Ordo Xeno Radical

[Inquisitor Octavian Lars]

A new warband that is still in the design phase at the moment and is led by... 

Inquisitor Ostrek Tannenburg (Xeno Radical, probably Istaavanian)

Born into a wealthy family who lived in the upper spires of hive Hyperion on the planet Vaspicula, Ostrek served in the PDF for many years with great success including several raids by Eldar pirates into the system. These wars were the main stimulus for his great hatred of them (though records show that part of is extreme hatred came from the torture and death of his mother in the hands of the raiders). His distinguished career anded when the black ships came to Vaspicula and he was graded as an Eta level psyker and was taken into the care of lord Kaltos Malear of the Ordos Bahlcharsa and was placed in the retinue of Inquisitor Morkovo of the Ordo Xeno. During his time under the esteemed Inquisitor, his missions took him further towards the eastern fringe and the Emergent Tau Empire. After several years as an Interogator he learned his skills with the warp lay in aggresive biomancy which complimented his above average strength and as a private goal during a raid in an Exodite world led by his master, stole a book of biomagic from the worls's library. Upon his promotion to inquisitor at the age of 68, he filed in a report of his own self asigned mission. To infiltrate the Tau Empire and attempt to topple it from the inside. At some point on his mission, he must have been convinced to join the greater good and was gifted by the earth caste with a pair of pulse weapons, designed for 4 fingered users. Upon his return to the Imperium with his associate, the pathfinder shas'saal (trainee) Tau'n XXX(unnamed as of yet), he was branded a radical and [insert faction here]by Octavian Lars in the high courts of the Ordos Veltarax though he still claims to do the Emperor's work, "but slightly differently from the puritans like Octavian Lars" as he puts it. According to the latest news, he is currently on the planet Velterax III

WS BS S   T    I     Wp Sg Nv   Ld Spd
77  68 71 62 65    76  78 78   85  4

Equipment: Carapace Breastplate (chest abdomen) flak to all other locations except head. MIU linked 10 shot bolt pistol with hellfire rounds, Pulse rifle+ pistol (5 finger custom Fio makes) with 2 and 1 reloads respectively, digital needler. Power knife, sword. Sacred tome of biomagic. 2 frag grenades, krak grenade, haywire grenade, stasis grenade.

  Weapon      Type   Rng   Mode         Acc   Dam         Shots   Rld   Enc
Pulse Rifle      Basic   D      Sgl/semi2  +10   2D10+5    80       2       35
Pulse Pistol   Pistol    B      Sgl/Semi2  +5     2D10+5    40      2       20

Skills: Rock Steady Aim, Hipshooting (both for pulse rifle only)
Psychic Powers: Storm of lightning, Warp Strength and Blood boil
Sacred Tome of Biomagic: When reading from the tome (1 action to retrieve from back and 1 action to open, may be held in 1 hand), for all concentrate actions, the user may choose to add an additional 10 to his willpower (in addition to the concentrate bonus) and must use a Biomancy power as his next psychic power.

[MarcoSkoll]

This guy is something of a tank, unfortunately. Between his stats, psychic powers, decent armour and horrifically powerful weapons, he's unlikely to make for fun gaming.

I get the feeling that you've based your Pulse weapon stats on comparing them to 40k boltguns and just gone "Well, let's make bolters better!" - but this isn't 40k, so you need to de-abstract rather than just adding numbers everywhere. You can do that yourself, but the next Revised Armoury will include Pulse weapons, so you do have the option of waiting for my version.

But that's not quite the point. Even if you are gaming at above the normal Conclave power level, all of those weapons and powerful psychic powers are somewhat unnecessary. Just how many ways of putting people out of the game in one does he need? I see the bolt Pistol, the two Pulse weapons, the Krak grenades and Blood Boil (with Wp 76 and a book to boost it)...

On the note of the book, I dislike the name. Firstly, Sacred does not go together with psychic powers in the Imperium. Secondly, I don't like the use of the word Magic.
But overall, the idea reeks more of Sorcery than Psychic powers (but then again, it could be lighter fluid, as I did just refill my lighter).

There are also some oddities. Why, when his equipment clearly shows he prefers ranged weapons, does he have the WS value of a sword-master?

One other thing. You know that John Blanche piece with the Inquisitor with the two headed eagle on his shoulder:


That gentleman is also called Inquisitor Tannenburg, so I might suggest another name for your Inquisitor if you don't want people to get confused with him.

[Inquisitor Octavian Lars]

I have taken on board the comments and changed the pulse weapon stats (maybe making the gun 5 fingered drops it's power to 2D10) the book has also been renamed as cursed. I also swapped his BS and WS. How would you recommend dropping the power of blood boil (I have already made reading from the tome risky with psychic feedback on the wrong end). Also, what would be a replacement name. I thought about tannenhauser to bring back everyone's memories of blade runner (looked up tannenhauser gate after seeing shannow's signature).

[Molotov]

I'd say just use Ostrek as your Character's name.

If you've made changes in response to Marco's comments, I can't see them. (Have you edited your post?) I still see a character with a bolt pistol (MIU, no less!), a digital needler,  two pulse weapons, a power knife, a sword and five grenades. That's more weaponry than some whole warbands! (And saying nothing about psychic powers...)

The combination of good equipment and good stats makes for a very, very, powerful character. This is worsened if he also has very, very powerful followers.

Think about removing some of the weaponry. I would question how he even manages to carry it all. Two pistols, a basic weapon, two melee weapons, five grenades, an unholy tome...

[Inquisitor Octavian Lars]

I edited the word doc I keep of my warbands. Probably should drop the pulse pistol, the stasis and haywire grenades and the sword. Anyway, the warband is quite low (leave that to the clavers to decide) on power as it will contain, a trainee pathfinder and an Indiana Jones equivalent as regular members with a guardsman marksman helping out sometimes.

[MarcoSkoll]

I also swapped his BS and WS.

That's not really what I meant. His BS was already enough to make his weapons very dangerous already, and didn't really need the boost. I was more suggesting losing 10-15 points from his WS as to represent it's not his preference.

How would you recommend dropping the power of blood boil (I have already made reading from the tome risky with psychic feedback on the wrong end).

Well, aside from simply swapping it for something else (Choke, perhaps?), the option is only really to drop his Wp.

Also, what would be a replacement name.

Like Molotov says, Ostrek as a surname is good.

I'm not sure about going with something based off Tannhauser. I'm either a) slightly surprised you've seen Blade Runner if you're only 13 (and the reference may well probably be lost on your mates anyway) or b) not sure about how good an idea it is to make references to things you've not seen. (Depending on whether or not you have seen it.)

[Kaled]

2D10+5 seems okay for a particularly powerful pulse weapon, however as Marco says, that's not really the point - he's got too many powerful weapons and loads of equipment plus psychic powers and good stats.

Anyway, the warband is quite low (leave that to the clavers to decide) on power as it will contain, a trainee pathfinder and an Indiana Jones equivalent as regular members with a guardsman marksman helping out sometimes.

I wouldn't call that low powered - it doesn't sound over-powered either though (but that'll all depend on the stats you give them).

Why does Lars brand him a radical in the high courts of the Ordos? That's like taking someone to court to say they're a Democrat or a Conservative. Now if he'd taken him to court to denounce him as a traitor or heretic that would be different, but then he'd have to have evidence...

[Molotov]

I edited the word doc I keep of my warbands.

That doesn't really help us, as we have to scour the whole thread to see what changes you've made. Every single character goes through loads of revisions, but leaving us with an old draft doesn't really help us - or you.

[Inquisitor Octavian Lars]

Here we go then. Inquisitor Ostrek (MK2)


Inquisitor Ostrek (Xeno Radical, Istaavanian)

Born into a wealthy family who lived in the upper spires of hive Hyperion on the planet Vaspicula, Ostrek served in the PDF for many years with great success including several raids by Eldar pirates into the system. These wars were the main stimulus for his great hatred of them (though records show that part of is extreme hatred came from the torture and death of his mother in the hands of the raiders). His distinguished career anded when the black ships came to Vaspicula and he was graded as an Eta level psyker and was taken into the care of lord Kaltos Malear of the Ordos Bahlcharsa and was placed in the retinue of Inquisitor Morkovo of the Ordo Xeno. During his time under the esteemed Inquisitor, his missions took him further towards the eastern fringe and the Emergent Tau Empire. After several years as an Interogator he learned his skills with the warp lay in aggresive biomancy which complimented his above average strength and as a private goal during a raid in an Exodite world led by his master, stole a Cursedbook of biolgical sorceriesfrom the worls's library. Upon his promotion to inquisitor at the age of 68, he filed in a report of his own self asigned mission. To infiltrate the Tau Empire and attempt to topple it from the inside. At some point on his mission, he must have been convinced to join the greater good and was gifted by the earth caste with a pulse rifle, designed for 4 fingered users. Upon his return to the Imperium with his associate, the pathfinder shas'saal (trainee) Tau'n XXX(unnamed as of yet), he was branded a radical and Istaavanian by Octavian Lars on behalf of the Ordos Veltarax though he still claims to do the Emperor's work, "but slightly differently from the puritans like Octavian Lars" as he puts it. According to the latest news, he is currently on the planet Velterax III


WS
   BS    S      T       I        Wp    Sg    Nv      Ld    Spd

63    68   71    62   65   69   78   78   85   4

Equipment: Carapace Breastplate (chest abdomen) flak to all other locations except head. MIU linked 10 shot bolt pistol with hellfire rounds, Pulse rifle (5 finger custom Fio make) with 2 reload, digital needler. Power knife. Cursed tome of biological sorceries. 2 frag grenades, krak grenade.


Weapon            Type      Rng     Mode            Acc     Dam   Shots   Rld   Enc
Pulse Rifle   Basic   D   Sgl/semi2     +10   2D10     80             2   35
Pulse Pistol   Pistol   B   Sgl/semi2     +5     2D10    40            2   20

Skills: Rock Steady Aim, Hipshooting (both for pulse rifle only)
Psychic Powers: Storm of lightning, Warp Strength and Blood boil
Cursed Tome of Biological Sorceries: When reading from the tome (1 action to retrieve from back and 1 action to open, may be held in 1 hand), for all concentrate actions (risky, withpsychic feedback if unsucessful), the user may choose to add an additional 10 to his willpower (in addition to the concentrate bonus) and must use a Biomancy power as his next psychic power.

EDIT: no i have not seen blade runner, but I got it from Shannows signature as mentioned earlier.

[Kaled]

he was branded a radical and Istaavanian by Octavian Lars on behalf of the Ordos Veltarax

I still don't understand this bit - Lars brands him a radical, but there's no reason Ostrek couldn't be openly radical and still a respected member of the Ordos Veltarax.  I'd suggest having Lars asking the Inquisitor Lord to convene a conclave to investigate Ostrek's actions, but that there was insufficient evidence of wrongdoing so now Lars is determined to bring Ostrek down to restore his standing in the Conclave which was dented when he 'wrongly' accused him.

As for his profile - in my opinion he's still overpowered and over-equipped, which added to his good stats is a bit OTT.  I'd suggest dropping the bolt pistol or swapping it for something a bit less potent, drop the grenades and change the power knife for a normal one.  Actually, I'd probably split him into two characters - the soldier one and a biomancer one.

Cursed Tome of Biological Sorceries: When reading from the tome (1 action to retrieve from back and 1 action to open, may be held in 1 hand), for all concentrate actions (risky, withpsychic feedback if unsucessful), the user may choose to add an additional 10 to his willpower (in addition to the concentrate bonus) and must use a Biomancy power as his next psychic power.

It already takes an action for characters to change what they're holding.  I'd also specify that reading from the book is what takes actions.  Also I'd drop the requirement that he must use a biomancy power next - surely he could choose to use some other power, but he just wouldn't get the benefits from the book.

[Inquisitor Octavian Lars]

I plan to use covenant as the basis for the model and I would like to make him more powerful than Octavian as his warband won't be as powerful as OL's.

he is deemed a radical and Istaavanian by the Ordos Veltarax though he was nearly branded a heratic at a recent conclave called by Octavian Lars, but there was not enough evidence to support the claim. So now Octavian Lars is attempting to regain his honour by removing Ostrek from power. (edited text)

By the way the equipment will be,
Low stats shas'saal with pulse carbine (eversor)
Rogue trader with revolver + whip (slick)
(Occasional use) guardsman with las pistol+ stubber (jaxon)

[InquisitorHeidfeld]

WS    BS    S      T       I        Wp    Sg    Nv      Ld    Spd

63    68   71    62   65   69   78   78   85   4

Equipment: Carapace Breastplate (chest abdomen) flak to all other locations except head. MIU linked 10 shot bolt pistol with hellfire rounds, Pulse rifle (5 finger custom Fio make) with 2 reload, digital needler. Power knife. Cursed tome of biological sorceries. 2 frag grenades, krak grenade.


Weapon            Type      Rng     Mode            Acc     Dam   Shots   Rld   Enc
Pulse Rifle   Basic   D   Sgl/semi2     +10   2D10     80             2   35
Pulse Pistol   Pistol   B   Sgl/semi2     +5     2D10    40            2   20

Skills: Rock Steady Aim, Hipshooting (both for pulse rifle only)
Psychic Powers: Storm of lightning, Warp Strength and Blood boil
Cursed Tome of Biological Sorceries: When reading from the tome (1 action to retrieve from back and 1 action to open, may be held in 1 hand), for all concentrate actions (risky, withpsychic feedback if unsucessful), the user may choose to add an additional 10 to his willpower (in addition to the concentrate bonus) and must use a Biomancy power as his next psychic power.

The weapons are starting to look more reasonable to my eyes, thinking in terms of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary*.
I would get rid of the Power Knife, a useful utility knife perhaps but with the power knife and the Jokero Digital weapon he's not going to have much of a weakness at any range.

I'd probably drop the pulse rifle down to 2D6 with an ROF boost (putting it in line with most of the Mecha Anime I've seen) and give it an enhanced pinning effect - They're effectively plasma weapons IIRC so most of the damage is going to come, not from penetration but from heat... and I can imagine someone desperately trying to put their flak vest out where it's stopped a pulse charge.
Fire has an instant and instinctive effect in our brains after all.

The Tome however is a bit dodgy...
Anyone, particularly a psyker, caught in possession of such manuals of sorcery is not going to be branded a Radical but put down as an heretic and consort of dark powers, sorcery afterall was why the Thousand Sons were made Traitor.
There is perhaps a slight justification for an Ordo Malleus to have access to such a thing, but they're going to have close eyes kept on them - for an Ordo Xenos...


* Try to limit yourself to a Primary weapon (a rifle perhaps or a bloody big sword, depending on the character's focus, two if they're a twin weapon type), a Secondary weapon to cover the eventualities for which the primary is not suited (sidearms work particularly well from both sides, providing range to close combat folk and short range engagement options to gun-bunnies) and a Tertiary weapon which should provide something different again, something surprising or situational.
After all, you only have two hands...

[Kaled]

I'd probably drop the pulse rifle down to 2D6 with an ROF boost

Hmmm, that's pretty much the opposite of what I'd do...  I've been using damage of about 3D6+5 for pulse carbines/rifles and 2D6+3 for a pistol.  I'd make the rifle single shot, lose the accuracy bonuses (they're already very accurate due to the range bands you've chosen), and I'd halve the number of shots (I think a Pulse Rifle had 32 shots in the Fire Warrior game).

[MarcoSkoll]

Like Kaled has said, the Revised Armoury is also going completely the other direction. I've always thought of them as being used like most games choose to do railguns or gauss guns - long range and powerful, but with limited rate of fire and high recoil.
I think this is reasonably canonical, but I'm going with it partly because making them high ROF and lower damage would make them rather like how I'm doing shuriken weapons.

I've also set out that although they fire plasma, it's at relativistic velocity, and so the thermal energy involved is trivial compared to the kinetic energy. (i.e. Ceramite armour has no effect on it).

I've still got to run all the numbers, but currently, the rifles are written as 4D6+4 Tearing Damage. Whether that very generous damage will last depends on how well they're reined in by other factors. The recoil rules are still in testing, so we'll have to see.

[Adlan]

Why not make all but his Warp Strength require him to be using the book?

Although just having the book is a problematic issue, it's also cool, and a useful plot feature/hook for GM's. Steal the heretical Inquisitors Books of Sorcery to show to the conclave. Replace it with a forgery, fun missions.