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Silver Phoenix's Deathwatch Challenge


Brother Argent

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So I'm back, from the Deepest Darkest Depths of the Liber (thats somewhere between the Liber Heraldry Department and the Liber Heresy Department for those not in the know ;) ). So many may remember the ever failing Iron Gauntlet Challenges well they are back, but not really. I have done a bit of rummaging in the DDD of my mind and have come out with what shall probably replace the IG2012.

 

Basically I am looking at writing a short story or series of stories based around a squad of the Deathwatch of the Ordo Xenos and I am sick of reading that the Ultramarines, Imperial Fists, et al were everywhere all the time so I have put together this series of challenges to provide me with my Inducted Brothers.

 

The Challenges will take either two paths,

 

Option One: Liber Members develop a Chapter of their own creation (based around a few challenges etc) from which I create a character.

 

OR

 

Option Two (and this one is my preffered option): Using the Deathwatch RPG Character thingy I give the challengers a set of criteria that I randomly roll and Challlengers come up with a Chapter based around those results.

 

These Challengers would take place over a month or so and then I would develop a character from the Chapter wit hthe creators assistance.

 

So, what do people think?

If I may make a suggestion, SP, I don't think either option is exactly great. In my experience, ie a few years ago, chapters created for competitions are often lacking. They don't have many defining characteristics. Even the best competition inspired chapters are usually at their best after their authors have decided to pick them back up again.

 

If I were you, I would request individuals to submit characters to fulfill certain roles. For example, a Deathwatch Killteam probably has 5-10 members, including a squad leader, second, heavy, CQB specialist, and, if you like, a selection of any, all, or none of a apothecary, chaplain, librarian, or techmarine.

 

Now, I would order the competition probably biweekly. Every two weeks, you start off by giving a profile for a squad role, for example, a squad leader. From there, everyone interested submits a character, outlying history, ideals, relationships with various imperial organizations, and, if there is any, other chapter background. From the submissions, you select the winner to take that slot in the final killteam. This process continues until the squad is filled.

 

It could also be fun for you to run preliminaries on squad roles, so people could select the characters they want to see in your story: Leader, second, scout, sniper, heavy, CQB, chaplain, apothecary, librarian, techmarine, and so on.

 

Some people, if they have any, could also choose to submit an IA, giving you free reign to look through the chapter, their characteristics, and see if they are fit for any particular position in your mind.

 

It would help with this idea, if you could submit a timetable for the story, some mission samples, and, possibly, any Inquisitors or agents accompanying the team on their mission. I'd also add that maybe opening a slot for Inquisitorial agents could give an interesting dynamic.

 

Just, my two cents. Take it as you will.

 

Edit: If, and that's a big IF, you do take up this idea, the characters you choose to write about will be just as much, if not more, yours as they are their creators. It's likely that some characters presented won't fit your idea, at least not perfectly. You should make it clear that submissions are given to you with the knowledge that you are given free reign to interpret or modify the characters as you see fit. Perhaps you should also give a few day waiting period in between choosing winners (1st and runners up), so as to notify the winner what changes you intend on making, and confirming whether or not the winner is comfortable with those decisions. The same goes for runners up in the event that the winner decides to pull out.

Hmmm KHK. I like the way you are thinking.... Its basically option one but with more focus on the characters not the Chapter behind them (which makes abundantly more sense).

 

So Guys there is now an option three: Submit characters from your DIY Chapter in regards to the various roles that I put forward. (basically see what KHK said above) These submissions willl have to have a link to the Chapters IA however.

 

Any further thoughts?

 

 

EDIT: Actually the more I think about it the more I like KHK's idea... I'll think about it while I am supposed to be working today and probably update this thing tonight, and maybe even open it up for the first submissions by the end of the week... (I am keen to get this thing rolling)

Haha, well, I'm certainly impressed with myself.

 

SP, here are my recommendations:

 

First things first, tell us the gist of the story. Who is the Inquisitor commissioning us? What are his views? What is the operation? When does it take place (this is especially important considering it may take place before some Chapters are even created, while others are still young, or long after some have had the time to become in/famous).

 

This would also be the point where you introduce characters of your own. If it's an Inquisitorial operation, there may be Inquisitorial agents. If there are any, who are they? What's their profession? What is their relationship with their Inquisitor like? Space marines?

 

Next, with the job description in mind, you should have that preliminaries thing to decide how many people we need (between 5 and 10 is good, I think) and who we need (leaders, marksmen, CQB specialists, apothecaries, chaplains, librarians, techmarines, etc.). You could also open the floor to Inquisitorial agent suggestions.

 

Finally, hold the competition proper.

 

With this, I'm sorry to say that I'm a bit of an elitist since my IA is basically done finalized. You've already requested an IA with every submission. However, I think you should require that the IA proper is more or less set in stone. I can personally attest that the Astral Reavers have undergone drastic changes no less than three times, and probably closer to six. A single character would not be able to survive the shift from the first Kraken Brothers, then Death Heads, and now Astral Reavers without an equally extreme shift. This is actually the reason why I chose to stay away from the Liber Astartes Campaign: Too many people with too many Chapters that change too much.

 

But, what do I know? :)

 

Edit: An IA is never "done."

(Reads KHK's post) Indeed...

 

Lets just say I'm working on it. For the current story I'm working on much will not be revealed on the exact nature of the mission, due to the Astartes themselves being kept a little in the dark on it.

 

I shall reveal the basic details (Such as the Inquisitor, his ideas, Where When and to a degree How) As far as exact roles go I am slightly open but there will be a few specialist roles desired...

 

Hopefully will get up the first basic ideas etc in the next few days and then maybe a prelininary challenge...

 

Stay tuned folks and thanks for the interest...

  • 3 weeks later...
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