Couple of questions.

[Tyrant]

I been thinking about a couple of characters and although some I could probably use some initiative I thought I would put them to the collective experiance of the conclave.

1) Does anyone know what a neural shredder looks likes?
It a pistol so I'm guessing fairly small and reletively simple from the description of how it works in the rulebook.
Surely can be used as a digi weapon. Which brings me to what does the 'X' mean in the reload section of weapon stats. Im guessing its uses a battery of some kind, so awkward to change you cant reload on the field?

2) The splinter pistol can be used as a knife, but if you have the skill blademaster is it frowned upon to use this combo?

3) The back pack/pointy bits on the Incubi model - anyone know what these serve as?
It does have vents and usually some kind of skull/trophy but is that as far as it goes?
I'm thinking it could also serve as a toxic gas delivery system? which leads to Q4.

4) Incubi armour is fully enclosed, does the helmet have a re-breather/gasmask or even filtration plugs (flugs).

5) Servo skulls perform one task with one action each round. Medic carries detox etc and a hunter skull carries an auspex of some kind.
Would it be un ethical/frowned upon to have it operare a neural whip but with a reach of 2(so more than a servo skull normally has but less than the full length of a whip). Obviously using the WS50 as per the combat skull.

6) Anyone had a shot at detailing the mandrake ability to not be seen until revealed, I did write something down once but I lost it on the old forum.
I'm just wondering if there is already an 'approved' version.

7)  My mandrake carries a blade with the handle at the side and a skull at one end and I was thinking it makes a good 'blunt' instrament and want approval as having it count as sword (with poison) and also a hammer but with only reach 1, taking advantage of the extra knock back.


Thanks

Nathan

[precinctomega]

1) It's in her left hand

It cannot be used as a digital weapon.  The Imperium only barely understands how they work, so miniaturizing one is beyond their ability - possibly, a Jokaero could do it, but there's no evidence that they can.  The X means you can't reload it.  Whether you choose to believe that that means ever or merely in the course of a scenario is up to you.

2) Frankly, I frown on anyone who uses Blademaster as written.  It's a silly ability that confers advantages far beyond what's appropriate, even with a mundane blade.

3) It's just a backpack - communications array, environmental systems and power for the helm and armour etc.

4) Almost certainly.  It probably has an integral air supply (no doubt laced with various stimulants).

5) No, that sounds good.  A little skull flicking a neural whip?  Who could resist an image like that?

6) No such piece exists.

7) I would rather suggest that it be possible to use it as an improvised weapon.  Giving knockback to a blade... not appropriate, in this case.

R.

[Tyrant]

Thanks for the reply/image/advice. 

1) I was thinking as a last resort weapon for a Haemonculus but I think there is probably something more suitable for dark eldar, he will already have a destructor so that is why I was looking into the digi weapon.
I think there was a dark elder update that spoke of runes/voodoo dolls that may give inspiration.

2) Considering the splinter pistol is not a true knife I will take that as a no.

5) Once I have re painted my Magos I will post a picture, I think the servo skull has worked well.

6)Something along the lines of creating a psychic power (persistant ability), an adaptive synskin or perhaps partial webway shift sound plausable. A psykic power of that type would perhaps go unnoticed as it would make them hard to hunt back home in Commoragh? Im thinking there is an alien ability that may help on the matter but I have no access to anything because im supposed to be working.



Cheers
Nathan

[Inquisitor Cade]

Precinctomega's distaste for the blademaster rule aside, I'd say that in the hands of a dark eldar, it would be fine to apply it to a splinter pistol.

Precinctomega, could you suggest a more appropriate rule for it. How about either just the critical hit aspect of it or just the reach part? I never saw much of a problem with it so would like to know why you think it OTT.

[Tyrant]

If you tone it down, you have to drop the reach aspect. Its not got a 2ft handle.
perhaps just increasing the chance of a critcal hit is more appropiate. - being able to see the weaknesses in armour to poke it through is an advantage but your not always going be able get it right.
Is a critcal hit done on 10% of the WS? how about raising it to 30%?

N

[Tyrant]

6) Dimensional shift in the alien abilities from the 2004 annual seems to fit the part.

Persistant ability, requires wp tests at the start of each turn.
-50% to awareness tests when active.
(for obvious reasons I would exclude the refractor field part.)

Edit: actually I would keep it all.

[precinctomega]

Here's my version:

Blademaster
'It is an honour to cross blades with a skilled adversary.  Now, I intend to honour you to death.'

A Blademaster fighting with a mundane blade or axe of any length may always count it as +/-1 reach and doubles the score required for a critical hit.  In addition, he may re-roll any parry attempt when fighting with a mundane blade or axe.  This skill may not be used if the character is wielding a force, power or chain weapon, even if he is not using that weapon to perform his combat Actions.

R.

[Tyrant]

Another question...

Are Haemonculus the same as a warrior but old, twisted and high ranking or are they also a hired help.
I guess a thrid possibility would be that they are slaves that have been tortured to the point that they forget everything before and start to enjoy the torture and become experts in the art?

Cheers

N

[GhouraAgur]

Are Haemonculus the same as a warrior but old, twisted and high ranking or are they also a hired help.
I guess a thrid possibility would be that they are slaves that have been tortured to the point that they forget everything before and start to enjoy the torture and become experts in the art?

Nope, nope, nope.  Someone who was tortured as you described would probobaly end up being classified as a "Grotesque".

Anyhow, Haemonoculii sects are independent from the Kabals, as are the Witch Cults, Incubi, ah, dojos, and, well, Mandrakes, who exist outside of Dark Eldar society.

However, the Kabal can offer something in exchange for their services.  Mandrakes eat the stragglers in the streets at night, and the Haemonoculii are given underground (usually) "labratories" to conduct their "experiments".  But they're not warriors, or ex-warriors at all. *ahem* According to the dubious sorce of Lexicanum.

[Tyrant]

Ah, dojos?

I presume that Haemonculi would not benefit from the usual eldar traits then.
I'm thinking that they would probably be more fragile and have higher mental characteristics.

[Hadriel Caine]

I presume that Haemonculi would not benefit from the usual eldar traits then.
I'm thinking that they would probably be more fragile and have higher mental characteristics.

that seems sensible to me.

[Vladimir]

A haemonculus is a dark eldar who's obsession with torture has led them to experiment on themselves- Grotesques are their test-subjects.

In both cases I'd give them much higher Toughness and Nerve, and drop their agility significantly. In adition, I'd increase the Sagicity of a Homonculus a lot. In adition, some sort of rule allowing both to ignore more minor injuries (not having the tables to hand I couldn't give you an exact suggestion) might be an idea.


Am I right in thinking your doing an all-Dark Eldar warband? If so, I'm itrigued to see the background that get's them into Inq. games...

[Inquisitor Cade]

If I remember rightly, Haemonculi are T4 in the 40k rules suggesting that they are tougher than regular Eldar. I would suggest some form of resistance to system shock rather than ignoring minor injuries.

[Tyrant]

Your right it is an Dark Eldar Warband, some questions are for my Adeptus Mechanicus band.

Will be a
Haemonculus - still to be arranged.
Incubi and a Mandrake.

Initially they will be envolved when they gather ingrediants/weapons/souls. A little bit of Trading maybe. Getting revenge.
Hatching plots of evil and probably threatening peoples families to arrange massacres.
Spying/recon. There is enough matterial to make it worth while,I think it requires the expansion of the role of a Haemonculus.
They spend a life time torturing but thats not to say its all for fun. They go out on raids presumably for their own reasons.
The Archon probably will set aside some tasks/a bit of bounty hunting. to show off to other Kabals and to scare the poop out of everyone else.

I will probably go with a statline with (In comparison to a human.) as I agree with =I= Cade.
Higher WS BS
Lower S T I
Higher WP SG NV LD

Access to exotic weaponry/equipment, possibly a legendary status weapon. Malediction of pain? Think thats right.
I wont be using a Shadow field, Bio-explosive serum or dark matter weapons.

Making them a weak target if they can get past the Incubi and not get scratched by skillfully used scissor hand.
They are tougher in 40k because they are worth more points, but the truth is that they are quite frail looking.
I like the idea of being immune* to a particular type of pain.
*Well not immune, but take enjoyment from it as well as spill their guts.

I hope that makes sense as I dont feel too well.

Nathan

[Inquisitor Cade]

Is there really a good justification behind this warband, looking at the componant members it does seem that it is just an excuse to introduce the cooler aspects of the Dark Eldar into Inquisitor. I could understand a mandrake, in fact it could be a really cool plot whereby a radical inquisitor offers the sould of expendable Imperial citizens in exchange for the almost supernatural assassination abilities of the mandrakes. However, Incubi are martial obsessives who serve as bodyguards to powerful Dark Eldar. And not the sort of bodyguard who goes on related missions, the sort who are constantly close to their protectee. Haemonculi are given labs and resorces to experiment in order that they might product creations that could serve their benefactors, again going on missions, other than at the back end of a raiding army isn't in character.