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Kanluwen wrote:On a scale of Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer to the Imperial Guard Codex; how essential is this book for a Guard fan?

It's a book about the Imperial Guard, with parts of it written by me, so that puts it pretty high on the 'must buy' scale IMO.

In all seriousness though there’s nothing I can say that won’t sound incredibly biased, so instead I’ll just say this:

If you’ve bought other FFG books just for the fluff/artwork, then this is a good book to get. It covers a lot of Guard-flavoured ground, and if you’re as big a Guard fan as me, then I wouldn’t miss it.

H.B.M.C. wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:On a scale of Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer to the Imperial Guard Codex; how essential is this book for a Guard fan?

It's a book about the Imperial Guard, with parts of it written by me, so that puts it pretty high on the 'must buy' scale IMO.

In all seriousness though there’s nothing I can say that won’t sound incredibly biased, so instead I’ll just say this:

If you’ve bought other FFG books just for the fluff/artwork, then this is a good book to get. It covers a lot of Guard-flavoured ground, and if you’re as big a Guard fan as me, then I wouldn’t miss it.

Excellent.

You gave the Kasrkin a good accounting, of course?

Kanluwen wrote:When you look closely, there's actually not a difference. The artist used the shadows to exaggerate the chest proportions and make it clear that it is--in fact--a female.

Look at the face, notice the lack of hair hanging down from the helmet, etc.

What's causing the shadow? Female IG combat soldiers won't have long hair and yet the face looks female without it.

Kanluwen wrote:

Alpharius wrote:Strangely enough, the illustration of the female IG soldier on the cover of "ONLY WAR" does show a difference!

Not to start anything up, but...

When you look closely, there's actually not a difference. The artist used the shadows to exaggerate the chest proportions and make it clear that it is--in fact--a female.

Look at the face, notice the lack of hair hanging down from the helmet, etc.

You're something else Kan!

Maybe you need to look a little closer:



And even if you're right (!) and FFG is playing a game of shadows, they are in fact admitting that there needs to be a visual difference because... there is one!

George Spiggott wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:When you look closely, there's actually not a difference. The artist used the shadows to exaggerate the chest proportions and make it clear that it is--in fact--a female.

Look at the face, notice the lack of hair hanging down from the helmet, etc.

What's causing the shadow? Female IG combat soldiers won't have long hair and yet the face looks female without it.

The arm stabilizing the flamer. I don't know if the artist did it intentionally or not, but that is what emphasizes it.

Compare that to this:


Both are very clearly female, however one is a flat representation where the visual cues which you could do with a 3D model are not necessarily going to be the same.

Not to mince words, but I see boobs. Titties. Gazongas. Insert your own term of description for the pretties here. But Kan has taken a stand and you chaps know what that means ait?

It means I'm right, by virtue of being right!

Or something like that, aye Brook?

Yeah. The armour's got curves Kan. No amount of "But it's a Tech-Priest'-ing from you will change that.

H.B.M.C. wrote:Yeah. The armour's got curves Kan. No amount of "But it's a Tech-Priest'-ing from you will change that.

The answer dawns on me...

The Tech-Priests in the white robes did it!


When it gets closer to release, you know the question I want answered though.

Kanluwen wrote:The arm stabilizing the flamer. I don't know if the artist did it intentionally or not, but that is what emphasizes it.

The one that's below the shadow with the light shining from behind? Nice try.

Ask away (and I will ignore you and/or give vague hints about already revealed details).

*shakes fist in impotent fury at H.B.M.C.*

Do you know when this will go up for preorder?

After reading several IG novels and Comics, I can see this being kinda fun

And I'm sure your characters will make it out fine. Unless they're under the command of a certain Colonel Schaeffer....

Remember Kan, I don’t work for FFG, I work with them, so I’m not privy to release dates or pre-order dates. Given they said third quarter, we’re looking at a Gen-Con release (just like Black Crusade last year and Deathwatch the year before). So probably around that time if I had to guess.

But whatever the pre-order or final release date ends up being, there is one thing I can say for certain:

Don’t trust Amazon.

To illustrate this point, here is a story I’ve held off telling because I had to wait until Only War was announced. It’s not anything to do with the development of the book, just something funny related to Amazon:

A few weeks into the writing of Only War I got an E-mail in my inbox from Amazon. It was the usual thing from Amazon – X is out in Y days! Pre-order now to have it shipped on the day its released (which in Amazon-speak means 4 weeks after its released). The subject of this particular Amazon E-mail was Only War, the upcoming supplement for Dark Heresy! Better yet, according to the E-mail, it was due out in 10 days! I wondered how we were going to finish, proof, test, edit and print the book in 10 days. Maybe Tzeentch could help?

In the end we had a good laugh at Amazon’s expense and all accepted the fact that you never ever listen to Amazon when it comes to release dates or shipping times and all that other nonsense. They don’t know what they’re doing!

Still this is a missed chance, as you can already play groups of guardsmen (plus a psyker as on the cover). Just calling your boss "General" instead of "Inquisitor" doesn't make a difference, only that you have to find a reason why all characters and allies are NOT exactly the same. Mindless shooting adventures were already covered in Deathwatch, so nothing new there either.

Everyone is waiting for a core RPG where you can all play Xeno characters. And being allowed to be one odd mistrusted Xeno on a 50k human crew Rogue trader ship is not enough. I am running out of patience with FFG.

H.B.M.C. wrote:Remember Kan, I don’t work for FFG, I work with them, so I’m not privy to release dates or pre-order dates. Given they said third quarter, we’re looking at a Gen-Con release (just like Black Crusade last year and Deathwatch the year before). So probably around that time if I had to guess.

That works just fine for me. Right around my birthday.

Kroothawk wrote:Still this is a missed chance, as you can already play groups of guardsmen (plus a psyker as on the cover). Just calling your boss "General" instead of "Inquisitor" doesn't make a difference, only that you have to find a reason why all characters and allies are NOT exactly the same. Mindless shooting adventures were already covered in Deathwatch, so nothing new there either.

The fact that you think Deathwatch is a ‘mindless shooting adventure’ proves how quick you are to jump to conclusions.

Kroothawk wrote:Everyone is waiting for a core RPG where you can all play Xeno characters. And being allowed to be one odd mistrusted Xeno on a 50k human crew Rogue trader ship is not enough. I am running out of patience with FFG.

Your comment from earlier in the thread made me laugh a bit, the whole “I wish they’d do Xeno Careers (apart from the Xeno Careers they’ve already done of course!)”. Might as well say “I wish I had a Ferrari (y’know, besides the Ferrari I’ve already got!)”.

The other thing is your comment is blatantly contradictory.

On one hand – You can already play as Guardsmen in DH! Why do we need a whole came about that?
On the other – Why do we have to be 1 xenos among a crew of thousands of humans?

One argument has you using DH to play a group of Guardsmen (certainly possible and completely valid), whereas with the other you’ve failed to make the leap that you can play entire crews of Xenos using the Xeno careers. Haven’t you thought about playing an Ork crew using the Ork career? I know it was one of the first things we thought of.

I get it Kroot – you like the Xenos elements of 40K, have an intense dislike for Space Marines (hence you writing DW off as a ‘shooting adventure’), and want to see less focus on the Imperium. That’s fine, and it’s a perfectly valid opinion to hold (other than your opinions on Deathwatch, which are flat out wrong). But some people want a war or squad-based RPG that doesn’t focus on super-human super-soliders, and some people don’t want their investigation/conspiracy-based RPG turned into a war/squad-based game.

Someone said to me that Baneblades have no place in Dark Heresy. They were absolutely right. Maybe, if we’re lucky, they will find a home in Only War.

H.B.M.C. wrote:Ask away (and I will ignore you and/or give vague hints about already revealed details).

HBMC... old buddy... pal.. friend... Let me ask this in a less direct way... abhumans are they the sort of thing you'd expect in the corebook or something you'd expect from the follow up book (the equivalent of Rites of Battle to Deathwatch)?

Kroothawk wrote:Still this is a missed chance, as you can already play groups of guardsmen (plus a psyker as on the cover). Just calling your boss "General" instead of "Inquisitor" doesn't make a difference, only that you have to find a reason why all characters and allies are NOT exactly the same. Mindless shooting adventures were already covered in Deathwatch, so nothing new there either.

Everyone is waiting for a core RPG where you can all play Xeno characters. And being allowed to be one odd mistrusted Xeno on a 50k human crew Rogue trader ship is not enough. I am running out of patience with FFG.

Kroothawk, in fairness to FFG, I'm fairly certain this started out as an expansion that simply grew too big, in that regard its not as if they were intentionally trying to disappoint you.

At the same time I have to warn you... there is apparently a long list of core games they want to do before they do the first xenos book:
-Fist of Justice: Roleplay the lowly beat enforcer as he attempts to bring down kingpins, cultists, and gangs alike, all the while you learn in depth the underpinnings of the Imperium's legal system.
-The Hold of the Blackship: Roleplay the final days of the damned psykers destined to feed the Golden throne, will you find escape or are you just fated for doom?
-Spyers of the Hive: Roleplay the children of the wealthiest nobles of the hiveworld Skulmegedon as they attempt to gain favor in through competing for trophies in the underhive.
-Ex Machina - Roleplay a servitor in his pursuit of penance in service to the lords of Mars, utilizing a new punch card to program system!
-Arena of the Dark City: Roleplay the poor HUMAN mortals who's lot is to battle out the rest of their lives in the arena's of Commorragh, become a Gladiator Champion and you might find freedom.
-Astronomicon: In this 41st millenium version of "telephone" must roleplay the Imperiums galactic operators. Would you like to take a collect call?
-Xenos: Finally roleplay ALIENS doing alien THINGS!

I actually want to see a Xenos based RPG... just giving you a hard time.

ok, so from the descriptive text I picked out

FFG wrote:Take the role of a Guardsman with one of twelve distinct Specialties, bringing unique skills to your squad to complement those of your comrades. Will you support your team as its Medic, rushing headfirst into fire to perform life-saving feats, or will you draw on the energies of the Warp as a fearsome Sanctioned Psyker? Perhaps you’ll protect your squad with suppressing fire as a brawny Heavy Gunner, or become the team’s Commissar and “motivate” them to greatness at the barrel of a bolter. Whatever your function, you’ll be an important part of the Imperium’s efforts to protect humanity.

FFG also wrote:Take the role of a Guardsman with one of twelve distinct Specialties, offering unique skills to your squad to complement those of your comrades. Will you bring the light of the God-Emperor to the battlefield as a Ministorum Priest, or will you wield the Imperium’s most cutting-edge technology as a fearsome Storm Trooper? Perhaps you’ll tend to the machine spirits of the Guard’s many war machines as a Tech-Priest Enginseer, or lead the charge as your squad’s Sergeant. Whatever your function, you’ll be a vital part of the Imperium’s vast war machine.

so:
sanctioned pkyker
heavy gunner
commissar
medic
priest
storm-trooper
tech-priest
sergent

+ 4 more, any speculation?

sounds good, I love the gaurd so this will probably end up on my bookshelf.

However the one thing I cannot shake is the tiny guardsmen jumping out of the chimera on FFG's site, it looks wrong, that would make a chimera massive (I know they are, just look at the picture before you comment)

I'd guess a Scout of some sort. I also don't think Commissar and Storm-Trooper would necessarily be starting classes...but some preceding equivalence instead.

ala_mythos wrote:HBMC... old buddy... pal.. friend... Let me ask this in a less direct way... abhumans are they the sort of thing you'd expect in the corebook or something you'd expect from the follow up book (the equivalent of Rites of Battle to Deathwatch)?

Commissars are awesome.

ala_mythos wrote:Kroothawk, in fairness to FFG, I'm fairly certain this started out as an expansion that simply grew too big, in that regard its not as if they were intentionally trying to disappoint you.

I also suspect that this is the case. I can’t say for certain, so I’m not stating that it was or wasn’t – by the time I got involved in the book that decision had long since been made – but I do think this began as a book that might’ve had a few extra careers in it, tank rules and some other things for squads and then they realised that it was robust enough to do an entire game and/or the only way to do the subject justice was to do a complete game.

ala_mythos wrote:At the same time I have to warn you... there is apparently a long list of core games they want to do before they do the first xenos book:
-Xenos: Finally roleplay ALIENS doing alien THINGS!

You forgot:

“It’s 6 in the morning, you’ve been working for the past 18 days with barely an hour’s sleep, you’re thirsty, hungry and dirty, and the air-conditionorium broke down a century ago, but those 80 million ration requisition requests must be filed correctly and in the right order, and colour coded, signed in triplicate and then re-forwarded by hand to the relevant parties in the Departmento Munitorium! Only you and the 8000 other scribes like you can complete this in the next hour. Will you take the challenge? Will you be the front line of the universe’s greatest bureaucracy? Will you play... Aministratum X-Streme!!!”

"Or your squads ratling and learn the limits of you culinary expertise!"

Excellent artwork!

H.B.M.C. wrote:“It’s 6 in the morning, you’ve been working for the past 18 days with barely an hour’s sleep, you’re thirsty, hungry and dirty, and the air-conditionorium broke down a century ago, but those 80 million ration requisition requests must be filed correctly and in the right order, and colour coded, signed in triplicate and then re-forwarded by hand to the relevant parties in the Departmento Munitorium! Only you and the 8000 other scribes like you can complete this in the next hour. Will you take the challenge? Will you be the front line of the universe’s greatest bureaucracy? Will you play... Aministratum X-Streme!!!”

Can I make a Bureaucrat named Hermes?

Iron Hands Chef – the new RPG from FFG.

Lead your team of Ratlings to victory in the grimmest and darkest cooking RPG of all time. The losing teams get immolated!!!

Yay! It's finally bit announced.

I was also lucky enough to get to work on this one, actually fairly closely with H.B.M.C. for bits of it.

While I understand (and can relate to) the plea for a xenos-focused game, I think don't think folks will necessarily find this one disappointing. The Imperial Guard have a galaxy full of rich traditions. There's going to be a whole lot of material in that core book.

The question then John is when do we get our copies? I only just got my copy of Fallen Suns!!!

Ah, another book to drool over! Personally I found Deathwatch to be a bit too easy. The five of us dealt the Wrath of the Emprah to nearly 3k of Orks in one mission, with me taking a single scratch.

Whereas in DH, every fight was a true danger to the party!

Now, seriously DKoK based on the Vraks campaign and the Dead Men Walking are as flat and mechanical as they come, they don't seem to do much except go fight and or die.

Other IG regiments can be more colorful to play, and the fact that they are pretty much normal humans allows for a party member to be enlisted by an Inquisitor for a DH game from this book if all is as it should be, and they work out the compatability, and the points values are right. (Been avoiding the old 400pt build rule as all the other games start at 5k for build.)

It shall be interesting to see what they have inside.

H.B.M.C. wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:On a scale of Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer to the Imperial Guard Codex; how essential is this book for a Guard fan?

It's a book about the Imperial Guard, with parts of it written by me, so that puts it pretty high on the 'must buy' scale IMO.

In all seriousness though there’s nothing I can say that won’t sound incredibly biased, so instead I’ll just say this:

If you’ve bought other FFG books just for the fluff/artwork, then this is a good book to get. It covers a lot of Guard-flavoured ground, and if you’re as big a Guard fan as me, then I wouldn’t miss it.

I hope you guys snuck in some sort of demeaning reference to Robin "Arby" Cruddace

Kind Regards,
Vladsimpaler

Honestly that never crossed my mind.

There’s one quote that I wrote for one section that I hope against hope makes it in in-tact. I guess we’ll find out in Aug/Sep/Oct.