Future Liber projects - Third poll: Factions

[Beren]

 

 

There is a short-story precedent for tech-priests being infected by the flayer virus - in addition to the vast variety of Necron cults, general xenarites and Necron's impostering as humans.

 

Is there? I would love to learn more for....research

 

 

 

Obviously, this acts as spoilers for the different stories.

 

 

Xenology (the old one) and Deus Ex Mechanicus - A Necron impersonates a human to infiltrate Imperial organisations (the Inquisition in the former, the Mechanicus in the latter) to manipulate them to advance its agenda.

 

What Wakes in the Dark (Inferno Volume 2) - A digsite with a large number of Mechanicus personnel awakes a Necron tomb and are attacked by flayers. Not long after this begins, the survivng Mechanicus personnel begin transforming into Flayer-equivalents. (This is not the focus of the story - it is from the perspective of astartes attacked to an inquisition team sent in afterwards.)

 

Phobos Worked in Adamamant - A Mechanicus forgeworld in terror at the impending arrival of the planetkiller delves into their archives to retrieve an arcane technology that may generate a shield powerful enough to protect their planet... only it requires the populace as fuel. As the process begins, the population, even servitors, are consumed by a strange fervour and throws themselves in, forcing anybody who won't take part. The primary tech-priest responsible has been manipulated, it isn't a shield at all, but a device similar to the ones used for bitransference but without the 'byproduct' of Necron bodies, and the entire forge-world's population becomes fuel for the C'Tan responsible.

 

Mechanicus (Video game) - One of the expedition's junior members is manipulated into releasing a c'tan. In one of the game's endings the it mentions that the xenarite is reporting to their superior on Mars... someone called the Void Dragon.

 

The Infinite Circuit - A Mechanicus team discovers a contained C'Tan, and the electro-priests begin to worship it as a manifestation of the Emotive Force, becoming murderously protective of it.

 

Psychic Awakening: Engine War - The Varlian Device featured in the Psychic Awakening book is delievered to a Mechanicus sect by a nameless tech-priest who says it comes from the Gates of Varl, a region of space associated with C'tannic activity.

 

 

Also, re: the Tau if they are showing up, I almost feel like it would make sense to make them part of the Epilogue, stumbling across the remains of the conflict years or centuries later, and maybe beginning the process all over again.

Edited October 16, 2021 by Beren

[Gamiel]

If we use necrons, I feel we need to come up with some theories to why they need to use kill teams 

[Kelborn]

Easy: vanguard of the awakening tomb world :)

 

 

Really digging the brainstorming in here. Really appreciate your thoughts and I'm eager to work with them. :D

[Bjorn Firewalker]

If we use necrons, I feel we need to come up with some theories to why they need to use kill teams

Easy: vanguard of the awakening tomb world

I think the Necron kill team should serve as scouts, with orders to take prisoners for interrogation. Their Overlord should be someone INTELLIGENT, able to use strategy and tactics, and thus, pose an actual threat to other factions. This Overlord should realize the galaxy changed since he or she went into stasis, and demand info so he may know what new threats his Dynasty faces, and how to counter these threats.

 

In short, the Overlord should be a patient and deliberate Ainz Ooal Gown, NOT an impulsive and boastful Skeletor.

[Sete]

Well I'm up for some tempestus rolling in then.

 

I take it the necron overlord will have a big tiddy anime waifu then?

Edited October 16, 2021 by Sete

[Bjorn Firewalker]

I take it the necron overlord will have a big tiddy anime waifu then?

A C'tan shard is probably best as an Albedo analogue.

[Kelborn]

Oh my Emperor, I'm entirely sold on the Ainz Opal Gown idea for the Necron Overlord!!

It would suit the slowly corrupting AdMech idea with a mastermind behind it.

 

So much to draw from that show alone!

[Gamiel]

 

If we use necrons, I feel we need to come up with some theories to why they need to use kill teams

Easy: vanguard of the awakening tomb world

I think the Necron kill team should serve as scouts, with orders to take prisoners for interrogation. Their Overlord should be someone INTELLIGENT, able to use strategy and tactics, and thus, pose an actual threat to other factions. This Overlord should realize the galaxy changed since he or she went into stasis, and demand info so he may know what new threats his Dynasty faces, and how to counter these threats.

 

In short, the Overlord should be a patient and deliberate Ainz Ooal Gown, NOT an impulsive and boastful Skeletor.

There is also the possebility that there are not that many warriors in the catacombs? Maybe there was not that many from the begining (maybe the planet was more of an outpost than a real Tomb World), or most of the warriors have lost their spark and can't be reactivated, or data rot have lead to the Overlord being unable to activate them all (maybe the Ov is sending kill teams to find people that kan help them clean out/revire the system of find parts for that), or some other reason.

 

Maybe the necrons are actually scout teams, with the Overlord and main force being somewhere else and the necrons on the world being sent there by teleportation / stargates / smaller ships.

 

Another possibility is that the dynasty that is buried beneath the surface is one that specialise in guerrilla fighting and it will take much time and loses before the dynasty’s culture-programming think of activating the forces they have in a large scale and properly march out.

[Doctor Perils]

Could the dynasty be very focused on canoptek tech, to make up for the lack of warriors?

 

I do like the idea of the smart, Intel seeking Necron overlord, though probably best not to present their pet C'tan as a waifu ^^' you can still work the ideas in without the meme factor

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

Yes, let's try and avoid any 'meme'-y ideas, please.

 

However, the idea of a smaller, damaged tombworld, with a Lord or Overlord who is trying to obtain information about his surroundings, and technicians to assist in reactivating his forces, is an excellent one IMO and one I would strongly support.

[Minigiant]

Yes, let's try and avoid any 'meme'-y ideas, please.

 

However, the idea of a smaller, damaged tombworld, with a Lord or Overlord who is trying to obtain information about his surroundings, and technicians to assist in reactivating his forces, is an excellent one IMO and one I would strongly support.

I recently made a topic about the Greek Labyrinth. What if the Tomb World is stuck inside a Labyrinth (Metaphorically or Physically), and Kill teams are trying to Nanobot diffuse (Assimilate) surface dwellers to do their bidding and unlock/unleash them from below.

 

Edit: A rival Dynasty trapped their tombworld in a Labyrinth shell as they entered their slumber. Now Kill teams have started to crawl out but to unlock the maze they need manpower and start recruiting/assimilating a Necrocult upon the surface Imperial dwellers

Edited October 17, 2021 by Minigiant

[Bjorn Firewalker]

A rival Dynasty trapped their tombworld in a Labyrinth shell as they entered their slumber. Now Kill teams have started to crawl out but to unlock the maze they need manpower and start recruiting/assimilating a Necrocult upon the surface Imperial dwellers

Great idea!

Could the dynasty be very focused on canoptek tech, to make up for the lack of warriors?

Considering the Necrons made Canoptek of Skolopendra, a "hunting beast" (an analogue to the hounds we humans use?) that once served the Necrontyr, I think it more appropriate to say the Dynasty sacrificed many of those who could've become Necron warriors, in order to strengthen those who'd become its Canoptek servants, i.e., a Necron equivalent to a Chaos cultist who has his followers commit ritual suicide, in order to summon Chaos Daemons.

 

As many Overlord NPCs have alternate forms, we can even say the Necron Dynasty attempted to merge its warriors with the beasts that were or would become Canoptek constructs, i.e., do as Victor Frankenstein did in Mary Shelley's classic novel, to create chimeras- for modelers, kitbash Necron warriors with Pteraxii wings and talons, creating analogues to imps and vampires in the anime.

[Bruce Malcom]

If I may, how about the planet’s PDF have a degree of representation? Them having an in-between of Enforcer and Guardsmen gear being completely out of their depth sounds fun, plausible as they’d get involved before any regiment or chapter, and a good way to establish a sense of terror and seriousness about the Necrons.

 

Perhaps local Rogue Traders investigating where their clients went as well? Could provide fun model diversity — the PDF given true baseline Imperial gear, Necrons using their faction’s powerful relics, and the Rogue Trader private armsmen using exotic or books-only Imperial tech and even the odd xenotech weapon.

[Doctor Perils]

 

A rival Dynasty trapped their tombworld in a Labyrinth shell as they entered their slumber. Now Kill teams have started to crawl out but to unlock the maze they need manpower and start recruiting/assimilating a Necrocult upon the surface Imperial dwellers

Great idea!

Agreed, could also give some really interesting combat environments to play with :)

 

Could the dynasty be very focused on canoptek tech, to make up for the lack of warriors?

Considering the Necrons made Canoptek of Skolopendra, a "hunting beast" (an analogue to the hounds we humans use?) that once served the Necrontyr, I think it more appropriate to say the Dynasty sacrificed many of those who could've become Necron warriors, in order to strengthen those who'd become its Canoptek servants, i.e., a Necron equivalent to a Chaos cultist who has his followers commit ritual suicide, in order to summon Chaos Daemons.

 

As many Overlord NPCs have alternate forms, we can even say the Necron Dynasty attempted to merge its warriors with the beasts that were or would become Canoptek constructs, i.e., do as Victor Frankenstein did in Mary Shelley's classic novel, to create chimeras- for modelers, kitbash Necron warriors with Pteraxii wings and talons, creating analogues to imps and vampires in the anime.

have to admit, not sure I understand what you mean about those who could "become Necron warriors" - you mean like ancient necrontyr canopteks, or human necrocults who could have been bio-transfered (if that's even a thing)

 

While the imps and vamps thing is an interesting starting point, I'm wary of copy pasting too many ideas from a single source

[Bjorn Firewalker]

have to admit, not sure I understand what you mean about those who could "become Necron warriors" - you mean like ancient necrontyr canopteks, or human necrocults who could have been bio-transfered (if that's even a thing)

I meant the Necrontyr who had yet to undergo biotransference, and would never undergo the process, as their masters sacrificed them to strengthen the beasts that would undergo biotransference and become Canoptek in their stead- feel free to speculate if this meant the Necrontyr were fed to the beasts, dissected so their organs may be transplanted in the beasts to create chimeras, or something else.

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

I don't think the sacrifice idea works, for multiple reasons:

1. The populace was dragged to the soul-forges. Every last bit of it. There's a lore blurb in the 5th edition Necron Codex, in which Ascended Prince Rakszan of the Khansu dynasty has every member of his dynasty dragged to the soul forges (it turns out he was played the fool, to an extent, as the remnants of the dynasty that didn't die prior to their forced bio-transference or during the War in Heaven were stolen or transferred away from him, and he was left broken and alone to rage against the C'tan). I don't think the Triarch would have brooked 'sacrificing' good troops for minor gains to construction and maintenance bots.
2. Given that the soul-forges ate everything about a necrontyr (including, as their name suggests, their souls), and that the Necrontyr had little to no warp presence, I cannot think of any combination of Necrontyr and monster that would have retained any benefits across the bio-transference 'bridge'. Physical capabilities were replaced with the strength of Necrodermis, what little soul that might have enhanced a spirit of the monster, if indeed the Necrontyr practiced that (and I doubt they would have, given their proclivity to use sufficiently advanced technology as magic) would have been burned away, and in the process more perfect, more obedient machines are made.
3. It's a fool of a noble who entrusts too much of his power to Crypteks. Sure, they maintain your war machines, and they're very powerful, but they're subservient to you. Don't give them any more leverage over you and your armies than you have to (e.g. don't sacrifice your own warriors to strengthen a contractor who could theoretically be bought out from under you by a rival). And if we're going with a cannier Overlord like it sounds we are, then I can't see him willingly making such a mistake in the world of Necron/Necrontyr courtly intrigue.

[Minigiant]

It seems to all be coming together

 

A death (Dia de Los Muertos) themed Necron dynasty trapped inside a planet sized labyrinth with Dia de Los Muertos themed Imperial citizen on the surface.

 

Necron kill teams begin assimilating citizens to do their bidding - goes into Arbites Necromunda missions - More Kill teams begin appearing and sabotaging key military assets - Imperial Kill teams start to go into the Labyrinth to find a way to block them all off - A major passage way opens for a full scale battle to stop the Necrons at the impass (Think Spartan 300) & Assimilated Imperial Citizens sabotage that + Deathwatch get teleported to reainamion centre inside the tomb world as one last attempt - Planet wide Mass Evacuation - Battlefleet Gothic mission

[Gamiel]

It seems to all be coming together

 

A death (Dia de Los Muertos) themed Necron dynasty trapped inside a planet sized labyrinth with Dia de Los Muertos themed Imperial citizen on the surface.

 

Necron kill teams begin assimilating citizens to do their bidding - goes into Arbites Necromunda missions - More Kill teams begin appearing and sabotaging key military assets - Imperial Kill teams start to go into the Labyrinth to find a way to block them all off - A major passage way opens for a full scale battle to stop the Necrons at the impass (Think Spartan 300) & Assimilated Imperial Citizens sabotage that + Deathwatch get teleported to reainamion centre inside the tomb world as one last attempt - Planet wide Mass Evacuation - Battlefleet Gothic mission

To creat more conflict and make it harder for the Necrons: what if the Overlord, lets call him Tekhtlipoca, has not awoken? And instead his underlings Ahuiatekh, Thickthokal and Patekhatl are each doing what they think is the best way to reawaken Tekhtlipoca while not heping the others since they are stupid idiots that do the wrong thing. 

 

And/or some of the Necron kill teams have just awoken (without any orders) and follow ancient protocols what they should do and don't fully interact with what's around them (ignoring humans as long as they are not attacked; attacking machinery that is doing nothing that would affect them; gathering worthless scrap as if  it was something important; decapitating humans/anything living and collecting their heads for something; stalking servitors but ignoring everything else around them; etc.)

[Bjorn Firewalker]

To creat more conflict and make it harder for the Necrons: what if the Overlord, lets call him Tekhtlipoca, has not awoken? And instead his underlings Ahuiatekh, Thickthokal and Patekhatl are each doing what they think is the best way to reawaken Tekhtlipoca while not heping the others since they are stupid idiots that do the wrong thing.

Better have the enemy Necrons be from another Dynasty, as it'll be easier to set up the conflict in-game. Backstabbing is easily done in a role-playing game, especially when the backstabber can be a member of your own party, wanting a bigger portion of the treasure your party just found- NOT in a tabletop war game.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

While the imps and vamps thing is an interesting starting point, I'm wary of copy pasting too many ideas from a single source

As it will soon be Halloween, how about taking inspiration from more sources, e.g., a Necron Overlord known as Vlad the Impaler, who fields winged warriors (the Necron/Pteraxii hybrids I proposed), "werewolves" (Necron warriors kitbashed with guns replacing their heads, and lightning claws replacing their hands), and customized Monoliths that look like European castles instead of Egyptian pyramids? He intends to destroy the traditionalist Overlord Ardeth who is his rival; this conflict will catch in the crossfire all others in the subsector, with some deciding, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," e.g., an Iron Warriors warband allying with Necron Overlord Vlad to destroy a Drukhari Kabal and punish the Archon who gouged out one of the warband leader's eyes, in a raid a century ago.

[Doctor Perils]

 

While the imps and vamps thing is an interesting starting point, I'm wary of copy pasting too many ideas from a single source

As it will soon be Halloween, how about taking inspiration from more sources, e.g., a Necron Overlord known as Vlad the Impaler, who fields winged warriors (the Necron/Pteraxii hybrids I proposed), "werewolves" (Necron warriors kitbashed with guns replacing their heads, and lightning claws replacing their hands), and customized Monoliths that look like European castles instead of Egyptian pyramids? He intends to destroy the traditionalist Overlord Ardeth who is his rival; this conflict will catch in the crossfire all others in the subsector, with some deciding, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," e.g., an Iron Warriors warband allying with Necron Overlord Vlad to destroy a Drukhari Kabal and punish the Archon who gouged out one of the warband leader's eyes, in a raid a century ago.

 

 

So, while we should always be wary of overtheming, I'm worried that may be dipping way too far in the other direction - aztec overlord trapped  with the World of Darkness... Of course it's worth seeing what the others say, but couldn't we mix in those later themes with some of the other factions, like using one of the many great DIY dracula-themed blood angels successors we've seen on B&C over the years

 

 

To creat more conflict and make it harder for the Necrons: what if the Overlord, lets call him Tekhtlipoca, has not awoken? And instead his underlings Ahuiatekh, Thickthokal and Patekhatl are each doing what they think is the best way to reawaken Tekhtlipoca while not heping the others since they are stupid idiots that do the wrong thing.

Better have the enemy Necrons be from another Dynasty, as it'll be easier to set up the conflict in-game. Backstabbing is easily done in a role-playing game, especially when the backstabber can be a member of your own party, wanting a bigger portion of the treasure your party just found- NOT in a tabletop war game.

 

 

I don't see why, its just a narrative game ? I think Gamiel is mainly speaking about the lore and campaign sides, not for a specific mission (although that could also be very fun)

((Also, backstabbing party members is a very particular gaming style, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're playing Skaven or Chaos things))

 

@Gamiel, would those underlings be other Necron Lords, Crypteks, a mix of both?

[Daimyo-Phaeron Lenoch]

 

 

While the imps and vamps thing is an interesting starting point, I'm wary of copy pasting too many ideas from a single source

As it will soon be Halloween, how about taking inspiration from more sources, e.g., a Necron Overlord known as Vlad the Impaler, who fields winged warriors (the Necron/Pteraxii hybrids I proposed), "werewolves" (Necron warriors kitbashed with guns replacing their heads, and lightning claws replacing their hands), and customized Monoliths that look like European castles instead of Egyptian pyramids? He intends to destroy the traditionalist Overlord Ardeth who is his rival; this conflict will catch in the crossfire all others in the subsector, with some deciding, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," e.g., an Iron Warriors warband allying with Necron Overlord Vlad to destroy a Drukhari Kabal and punish the Archon who gouged out one of the warband leader's eyes, in a raid a century ago.

 

 

So, while we should always be wary of overtheming, I'm worried that may be dipping way too far in the other direction - Aztec overlord trapped  with the World of Darkness... Of course it's worth seeing what the others say, but couldn't we mix in those later themes with some of the other factions, like using one of the many great DIY Dracula-themed blood angels successors we've seen on B&C over the years.

 

 

To creat more conflict and make it harder for the Necrons: what if the Overlord, lets call him Tekhtlipoca, has not awoken? And instead his underlings Ahuiatekh, Thickthokal and Patekhatl are each doing what they think is the best way to reawaken Tekhtlipoca while not heping the others since they are stupid idiots that do the wrong thing.

Better have the enemy Necrons be from another Dynasty, as it'll be easier to set up the conflict in-game. Backstabbing is easily done in a role-playing game, especially when the backstabber can be a member of your own party, wanting a bigger portion of the treasure your party just found- NOT in a tabletop war game.

 

 

I don't see why, its just a narrative game ? I think Gamiel is mainly speaking about the lore and campaign sides, not for a specific mission (although that could also be very fun)

((Also, backstabbing party members is a very particular gaming style, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're playing Skaven or Chaos things))

 

@Gamiel, would those underlings be other Necron Lords, Crypteks, a mix of both?

 

I'm going to agree with Dr Perils here. Overtheming is something that should generally be avoided. Inspiration is fine, but blatantly copying a thing just looks tacky. (And, more importantly, doesn't give the Liberites the true chance to shine in showing off their creative skills!)

 

Additionally, Bjorn, I think you underestimate just how backstabby internecine conflict in Necron tombs can be. We don't need a rival dynasty to introduce intrigue and character conflict, the lesser nobles are quite capable of doing that all by themselves with no outside help. We're a contentious people, us Necrontyr :P

[Sete]

I propose voting for the themes. I see everyone pushing their agenda, and it's kinda bugging me. It's not the first liber project that I have seen overtaken by a few individuals to the detirement of others.

[Dosjetka]

"Pushing their agenda" is a bit harsh here, mate. People are getting excited by their own ideas and/or the ideas of others.

 

Besides, if a project is to succeed, someone will have to don the mantle of the arbiter and have a final say on things, otherwise we'll never end up with a finished product.

[Sete]

"Pushing their agenda" is a bit harsh here, mate. People are getting excited by their own ideas and/or the ideas of others.

 

Besides, if a project is to succeed, someone will have to don the mantle of the arbiter and have a final say on things, otherwise we'll never end up with a finished product.

Dont think it is.

We are still voting on the factions, and I already see names, and necron politics.

Some people might have different ideas.

I am more interested on the Imperial side of things, but this behavior might discourage others from posting if they feel excluded.

 

Create a thread for both initial factions so people can discuss all the ideas, and then choose one.

 

I assume Kelborn, since he created the event, is the arbiter.

 

edit: replace agenda by ideas, If it sounds less harsh.

Edited October 18, 2021 by Sete