Been playing inquisitor for a while. I want to create a character who is more of a non-combatant that is there to support the others. I've come up with these rules so far and would appreciate any feedback or additional ideas. Haven't had a chance to play test them yet.
Silvanius
Silvanius can access relevant information from his data slate in order to aid another character. The other character must be within normal conversational range and Silvanius forgoes his turn. This gives the affected character a +20% roll to one relevant sagacity test.
eg. Andreas is struggling to open a locked door in a mechanicum. He asks Silvanius to look up the schematics for the lock on his data slate. As this is standard Imperial technology, Silvanius finds it in his data bank and feeds back relevant information to Andreas. Andreas is therefore more likely to be able to open the lock as he has a greater understanding of its workings. Silvanius is too busy talking to Andreas to act in any other way.
Silvanius may also look up the STC for certain types of armour on his data slate. If this type of armour is fairly standard (GM discretion) Silvanius may relay the weaknesses in that particular armour to another character. The other character must be within normal conversational range and Silvanius forgoes his turn. This negates half the armour of the target of the affected character.
eg. Andreas looses several las shots at the hulking Traitor marine but to no real affect. Silvanius hurriedly accesses his data slate and brings up the STC for the mark IV power armour he's wearing. He notices the armour has weak spots in the joints and relays this to Andreas, who can then adjust his aim to target the weaker spots in the armour, making his las shots count for more.
C&C appreciated :)
Well, first of all,
Welcome to the Conclave.Next... I don't like the "foregoes his turn" stuff.
That comes down to trading off what could be as little as a single action for a certain bonus, so it's not quite balanced. I'd say it's better to make it a fixed number of actions, probably at least two actions, maybe three.
After all, the information is not necessarily immediately going to be immediately on screen and easily interpretable in the ten seconds a turn usually represents. It could take a few seconds to load from memory, it could be vague or in an obscure language (as most Mechanicus blueprints are).
If it is going to be described as simply foregoing a turn, I'd at least make the Scribe take an Sg test to interpret and explain it correctly.
However, I would in either case allow a bigger bonus. Perhaps rather than "to one relevant Sg test", it applies to all tests working with that equipment (at least while Silvanius remains close enough to be consulted).
QuoteHe notices the armour has weak spots in the joints
Like every other power armour? ::)
Anyway, weak spots are naturally a harder shot. I'd suggest that it could confer
Crack Shot and
Sure Strike versus that armour (Former in the Eldar article, latter in one of the DM sourcebooks) OR maybe the
Weak Point rules at the end of the DM Space Marine Article, but just being able to hit the weakspots perfectly when you're told where they are is a bit far fetched.
~~~~~
Also, while these are interesting rules, I am left wondering why a scribe has access to the AdMech's highly coveted blueprints and schematics.
I think he'll need a forge world background or some other strong ties to the Mechanicus, because I can't see they'd let any old Joe at their data.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to say something similar.
The approach to technology you seem to be indicating is much too close to our own, schematics for any technological device are not going to just be available online...
First you're going to have to send your request to the local Astropathic Duct who will route it to the nearest Forge World if it's properly formatted...etc. The High Altar of the Machine god there will likely have the data but if not will contact other high altars on other Forge Worlds in attempt to obtain it, the request meanwhile will be interrogated, possibly by the High Altar, possibly by a Magos, to ensure that the proper rites and incantations have been performed...etc.
You should remember that AdMech are called TechPriests and TechnoMagi for a reason, they don't anoint an engine with oil to help keep the casing clean and rust free but because it is a vital part of the ritual which funnels life from somewhere into the engine; they don't turn a key, they perform magic.
It is, unfortunately, very easy to assume that the 40k'verse is just like our world but with Space Marines.
It isn't.
Even your average intrusion specialist is not going to have any idea how a lock works, showing him a schematic (which, if you're at all familiar with engineering drawings, probably isn't going to show anything useful anyway) isn't going to help because what he's doing isn't actually picking the lock, he's taking his magic plas'card (with runes on and everything) and placing it between the door and frame where the lock can read it, then he's saying the magic words and performing the magic jiggle and the door pops open...
Even if you have one of those high class intrusion specialists who can open all manner of forms of locks - they aren't rotating levers of tickling tumblers because they operate mechanisms which will slide the bolt, they're rotating levers because the lock likes to be touched that way, because the rituals require that that is a place important to the magic of the lock. Again, knowing what the lock looks like, even knowing what it looks like inside isn't going to help with that - it would be like showing someone a cutaway anatomical drawing showing the female reproductive organs and expecting them to know what sex is like.
Quote from: InquisitorHeidfeld on June 02, 2011, 03:24:46 PM
then he's saying the magic words
1, 2, 3, 4! Omnissiah bless this door!These words perchance :P
R
Okay, so let us assume the problem is that in the grimdark future there exists no centralised store of technical information, such as that which our own wikimessiah currently provides. What does the Imperium of man have in place of this? Well, if my understanding of the background is correct, there exist legions and legions of acolytes, journeyman and magisters, who all develop an understanding and wisdom of the ways of the machine god.
And the problem here is that a single character, this scribe, wishes to be a hub of information that would normally reside in several minds?
So how about a fleet of servo-skulls?
The scribe acts as a psychic conduit, channeling the lingering memories of the long dead magi back into the physical world once more. His method of controling this transfer is through a data slate. By formulating a question on the pad, and focusing his will, he can access these stores of information that hover alongside him. There answer appears on the slate after a few rounds of concentration.
This means he could have access to a much larger pool of information, but would perhaps need to use a willpower test to utilise it.
Just a thought, happy to be told that it is unwanted and/or unhelpful. ;)
Thanks for the feedback it was very useful; its clear I need to go back to the drawing board! I will drop the armour thing; the idea that he confers a trait like crack shot seems like a good idea and i'll have a think. The idea was creating a character whose rules suited the idea of a scribe/lector who helps characters out (much like in 40k where scribes used to add 1 BS to the inquisitor) and create some variety to my warband. I'll post again with new rules when I come up with them but in the meantime feel free to keep coming up with new ideas :)
Quote from: Shannow on June 02, 2011, 04:39:07 PM1, 2, 3, 4! Omnissiah bless this door!
These words perchance :P
Possibly - though more likely something more like "Insert tab 'A' into slot 'B' and using screws 'F' firmly afix to the door."
The reasons may be lost but the ritual remains.