[40K RPG] Combined news thread (UPDATE 30/01/16 Enemies Beyond is out!!!)

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.

**BrookM**

Plus, a lot of the core RPG crew is / was made up of ex-GW staff.

**SickSix**

First founding was on my doorstep when i got home. In a cruel twist of fate though i had to have my eyes dialated, so i cant really focus up close!

But on feel and general appearance it is a very nice quality book.

( i am typing this using a tablet that lets me zoom in and has nice big touch keypad lol)

**H.B.M.C.**

FFG wrote:The Path of the Traitor
A Preview of Enemies of the Imperium, an Only War Supplement

“Captain, this factory cannot fall. It is more important than you, your troops, or the population of this planet. Expend every available resource to keep it from the enemy.”
–Planetary Overgovernor Worthington Derrymore

Enemies of the Imperium, the upcoming supplement for Only War, takes a closer look at the myriad threats to the Imperium that must be rooted out and destroyed by the Imperial Guard. Throughout the Spinward Front, terrible foes like Ork Squiggoths, the Dark Eldar, and the dreaded Chaos Space Marines aim to destroy the Imperium. It is the task of the Imperial Guard to stand firm against these, and all enemies, and with new rules for Formations in this supplement, Guardsmen have new options for squad-level combat. However, the Enemies of the Imperium are numerous, and the threats to mankind must be constantly warded off. In the following Designer Diary, contributing writer John Dunn discusses the traitorous Duke Severus the Thirteenth, leader of the Severan Dominate in the Spinward Front:

Enemies of the Imperium is divided into different sections that focus upon the different threats to Imperial security located throughout the Spinward Front. Some of the foes are clearly monsters, unrepentant enemies who can only be dealt with via the massed weapons of the Imperial Guard. I was fortunate enough to work on the Severan Dominate, an organisation whose motivations and actions are more relatable for the Player Characters. Put simply, this is because the Severan Dominate has fallen prey to the same foibles of Imperial infrastructure and callous politics that often hurl the Player Characters into desperate or seemingly hopeless situations.

A Traitor's Domain

I thought that it was important to focus a portion of the attention on Duke Severus the Thirteenth himself. His domain faces insurmountable challenges, but these issues were present and recognisable at the time he began his secession. It is easy to believe that the only reason the Severan Dominate exists is because Duke Severus is a deluded megalomaniac. After all, he absolutely fits that mould. In spite of his pride and unfaltering belief in his right to an empire, however, he has demonstrated unexpected competency. His forces are simultaneously fighting two wars, even as the Duke maintains a fledgling domain, negotiates treaties with treacherous xenos, and keeps his population deluded about the core reasons for their secession. This would be a nearly unbelievable feat of political savvy for a person who had a firmer grasp upon reality. That the troubled Duke to has managed all of these crises indicates that he is either truly talented or amazingly lucky.

Explaining how this luck or skill interacted with his plans and his particular areas of expertise became a central focus of this section of the book. The Severan Dominate's existence is based upon the philosophical beliefs that Duke Severus the Thirteenth put into place. In order to launch the secession, he had to rely upon deception, and to sustain it, his lies have had to become ever more grandiose. At the same time, very practical matters such as equipping and supplying a competent fighting force, maintaining adequate supplies to keep his people fed, and satisfying the needs of a population who remain loyal to the Emperor—though not His servants—are ongoing concerns. Every time one element falters, it risks toppling the others. The Duke has had to constantly maintain a careful balancing act so that the population remain satisfied without exposing his lies.

The section I wrote explores worlds of the Severan Dominate, as well as the people who inhabit them. Throughout these materials, the issues of how the different worlds interact, and how the Duke must maintain his delicate balance remain a central theme. It is clear that as things stand, the centre cannot hold indefinitely. However, if the Duke can somehow turn his enemies against one another, then it is possible that he could stave off the inevitable for a very long time. He has already proven his willingness to strike dark bargains to undermine his foes, and who can say what measures the Duke will undertake to maintain his grip upon the realm he has sacrificed so much to forge.

Thanks, John! Prepare to wage war against new threats to the Imperium in this upcoming supplement for Only War. In the meantime, take a sneak peek inside the supplement with the following pages (pdf, 565 KB), excerpted from Enemies of the Imperium, coming in the third quarter. Then, get ready for the fight of your life!

Looking forward to this one. A whole lot of fun stuff in there and as I've said before, it is much much more than a simple bestiary.

**Manchu**

I was told this past weekend that the archetypes in the "Tome of ___" for Black Crusade were substantially more powerful than those found in the Core Book.

Is this true and, if so, what is the purpose?

**MajorWesJanson**

Gah! Why do they keep making art of lovely looking female guardsmen when there is practically no chance of seeing them in model form? GW, snap to it!

**FM Ninja 048**

Manchu wrote:
I was told this past weekend that the archetypes in the "Tome of ___" for Black Crusade were substantially more powerful than those found in the Core Book.

Is this true and, if so, what is the purpose?

I think so, I know one of the Tome of Exess comes with his own voidship...

**H.B.M.C.**

Manchu wrote:
I was told this past weekend that the archetypes in the "Tome of ___" for Black Crusade were substantially more powerful than those found in the Core Book.

Is this true and, if so, what is the purpose?

Rather than type it out, here's the side-bar talking about this straight from Tome of Blood.

**Manchu**

Yes, I just got home and read that very side bar. Now the question remains: why?

**H.B.M.C.**

Why not?

**Manchu**

Really?

Most obviously, they're hard to use alongside the core archetypes. You're starting a game, you have all these expensive books, and ... your GM very reasonably says you can't use them because they are significantly more powerful than other archetypes.

It's clearly an obstacle. My question is, what is the benefit?

**H.B.M.C.**

Umm... it says right there what their equivalents are, so you give the extra xp to the standard archetypes. In any case, Black Crusade is a completely open and essentially class-less game, and it lacks xp rank progression. Aside from a few special rules and a selection of race (Marine or Human) you can take any one archetype and turn it into whatever you want. These additional ones need more things added to make them into what they are from the start, but rather than getting it "for free" (which would be a bigger problem) they're specifically stated to be above the standard starting point for any other character.

How is this a problem?

**Manchu**

It's a problem because Tome of ___ archetypes inflate power levels for no reason.

As you note (by way of sidestepping the issue), archetypes are not merely example builds. There are archetype-specific features. If one PC wants to access them, every other PC suddenly gets +3600/4600 XP just because.

That's sloppy work.

Also, I already explained how this uneven design creates an obstacle to using the book. To reiterate my question, what is the benefit justifying this obstacle?

**Alfndrate**

I would think for the most part, that these archetypes are the (from my experience) the equivilant of starting a campaign at a higher starting point. If you as the GM state, "here is what is allowed" and these archetypes aren't allowed, then so be it, but if you say, "Hey, Chaos Space Marines will start with 3600 experience points, and human disciples will start with 4600 points." At that point your players could ask, "Hey can I take this Archetype from Tome of ____?" Since now they could create a character within the limits you as the GM set. But I've never played these types of games, which leads me to this:

If I was interested in starting out with this RPG sytem, where should I start? Is there a system that is more "beginner" friendly than another?

**Manchu**

All you've done there is restated the problem. In order to use Tome of ____ archetypes from the get-go, you have to skip through 3600/4600 XP's worth of play. Why not just design a Khorne Bezerker balanced against a Champion or Chosen? What advantage does uneven design bring to the table? Dumping thousands of XP on everyone who took a core archetype is not an advantage; it's part of the problem.

As to your question, I don't think any of these games are easier than the others. It's just a question of which sub-genre you like the most.

**lords2001**

Alfndrate wrote:
I would think for the most part, that these archetypes are the (from my experience) the equivilant of starting a campaign at a higher starting point. If you as the GM state, "here is what is allowed" and these archetypes aren't allowed, then so be it, but if you say, "Hey, Chaos Space Marines will start with 3600 experience points, and human disciples will start with 4600 points." At that point your players could ask, "Hey can I take this Archetype from Tome of ____?" Since now they could create a character within the limits you as the GM set. But I've never played these types of games, which leads me to this:

If I was interested in starting out with this RPG sytem, where should I start? Is there a system that is more "beginner" friendly than another?

I would suggest with Black Crusade - Dark Heresy is much more investigative than combat focused until Ascension, and Deathwatch is... well... broken against most enemies. Very fun and somewhat fluffy, but broken. Think of Hive Tyrants dying in seconds to heavy bolters etc.

Only war seems decent, but I would go for Black Crusade - plus you can play a more investigative party with humans and skills, and more combat with marines, or mix and match for hilarious scenarios (nurgle marines trying to shadow people in a crowd comes to mind).

**BaronIveagh**

Manchu wrote:
It's a problem because Tome of ___ archetypes inflate power levels for no reason.

As you note (by way of sidestepping the issue), archetypes are not merely example builds. There are archetype-specific features. If one PC wants to access them, every other PC suddenly gets +3600/4600 XP just because.

That's sloppy work.

Also, I already explained how this uneven design creates an obstacle to using the book. To reiterate my question, what is the benefit justifying this obstacle?

Not being someone who followed Dark Crusade much, I can't say that I had noticed this before. Reading the warning that HBMC posted though, that does seem pretty bone headed. Ideally, supplements should be balanced against the core book options, unless it's specifically a 'high level' book.

And I should check to see if I suddenly fell down a Rabbit Hole this morning. Manchu, questioning design decisions and suggesting sloppy work will have people spamming the report button on you and calling you 'hater'.

Alfndrate wrote:

If I was interested in starting out with this RPG sytem, where should I start? Is there a system that is more "beginner" friendly than another?

I'd start with Rogue Trader. It lends itself to more 'high adventure' role play than the other four, and gives the GM a lot of freedom to work.

**Manchu**

BaronIveagh wrote:
Ideally, supplements should be balanced against the core book options, unless it's specifically a 'high level' book.

Agreed. And even a "high level" book should take into account transitioning from basic level play to that higher level. Tome of Blood seems to expect that you'll just start at +3600/4600 XP. IIRC, Ascension was a better model of an advanced option book.

**Alfndrate**

nvm

**H.B.M.C.**

Download the tentacles today!

FFG wrote:Excess Awaits the Followers of Slaanesh
The Tome of Excess, a Black Crusade Supplement, Is Available Via Download

“You ask if it is enough? It is never enough!"
- Beneus III

All beings require sensation to know their surroundings, but the truly aware realize that life without sensation is worse than death. For those who exist for sensation, the normal limits of life become meaningless in the pursuit of greater and greater stimuli. As excesses are breached, nothing can sate these heavier appetites for long, however, and soon nothing exists except the quest for further sensation. Lives such as these are bound, either knowingly or unknowingly, in the service of the Chaos God Slaanesh. He offers the limitless bliss of endless passions and insatiable appetites to his legions of depraved followers. Will you give in to your desires and swear allegiance to him?

The Tome of Excess, a sinfully indulgent supplement for Black Crusade, is now available for download at drivethrurpg.com and rpgnow.com! This powerful tribute to Slaanesh introduces four new Heretic Archetypes, along with cruel weapons, rules for empowering minions, new Daemon Engines, and more to amplify the rapacious hordes of the Dark Prince.

Rules for expanded interactions and social combat allow players of all alignments to seduce their foes into becoming devoted lackeys. Players also gain new ways to use their growing Infamy, plus new dark rituals to curse and entrap enemies. Discover secrets of the Screaming Vortex, such as the Demons of Contrition, the xenos guardians of the Forbidden Portal, Malignia’s deadly jungles, and more. And in the included adventure, Heretics must best a Pirate Prince of the Ragged Helix in their bid to launch their own Black Crusade!

Excess in All Things

Slaanesh is the personification of excess. In his name, hosts degrade entire worlds with unspeakable rites and warlords seduce systems with honeyed promises of unimaginable essences. His own appearance is beyond limits, existing as both male and female, always the epitome of impossible beauty and desire no matter who gazes upon his form. His followers exist only to seek out new perfections of sensation, and to make themselves perfect to better achieve such sensations. The more perfect the artist, the better he can fully admire unnatural colors that cause eyes to boil and shrivel.

Only the finest of assassins can appreciate the tortured gasps of a betrayed noble as the knife slowly twists. None but a devoted master of the blade knows the bliss as flesh slices apart under his exquisite riposte. All these and more are mere steps along a path that requires more and more with each sensory attainment. To know ultimates is to realize there are no ultimates, only increasing tiers of perception and the search of perfection to fully appreciate them. Their frantic journeys can have no end except for that which lays waiting them within the Warp: Slaanesh.

A Word from the Developer

Lead Developer Tim Huckelbery took a moment to share his insights on The Tome of Excess:

This Tome, our third tome devoted to the Chaos powers, was one we’ve been looking forward to for some time, as Slaanesh offers such wonderfully twisted opportunities for roleplaying. He is the god of pleasure, to be sure, but he is really the god of extremes in all things. As such, this book is devoted to wild excesses in behavior, addictive personalities, obsessive natures, and more. His followers are always dialed to 11 (as Nigel would say) though most also tear off the volume knob as well. Here personal desires are paramount and so we introduce many new paths to selfish power. There are no limits, and even the weapons are wonderfully warped.

As mere violence is so passé, however, many Heretics of Slaanesh prefer cutting with words instead; to that end, the new rules for Social Combat allows players to use their wits as weapons. Words have power, especially using the new Curses you’ll find here. Rules for Seduction can also sway enemies to your side—including fellow players!—to ensure their acquiescence. The new Glorifying Acts are also great fun as players can release their selfish desires for power, ignoring possible consequences to the rest of the group in order to gain greater Infamy!

The art has surpassed expectations in illuminating the words into wonderfully disturbing images filled with disconcerting beauty. Inside you’ll find such excessive insanities such as void bridges made from flayed faces, flesh shaping in action, the spider-ships of Samech, and the degradations of the Hall of Gluttony and the Den of Surrender.

In all, both the writers and artists (especially the art director, Andy Christensen) really came through to create something that I think is as enjoyable to read and look at as it is to use in game play. After all, as Slaanesh would say, satisfaction is everything!

Thanks, Tim! Download The Tome of Excess on drivethrurpg.com and rpgnow.com today!

My copy still hasn't arrived, so I might buy this just to see what the damned artwork looks like. I need to know what the Crystal Blade ended up looking like!

**BaronIveagh**

Dark Reign is hosting a Xenos design contest:

http://www.darkreign.org/node/1269

**PrimarchX**

Just picked up Only War: Enemies of the Imperium at my FLGS. Info on the rebels, orks, DE, Kroot and heretics as well as a useful section for players.

**Manchu**

What's useful about it?

**PrimarchX**

Manchu wrote:
What's useful about it?

That depends on you, I suppose. Lots of enemies, info on them and their tactics.

**Manchu**

Surely that is useful to GMs rather than players?

**H.B.M.C.**

It's got a lot of rules for special training/medals and other things for fighting specific foes. That's why it's useful for players.

And a new preview...

FFG wrote:Crafting a Legacy
A Preview of The Emperor's Chosen, an Upcoming Supplement for Deathwatch

“The Battle-Brothers of the Adeptus Astartes are the finest warriors in the galaxy, indeed, the finest in the history of Mankind. We are strength, zeal, and wrath made flesh. Those who stand against us shall only know fear and utter annihilation.”
–Brother-Captain Belshazar of the Black Templars

Among those few brave Space Marines who are singled out and seconded to the Deathwatch, fewer still rise to become Deathwatch veterans. Most Space Marines who are given the honor to fight for the Emperor in the Deathwatch serve their time, and then return to their chapters with all of the glory and admiration that being a member of the Deathwatch carries. The Emperor’s Chosen, an upcoming supplement for Deathwatch, explores the select few who ascend to veteran status.

A Brotherhood Apart

Those Deathwatch Space Marines who, for whatever reason, elect not to return to their chapters after their secondment, may find that despite the different backgrounds of the Battle-brothers in their Kill-team, the Deathwatch is home. The bonds between the brethren of a Deathwatch Kill-team are forged from arduous battles endured together, and countless heroic and dangerous exploits that are all part of the job description of a Deathwatch Space Marine. To become a true veteran, acts of tremendous valor and glory must be performed in the name of the Emperor. Deeds carried out by one bring honor to the Kill-team. Secret knowledge is revealed, and long and lonely trips to the Outer Reach may shake the foundation of what the Space Marine, and his Battle-brothers, thought they knew. This new understanding of the galaxy and the weight of duty to the Emperor may be why some Space Marines take their oaths again and again with the Deathwatch, as they become veterans, and heroes.

The Emperor’s Chosen details just a few of the legendary veterans of the Deathwatch in the Jericho Reach. Those who ascended to such heights inspire great deeds and heroism on the battlefield for those who follow in their footsteps. The following pages (pdf, 766 KB) excerpted from Chapter II of The Emperor’s Chosen provide a sneak peek at the lives and deeds of the mighty few who came before.

Legacy of a Hero

Even rarer than a Deathwatch veteran is an entire Kill-team composed of those who have become veterans together. Through the horrors of innumerable battles, to leaving behind Chapter and identity to form a highly skilled and deadly unit, veteran Kill-teams become the ultimate weapon of the Emperor. Their skills are highly prized by the Watch Commanders, as well as the Chamber of Vigilance. Even the Inquisition may reach out to such stalwart units and ask for their help directly. The deeds and reputations of such teams will often precede them, becoming the stuff of legend to spur on the fledgling Kill-teams that will come after.

The Emperor’s Chosen provides new rules for creating Heroic Legacies for veteran Battle-Brothers of the Jericho reach. Kill-teams may jointly purchase these Legacies, to access combat roles, manoeuvres, and more, that an experienced Kill-team can use to better crush their enemies in the name of the Emperor. The following pages (pdf, 860 KB), excerpted from Chapter III of The Emperor’s Chosen, set the stage for the acquisition and use of Heroic Legacies in this supplement for Deathwatch.

Gather your Battle-Brothers and become legendary. With the ability to assume Heroic Legacies, and an adventure which puts players in the footsteps of their predecessors, The Emperor’s Chosen is an epic foray into the history of those who came before, as players work to become the legends of the future. Keep checking back for more news and previews of the upcoming Deathwatch supplement, The Emperor’s Chosen!

Have at it...

**Manchu**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
It's got a lot of rules for special training/medals and other things for fighting specific foes.

Medals? How does that work?

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Emperor's Chosen looks to follow in the path of Ascension. Would you say that's accurate?

**H.B.M.C.**

Manchu wrote:
Medals? How does that work?

Have you read the Only War rulebook?

Manchu wrote:
Emperor's Chosen looks to follow in the path of Ascension. Would you say that's accurate?

Not from what I've read of it.

**Manchu**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Have you read the Only War rulebook?

No, I'm still digesting the Black Crusade books as you might have guessed from my latent realization that Tome of ___ archetypes are more advanced than core archetypes.

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Manchu wrote:
Emperor's Chosen looks to follow in the path of Ascension. Would you say that's accurate?
Not from what I've read of it.

So what does it mean to be a DW Veteran? i just figured it was a more powerful DW Marine ... kind of like how Throne Agents are more powerful Acolytes.

**H.B.M.C.**

Manchu wrote:
No, I'm still digesting the Black Crusade books as you might have guessed from my latent realization that Tome of ___ archetypes are more advanced than core archetypes.

Long story short, OW uses a medal mechanic for various boosts and whatnot (so things like the Macharian Cross and Medallion Crimson, plus loads of other new ones). The ones in EotI are along the lines of boosts against certain types of foes if you've done well against them in the past. That's very simplistic, but I read it quite a while ago and (obviously) haven't seen the final version. I thought it was quite a good system.

Manchu wrote:
So what does it mean to be a DW Veteran? i just figured it was a more powerful DW Marine ... kind of like how Throne Agents are more powerful Acolytes.

Not sure. I've only seen half of that book, so I have no clue what's in the other half. Suffice to say it my group were not fans, so I'm reserving judgement until I've seen the finished product.

**Manchu**

The medal thing sounds awesome. That's so flavorful.