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Hello Dakka, I'm planning to write a Maelstrom/ Space Pirates Fandex, and have a few queries on background:

1. Would Tau become renegades/pirates?
2. Would Dark Eldar, Eldar, Tau and humans work together, for instance a human pirate captain leading a crew of a mixture of Dark Eldar outcasts, Tau renegades (if they exist) and humans?
3.For what do freebooters offer their services, and how reliable are they?
4. Is the idea of a captured Ork being used as entertainment in fighting pits feasable, and if so would the idea of this ork being deployed to fight, in a similar way to Dark Eldar beasts, also be feasable?
5. Would pirates use captured slaves to fight (similar to grots)?
6. Would pirates also make use of other, less well-known species, such as squats or Hrud?

I also have a few questions with regard to whether some of my ideas would be deemed acceptable in the 40k community (yourselves):

1. When writing a fandex, is it acceptable to make up your own species?
2. Is it acceptable to lift characters/ units from other codices, such as Huron Blackheart or Flash Gitz (I don't intend to make a whole fandex out of a mish-mash of other codices' units, but I think a few fit well with the background)?
3. Would it be a good idea to have base levels of stats, say a pirate, which are the stats for a human? These can then be upgraded for points, so for X points extra, your pirate can become Eldar, and benefit from +2 initiative.

I'm new to this sort of thing so any input with regard to the above points or concerning making fandices would be much appreciated

1. Possibly but it would be fairly hard for the to reach the Maelstrom without hitching a ride from another more warp capable species. They'd also have to lose their Ethereal at some point.
2. DE are known mercenaries, Eldar are also known to have some mercs around, Human are obviously capable of this, Tau also have the possibility.
3. Guns, armour, other equipment, ammo. Reliable in the sense that if you'repaying them the most they'll help you.
4. Yeah easily possible.
5. Probably used for cannon fodder but yeah they might do.
6. If they found them then yeahthey might well do.

1. Yes but don't be too extreme about it.
2. Possibly... It'd have to be the right units. A lot of the DE units would be fair game etc etc
3. It'd make more sense for pirates to be regular humans with some training (Similar to regular IG but reduced Ld?) Then if you had some Eldar corsairs they would be in Elites.
DE Kabalites would be Troops but more expensive than the Pirates.
That's how i would do it...

Banzaimash wrote:Hello Dakka, I'm planning to write a Maelstrom/ Space Pirates Fandex, and have a few queries on background:

1. Would Tau become renegades/pirates?
2. Would Dark Eldar, Eldar, Tau and humans work together, for instance a human pirate captain leading a crew of a mixture of Dark Eldar outcasts, Tau renegades (if they exist) and humans?
3.For what do freebooters offer their services, and how reliable are they?
4. Is the idea of a captured Ork being used as entertainment in fighting pits feasable, and if so would the idea of this ork being deployed to fight, in a similar way to Dark Eldar beasts, also be feasable?
5. Would pirates use captured slaves to fight (similar to grots)?
6. Would pirates also make use of other, less well-known species, such as squats or Hrud?

I also have a few questions with regard to whether some of my ideas would be deemed acceptable in the 40k community (yourselves):

1. When writing a fandex, is it acceptable to make up your own species?
2. Is it acceptable to lift characters/ units from other codices, such as Huron Blackheart or Flash Gitz (I don't intend to make a whole fandex out of a mish-mash of other codices' units, but I think a few fit well with the background)?
3. Would it be a good idea to have base levels of stats, say a pirate, which are the stats for a human? These can then be upgraded for points, so for X points extra, your pirate can become Eldar, and benefit from +2 initiative.

I'm new to this sort of thing so any input with regard to the above points or concerning making fandices would be much appreciated

1. if they tire of the greater good. Now its the greater loot. A former crewmember of a captured vessel maybe?
2. a wild bunch of pirates could include a great variety. Just remember who tends to deem themselves superior when organizing the structure of this.
3. almost everything, transports, reclaiming "lost" things , slaves , dealing with forbidden things and commonly piracy ( letter of marque? )
Reliability? depends on the size of the offer and the risk. Well paid and easy jobs welcome...
4. a) yes. b) Orks are hard to control. An option of a rampaging ork should be there...
5. usually only pirates get weapons. Slaves could rebel...
6. maybe.
Part two:
1. sure, new species may find a place in this galaxy. Takes a lot of work to do them right tough.
2. don't. Maybe use an appearance of a known character in fluff as a guest. Or an example of a contract. Just keep them at "red-shirt-importance" level to your fandex. Better focus on your own characters since they are yours to command.
3. yes. Maybe keep the available points to spent in check. Nigh unlimited options for a pirate-captain sounds right, just think of the unwashed masses who won't have all the stuff. The share of plunder of a ranking officer would allow for some luxury, the common sailor however...

A letter of Marque wouldn't really apply...
The only thing i can think of that would be similar is a Rogue Trader's writ.

Banzaimash wrote:Hello Dakka, I'm planning to write a Maelstrom/ Space Pirates Fandex, and have a few queries on background:

1. Would Tau become renegades/pirates?
2. Would Dark Eldar, Eldar, Tau and humans work together, for instance a human pirate captain leading a crew of a mixture of Dark Eldar outcasts, Tau renegades (if they exist) and humans?
3.For what do freebooters offer their services, and how reliable are they?
4. Is the idea of a captured Ork being used as entertainment in fighting pits feasable, and if so would the idea of this ork being deployed to fight, in a similar way to Dark Eldar beasts, also be feasable?
5. Would pirates use captured slaves to fight (similar to grots)?
6. Would pirates also make use of other, less well-known species, such as squats or Hrud?

I also have a few questions with regard to whether some of my ideas would be deemed acceptable in the 40k community (yourselves):

1. When writing a fandex, is it acceptable to make up your own species?
2. Is it acceptable to lift characters/ units from other codices, such as Huron Blackheart or Flash Gitz (I don't intend to make a whole fandex out of a mish-mash of other codices' units, but I think a few fit well with the background)?
3. Would it be a good idea to have base levels of stats, say a pirate, which are the stats for a human? These can then be upgraded for points, so for X points extra, your pirate can become Eldar, and benefit from +2 initiative.

I'm new to this sort of thing so any input with regard to the above points or concerning making fandices would be much appreciated

1. It is possible, but very unlikely for any individual Tau, Farsight being a rare example of a Tau renegade. Perhaps it could be centered around DE slaves that revolt before they can enter the webway, but are too far from the Tau Empire to ever return home.
2. Of course, they would all probably look down on each other, but renegades have few friends and have to work with what they got.
3. "Teef" also probably cool looking weapons would work, the rest depends on what they are getting paid. If you are giving them a small ship full of teeth than they might work for decades, if you are giving them a cool modified heavy bolter or a fist full of teeth than maybe just a few small raids.
4. Yes and no.
5. Probably
6. If they can find them. Granted Hrud are less likely since being around them ages you very quickly.

1. Sure.
2. Characters are iffy, units are generally fine. The problem with characters is you have to justify them, and I cannot imagine Huron enjoying fighting with Orks, Tau, weak humans, and Eldar.
3. I would say have upgrades for each species and stats for each species eg.

Human base stats
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv
3.....3....3.3.1.3.2..7..5+

Eldar Base Stats
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv
3.....3....3.3.1.4.2..7..5+

Dark-Eldar Base Stats
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv
3.....3....3.3.1.5.2..7..5+

Ork Base Stats
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv
3.....3....3.4.1.2.2..7..5+

with some special rules for each like furious charge for Orks
So a regular pirate might be 5 points, with a 2 point upgrade to an eldar pirate or something

Cheers for the feedback guys, it seems that the general consensus is that lifting other codices' characters is dodgy and Tau are an unlikely occurence in the Maelstrom (would they be more likely in a Codex Space Pirates?). I have a few more questions too :

1. What language would the pirates be speaking?
2. Which race would be likely as a mechanic style units (I've heard that Squats are quite " techy" but I don't really know much about them)?
3. Kroot are mercenaries, buit would they operate in the Maelstrom?
4. Considering that Tau are seeming unlikely to be living in the Maelstrom, do you think it would be better if I wrote a broader Space Pirates Fandex to include them and other races that may not occur in the Maelstrom?

I also have a question on a FOC idea I've had, and whether it's feasable. I thought that instead of having 6 troops, the pirates can only have 4, and each level of pirate commander would let them hire a merc unit, so a Pirate Boss could allow 1 merc choice to be hired, a Captain two and a Lord 3. Mercs, such as ork freebooters or DE kabalites would be in a section seperate from troops. I thought that this would reflect the power of the crews well, so in small points games there might only be a small raiding party but bigger games may represent a whole fleet. I thought that a similar process should be put in place for Elites, so the player can only have 1 Elite, but can access Operatives depending on the rank of the Pirate leader (Boss= 1, Cpt=2 .etc.). These guys come in groups of 1-3 per elite slot but can be deployed seperately.So, what do you guys think?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Here's a list of troop ideas I've had, posted to be scrutinised and criticised:

HQ-Renegade SM Lord (option to have termie armour and Chaos marks).
-Maelstrom Pirate Boss/ Captain/ Lord.
-Maelstrom Mystic (psker leader).
Elite-Ork Brute Squad (Ork with similar stats to a warboss and handlers, which if killed cause the Brute to operate by some D6 table result).
-Renegade SM squad (option to upgrade to Termie armour and have Chaos marks).
Troops-Slave gang.
-Pirate Crew (options to upgrade to cultists if chaos).
Dedicated Transport- Autowagon (similar to Ork trukk).
FA- Pirate Inteceptor shuttle (light skimmer with special armaments).
- Maelstrom Buzzards (might jump infantry designed for rapidly redeployable fire support).
-Pirate Skiff Raiders (assault infantry mounted in an open top skimmer).
HS- Seige Droid (dread-style walker with a single demolisher cannon).
- Pirate Deck Cannon battery (heavier version of ork Big Gunz).
-Boarding Gunship (20 man transport capacity and lots of light armaments).
Mercs- DE Warriors.
-Ork Freebooters.
- Kroot Warpack.
Operatives- Bounty Hunter
-Spy.
-Saboteur.
-Assasin.
- Techy Man (Squat?).

1. Language'd vary between pirates, most human pirates would speak some dialect of Low Gothic.
2. I don't know that there's any particular race that's more mechanically-inclined than any other, you'd probably want Joakero or humans in that role. Leave the Squats alone, they were all eaten by Tyranids.
3. Kroot go wherever they're paid to and wherever they can find new and interesting people to kill and eat. Why not the Maelstrom?
4. It's an interesting thought, mix together Eldar Corsairs, renegade Tau, human pirates, and Ork Freebotaz in one book...

Is there much difference between Eldar Corsairs and DE warriors? BTW, I've decided to keep the Tau at a minimum, really restricted to Seige Droids and I've decided they'd be the tech guys too.

Corsairs are from Craftworlds usually.
DE warriors would be actual Dark Eldar.

Do they use similar tactics, and are Corsairs neither complete crazies like DE, nor strict warriors like those on Craftworlds? Would they be best described as human in their ways, but merely faster .etc., or would they still set themselves apart?

DE are more likely to try and capture people rather than kill...
Corsairs are more likely to just kill people...