Statline Help

[Molotov]

Hey guys, this weekend I'm GMing a game at Warhammer World - the next game in our continuing INQ28 campaign for Nova Castille. You can read the fluff in this post, but suffice to say that it features an Inquisitor and his retinue assaulting an unsanctioned psyker's stronghold.

I would point out that the unsanctioned psyker is not like most in 40k stereotypes. The "dangerous creeds" he's spreading are things like tolerance, peace and an end to unthinking, ceaseless violence. Such creeds endanger the Imperium by leaving it vulnerable to the depredation of its enemies. (Someone I ran the scenario by suggested that it was a case of "The Imperium of Man vs Jesus", and I suppose in a cynical way that's perhaps appropriate!)

Anyway, as I've said before, the weakest area of my Inquisitor gameplay is giving characters appropriate stat-lines. I'd appreciate you guys giving these characters the once-over. Your help is very much appreciated.


First up, Nick will be playing Inquisitor Balthier and his followers; the gunslinger, "Slim" Rios, and the Warrior-Priest, Ishmael Castor.


Inquisitor Alaric Balthier

Balthier cultivates the classic image of the Inquisitorial Witch-Hunter, finding the assumptions it creates useful in his work. Under the wide brim of his hat, Balthier's surviving eye stares balefully; many have been found wanting beneath that piercing gaze. Yet his formidable visage belies a shrewd and analytical mind.

Balthier is known as a keen judge of character - an essential aspect of his work - and his keen grasp of situations has led to him embracing the Amalathian creed. He believes that the Imperium must be safeguarded; as grim as it may sometimes be, it offers humanity its best chance of protection. He has worked for many years to root out those that endanger the Imperium's security.

Balthier has notriously high expectations of those in his service - and of himself, as well. He sometimes seems distant or overly harsh to the companions that comprise his retinue; some say that the Inquisitor has been hardened by the loss of many acolytes through his career.

Balthier is an accomplished swordsman, having cultivated the skill since his earliest days as an Inquisitorial acolyte. He is known as a decisive man of action who prefers - wherever possible - to conduct his affairs personally. He has brought several high-profile cults to account for their heresies. His rise through the Ordo has been helped largely by the patronage of Lord Dire, master of the Ordo Hereticus Dalthus.

He is, however, also infamous for persecuting a number of his fellow Inquisitors for their actions. This rash behaviour led to the darkest days of Balthier's career - several years ago, Balthier brought charges against Inquisitor Krell, a prominent member of the Dalthan Ordo Malleus. He was unable to prove his charges and was mocked by Krell, who vanished shortly after. Balthier has never forgotten the humiliation of that day, and remains convinced Krell found some way of fooling the Conclave. He has remained attentive to any clue that could lead him to Krell. Despite Balthier losing face in front of the assembled Conclave, Dire continued to support his pupil publically. It was clear, however, that an unspoken debt had been pledged.

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WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
79 48 66 62 68 83 63 90 84

Equipment: Plasma Pistol, Power Sword, Flak Armour on all locations except Head, Hunter Servo-Skull with Psy-Tracker
Skills: Leader, Feint, Pillar of Fortitude*, Man of Action**


Balthier is Nick's main character, and I think he wanted to convey the heroic, swashbuckling elements of the Inquisition. Balthier is still appropriately grimdark, I think. A power sword is a potent weapon, and I think the high weapon skill suits him (it's close to what the "Character Profiles" section suggests an 'expert swordsman' should be.) I could perhaps reduce his WS a bit and then give him a bonus when using the power sword - or swords of all kinds?

The ballistic skill is low, because I think the plasma pistol is really intended to be a deterrent more than anything else. It's loud and showy and is like Balthier in a way - it's meant to keep peoples' heads down whilst he closes rather than actually hitting anything.



Salem "Slim" Rios

Salem Rios was born on a dreary, insignificant agri-world, though he certainly won't tell you its name. His only distraction from the dull routine of the farm was trick-shooting with his father's old PDF-issue laspistol; the young Salem sought excitement and the exotic, and soon escaped on a merchant vessel before travelling to a larger Imperial world.

His skill as a shot was his only asset, and he quickly made a career as a gunslinger and marksman, battling in elaborate arenas for the amusement of the noble classes. However, an incident involving the Planetary Governor's daughter on the eve of her wedding quickly brought Rios's glittering career to an end. He was slated to be executed when Inquisitor Balthier stepped in to commute the sentence - provided Rios began to work for him.

The relationship between the grim, irascible Inquisitor and the jovial trickshooter is a strained one at times, but 'Slim' Rios has proved his worth on numerous occasions. Whilst Rios insists on a nominal fee - purely for the purposes of professional pride - the excitement and occasional brutality of the Inquisition means that Rios wouldn't be anywhere else.

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WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
50 73 46 48 55 40 32 45 45

Equipment: Black Laspistol (2D6+2 Damage), White Laspistol (+10 Acc, D10 Damage), Sabre, two laspistol reloads.
Skills: Deadeye Shot, Fast Draw, Gunfighter, Dodge

Slim's WS is meant to represent him being a competent - if not exceptional - combatant, capable of participating in the best bar-room brawls. As a gunfighter from an early age, earning a living from his ability to shoot well, he has a high BS. His willpower, sagacity and nerve were kept quite low in an attempt to show his humble background. His willpower is somewhat higher than an "ordinary Imperial citizen", but his sagacity is low because he'll never really be a genius.

Deadeye shot is meant to represent his trickshooting past, and was a reason I chose it over something like Rock Steady Aim. It's worth noting that he isn't ambidextrous, even though he has the Gunfighter skill.

It's worth noting that Slim has no armour at the moment, as I was unsure whether his coat would really provide any protection, and it perhaps balances his shooting prowess.


Ishmael Castor

Ishmael Castor is a devoted adherent of the Imperial Creed. Born on the shrine-world of Roiscant, Castor is a veritable encyclopaedia of knowledge on the exploits of the Sainted Xenoscourge, Jerido. Indeed, Castor carries a bone with him reputed to be the fingerbone of the legendary Saint himself. Of course, it is said that if all the 'bones of Jerido' were brought together in one location, they could make up the skeletons of several hundred people.

Such trifling details do little to deter Castor, who sets about his duties with great abandon, reveling in his great fortune to serve a mighty Inquisitor. Skilled with languages and other obscure pieces of knowledge, Castor has proven of great use to the Inquisitor, his indomitable enthusiasm to echo his hero Jerido helping him through many tight spots during his tenure with Balthier.

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WS BS S T I Wp Sg Nv Ld
51 42 50 58 50 70 58 67 73

Equipment: Revolver, Hammer, Revolver Reload, Fingerbone of a Saint, Chestplate (AV3 to Chest)
Skills: Word of the Emperor, True Grit, Fervent Believer***


I've tried to go for a relatively balanced character in Ishmael, capable of combat and shooting. His high toughness, willpower and nerve are meant to represent his indomitable nature and his eagerness to prove himself to Balthier and to the Emperor.





*Pillar of Fortitude - Friendly characters with line of sight to Balthier get +15Nv until Balthier is pinned or forced prone. If that happens, they must pass a leadership test or the bonus is lost for the rest of the game.
**Man of Action: Balthier rolls an extra action dice. This does not allow him to perform more actions, but merely provides him with a greater chance of successfully carrying out his actions - or triggering a risky action!
*** Fervent Believer: Every action spent issuing prayers (count as speech actions) provides a -10% penalty on all psychic powers used against Castor until his next turn.

[Alyster Wick]

The stats look solid and reasonable (of course this depends on playing style, but I won't digress further).  If I had to make one critique I'd say that at the moment the Inquisitor seems to be just about the best at everything (with the exception of his shooting skills, though he does have the plasma pistol).  There's nothing wrong with the Inquisitor being so dominant, again it just goes to playing styles.  Everything looks kosher in terms of fluff matching up with stats so I'd say you're good to go!

[Myriad]

These are all pretty good statlines, with high stats where it's a character's forte.  I wouldn't worry about dropping Balthier's WS and giving him a bonus when using a powersword, especially since it's his only weapon.

The man of action rule does seem to be trying to revise the speed system, but I'm not certain that's a bad thing - I've seen alot of games slowed down by a string of bad rolls.  I like pillar of fortitude though - a simple way to represent an inspirational leader.