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Inquisitor Marco Robert Skoll

Started by MarcoSkoll, February 28, 2010, 06:51:04 PM

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MarcoSkoll

As I said a while ago, I figured it was time to get some discussion going about my core warband before the Spring Conclave.

As a warning to any lazy readers, the profiles and backgrounds for this lot are a rather formidable amount of text. I've offered a somewhat more condensed background at the end of the post, but there's still a certain amount to churn through.

Similarly, currently, their profiles are a bit more beefed up than some of my more recent characters. While they've had a few rules and stats rewritten over time, quite a lot hasn't really changed in around a year and a half. They weren't really designed for pick-up games away from my group, and they'll need a certain amount of fixing to try and get them so I have better streamlined rules that won't hold up or dominate the faster Conclave games, but without sacrificing the visions I have for their characters. (However, as I suggest elsewhere, if said solutions don't immediately present themselves, Lyra's warband will still be perfectly adequate for the job - Marco can theoretically wait for another event.)

Anyway, we begin with my namesake for now.




Inquisitor Marco Robert Skoll

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Marco is right handed.
Skills: Deadeye Shot, Mass Awareness, Rock Steady Aim, True Grit
Traits: Soul Bond
Minor Talents: Gunsmith
Wyrd Powers: Telekinesis

Weapons:  Custom stubber with three reloads; Laevateinn
Armour:  Reflec coated Carapace armour on Chest and abdomen.
Implants: Psi-booster
Equipment: Inquisitorial Seal, Comm-Link, Medi-pak, Combi-tool, Lighter, Flashlight.

Soul Bond: Originally this used "Soul Mate" from Fanatic Online 50, but I took a dislike to the rules, and I went through a series of other experimental rules instead.
Currently, I'm roleplaying this with GM support, but for the coming Spring Conclave, I'm going to have to start hunting for the right rules again.

Gunsmith: +10% to any test relating to altering, fixing malfunctions, building, repair, etc of a firearm. This bonus is doubled when specialised tools are available. Where no test is involved, the number of actions required is instead halved (rounding up).
The character may also repair firearms disabled by Machine Empathy by passing a Sg test with a negative modifier equal to the amount by which the psychic test was passed.

Mass Awareness: Marco has learnt how to use his telekinesis to grant him a sixth sense for the mass in his surroundings, giving him the occasionally somewhat disturbing ability to "see" through solid objects or behind him.

Marco may make mass awareness tests. He makes a Wp test (against his basic Wp), and if he passes, his mass awareness becomes active for 5 yards plus an extra yard per 5 points or part thereof he passed by.
At this point, test as if it were a vision awareness test, except that any light level penalties or bonuses are disregarded, he may see through intervening terrain, applies range modifiers at a range of -1% per yard and may "look" in a direction other than his current line of sight (e.g. behind him).
He may also use this ability to ascertain things such as the weight or armour value of objects within range.

Obviously, he cannot "see" anything which doesn't have mass. While he can still see psychic blunts (he senses their mass, not their soul), he does however suffer the penalty for seeing Pariahs.

Custom stubber: As per Heavy Duty Stubber, but +5% Acc. It is fitted with a reflex sight and an integral flash/sound suppressor –  Total Enc 25

Laevateinn - Rune Sword:
ReachDamPP
32D6+2-5%
Treated as a Rune weapon. Additionally, Laevateinn is subject to the Blade of Legend and Daemonslayer rules, regardless of if wielded by a psyker or not.

Blade of legend: Laevateinn is older than records know, and its construction is a masterpiece of an age long forgotten. Its fate is already written, and its destiny millennia yet to come. Laevateinn is immune to destruction, regardless of the source.

Daemonslayer: Other than the doubled damage for a force weapon strike, all effects of the "daemonic" exotic abilities are disregarded against strikes from Laevateinn.

Combi-tool: This device combines several miniaturised tools into one moderately sized package, and is a considerable aid when working with mechanical systems. To someone familiar with the tool, it adds +5% to tests taken when trying to interact with machinery.

Lighter: A small tool used for the purpose of starting fires. GM's discretion as to use.

Flashlight: As per Flashlight from "FO89 Shadows of Deceit" article.




Below is a reasonably inclusive and detailed background - it runs to about 2000 words. If you can't be bothered to read that much, then afterwards, I've included a cropped ~750 word version, although it does lack some of the explanations and detail.

Longer Background

FULL NAME: Marco Robert Skoll

KNOWN ALIASES: Not known for using aliases as part of his work. However, possible connection to the "White Knight of Giena Hive".

RANK / AFFILIATION: Inquisitor (Ordo Perditus);  Considered to be Amalathian (personally abstains from classifying beliefs.)

AGE / GENDER / APPEARANCE:  42 Terran Years; Male; Height: 6' 2" / Weight: 177 lbs. He has grey eyes and very short sandy blonde hair, as well as multitude of minor scars. Generally clean shaven. Right handed.

ATTIRE: Marco typically wears a long brown trenchcoat (formerly his father's), and long black boots.
His general practice is to avoid dressing in a way that might identify him as an Inquisitor to a casual glance, avoiding glaring Imperial symbols or other trinkets of his vocation.

When trouble may present itself, he also wears carapace body armour which has been coated with las-dispersing crystals - a gift he was given by his partner.

PERSONALITY: Marco naturally questions anything and everything, and is a good problem solver, although his solutions can often overcomplicate things unnecessarily.

Possessed of a natural perseverance, if he has truly set his mind to a task, then he will see it done by any means, and no matter what obstacles may lie in his path. However, in spite of his strength of personal will, he finds it abhorrent to force his will upon others - typically, his "orders" are phrased passively or as requests. Only in particularly dire circumstances will he actually issue direct orders.

Marco seldom acts like an Inquisitor - firstly in his reluctance to give orders, and also his unusual informality. For the most part, unless the conversation needs to be particularly official, he prefers conversations to be on a equal level, usually addressing others on first name terms.

It is hard to outright anger him - aside from having a very long fuse, in most circumstances, what might anger another is more likely to just fuel his persistence. However, if he believes (or knows) that you have harmed someone whom he cares about, there is nigh on nothing that can stop his tenacious, but serene fury.

BELIEFS: Marco belongs to the Order Perditus, an organisation whose primary (although not publicised) role is keeping the secrets of the Imperium, by what means may be necessary, believing that as knowledge is the greatest weapon, it must be kept out of the hands of the foes of man.
In their public role, the Order Perditus claim to be hunters, specialising in tracking or finding what is lost, be it a ship, planet, or person, a role they fulfil well - although their lack of specialisation to handle certain threats can prove their downfall at times.

Marco's beliefs on the role of the Inquisition can cause difficulties between himself and various others. To paraphrase a quote from Marco's own records:
"We as Inquisitors are merely humans granted the burden of the power to serve the Imperium. Authority does not make it possible for anyone to transcend the limits of our species  - it merely gives some the delusion that they may. As such, I do not abuse my power, nor allow it to abuse me."

Although generally Puritan in his methods and beliefs, Marco is in constant fear of being perceived as a Radical, and often believes himself to be only scarcely avoiding such. His fear is at least in part due to his childhood conditioning of hatred for his own psychic ability (see History, below). While he is now consenting to use his power, the doubts of his youth still concern him, gnawing at his conscience.
However, in spite of this, his views of where others exist on the spectrum, even other psykers, seem well rounded, and it is typically only himself that where he sees the worst - an unusual trait amongst people who are often quicker to believe themselves right than wrong.

ALIGNMENT: Considerate - Honest - Ordered

ABILITIES / STRENGTHS / WEAKNESSES: Marco's primary strength is his mind, in more ways than one. Aside from being highly sharp, mentally agile and learned,  he is also a telekinetic who displays exceptionally high discipline over his power, albeit rather limited in the masses he can move.
One of Marco's more unusual abilities is his skill for using his telekinesis as a sixth sense for mass. In much the same way that a human has an innate sense for where their foot or hand is, Marco can extend this to his environment.

Outside of his mental ability, he demonstrates good physical fitness, and in combat, he is a competent swordsman, an exceptional shot, and a good tactician - however, he is not a spectacular combat leader, given a tendency to focus on objectives, rather than the demeanour of his allies.

Another major strength of Marco is his partner, Silva Birgen, for their souls are bound (although the mechanism is unknown), which makes each highly attuned to the other. With the ability to read each other and work together naturally, not to mention the gut instinct each seems to have for "just knowing" where the other is or what they are doing, the pair are a highly formidable team.

WEAPONS/EQUIPMENT: Marco carries a reasonable array of equipment, allowing him to adapt to almost any situation. Aside from his armour, his two most obvious items are the rune sword slung across his back, and the suppressed stubber in a thigh holster. The stubber (for which he always carries spare magazines) is of his own crafting using the gunsmithing knowledge he learned from his father.

The rune sword Laevateinn was recovered from the personal collection of Inquisitor Roniro, whose death Marco and Inquisitor Byssus (his former master) were investigating.
The sword's true power is unknown, as its early history is lost from even the eyes of the Inquisition - however, it is known to be many thousands of years old, and may even precede the formation of the Imperium. Curiously, the earliest known legends of the blade talk of a rumour that the blade itself chooses its owners.

His only augmentation to date is the psy-booster he was fitted with as part of the final phase of his sanctioning (on his mentor Byssus' orders).

SERVANTS/ACQUAINTANCES: Marco is seldom seen without his partner, Silva Birgen, an ex-Guard Staff Sergeant (Female/39 yrs) with heavy bionic repair.

His main entourage includes Giovanna Ciris (Female/32 yrs), an Arbite trained in less-lethal combat and demolitions; Arden Holf (Male/57 yrs), an ageing former smuggler, but still exceptional pilot; and the various crew of Arden's ship, which includes co-pilot/bodyguard Jax Lynn (Male/46 yrs), the ship's enginseer "Alpine" (Female/42 yrs),the Navigator Jaysar (Male/Age unknown), and the ship's astropath Malthe Octavian (Male/34 yrs).

He maintains contacts with his former mentor Inquisitor Lembus Byssus (Male/224 yrs), his mentor's other former acolytes Cathal Brennan (Male/143 yrs) and Lyra Rhodes (Female/98 yrs) and the mercenary "Frost" (Female/28 yrs).

HISTORY: Born on the planet of Mapane III to a gunsmith father Akseli Skoll (since deceased), and a mechanic mother Amalia Lahtinen, Marco's young life was marred by his telekinetic power, something he took great pains to hide. Due to the exceptionally low rates of psykers on Mapane, they were even more heavily shunned than elsewhere in the Imperium, and discovery at best turned an individual into a social pariah, and at worst resulted in lynching.
He spent his childhood being taught the principles of gunsmithing by his father, and on his twelfth birthday was presented with one of the finest examples his father had ever made (and which he still owns).

Shortly after turning eighteen, his village was attacked by canine predators and Marco was caught in the open before a defence could be rallied against them. In that moment, fear of discovery was eclipsed by fear for his life, and he reversed the leap of a pouncing creature in mid-air, sending it flying into the distance. Seeing one of his dearest friends injured sent him into a deep fury, and his inhibitions snapped, letting the coiled up hatred of his own power lash free. And so, he set about slaughtering the entire pack of beasts with a lethal hail of the loose stones that littered the ground.
After his rampage, he became almost universally shunned, even though he had doubtless saved many lives due to the expedience and magnitude of his counter attack.

It was a few days later when Inquisitor Byssus, renowned within the Ordo Perditus, arrived in the village, having heard the rumours. He spent three days questioning the boy, and on his departure, took the young Marco with him, who was only too keen to be able to evade the hatred of those he had cared for.
Immediately marshalled into the hands of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica for assessment and sanctioning, he showed significant control, although not great power, and with the prompt processing that came with the earmark of being destined to serve an Inquisitor, he managed to become officially sanctioned in relatively short order.
After he passed out of the Scholastia Psykana, he spent the following years serving under Byssus.

At the age of 27,Marco acquired the rune sword Laevateinn, during an investigation into Inquisitor Roniro's disappearance. On entering his main residences with Byssus, the pair found a massacre. It was no great time before they found the perpetrator, a daemonic beast that Roniro had unwittingly unleashed.
In the long battle with the creature, Marco's original blade was shattered within Roniro's vaults.
Reaching out telekinetically for another amongst the vault's collection, the psychically attuned rune sword flew into his hands and severed the beast's head with its next swing.
After the event, as its former owner was deceased, Byssus arranged for the sword to be confirmed untainted,  and finding it pure, had it gifted to his apprentice - although the question remains as to whether he would have done it had he known the sword's true power.

At the age of 28, he met his partner Silva during an operation hunting a cyrokinetic on Wymec. It was approximately two years later that Silva was crippled to the extent she had to be bionically rebuilt. A further year later, the three were nearly all killed on Eidica, a mistake they escaped only through sheer luck and the Emperor's blessing.

Shortly before turning 38, although abnormally young, he was officially promoted to Inquisitor when Byssus elected to retire from field work, something the Inquisitor had pulled a few strings to see go through.
For the immediate few months following his promotion, the Inquisitor hired the services of a mercenary known as Frost. After this time, he recruited the Arbite Giovanna Ciris, and later again, the smuggler Arden Holf and his crew in order to provide him with the required skills and manpower to conduct his operations - including the famed Rugis actions and the infamous Gercshcliff breakout that followed. Other operations of note include the Tannhauser Gate and Giena Hive.

NOTES: Marco owns a 4 wheeled off-road vehicle built by the manufacturer Garor-Prij (Pron. Gah-ra Pry-ge).
While designed for civilian purposes, and thus not fitted with armour or armaments, its formidable chassis and combustion engine allow it to maintain speeds of up to 200kph off-road.

QUIRKS:
-   Tends to introduce himself with his full name and rank, something of a backlash to his mentor's frequent use of aliases.
-   Has a habit of making obscure metaphors and references.

QUOTES:
To Arbitrator Highfield: "I am Marco Robert Skoll, Inquisitor to He-on-Terra. I have met men that can't be, strode planets that shouldn't, heard the cries of people yet to be born, and fought the machinations of those long dead. I can kill with a thought, burn civilizations with a word, command armies with a gesture, and demand obedience with my name. Who are you to question me?"

To Governor Hythe: "Killing you would imply you were something worth the effort. Worse, it would allow you to escape the punishment your ineptitude truly deserves."

Part of a discourse on human nature: "There is no dark side of humanity really. As a matter of fact, it's all dark - the only thing that makes it look alight is the Emperor."

To an unknown citizen of Giena Hive: "Who am I? I'm the man who's going to save your life. Now, if you don't mind, if you started running rather than asking questions, it would be somewhat easier."

On the subject of the heretical Inquisitor Cearra Jocosse's escape: "She chose the long road, but we'll be waiting."





Shorter version for lazy people:

NAME: Marco Robert Skoll
RANK: Inquisitor (Order Perditus);  Considered by others to be Amalathian in his beliefs (although Marco personally abstains from classifying his beliefs)
AGE / GENDER / APPEARANCE:  42 Terran Years; Male; Height: 6' 2"; Weight: 177 lbs. Grey eyes. Short sandy blonde hair. Multitude of minor scars. Generally clean shaven. Right handed.
ATTIRE: Typically wears a long brown trenchcoat (formerly his father's), and heavy black boots.
PERSONALITY: Abnormally casual and calm for an Inquisitor. Persistent, but seldom forceful. Hard to anger, except where someone he cares about has been harmed - his fury is tenacious, but serene.
OCCUPATION: Belongs to the Order Perditus, an organisation which has set about keeping Imperium's secrets.  However, they are officially hunters, specialising in tracking or finding what is lost, whatever it may be.
BELIEFS: Marco's beliefs on the Inquisition are that Inquisitors are merely humans granted the burden of the power to serve the Imperium, and that it is foolish for an Inquisitor to forget they are human. Generally Puritan in his methods, beliefs and associates, but Marco often feels his actions are sometimes more towards Radical than he can necessarily justify.
ABILITIES / STRENGTHS / WEAKNESSES: Controlled (if not hugely powerful) telekinetic, with a 6th sense for mass.
A sharp, mentally agile and learned mind. Good mechanical aptitude (trained as a gunsmith). Physically fit and resilient. Competent with a blade, expert with firearms, and a good tactician.
Not a particularly inspiring combat leader - too much focus on objectives, rather than the demeanour of his allies.
Psychically bound (although the mechanism is unknown) to his partner, Silva Birgen, with each highly attuned to the other, making the pair a formidable team.
WEAPONS/EQUIPMENT: Carries a reasonable amount of equipment in order to be prepared for almost any situation. Wears reflec coated carapace, given to him by Silva after a wound several years ago. Carries the powerful and ancient rune sword Laevateinn and a custom suppressed stubber (with lots of spare ammo).  Also carries a combi-tool (from his mother); a lighter (although he does not smoke); a miniature lamp-pack; and a micro-bead comm-link. Fitted with a psy-booster as part of his sanctioning.
SERVANTS/ACQUAINTANCES: Routinely travels with Silva Birgen, his partner; Giovanna Ciris, an Arbite; Arden Holf, an ageing former smuggler; Jax Lynn, Arden's bodyguard/co-pilot and the various crew of Arden's ship. Somewhat disappointed that most of his entourage won't associate with him on a more personal level.
Maintains contacts with his former mentor (Lembus Byssus), his mentor's other acolytes (Cathal Brennan and Lyra Rhodes)  and the mercenary "Frost".
HISTORY: Born on Mapane III. Father (Deceased): Akseli Skoll, a gunsmith; his mother, Amalia Lahtinen, was a mechanic. Hides telekinetic power for early life, due to the planet's low psyker rates and high prejudices. Learns gunsmithing until  age 18.
Age 12: Receives high quality rifle from father as birthday present.
Age 18: Forced into using power during an attack by predatory canines. Saves several lives, but becomes social pariah. Inquisitor Byssus turns up to investigate rumours, and after three days leaves, taking Marco with him. Gets enrolled with the Scholastia Psykana, but spends a relatively short time with them. Spends following years serving under Byssus.
Age 27: Acquires Laevateinn from the vaults of the deceased Inquisitor Roniro, somewhat by accident.
Age 28: Meets his partner Silva during a hunt for a cyrokinetic on Wymec, due to their already existent bond. Byssus consents to Silva joining his entourage, partly so the bond can be researched.
Age 31: The trio narrowly escape death on Eidica, and only through pure luck and skill.
Age 38: Promoted to Inquisitor as part of Byssus' retirement from field work. Has since recruited associates to provide him with the skills and manpower needed. Operations of note include the Rugis actions and the Gercshcliff breakout at their conclusion, the Tannhauser Gate, and Giena Hive.
NOTES: Owns a high performance 4WD off-road vehicle, built by the manufacturer Garor-Prij (Pron. Gah-ra Pry-ge). Still owns rifle given by father. Still not fully aware of the extent of Laevateinn's power.
QUIRKS: Tends to introduce himself with his full name and rank, something of a backlash to his mentor's frequent use of aliases;  Prefers to talk to people on casual first name terms, unless the situation is particularly official. May well be formal about people who are not present; Has a habit of making obscure metaphors; Almost never phrases his orders in an absolute form, instead usually phrasing it as a request or a statement of what needs to be done. Only really gives direct orders in dire situations.





Like I said, quite a lot of text. I just enjoy writing - I particularly enjoyed writing the Quotes section, because I get to make all kinds of different references, as well as try and channel the character's personality on an interesting level.
As far as the references, a cookie goes to anyone who gets all those poked in across the background.

Well... feel free to comment.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

DapperAnarchist

Wow, you really don't want people to just read the short version do you? :P

I like it. There is a lot there, and, unlike a lot of backgrounds (mine included) gives quite a bit of character as well as history...

But - I know this is simply asking for more - the Rune Sword seems the sort of thing that could have its own history section. Anything there?
Questions are a burden to others, answers a burden to oneself.

The Keltani Subsector  My P&M Thread - Most recent, INQ28!

Daxam

Really loving this. I believe you've made a very believable character and it all seems well thought out.. Any plans for his model?
I seek a perfection. I won't attain it. But it is a lofty enough goal for my ego.

Brother_Brimstone

I read the full version and really enjoyed it - I especially like his external proprioception, a very interesting concept. As I read what you were saying about his hatred of forcing others to do his will, all I could think was about how he'd react if he ever met Sarthuul!

I do, however, have one question. Did the rumour of Marco's telekentic defence make it off planet to the inquisitor, and if so, how? If not, does that mean the Inquisitor was already on his home planet, and if so, why? It's not a criticism, just a question, as i'm genuinely interested - or is it a detail you are wanting to leave, to be explained in some fluff story at a later date?

Brother_Brimstone

Also, just another quick suggestion while I think about it - how about some sort of special rule to represent his 'rage at those who hurt his friends'. Something like 'if a character puts one his allies into system shock or worse, he gets some sort of bonus on attacks towards that character' to represent his vengeful fury. Just a suggestion.

MarcoSkoll

Quote from: DapperAnarchist on February 28, 2010, 08:52:38 PMWow, you really don't want people to just read the short version do you?
Well, the short version will "make do" if people will just overlook the longer background based on its word count. But even the "basic" version is pretty condensed (the full version is tens of thousands of words) - the short version is there as a concession, and while it's just about enough, I don't really want those who would otherwise read the fuller background to just skip to the shorter one because it's there.

QuoteThere is a lot there, and, unlike a lot of backgrounds gives quite a bit of character as well as history.
Well, I prefer using characters that have been well defined in both personality and past - I roleplay better and more fluidly the better I know the character.

I usually consider 2000-3000 words about the minimum that I can really set out a character well enough in - I have (and indeed, do) use characters with less, but they're generally characters I'm still in the process of developing.

QuoteBut - I know this is simply asking for more - the Rune Sword seems the sort of thing that could have its own history section. Anything there?
Laevateinn does indeed have its own history, and two versions of it - its genuine history, and what Marco knows of its history.

As the background says, even the Inquisition don't know the origins of the blade. It can be traced back a certain distance through a number of owners, and references to a sword that matches its description can be found in various older records, but there are a lot of holes in what Marco knows.

A reasonable proportion of the sword's wielders back to late-M38 can be named - it's not always a continuous chain, and there are a few gaps of decades or centuries where its whereabouts are unknown.
Since mid-M40, the wielders have almost invariably been associated with the Inquisition. Starting with when Inquisitor Fulke took the sword from Lieutenant Cuyler, who had recovered it from a bog on Chryseis IIX (where evidence suggests it had been for ~259 years since the recorded death of its previous owner, Illias Gaitanis), it has largely drifted between members of the Inquisition - either wielded in battle, or consigned to vaults.

Prior to this, there's an M36 record of it being wielded by Librarian Aemilius of the Astral Watchers chapter, and a possible occurrence of it amongst the items recovered in an M35 raid on an Eldar outpost.
There has never been a lot to connect its owners - some were notable, some utterly forgettable; some psykers, some "normal" - but that almost without exception, all of them came across the sword by accident, rather than by intention.

That's as far back as Marco knows its history - I could go into its actual origins, but sometimes I think it's best to leave a few things unsaid and somewhat mysterious.

Quote from: Daxam on February 28, 2010, 09:31:44 PMAny plans for his model?
Marco currently has a model (mostly made from the Arbites Judge), but I've never been particularly proud of it, and only ever really intended for it to serve a short period of service until I replaced it with a sculpted model.

I started a sculpt back in 2008, but there were various different mistakes and it got put off for some time. However, I am now on the verge of starting attempt #2, which should hopefully make it to the Spring Conclave.

Quote from: Brother_Brimstone on February 28, 2010, 10:20:06 PMDid the rumour of Marco's telekinetic defence make it off planet to the inquisitor, and if so, how? If not, does that mean the Inquisitor was already on his home planet, and if so, why?
Byssus was already on the planet, investigating the claims that the planet's production was being incorrectly reported for the tithes - this being of particular importance, because Mapane III is an agri-world. (Eventually, the problem turned out to be that the production had been recorded in an archaic local unit system, which hadn't been properly converted for the Administratum reports...  ::))

Despite the relatively basic tech levels on the planet, the rumours had travelled pretty fast and pretty wide; Mapian psykers are rare, generally fairly weak and almost invariably in hiding.
A psyker openly displaying that kind of power in public was nigh unheard of. As relatively meagre as Marco's power is (he's controlled, but he can only reliably manipulate maybe 20 kilos), he was still one of the most powerful psykers on the planet.

Byssus, being an Inquisitor, was somewhat curious about all of this, and (as he was on the planet anyway) decided to at least look at it. In the end, and considering that Byssus is part of the Order Perditus, he saw some potential in an intelligent youth who had kept a considerable secret from a highly suspicious society for so long - and who happened to be a competent psyker as well, of course.

... that's a bit of a condensed version of things, but I assume it's enough to explain that part of the tale.

QuoteHow about some sort of special rule to represent his 'rage at those who hurt his friends'.
Interesting idea (and one I quite like), but I think that he's probably already laden with quite enough rules. As it's something that can be left to roleplay, I guess it's best to keep it simple.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

GW's =I= articles

Alyster Wick

A good read.  I generally prefer stories to illustrate character as opposed to character histories, but I suspect you  have a number of such stories and had to condense based on what you're said. 

My favorite bit has to be his ability to sense mass, I think one of the most fun/interesting things to do in Inquisitor is to find potential ways to use psychic abilities for new and different purposes.  I'm tooling around with a couple things myself, but I'll save that for my own post.

As you said, he's pretty beefy compared to other conclave characters, but I think it's all balanced out by the background.  There's a specific reason for everything and his personality quirks work to moderate him.  Also, though his equipment can be exotic, his lack of specialization is apparent.  While he happens to have a weapon that's beastly against daemons he isn't necessarily the type of character to run up to a bloodthirster and start swinging.  The sword does work as a great badge of status to those in the know given his ordos.

MarcoSkoll

Quote from: Alyster Wick on March 01, 2010, 12:52:53 AMI suspect you  have a number of such stories
Many - for example, the quote directed at Governor Hythe is from one of the various different stories I've been writing. I mean to get some of them onto the site as and when I feel I've got where they're going sorted out.

QuoteMy favorite bit has to be his ability to sense mass
Well, I always thought that it made a sense for a psyker to have a 6th sense for whatever they do.

If you pick something up, you instantly determine all kinds of different things about it - its mass, shape, size, hardness, friction, etc.
Similarly, it makes sense that a telekinetic can determine similar things with their power. Essentially, they'd have some sense of "remote touch".

Theoretically, you can determine a lot about your environment solely by feeling around with your hands - so, it made sense that a telekinetic of sufficient talent could perceive their environment (more efficiently, admittedly) with their "remote touch".

QuoteAs you said, he's pretty beefy compared to other conclave characters, but I think it's all balanced out by the background.
I'll probably go and poke at some of the stats in the next few days. I'll probably give his Sg a certain hit, because while he's intelligent, he's not all that old either, so his knowledge will be limited by that.
His S on the other hand - I don't know about that. It's on the high side, but for a long while I've been playing with the idea that he unconsciously uses his innate telekinetics to supplement his physical strength. I'm unsure either way on that. Maybe. Maybe not. Perhaps I'll flip a coin to find out.

... in the end, he'll probably have been changed at least somewhat in the next couple of weeks.

QuoteWhile he happens to have a weapon that's beastly against daemons he isn't necessarily the type of character to run up to a bloodthirster and start swinging.
Not in the slightest - while he's not a coward, he's not suicidal!

Also, he doesn't actually know all of the blade's power. He knows it's an expertly crafted (and psychically conductive) weapon, but he doesn't (yet) know that it's any more special than other force weapons versus the daemonic.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

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Ferran

What a monstrosity. Even disregarding the broken combination of high BS/multiple shooting skills/custom firearm, which I assume you've justified with backstory (didn't read it), he's also an effective brawler with above average WS, super-low parry penalty, improbable strength, doubly effective against Daemons, and able to reach out psychically with absolute impunity. I think that sword is the best example of power gaming I've seen, constrained by imagination only you've created a flawless foil to Kaled's swordbreaker.

MarcoSkoll

Quote from: Ferran on March 01, 2010, 01:47:16 PMWhat a monstrosity.
... and I haven't even shown you Frost's profile yet!

I assume you're trying to be ironic here, given all your "let people play the game whichever way" rambles. And if you're not being ironic, then you're certainly being hypocritical.

Anyway, as I've said, Marco is a character who hasn't really changed all that much in the last 18 months. My views on character stats have however. If I were creating the character now, his stats would read differently. Problem is, I'm not creating him now - I'm looking at a character that I've already built up and don't really know where to knock down.

Hence, why I said I needed to do some discussion on the character.

Quotewhich I assume you've justified with backstory (didn't read it)
Great, I go to the effort of creating a condensed version of the backstory, and it still gets ignored.

QuoteI think that sword is the best example of power gaming I've seen
I wouldn't say so. Yes, it's formidable against daemons (which I encounter about once in a blue moon), but against mundane characters, it's less powerful than a power sword.
Average damage is ~14 (compared to a power sword's 16.5) and it can't destroy other blades - yes, it's better at parrying than a power weapon, but a lot of the time characters just dodge. Sure, you can't counter-attack if you dodge, but as it swings the odds of not being hit considerably in your favour...

While some of my characters parry, it's normally only those who can stack things like dual wielding modifiers or shield rules to improve their chances.

Quoteyou've created a flawless foil to Kaled's swordbreaker.
That rule was put in there in case of arguments about whether or not a force weapon is invulnerable to destruction if wielded by a non-psyker.
And yes, said blade has been used by a character other than Marco within the games I've played, the argument did come up, and I put the note in afterwards to settle the matter - and this was before any of the Sollex-Aegis energy blade stuff.

In the end, its "invulnerable" rule only applies in pretty rare circumstances.  It's worth considering that if it should get destroyed, I either have to lose the extensive background and change the model, or go into a Narsil/Andúril situation where it gets broken then re-forged.

It was one thing that Lyra's shock-maul got destroyed (first game of the 2009 IGT) - an Inquisitor could find another one without too much trouble, so there's no big problem bringing it back next game. It's entirely different when it's an ancient, unique and irreplaceable weapon.

I would do the Narsil/Andúril thing for unique "mundane" weapons (such as an heirloom sword), but in this case, I prefer the idea that the sword is forged with ancient methods from materials forgotten to the Imperium and bound together in more than just the material realm.
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

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Ferran

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on March 01, 2010, 04:25:25 PM
Quote from: Ferran on March 01, 2010, 01:47:16 PMWhat a monstrosity.
... and I haven't even shown you Frost's profile yet!

I assume you're trying to be ironic here, given all your "let people play the game whichever way" rambles. And if you're not being ironic, then you're certainly being hypocritical.

No, I was saying it's an OP character, implying hypocricy on your part given your sniping of moderately powerful characters in your regular prattling posts.

Quote
Anyway, as I've said, Marco is a character who hasn't really changed all that much in the last 18 months. My views on character stats have however. If I were creating the character now, his stats would read differently. Problem is, I'm not creating him now.

It's fortunate that you created this character before you modified your views then.

Quote
- I'm looking at a character that I've already built up and don't really know where to knock down.

Hence, why I said I needed to do some discussion on the character.

I'd reccomend losing RSA skill, at least +10Str (despite that this fellow seems to be a crack-shot, superfit intellectual, I think it's a bit much even for such an obvious renaissence man), and the Wyrd ability. I'd also think about reinstigating the original rulebook version of the psychic risks when using a psi-booster, or at least increasing the consequences of a psychic overload.

Quote
Quotewhich I assume you've justified with backstory (didn't read it)
Great, I go to the effort of creating a condensed version of the backstory, and it still gets ignored.

Yeah, life's a ***** sometimes.

Quote
QuoteI think that sword is the best example of power gaming I've seen
I wouldn't say so. Yes, it's formidable against daemons (which I encounter about once in a blue moon), but against mundane characters, it's less powerful than a power sword.
Average damage is ~14 (compared to a power sword's 16.5) and it can't destroy other blades - yes, it's better at parrying than a power weapon, but a lot of the time characters just dodge. Sure, you can't counter-attack if you dodge, but as it swings the odds of not being hit considerably in your favour...

While some of my characters parry, it's normally only those who can stack things like dual wielding modifiers or shield rules to improve their chances.

Quoteyou've created a flawless foil to Kaled's swordbreaker.
That rule was put in there in case of arguments about whether or not a force weapon is invulnerable to destruction if wielded by a non-psyker.
And yes, said blade has been used by a character other than Marco within the games I've played, the argument did come up, and I put the note in afterwards to settle the matter - and this was before any of the Sollex-Aegis energy blade stuff.

In the end, its "invulnerable" rule only applies in pretty rare circumstances.  It's worth considering that if it should get destroyed, I either have to lose the extensive background and change the model, or go into a Narsil/Andúril situation where it gets broken then re-forged.

It was one thing that Lyra's shock-maul got destroyed (first game of the 2009 IGT) - an Inquisitor could find another one without too much trouble, so there's no big problem bringing it back next game. It's entirely different when it's an ancient, unique and irreplaceable weapon.

I would do the Narsil/Andúril thing for unique "mundane" weapons (such as an heirloom sword), but in this case, I prefer the idea that the sword is forged with ancient methods from materials forgotten to the Imperium and bound together in more than just the material realm.

So just a daemon-slaying power sword equivalent that happens to be tailored to directly nullify the effects of a probable vulnerability, in exchange for a measure of potency. In the hands of this supposed marksman. Hopefully you won't run into a sword-stealer blade (banishes to the warp anything that it parries). This paper/rock scenario of escalating power and ability is a fairly good indicator of power gaming imho.

Kaled

Quote from: MarcoSkoll on March 01, 2010, 04:25:25 PM
I'm looking at a character that I've already built up and don't really know where to knock down.
If you're not sure where to start, then perhaps the thing to do would be what we might suggest for a novice writing a character - go back to basics and for each stat, write down a line or two about his proficiency/ability/etc and from that assign stats.  You could even post the skills/abilities that you think are essential and ask people to suggest stats based on what your descriptions of his ability and work from there - at least that way you get a myriad of opinions that you can use or ignore.

Although I really like the idea of his mass perception, I would have made it a psychic power rather than an ability he can just use without risk - he's still reaching out with his psychic powers to sense his surroundings and I see no reason why it couldn't go wrong and him suffer feedback etc.

Also, when it come to Gunsmith and his Combi-tool - do they stack to give him a +25% bonus?

The bit of background that jumped out as me as being strange was the mention of his unusual informality and his prefering to talk to people as equals, but then he introduces himself with his full name and rank - and telling people you're an Inquisitor is generally not a good way to make them feel comfortable...
I like to remember things my own way... Not necessarily the way they happened.

Inquisitor - Blood Bowl - Malifaux - Fairy Meat

Myriad

I have to agree that Laevateinn doesn't seem so bad - against most people it's just a normal sword with an improved parry bonus.  Very good against demons, but power weapons are scarier (although I normally avoid them, due to their tendency to kill in one hit).  The rest of his equipment is fairly standard - by powergaming standards he's short one bolt pistol at least, and is quite lightly armoured, which leaves him vulnerable to the ubiquitous schmuck with a laspistol, in the right place.

Assuming he's notched plenty of combat experience, the WS / BS aren't so bad.  As far as scaling him down, you could nudge his strength / toughness lower - 72 is pretty high.  the other area is initiative - this guy is speed 5, which I find makes a real difference to power levels.  I normally try to reserve it for lightly armoured, 'quick' characters (Evandon or the eldar 'Jedd' in my case).

I'm not sure about slaughtering all the beasts with a hail of pebbles, that seems quite powerful.  Suppose he just drove them off?
I had better point out, that some of the clubs I represent are of a military bent.

You know what you are?  A plywood shark!

Sarlen

I'd be really interested in reading the full text :D but I guess, I would be one of really few.

Up to now, I think he is most likely a too good shot, while he's out of obvious reasons quite able to maintain a gun, I don't see a reason to give him a chance of hitting that high, in combination with his WS, I'd tone it down at least 10 points, and even then, he's quite strong.

Additionally I'd loose one of the abilities he's got, or maybe change the abilities a bit to decrease their power.

Mass Awareness as a Skill somehow seems a bit strange, as somebody else already said, it seems to be quite similar in effect to the following psychic power:
QuoteDETECTION – Difficulty: 0
The character scans his surroundings for the mental signature of
his enemies. The character is immediately aware of everyone
within 2D6 yards. This can be increased, adding +5 to the
Difficulty level for every extra D6 yards the characters wishes
Detection to cover...

You could reuse this as a basis for giving the power an approppriat difficulty, I'd guess it might be about as effective as the (incompletely)quoted one, giving it a similar difficulty for the first tests.

MarcoSkoll

Quote from: Ferran on March 01, 2010, 05:07:35 PMNo, I was saying it's an OP character, implying hypocricy on your part given your sniping of moderately powerful characters in your regular prattling posts.
Which would be why my post started with an admission that I recognise that this particular group of characters is "powerful", and that I was looking to get them back in to the right realms.

It's one thing to slate me for posting a powerful character which I'm treating as completely normal, but quite another to go off on a rant about hypocrisy when I've started by saying that I know it needs fixing.

QuoteI'd reccomend losing RSA skill, at least +10Str, and the Wyrd ability.
I'd sooner lose Dead-eye shot than RSA. While I'd like to keep both, I see a "stable controlled shooting" position as better representative of his shooting style.

The Str... I'll agree on that one. I intend that he's better than average as far as strength, but he is too good at the moment.

Wyrd... I have precisely 1 Wyrd character, and this is he - it's not like I use Wyrds left, right and centre. I've got enough conventional psykers I think I've reasonably earned the right to use a Wyrd.

QuoteIn the hands of this supposed marksman.
If you're not going to read the background, of course you're not going to understand why he has the sword. I think it's well enough explained within.

QuoteThis paper/rock scenario of escalating power and ability is a fairly good indicator of power gaming imho.
No.

Said rule was not designed to "get around Kaled's sword-destroyer" or any other similar interpretation you want to apply. What I conceived was a truly ancient sword that had survived everything the millennia had thrown at it - in all the hands it had been wielded by - yet still looked as if it had been forged the day before.

The people I have actually played against (so far, at least) using that rule haven't complained in the slightest - it hasn't come up once since I wrote it. That's how rare the circumstances involved are.

Quote from: Kaled on March 01, 2010, 05:19:22 PMAlthough I really like the idea of his mass perception, I would have made it a psychic power rather than an ability he can just use without risk
Well, it came about as part of my interpretation of Wyrd powers - that they're innate. To a Wyrd, the immediate universe is like an extension of the body - in the same way you can feel where your hand is and move it naturally (and indeed, almost without thinking) , a wyrd telekine can feel and move their environment in the same manner.

Of course, that's probably a non-canonical interpretation of Wyrd powers.

QuoteAlso, when it come to Gunsmith and his Combi-tool - do they stack to give him a +25% bonus?
No - I should have mentioned such. His Combi-tool doesn't count as a "specialised tool" for the purposes of his Gunsmith skill. I wouldn't combine the two at all actually.

QuoteThe bit of background that jumped out as me as being strange was the mention of his unusual informality and his prefering to talk to people as equals, but then he introduces himself with his full name and rank.
It was a mark of respect on his home planet to introduce oneself by a full name (and titles appropriate to the situation*), even in informal conversation.
*It was however considered rude to include titles not currently relevant.

Having kept that with that tradition, he introduces himself with his full name and rank if acting officially - but without the rank if working unofficially.

As I mention, Marco's mentor would frequently use aliases, work undercover, etc. even when it wasn't necessary - something you can imagine that rather irked Marco.
Marco will use aliases if outright necessary, but generally, he's brutally honest about who he is.

I'd also note that he tends to think of an Inquisitor as a job, not a person - in much the same way as he prefers to be perceived as a person with psychic powers, not as a psyker.

Quote from: Myriad on March 01, 2010, 06:27:21 PMThe other area is initiative - this guy is speed 5, which I find makes a real difference to power levels.  I normally try to reserve it for lightly armoured, 'quick' characters.
Unless there's a particular reason for an Inquisitor to be Spd 4, I tend to assume that they're quick thinking, attentive and decisive enough that a low Spd 5 is justifiable.

Quote from: Sarlen on March 01, 2010, 09:46:51 PMMass Awareness as a Skill somehow seems a bit strange, as somebody else already said, it seems to be quite similar in effect to the Detection psychic power.
I had considered detection, but the Mass Awareness isn't designed to be specific to "mental signatures" - theoretically, Marco can see anything of mass... walls, lampposts, small furry creatures from Alpha Centuri.

It's not really designed to be a psychic power, but a sense in the same way as you see, hear or taste. The reason why I've slapped some tests on it is so that it's not just "oh yeah, he can see behind himself, so you can't sneak up on him".
S.Sgt Silva Birgen: "Good evening, we're here from the Adeptus Defenestratus."
Captain L. Rollin: "Nonsense. Never heard of it."
Birgen: "Pick a window. I'll demonstrate".

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