Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi All

I've been taking part in a Dark Heresey campaign for a few months now, we play once a month and it's my first (non computer) RPG but I think i'm slowly getting the hang of it.

Before I start asking too many questions I'll give you a quick run down of my character. He's called Pontius Silvanus, he's a Guardsman from a backwater imperial world and he's currently at Armsman level (level 3 IIRC). Skill and traits wise he's got good fellowship and BS with a fair number of wounds and fate point (18 and 5 IIRC), he can drive, pilot civilian craft, quickdraw, has a smattering of common lores and is jaded. At present he has no +10 skills that I can recall.

He's become the groups Heavy weapons man, he has a heavy stubber (called Beulah), a flamer and lasgun. Our GM has been quite good and allowed me to buy a load of tat from the book to make my guy feel more guard (I have all standard guard equipment everything from dogtags to sandbags).

To start with I was consentrating on keeping him alive as I wasn't really sure what I was doing, so consentrated on improving BS and getting better guns and sound constitution. However in recent mission where firepower isn't required or I'm upagainst heavily armored enemies like servitors I've struggled, as he isn't that rounded.

Roleplay wise i'm how the only puritan in my group of four, the rest leaning more towards the renegade path, however I don't really have any traits that reflect this. I very much want Pontius to become all about "Faith and Firepower"

So i've decided to be more proactive and try and develop my character a little more in advance. I know its away off but at some point I need to choose which career path (scout, officer, stormtrooper) to follow, and would like some input from more experienced players.

I'm leaning toward officer as the scout path seems to sutble for my character and storm trooper a little to WS based.

I'm thinking about getting bulging biceps but i'm not sure if my strength is good enough, does anyone know if there is a augmetic equivalent?

any input or personal experiences would be welcome

thanks
Spank

If your character is about firepower and you've found yourself lacking in it lately, perhaps you might consider going for a heavy bolter in the near future? Krak grenades might help on the short run. Alternatively, switch the stubber for a portable rocket launcher and stick to your lasgun for fighting normal foes.

I'd certainly recommend Bulging Biceps if only it fitting to what I think your character - toting around three large guns, one of them being a heavy - must look like (basically Rambo).
Perhaps this guy can serve as inspiration? http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod40004a

As you seem to emphasize firepower over recon and sniping (scout) or an administrative playstyle (officer), I would further recommend sticking to the so-called Stormtrooper career path. There's also an advanced career of the same name in Ascension which might be of interest for you, even if you're still a number of ranks away from even having to consider this question.

On the faith department, I would say that buying one or two common lore skills like "Imperial Creed" and "Ecclesiarchy" might be good to represent him knowing a few basics about prayers and how the Church works, likely out of previous experiences with a regimental Confessor from back when he was in the IG. As far as traits go, you could use faith in the Emperor to explain willpower stuff - y'know, all those traits that let you ignore stuff like pinning etc.

Oh and props for giving the stubber a name like that.

your character is about firepower and you've found yourself lacking in it lately, perhaps you might consider going for a heavy bolter in the near future? Krak grenades might help on the short run.

I had though about getting HW bolter at some point, the only issue will be funds. Guard pay isn't terrible but it's going to take a long time to get money for a bolter, and as generous as my GM is I doudt he'll let me find one of them laying around. Nearly got a bolt pistol but I accidentally cooked off the ammo with my flamer.

I'd certainly recommend Bulging Biceps if only it fitting to what I think your character - toting around three large guns, one of them being a heavy - must look like (basically Rambo).
Perhaps this guy can serve as inspiration? http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod40004a

Lol, not quite what I was going for. Little more hammer of the emperor than rambo. I did build a model for my character though, GM told me I didn't need to but it helps me get into it more.

As you seem to emphasize firepower over recon and sniping (scout) or an administrative playstyle (officer), I would further recommend sticking to the so-called Stormtrooper career path. There's also an advanced career of the same name in Ascension which might be of interest for you, even if you're still a number of ranks away from even having to consider this question

I thought officer might be a good choice to round my character out a little more, plus the Storm trooper seems to be very WS based and my character isn't good in hand to hand meaining I would need to sink extra xp into it for it to be worth while. The GM is using a lot of the books but I'm not sure if Ascension is one of them. Inquistors and radicals handbooks are being used, I think.

Oh and props for giving the stubber a name like that.

Thanks, I do love my stubber, only problem is bracing and in close quarters the flamer seems to be more useful.

5 Fate points? Wow you have a generous GM.

Look into armour penatrating rounds to sort the weakness against tougher foes. I think they're called manstopper rounds. Thinking about it I'm not sure if a Heavy Stubber can have them but it's a thought and if they can't ask the GM to up the price for you to find stubber version. Don't ask don't get.

Guardsmen tend to stick to combat related skills but check over your fellow players sheets and note any skills on your advance path that they can't get that could be useful. Medicae I would strongly suggest even if your Int isn't that great.

These other posts have great advice too which has saved me writing more.

Heavy Bolters are expensive weapons to upkeep. Each Bolt costs a lot of Thrones, and you reach a point where shooting at an enemy becomes a question of economy ie. Can I afford to fire 10 bolts into this person?

True enough. Depends heavily upon the GM in question.

In my group, we generally agreed that a team of Inquisition operatives shouldn't be forced to hunt for scrap metal and loot recently killed thugs for pocket money to fund their service to the state, so stuff like standard weapons and ammunition was free (on loan by the Tricorne's quartermaster), with the more advanced or custom equipment and specialized rounds having to be funded on a personal level, all depending on how successful and efficient the Acolytes operated as well. This at least kept the issue of monetary pressure away from people's backs whilst still providing them with an incentive to save up income.

Unless the cell would go into deep cover, of course, being forced to buy everything locally. Then again, this is where secret accounts come into play.

5 Fate points? Wow you have a generous GM.

yeah he is, but also i've done quite well by proxy. I started with three thanks to lucky rolling, but due to a couple events, designed to increase the rest of the groups fate points, i've manged to bag another two. I take it a sign that the God emperor is watching over me

In my group, we generally agreed that a team of Inquisition operatives shouldn't be forced to hunt for scrap metal and loot recently killed thugs for pocket money to fund their service to the state, so stuff like standard weapons and ammunition was free (on loan by the Tricorne's quartermaster), with the more advanced or custom equipment and specialized rounds having to be funded on a personal level, all depending on how successful and efficient the Acolytes operated as well. This at least kept the issue of monetary pressure away from people's backs whilst still providing them with an incentive to save up income.

We do a lot of looting and black marketing, it's why i've kept the las (apart from for fluff) as my GM lets me recharge it using the sun and other heat sources. Every now and again we get to load up on ammo but not a lot as I think our GM doesn't want us taking liberties. We share a lot of stuff too, we got to take a free pump shotgu or autogun at one point, I didn't need either but took the shotgun to give to one of the arbites in my party.

Guardsmen tend to stick to combat related skills but check over your fellow players sheets and note any skills on your advance path that they can't get that could be useful. Medicae I would strongly suggest even if your Int isn't that great.

We have a medicae in the group, he's scum and also a torturer and most likely to turn into a heretic, so taking it at a basic level might be a good idea.

Heavy Bolters are expensive weapons to upkeep. Each Bolt costs a lot of Thrones, and you reach a point where shooting at an enemy becomes a question of economy ie. Can I afford to fire 10 bolts into this person?

Look into armour penatrating rounds to sort the weakness against tougher foes. I think they're called manstopper rounds.

Unfortunatley the Beulah can't take man stoppers, which is probably a good thing. IIRC they are six gelt each (or is 6 for 5) and the drum on my stubber is 200. So like H.B.M.C said with the heavy bolter it will get expensive fast. I might look into getting a side arm with man stoppers though, with quickdraw it should work well.


I thought I give a quick overview of the rest of my group

There are four of us in total me, two arbites and a scum all more radical than me.

The Scum is a feral worlder, medicae, torturer. He can't shoot for gak so focuses of WS. He has a wrist mounted hand cannon, autopistol and an axe (great axe i think). He has a unhealthy obsession with daemons, hate the imperial church and he currently has a daemon hand and Xeno pet. Our inquistor put collars on his arm and neck to keep him inline.

One of arbites is close combat based, has a shield and stun batton. Keeps stealing clothes from corpses in the hope he may get to go undercover at some point. Also has servo skull obsession.

The seond arbite is less radical and the one I partner up with the most, he's a dark Heresey Vet and has been able to get a lot of stuff out our GM. He shooting based like myself, but is also a tech expert. One week when it was just me, him and Gm we managed to steal an arvus lighter which was pretty sweet.

We are all currently squabbling over an infernus pistol we found, none of us have the skill to use it yet but we all want it.

I really appreciate your help guys, as I said we only play once a month and I'm new to all this, so don't get to talk about it as much as I need.

I say you give the Infernus pistol to whomever has Pistol Training (Melta) first in their advance scheme -or- whomever gets Arms Master first.

Given that you want to be more puritan, I'd suggest the officer route. It just strikes me as the kind've thing a straight-laced Guardsman would do - rise above everyone in rank and bring the light of the Emperor to those that would hide in shadow.

say you give the Infernus pistol to whomever has Pistol Training (Melta) first in their advance scheme -or- whomever gets Arms Master first.

Given that you want to be more puritan, I'd suggest the officer route. It just strikes me as the kind've thing a straight-laced Guardsman would do - rise above everyone in rank and bring the light of the Emperor to those that would hide in shadow

Unfortunatley no one has it yet, so it's not an obvious choice. I wanted it mainly because, as said i provide most the fire power in our group but i'm lacking anti armor plus when we looted some artifacts i refused to touch most stuff as it was either more use to some one else or Xeno in origin.

That was kind of my thinking, i'm sort of focusing on the posterboy image of the guard, "faith and fire power will win the day"

Getting advice eh Spanky? (I'm the GM of the group he's in).

I'm not really sure which way you should go and I'm trying to let you guys figure it out for yourselves so your characters hopefully evolve more naturally. However I will say that the group is lacking in a lot of investigative skills particualrly those linked to the faith side of things, the more AP oriented heavy weapons (metlas, plasma, launchers etc). If you can get any of those it would help you all.

As for the 5 fate points, he's simply been obscenely lucky over the campaigns we've run. Afterall in one single session he set a rogue Tech Priest on fire, stole an Arvus Lighter and blew a Bishop's arm off. That's just the tip of the iceberg of fluky things he's done. I don't give out fate points easily, I can assure you he really earned them.

If you want Spanky after the session next week we can pour over the books and try to figure out the best route for you.

BTW I'd forgotten about that Infernus pistol, shows just how much random rubbish you guys have picked up over time.

Hey Nick

Yeah thought I should get pro active. You and Martin have been really good help and wasn't expecting you to guide too much as that wouldn't be fun, but you have to admit a lot of my character is just combat with role play padding eg me shouting burn heretic.

I would like to get something with AP but considering all the weapons I carrying I'd either need to upgrade/swap one. That's kind of why the infernous pistol appealed as i'm not attached to pistol and it's not doing much. Saying that, I could (GM allowing) sell it for storm trooper armor and a heavy bolter all though I would have to trade beuhla in

It would be good if we could go over some stuff at some point, i'm trying to map out my advances and need input and a look at my character sheet, and i'd like to use your knowledge of the other books we're using. Is there something similar to bulging biceps, like a augmetic arm, which I can spend cash rather than xp on?

I don't have my book in front of me but bionics don't really do anything an organic part wouldn't (exception being better quality) but there isn't anything say that you couldn't just buy a servo-skull or something and mount the infernus pistol or something else into it. I think it would make for an interesting change to see that flying around.

The Bionics in the basic book definatley don't, the arm add's +10 to strength tests using that arm, just wasn't sure if there was anything in any of the other books

The Foot wrote:I don't have my book in front of me but bionics don't really do anything an organic part wouldn't (exception being better quality) but there isn't anything say that you couldn't just buy a servo-skull or something and mount the infernus pistol or something else into it. I think it would make for an interesting change to see that flying around.

We did that. We mounted a Meltagun (made compact) on the team's Servo Skull (named Murray). He's proven to be quite useful... but runs out of ammo real quick!

Oh god don't give my players ideas like that they've got enough crazy rubbish as it is (ex Ad Mech Arvus Lighter, a "pet" Xenos beast, a daemon's hand etc)

I'm evil so I would give it to them and then take it away, maybe even use it on them.

Yeah we don't need help with mad cap ideas, I'm trying to figure out a way to get a sentinal

I think a lot of bribery will be required

Just don't take the body parts. It's not condusive to a healthy mind.

Keep up Lorna, they've been doing that since before you started up your Fantasy Roleplay campaign.

What does he have so far then?

Faith and firepower huh?

Check in the blood of martyr book. There is an advanced class called the drusus ahearent or something. Perfect for you.

Look into using a flamer and multi-laser and/or hellgun. Also look into specialist ammo for other weapons, man stopper rounds as mentioned are great.

Cool thanks, I will have to see if my GM is using that one.

What are stats like for the Hellgun?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

What does he have so far then?

@Lorna, none actually. I've been quite good really, I was tempted to paint my skin with the ashes of burned heretics but decided such desecration/adornmanet of the sacred human form would be unworthy of a true believer of the Imperial creed and the notion was probably the result of my association with the radical miscreants that make up my party which in turn is ultimatley designed to test my faith in the one true cause. That of serving the Golden Throne.

I feel that Kut Armasons III grissly trophy collecting was probably a manifestation of his dwavish indequacies and probably related to some deep running psychological issues relating to his father dishonourable reputation or knowledge of some, as of yet unknown, culmination of events foretold in folk lore known only to his subconcious all of which was compounded by alchoholic abuses and the partial loss of his soul.

If you ever come back to WHFRP then I will willing make sure that you get strange body parts.

SpankHammer III wrote:
What are stats like for the Hellgun?

Look in the inquisitors handbook, it has ton's of guns and other stuff.