(Sort of) New to this whole thing

[Strozzi]

So, I've had an Inquisitor rulebook since it was available (the copyright on the book reminds me that that was 2001), but other than two little one-off games that were not played in the spirit of the game, I've never really had an oppurtunity to play the game.  Over the years, the book has sat in a basket with a few character sheets used as bookmarks.

Recently, after throwing away some old magazines, I happened upon Inquisitor.  I re-read through parts of it and remembered everything there was to remember of the rules and all the characters I created.  However, while I happened to be re-immersing myself in the world of Inquisitor and Warhammer 40k, I was also playing Fallout 3 and was struck by a muse.  So, I created an Inquisitor "warband" based on Fallout using some liberal interpretations of races and character types and a few special abilities- an Inquisitor standing in for the Vault Dweller/Chosen One/Lone Wanderer, a Guard Veteran standing in for a "reformed" Raider, an Enforcer in power armor standing in for a member of the Brotherhood of Steel, and a Desperado standing in for a certain Ghoul mercenary.

I'm not really sure on the 40k backstories yet.  The ghoul, Charon, is a mutant and the backstory there can largely fill in for itself, at least on certain major points, though I will need to come up with some specifics.  I'm not very certain about Brother Aysn – I was thinking a member of some sort of machine cult, former bodyguard of one of an Adeptus Mechanicus Magos, or perhaps even a Tribune of the Skitarii.  I have even less of an idea about Amage (the unnamed profile) – my main inspiration was the small sketch of a female guardsman with chainsword that is hidden next to Sergeant Stone's profile, but I have no plans for her – perhaps a former member of the Armageddon Ash Waste Militia or Mordant Acid Dogs, since the former fits well with the Fallout theme (both the Core Region and Capital Wasteland are essentially deserts) while the latter fits well with her appearance and preference for violent close combat weapons.  And finally, we come to Inquisitor L. Strozzi – her first name is Lucrezia, but I'm choosing to keep her first name abbreviated as per the Roman style (perhaps I should give her a cognomen too).  And, all I know about her is that she will most likely be a Istvaanian since I find that philosophy the most interesting aside from Thorian, though this gang is not one appropriate for a theologian and puritan, so that will have to wait until later.

So, overall, I still have a lot of work to do, with back story and all, but, I felt like introducing myself somehow, so putting up the nascent forms of a few of my current "project" seemed to be a good way to do that.  Oh, and links to the character sheets of the above four characters are located below.

Inquisitor L. Strozzi
Amage
Brother Aysn
Charon

[Flinty]

As I seem to be the first - Welcome to the Conclave

Fallout seems to be a popular cross over into 40k in general, and I think you have made a good start at porting your characters over. As you say, some like Charon will need some thought, but the others are well on thier way.

Well done for providing the character sheets (not sure Ive seen anyone do that in my brief stint here) - the stats look to be fine and well balanced; I have a personal quibble that sagacity is often too high and should be in or around the 50's for non Inq/Ad Mech/Savant type PC's - but thats just me. There is a frequently lively and informative discussion on character stats and the benefits of keeping them on the moderate side on the forum, which is well worth a read.  

I think there is often a temptation to use skills/abilities as a way of showing characters back story. Don't forget this is a narrative wargame - role playing is positively encouraged and posting and showing other players your character fluff is a much better way of doing this. I think 2 skills/abilities, or 3 at most, for most characters is more than enough.  

Nerves of Steel is described on the Conclave as representing the mentally challenged or absent, such as servitors or flagellants, or the demonically possessed - someone does have to be fairly ''strange'' to actively avoid taking cover when being shot at. Perhaps True Grit might be a better choice, with Strozzi perhaps having Heroic as well, if you want her to have the occasional burst of irrational brilliance.

Charon has most of the gunfighter abilities which along with a BS of 79 (nicely balanced by a low WS) means he's a very good shot, perhaps only keep one out of Deadye or Rock Steady Aim? Glad to see he's just Fearsome (Terrifying should be strictly reserved for things Daemonic). His fluff is going to need a fair bit of work to explain why a Zombie is wandering about (does he smell?), I assume he has a heavy disguise, or its always Hallowen...

Aslyn in power armour and carrying a multi laser could pretty much clear the table (bar being mind fried) - perhaps consider carapace armour instead, and to emphasise his Skitarii roots and connections to the Ad Mech give him some sort of augmentation and/or bionic. Amage as a Guard vetran sounds fine.

Edit - forgot Strozzi - I should drop the attempt at VATS - her BS is 85 already, the skill set means she's going to head shot most enemies...which could be a bit dull. I know she's an Inquisitor, but shes a crack shot, a deft combatant, mentally dazzling, dominates and takes control of every situation and is loved and admired by all - is there anything she cant do? I also know you have yet to develop her background, and that might explain all; but one character flaw I think makes someone much more human, and therefore interesting to read about and play on the table.

I'm rambling, I look forward to seeing how these develop!

[Jamas Orian]

I agree - those characters are very potent.

Which generator did you use? Did you use the ones at the back of the book or the guidelines in the front of the book?

[psycho]

hi and welcome
if you used the generators in the book AT ALL...they suck, your characters will be way too powerful and youll soon get bored with even the lowliest civvie being able to nail a lord inquisitor inbetween the eyes with a autopistol on full.....so lower the stats and imporve your gaming...but i like the small fluff youve got for your characters....maybe not the VATS system, but otherwise yeah theyre pretty cool...maybe if you changed away from Fallout youd also enjoy the game more (as in the INQ game) as when attempting to take stuff from games to RPGs is difficult and tends to leave you feeling dissapointed

keep it up

kerby

[Strozzi]

Thanks for all of the input.  As to some of the issues, I did use the character generators in the book, unaware that they tended to generate characters with stats that were too high.  Do you have any advice on what are better character generators or what is a more average stat line for a character if I have to come up with stats out of thin air (I know that a "3" stat line is average in Warhammer and 40k, but I'm not sure about INQ).

And I was originally just going to give Aysn a lasgun, but decided (against my better judgement) to go with something more exotic - I'll probably go back to it.  And I'll drop some talents from a few of the others.

And the Fallout thing was just what got me to start thinking about INQ again, it's not the only thing that I'm going to be focused on.  Though, really, knowing no one that plays Inquisitor, I doubt that I will be left disappointed by characters.

Also, I do have one question - is it true that GW no longer sells bitz (of either out of production or in production models)?  I haven't been in a store for about three years, so I'm pretty much out of the loop as far as that's concerned.

[RobSkib]

I'm afraid not - GW pulled their Bitz order service as well as shelving most of the already dwindling Inquisitor range. If you are looking for specific bits, eBay is a good start (and check it regularly, people sell inquisitor bits with alarming frequency) and other than that, try the Arcadian Smugglers Ring, which is a yahoo group dedicated to the swapping of Inquisitor bits between players. Let me find that link for you....

[Metellus]

Do you have any advice on what are better character generators or what is a more average stat line for a character if I have to come up with stats out of thin air (I know that a "3" stat line is average in Warhammer and 40k, but I'm not sure about INQ).

Well, statlines depends entirely on your gaming group - do you plan to use these at Conclave events, or in a group using the statlines in the back of the rulebook?
If the former, a good guideline can be found here:
http://www.the-conclave.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=162.0
But as I said, it depends entirely on your gaming group. Using a Conclave-level statline against some of the rulebook characters could be a bit one-sided, so make sure you know before writing any more stats

[Strozzi]

Damn, now I sort of hate GW.  Especially since (as of three years ago) I was building a Praetorian army.  Well, it looks like that will languish as a 1000 point fighting force.  I mean, I sort of got it when they shat all over the Specialist Games as a whole (at least they still sold the stuff), but now...  And, any links for Inquisitor bits would be useful, thanks - I guess I'll need to start looking for the Adeptus Sororitas models online.

And yes, Q. Caecilius Metellus, I suppose I really ought to have thought about that before asking, everything is relative.  Thanks for the link to what is more average for the Conclave - but really, I've no idea where I'm going to use them.

[Flinty]

The stickied resources post in the modelling thread gives a wide range of alternative 54mm suppliers, figures and other odds and ends.

One result of GW cancelling thier bits service is that a couple of independant suppliers have sprung up (e.g bits and kits and bitz box in the UK) which can sometimes be a bit limited, but probably carry most of the stuff you might want. It still suprises me how well the heroic 28mm parts fit into a slightly truer scale 54mm - although your Praetorians may still have to rely on attic clearing on e-bay.

Though, really, knowing no one that plays Inquisitor, I doubt that I will be left disappointed by characters.

I think you might be suprised how many people here model and develop characters without actually playing; and if you can get to Nottingham, there is always the game(s) run by members of the Conclave at Warhammer World, which I keep hoping I may one day be allowed to attend.

By my partner I hasten to add, not the hospital staff or police or anything....

[DapperAnarchist]

Having talked to a staff member in my new local GW (Chester, just moved in), I get the feeling that there are a lot of "underground" Inquisitor players. He says the local GCN plays a lot of Inquisitor, and that the Chester store is seeking permission to re-start the old Specialist Games Nights, including Inquisitor. The Conclave may be the biggest Inquisitor forum out there, but I think we have a relatively small proportion of the players out there... So look around, ask around, you never know what you might find.

[Jamas Orian]

If memory serves me rightly - a 3s statline in 40k (i.e., an imperial guardsman of no great stature - who is by nature a trained soldier) is about following in Inquisitor:

WS BS S  T  I  WP SG NV LD
50 50 50 50 40 40 40 40 55

Civilians would have stats at least 10 points lower across the board.

Personally - I have found that Conclave level statlines are far superior for playing with than Rulebook generator level statlines.

[RobSkib]

Civilians would have stats at least 10 points lower across the board.

Personally I'd drop them by 20 - low to mid 30s across the board would be an average, educated imperial citizen.

Here's the link to the Arcadian Smugglers Ring;

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/arcadiansmugglers

[Strozzi]

Thanks a lot for the link, RobSkib.  And thanks for the statline, Jamas.  And yeah, Flinty, for the out of date stuff it looks like e-bay is the only way - unless I can find properly scaled Zulu models.  And, my dapper friend, I remember being forced to play Mordheim and BFG on Monday nights because the weekends were sacrosanct for Warhammer and 40k - but still, it's worthwhile to ask around the stores.

Well, now, I have a toned down stateline for Inquisitor L. Strozzi Ficino (I added a cognomen to her) all made up in picture form.  I'm not sure if it's too far (I doubt it) or not enough.  I also toned down her equipment and changed her talents.  It won't be long before I have up new character sheets for the others.

Inquisitor L. Strozzi Ficino

Edit: So, I finished the rest of the characters in their toned down versions.  I changed Charon's name to Haros (a modern Greek semi-equivalent) and left the Ghoul trait unspecified (I'll think up something and write  it up in here shortly, making sure to be more specific than before).  With Amage I got rid of her laspistol and her Nerves of Steel.  And with Brother Aysn I got rid of his Power Armour and subbed in Carapace and traded out the Multi-Laser for a Lasgun (TP) and got rid of his Nerves of Steel.

I'm thinking of having Brother Aysn be a former member of a Machine Cult (with no affiliation to the Adeptus Mechanicus) and giving him a bunch of crude biotics (legs, one eye, one ear) and a +10% to any checks relation to machinery, locks, etc (half of what the Adeptus Mechanicus is given in the Sourcebook).  Looking for opinions on this.

Also, I'm thinking of making Amage a 'Slaught addict, which would have no impact on unspecified games, but would be more of a campaign sort of thing.  Though I have little idea what exactly to do - obviously she would need a good supply of 'Slaught and suffer from some sort of withdraw.

Well, here is what I have so far:
Amage
Brother Aysn
Haros

[MarcoSkoll]

Though I have little idea what exactly to do - obviously she would need a good supply of 'Slaught and suffer from some sort of withdraw.

My version of addictions is that if suffering from withdrawal, the character has to take a Wp test (modified by  the strength of the withdrawal) at the start of each turn, and if failed they take stat penalties (usually a fixed -10% or -20% to all stats, depending on how bad their addiction actually is) for the remainder of the turn as their addiction starts to erode their focus and alacrity.