|
I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of the Inquisitor’s Handbook, and I know a lot of us in the US wanted to know what all the fuss was about it. Well I thought I would try my hands at a review of the book.
Let me first say that I rarely say books are a must have. I think expansion books are great to add variety to the game, but not many are essential. Well let me say I would call this an essential book for all of those would are looking for a more information on Dark Heresy.
Chapter 1
We are looking at 4 new Origins:
• Forge World
• Mind Cleansed – People who have had their memories erased for their “own good”
• Noble Born
• Schola Progenium – imperial orphans who are turned into warriors
All of these are welcome additions to the originals listed in the core rulebook. None of them seem too powerful or extreme, but they do add a nice variety when creating a character.
Next they list the Unique Worlds of the Calixis Sector. Basically they took all of the origins and created a world that exemplifies them. They give a brief history of the world and a set of traits. Each origin world allows the player to swap their starting traits with traits from these new worlds. For example there is a Feral World call Dusk. Players who wish to come from Dusk replace Iron Stomach and Rite of Passage with Bad Blood, Little Left to Fear, and Dark Tales.
They present them as a sort of template for GMs to create further origin worlds to add variety. Very nifty and again keeps balance.
Next are the Background Packages. This is another one of the very cool features of the book. You know those 400xp you worked so hard to get for free when generating your character? Well you can use that to buy a Background Package instead.
Each class has 3 packages to choose from, ranging from a cost of 100 – 300 xp. All packages are class (and sometimes origin) specific and come with a nifty little background. These packages add talents and skills to your starting skills. Depending on how powerful they are, they can come with negative attributes as well.
I was really impressed with how they presented this section. They gave reasons for why you might have the packages. While they may not all be useful for all games, each package has its place for specific kinds of games.
As a side note:
For those who are making Marine rules, this might be the best way to go about creating/playing various chapters. Not all special rules for different chapters are equal, so by using this system you create a balanced way for each player to have a character from their desired chapter.
Chapter 2
It starts with rules for the Adepta Sororitas. They have added a number of talents to this class, of which the power of faith plays a big part. I have not really taken a detailed look at them, but overall they seem a nice addition to the game.
Next we are given rules for modifying existing careers. This comes in the form of taking alternate ranks. You may have heard people talk about the Gunslinger class, well this is what they are talking about. For those of you who are D&D people, it is kind of like taking a prestige class. Here is how it works.
First of all there is only one rank with a number of skills. There are prerequisites for take this class, but once you meet them you can take full advantage of them. Your character now has access to skills and talents they might normally not be allowed to have or get as soon as they do with these alternate ranks.
Here is a list of the new ranks ( I will be the first to admit I may not be describing all over these very well):
• Black Priest of Maccabeus (Specialist in Daemonic Knowledge)
• Bonded Emissary (Master of cultural knowledge)
• Calixian Xeno-Arcanist (Specialist in Xeno knowledge/technology)
• Chaliced Commissariat (Local version of a Commissar )
• Feral Warrior (Warrior of a Feral world)
• Legate Investigator (Mini Inquisitor with some actual legal power)
• Malfian Bloodsworn (Bounty Hunter)
• Metallican Gunslinger (Master of Pistols)
• Mechanicus Secutor (Warrior TechPriest)
• Moritat Reaper (Specialist blade using assassins)
• Reclaimator (Parts/material scavangers)
• Sister Oblatia (Sisters under penitence)
• Templar Calix (Martial Art Psykers)
• Tyrantine Shadow Agent (Masters of the Secrets)
• Warden/Divisio Immoralis (Shadow Police investigating chaos cults)
Elite Packages is the last section of this chapter. The name is a little deceiving. You can (with GM permission) take these packages at anytime. There are only three, and they give as many negatives as positives:
• Cybernetic Resurrection – You are brought back to life as a Cyborg
• The Cult of the Red Redemption – You become a Redeemer ala Necromunda
• Nascaent Psyker – You non-Psyker character develops psyker powers
Overall these are nice options. I often wondered how you would work a Psyker into your group from a Arbiter/Guardmans/etc.
The next few chapters are all set up the same. They took two places of Origin: Feral/Feudal, Hive/Forgeworld, Frontier/Void, Warzone, and finally Holy Ordos; and described the equipment, weapons, and armor that would be found in these locations. This is where the 200+ new items come from.
For everyone that was curious about items like the Power Fist, Assault Cannon, Autocannon, etc…these are all found in the Warzone section. You don’t see anything really radical in these locations, just variations of items we already know. There are a few new items, but overall it is very extensive. I think everyone can find something they really like.
Chapter 8 picks up with Religion and Superstition. This is background information for the players to explain the ideals and philosophy of the religion in 40k. I haven’t read this section too much in depth, but I think you get the general idea.
The last chapter, 9, is all about the Life of an Acolyte. This is a great section for explain how you might go about running your characters. It gives a basic overview of the Inquisition, and then goes into a section on the player’s Alter Ego. They really try to impress how important it is for their identities to be secret. Buying and using contacts is discussed next, continues then with new ways to using existing skills, and finishes up with rules on crafting items.
Again overall a lot of great information in this book. At 253 pages, I am sure everyone can find something they like about it.
As soon as I get my hands on Purge the Unclean I will read it over and give a review on that.
|
