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Inquisitor FAQ leaflet

Started by Kaled, January 24, 2012, 08:10:56 PM

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Heroka Vendile

If I get a chance I'll press on with doing the rest of this over the weekend.
It's all fun and games until someone shoots their own guy with a Graviton gun instead of the MASSIVE SPIDER.
The Order of Krubal
Rewards Of The Enemy

MarcoSkoll

If you can, many thanks.

Two slight notes - I've swapped a "which" for a "that" in the last post to be more grammatical, and should you think of anywhere smart to include "Everything you have been told is a lie" (possibly under whichever image becomes the front "page", but I think it's good to use "Battle for the Emperor's Soul as the proper tagline"), I wouldn't mind getting it in there somewhere.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

Heroka Vendile

UPDATE
I've dropped a message to each of those whose photos have been used to get their consent (excepting those that had already given it), but other than that I think we're good to go.

It seems there is a distinct lack of community-created staged hero shots (with decent photography), so these are just the best of what an afternoon's searching provided.



It's all fun and games until someone shoots their own guy with a Graviton gun instead of the MASSIVE SPIDER.
The Order of Krubal
Rewards Of The Enemy

MarcoSkoll

#18
Looking pretty swish to me, Euan. It's looking a lot better for the work that's been put in (I mean no offence to Kaled's original version, of course!)

~~~~~

Regarding the picture problem, I've been taking a somewhat proactive approach, and I earlier snagged permission from Jakob Rune Nielsen to use photos of his models (my photos, but I felt it was polite to ask).
They're not proper studio shots, as they're from the 2013 OpenBash, but my old camera (sadly no longer with us*) could do a pretty good macro shot:
*However, I've just noticed that there's another on eBay... I may have to have that!



This is the (subtly) watermarked one from my Flickr, but I've still got even the original RAW file, so it can be tweaked to the heart's content.

There's a few other nice ones I've got from events - this one serves as the one for the IGT 2015 Facebook event page:


(It is however a bit of a cheat, and you can see an editing goof along the left and top edges of the image - this is two shots stitched into one to improve the DoF).

I've also got a photoshopped version of that front cover (well, from the opposite angle):

(I suspect I could do a lot better though if I gave it another shot, I did it more than five years ago...).
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

MarcoSkoll

Many thanks to Euan for sending through the files yesterday.

However, I have run into a hiccup - on the first test print, I was unhappy with the quality of the front cover image; as it's not from an original file, it's only about 100 dpi and looks a bit crude close up.

At least for now, I've swapped it* for one of my own photos in order to have something ready for the IGT:
* I had to process the PDF through Photoshop anyway (our printer overdoes dark tones, which I correct software side using the Curves tool if I'm printing photos), so I used it as a crude desktop publishing substitute at the same time.



I quite like the result, so perhaps it'll get used on the final release (once we've confirmed secured all sensible permissions)

I've run off ten copies for now (having a colour laser printer is an advantage at times, even if it is overly large), and at a pinch I've got four test copies from when I was checking printer settings, so we'll see how it goes.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

greenstuff_gav

i found the original of the twin-scale picture if that's of use!
on a selfish note i'd love one for myself ;)

printing is my one issue with this years IGT; got it all handwritten incase i can't get to the printshop tomorrow :lol:
i make no apologies, i warned you my ability to roll ones was infectious...

Build Your Imagination

MarcoSkoll

Quote from: greenstuff_gav on May 28, 2015, 06:24:38 PMi found the original of the twin-scale picture if that's of use!
No, that should be fine - I have much larger resolution of it than we had for the front cover image, but it's also much smaller on the print.

Quoteon a selfish note i'd love one for myself ;)
They are actually quite swish, even just run off on a fairly standard office printer (proper printing on glossy paper would be very nice, but I can't arrange that at the moment). All credit to Euan, the result is all very visually appealing when it's in physical form (other than the difficulty with finding a good front cover), so hopefully we'll get a few people helping themselves.

Anyway, I've doubled the print run to 20. First priority should still go to passers-by, but if there are any left at the end of the day (and I'll be pleasantly surprised if there aren't), the remainder may go to good homes, whether that's to people's clubs or just for themselves.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

MarcoSkoll

I need to remember to send Euan the proper picture files to replace the front cover properly, but I have also remembered how to get Photoshop to export a multi-page PDF (albeit as a "picture" rather than "text" PDF), so here's a version with the cover I bodged for the IGT:

http://mediafire.com/?4gk9dhgv4a5y72k/

I guess this is a fairly late commentary, but thanks to the various people who've helped out so far, because your efforts came together to make these pretty successful at the IGT. We will need a proper leaflet box in future, but enough of them left with passers-by for me to be content.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

MarcoSkoll

With the event at the London Grand Tournament coming up, I need to run off more of these leaflets, and I'd like to polish it up before I do so.

For convenience, I've attached the latest version as pictures below, but should you want a proper download for any reason: http://mediafire.com/?4gk9dhgv4a5y72k/





I will be making a few minor edits to the phrasing of some of the text (particularly regarding the use of "INQ28", as the name has increasingly become used to refer to the overall modelling aesthetic rather than specifically 28mm Inquisitor since I wrote this), but other than that, the things I'm looking to update are:

- The section talking about 28mm models names a number of OOP WHFB kits. This list needs to be updated, but given I'm mostly into older metal models, I'm looking for suggestions of a replacement list of kits.

(*Concise* lists please - although there are an ever increasing number of great plastic kits, the leaflet is meant to give a flavour of Inquisitor, not be a comprehensive reference)

- Top notch "hero shots" of 28mm models or warbands, or equally good in-game pictures. The ones we used before are passable, but not great.

(Although you can post examples in the comments, if I decide I like them, you'll need to send me high quality originals - Facebook's picture compression is far too poor to use for printing).

- I'm planning on adding the Inquisitorium FB group to the list of support links. If you have any other particularly good suggestions, feel free to make them.

(But, again, the leaflet does need to be concise, so only absolute must links, and they need to cater to Inquisitor rather than just anything within a broader definition of "INQ28").
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

Heroka Vendile

#24
if you send me the new pics I can make all the changes to my original file.
We can add Necromunda to the model ranges to steal from as well now.
It's all fun and games until someone shoots their own guy with a Graviton gun instead of the MASSIVE SPIDER.
The Order of Krubal
Rewards Of The Enemy

Van Helser

Sticking my historical modelling hat on, replacements for the OOP Empire kits could include Warlord plastic Landsknechts, and Mordheim types are increasingly modeled using Perry 15th cent. European Mercenaries from what I understand:

https://store.warlordgames.com/products/landsknechts-pikemen

https://www.perry-miniatures.com/product_info.php?products_id=2490

mcjomar

Actually RE: morheim, I would suggest the plastic sprues for various Forstgrave products (Frostgrave barbarians, cultists, and soldiers) as a fantastic alternative with lots of detail.

http://www.northstarfigures.com/list.php?man=195&page=1
https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/frostgrave

"Heretics are like cockroaches - annoying to find, and even more annoying to kill." - unattrib.

MarcoSkoll

I didn't get a whole heap of useful responses out of things like the Inquisitorium on Facebook (lots of likes, not many answers), so I've instead drafted up something a bit more generic for the modelling section.

I did sort of want to spark a few ideas in people's heads, but something a bit more timeless will make it easier to justify ordering a slightly larger and more cost effective batch of leaflets.
(Although, on that front, I do wonder if I should rephrase the mention of Blanchitsu. I don't necessarily know how much longer John may do that, for whatever reason).

Quote+++ What is Inquisitor? (and other frequently asked questions) +++
Inquisitor is a narrative wargame, focused primarily around the conflicts of the Holy Inquisition, either amongst its own ranks or against the enemies of mankind. Unlike the main game of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, it is not about "the front-line of mud and gas and behemoth engines" (to quote Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn foreword), but is instead set amongst the internal and domestic complexities of the Imperium - shadow wars where good, evil, right and wrong all merge into indistinct shades of grey.

If you have read the Eisenhorn series, you will already be familiar with the concept of an Inquisitor and his closest allies striving against these more subtle (but no less dangerous) threats to the Imperium, with their reward often to die alone and unremembered by the billions of citizens they may have saved from the encroaching dark.

Inquisitor is your chance to tell the dramatic, daring (and sometimes clumsy) stories of these unsung heroes.

+++ What characters can I play? +++
With the right attitude, pretty much anyone in the Imperium or even beyond it - Inquisitor is a very unfettered game.

The most common approach is for a player's "warband" to be centred around a powerful and independent individual such as an Inquisitor, Rogue Trader, Tech-Priest or Chaos Magus, accompanied by allies ranging between warriors, savants, astropaths, thieves, servitors or any other possibility you can imagine.

As in Abnett's novels, these characters are very often not from the military, nor are they famed heroes; they are simply any man or woman who has the skills and courage to fight in the Battle for the Emperor's Soul - a war not always fought with guns and blades, but just as often minds.

+++ Where do I get models? +++
Inquisitor was originally produced in 54mm scale, shaped by the GW sculpting team's interest in doing a large scale range. This original range of (surprisingly versatile) multi-part models is now out of production, but the models can still often be found on trading groups and auction websites.
Larger 28mm miniatures (such as ogres or automatons) can also often be converted into characters such as 54mm Ratlings or servitors, and the exaggerated 'heroic' styling of the 28mm range means that many parts (generally weapons and equipment, but also occasionally other parts) are very suitable for the more realistic proportions of most 54mm miniatures.

28mm scale Inquisitor has also become highly popular in recent years. It uses the same rules (using centimetres or half inches as the game's 'yard') and capitalises on the ever expanding Games Workshop plastics range (although it can also be a wonderful excuse to acquire vintage models!)
Kits from the Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, Necromunda and Forge World ranges can all be combined in more ways than we can begin to explain here - the only real limits are the modeller's skill and imagination. If you've followed Blanchitsu over the last few years, you've probably seen some fantastic examples of this kind of modelling.

Many other manufacturers produce 28 and 54mm models easily converted for Inquisitor; Sci-fi and cyberpunk ranges are the obvious examples, but historical and fantasy miniature ranges can also be adapted to the pseudo-historical styles seen in WH40k artwork.

Either (or both!) scales represent opportunities to explore corners of the galaxy that the core Warhammer 40,000 game does not.

+++ How is the game played? +++
Inquisitor is uniquely described as a 'narrative wargame', because unlike many tabletop games where players field balanced 'armies' and each side is simply attempting to beat the other, the Inquisitor ethos is more around semi-competitive storytelling.

For an analogy, Inquisitor is 'tabletop improv theatre' -  the gamesmaster (GM) is the director/scenesetter, the players are his actors, and the characters are their roles.
It is wargaming for poets; part skirmish and part RPG, it offers players the freedom to envision and play a fully realised cast of characters with all their personal drives, prejudices and heroics.

The GM is central to this experience, as he has the power and responsibility to oversee the game; he designs the scenario, controls any "non player characters" (NPCs) and generally ensures that the narrative flows fluidly and enjoyably for all players - even if it does sometimes mean bending or ignoring the rules.

An Inquisitor scenario can take many forms, between desperately escaping from exploding reactors, to stealth missions in heavily guarded libraries. Players will generally require thought and creativity to succeed, rather than simply being able to prevail solely through force of arms.
Games are also generally small; each player will normally control one to four characters, with perhaps ten or twelve characters in total on the table (including any controlled by the GM).

New players sometimes feel overwhelmed when they first read the rulebook, but as with most games, the rules are a lot simpler than they first appear. Once you get used to the game, almost all of the charts you need are collected together on a single A4 reference sheet.

+++ Inquisitor Community Events +++
Members of the Inquisitor community organise multiple events each year, often held at Warhammer World in Nottingham.

These events vary between sprawling narratives where dozens of players are thrown into events that could shape the fortunes of an entire sector, invitational events with finely tailored plot threads, and the ominously named Inquisitor Grand Tournament (or IGT) - a casual "tournament" encompassing the whole hobby, with attendees scored on their characterful play, fiendish GMing, creative miniatures, and knowledge of the WH40K universe.

If you are new to the game (even if you’ve never played before) then you’re still welcome at these events - the veteran players will be more than happy to help you through your first few games.

News of upcoming events can be found by joining/following the various websites and Facebook pages listed in the  support section.

+++ Where can I find support? +++
Inquisitor is officially out of production, but many fanatics have set up their own support for the game:

The Conclave is an online forum specifically for Inquisitor. Descended from the old GW Inquisitor and Specialist Games forums, it is home to dedicated players, rules & background discussion, painting, modelling and online roleplaying:
www.the-conclave.co.uk
www.facebook.com/theconclaveforum/

The Ammobunker forums have a thriving section dedicated to 28mm Inquisitor modelling and events:
www.ammobunker.org

Inquisitor 54mm on Facebook is a group specialising in the game's original 54mm scale:
www.facebook.com/groups/Inquisitor.54mm/

The Inquisitorium caters to 28mm Inquisitor and other related narrative skirmish games:
www.facebook.com/groups/inquisitorium/

Dark Magenta is a (free!) fanzine publisher of articles and sourcebooks, including background,  rules, modelling articles and battle reports.
www.darkmagenta.net

The Carthax wiki is home to the Carthax Sector archives - an open project to document the setting and stories created by the Inquisitor community and its events. It also includes an expanded version of this FAQ, with more advice on starting, writing, playing and running Inquisitor.
carthax.wikia.com

+++Getting started with Inquisitor+++
I see no need to change Euan's infographic.

As far as pictures, I'm thinking about swapping the (somewhat blurry and washed out) game photo under the community events section for this one (or the full resolution version, anyway. Possibly with a more skilful background edit, but unfortunately it's a nice shot marred by a crotch in the background):



(I have got a couple more possible choices from my photo collection, but haven't got the time to sort them out this instant).
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

MarcoSkoll

#28
I'm working on trying to get the leaflets updated and in a state for Salute, which has meant trying to polish up the text more.

Changes from the last draft involve:

- Removing specific mention of Blanchitsu. I'm not sure whether this is still active in White Dwarf (I don't really read WD any more - I'm not involved in their core games), and if it is, how long it will still be.

- Tried to remove gender specific language, instead referring to the GM as "they" rather than "he".

- Avoiding abbreviations like "40K" or "GW". The names are now used in full ("Warhammer 40,000" and "Games Workshop"). Abbreviations are still used for in-game terms like "GM" or "NPC", but abbreviating trademarks gives the whole leaflet a less professional feel.

-  On a similar note, italicisation of most trademarks/copyrighted terms. So far, I've done it for "Games Workshop", "Forge World" and game/book names. I've not done it for in game classes like "astropath", "servitor" or (when referring to a character rather than the game) "Inquisitor".

- I've removed specific mention of Warhammer World as a venue (while I think they're currently taking a more reasonable approach to booking, we haven't been there in a while and it's possible they'll do something silly again). I've gone for a more generic "held at a variety of venues around the UK."

If you spot any mistakes with any of these, please let me know.

Quote+++ What is Inquisitor? (and other frequently asked questions) +++
Inquisitor is a narrative wargame, focused primarily around the conflicts of the Holy Inquisition, either amongst its own ranks or against the enemies of mankind. Unlike the main game of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, it is not about "the front-line of mud and gas and behemoth engines" (to quote Dan Abnett's Eisenhorn foreword), but is instead set amongst the internal and domestic complexities of the Imperium - shadow wars where good, evil, right and wrong all merge into indistinct shades of grey.

If you have read the Eisenhorn series, you will already be familiar with the concept of an Inquisitor and his closest allies striving against these more subtle (but no less dangerous) threats to the Imperium, with their reward often to die alone and unremembered by the billions of citizens they may have saved from the encroaching dark.

Inquisitor is your chance to tell the dramatic, daring (and sometimes clumsy) stories of these unsung heroes.

+++ What characters can I play? +++
With the right attitude, pretty much anyone in the Imperium or even beyond it - Inquisitor is a very unfettered game.

The most common approach is for a player's "warband" to be centred around a powerful and independent individual such as an Inquisitor, Rogue Trader, Tech-Priest or Chaos Magus, accompanied by allies ranging between warriors, savants, astropaths, thieves, servitors or any other possibility you can imagine.

As in Abnett's novels, these characters are very often not from the military, nor are they famed heroes; they are simply any man or woman who has the skills and courage to fight in the Battle for the Emperor's Soul - a war not always fought with guns and blades, but just as often minds.

+++ Where do I get models? +++
Inquisitor was originally produced in 54mm scale, shaped by the Games Workshop sculpting team's interest in doing a large scale range. This original range of (surprisingly versatile) multi-part models is now out of production, but the models can still often be found on trading groups and auction websites.
Larger 28mm miniatures (such as ogres or automatons) can also often be converted into characters such as 54mm Ratlings or servitors, and the exaggerated 'heroic' styling of the 28mm range means that many parts (most often weapons and equipment) are very suitable for any less exaggerated 54mm miniatures.

28mm scale Inquisitor has also become highly popular in recent years. It uses the same rules (generally using either centimetres or half inches as the game's 'yard') and capitalises on the ever expanding Games Workshop plastics range (although it can also be a wonderful excuse to use old metal models).
Kits from the Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, Necromunda and Forge World ranges can all be combined in more ways than we can begin to explain here; The only real limits are the modeller's skill and imagination.

Many other manufacturers produce 28 and 54mm models easily converted for Inquisitor; Sci-fi and cyberpunk ranges are the obvious examples, but historical and fantasy miniature ranges can also be adapted to the pseudo-historical styles seen in Warhammer 40,000 artwork.

Either (or both!) scales represent opportunities to explore corners of the galaxy that the core Warhammer 40,000 game does not.

+++ How is the game played? +++
Inquisitor is uniquely described as a 'narrative wargame', because unlike many tabletop games where players field balanced 'armies' and each side is simply attempting to beat the other, the Inquisitor ethos is more around semi-competitive storytelling.

For an analogy, Inquisitor is 'tabletop improv theatre' -  the gamesmaster (or "GM") is the director/scenesetter, the players are the actors, and the characters are their roles.
It is wargaming for poets; part skirmish and part RPG, it offers players the freedom to envision and play a fully realised cast of characters with all their personal drives, prejudices and heroics.

The GM is central to this experience, as they have  the power and responsibility to oversee the game; they design the scenario, control any "non player characters" (NPCs) and generally ensure that the narrative flows fluidly and enjoyably for all players - even if it does sometimes mean bending or ignoring the rules.

An Inquisitor scenario can take many forms, between desperately escaping from exploding reactors, to stealth missions in heavily guarded libraries. Players will generally require thought and creativity to succeed, rather than simply being able to prevail solely through force of arms.
Games are also generally small; each player will normally control one to four characters, with perhaps ten or twelve characters in total on the table (including any controlled by the GM).

New players sometimes feel overwhelmed when they first read the rulebook, but as with most games, the rules are a lot simpler than they first appear. Once you get used to the game, almost all of the charts you need are collected together on a single A4 reference sheet.

+++ Inquisitor Community Events +++
Members of the Inquisitor community organise multiple events each year, held at a variety of venues around the UK.

These events vary between sprawling narratives where dozens of players are thrown into events that could shape the fortunes of an entire sector, invitational events with finely tailored plot threads, and the ominously named Inquisitor Grand Tournament (or IGT) - a casual "tournament" encompassing the whole hobby, with attendees scored on their characterful play, fiendish GMing, creative miniatures, and knowledge of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

If you are new to the game (even if you've never played before) then you're still welcome at these events - the veteran players will be more than happy to help you through your first few games.

News of upcoming events can be found by joining/following the various websites and Facebook pages listed in the support section.

+++ Where can I find support? +++
Inquisitor is officially out of production, but many fanatics have set up their own support for the game:

The Conclave is an online forum specifically for Inquisitor. Descended from Games Workshop's old  Inquisitor and Specialist Games forums, it is home to dedicated players, rules & background discussion, painting, modelling and online roleplaying:
www.the-conclave.co.uk
www.facebook.com/theconclaveforum/

The Ammobunker forums have a section dedicated to 28mm Inquisitor modelling and events:
www.ammobunker.org

Inquisitor 54mm on Facebook is a group specialising in the game's original 54mm scale:
www.facebook.com/groups/Inquisitor.54mm/

The Inquisitorium caters to 28mm Inquisitor and other related narrative skirmish games:
www.facebook.com/groups/inquisitorium/

Dark Magenta is a (free!) fanzine publisher of articles and sourcebooks, including background,  rules, modelling articles and battle reports.
www.darkmagenta.net

The Carthax wiki is home to the Carthax Sector archives - an open project to document the setting and stories created by the Inquisitor community and its events. It also includes an expanded version of this FAQ, with more advice on starting, writing, playing and running Inquisitor.
carthax.fandom.com

For a couple of other sections:

Quote+++Getting started with Inquisitor+++

This will still use Heroka's infographic.

QuoteInquisitor is a wargame with the brakes off: a bare-back, whiteknuckle ride that takes all the bits you like best about tabletop wargames (the rich context, the dark themes, the shock of conflict) and roleplay games (colourful individuals, the fate of the galaxy hanging by a thread, sudden changes of personal fortune in the time it takes to pull a trigger) and throws them into a single package. It's like a cooperative novel and a competitive action movie rolled up into one thing. It's wargaming for poets. It's falling to your knees in a sea of corpses, an empty stubber in one hand and a bloody chainsword in the other, screaming "If this is heresy, it feels SO GOOD!"
PrecinctOmega, The Conclave

The question remains of what should and shouldn't be on the support list. Some of those sites are pretty stagnant (and I have to admit that's my problem when it comes to Dark Magenta, but it's been slow going when it's mostly just me working on it), but I don't want to snub anyone by taking anything off (and half of the hope is that those sites will be less stagnant with some publicity).

~~~~~

Any other corrections or changes people think are necessary?
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

Inquisitor_Snarf

Looks good! I would suggest running it through an app like Grammarly to pick up grammatical issues.