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After rummaging around through eBay, I noticed that there were a series of miniatures available from a particular series of 40k.

They are models for the Inquisitor table-top that was released sometime around the early 2000s, here is an example of one of the models: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Devotee-Malicant-Redemptionist-Priest-Inquisitor-54mm-Warhammer-40k-/131816118591?hash=item1eb0da593f:g:nQQAAOSw~oFXJ7Q2

However, the problem I was encountered with was that you cannot find a single source book for the role-playing game.

In fact, there is even a Wikipedia article on the role-playing game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisitor_(game)

The question I have is, where can I find the rulebook?

It isn't really a role playing game in the usual sense. More of a skirmish game like necromunda but more narrative.

Personally, I think it failed because the rules contained little guidance on actually making an interesting campaign.

The PDFs used to be available for download but they're now gone. I suspect that it is against forum rules to put them online and post a link.

There is a community ruleset inspired by it called Inquisimunda / ]I[Munda / =I=munda (you get the idea). It combines Inquisitor with necromunda and generally uses regular size models.

 Scott-S6 wrote:

The PDFs used to be available for download but they're now gone. I suspect that it is against forum rules to put them online and post a link.

Unfortunately, yes. Even though it's no longer in print and GW offered it for free for a time, the copyright still belongs to them. So unless the version they offered for download included a permission statement allowing its distribution, it's still a violation of copyright to share it around.

The rulebook does pop up on eBay from time to time. Alternately, check out AbeBooks... Great way of sourcing out of print stuff from booksellers worldwide.

Errrr I *think* you can still download it of one of GW's site.

If not there may be a fansite with all the rules, extra rules for xeno races etc. Despite having the rulebook myself I still managed to find a legit copy online, with updates etc etc.

Concerning the type of game it is, it can either be an RPG or Skirmish game, it's heavily gamemaster reliant. Even in the rulebook it does show you how to do this, however due to the rarity of models that side it does make it hard to do real RPG experiences.

The official models are also extremely rare, although I think the demon prince in power armour may be just the right size to represent a possessed/mutated chaos space marine.... not that you really want space marine characters in inquisitor.

 Baldeagle91 wrote:

..., although I think the demon prince in power armour may be just the right size to represent a possessed/mutated chaos space marine.... not that you really want space marine characters in inquisitor.

I think it would be a fraction small... I sometimes use this guy:




...as a Daemon Prince in 40K, and he towers over the regular Daemon Prince model.



The availability of models was always the big failing of the game. The official range was very limited, and being all metal and out of scale with pretty much everything else on the market made conversions difficult. They really needed a couple of generic plastic kits and accessory packs.

The fan-based Inquisimunda adaption to 28mm scale was pretty much how the game should have been done in the first place. Rules to import your Inquisitor characters into 40K (as they did with Warhammer Quest/Fantasy years ago) would have been gravy.

Metal models in that scale are no fun to put together at all.

The metal models were actually easier to assemble than normal 28mm ones. Bigger parts meant it was easier to pin them.

EVERYTHING I had for that game was pinned (had 14 or so models for it - still have 7-8 of them).

The space marine figure had pins for his hands-arms, arms-torso, head-torso, torso-hips and leg pinned to other leg/hips. 2mm brass rod, not dinky paperclips, either.

Yeah, I found it fun to make some of the figures. I converted a pair of Artemis figures to be Khorne Berzerkers, with one of the old metal daemon princes as a Bloodletter, and the ancient Scylla figure to be a Flesh Hound. Hell, one got Gazghkull's power claw as a power fist.

 chromedog wrote:
The metal models were actually easier to assemble than normal 28mm ones. Bigger parts meant it was easier to pin them.

EVERYTHING I had for that game was pinned (had 14 or so models for it - still have 7-8 of them).

The space marine figure had pins for his hands-arms, arms-torso, head-torso, torso-hips and leg pinned to other leg/hips. 2mm brass rod, not dinky paperclips, either.

And that's why. Pinning sucks, or more so having to pin to have them last. Its a lot of extra effort and in todays war gaming age," aint no one got time for dat".

It was pretty much an excuse to make some models in 54mm :-)

It got stopped along with all the other specialist games over time but has lived on as inquisimunda/INQ28 which is basically jsut using 28mm models. Google it you might like it.

Really allows for the exploration of the grimdark :-)

I've got the rulebook. Inquisitor was a neat bit of fluff and great visuals, but a hot mess as far as a ruleset. Really couldn't decide whether it was a small skirmish game or an RPG. Add to that, the alternate figure scale, a shortage of minis (though they were gorgeous!) and you've got the making of a game that died fairly quickly.

The "Thorians" free online sourcebook was a very cool chunk of fluff detailing the theological and practical differences between the sub-group of one inquisitorial faction. Both it and the rulebook are available from various sites. It seems to be in the same kind of legal limbo as Necromunda. GW retains copyright while at the same time doesn't seem to to be making any effort to keep it from being posted online (Yaktribe has virtually everything GW ever published for Necromunda openly and freely available). However if they ever call in their chips it will disappear quickly.

Alternate paths for those interested in inquisitor...

If you are into the fluff aspect, check out the sourcebooks for the various 40k RPG's offered by FFG. The sheer mass of inquisitorial-related information has long surpassed what Inquisitor itself offered.
https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/#/universe/warhammer-40000

If you want to play a small skirmish, try "Inquisimunda"
http://empireofghosts.blogspot.com/p/inquisimunda-resources.html
It's a well regarded fan addition to necromunda that will play alot more smoothly than Inquisitor. Of course INQ/28 is an option too.

And of course if you want to dive into the dark corners of the world of Inquisitors, Dan Abbnet's Eisenhorn and Ravenor trilogies are unparalleled in 40k literature. Some of the only 40k writing I can recommend -with a straight face- to non-40k fans.

Lastly, for fast (very simple rules) dives into inquisitorial matters, "In the Emperor's Name" is a fun fan game with a neat scenario/campaign generator.
https://thegamesshed.wordpress.com/2011/07/02/in-the-emperors-name/