – elevation to the form of a mighty Daemon Prince – or he can succumb the quick route to power by inviting a Daemon to possess his body.

It was very important to me that the rules for Possessed Heretics and Apotheosis offer Daemon Princes and Possessed Heretics very different play experiences. Becoming a Daemon Prince is a huge accomplishment, and begins the Heretic’s eternity as an immortal Daemon. Possession offers a quicker path to power, but ultimately dooms the Heretic to destruction.



Possessed by the Warp
Any Heretic can become a Possessed Heretic through the Ritual of Possession. By doing so, the Heretic gains the strength, resilience, and Warp-born powers of a Daemon, but the Heretic must pay a steep cost. A Possessed Heretic retains most of his mind and personality, but must wage a constant battle for control of his body against the Daemon inside him. If the Heretic acts in opposition to the nature of the Daemon, he risks losing control of his body to the Warp entity within.

Rather than merely mutating with increased Corruption, a Possessed Heretic displays a host of potent abilities, called Daemonic Manifestations. These Daemonic Manifestations reflect the nature of the Daemon, and as the Heretic gains Corruption, the Daemon exerts more influence over the Heretic’s form, granting Manifestations such as a Chaos Aura to deflect attacks or deadly Rending Talons.

Of course, the Warp is fickle, and when you gain a new Daemonic Manifestation, you randomly generates the result. If you’re willing to take additional Corruption, however, you can bargain with the Daemon and modify the result. In fact, you can modify the result as much as you want, but you gain Corruption equal to the difference! This is just one of several ways that possession increases the rate at which a Heretic gains Corruption.



For a Possessed Heretic, gaining Corruption is both positive and negative. More Corruption means more powerful Daemonic abilities and Manifestations, but it also brings the Heretic closer to destruction. The further he advances along the Possession Track, the more opportunities a character has to take Corruption in exchange for additional benefits. Instead of achieving Apotheosis or transformation into a Chaos Spawn upon reaching 100 Corruption Points, the Daemon takes full control of the Heretic, consuming his soul. But for those truly devoted to the Dark Gods, this is a joyous fate!


A Prince of Chaos
Nearly all Chaos champions aspire to Apotheosis, but only the tiniest fraction ever achieve the mantle of Daemon Prince. Whereas possession allows an existing Daemon to inhabit a mortal body, a Heretic who achieves Apotheosis receives the ultimate blessing of his god, becoming a Daemon in his own right and leaving mortality behind. The basic requirements for becoming a Daemon Prince were explained in the Black Crusade Core Rulebook, and now players have rules and guidance for what happens next, allowing them to play as Daemon Princes for the first time.

Unsurprisingly, Daemon Prince characters are incredibly powerful, a fact reflected by a number of new Traits and special rules. In addition, a Daemon Prince gains one or more special rules corresponding to the Heretic’s patron god. For instance, a Daemon Prince of Nurgle can choose Aura of Pestilence, inflicting a penalty to all Toughness Tests for mortals in his vicinity.

Although Daemon Princes continue to accrue Infamy, they no longer gain or lose Corruption. As entities of the Warp, they are corruption incarnate! Instead, Daemon Princes gather a new resource, Favour, which represents the esteem of the Prince’s patron god. Daemon Princes can spend Favour to obtain Daemonic Gifts, powerful abilities granted directly by their patron Chaos God. For mortal beings, the gifts of the gods are subject to the whims of Dark Powers, but Daemon Princes control how the Warp manifests through them, and can select any Daemonic Gift they can afford.



A Daemon Prince gains Favour by completing acts worthy of his prowess and advancing his patron god’s agenda, whether by defeating the Daemonic armies of a rival god or corrupting the forces of humanity’s protectors. The expectations placed on Daemon Princes are high, however, and a Daemon Prince who fails in the eyes of his patron loses Favour.

Playing with a Daemon Prince at the table represents exciting new opportunities and challenges for both the GM and players. Although few opponents can stand against a Daemon Prince in combat, he must seek out worthy challenges or risk disappointing his patron god and suffering punishment. Daemon Princes are expected to wage wars against mortal and Daemonic foes, and even launch Black Crusades in the name of Chaos. Of course, Daemon Princes also face certain limitations in the physical universe, both due to their nature as Daemons and their size when manifest in reality. The inclusion of a Daemon Prince radically changes the nature of a Black Crusade campaign, but opens countless possibilities in the Screaming Vortex and beyond.


Thanks, Tim!

Whether you rise to godhood through Apotheosis or undergo the Ritual of Possession, you’ll find ways to acheive greater infamy than ever with The Tome of Decay. Declare your service to the gods of Chaos, and preorder The Tome of Decay at your local retailer today!

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Yeah miniature market had a sale on 40K RPG stuff a while ago. Milsims in Australia did the same thing. It's a good way to pick up any books you've missed.

 greenskin lynn wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Yeah miniature market had a sale on 40K RPG stuff a while ago. Milsims in Australia did the same thing. It's a good way to pick up any books you've missed.

those sales always remind me that i need to organize my books and see what i'm actually missing

 Cyporiean wrote:

 greenskin lynn wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Yeah miniature market had a sale on 40K RPG stuff a while ago. Milsims in Australia did the same thing. It's a good way to pick up any books you've missed.

those sales always remind me that i need to organize my books and see what i'm actually missing

In the spirit of this, is there a quick list of all the 40k RPG Books somewhere?

FFG wrote:Dark Pursuits
Preview the Adventure from the Dark Heresy Second Edition Core Rulebook



In the grim darkness of the 41st millennium, the safety of the Imperium is threatened from every side. The spawn of the Warp seek constantly to bring the Imperium to chaos and ruin, and the hearts of men are a fertile ground for sowing corruption. Outside the bounds of the Imperium, xenos species lurk, waiting for a moment of weakness in which to pounce.

Dark Heresy Second Edition casts you and your friends into the roles of Acolytes, tasked with standing firm against these threats, and the Core Rulebook brings the horrors of serving the Inquisition to life in its adventure, Dark Pursuits. You and your fellow Acolytes must investigate the Faceless Trade, a massive network of criminal cartels and smuggling operations dedicated to transporting and selling heretical objects. Your task is to investigate the origin and the destination of these forbidden artefacts and exterminate the heretics who dare to trifle with these powers.

Today, contributing writer Tim Cox shares his experiences from creating the Dark Pursuits adventure for your exploits in the Askellon sector.


Tim Cox on Developing the Dark Pursuits Adventure

As the introductory adventure included in the Dark Heresy Second Edition Core Rulebook, Dark Pursuits allows your group to start a campaign quickly, while simultaneously introducing Game Masters and players to the central theme of Dark Heresy. In this adventure, an ongoing investigation thrusts the Acolytes into action uncovering the secrets of a multi-headed conspiracy and a singular powerful foe. New players will quickly learn that traitors are everywhere, and that Acolytes can only rely on themselves to overcome the threats at hand. The Acolytes’ actions illuminate the heresies they face and reveal greater threats waiting in the shadows.



In this adventure, the Acolytes’ Inquisitor tasks them with investigating the source of foul xenos artefacts discovered in the Apex of Hive Desoleum, and any possible connection between the artefacts and a series of mysterious deaths. Most importantly, the Acolytes must uncover how these heretical items enter the hive city and stop those responsible. The investigation brings players into conflict with a vast smuggling cartel that deals in the most dangerous proscribed items, as well as a dangerous outcast eager to purchase the most heretical objects. Simply coming into contact with these artefacts could endanger an Acolyte’s soul, and before the adventure ends, the Acolytes must confront an ancient and corrupting evil that could damn all of Desoleum.

The Acolytes must maintain their focus on the most compelling heresies they find, carefully choosing their battles as they witness the crime and depravity that runs rampant amongst the citizens of the decaying hive. Focusing on petty crimes or even lesser heresies costs the Acolytes valuable time that they cannot afford. The mark of a great Acolyte or Inquisitor is the understanding and will to choose his battles. Visiting justice on the sadistic Babyfaces hive gang might seem noble, but by doing so, the Acolytes might allow a deadly arch-heretek to finish his dark dealings.

Enter the Hive

The Dark Pursuits adventure takes place within Hive Desoleum, a decaying hive planet and a home to hundreds of billions. The Acolytes’ investigation takes them from the heights of the Apex to the lawless borderland between Desoleum City and the underhive, before finally arriving at Gyre Voidport, a massive complex adjoining the hive proper. The towering voidport reflects the structure of the hive itself, with millennia of construction layered upon the original foundation, and dark things lurking in ancient loading tunnels and forgotten maintenance shafts. Here, the Acolytes gain additional insights into smuggling activity of the Faceless Trade, and must race to halt the delivery of an impossibly dangerous cargo. Corruption is everywhere in Hive Desoleum, from the manses of Apex nobility to the dangerous border territory of Three Stakes’ Rest.



One of my favourite things about writing for Dark Heresy is exploring the locations and individuals that make up the everyday workings of the Imperium’s worlds. In this case, I was focused on Hive Desoleum and its residents, and throughout the adventure, I tried to capture the sights, sounds, and smells of one of the sector’s major hive worlds. I spent a lot of time poring over classic Warhammer 40,000 artwork, in particular the art of John Blanche, to get the right feel for the city and its inhabitants.

As an example of this, Gyre Voidport plays a large part in the Dark Pursuits adventure, which meant thinking about how a major hive world’s primary voidport might work, and what Acolytes might experience when they visit. In the case of Port Gyre, the port is physically separated from the rest of the hive. This voidport features security checkpoints and the gargantuan bureaucracy of the Officio Auctoriate Porteus to oversee business, but the ancient tunnels honeycombing the structure and corruption amongst the Auctoriate allow a brisk trade in smuggled goods. It is the darkest and most dangerous of this smuggling that brings the Acolytes to the port.

Continue Your Adventures

Dark Pursuits introduces players and GMs to the Askellon sector, the setting for Dark Heresy Second Edition, and some of the new dangers that threaten humanity’s survival. Although Acolytes only confront a small sliver of these dangers during the adventure, the experience alerts them to wider heresies. By the end of the adventure, Acolytes have several potential avenues for follow-up investigations, any of which might form the starting point for their next adventure.



Hive Desoleum also serves as the focus for the NPCs and Adversaries chapter of the Dark Heresy Second Edition Core Rulebook, giving GMs an extensive variety of additional NPCs and groups to insert into the Dark Pursuits adventure if desired. Hive Desoleum also receives a detailed write-up in the chapter focused on the Askellon Sector, as well as some unique vehicles and items described in the Armoury chapter. Altogether, this wealth of information on Desoleum allows GMs to bring the hive city to life, immersing players in the world of Dark Heresy and opening the gates for dozens of continuing adventures following the events of Dark Pursuits.

I hope that both new and experienced Dark Heresy players will enjoy this adventure as a starting point for their adventures in the Askellon Sector. I look forward to hearing how different groups tackle the investigation and the many challenges awaiting their Acolytes!


Thanks, Tim!

Untold adventures lie before you in Hive Desoleum. Will you exterminate the Faceless Trade and the ancient evils within Desoleum, or will your Dark Pursuits lead you to your destruction? Preorder your copy of the Dark Heresy Second Edition Core Rulebook today, and watch for more designer diaries in coming weeks!

FFG wrote:Into the Heart
Preview the Adventure Included in The Tome of Decay



From your first steps upon the Path to Glory, you and your fellow Heretics have worked to attain your highest ambition: to become a Daemon Prince in the service of the Ruinous Powers of Chaos. In The Tome of Blood, The Tome of Fate, and The Tome of Excess supplements for Black Crusade, your journey led deeper into the insanity and darkness of the Screaming Vortex. Now, your final test awaits. In The Tome of Decay, you venture into the heart of the vortex to be judged by Grandfather Nurgle.

Today, Andy Hoare, the author of the Tome adventures, recounts the story of the Heretics’ journey into the Screaming Vortex and reveals some of what awaits you in The Heart of the Vortex adventure.

Andy Hoare on the Heretics’ Journey

The Tome of Decay features The Heart of the Vortex, the fourth and final adventure in a series stretching across the four Tomes. Each of these supplements adds details to one of the Ruinous Powers, and offers an adventure that tests the Heretics' ability to please a Chaos God. If you haven't yet taken the plunge and begun your own Black Crusade campaign, here's an overview of the challenges you might face and the rewards you might earn along the arduous Path to Glory.

Be warned, however: for every mortal that sets out upon this route, only one in a generation achieves the desired end, earning apotheosis to the ranks of Daemon Princes. Heretics might be driven beyond madness by the raw insanity of the Warp, while others attain the brink of ascension, only to be overwhelmed by the limitless gifts of Chaos. These unfortunates are transformed into beasts of thrashing tentacles, razor-edged teeth, and hideous Daemon-flesh, doomed to spend the remains of their lives as mindless Spawn of Chaos. If you’re determined to continue, read on to see the horrors and tests of worthiness that await you in the Warp!




There Was Blood

The Tome of Blood is the supplement dedicated to the Chaos God of blood, battle, and rage. Within this adventure, a group of Heretics sets out upon the Path to Glory, seeking a means to leave their indelible mark on the interminable wars and rivalries within the bounds of the Screaming Vortex. An incomparable opportunity to prove themselves arrives in the form of the Axe of Khak-Aksha, which they may uncover on the war-torn world of Messia.

The Heretics’ only hope of claiming the Axe of Khak-Aksha lies in brutally conquering or uniting the disparate Drill-Clans of Messia, before facing a millions-strong migration of bloodthirsty mutants. Success in these brutal battles affords the budding Heretics the chance to claim a powerful weapon, as well as distinguishing themselves in battle against some of the mightiest warlords of the region.

Vagaries of Fate

After obtaining the bloody blessings of Khorne, the Heretics' journey takes them still deeper into the Screaming Vortex, to the unnatural world of Q'Sal. Here, they have the chance to attract the patronage of Tzeentch, Master of Fate and Lord of Lies, by exploring the schemes and plots of this duplicitous Ruinous Power. During this adventure within The Tome of Fate, the Heretics become deeply embroiled in these cunning intrigues.



Upon this unnatural planet, the Heretics must cooperate to seize dominance in the labyrinthine rivalries between the sorcerers of Q'Sal. Whether they ally themselves with the sorcerers or attempt to defeat them at their own deadly games, the Heretics have a chance to gain the dark blessings of Tzeentch. Successfully drawing the attention of Tzeentch allows the Heretics to progress further along the Path to Glory and deeper into the dread Screaming Vortex.


The Six Sins

In The Tome of Excess, the Heretics' next port of call is the Ragged Helix, an anarchic body of Screaming Vortex asteroids. A myriad petty pirate lords haut these asteroids, dedicating their conquests to Slaanesh, the Chaos God of Excess and Transgression. Slaanesh and its decadent servants carry countless sinful obsessions, and in this adventure the Heretics must show that they can master each of the Sins of Slaanesh.

The challenge of surmounting the Sins might appear simple, but in truth, few can sample even one of the Sins without being consumed. The souls of the devoured are held forfeit and their journey along the Path to Glory is brought to an ignominious end. If the Heretics can master the Sins, however, they gain the respect and allegiance of the Pirates of the Ragged Helix, alongside the eternal blessing of Slaanesh, the Dark Prince of Chaos.


Death and Rebirth

In the adventure within The Tome of Decay, the Heretics have already risen to high status among the warlords of the Screaming Vortex, proving themselves worthy of a final judgement by Nurgle. The Heretics have mastered war, intrigue, and excess, yet on the foetid, deathly world of Mire they must face their greatest challenge yet.



On the planet Mire, at the heart of Screaming Vortex, the Heretics are granted the chance to be weighed in the balance by Nurgle. If judged worthy, Nurgle grants rebirth to the Heretics, inviting them to rise to become the mightiest lords of the Screaming Vortex. Heretics blessed in this way have the opportunity to lead a Black Crusade into the hated Imperium, or to ascend to the ultimate state of Daemonhood. But at the end of things, within the heart of the Screaming Vortex, the Ruinous Powers can be more harsh, uncaring, and fickle than ever as they judge the Heretics’ Warp-blasted souls. The Heretics must master death itself, and for many, their final steps on the Path to Glory will be the last they ever take.


Thanks, Andy!

The end of the Heretics’ journey approaches. Demonstrate yourself worthy of the Chaos Gods’ blessing, or else plummet to excruciating death or mindless servitude as a Chaos Spawn. The judgment of Nurgle awaits: begin the adventure in The Tome of Decay and take the first steps to apotheosis.

Preorder your copy of The Tome of Decay at your local retailer today!

FFG wrote:Spread Your Pestilent Gifts
The Tome of Decay Is Now Available for Black Crusade



“Through his blessings, death itself is stayed. In his embrace, there is only affection and love. Let us share his munificence with those still ignorant of our cherished Grandfather, lest they perish before knowing his generosity.”
–Pox Magister Effluvias Plo

The Tome of Decay supplement is now available for Black Crusade, both online through our webstore and at your local retailer!

Devote yourself to the service of the Plague Lord in this sourcebook for the followers of Nurgle. Within the pages of this supplement, you’ll find more information on the foetid servants of the Grandfather, alongside new Archetypes and corrupted blessings, rules for attaining apotheosis, and an adventure that leads you into the very heart of the Screaming Vortex for judgment by Nurgle himself.


The Blessings of Nurgle

In our first designer diary of The Tome of Decay, we revealed some of the new rules for leading your own Black Crusade against the hated Imperium and the False Emperor. By becoming a Warmaster and gathering the support of Chaos warbands, cults, mercenaries, and pirate fleets, you and your fellow Heretics can cut a swath across the galaxy, whether you aim to breach the Jericho Reach or battle across an entire Segmentum of the galaxy. With the new rules included in The Tome of Decay, you have the chance to command massive armies, while maintaining your own personal flair for spreading destruction and chaos.

The second designer diary for The Tome of Decay turned from crusading armies to the ultimate ambition of every Heretic: to attain Daemonhood. In this supplement, you’ll find two distinct ways to receive Daemonic gifts. The quick and easy way comes by enacting the Ritual of Possession and inviting a Daemon to indwell the Heretic’s body. This path offers the Heretic an easy source of Daemonic gifts, but in the end, the Daemon overcomes the Heretic, consuming him completely. On the other hand, through arduous efforts and devoted service, a Heretic may be found worthy of rebirth. A Heretic blessed in this way becomes a true Daemon Prince, and in The Tome of Decay, you’ll find rules for playing as a Daemon Prince and wreaking havoc across the galaxy.



Most recently, we previewed some of what you might expect in The Heart of the Vortex adventure within The Tome of Decay. The Heretics’ journey leads them across the worlds of the Screaming Vortex, encountering three of the Ruinous Powers of Chaos – Khorne, Tzeentch, and Slaanesh. Throughout these adventures, you and your fellow Heretics demonstrate your devotion to Chaos, and in this final chapter, your souls hang in the balance of Nurgle’s judgment. Truly committed Heretics may find their reward in a Daemonic rebirth, but those found wanting will become mindless Chaos Spawn or suffer an even worse fate.

You’ll find even more within the pages of The Tome of Decay. You may choose to travel to the twisting embrace of the Writhing World, or disease-ridden Hindrance. New Archetypes allow you to take on twisted personas such as the Warpsmith, Plaguemeister, and Death Priest of Mire. Whether you battle with a Pandemic Staff, Foulswarm Grenades, or the countless pestilences of Nurgle, you’ll find rules for using these new tools in the Decaying Armoury, opening the doors to countless adventures within the Immaterium and beyond.

Poxes and Blights

The unlimited power of the Warp is calling! Gather your Heretic companions and take your next steps upon the path to apotheosis. Journey into the rotting embrace of Nurgle in The Tome of Decay, now available at your local retailer!

 Miss Dee wrote:
Know any book that has Valk stats?