The Conclave

*second edit*








The Kaede Mack Conspiracy is a one-day Inquisitor Event being run at Warhammer World in Nottingham on Saturday 15th of September.

New players, old players, fresh Inquisitorial acolytes and hoary old Inquisitor Lords alike are all welcome at the event. No models are required to play on the day, there will be enough spare models to be able to take part, but you will find it much more rewarding to have your own protagonist represented on the tabletop.

The Mack Conglomerate will be the primary antagonist of the Event, although they will not be the main adversaries. Inquisitorial warbands, Chaos renegades, Rogue Traders and excommunicated guardsmen will all by vying over the spoils of war left behind by the Conglomerate, as well as trying to  infiltrate it's ranks, uncover its secrets, claim the network for themselves or simply try and destroy the whole criminal organisation.

Consequently, a handful of Kaede Mack warbands may be present to act as the catalyst if everybody turning up on the day decides they want to outright destroy the organisation. You are therefore encouraged to bring a Warband you believe would have the most interesting relationship with the organisation, that could feasibly operate in the shadowy areas in between right and wrong.

At the end of the day however, the objective is for everybody to have had a rip-roaring good time, regardless of the characters they do/don't bring - nobody will be turned away or denied a game for any reason, and there's always room for one more!


If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask :)






+++GAVs EDIT+++
copied /edited from later in the thread so it's easy to see :)

Confirmed Attendance
-RobSkib
-MarcoSkoll
-Joel McKickass
-Van Helser
-Greenstuff_Gav
+1
-Bloodpact
-Brother_Brimstone

Maybe attending
-Almundis
-Kaled
-Holiad
-Myriad
-Cortez

*/edit* - Original post follows, most of this is now obsolete, but is recorded for posterity -

Howdy folks!

Those that have been following will have noticed the Summer Conclave this year has been handed over and the show will go on! It's going to be based around the now infamous Mack Conglomerate, investigating it's heirarchy, infiltrating it's upper echelons and figuring out how to disassemble or reinforce it. I won't go into all the details here, I'll start a new thread for that in a week or so, this is just for a show of hands.

I know what I believe worked and what didn't work at the various Conclaves I've attended, but I'm curious to see if people agree with me. I'm keeping this thread spoiler free as I don't want anyone to know what I have planned, obviously, but this is to get a rough idea of what people like and what I should avoid when writing scenarios.

Disclaimer: Those that have already sent me offers of help, thanks! I'll be contacting you individually :)

> Contact cards (or equivalent): I think they work. They assign a numerical victory to something that otherwise is difficult to quantify. Would people object if I did away with them completely, and had a completely different scoring style?

> Location: I'm playing with the idea of focussing the whole day around a single city on a single planet. Going from memory at which boards and scenery will likely be available, this will be easily achievable. Does this limit scope too much, or would people prefer free reign over their scenarios? That leads me quite nicely onto...

> Scenarios: I'm going to write scenarios for people to play out, and I'm going to bring extra, just in case. We always end up with the same few people GMing for whatever reason, so it's unfair to expect people to bring in multiple scenarios. That said, people who do want to are welcome to, answers on a postcard to the usual address.

> Finale: The big one. It's been different every time, and will probably be different this time. I liked Marco's multi table action and could quite easily do a refined/copied version of that, would people object? Getting to the final table needs to feel like a reward, but the side tables need to feel like they are achieving something as well. Definitely a tricky one.

> Prizes? Everyone likes a good old-fashioned hobby competition - show us your best ultra-criminal warbands! Entry fee to go towards the prize pot, ask for donations, official sponsorship or a mix of the three?

Let me know your thoughts and feelings! I've tried to keep it vague so I can hit y'all with the info dump at a later date, for now we're just blue sky thinking.

Contact cards: It works well, but without experimentation, we won't know if anything else works better. If you have another suggestion, throw it out there.

Location: Hmm. Centred around a single city perhaps, but not centred in a single city, so as to give people some freedom as to writing scenarios. (For one thing, if I've actually got the Jubilee in one piece, I am so going to have to make use of it.)

Finale: I don't pretend I'd got the multi-table format completely slick at the Autumn Conclave (overcharged orbital las-lances did somewhat affect the originally intended balance between the tables), but I do think there's mileage in it. Everyone gets to play, but without the pacing issues of a dozen players with a single character each.

Prizes: Maybe, yeah. I'm not opposed to entry fees or making donations (they're not exactly significant alongside travel), but if it's going to put others off, then I'd rather a bigger event than one with prizes.
Sponsors probably isn't an option though if we're planning to do it at WHW. GW aren't likely to sponsor us, and they won't be happy with us playing up other manufacturers.

Not sure I'll be bringing an ultra-criminal warband myself though. Too many things already not getting attention to try and fit more in.
It would be a great excuse to go back, fix up, repaint and finish Marco's warband though (and finish my own Kaede Mack as either an NPC or a temporary "ally"), as he's got a history with Kaede Mack.

Contact cards: I like them but would certainly have no objection to you trying something different. But while we're on the subject of the cards, one idea I've considered for future events is players being able to trade in a card for an advantage in a scenario rather than just being able to bring one more character. So players may have to choose between numerical superiority or some other advantage. Another thing I thought of is players competing for 'credits' and then being able to trade them in for access to something in the campaign. Maybe players would need 100 credits to play on the spaceport table, and winning there would bring them some big advantage that they couldn't get from playing on other tables. Or having a leader board so everyone can see who is 'winning' and can try to stop them could be interesting. (I'm not suggesting you use any of these ideas - I'm just throwing them out there and might use some of them myself one day.)

Location: Up to you. One city could be restrictive, but if you make sure the city has plenty of varied environments then it shouldn't be a problem. And if people run their scenarios past you before the day you should be able to make sure they all fit together somehow.

Finale: I think there are plenty of options you could use. Marco's worked well, and you could definitely do worse than to follow his lead. I'd like to try a multi table game where events on the main table effect the others rather than the other way around, or I have a vague idea for a finale where characters will need to move between tables over the course of the game.

Prizes: I think a free to enter event is probably the way to go, but there's nothing wrong with prizes if we can get them. I think we should run a Build a Kaede Mack Competiton on the run up to the Conclave - maybe award a prize for that...

> Contact cards (or equivalent): They do work pretty well, but I can think of a couple ways of making them more than just a purely numerical thing. Perhaps adding "suits" to them such as Administratum, AdMech, Ordo Xenos, etc - then when someone gets 5 from a suit they get to cash them in for a reward in the next game? Obviously this would require a greater number of cards to be in circulation to give a better chance of achieving this, although just using duplicate cards wouldn't be an issue I reckon. It would of course require a slightly different method of giving out the cards to replace the "place you bets" method we've used before.

> Location: keeping the location down to a planet/city makes sense really, means the framing device for the campaign doesn't have to be a sprawling sector-wide thing. Plus just because it's within a city or it's surroundings, that doesn't really limit the types of events or terrain that players can come across

> Scenarios: I reckon this one really depends on how story focused or how open-ended you want the day to be. The more story focus you want, the better off you are pre-writing all the scenarios yourself to fit your grand plan.

> Finale: The big one. It's been different every time, and will probably be different this time. I liked Marco's multi table action and could quite easily do a refined/copied version of that, would people object? Getting to the final table needs to feel like a reward, but the side tables need to feel like they are achieving something as well. Definitely a tricky one.

> Prizes? I would perhaps shy away from entry charges, I think we're best keeping that just for the IGT. Same with prizes to an extent.

EDIT: just realised I'd left the "Finale" section with RobSkib's original text instead of my thoughts.
> Finale: The last non-IGT thing I made it to was the Carthax Succession, so I've no real knowledge of how Marco ran the last one. It's a tricky thing to do I'm sure, half of me thinks everyone with a single PC on the one table is better as it creates mass player interaction at the crucial moment and half of me thinks splitting across 2 or 3 separate interacting games is better to give people more focus and variety.

Excellent feedback, thanks guys!

Contact cards: Looks like everyone wants some numerical system that can show you at a glance who is doing better than others, but clearly needs some refinement. I've been toying with the idea of splitting the contact cards into two -  using 'water tokens' and regular contact cards. Everything else on the planet is freely available, supplies, ammo etc, but water is a precious commodity - you will be given a finite number of these, one token is expended to use one character, and you will be given enough to field two characters each game (or 3 in one, a single character in another, etc). Unlike contact cards however, you can 'loot' tokens from fallen enemies and there might be a 'great train robbery' mission where you pull off some thrilling heroics to plunder some water supplies. I've not decided how to make the contact cards interesting yet, but what do people think about that so far?

Location: Exactly the kind of feedback I'd hoped for. Yup, it will be set around a city, more than in it, and like Heroka said, there shouldn't be anything bar a few extremes that the setting won't be able to handle.

Scenarios: There has to be a grand plan amongst the chaos, even if it doesn't look like there is :) I'll figure something out in that regard, but I'm not putting too much concern into dozens of player-written scenarios derailing the plot. From experience, maybe two or three people bring in their own scenarios and actually use them - most people will take the pre-written scenarios because they stick to the plot more, or the player hadn't anticipated GMing. I'll bring enough scenarios just in case nobody wants to do their own, but like I said, they're more than welcome to.

Finale: I'll have to have a headscratch about this one. Seems everybody wants 'the same but different', so I'll put some thought into how I can make mine interesting.

Thanks for your thoughts, keep 'em coming!

Given the possible difficulty of getting places at WHW without enough prior warning and the difficulty with organising players, should we perhaps start looking at dates, at least provisionally?

I'm assuming we're looking for somewhere June through August, but I'll point out straight off the bat that the first half of June is a bad choice. June 9th is Molotov's INQvitational and at least three of our 54mm regulars are signed up to that, with the adjacent weekends probably out too due to the various SWMBOs involved.

I agree, getting a date sorted should be the first priority - we may not have a lot of choices anyway depending on what else is on at WHW over the summer.

I'd be up for this depending on dates, though me being up for something and me being able to actually do it tend to be completely different things these days. I can't make the big one because of prior commitments (another reason to be annoyed with my girlfriends mum :P).

Yeah, chuck me in. Im local, so any date is good for me.

Well hot damn, it's been a while. Firstly, apologies for taking so damn long for getting round to this - I am still trying to get this to go ahead and I have big plans. That said, if it's bad timing, too late or someone else has already put events in motion to take the Autumn Clave, just let me know and I'll hand the reins over. I don't want to double book.

I have my excuses, some more legit than others. The biggest being working 15 hour days to try and meet all my university deadlines, which should be finally over around late april/early may. In the meantime, I can organise dates and bounce ideas around but nothing much more.

So in conclusion, consider this resurrection resurrected!

*EDIT* Brain fart. Forgot to include the dates. I've contacted WHW and they said "...the only date without an event of some type and a member of the events team in" is the weekend of the 15th-16th of September. Is that a good time for people?

I forget what their rules are, but every other weekend used to be a 'free-play' one where tables can only be booked a short time in advance - that's not going through the events team, just booking with WHW. I can't remember how long in advance we can book if we go down that route, but we've certainly done things that way in the past. Might be worth ringing WHW (rather than the events team) and finding out...

15th and 16th is the Gulf Waagh Tempus Fugitives event at Maelstrom Games, but i havent bought my ticket for that yet, so you still have time to show me why this will be better :P

Unless the circumstances of my life change, 15/16th Sept works out fine for me. I'm rarely booked up on weekends - it's only really Inquisitor events and once a year going to play steam trains (last weekend in September).

That September date is just one week before my wedding - however I'll try to attend (assuming there's no last minute rush to sort wedding stuff).

Given that we're struggling to find dates this year, it might be worth people booking dates for 2013 - the IGT is in March, so maybe book dates for June, September & December?

I'm not sure we've got events to fill those slots yet. I think the only suggestion for a 2013 event thus far is the dual scale event, and I need to drum up more support and sort some of the logistics for that before committing to it. Probably find at least one co-GM too.

Are we suggesting booking slots pre-emptively that we just hand over to anyone who wants to run an event?

Yeah, lets just book some slots so they're in the calendar and we can figure out exactly who is running each of them closer to the time.

Well, if they'll let us do that, what are we thinking? Eight tables a go?

I guess that's enough for even if we do run a dual event - guessing from our regular attendance and Mol's INQvitational guestlist, I think that could be about mid-twenties on player count, and that would work fine. We wouldn't get quite as much free choice about tables as normal, but it would work. (We probably wouldn't need to hand as many of the tables back as normal, either!)

Yeah, 6-8 tables should be plenty - we'd probably want 8 for the dual-scale event.

Sorry - but is this at GW Intergalatic HQ in Nottingham?

Most of our events are indeed at Warhammer World. Or as we sometimes call it, the Inquisitorial Fortress on Tigguo Cobauc. (An archaic name for Nottingham.)

If it -is- in September, then provided I don't have any internships, I'd be up for this. If it's on a free-play weekend before September, I won't be able to play, as I'll be teaching in China from late June to late August.

My first Conclave event not using Zophar.... Very exciting. I can use this as motivation to paint a group of those Russian WIPs I keep building and then not painting... One of them could easily be a Kaede Mack.

Hopefully i could attend this one. I'm working on a couple of projects at the minute, mostly to give myself a break from painting Marines. And i would be interested in heading down to one. Actually playing a game of Inquisitor would be interesting.

Anything going on with this? If this is still going ahead, I think it would benefit from the date in the title, so it looks less like a speculative thread.

Assuming this is going ahead, I'll get around to revamping Marco's warband. The models are two and half years old (for the ones I've even finished) and quite aside from improving the sculpts and paintjobs, I'd like to see what I can do if I go back and update their character designs.

*Reply put in wrong thread... Too many event threads!*

Wrong thread, I think?

Assuming this is all greenlit, would it be possible to show up with a couple of 'freelance' assassins and be incorperated into someone elses warband? only I lack the money and resources to do much other than pimp out the severina and sevora models by sept. Also I have only been to WHW once for a GW ticketed event, do you need to pay to go in or anything like that? and if so how much?

I'm not sure quite what you mean by that. A "team" game kind of thing probably wouldn't work so well, but people are usually willing to lend out models if you're short.

As for money, most of our events are free of charge and will likely remain so. Only the IGT has an entry fee (normally £10/12), but that's not usually a big deal compared to travel costs.

Less of a tea`m-up aspect, more wanting to RP cut-throat mercenaries...

Also, probably being pretty premature here, but what sort of time do these things go on until? Just because i think the journey time from cornwall to nottingham is like 6/8 hours.... I do hate living down the arse end of the country sometimes...

To be fair mate, 2 assassins is more than enough to form a warband, and played sensibly and properly, can be a really characterful and dangerous warband!

Quote from: almundis on June 28, 2012, 08:44:53 PMAlso, probably being pretty premature here, but what sort of time do these things go on until?

About six o'clock, normally.

But that does bring up another point. If this is going ahead, anyone available to hang around into the evening? I had a good time doing that after the INQvitational, so I'm very much open to running or playing another game when the day proper is wrapped up.

It is looking more likely that I can make it, so as usual I will be staying overnight - a pick up game in the evening is always an attractive proposition.

I will bring a half-dozen or so models for the collective goon pile, and could provide models for anyone short on a warband member or two.  Anything to up the number of attendees!

Ruaridh

EDIT: wrong thread - I should be able to attend the 1st December event.  Though I will be attending this one too with a bunch of goons and a desire for an evening game unless it clashes with anything unforeseen.

As far as I can see there's still no date confirmed for this??

I know 15th September has been mentioned, although whether that was a "It's the date they offered, do we want it?" or "I've booked it", I'm not sure.

Who likes good news? Everyone? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHfOejlvVsY)

After several months battling with Final Projects, graduation and Funemployment, I finally return, brandishing good news.

I will update this thread to reflect how quickly I'll update it with news, the briefing and so on, but for now, this will suffice.


Apologies for the delay/absence, but I'm back and will be updating this thread as often as I can with new information as and when it arrives. Thanks all for your continued patience :)

Quote from: RobSkib on July 09, 2012, 01:59:27 PM
8 'Realm of Battle' Tables have been booked

that those rubbish hilly ones? :-\

regardless, i'll be there :D

Unfortunately Gav, all the tables at WHW are now the Realm of battle tables, however, they do have the Zone Mortalis board, which is probably bookable, as well as their 'tunnel boards' which are probably available upon request. I guess it depends on what the setting is for the scenarios/overall plot.

The missus is away that day, so i dont have an excuse not to be there really! Gives me an excuse to do a new warband (Although 40k doubles the week before might curtail that by sucking up allllll my painting time).

I presume this event is still just 54mm?

RoB tables is prettttty much the way of it, unfortunately. When I needed a flat table for the 28mm battle report, I had to just pick the one that was put together so the hills were most out of the way up the ends/corners and then we played the game in the middle of the table, ignoring them.

Of course, this hopefully won't be obvious when the final product finally makes it to the Dark Magenta inbox, seeing as I'm going somewhat out of my way to edit such things out of the photos.

But, in any case, I should be there. Marco himself has too much history with Kaede Mack to let this one slide.

Quote from: Bloodpact on July 09, 2012, 07:27:42 PM
Unfortunately Gav, all the tables at WHW are now the Realm of battle tables, however, they do have the Zone Mortalis board, which is probably bookable, as well as their 'tunnel boards' which are probably available upon request.

I'll give them a ring tomorrow and see what they have available. It wouldn't hurt to have a tunnel board or a Zone Mortalis (off topic: any idea how that ranks up at 54mm scale?) board, I can think of a dozen scenarios for this events day that would work on such terrain.

Quote from: Bloodpact on July 09, 2012, 07:27:42 PMI presume this event is still just 54mm?

As this is the first Events day I've run for the Conclave, yes. I wasn't sufficiently impressed at any of the ideas to combine the two scales effectively without having them tested, and I wouldn't want the added stress on the day of being the lab rat for my first time hosting!

I'd add that the Space Hulk board we had at this year's IGT turned out to be quite popular.
Stormgrad used it as an excuse to have his mad heretek kill off an awful lot of characters. Forenz (or however it's spelt) is NOT to be trusted - he's now busy trying to kill all of the characters from our Rogue Trader game as well.

Quote from: RobSkib on July 10, 2012, 12:05:42 AMZone Mortalis (off topic: any idea how that ranks up at 54mm scale?) board

It's bad photography that didn't make it into my proper collection from the day, but this INQvitational game (http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy3/MarcoSkoll/Reference/IMG_5101-800.jpg) was played out on a customised Zone Mortalis board.

It's 28mm, of course, but you can largely infer the size of a 54mm model. A 40mm base should fit through the gaps, and while the rather tall Inquisitor Skoll might struggle a bit for headroom below the tops of the walls, it would remain usable. (Worst case, just assume there's no LoS over a wall)

Quote

Quote from: Bloodpact on July 09, 2012, 07:27:42 PMI presume this event is still just 54mm?

As this is the first Events day I've run for the Conclave, yes.

You co-GMed at Spring 2010, did you not? But I'll accept that's a different affair to single-handing one - and knowing just what the latter is like, I don't blame you for playing things on the safe side!

In any case, on the note of scale - if there are any of our 28mm regulars who would like to attend, while I've already offered the loan of one of my warbands to Koval if he wants to turn up, I may be able to get another warband up to a complement of 4 to lend out to someone.

A surprising number of my warbands since starting to attend 'Clave events are only three strong. Not a problem for the GT, but not so great for events where you might want a substitute if another characters has miss games due to injury.
I normally fix this with mercenary characters, or Commissar Leith* (whose background is now even written specifically for it! Her superiors want her "out of the way", so she's been "promoted" to a Munitorum liaison, which in this case often involves getting seconded to high ranking individuals) - but I only have so many of those!

*For a model I sculpted in seven days "just to see if I could", she's actually been brilliantly useful.

I won't be making it due to having to go to my brother's wedding.

Excellent.

You can add me to the list of confirmed attendees.

Ruaridh

I hope to come to the event, but I'm not yet promising anything, I may drag a newbie along with me, if that's alright

Newbies are always welcome - well, provided they're polite, play to the spirit of the game and don't stink.

We're a small community, so we don't normally turn down new recruits!

Also, is the name Kaede Mack supposed to mean something to me, if so, could someone please explain

Kaede Mack is an in-joke of sorts that RobSkib started at the Spring 2010 event, where three of the contact cards were marked "Kaede Mack", but were all entirely different people, all claiming to be Kaede Mack. (There was also Witch Hunter Jeroen Ayo, who dedicates "his life to hunting down all individuals claiming to be Kaede Mack and stopping his/her heresy once and for all".)

By the 2011 IGT, people had jumped on this, and I fought against a Kaede Mack in Necris' game. Then in RobSkib's game, there were three of them, all promising to identify the real Kaede Mack... naming three of the player characters in the game in the process.

I sort of got my own back at the 2011 Autumn Conclave - there were 9 Kaede Macks in the contact cards, and 8 of them made up the entirety of RobSkib's "starting hand".

In any case, this is why I'm going to have to bring Inquisitor Skoll again, as  he was the character I took to the 2011 IGT - so he's my character with the best reason to take an interest in Kaede Mack.

I'm looking at upping my current warband up to 6 models, and starting another 2 with 3 models each.

Now. assuming i can make it (might be in Malawi) i'm wondering which three i should take...

The family of three cannibalistic Bounty Hunters who find people and then let the proper authorities know, ala Bobba Fett.
The Inquisitor Hunter and his well rounded band of investigator, assassin, mechanic, muscle, and judge.
The Witch Hunter, her Crusader, and her pet psychopath (don't even have the models for these guys yet).

Or go off the rails and finally make the Gabriel Messenger warband i've wanted to do, though i don't know what an apathetic Xenos hunter who knows exactly how he is going to die would want with Kaede Mack...

If i can make it, i might bring all of these guys and then decide on the day.

Quotethough I don't know what an apathetic Xenos hunter who knows exactly how he is going to die would want with Kaede Mack...

Kaede Mack can be just about anyone - protagonist or antagonist (although more often the latter) in any area. So it's usually quite easy to invent a Kaede Mack in which someone would have an interest.

Think i'll be bringing my new slightly sinister looking Inquisitor. Complete with bodyguard and rogue Ordo Vanus Assassin.

Quote from: Bloodpact on July 21, 2012, 12:30:47 AM
Vanus Assassin

I don't see that a Vanus would really fit, if I'm honest. The whole point about them is they do their bit while literally being half an Imperium away. Nemesis, in the Heresy series, basically tells us they're what happens when you weaponise Wikileaks.

Ah yes, but this Vanus doesnt have the support of the Ordo anymore, so can only rely on her relatively short ranged cogitator gauntlet, rather than as you say 'weaponised wikileaks'.

I'm not sure that makes much sense considering the Officio Assassinorum are more likely to terminate her than just cut off her support. Especially for a temple like the Vanus, the risk of a rogue agent getting up to stuff they shouldn't would be huge and damning.

Well maybe a tweak or so is needed in the background, perhaps a failed trainee. On the other hand, a powerful or determined enough inquisitor could probably arrange to fake the death of an operative under their command if it was necessary to break ties with their temple.   If it was a Rogue trader warband, then its a less likely story, but the Adeptus Assassinorum is under jurisdiction of the Inquisition, so i dont really see any issue with an experienced Inquisitor taking an operative into their warband for an extended period. The Vanus operative wont have access to their super computers, but still enough toys to be a useful tool to an Inquisitor who values information.
Its not intended to make a super powerful character, just something a little different to the usual slew of gunslingers and psykers.

Alternatively, perhaps the Vanus temple actually wants the assassin to think they're rogue. Now that would be a mind screw.

Hello. In hoping to pre-book train tickets for the day, two questions:

- Anyone likely to be taking the 0700 or 0730 out of St. Pancras, so I can join them and talk about interesting things? (The 0655 is unfortunately too tight a connection for me).

- Anyone else (other than Ruaridh, who is attending and thus staying overnight anyway the last I knew) staying into the evening? I myself can stay at WHW as late as 9, and probably will, but it'd be nice if at least one other person'd be around.

I can definitely confirm my attendance now - my flights are booked.  My fiancee is coming too, but I don't think we can count her in the playing numbers! 

Ruaridh

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on August 03, 2012, 12:25:03 PM

- Anyone else (other than Ruaridh, who is attending and thus staying overnight anyway the last I knew) staying into the evening? I myself can stay at WHW as late as 9, and probably will, but it'd be nice if at least one other person'd be around.

As a Nottingham resident, i may be tempted to hang around evening time.

I'm not gonna be able to come, I'm moving into my digs somewhere around the 15th/16th/17th, so I'm gonna be kinda busy

that gets a :(

any news on a players pack?

i've got a +1 confirmed :)

I have booked my train tickets. As tempting as it was to arrive earlier and get to talk to people outside WHW rather than sitting around on St. Pancras station, I went with the later train to minimise the risk of missing it.

I will, therefore, be hanging around into the evening - no later than 9 though, as the latest train I could book was 2128. But that still gives plenty of time for an extra game. We'll need to think out what.

I had been hoping to come along to this, but always knew that it being a week before my wedding meant that there was a fair chance I wouldn't be able to make it and although almost all of the arrangements are now sorted I'm still not sure whether I'll be there.  If I can I'll come along, but I just worry there'll be things that need doing at the last minute that will get in the way...

With wedding plans of my own gathering pace, I would say that keeping on your good lady's good side in the run up to the nuptials would be advisable!

If I don't see you, good luck with it all Dave!

Ruaridh

I'll just leave this here...


Infodump coming over the next few days, I'm back in action!

*edit* Quick headcount

Confirmed attending

RobSkib
MarcoSkoll
Joel McKickass
Van Helser
Greenstuff Gav
Bloodpact

Maybe attending
Brother Brimstone
Almundis
Kaled

Keep me posted how many can make it/maybe make it, this one is going to be a stormer :)

Quote from: RobSkib on August 28, 2012, 02:42:00 AM
Infodump coming over the next few days, I'm back in action!

hooray! :D

i have a confirmed +1; Adrian (who is coming to his first Inq event for his 2nd game :) )

*edit* replaced 'Dust sector' with 'Dust system'. Derp.

Nice.

I'd like to see if I can get the Kaede Mack related short story I've got tidied up and posted, but I suspect I'm pressed enough for time simply trying to get enough models finished before the day and I'll be disappointed if I miss yet another modelling deadline (not that it's unlikely I will again, given how much I've been procrastinating).

Splendid! I have been accosted by Gav to save any extra macguffins that don't make it into the final prep for a Mack-related Dark Magenta article - I'd be stoked if you would put that forward!

Also, I'm getting the 7.30 from St Pancras on that morning, if you're still up in the air about booking tickets.

Double also, I have a TONNE of modelling to do for this event! I'll start posting up some WIPs if that's what you need to keep you motivated. I'll show you mine if you show me yours...

Not my event, but where is Dust in relation to Carthax? :-X

Derp. Meant to write 'Dust system', not 'Dust sector'. Dust is on the outer fringes of the Carthax sector :)

Quote from: RobSkib on August 28, 2012, 03:59:06 PMI'd be stoked if you would put that forward!

What I was referring to features a Kaede Mack, rather than being focused on him/her. So that's probably not ideal for a KM article, but I have considered some ideas that would be more appropriate.

QuoteAlso, I'm getting the 7.30 from St Pancras on that morning, if you're still up in the air about booking tickets.

I'm no longer up in the air, but I am indeed booked for the 0730. I decided the extra leeway on late arrival at Euston was a more sound reason than getting to chat outside WHW for a few more minutes before it opened.

A fortunate choice, it turns out.

QuoteDouble also, I have a TONNE of modelling to do for this event! I'll start posting up some WIPs if that's what you need to keep you motivated.

Motivation might help, but the issue is often that I'm trying to do it on a narrowboat. I'll see if I can get some photos when possible. Some of it has worked out pretty well - this time, Skoll actually manages to vaguely resemble his inspiration (that of course being Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm Reynolds).

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on August 28, 2012, 07:50:19 PM
What I was referring to features a Kaede Mack, rather than being focused on him/her. So that's probably not ideal for a KM article, but I have considered some ideas that would be more appropriate.

Well I was looking for a nice bit of prose to open the article, and besides, I think it's the stories of the personal Macks that make him/her interesting. I would do something similar if I was to write an opener, it's much more interesting for a reader (IMO) knowing nothing about the Conglomerate to read an example of a Mack in action, rather than a dry piece about the Conglomerate on a universal scale.

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on August 28, 2012, 07:50:19 PMI'm no longer up in the air, but I am indeed booked for the 0730. I decided the extra leeway on late arrival at Euston was a more sound reason than getting to chat outside WHW for a few more minutes before it opened.

Fab. I'll give you a bell when I get there, assuming you still have your number from last time?

As a semi-related note, I've decided to reverse-engineer my scenarios for this event - I have a suitably awful pun as the title of the scenario and work backwards from that. So far I've got  Mack to the Future, Curse of the Mack Pearl and The Imperium Strikes Mack. You have been warned.

Extend it into song titles too, or bands -- Mack Sabbath, anyone?

I hadnt realised quite how much this has snuck up on me! I've got 40k doubles the weekend before as well which im still painting for! Luckily, i have strategically taken a week off, ostensibly to paint Orks, but with their advanced progress, this may be co-opted into painting my new Inquisitor!

Quote from: RobSkib on August 28, 2012, 08:39:57 PMWell I was looking for a nice bit of prose to open the article, and besides, I think it's the stories of the personal Macks that make him/her interesting.

I'd agree. I'll perhaps poke the keyboard when I get ideas (AND time), see if anything of literary worth comes out of it.

QuoteI'll give you a bell when I get there, assuming you still have your number from last time?

I still have my old number, as it's too good to give up. (And that reminds me, I need to put credit on my phone - still being the kind of unconnected person who has an ancient phone and considers what a lot of people would have as a monthly contract as enough to suffice for a couple of years).

QuoteSo far I've got Mack to the Future, Curse of the Mack Pearl and The Imperium Strikes Mack. You have been warned.

Mack to the Future, eh? Reminds me of that line I've long wanted to fit into an RP where I'm playing Inquisitor Lyra Rhodes...

Quote from: Koval on August 28, 2012, 09:09:32 PMExtend it into song titles too, or bands

Song titles, eh? From the top then:

"Paint it Mack", "Mack in Black", "Mack Dog", "Fade to Mack", "Get Mack", "The boys are Mack in town", "Mack into Hell", "Mack Holes and Revelations" (Yes, I know this one is actually an album), "Leader of the Mack", "Jumpin' Mack Flash", "Hard Mack Hallelujah" and, for something a bit different, "Ace of Kaedes".

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on August 28, 2012, 11:11:29 PM

Quote from: Koval on August 28, 2012, 09:09:32 PMExtend it into song titles too, or bands

Song titles, eh? From the top then:

"Paint it Mack", "Mack in Black", "Mack Dog", "Fade to Mack", "Get Mack", "The boys are Mack in town", "Mack into Hell", "Mack Holes and Revelations" (Yes, I know this one is actually an album), "Leader of the Mack", "Jumpin' Mack Flash", "Hard Mack Hallelujah" and, for something a bit different, "Ace of Kaedes".

From what's on my computer's music-library, I can offer Praise Lamented Kaede, Mack Night, Mack Clouds And Silver Linings (also derived from an album title rather than a song), Mack Earth (also derived from an album title), Mack Rain, Kaede To The World (a bit of a stretch, but meh), Mack Illusion, Triggermack, Mack Of The Year, Novokaede, Kaede Of Orleans, Beneath Mack Skies...

There's probably more further down, but I've got to go to work.

I did have more rhymes/puns in my collection, but I suspected they'd be more than a bit too obscure.

For example, tracks from a 2011 album from Finland, even if amongst my favourites, probably aren't very widely known.

Well, if you want something more mainstream, there was a song in 1996 that was actually called Return Of The Mack. Although if I've heard of something, chances are it's not actually all that obscure. :P

Digging further down into my music library reveals Mackster of Puppets, Enter Sandmack, Miracle Mack, Mack In The Village (possibly more obscure as I'm ripping off a lesser-known Maiden song), Kaede In Hell (also maybe a bit obscure), Fade To Mack, Anarchy In The U.Kaede., and Journeymack (more than one version) if you want more puns.

Incidentally, just going by my understanding of Kaede Mack and who/what he is, I personally think Triggerman by Alice Cooper could be his theme tune. :P

... No-one's said Mack the Knife?

Quote from: Koval on August 29, 2012, 06:31:40 PMFade To Mack

'Kaede to Mack' surely...?

Hi all, I'm keen, I'm fairly busy over the next few weeks so doubt I'll have time to make a Kaede Mack, although perhaps Kaede Mack chooses to operate under many aliases too?

Mack certainly does operate under many aliases, sub-operatives, lieutenants, mind-cleansed agents and many, many more. Hell, there's no reason why your Inquisitor couldn't already be working for Kaede Mack, he just doesn't know it yet ;)

Do not feel obliged to make any new models for this Event Day, let alone a Kaede Mack. In fact, you will probably get more from the day if you don't use anyone affiliated with the Mack Conglomerate (that they're aware of..!), as the day itself is all about unravelling the truth behind the name.

If all goes well, I should be planting the seeds of potential future Mack-related campaigns for players within their own gaming circle. At some point during the day (without too many spoilers), certain players will be given Evidence cards. These could be pieces of information, whispered rumours or intercepted astropathic messages that pertain to Conglomerate activities elsewhere in the universe that have potentially terrifying sector-wide consequences.

Hopefully, when the day is all done and everyone heads home, their brains stewing with plot and intrigue, they should be able to look over at the Evidence they have found and use it as inspiration for their own games! The Conglomerate is big enough that anyone should be able to run a Kaede Mack campaign in their own gaming circles, Kaede Mack makes an excellent recurring villain, after all ;)

(shameful double post)

The following has been added to the front page, with some out-of-character information about the day, hopefully answering some questions that people might have had.

++++

The Kaede Mack Conspiracy is a one-day Inquisitor Event being run at Warhammer World in Nottingham on Saturday 15th of September.

New players, old players, fresh Inquisitorial acolytes and hoary old Inquisitor Lords alike are all welcome at the event. No models are required to play on the day, there will be enough spare models to be able to take part, but you will find it much more rewarding to have your own protagonist represented on the tabletop.

The Mack Conglomerate will be the primary antagonist of the Event, although they will not be the main adversaries. Inquisitorial warbands, Chaos renegades, Rogue Traders and excommunicated guardsmen will all by vying over the spoils of war left behind by the Conglomerate, as well as trying to  infiltrate it's ranks, uncover its secrets, claim the network for themselves or simply try and destroy the whole criminal organisation.

Consequently, a handful of Kaede Mack warbands may be present to act as the catalyst if everybody turning up on the day decides they want to outright destroy the organisation. You are therefore encouraged to bring a Warband you believe would have the most interesting relationship with the organisation, that could feasibly operate in the shadowy areas in between right and wrong.

At the end of the day however, the objective is for everybody to have had a rip-roaring good time, regardless of the characters they do/don't bring - nobody will be turned away or denied a game for any reason, and there's always room for one more!


If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

Love the poster - very cool!

Quote from: RobSkib on August 31, 2012, 04:07:14 PMnobody will be turned away or denied a game for any reason

Really?

In any case, I will have it on record that I reserve the right to exclude players from the December event for reasons including (but not limited to): smelling like a sewer, being on fire, appalling fashion sense, using the word "literally" in an incorrect sense, taking the game too seriously and/or being Russell Brand.

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on August 31, 2012, 11:34:11 PM
In any case, I will have it on record that I reserve the right to exclude players from the December event for reasons including (but not limited to): smelling like a sewer, being on fire, appalling fashion sense, using the word "literally" in an incorrect sense, taking the game too seriously and/or being Russell Brand.

Don't forget being a total jackass, bringing along ill-thought-out characters with all stats except for Sg way above 90, putting a Tactical Squad on the 28mm table without a very good reason, plausibly being Stephen Fry*, or being abusive towards other players.


*My personal dislike of the man notwithstanding, he'd probably spend enough time talking that everyone involved would have forgotten what they're doing. That wouldn't be particularly fun.

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on August 31, 2012, 11:34:11 PM
appalling fashion sense

i'd rethink this one given the stereotype of gamers ;)
of course, my pimping Top-Hat and Conclave Shirt is literally the best fashion sense!

Hey Rob, change me to a definite, please! Sorry I've been somewhat inactive recently; I've been insanely busy (as in, in the last three weeks I've spent each week in  a different country, across two continents). Still, I've also found the time to paint up zombie inquisitor and two of his minions, so this will be my first clave event not using Zophar (and about time too!). Looking forward to seeing you all again and playing inquisitor for the first time in ages!

Quote from: RobSkib on August 31, 2012, 03:45:18 PM

Do not feel obliged to make any new models for this Event Day, let alone a Kaede Mack. In fact, you will probably get more from the day if you don't use anyone affiliated with the Mack Conglomerate (that they're aware of..!), as the day itself is all about unravelling the truth behind the name.

I have been wracking my brains trying to come up with an original take on Kaede Mack for my warband, but this piece of advice may save me tearing all my hair out!  Perhaps my Rogue Trader that never made it to the IGT will suffice for my PC...

Ruaridh

If you're desperate for a Mack-related warband though, one of my friends came up with a good hook - just use your regular warband and claim to be Kaede Mack! Will the real Mack Shady, please stand up?

Quote from: Koval on September 01, 2012, 06:20:29 AM...everyone involved would have forgotten what they're doing.

We had something similar at the IGT, but I believe "Play suspended due to John Blanche" is actually a valid reason listed in the rulebook.

Quote from: greenstuff_gav on September 01, 2012, 09:13:04 AMI'd rethink this one given the stereotype of gamers

Don't worry. I'm also on the Geek upgrade path and I can only get "Heightened Senses (Fashion)" as an Elite advance. So someone would have to be pretty bad for me to pass that perception test.

Myself and Myriad also plan to attend.

I'm hoping to attend. Not sure if my latest model will be finished in time though so it might be yet another appearance for Cortez and co.

+++INCOMING TRANSMISSION+++

+++PICT-CAPT RECEIVED+++

+++DOWNLOADING+++

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e58/RobSkib/Inquisitor/DustSystem.jpg)

+++TRANSMISSION BEGINS+++

Esteemed Inquisitors,

I have procured a pict-capt of the solar system of Dust, where the investigation into the Kaede Mack Conglomerate will take place, as requested. I have endeavoured to infiltrate Acolyte cells into every settlement within the system over the past few years, so transition planet-side will not be difficult.

I have spent considerable time posted here so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Ave Imperator,

Interrogator Dune

+++TRANSMISSION ENDS+++

I think I'm likely to miss another modelling deadline, as I'm really not happy with how Skoll v2 has turned out so far and I was stupid enough to try hacking apart and updating Skoll v1 as an alternative - which hasn't really worked either.
I really wasn't productive enough while I was on holiday (lack of access to the reference material I have on my hard drive messed things up a lot) and while I knew that was possible, I didn't plan ahead far enough to account for it.

I'm tempted to cut and run so I can use the time to tidy up another warband.

Is it a Summer Conclave if it happens in Autumn? Just asking...

Technically, autumn doesn't kick in until the 21st.

Depends on the definition used. But as Koval says, one definition used for summer runs from the summer solstice to the autumn equinox, so most of September is still summer by that.

However, given it was planned as the Summer Conclave, the fact its date had to slip back to what dates were available would make it a bit confusing if it suddenly became the Autumn Conclave. Particularly seeing as we have an Autumn Conclave too... which also ended up with a quite late date.

But myself, I'm currently calling them the September and December Conclaves.

Well I hope you have all kinds of shooty, stabby fun. Oh, and big explosions. ;D

As an addendum to my above statement regarding modelling, Koval couldn't leave things alone and had to PM me laments about Skoll not getting to wrap up one of his plotlines.

So, in the absence of either Skoll V1 or V2, this is current progress on Skoll V3:

(http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy3/MarcoSkoll/Inquisitor%20Models/WIP%20Models/CIMG8079.jpg)

I'm not sure exactly how I only started making his armature after lunch.

PMing you "laments" wasn't my intention given that I've yet to properly read Skoll's exploits over on the In The Field board. I just thought that it was a bit strange that Skoll wouldn't be finishing something in which he's already been involved. Again, I apologise, though I do think that Skoll v3 looks awesome so far.

I concur. That is a very promising looking model. Superb GS work. YNWA

Quote from: Koval on September 10, 2012, 06:43:02 AMI just thought that it was a bit strange that Skoll wouldn't be finishing something in which he's already been involved.

In universe, perhaps. But from the perspective of not having a valid model for him, less so.

It seems moderately redundant now. I can probably have the new one finished in time, assuming no putty oven failures or anything.

Very swish!

Your GS work comes on in leaps and bounds with every sculpt you do. I particularly like the folds in the trousers around the groin and thighs, I always find that one of the hardest bits to get right. From this angle though, I think his right kneepad needs to be rotated clockwise a few degrees to be more in line with his boot, it gives the appearance of him dragging his foot rather than stepping forwards.

I feel compelled to post up pictures tomorrow of a sculpt of my own that I'm working on that I fear I may not get finished in time, but gosh darnit if this hasn't motivated me to try!

Quote from: RobSkib on September 10, 2012, 05:35:58 PM
From this angle though, I think his right kneepad needs to be rotated clockwise a few degrees to be more in line with his boot, it gives the appearance of him dragging his foot rather than stepping forwards.

I can't honestly say I see that. I see Skoll taking a step, possibly after having turned slightly. Obviously it's a bit difficult to judge properly at this stage, though.

In any case, I wasn't 100% happy with the kneepad, and it has been adjusted slightly.

So Skoll will probably now be attending. It'll likely be with Silva using her (mostly) old model, and Arden certainly won't be around, as he's still waiting for his reboot* to be finalised before he gets onto the table again.

*I felt the original was never really developed into a character of the same level as the rest of the warband. I'm taking his core traits and re-shaping them a lot. In any case, it's looking like he'll turn into one of the last remnants of a former trading dynasty which has developed some nasty genetic flaws - sterility, bad reactions to juvenat drugs, that sort of thing. So probably a lot more bionics in the new incarnation, trying to replace the now rapidly ageing body that rejuve can't do anything to save.

Ugh...

Sorry - planned to attach Skoll's arms tonight and get down enough base colours on the group tomorrow to make them usable, but I've been cheating myself down to sometimes less than 3 hours sleep each night to try and find the time to get models done alongside real life, and even my ability to power through fatigue (no matter how legendary it may or may not be) just can't sustain that for this long.

I'll bring what exists of Skoll for you guys to take a look at, but I'm going to have to fall back on Lyra - she's not Skoll, but she would be willing to get involved as a favour to him.

I'm sure he'll still look nice when he's finished.

I cant see it in the first post, but what time are we kicking off tomorrow morning?

Doors open at 1000, but we tend to allow half an hour to get people organised and latecomers to arrive, so gaming starts at 1030.

i'm all packed but still don't know what character to use  :'(

I just finished building a new character to use, and am writing hima  sheet while the black primer drys :)

My train arrives at 9.30 so I should be on time (fingers crossed). Just finishing off my new model at the moment, still need to do the character sheet though, so it looks like I might be writing a scenario on the train.

Rob and I should be coming into Nottingham at 0926, so we may see you there Cortez.

@Bloodpact: As regards character sheets, I've had a bit of a task getting mine ready.
I've apparently never got around to converting Lyra's warband to having one of my more up-to-date character sheet designs, so I've had to try and accurately summarise the rules for 28 psychic powers so as to have enough room to get them all on it.

I've said that Maya's character sheet is a little ridiculous before, I know - but hey, psychic powers is all she can do well, so she has to have a decent range of options.
And most of them are on there because they are delightfully entertaining ideas (certainly more interesting than shooting everyone). I will be hoping to get a chance to use Feral Rage or Phantasms, as I haven't used either in aaaaaages...

Gosh darn, I wish I didn't have to do RL crap in between actually planning this. I also wish that I'd started earlier and promoted it better, but hey.

1000-1030      Player arrival and registration   
1030-1145      Scenario 1
1200-1315      Scenario 2
1330-1430      Lunch
1430-1545      Scenario 3
1600-1730      Scenario 4
1730-1800      Debrief
1800-2200      Dinner, Drinks and Evening entertainment

The times shown are flexible, although play must start at 1030 to ensure everything is completed within the time allocated. Latecomers will be welcomed with open arms, and regardless of their fairing throughout the day, will still have an opportunity to influence the final game in some manner if they stay to the end.

The day technically finishes when the final game draws to a close and the winners should be apparent – if the Mack Conglomerate is not stopped, nobody is a winner!

Good luck and have fun!

Just finished painting the third in Clint's warband, but can't track down the camera, so I suppose they'll be a surprise to all tomorrow :p

My train is due in Notts tomorrow at 9:30 (I'm coming in from the Northernlands, so I won't be on the same train as Marco or Rob) - are there any arrangements to meet in/around the station so I'll have company to walk down to WHW with, or would you rather just meet me there? Cortez, where are you getting the train from? Just wondering whether we'll be on the same train - I'm coming from Manchester.

Looking forward to seeing all of you tomorrow and playing some good games (my first in ages!) with my new characters :)

Great fun time was had. Especially the final game! Looking forward to pictures. Im going to have to start adding Inquisitor Angstroms Warband progression as a post, and on the Carthax Wiki as well. I feel they might develop into something fun!

many thanks for Rob for running hte event and the GMs for GMing (i'd have volunteered more if i'd been able to talk properly ;) ) ... voice has given out now :(
hope we all had fun; Adrian enjoyed the day and is looking forward to the GT :D

here's a quick resize, crop, upload of my pics:
Summer Conclave 2012 (http://buildyourimagination.co.uk/minis/conclavesummer12.php)

i'll start poking a write-up about now :)

Phew! 14 hours sleep later and I'm a functioning human being again :)

Thanks for everyone who turned up and made it a real blast to play through with. I'll be writing something up later to tie it all up, but until then, picturez!

http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e58/RobSkib/Inquisitor/The%20Kaede%20Mack%20Conspiracy/

/shameless double post/

The scores for the day (if it mattered to anyone) are as follows. These are a direct copy of my notes from the day, so fully expect people's names to be spelled incorrectly. Scores underlined are for GMing a game, which scored full points for that round!

Shaie - Takoda Tedd - 1 3 3 - Total 7
Ryan - Inquisitor Alexandus - 1 3 2 - Total 6
Arvin - Inquisitor Thordis - 1 1 3 - Total 5
Jim - Inquisitor Angstrom - 3 3 3 - Total 9
Adrian - Inquisitor Ramirez - 1 2 1 - Total 4
Ruri - Rogue Trader Verteg - 1 3 2 - Total 6
Rich - Inquisitor Romero - 3 3 3 - Total 9
Gav - Inquisitor Henyo - 3 3 3 - Total 9
James - Eldar chap - 2 3 2 - Total 7
Nick - Inquisitor Racol - 2 3 3  - Total 7
Cortez - Eldar Starchaser - 3 1 1 - Total 5
Marco - Inquisitor Rhodes - 3 2 3 - Total 8
Callum - Explicator Reinhard - 3 2 1 - Total 6
Chris - Stern Kernov - 2 2 3 - Total 7



Now a list of who played which games, alongside some ramshackle notes. If anybody has an information to update this, it'd be greatly appreciated! The letters correspond to scenarios that I had written, which I will be uploading soon as well. Underlined characters are those who achieved the objective (or got closest to..!).



Game 1: Scenarios A "The Galaxy Murmurs", C "Zwolak's 64" and D "One in Every Pack".

A: Gav GMing, Rogue Trader Varteg, Stern Kernov, Inquisitor Romero

C: Jim GMing, Explicator Reinhard, Eldar chap, Inquisitor Ramirez

D: Cortez GMing, Inquisitor Rhodes, Inquisitor Racol, Inquisitor Alexandus




Game 2: Scenario "Thinning the Ranks".

(Mannheim solar flare rules) Ruri GMing, Takoda Tedd, Stern Kernov, Inquisitor Ramirez

(Mannheim solar flare rules) Nick Gming, Explicator Reinhard, Inquisitor Alexandus, Inquisitor Thordis

(No environmental rules) Inquisitor Skoll, Inquisitor Romero

(Giddigan's Last gas rules) Rob GMing, Inquisitor Henyo, Starchaser, Inquisitor Angstrom




Game 3: Scenario "Asylum"

(Port Precipice Mutant Gang rules) Marco GMing, Rogue Trader Varteg, Inquisitor Ramirez, Inquisitor Angstrom

(Mannheim Solar Flare rules) Rich GMing, Starchaser, Eldar Chap, Henyo

(Tanta ash cloud rules) Chris GMing, Takoda Tedd, Explicator Reinhard, Inquisitor Alexandus

(Hydronus fickle warp rules) Rob GMing, Inquisitor Racol, Inquisitor Thordis



I'll be uploading all the scenarios 'n' ting soon, so people can see all the GM's notes, as well as some of the unused scenarios (unless someone wants me to hold them back for use somewhere else?). In the meantime, I'll just leave this here...

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e58/RobSkib/Inquisitor/angstrom.jpg?t=1347803962)

The answer to the question of "when will Marco get home" is 03:54.

Someone's laptop got nicked on the train to St Pancras, so everyone was queued up to have their bags checked by the transport police (despite the likelihood that the thief had vacated the train at an earlier stop), which meant that even though I wasn't too far through the queue, I missed the 0015 from Euston and had to wait for the 0200 to Watford Junction and then get the replacement bus service from there to home, over two and a half hours later than my normal train.
This seems to be a bit of a trend of bad luck I'm having with my return journeys, as it's the second major delay I've had. (After IGT11, someone threw themselves under a train at Wembley and I thus got held up at Milton Keynes for most of two hours.)

As something of a coincidence though, someone I used to go to school with was also late for the same train (although not for the same reasons) and we had something of a chance to catch up with each other.

~~~~~

Lessons learnt from the day:

- I may need to look into adjusting flame weapons (using the RIA as my vehicle), both with new profiles and the actual rules for how they work. (Despite official revisions to both the full auto and flame rules, I'm not sure either is actually that great for it).

However, I'm perhaps not quite as concerned about it as I was when it actually happened, on reflection.
After all, Maya did get lucky by rolling the maximum number of hits vs a completely stationary target - a bad roll would have made for a much less impressive result. Something similar damage-wise is probably actually more likely with a Krak Grenade, at least versus a single target*.
But, it can't hurt to take a look at it, particularly as I think the rules did prove a little too dice roll intensive.

(Alternatively, I could have just been less kind earlier and made my placed bolter shot a headshot, and thus probably wouldn't've had to have Maya rescue Sister Phoenix from the consequences of having tried to fight off two characters.)

*Actually, with that in mind, it was probably a good thing it was Maya and not Sgt. Kronen - with her position in the speed order and track record with grenades, she likely would have taken out both characters simultaneously without scratching the Sister. She's done much the same before, except that time she did it with a frag grenade - I'm not entirely sure how.

- I got a chance to try out my modified NPC rules again and having 16 characters (7 PCs, 9 NPCs) on the table proved a pretty manageable prospect, without too much time given to NPCs or just having to make up their effectiveness as I went.

It should have provided a somewhat different version of the scenario than ran on the other tables that game, and also provided some memorable moments at the same time.
Note goes to when the giant scavvy (or "cave troll"), having just easily smashed another NPC out of the game, leapt off a building to attack Ruaridh's Rogue Trader. Varteg successfully dodged... then had one of the most brutal "one action" turns I've seen in a while, bisecting the thing with a single critical chainsword hit.

~~~~~

Photos:
http://s772.photobucket.com/albums/yy3/MarcoSkoll/Inquisitor%20Events/2012%20Kaede%20Mack/

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on September 16, 2012, 04:45:52 PM
Photos:
http://s772.photobucket.com/albums/yy3/MarcoSkoll/Inquisitor%20Events/2012%20Kaede%20Mack/

-Is the lady in #10 Maya Avens?
-#26-28: BEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!
-#30: When the rules for Koraura were being written, should we assume the "physical contact with lava" rules from D&D were being born in mind? (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ConvectionSchmonvection) :P


I'd also like to offer my condolences for having had to put up with a crap return journey.

The event went well and was enjoyable although I noticed that my usual bad luck was back in spades, with my characters doing some fairly epic fails during the event (such as my Eldar blowing herself up with her own plasma grenade).

The main, final battle looked amazing and its a shame that I didn't get to participate (or even watch much of it) as we ended up spending a lot of time ineffectually squabbling over control of the teleportation device in an attempt to reach the main board.

Regarding the flame weapon it was a bit on the extreme side, although you were also lucky in the number of hits you rolled, had she not been equipped with a power field then you'd probably have killed her outright. The biggest issue that I think I had was the rules for the flame damage for the one still burning location on her arm, although she wasn't actually that badly injured ( a lot of light injury levels to arms, abdomen and one heavy injury to the head) I had no chance to recover as another 3d6 damage took her straight over her consciousness value. With less damage there she might have been able to survive and then it would have been a race to see who would recover first between my Eldar and your battle sister.

Quote from: Koval on September 16, 2012, 05:06:18 PM-Is the lady in #10 Maya Avens?

Yes, Maya was present, and was helluva lot more effective than last time I took her to an event (which involved her accidentally blowing up a room in one game, and passing out by about turn 2 in the other, only achieving one minor psychic suggestion for the full game). This time around, she only rolled up one risky action (at least, where she actually got far enough through her actions to fail it) and not one Wp test failed.

The Battle Sister was the inverse really, a lot less effective than last time around. Overall, I think I'm going to need to be less considerate about how I use her when she's actually got the Ecclesiarchy warband to fight alongside, as she's not quite as formidable as you might imagine unless she does go in full-throttle.

But despite Maya's effectiveness, I think the man of the match goes to Kai for off-handedly hauling our informant straight out of the middle of a three way confrontation and laying down his own covering fire as he did so.

Quote from: Cortez on September 16, 2012, 06:10:52 PMRegarding the flame weapon it was a bit on the extreme side, although you were also lucky in the number of hits you rolled, had she not been equipped with a power field then you'd probably have killed her outright.

This is quite likely the case, but when you consider I had to:
- not fail my risky action (statistically, counting both fives and sixes for this has relatively little effect on whether the first action is risky, it mostly changes the risks later through the turn, so I had about a 20% chance of failing here).
- pass my psychic test (on a reduced Wp due to the earlier overload, so 35% chance of failing)
- get very lucky on the number of hit rolls (obviously, 1 in 6 to get the full 7)
- actually hit with those rolls (another 20% chance of failing each)
- and the powerfield (assuming it was 2D6) had a 10% chance of stopping hits outright.

What happened was a fairly slim chance, as I had about a 50% chance of doing absolutely no damage at all, with most of that percentage resulting in Maya's brains getting further toasted to various degrees, and further chance of only fairly minor damage.
I'm not saying it doesn't need reconsideration, but you very definitely ended up on the receiving end of one of the biggest extremes of what that psychic power is capable of.

I'll certainly be re-approaching them in the RIA - probably a damage reduction but gaining Heavy AP - but may look at seeing if I can do some kind of rules review on the flame and full auto weapons as well.
Of course, I can't guarantee uptake on either the RIA or any variant rules I might write, but it may help.

Quote from: RobSkib on September 16, 2012, 03:01:40 PM

C: Jim GMing, Explicator Reinhard, Eldar chap, Inquisitor Ramirez

The infiltration was all going smoothly until Sgt Rose shone his lamp-pack in the wrong direction, alerting Reinhardts party and a good old fashioned stand-off began, with plenty of Ordos based threats being bandied around. Whilst this was going on, the giant Kroot beast obviously smelled fresh meat, and charged across the warehouse bellowing. Sgt Rose lost his nerve completely and loosed several shotgun rounds in its direction before diving into a shipping crate to avoid sharp-beaked doom!

Reinhardt and his party, reacting to the gunfire immediately ran towards the action, setting off a motion sensor and tripping the security system, triggering both the alarm, and the multi-melta toting security servitor. The Eldar party beat a swift retreat, using the Kroot beast to smash through a wall and escape with some suspicious looking jewellery. Ramirez and Sgt Rose backed off in the face of superior numbers, but not before Reinhardts trusted henchman, Baiden, had been fairly seriously wounded by storm bolter fire. A blast from the Servitors melta missed Henchman Grinn by a hairs breadth, and destoyed a shipping crate on the bottom of a stack, leaving the rest of that pile teetering ominously. Whilst seeking to get out of the line of fire, Explicator Reinhardt discovered a wall-mounted shipping manifest terminal, and after some ham-fisted hacking, managed to retrieve information regarding suspicious shipments from a high-ranking Inquisitrix, and armed with this information, and with Arbites units closing in on thier location, beat a hasty retreat into the night...

Quote from: RobSkib on September 16, 2012, 03:01:40 PM
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e58/RobSkib/Inquisitor/angstrom.jpg?t=1347803962)

This might well be my new signature!

In that same vein, I shall narrate the basic course of the game I ran. I didn't take enough notes or photos to make a decent report out of it, but it's something to read anyway.

Quote from: RobSkib on September 16, 2012, 03:01:40 PM(Port Precipice Mutant Gang rules) Marco GMing, Rogue Trader Varteg, Inquisitor Ramirez, Inquisitor Angstrom

Rauridh: Rogue Trader Varteg, Navigator Abhinavha Hercule-Tafoni, Ork Hunter Curtis Khar
Jim: Inquisitor Angstrom, Acolyte Nexa Gari
Adrian: Inquisitor Ramirez, Sgt Rose

Our three warbands all entered the scene looking to capture a turncoat agent (or so they were told) of the Mack conglomerate - although they had all been lead to believe their objectives were different), a situation somewhat complicated by the fact that the co-ordinates they had correlated to a mutant gang war, two scavvy gangs beating the snot out of each other for whatever reasons they might have had.
With no better information, the warbands had to assume that Kaede Mack was using this confusion as cover, and they thus had to identify their target in amongst the dirtily robed scavvies.

Inquisitor Angstrom's attempts to use his auspex to identify Kaede Mack failed miserably when the esoteric psi-tracker spat various garbage at him. His acolyte Nexa Gari attempted to grab and interrogate one of the scavvies for questioning, but was rewarded for her efforts by the stinking mutant trying to clout her using his heavy stubber as a club and was thus held up until she stopped trying to pistol whip him and just shot him instead.

So, it was Rogue Trader Varteg who was first to spot Kaede Mack in amongst the gang war, but his attempts to double back and inform his comrades allowed Kaede to be spooked by the arrival of Inquisitor Ramirez and Sgt. Rose, darting for a nearby building, clambering up the ruins to find cover.

Having lost Kaede Mack in amongst the confusion, he ran around the fringes of the combat to try and find him again, but unfortunately failed to avoid the attentions of the huge scavvy brute who'd just finished off a rival sniper on top of a nearby building.
More fortunately, it let out a raucous roar before it leapt, giving Varteg enough time to not be in the space the giant blade came down through... but his revved up chainsword to be very much in the space the massive mutant landed in, cutting it clean in half from hip to shoulder.

Having heard Inquisitor Angstrom yell something that definitely included the name "Kaede Mack", Inquisitor Ramirez got himself into a fight with the axe armed scavvy blocking his way.
Nexa and Sgt. Rose got themselves into a bit of a gun fight, Rose taking the smart move to find cover as bolts were exploding in the wall next to him. It turned out the best cover nearby happened to be a large scavvy rolling around with a pistol wound in his gut, Sgt Rose blasting the mutant in the face with his shotgun before hunkering down behind its corpse - something a nearby scavvy from the other gang took as a sign of aid and attempted to charge down Nexa in assistance.

It was about this point that Curtis Khar was making good use of his chainfist, barrelling into a fight between two mutants who didn't seem very capable of finishing each other off, and doing the job for both of them.
Behind him, Abhinavha was the first to relocate Kaede Mack, spotting him descending the building's stairs to meet with Inquisitor Angstrom's offer of aid.

As Angstrom discussed his credentials with Kaede Mack, Sgt Rose made a very clumsy attempt to enter the building while Nexa was occupied, but only narrowly avoiding impaling himself on the broken masonry.
Disappointed with his underling's performance, Inquisitor Ramirez brought his fight with the axe-armed, and evidently very nimble, mutant to an end with a skull-crushing blow from his power fist, striding after the Sgt.

Nexa injured the mutant she was fighting with a sword blow, giving her enough time to break from the fight and rejoin her master, being lead by Kaede Mack along the route that he insisted that they would have to escape down - the one past Varteg and his allies.

Her master collapsed as a brief lapse in his psychic focus overloaded his mind, and she was forced to take the fore - however, her bolt pistol backed threat did not intimidate Abhinavha in the slightest.
It was, at this point that the cluster forming of Varteg, his allies and Nexa proved all too tempting for Kaede, who saw an opportunity for him to rid himself of several of the individuals hunting the conglomerate, lobbing a frag grenade into their midst by way of distraction. However, the tactic was not entirely effective, and Sgt Rose was just about on time, having finally successfully made his way through the building, to see Nexa catch up with the escaping Kaede and haul him from the scene, pursued by Varteg...

~~~~~

I may have messed up a slight detail or two, as I completely forgot to take any notes. I shall link in some of my pictures at a more sensible time of day.

I tried to play it a little differently to the brief, so rather than having Kaede instigating the mass inter-warband combat as was the original scenario brief, I instead had him trying to draw the player characters in to be collateral damage of the mutant gang war.
His plan didn't work hugely well, as it turned out that while the mutants were freakishly good at making their dodge rolls in combat, this was countered by them being equivalently useless at hitting the player characters.

I'd like to hope my on-the-fly rewriting of the scenario still provided a game of worth. Everyone got to foil Kaede Mack's plans by kicking the snot out of a load of mutants, which can't be a bad thing.