Alright, very very new to "The Conclave" and thought I'd post my main character that I would like to create and get some feedback (although be gentle with criticism :P)
Inquisitor Stromm
A relatively obscure member of the Xanthite faction, Inquisitor Stromm is known for his dour demeanour and unflinching belief that the end will always justify the means. For over one hundred and seventy five years the Inquisitor has worked his way deep into the cluster of remote hive worlds that make up the Garuum Cradle. His ruthless techniques have not only seen the scouring of these worlds of any and all chaotic influences but also brought upon the Inquisitor a reputation for brutality unparalleled in that sector.
His most significant accomplishment was the public execution of Planetary Governor Ventrus of Larissa VII and thus the quelling of almost a decade of internal strife on that world. Whilst his methods have often been deemed "unorthodox" by more puritan minded members of the Inquisition and outright "heretical" by others, none can deny the results that Inquisitor Stromm has achieved.
WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
60 78 60 60 80 85 80 90 85
Equipment: Plasma pistol, Power Sword, Carapace Armour on Chest Abdomen and Groin, 2 points of armour everywhere else, MIU linked Servo Skull (gun), Refractor Field
Special Abilities: Force of Will, Nerves of Steel, Familiar (Servo Skull)
Psychic Abilities: Detection, Enfeeble, Storm of Lightning
Inquisitor Stromm is right handed
So, what do you think? any suggestions? Hope to hear some feedback.
Cheers
Lucien
Firstly,
Welcome to the Conclave!Quote from: Lucien Alexius on March 31, 2012, 03:50:30 PMand get some feedback (although be gentle with criticism :P)
These two terms are almost mutually exclusive ;) What value is criticism if all the rough edges have been sanded off? Everyone has their own ways to play the game and their own power levels in their gaming circles, however, the Conclave strives for an 'industry standard' power level, so if ever you do attend a Conclave meet, play with someone from these boards or whatever, you won't have to spend hours readjusting your characters to suit.
Quote from: Lucien Alexius on March 31, 2012, 03:50:30 PM
WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
60 78 60 60 80 85 80 90 85
Inquisitor is a D100 game, not a D10 or D20 game. You have all those extra digits to play around with, so use them! Rounding numbers to the nearest 5 or 10 makes the penalties easier to work out, but makes your character seem fairly generic and not particularly well thought out. If you're stuck, consider that there are exactly 9 statistics, enough to fill each stat with a different second digit.
Curiously, BS is the only statistic with an odd number, any reason?
No statistics below 60 rings my alarm bells, however. There was recently a thread involving an Inquisitor who had no stats above 50, and would suffer similar problems to your character after a few games - a game involving random dice rolls stops being interesting if the result of the dice is almost a guaranteed pass or fail. You will find that with your character, there is very little he will fail to do, and your opponents will begin to complain or look elsewhere for a fun game of Inquisitor. Would Indiana Jones be as exciting to watch if he wore full plate armour and carried an RPG? Inquisitor is all about thrilling heroics, which don't have the same impact if there is no chance of failure.
Consider dropping all the stats by at least 10, and have another think at your character - he is not defined by your stats, but how you play him. Take BS for example - 78 is very, very high, even for an Inquisitor. With a single aim action, you're looking at a straight 95 or under to hit in most situations, that plasma pistol is ALWAYS going to find it's mark, regardless of circumstance. Remember that BS represents a character firing from the hip without taking a moment to raise his gun to eye level, or brace it against his shoulder. If you want a character who is a crack shot, you will better represent him on the table top with a lower BS (55-65) but by spending actions aiming before each shot.
He's fast, he's strong, he's good with a blade, an excellent almost god-like shot, tough, intelligent, gutsy, loyal and strong-willed. Does he have any weaknesses? Any flaws? Is it physically possible that he has enough time to keep himself fit, lithe and athletic, whilst also being able to study hard to keep his psyche sharp?
Quote from: Lucien Alexius on March 31, 2012, 03:50:30 PM
Equipment: Plasma pistol, Power Sword, Carapace Armour on Chest Abdomen and Groin, 2 points of armour everywhere else, MIU linked Servo Skull (gun), Refractor Field
Well, I've seen worse. The combination of high BS/WS and high damage weapons is a recipe for short games with a foregone conclusion. Sure, you'll kill things well, but there's only so many times your gaming group will want to play against this character before they start bringing bolters, forcefields, power armour and psychic powers to the table to counter you and the power level of your games spirals out of control, or worse, they just get bored and stop playing. Look deep into your character -
why does he carry round all this high-end, expensive, rare, high-maintenance, unreliable equipment to meet with an informant, investigate leads in a royal palace or exchange intelligence with his spies?
With all this equipment, it seems like he is more at home on a battlefield than embroiled in the skullduggery and back-alley brawls that Inquisitor entails.
Quote from: Lucien Alexius on March 31, 2012, 03:50:30 PM
Special Abilities: Force of Will, Nerves of Steel, Familiar (Servo Skull)
Does he really need Nerves of Steel (Nos) when he's rolling 90 or under for pinning checks anyway? Ditto with Force of Will. It is widely accepted that NoS should be reserved for characters with literally no concept of fear - servitors, crazies, machines, cultists and the like. It means that he can't even voluntarily fail a pinning check, which is a little dim if someone is aiming a lascannon square at his chest.
Quote from: Lucien Alexius on March 31, 2012, 03:50:30 PM
Psychic Abilities: Detection, Enfeeble, Storm of Lightning
I almost missed this first time round, I had no idea he was psychic as well! Inquisitors don't
have to be psychic, no matter how tempting it is to make your first character a bit good at everything. I have many, many characters with psychic powers in my collection, all of various power levels, but none of them possess a power weapon, plasma pistol and refractor field
in addition to being able to fire lightning from their finger tips.
If you want to keep him going down the Biomancy route, I'd have a look at some of the Dark Heresy rulebooks for inspiration for psychic powers to replace Storm of Lightning - it seems a bit out of place on a character who fires miniature suns from one hand and carves straight through tank hulls, power armour and bone with the other. There are also some excellent psychic powers available at http://darkmagenta.co.uk/ if you're willing to do a bit of reading.
Overall, a good character concept let down by the desire to have too much on one model. Spread the love a bit - keep the power sword and force field on this character, for example, and give the plasma pistol to a lackey in the warband, and port the psychic powers to a dedicated psyker. You can still have all the cool stuff you want to play with, but it won't be on a single superpowerfulstabshootpsychic character.
Have another think about who he is, his strengths and weaknesses, and how he would try to capitalise on them. You don't get to become an Inquisitor by having weaknesses, so many cover them up as best they can. Maybe he has a ravishing disease that hits his constitution badly (low toughness, 35-45) so compensates by wearing heavy armour and a forcefield. Perhaps he carries all these weapons as a badge of honour from his glory days, but has since let his personal training slip (low BS and WS, 40-50) as he has no time for them next to his other duties as a senior Inquisitor. It might be that he puts on his air of authority and gruffness, unwavering in the face of danger, but frequently finds himself overcome in the heat of the moment and finds it difficult to refocus his attentions and resist his most base urges (low Wp).
I hope this has helped, and that you don't see this as an attack on you personally or your character. My intention is to turn you on to the fun side of Inquisitor - nailbiting finales, epic action sequences, thrilling heroics and climactic duels atop mountain tops - Those things can't be achieved when every character reads like an entry from the Daemonhunters codex.
If you need any more help, There's plenty to keep those reading muscles toned over at the Carthax Wiki (http://carthax.wikispaces.com/Creating+Characters) as well as some excellent guidelines for profiles, stats and weaponry.
Well, RobSkib did the stats and equipment, I'll do background. The background is pretty good! Its a bit sparse, but there's not "he's the new Messiah (he's a very naughty boy!)", you didn't give into the cliches on Xanthites such as "they're really pro-Chaos" or "they all have daemon weapons", and you gave him a nice long period of time, which is good for both explaining why he's good at what he does, and giving lots of space for plot hooks - "oh, our inquisitors crossed paths 50 years ago, and have followed each other's career with interest" works better when the characters are over 100 than when they're Eisenhorn's age.
Basically, what Rob said, though at least he doesn't have any power armour.
Another skill that seems strange is Force of will. It doesn't matter who you are, you're still liable to let a little panic wee out when faced with a bloodthirster unless you've been lobotomised, in which case you're also likely to not understand what the bullets flying around them do. He's an inquisitor, yet he doesn't have leader- I can see this justified in his background, being more than a little draconian, but even so, leader doesn't seem inappropriate.
He's a xanthite, yet so far, only his "unorthodox" methods appear to be what classifies him as such, and that single word also covers Istvaanians, recongregators, monodominants and some of the other, less well-known factions depending on what your personal views are.
His high BS suggests a naturally good shot- why would he risk his health with a highly volatile weapon when he can achieve similar results with a laspistol? It doesn't cause as much damage, but when you're a good shot, you can simply make the shots count. Personally I prefer the "sniper" skill to represent a patient shot, or just someone who has a better than average aim.
I would suggest dropping his Bs, keeping his WS stable, taking 5-10 of both S and T, reduce his Nv to about 70, because when you factor in the +20% for not being hit, and you're pretty much guaranteed a pass anyway if he's not hit. If he is hit, you've got bigger problems.
It seems that you've gone for the stereotypical Power sword + powerful pistol + decent stats + obligatory psychic powers, and whilst it's not overpowered in terms of most people's initial thrashichs with character creation (my first few make me cringe to look back at them), and you could do worse than visiting this page (http://carthax.wikispaces.com/Creating+Characters) on character creation, and this page (http://carthax.wikispaces.com/Special+Abilities) on alternative special abilities. Have a look, check the Revised armoury acailable from MarcoSkoll's signature, and if you see anything you like in lieu of a plasma pistol, try it out.
Finally, just a general not on mental stats- why are they usually higher than physical stats? A guy with a high Sg is every bit as capable as a guy with an equal BS, but it's often overlooked as irrelevant, and when mental characteristics make up fully half of your character's profile, this doesn't make sense to me.
Quote from: Lucien Alexius on March 31, 2012, 03:50:30 PM
Inquisitor Stromm
A relatively obscure member of the Xanthite faction, Inquisitor Stromm is known for his dour demeanour and unflinching belief that the end will always justify the means. For over one hundred and seventy five years the Inquisitor has worked his way deep into the cluster of remote hive worlds that make up the Garuum Cradle. His ruthless techniques have not only seen the scouring of these worlds of any and all chaotic influences but also brought upon the Inquisitor a reputation for brutality unparalleled in that sector.
His most significant accomplishment was the public execution of Planetary Governor Ventrus of Larissa VII and thus the quelling of almost a decade of internal strife on that world. Whilst his methods have often been deemed "unorthodox" by more puritan minded members of the Inquisition and outright "heretical" by others, none can deny the results that Inquisitor Stromm has achieved.
WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
60 78 60 60 80 85 80 90 85
Equipment: Plasma pistol, Power Sword, Carapace Armour on Chest Abdomen and Groin, 2 points of armour everywhere else, MIU linked Servo Skull (gun), Refractor Field
Special Abilities: Force of Will, Nerves of Steel, Familiar (Servo Skull)
Psychic Abilities: Detection, Enfeeble, Storm of Lightning
Inquisitor Stromm is right handed
Ok so hes a Xanthite, good choice as it's pretty easy base to start with for a first char.
A bit of background help here; I would think he must beabout 250 or so? This is allways importent when fitting your char/chars in to 40K (to me anyway) I have former Tanith PDFer whos 270 by 999m41, the date most people use for thier settings of 40K, so for your Inquisitor to be recruted he wouldld have to be at least 20 or so most likely by another radical or a had line puratin who he did not agree with.
Also note that a Xanhite is on the fringes of Inquisitorial law and may very well be disliked even hated and remember that an inquistor can't do it alone so will most likely have to have at least one henchman. Xanthites draw moslt shum to them so perhaps a desperado would be best.
Also you never said what ordo he was from. Most likely from the Malleus or Herecticus if hes a Xanthite, though there is a chance he could be Zenos. A Zenos Xanthite poses a numer od interesting polt points.
Also whats up the with the whole power gear thing? perhaps drop the Carapace in favour of flak, PPistol, PSword and mabe take a deamon sword that shoots fire balls instead? That would fit a xanthite Inquisitor better after all.
as per his stats they could use some droping
Wow! Thanks for the big welcome and the generous heaping of constructive criticism :)
I can see that I like it here.
I'll make a slightly more extended version of background fluff for Mr Stromm at a later date (when I don't have an 1000 word essay due tomorrow) and take on board some of the points that you guys raised. I did think he was a tad too strong but figured "hey, I can always cut down"
Thinking of lowering most of the stats and dropping the power sword in favor of a normal sword, dropping the refractor field (or the carapace armour) and I was thinking of making him a very good shot, however severely lacking in close combat prowess. Of course all have a full re-working of the character later.
Really appreciate the effort and thanks for the very helpful criticism!
looking forward to future posts and being part of "The Conclave".
Quote from: Dwi on April 01, 2012, 02:22:15 AM
Also note that a Xanhite is on the fringes of Inquisitorial law and may very well be disliked even hated and remember that an inquistor can't do it alone so will most likely have to have at least one henchman.
There's not really any such thing as Inquisitorial law - Xanthism is one of the oldest philosophies of the Inquisition and it's followers include many venerable and respected Inquisitors. Just because he's a Xanthite doesn't mean he needs to be a borderline heretic who practises his beliefs in secret and is hunted by his peers. Sure he's likely to have enemies, but then so will every Inquisitor, and every faction is going to have it's members who are seen to have gone too far and who have become disliked and have made enemies of other Inquisitors.
The thing I liked about this character is that he's a Xanthite who doesn't have a daemon weapon (and there's no mention of a daemonhost either), however it would be good to see something to show his belief that the essence of Chaos can be captured and turned to harnessed by mankind.
It sounds like he's disliked by his peers for his methods rather than his Xanthite beliefs, so I can see him accompanied by more mainstream Imperial henchmen rather than people from the fringes of society.
Inquisitor Stromm
A relatively obscure member of the Xanthite faction, Inquisitor Stromm is known for his dour demeanour and unflinching belief that the end will always justify the means. For over one hundred and seventy five years the Inquisitor has worked his way deep into the cluster of remote hive worlds that make up the Garuum Cradle. His ruthless techniques have not only seen the scouring of these worlds of any and all chaotic influences but have also brought upon the Inquisitor a reputation for brutality, unparalleled in that sector.
His most significant accomplishment was the public execution of Planetary Governor Ventrus of Larissa VII and thus the quelling of almost a decade of internal strife on that world. Whilst his methods have often been deemed "unorthodox" by more puritan minded members of the Inquisition and outright "heretical" by others, none can deny the results that Inquisitor Stromm has achieved.
WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
35 78 40 34 70 77 80 90 68
Equipment: Laspistol, Sword, Carapace Armour on Chest Abdomen and Groin, 2 points of armour everywhere else, MIU linked Servo Skull (gun), Refractor Field
Special Abilities: Familiar (Servo Skull)
Psychic Abilities: Detection, Enfeeble
Inquisitor Stromm is right handed
Now I've tried to take some of the advice on board and so changed a few things in his stats and equipment. I've decided that the Inquisitor is a fairly average physical character, not unfit by any means but not much stronger than the average human. "Amongst his equipment is his master crafted Laspistol, Aegis Pattern Carapace Armour and a servo skull made from the remains of Governor Ventrus himself, now and forever in service of the Inquisitor (in penance for his sins).
His most treasured possessions however is the "Honorifica Saint Antonious" a powerful refractor field gifted to him by the Tsarina of Alessius V, in gratitude for his saving that world from the insidious cult influences that had plagued it."
I have kept his excellent ballistic skill but have swapped his plasma pistol for a laspistol, whilst also dropping his power sword for... well... a normal sword :P I've tried to keep his physical attributes fairly low but felt that for such a powerful individual as an Inquisitor to be so powerful he would need something other than being a good shot and have thus kept his mental characteristics very high.
A few other things I've dropped have been Nerves of Steel and Force of Will.
I've dropped one of his psychic abilities, Storm of Lightning (who needs lightning from their hands anyway)
I hope that this seems a much more reasonable character and again guys, thanks for the advice.
I'd be tempted to give him something a bit more potent than a standard laspistol - maybe a custom one, or perhaps a stubber.
I also think you'be made his S and T too low - I'd suggest somewhere in the low 50s would be good. And I'd up his WS into the mid to high 40s - I know you said you want him to be severely lacking in close-combat ability but 35 is probably too low to make for an interesting game.
What gun is fitted to the servo-skull?
Finally, who else are you going to have in the warband?
Hmmmm, custom laspistol does sound more appealling? If anyone has any examples of "modified laspistol" stats and all that, would be appreciated.
The gun servo skull would likely have something similar, just a basic laspistol I would suppose.
I'll bump up those stats and just see how they look, and I haven't quite thought of a full warband yet but I can imagine Inquisitor Stromm accompanied by servitor's, and maybe a low ranking acolyte but nothing too significant.
Very encouraging feedback and again if anyone has any examples of Custom Laspistol stats. I think I stated in the fluff that the Inquisitor's pistol is "master crafted" so that gives me a bit of room to make it more special than a standard laspistol :D
You can look at Marco Skoll's revised armoury, or just adjust the stats of a normal laspistol - add a few points of damage (and lower it's number of shots) improve it's accuracy and/or change it's range band.
Where do you plan to play? If you're in the UK you're welcome to any of the events we organise - but you'd need 54mm models (however Marco and I did discuss the practicalities of an event running across both 28mm & 54mm yesterday).
Cheers for that.
Planning to play is a whole different kettle of fish... I love the designing of the character and over the next few months plan on converting Inquisitor Stromm from an Inquisitor Covenant figure, and making the stats is awesome.
Main problem is, that I have never played Inquisitor before and I live in Australia... namely... Western Australia and I don't actually know if there is any community here for Inquisitor. Plenty for 40k but I'm not actually sure if there are people out there who play the game.
Absolutely love the painting/converting and just general awesomeness of the Inquisitor range and the game sounds right up my alley but I'd have to see if I did have anyone to play against.
Quote from: Lucien Alexius on April 01, 2012, 10:42:37 AM
Hmmmm, custom laspistol does sound more appealling? If anyone has any examples of "modified laspistol" stats and all that, would be appreciated.
The gun servo skull would likely have something similar, just a basic laspistol I would suppose.
I'll bump up those stats and just see how they look, and I haven't quite thought of a full warband yet but I can imagine Inquisitor Stromm accompanied by servitor's, and maybe a low ranking acolyte but nothing too significant.
Very encouraging feedback and again if anyone has any examples of Custom Laspistol stats. I think I stated in the fluff that the Inquisitor's pistol is "master crafted" so that gives me a bit of room to make it more special than a standard laspistol :D
Well, Marco has some excellent and highly detailed rules for making custom weapons. I prefer just to think, what would the character improve about his la-pistol? Then make changes to the profile, see how it looks, playtest and then refine it, or run it past the conclavers.
Would he have a more accurate Las-Pistol? Well, change the range band, or give it a +10 bonus to hit. A more powerful one? Each shot is 3d6 dmage, but the pistol only has half the ammunition capacity. Maybe his las pistol has extended power packs (double the ammunition) and is more like an SMG, Semi 4 only.
Although given the changes you've made, I don't think a Plasma Pistol is unreasonable, particularly with a nicely converted 54mm model. It's not unreasonable for someone to have obtained a Plamagun by their 170th year.
Quote from: Lucien Alexius on April 01, 2012, 10:53:18 AM
Cheers for that.
Planning to play is a whole different kettle of fish... I love the designing of the character and over the next few months plan on converting Inquisitor Stromm from an Inquisitor Covenant figure, and making the stats is awesome.
Main problem is, that I have never played Inquisitor before and I live in Australia... namely... Western Australia and I don't actually know if there is any community here for Inquisitor. Plenty for 40k but I'm not actually sure if there are people out there who play the game.
Absolutely love the painting/converting and just general awesomeness of the Inquisitor range and the game sounds right up my alley but I'd have to see if I did have anyone to play against.
If there isn't a local group, build up a couple of warbands, familiarise your self with the rules as much as you can, and see if you can start one. It worked for me, I nabbed 40k players from the first night of the Uni RPG society though.
"You don't know if theres players in your zone" Yah I know how that feels! Theres only one or two guys who would play in and around my hometown.
As for a fancy laspistol you could use one of Kal Jerico's but he long OOP. Jakson and Castalan bolth have one just depends wether you on the pistol in the left or right hand. I would slso like to note that your WS is... well... lets just say bad as I can't think of anything els to say. perhaps bing it up to 43 or so I like to think as 50 is avrage you should be good.
Sweeet, stats are as follows
Inquisitor Stromm Stats
WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
45 78 48 44 70 77 80 90 68
Equipment: Master Crafted Laspistol, Sword, Carapace Armour on Chest Abdomen and Groin, 2 points of armour everywhere else, MIU linked Servo Skull (gun), Refractor Field
Special Abilities: Familiar (Servo Skull)
Psychic Abilities: Detection, Enfeeble
Inquisitor Stromm is right handed
Master Crafted Laspistol stats
- Type - Range - Mode - Dam - Shots - Rld - Wt
Master Crafted Laspistol - Pistol - E - single - 3D6 - 20 - 2 - 15
Alternatively I am also leaning towards that shiny looking plasma pistol?
I'll post a full background for Mr Stromm later.
A small thought on ages...
I know that the ages of characters in the 40kverse is a tricky subject because there are so many different takes apparently described by so many different writers.
While it isn't really possible to talk about typical humans in the untold billions in the Imperium, all with different access to technology, healthcare, life prolonging substances; all with histories on planets with different environments, social organisations and so forth... I would suggest incredible venerability for a "typical human" in the region of 140 standard Terran years - that is to say that such an age is achievable but not guaranteed (the biblical "three score years and ten" doubled which works quite nicely for "old senatorial" style characters both in terms of understanding the character (it's really hard to get into the mindspace of a being that has lived for hundreds of years and can expect to live for hundreds more) and fits in nicely with the medieval, monastic feel of the 40kverse - I can't see most having access to decent dentistry for example and toothlessness still creates an image of the ancient and decrepit...
It is important to remember in this consideration that that would be their body's physical age, not that which shows in Imperial records (which neatly dispels the perceived issues of the incredibly old characters in prime fiction) as Warp Travel somewhat distorts the latter. A journey of a few light years in Warp Space can take up to a week (barring accidents which make it take thousands of years) from the perspective of the real world - an Inquisitor hearing a distress call from a world ten Light Years away might arrive a few weeks after the distress call is sent for example.
From inside his ship however the experienced time is about 1/36 of that, he's only lived and experienced 10 hours.
His service record therefore records his age as being more than two weeks greater than his physical age... and the more mucking about you do in Warp Space the greater the disparity grows. An Inquisitor employed at the age of thirty who spends the next ten years of his life running around, fighting fires on planets across the sector could be listed in Imperial Records as two-hundred and ten years of age... It only takes his real age, his physical age, to reach three hundred and suddenly you have someone who remembers the Emperor - someone who can't be the same Inquisitor because his career was already well established before the organisation came into being.
Some of the stats remain a bit high, such as his nerve which suggests someone who is almost completely fearless, not a rational being anymore.
Humm, excellent basis for a first character. I'd like to echo Kaled's comment about thinking how his philosphical outlook might shape not just his modus operandi but also perhaps his kit.
Demon swords may not be up your street, but binding and possession can cover just about anything that has the appropriate runes, sigils or whatever cast/forged/scribed onto it - possessed Zippo anyone?
If you really want a plasma pistol (I love em! don't forget the reckless thrills of taking a risky action roll) perhaps it has become somewhat 'tainted' over the years. Sure, its a powerful (if occasionally randomly lethal weapon), but here's a chance to add some flavour - maybe it was tinkered with by a heretek, perhaps it has become infected with some form of corrupting malware, maybe even a sliver of some warp entity has become inadvertently traped in the plasma coils - perhaps they are even warp coils now?
Whatever you fancy, you could come up with something that occasionally gives Stromm either a nasty suprise slap, a pleasant if unexpected bonus - or both at once. Maybe he gets a random + or - to a psychic test if he has the weapon drawn, maybe he's more visable to those with warp sight than usual, perhaps he suffers from irrational urges if he successfully hits with it.
Im sure you could come up with something that would help make Stromm more characterful and more your own creation, dont forget the two central tenets of Inqusitior - EYHBTIAL and the 40K universe is a big place, if it is at all possible, it must have happened somewhere to someone...
Been really good to get so much feedback and help in ironing out this character
QuoteSome of the stats remain a bit high, such as his nerve which suggests someone who is almost completely fearless, not a rational being anymore.
I could lower it a bit. :)
My main justification behind such a high nerve is that first, this guy has seen it all, he's really gone past rational thinking, not an insane or unintelligent person perhaps... just a slightly disturbed character. And secondly, wouldn't you feel pretty safe having double senses (Familiar servo skull), carapace armour and a cosy refractor field?
QuoteIf you really want a plasma pistol (I love em! don't forget the reckless thrills of taking a risky action roll) perhaps it has become somewhat 'tainted' over the years. Sure, its a powerful (if occasionally randomly lethal weapon), but here's a chance to add some flavour - maybe it was tinkered with by a heretek, perhaps it has become infected with some form of corrupting malware, maybe even a sliver of some warp entity has become inadvertently traped in the plasma coils - perhaps they are even warp coils now?
Whatever you fancy, you could come up with something that occasionally gives Stromm either a nasty suprise slap, a pleasant if unexpected bonus - or both at once. Maybe he gets a random + or - to a psychic test if he has the weapon drawn, maybe he's more visable to those with warp sight than usual, perhaps he suffers from irrational urges if he successfully hits with it.
Im sure you could come up with something that would help make Stromm more characterful and more your own creation, dont forget the two central tenets of Inqusitior - EYHBTIAL and the 40K universe is a big place, if it is at all possible, it must have happened somewhere to someone...
That is a really cool idea, tainted plasma pistol might just be the way to go!
Quote from: Lucien Alexius on April 02, 2012, 01:03:30 AMAnd secondly, wouldn't you feel pretty safe having double senses (Familiar servo skull), carapace armour and a cosy refractor field?
There are some very big guns in the universe, as well as a lot of people who don't like the Inquisition.
Bearing in mind that you get +20% to a Nv test for not being hit (although I personally only allow this if you were previously aware of the shooter - being shot at unexpectedly is more than a little unnerving), you won't fail a lot of Nv tests until you start getting below about Nv 70. And frankly, given how often I find characters choose to fail Pinning tests and dive for cover anyway, high Nv often doesn't come into play at all.
The Xanthites use the methods of the Great Enemy, and try to turn Chaos against itself. This doesn't mean, necessarily, that they use daemonology or even warptech. There are a variety of things that the Imperium doesn't practice, but Chaos does, that a Xanthite might use, or a Xanthite might simply use some heretics against others. A heretek or tainted weapon would be good. Also, keep in mind that the weak limits that apply to other Inquisitors will most definitely not apply to a Xanthite - they pretty much do as they please, as long as it furthers their aim. So, if you want, consider making Stromm kind of a monster, psychologically. Perhaps that Governor wasn't just executed, but tortured by means used only by Chaos pirates (some sort of bioweapon, perhaps), then mutilated, and then on death chopped up so different parts could be sent to the Hive Nobility as a warning. This would fit into the idea that Stromm simply does not give a flying one, does whatever he wants, and so fit into his extremely high nerve. He is a fearless man in the broad sense - fearless of his enemies, and of himself, and of his God-Emperor.
Rambling, but hopefully useful?
Rambling but very useful indeed :)
Like you said
QuoteThe Xanthites use the methods of the Great Enemy, and try to turn Chaos against itself. This doesn't mean, necessarily, that they use daemonology or even warptech. There are a variety of things that the Imperium doesn't practice, but Chaos does, that a Xanthite might use, or a Xanthite might simply use some heretics against others.
I never pictured Stromm wielding warp tech or having daemonhosts and whilst his views are those of a Xanthite, it doesn't necissarily mean that he would use the weapons of the enemy. It could be just as likely that he studies the forces of chaos to find their strengths and turn those against them.
I'll do a write up of his entire fluff and post it over the next hour or so and see what I come up with :) I might even change him from an Ordo Hereticus oriented Inquisitor to a memeber of the Ordo Xenos. I do love the idea of him however butchering heretics left right and centre so I'll have to see to that.
It does not depend on which ordo an inquisitorbelongs to if he can butcher heretics, they won't just keep going when they find a cult.
I personally prefer my xanthites to not actually use daemon weapons or the like themselves, many of them know that they are dangerous to use and would prefer someone else to suffer the consequences when things go wrong.
I like the Xanthite who's wary of the dangers of the great Enemy, so many of them have half a dozen Daemon weapons (all of which have Greater Daemons bound to them and a WP score just low enough that they never need to be worried about) and are followed around by virtually incarnate Daemons who are somehow still under control...
Personally I'm quite rigid on the greatest secret - only the Malleus actually know about Chaos, though the Xanthite philosophy can be applied (in slightly different ways and under different names) to all aspects - setting Heretic cults against each other doesn't require an understanding of Chaos for example... And of course it doesn't require tainted kit either. IMHO it's the MO which makes the philosophy, not the kit.
Quote from: InquisitorHeidfeld on April 02, 2012, 07:13:22 PMPersonally I'm quite rigid on the greatest secret - only the Malleus actually know about Chaos
I have to disagree. Knowledge of at least the basics of the major threats to the Imperium is pretty central to being an Inquisitor.
In-depth knowledge of daemons (and to a lesser extent, Chaos in general) is unlikely to be found outside the Malleus, but for all other Inquisitors to not even know of the existence of the ruinous powers doesn't gel with me.
Even the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer makes vague reference to "the dark ones" and "the darkness" in much the same way as you might expect to hear an old-timey preacher warning about the Devil and hell/satanic evil, so I suspect the crudest knowledge of Chaos goes the whole way down. Someone more learned and travelled like an Inquisitor would certainly know more.
It's also unsustainable, as threats don't nicely line up so that it will only ever be the Malleus who happen to find Chaos and/or daemons.
As you know (and have publicly mourned) a lot of things in my games go back to Rogue Trader, to the days when the Tanith 1st would have been executed (with full military honours) at the end of their first campaign. ;)
Quote from: Slaves to DarknessOnly the Grey Knights survive in the service of the Ordo. All other troops die when given over to them. The reason for the non-survival among military units attached to the Ordo Malleus is simple. Any troops that an Inquisitor Ordinary has commanded have been exposed to Daemons. They are privy to one of the most closely-guarded Imperial secrets: that Daemons exist and Chaos is a terrible threat...
Given the Ordo's "cover story" as a sort of Internal Affairs division of the Inquisition (again Rogue Trader era) they're in a position to ensure that anyone who is in on that secret is either with them (recruited) or relieved of the burden (the burden of life, by sanctioned murder; or the burden of the secret, by mindwipe).
References to "Dark Ones" could easily be read as veiled reference to the Legionaires who supported Horus during "The Great Heresy" without needing to refer to Chaos (though I wouldn't have put anything like that in a government document like the Primer... although personally I wouldn't have put data about Xenos species...etc in either, shoot them centre mass enough and they'll go down is all the grunts need to know, they'll probably be caught up when the virus bombing hits anyway ::) ).
Keeping chaos a secret from the inquisition would be immensely hard. Inquisitors are lone agents who are in many cases very intelligent. They would easily find our about chaos from their experiences, chaos is not something immensely rare for an inquisitor to encounter, there are cults all over the place and someone with the intelligence to be an inquisitor could put the pieces together. Of course, full knowledge about chaos remains rare, even many members of the Malleus don't know all that much, but the basic knowledge is there.
Chaos remains a secret to the general populace, most of them are unaware of its existence and the inquisition is there to keep it a secret, if normal inquisitors would be unaware of its existence, the malleus would find it far too hard to find it in its early stages and to cover up.
I agree about the primer though, the grunts don;t need to know much about what they will be fighting, and they should never get a piece of information like the primer, a load of propaganda without going into the different xenos is fitting.
Quote from: InquisitorHeidfeld on April 03, 2012, 06:08:51 PM
Given the Ordo's "cover story" as a sort of Internal Affairs division of the Inquisition (again Rogue Trader era)
Much as I like the Rogue Trader era fluff, and often reference it in my own background, this (and the whole executing those who have come into contact with Chaos) is another instance where things have moved on to the extent that I feel it's not really useful to bring them up in relation to other people's characters (of course, what you do with your own characters is up to you). It'd be like me saying that people's Space Wolves should be organised according to the Index Astartes and follow its dictates on heraldry almost to the letter. If I want to stick to the old fluff then that's one thing but suggesting that other people do so too, despite the large amounts of material that contradicts it, is not really all that productive.
But back to this character, he wouldn't really be a Xanthite if he just set Chaos cults against one another. Someone's modus operandi or equipment doesn't define what philosophy they follow, but their beliefs do - and Xanthites believe that Chaos can be controlled and used by humanity. An Inquisitor could bind a daemon into a weapon and not be a Xanthite - I.e. he could use similar methods but not share their beliefs. Or he could have Xanthite beliefs but not bind daemons into hosts or weapons - which would be a more subtle examination of Xanthism than most people's characters.
It's important to remember that Heretical cults don't all have to be plastered with Bedlam Axies and summoning Daemons at the drop of a hat though, nor do they have to be sacrificing babies to gain the notice of an Inquisitor. In fact most of them probably won't realise that what they're doing is Heretical, they might not even feel that they're really non-conformist.
Most of the cults Inquisitors deal with are likely to be doing things like worshiping an idol rather than The Emperor, some might be more like underground railways, trying to hide psykers (probably a family who aren't willing to admit that their child might be Wytch, possibly something larger and more organised). Even those which are looking to Chaos might be apparently looking to Horus, might just be having incredible, drug-fuelled orgies...
Think about a Genestealer cult, it's quiet, controlled and will have a minimal impact on anyone for generations - but an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor has a certain responsibility to find it in that nascent state, before it becomes uneconomic to retain the existing population... And an Ordo Xenos with a Xanthite-esque philosophy might well think to turn the infection to the work of the Emperor in the same way as an Ordo Hereticus with a Xanthite-esque philosophy might consider dropping some of those unregulated psykers into the mix with one of those more organised groups to let the two groups fight it out and weaken each other.
And yes, the secret of Chaos requires a certain amount of organisation in the Inquisition... But then so does an assumption of intelligence, what with all the deathbed promotions, interrogators muddling through in the absence of a mentor and half a dozen other minimal indoctrinisation cliches. Reports submitted to the bureaucracy enable the Malleus to find those Inquisitors who've put too many pieces of the puzzle together and have a word with them - bringing them into the fold or ensuring they don't spread the word.
I've been re-thinking this character for a while now mainly from an actual converting/modelling viewpoint. I'm pretty strict with the WYSIWYG so I'll probably be dropping the carapace armour and I'm just wondering, crazy idea of mine.
Say the Inquisitor lost his eyesight, chaos scarring or something that prevented bionic replacements, and although he could use his psychic powers to sense where others were, he would use his familiar as his primary forms of sensing. What sort of special abilities/disadvantages could I include to this character. For example,
"Because of the advanced targeting array on the servo skull, The Inquisitor is able to calculate range and targets with incredible accuracy." If the servo skull is destroyed however he would suffer some form of penalty on ballistic skill.
What sort of penalties could/should I apply and what would be an interesting way of covering for this enormous weakness that Stromm has.
Just a crazy thought.
QuoteOr he could have Xanthite beliefs but not bind daemons into hosts or weapons - which would be a more subtle examination of Xanthism than most people's characters.
Thats pretty much what I was aiming for, his beliefs are those of a xanthite however he does not use Daemon weapons or Daemonhosts.
Quote from: Lucien Alexius on April 04, 2012, 10:18:07 AMSay the Inquisitor lost his eyesight, chaos scarring or something that prevented bionic replacements, and although he could use his psychic powers to sense where others were, he would use his familiar as his primary forms of sensing. What sort of special abilities/disadvantages could I include to this character. For example, "Because of the advanced targeting array on the servo skull, The Inquisitor is able to calculate range and targets with incredible accuracy." If the servo skull is destroyed however he would suffer some form of penalty on ballistic skill.
Warp SightThrough dint of living as an Astropath or some other un-natural phenomenon, the character is blessed (or cursed!) with an advanced sixth sense - literally being able to see the world via the ebb and flow of the warp. Characters with Warp Sight are almost always blind, having their 'true sight' replaced with Warp Sight.This warp-sight means they count as having a 360 degree field of view - their vision is blocked as normal by intervening terrain as it too has a slight warp presence that can obscure those behind it. Characters with the Blunt ability may be almost invisible to the Astropath, but a true Pariah will appear as a gaping void, a hole where something should be. The Astropath will know where the Pariah is, but will be unable to actually 'see' them.Yoinked from here. (http://carthax.wikispaces.com/Special+Abilities) Would this do?
That sounds pretty much spot on what I was looking for :) cheers man. absolutely what I was looking for.
Alright then, the latest incarnation of Inquisitor Stromm including the first member of his warband. I've added some more fluff and changed a few features of the character including dropping his ballistic skill slightly and giving him a psychic hood (also effectively removing the Inquisitor's sense of sight). So here we go.
Inquisitor Stromm
A relatively obscure member of the Xanthite faction, Inquisitor Stromm is known for his dour demeanour and unflinching belief that the end will always justify the means. For over one hundred and seventy five years the Inquisitor has worked his way deep into the cluster of remote hive worlds that make up the Garuum Cradle. His ruthless techniques have not only seen the scouring of these worlds of any and all chaotic influences but have also brought upon the Inquisitor a reputation for brutality, unparalleled in that sector.
His most significant accomplishment was the public execution of Planetary Governor Ventrus of Larissa VII and thus the quelling of almost a decade of internal strife on that world. Whilst his methods have often been deemed "unorthodox" by more puritan minded members of the Inquisition and outright "heretical" by others, none can deny the results that Inquisitor Stromm has achieved.
In recent years the Inquisitor has suffered irreparable warp inflicted damage upon his eyes and face, subsequently having the upper portion of his skull replaced by an arcane psychic hood to boost his already potent mental abilities. This has led to the most unnerving habit of Inquisitor Stromm cocking his head slightly side in order to sense those that surround him.
WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
45 58 48 44 70 77 80 90 68
Equipment: Master Crafted Laspistol, Sword, Flak Armour on Chest Abdomen and Groin, 2 points of armour everywhere else, Psychic Hood, MIU linked Servo Skull (gun), Refractor Field
Special Abilities: Warp Sight, Familiar (Servo Skull)
Psychic Abilities: Detection, Enfeeble
Inquisitor Stromm is right handed
Warp Sight: Through dint of living as an Astropath or some other un-natural phenomenon, the character is blessed (or cursed!) with an advanced sixth sense - literally being able to see the world via the ebb and flow of the warp. Characters with Warp Sight are almost always blind, having their 'true sight' replaced with Warp Sight.
This warp-sight means they count as having a 360 degree field of view - their vision is blocked as normal by intervening terrain as it too has a slight warp presence that can obscure those behind it. Characters with the Blunt ability may be almost invisible to the Astropath, but a true Pariah will appear as a gaping void, a hole where something should be. The Astropath will know where the Pariah is, but will be unable to actually 'see' them.
Master Crafted Laspistol stats.
Type Range Mode Dam Shots Rld Wt
Pistol E Single 3D6 20 2 15
Veteran Lieutenant Vassily
The great purge of Alexei V was one of the most brutal confrontations within its sector. Fighting between the heretics and cultists of that world against the Imperial Guard forces garrisoned there was so fierce that it was said that the sewers overflowed with blood and the gutters of the streets were filled with the defiled corpses of the deceased. One by one, the world's hive cities were overrun with chaotic filth, the swirling energies of the warp bringing forth vile monstrosities of that otherworldly dimension. The surface had become a hellscape, with only a few regiments of imperial guard holding back the tides of chaos. By the end of the fourth month, only one solution seemed apparent. Exterminatus.
Whilst some of the forces remaining on the world managed to withdraw, most were abandoned to their fate. Over the next fifteen days the surface was reduced to nothing but smouldering ruins and ash choked sky.
One of the few guardsmen who managed to make it off the surface was Veteran Lieutenant Vassily of the 568th Valhallan Regiment. The young officer would not speak of the horrors he had seen whilst fighting the cultists. Nor would he speak of the terrible ruin that he had witnessed during the opening days of the Exterminatus. Imprisoned and sentenced to execution for desertion, only direct intervention from Inquisitor Stromm saved the Lieutenant from death. Whilst not an exceptional individual by any means, Vasily had proven more than useful to the ever aging Inquisitor and continues to serve him in anyway that Stromm sees fit.
WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
58 68 48 57 55 57 55 58 53
Equipment: Flak Armour on all locations, Open helmet, Triplex Pattern Lasgun, laspistol, bayonet
Special Abilities: Force of will
Veteran Lieutenant Vasily is Right Handed
I like them both, the guardsman especially. A rare characterful use of FoW. He has after all survived a
deamonic incursion. I feel just something slightly missing to distinguish the character more. He's already exceptional I want to know why the inquisitor saved him, what service or talent?
Hmmmm... time to think creatively.
I was initially going for the idea that this guy had an almost crazed desperation to live and that the inquisitor actually doesn't care that much about his puppets so long as they are of used to him. Pretty much that he picked up this guardsman because it was convenient at the time... however that wouldn't explain why he spared him from execution...
Perhaps that the guardsman had information crucial about the way that this particular cult was organised that the inquisitor wanted to know? after that he kinda just kept Vassily because it was convenient?
Quote from: Lucien Alexius on April 04, 2012, 04:29:22 PMhowever that wouldn't explain why he spared him from execution...
That's easy. Perhaps he's familiar with Leman Russ' Meditations on Imperial Command. To quote Book XXI:
"Should a man who has wronged the Emperor be allowed to wrong Him further? For each man executed is a man who can no longer serve, and to fail in service to the Emperor is the greatest of sins."He was talking about the value of penal legions over executions, and I think one could look upon this in exactly the same way.
Stromm could very well have been looking for a bodyguard who would not flinch in the face of his master's actions. Most brave people would turn on the inquisitor or flee from him rather than helping him(unless motivated by fear).