[DW] Blackthorn/Swordhand Episode III: Recruitment Thread

[adesro18]

Just working through the character sheets that I can see have been accessed so far:

 

ApostleRP: I wonder if we could re-work the Star Phantoms' Chapter Demeanour? It's a little generic right now, in that the statement could be applied to any number of Chapter. Perhaps something that really defines the way that the Star Phantoms see themselves, or the world around them? Additionally, I see that you've applied the power armour bonuses into your grey stats. The grey stats are meant to be out of armour, whilst the black includes your armour. If you could separate those out, that'd be awesome. (Also, should "captious" be "cautious"?) Finally, you seem to have the armour values reversed - if you've gotten Mark V armour, you should have 9 to the body, and 8 everywhere else.

 

Lysimachus: Looks great so far - I do wonder if "Cold Fury" could be rephrased? It's the most minor of quibbles, but if you look at the other demeanours from other Chapters, it might give you an idea.

 

Petragor: Looks great!

 

Komrk: Looking good so far - I like the idea of using the Alpha Legion scale as a trapping. Just as a note, because I'm not there yet with everyone else yet, but we do use the revised weapon stats from the Deathwatch Errata. (They're on the last four or so pages of the PDF.)

 

Adesro18: Liking the look of it so far. A Mk6 Techmarine is interesting!

 

Mojake: I hadn't explained it yet, but Space Marines have Unnatural Strength and Toughness (2), which means they double their Strength and Toughness bonuses (on grey). For you, you'd have a grey strength bonus of 10, a grey toughness bonus of 8, and a black strength bonus of 12.

 

AHorriblePerson: All looks good as far as I can tell. I'm happy for you to select Daemons (or "Creatures of the Warp") if you wish.

 

Jeremy.Phillips: All looks good so far!

Thanks, I have been enjoying this very organized step by step creation process. I was really interested in rolling the mk6. I thought its a weird armor for a techmarine but maybe it plays into my chapter a bit. Interesting combo at any rate.

[Reyner]

Nice to see another marine with Mk6 armour! High agility friend! :D

[Komrk]

Just working through the character sheets that I can see have been accessed so far:

 

 

 

Komrk: Looking good so far - I like the idea of using the Alpha Legion scale as a trapping. Just as a note, because I'm not there yet with everyone else yet, but we do use the revised weapon stats from the Deathwatch Errata. (They're on the last four or so pages of the PDF.)

 

 

 

Fixed

[Deadass]

 

Anyone else got any ideas as a name for the following Demeanour?

 

The Stormbringers believe first and foremost in the survival of the Imperium of Man. It is their sole purpose that the Emperor’s realm should not fall, and they feel no compunction over taking whatever course they deem necessary to ensure its continued existence.The Chapter's Marines are known for their ability to make and implement such brutally pragmatic decisions with all the lightning speed that their White Scar heritage would suggest.

For example, if a battle costs the lives of one hundred civilians rather than that of a single Astartes, this is viewed as entirely acceptable, simply by virtue of their comparative value to the Imperium. In the present time, with Mankind attacked on all sides and always in desperate need of its finest warriors, it is debatable whether any could truly prove them wrong.

Many have branded the Chapter as cowardly because of their methods but such accusations are inaccurate. If a Stormbringer feels that the sacrifice is necessary, or the objective important enough, he will willingly and without hesitation give his life to achieve it. Others call the Chapter cruel, disloyal or heartless. The Stormbringers themselves feel that they are simply being efficient.

How about 'No blow too swift, no price too high?'

 

Edit: I also went through the rest of the pdf and generated my past event, divination, wounds, etc. - hope everything turned out correct.

Edited January 24, 2021 by AHorriblePerson

[Mazer Rackham]

Proposal:

 

Chapter Demeanour: Bulwark Against the Terror.

 

"The words of the Emperor are True.  His domain is the rightful destiny of Humanity.  Many seek to destroy it, from within, from without, from beyond.  To the last man, the last round, the last scrap of flesh, to whomsoever it belongs.  The line must hold."

 

MR.

[ApostleRP]

Just working through the character sheets that I can see have been accessed so far:

 

ApostleRP: I wonder if we could re-work the Star Phantoms' Chapter Demeanour? It's a little generic right now, in that the statement could be applied to any number of Chapter. Perhaps something that really defines the way that the Star Phantoms see themselves, or the world around them? Additionally, I see that you've applied the power armour bonuses into your grey stats. The grey stats are meant to be out of armour, whilst the black includes your armour. If you could separate those out, that'd be awesome. (Also, should "captious" be "cautious"?) Finally, you seem to have the armour values reversed - if you've gotten Mark V armour, you should have 9 to the body, and 8 everywhere else.

 

Lysimachus: Looks great so far - I do wonder if "Cold Fury" could be rephrased? It's the most minor of quibbles, but if you look at the other demeanours from other Chapters, it might give you an idea.

 

Petragor: Looks great!

 

Komrk: Looking good so far - I like the idea of using the Alpha Legion scale as a trapping. Just as a note, because I'm not there yet with everyone else yet, but we do use the revised weapon stats from the Deathwatch Errata. (They're on the last four or so pages of the PDF.)

 

Adesro18: Liking the look of it so far. A Mk6 Techmarine is interesting!

 

Mojake: I hadn't explained it yet, but Space Marines have Unnatural Strength and Toughness (2), which means they double their Strength and Toughness bonuses (on grey). For you, you'd have a grey strength bonus of 10, a grey toughness bonus of 8, and a black strength bonus of 12.

 

AHorriblePerson: All looks good as far as I can tell. I'm happy for you to select Daemons (or "Creatures of the Warp") if you wish.

 

Jeremy.Phillips: All looks good so far!

Okay so:

- Stats: I think I've fixed this now. 

 

- Chapter Demeanour: 

I've put in the revised title of "Gloria Ex Mortis" (Yay for imperial pig latin). My thinking on this is the more unique aspects of the Star Phantoms "Death Cult", and their view of the Emperor as the "Imperator Mortifex". In short, the revere the fallen more gloriously than the living. On top of that seeing themselves as The Emperor's holy killing machines (on of the minority chapters that revere the Emperor as an actual God).

 

- Personal demeanour: I just changed it to Scornful. It's from the main book and covers his personality closely enough I suppose. 

 

- Armour stats: Yes, they were mixed up. I is big smooth brain. 

[Jeremy.Phillips]

Hey Mol,

 

I rolled

 

J: Alien minds cannot accept the

Emperor’s Blessing

+1 Damage to Psychic Powers

against Xenos

 

For my divination. I'm not a librarian though so I don't think this one really applies to me. Is it okay if I reroll it or should I just stick with it?

[Commissar Molotov]

Hi Jeremy - that doesn't sound particularly satisfactory. If you'd like to re-draw, please do so!

 

Apostle - Scornful sounds really good for what you and I have in mind. Possibly you could try a Chapter demeanour like "The Ceaseless Sands" - something to do with time running out? Not sure. I think there's definitely something to play with here.

[Petragor]

Could be worse, I just straight up got an insanity point from my divination.

[ashlander47]

Ay up lads. Back at it again. Thought I'd jot my process through the character sheet down here for my own record keeping, and maybe as an example to others who aren't so sure how to go about it. Keep in mind I might be wrong in places too, but thankfully we have an entire sub-forum of system savvy souls to push their glasses up the bridge of their collective nose and say "Akchewally..."

 

First off we have the easy parts. The character's name should be simple enough, the only way for me to mess this one up is if I misspell it. Fingers crossed...

 

Incariel was almost named Raziel, who is an archangel of secrets in Judaism.

A little on the nose? Maybe. All it did was make me want to replay Legacy of Kain again... 

 

 

Phew. That was a close one but we made it, brothers. Onwards to the Chapter, Speciality and Demeanours both Chapter and Personal. Incariel is a Consecrator; a Dark Angels successor.

 

The Sons of the Lion demeanour is a standard demeanour for Dark Angels and their successors from the Core Rulebook. It happens to fit the Consecrators quite well, as the Angel doesn't fall too from the tree as it were. As for his personal demeanour, there are a few words I could use to describe Incariel, but one that fits quite snugly is another from the Core Rulebook; Calculating. I suspect many Unforgiven could be easily represented by such broad demeanours, which is both flavourful and playing to their strengths.

 

For those not in the know; the Unforgiven is what the Dark Angels and their successors like to refer to one other as. Why? Let's move on before somebody gets hurt.

 

 

Yes I do all my rolling at midnight. When do you do yours?

 

Characteristics are where the fun begins because rolling dice (even digitally) is always fun right up until it isn't.

 

My results are quite extreme indeed, ranking from such heights as a solid 20 down to a woeful 2 -- the highest and lowest possible results. Using my one reroll I targeted that wretched 2 and under a hail of withering bolter fire turned it into... a 5. I guess I got to the point where it isn't fun anymore -- on the bright side the rest of my spread seems rather palatable. Now all I need to do is add +30 to each of them and assign them to my sheet in which ever order pleases me most.

 

Now some of the more attentive of you will notice a few things depending on the Degrees of Success of your Scrutiny Test. First is that some of these numbers don't match, and that's due to a combination of the bonuses from his chosen Chapter, Unnatural Characteristics and the enhancements provided by Incariel's power armour. A member of the Unforgiven enjoys a +5 bonus to both his Ballistic Skill and his Intelligence, assumedly so he can calculate how to fire a gun. Due to his gene-enhanced bulk, Incariel's Strength and Toughness scores are considered to be doubled, and while wearing power armour he benefits from a +20 to his Strength bonus that factors in after that doubling. Apart from a few exceptions, all power armour offers this +20 bonus. 

 

 

For the more keen-eyed of you louts, you might spot that despite being a Devastator (who represents the raw firepower of a Kill-Team) I relucted to place my highest roll of 20 smack dab into Ballistic Skill, and instead opted to shove it into Intelligence. In my mind, incariel is not just a big, transhuman finger that exists to pull a trigger -- there is a considerable lump of wrinkled grey matter inside his thick, Emperor-blessed skull and I intend to have his stats reflect that. Besides, I put the 19 in there and that's almost as good. 

 

So after adding my gene-father's gifts of +5 to my proper characteristics, I start dealing with the Unnatural Characteristics and the power armour. Toughness is simple enough, but Strength is where I found myself double-taking a few times until I got it right. In order it'll go...

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder what his personal best is?

 

Top right grey box: Incariel's baseline and unarmoured Strength of 38 (don't worry he will hit the gym soon I promise -- do they have a CrossFit on Watch-Station Azurea?)

 

Top left grey box: Incariel's Strength Bonus which is 6 (because Unnatural Strength doubles his bonus, and 3*2 = 6 didn't ya know)

 

Bottom right black box: Incariel's Strength score once the +20 suit bonus has been added (blessed is mighty machine spirit)

 

Bottom left black box: Incariel's Strength Bonus after his suit's bonus has been factored in, which is always after Unnatural Characteristics (so you don't end up doubling your doubles and getting so swole the Watch-Captain has to order you to stop bulking)

 

 

 

Finally we move onto the armour, which Commissar Molotov has very thoughtfully provided a concise listing of the many rolls that will be made for it. I have to commend the organisation of the character creation process you've detailed so far, CM. So here we go, first I roll a 1d10 to determine which mark I get. The Consecrators chapter, being a mysterious and relic-laden brotherhood, have the stipulation in their information box that they cannot start play with a suit of armour that is newer than Mark VI. For simplicity's sake, I decided any result that is above that counts as defaulting to the Mark VI.

 

Fate would have it that Incariel wears a set of Mark V "Heresy" pattern power armour; an old and respected pattern with a chequered past. Mk. V comes with all the standard gubbinz of most power armour (the enhanced strength, the auto-senses, the inability to pick up individual sheets of paper, etc, etc) while also providing a Fellowship bonus of +10 when dealing with fellow Astartes, offset by a -10 penalty when dealing with inquisitors. That's the chequered past coming into effect. In addition, the armour grants 9 armour to the body and 8 to everywhere else.

Not pictured: Brother Incariel

 

 

 

The history of power armour is rightly given a large consideration in CM's documents. It is important to know the storied and glorious (or inglorious) past of the armour that carries you into battle. The Mark VI armour qualifies for 2 rolls upon the History table, so let's toss those d20s and find some glory. My two results were 11 and 3 which are frankly unhelpful for Incariel within his role. Luckily the result can be modified by 1 either up or down, so I bumped the 11 into a 12 and the 3 into a 2, granting the armour the histories of "A Hero's Shame" and "None shall escape the Emperor's Wrath", respectively. These two histories provide very good bonuses to Incariel's characteristics which I make sure to mark down, as well as offering downsides. A chequered past indeed.

 

I add a summarised version of the impact such histories add to my sheet, make sure to update my BS and WS scores and move on to calculate my Wounds and Fate. I also input Incariel's movement while I'm here, finding the table on pg. 205 of the Core Rulebook, and noting that it is based off of his Agility Bonus with Half Move being the flat bonus, Full being double that, Charge being triple that and Run being quadruple it. Simple enough to remember. 

 

Wounds is simple enough as well; a 1d5 with an 18 on top of it. Incariel rounds out with a healthy 22 Wounds with a 4 on the die.

 

Fate is a 1d10 where any result above a 7 grants you a surplus. I got a 5 on the die, so for this Consecrator the standard 3 Fate Points will have to suffice.

 

The penultimate step here is determining Past Histories and Demeanours. It's a table of odd design, requiring a d66 to roll upon it but lacking a few results. The 1-10 results are easily found in the Core Rulebook and the other books but some of the missing results on this table are, perhaps, left a mystery to everybody. My result was 31 which thankfully wasn't one of the expunged results. I note it down under the appropriate heading and move onto the final step: divinations. Following from Lysimachus's example I opted to assign the deck as thus; imperium = Hearts, Xenos = Diamonds, Mechanicum = Clubs, and Chaos = Spades. Finding a deck of cards I still had lying around from inside a Christmas cracker (none may defeat an Astartes in a bout of cracker pulling) I gave them a good shuffle and plucked out an Ace of Clubs.

 

 

And there we have it, at least for now. I took the liberty of adding in the standard issue equipment for a Devastator, as a brother of the Deathwatch always has access to his standard issue gear. As a Consecrator, Incariel may choose one piece of his standard issue equipment to become Master Crafted - with the expense of it being considered a relic with all the stresses and responsibility that comes with one.

 

 

Later when we have more information from CM about our Rank, and XP to spend I can stress and think hard about things like Deeds, Skill advances, Talent purchases, Renown levels, and all the rest. For now? The Interrogator-Chaplain has arrived and he insists that we speak to one another in private... 

Edited January 25, 2021 by ashlander47

[Mojake]

Had a brainfart and selected one divination for each suit. Will change later today.

 

How do we record increases to skills, e.g. +5 to Awareness.

[Commissar Molotov]

Awareness isn't a skill as such - it's a type of test you take using your Perception (typically modified by the auto-senses of your armour.)

 

You should see on the bottom-right of the character sheet a box for your armour - you can alter this as necessary.

[Komrade_Atomic]

Right, so....

 

WS: 36

BS: 50

S: 48

T: 36

Ag: 45

Int: 40 (+5)

Per: 45

Wp: 38

Fel: 42

 

Out of fear for Gideon's survivability, I rerolled for toughness. 

 

T: 38

 

Oooh boy.....

Edited January 25, 2021 by Komrade_Atomic

[Commissar Molotov]

Well, I know where you'll be spending your XP..!

 

Talking of which, I will be preparing the next phase of the character sheets today. Just going through everyone's sheets so I can make sure all is well.

[Komrade_Atomic]

Also, I rolled one on the power armour chart, so I've got Mark Four Armour.

 

What the hell did gideon do??

[ashlander47]

All these ancient patterns of armour are gonna turn me traitor before the gates even open!

[Lysimachus]

Just updated, thanks @AHorriblePerson and @ashlander47, great idea for Demeanour name and that run-through was very helpful!

[Commissar Molotov]

Due to a slight technical issue with the character sheets, you will lose access today. I'll be emailing you out a new link - please bear with me. 

[adesro18]

No problemo. Machine spirits need appeasing?

[Brother Argent]

I literally just got home to look at sorting it.  How much of the rule knowledge am I going to need here to bring rule form to my idea of Pallan, as I have never looked much into the rules side of the Deathwatch RPG.

[Petragor]

I literally just got home to look at sorting it.  How much of the rule knowledge am I going to need here to bring rule form to my idea of Pallan, as I have never looked much into the rules side of the Deathwatch RPG.

I'm reasonably proficient in Deathwatch rules, I can help you and take some load off of CM if you like.

[Commissar Molotov]

The new links have been sent out, so you should get those momentarily. (In order to make something work, I had to change the sheets from XLS to Google Sheets.) 

 

Brother Argent - to get to the stage most other players are at, you won't need any rules knowledge. 

 

All you need to do is: 

 

- Fill in the top information

- Roll your stats

- Use the PDF I emailed you to determine your armour. 

[Brother Argent]

Okay.  I'll get to it...

 

So I rolled up:

 

WS: 42

BS: 44

S: 41

T: 37

Ag: 40

Int: 32

Per: 44

Wp: 36

Fel: 44

 

In the interest of both being fluffy with his Chapter and Character I have in mind I rerolled Willpower, and managed to score 49... can't complain about that...

 

Mk IV armour... Interesting... Not sure how and what to change with abilities so just changed the title and now to roll on History.

Edited January 25, 2021 by Brother Argent

[Commissar Molotov]

You can also pick two statistics to increase by +5 (that you think fit the Star Leopards.) 

 

Just so you know, mechanically, Intelligence (INT) is the skill that Apothecaries use for their healing skills. 

[Brother Argent]

After rolling armour history I got:

 

- The Emperors Finest... interesting - more shame for dishonouring honoured amour...

- A Fury like Lightning ... I could see it working

- Battle Scarred - I rolled Cower not before the enemy, but +/- one as I felt it didn't suit.

 

@Mol:  Hmm... I feel Willpower and Fellowship are probably the most appropriate for the Chapter, or Willpower and Toughness.  Fellowship for their generally nicer guy status, but I think the Cursed Founding element and reputation as being cursed might change that.  So maybe Toughness for their Fight till you are dead attitude...  Either way I think he will struggle as a healer.  Though I am beginning to think I may have misrecorded my score as I don't recall rolling a double one...  Should I reroll or would you like to. Or should I stick with it and role play the hell out of it as he pushes himself to be a better healer...?