Future Liber projects - Flash poll: Defining the world

[Kelborn]

Hey there,

 

as the results of the latest poll are not definite, I want to make a flash poll, which will be evaluated on this Saturday.

 

By using those results with the highest votes, we should be able to narrow down the outlines of our new world.

 

We've seen discussions about an ocean hive world, an agri world and so on but haven't seen that interest represented in the respective votes.

 

On the other hand, Knight worlds, etc. had quite a lot votes but were almost not discussed.

 

We assume that others were intrigued by suggestions made by other participants, after they themselves have voted.

 

Thus, we want to give you a chance to reconsider your vote and finalize this poll in one take.

 

Hopefully, we'll have a clear outline on which we can build upon. :)

 

Cheers,

Kel

[Lysimachus]

Just a thought, but it seems to me that some of the more popular ideas for a world could easily be combined?

 

i.e. an Ocean World where the majority of the population live in Hives that sit on the sea bed and only the tops pierce the surface? Likewise, they might view the abundance of the seas as a gift from the Emperor and have numerous Ecclesiarchy shrines (these could even float around carried by natural currents) where offerings can be made?

 

That's just spitballing, of course, but just to show that you don't need to limit yourselves to one of the options?

[Kelborn]

I totally agree.

 

I'd say If we have a stalemate between two or three categories, well certainly be able to combine those like you suggested.

 

It's more about to clarify in which direction we want to proceed as the results and the discussion went a bit in two different ways. :)

[Bjorn Firewalker]

I voted for Segmentum Obscurus, Knight World. The former for the freedom to create our own worlds- if it fits the name, then no one can say, "There's no such world!" as who can say what's in such an obscure Segmentum? The latter for the freedom to use whichever Imperial faction we want, as Knights will earn allies and enemies in both the Ecclesiarchy and the AdMech- not to mention, they have giant robots!

[TechCaptain]

My mind had a small idea.

 

An Ocean World with volcanic vents that are surrounded by Underwater towns who quarry superheated gas and minerals essential to making plasma Cores for larger vehicles and Knights at the direction of Admech administration though due to a history of some legendary battles that date back to the take down of the guy who took over the Imperial Council. (Forgetting the name for a moment.) And the floating Islands above the vents are considered shrines and house a Cardinal. So this is a Cardinal world that is also devoted to Knight armament quarry’s so their is a bit of sharing the power between the two cults that lead to some squabbles to The Who there must be separation because of moriae heresy. Meaning the Inquisition and other investigation branches of the two cults have a high presence. Tension everywhere that causes there to many denominations in which several death cults around flaying pop up occasionally (Ie Necron worshippers.) and radical cults of Admech like xenarites who also worship Necron tech pop up. When a Necron invasion starts. The Imperial Guard would land and guard the surface while Skitarii and the Admech would protect the lowest levels where the remains of crash ships and lost technology is buried beneath the waves that are near impossible to explore outside these vent shallows due to deadly and large predators.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

I like TechCaptain's idea, overall. I have a technical issue with the following:

An Ocean World with volcanic vents that are surrounded by Underwater towns who quarry superheated gas and minerals essential to making plasma Cores

Draining plasma from a planet's core, the way the Kryptonians mined their home planet's core, leading to its destruction and their race's near-extinction?

 

More plausible- and far safer- to just build geothermal power plants at the volcanic vents. If volcanic eruptions bring up rare earth minerals vital to the production of Knight, Titan, and starship power cores, that'll be a bonus.

 

Also, Michael Crichton's novel Congo specifically mentions a (possibly fictional) US military project to use explosives to force a volcano to erupt, and to control the direction in which the resulting lava will flow. We can have a mission in which one side tries to plant and then detonate explosives in a certain place, in order to force a volcano to erupt under an enemy base.

Edited October 28, 2021 by Bjorn Firewalker

[TechCaptain]

Oh just as a reminder since we are talking planets here we need to make allowances for each of the major forces.

 

Imperium:

Astartes

Imperial Guard

Admech

(Knights didn’t get into the tops with votes however their world is. Interesting point, maybe some way we can twist this for story.)

 

Vs

 

Xenos (Necrons)

Chaos? (I think this made second place.)

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Vs

 

Xenos (Necrons)

Chaos? (I think this made second place.)

Why not both? Say a Chaos prophet foresees the rise of a C'tan shard contained deep within the planet, and the warband he serves, seeks to... destroy the C'tan shard as the threat it is? Capture it for exploitation, e.g., the warband has an alliance with Dark Mechanicum Magi who seek to reverse-engineer Necron technology, and intend to use the C'tan shard to power knockoff pylons? Deliver an offer of an alliance between the C'tan and the Chaos warband's patron god(s)?

[Kelborn]

I should add that "Hive world" had the most votes and is rather fixed. Thus I didn't include it in here.

 

So keep that in mind.

[Ace Debonair]

We've seen discussions about an ocean hive world, an agri world and so on but haven't seen that interest represented in the respective votes.

 

On the other hand, Knight worlds, etc. had quite a lot votes but were almost not discussed.

Knight worlds had less votes than ocean worlds, to be fair.

 

For this one I've voted for Agri world again, picturing the world outside the hives to look something akin to if you made a livestock farm on Fallout.

Somewhere between Mad Max and the taming of the wild west, but with more mutants.

 

Don't ask me where the day of the dead stuff fits in with this vision, that probably stays in the hives.  

 

 

Vs

 

Xenos (Necrons)

Chaos? (I think this made second place.)

Why not both?

 

Because we're starting small, not diving into layers of Tzeentchian complexity right off the bat.  

[Minigiant]

Ocean Hive World, what about a water version of Mortal Engines. Giant City sized Ships sailing around Edited October 28, 2021 by Minigiant

[Gamiel]

We've seen discussions about an ocean hive world, an agri world and so on but haven't seen that interest represented in the respective votes.

I have talked about ocean, agri and hive world concept becouse they were the ones with most votes then.

 

 

 On the other hand, Knight worlds, etc. had quite a lot votes but were almost not discussed.

Give me a movment...

(working here with that the worlds is also a hiva and/or ocean world)

+ the Knight household/s live outside the hives and consider the hivevers pampered weaklings and/or uncultured tech-barbarians

+ the Knight household/s are the planets high nobility, from which the planetary governor is chosen

+ the Knight households live deep under the sea and have little contact with the hives beside appearing the few times the planet have been attacked, and when the hives have been late with the households due of material and equipment. 

+ All the households knights was sent out on missions of honour and glory and as of jet they have not returned. That was generations ago but the household stewards forbid any talk about the House having died out and they keep all the Knight-suits hangars and repair shops clean, functioning and fully stocked, for that day when the households masters return.

+ specialise in hive fighting with lots of smaller knight-suits

+ the household/s have few knights but lots of house-sworn servants-at-arms and unless a conflict is seen as highly important (strategically, honourably or glory-vise) do the chapter only send servants-at-arms led by a (non-knight bound) noble.

+ (Ecclisiarchy world concept) the knights are seen as moving, fighting reliquaries by the planets natives.

+ there are political conflict between the hive nobility and the knight houses

[Gamiel]

Ocean Hive World, what about a water version of Mortal Engines. Giant City sized Ships sailing around

Like it, but I think the Mortal Engines wandering cities are to small to be considerd hives.

 

At least one of the Girls und Panzer mangas had the main characters living on a city sized mega-ship, maybe we could do something around that? Also I can really see an Wh40k world considering tank fighting to be a school sport. 

[Kelborn]

I stand corrected, apologies.

 

Can't remember what I intended to write but it was late and my brain mixed up the categories and those which were discussed.

 

The current results look very promising!

 

Nonetheless, I kinda dig the mortal engines idea, which could be combined with Knights, political stuff and so on.

 

Glad that we already settled on Obscurus as it seems.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

+ the Knight household/s live outside the hives and consider the hivevers pampered weaklings and/or uncultured tech-barbarians

How about having the Knights be foreign mercenaries that serve as the high king's personal guards, i.e., a WH40K version of the Varangian Guard?

+ (Ecclisiarchy world concept) the knights are seen as moving, fighting reliquaries by the planets natives.

This can also work for a forge world, with religious wars regularly erupting between the AdMech and the Ecclesiarchy, and between sects within the Ecclesiarchy itself, unless strictly enforced laws are passed to prevent this.

 

I'm also reminded of the battle pilgrims who accompany Grail Knights and, if the knight is dead, bear the dead bodies upon their shoulders as Grail Reliquae, from Warhammer Fantasy.

[Sete]

Didnt hive world won the previous poll, with Nihilus as setting? Edited October 28, 2021 by Sete

[TechCaptain]

Hive is technically exclusive of Forge World. Forge Worlds are the extreme end of productivity and wholly under the priests of Mars and their branches but a world divided between techpriests and imperial cult sounds like a fun one to start. I still think a division of above the water and below the water would be a cool one. Above is the home of the shrines and floating islands, monster shrine ships. Below is the underwater habitats and facilities of quarries and processing centers.

[Minigiant]

Didnt hive world won the previous poll, with Nihilus as setting?

Nihilus is not a Segmentum. So we will be set in the Nihilus half of the Imperium. This will determine where in that half.

 

As for Hives Kelborn left a comment explaining. Yes it will be a Hive world but a Hive-____ what is what this poll is looking for.

 

I went for Ecclesiarchy as I can see massive cathedral spires across a blasted waste land but it looks like Ocean is winning

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Forge Worlds are the extreme end of productivity and wholly under the priests of Mars and their branches but a world divided between techpriests and imperial cult sounds like a fun one to start. I still think a division of above the water and below the water would be a cool one. Above is the home of the shrines and floating islands, monster shrine ships. Below is the underwater habitats and facilities of quarries and processing centers.

Makes sense for an ocean world, with tech-priests (who may have augmetic frames to let them survive the pressure of the ocean depths, augmetic lungs/gills to let them breathe underwater) living on the underwater portions of hive cities, building and then maintaining the geothermal power plants taking advantage of underwater volcanic vents; and relatively normal humans living on the above water portions of hive cities.

 

This means we can minimize conflicts between the AdMech and Ecclesiarchy elements on-world- no Ministorum priests can lead a lynch mob against tech-priests in the underwater portions, without using scuba gear the tech-priests are responsible for manufacturing and maintaining- unless an off-world idiot comes to cause trouble.

 

I can foresee the Alpha Legion manipulating an off-world Cardinal to "Call for the faithful to purge the ocean world of the Adeptus Mechanicus' influence!" and the Inquisition assassinating this Cardinal for actions that would devastate one of the Emperor's worlds and effectively deliver it to His Immortal Majesty's enemies.

Edited October 29, 2021 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Doctor Perils]

Ocean Hive World, what about a water version of Mortal Engines. Giant City sized Ships sailing around

How about Maori Knights traveling between the natural archipelagos on giant ships, with hive-cities built over promethium deposits?

[TPS]

 

We've seen discussions about an ocean hive world, an agri world and so on but haven't seen that interest represented in the respective votes.

I have talked about ocean, agri and hive world concept becouse they were the ones with most votes then.

 

 

 On the other hand, Knight worlds, etc. had quite a lot votes but were almost not discussed.

Give me a movment...

(working here with that the worlds is also a hiva and/or ocean world)

+ the Knight household/s live outside the hives and consider the hivevers pampered weaklings and/or uncultured tech-barbarians

+ the Knight household/s are the planets high nobility, from which the planetary governor is chosen

+ the Knight households live deep under the sea and have little contact with the hives beside appearing the few times the planet have been attacked, and when the hives have been late with the households due of material and equipment. 

+ All the households knights was sent out on missions of honour and glory and as of jet they have not returned. That was generations ago but the household stewards forbid any talk about the House having died out and they keep all the Knight-suits hangars and repair shops clean, functioning and fully stocked, for that day when the households masters return.

+ specialise in hive fighting with lots of smaller knight-suits

+ the household/s have few knights but lots of house-sworn servants-at-arms and unless a conflict is seen as highly important (strategically, honourably or glory-vise) do the chapter only send servants-at-arms led by a (non-knight bound) noble.

+ (Ecclisiarchy world concept) the knights are seen as moving, fighting reliquaries by the planets natives.

+ there are political conflict between the hive nobility and the knight houses

 

In Titandeath, there's a scene where a Warhound goes underwater in order to pass the remains of a destroyed hive spire. It is possible that Knights could function while submerged, albeit limited on how deep they can go (the Titan crew is quite terrified of falling off the continental shelf, so the deep sea is probably off-limits). Maybe, the knightly nobles only visit the world for training and supplies, but certainly have an interest in the AdMech being in control of the mining operations?

 

Also, since I read that Titandeath passage, the idea of submarine Titans is living rent-free in my head. Maybe, someone actually fell off the continental shelf and prayed to the wrong god(s) for salvation ...

[Bjorn Firewalker]

How about Maori Knights traveling between the natural archipelagos on giant ships, with hive-cities built over promethium deposits?

Excellent idea, and a good alternative to "Viking Knights." And considering who's one of the most famous Maori in M3, we can also make use if my proposed "Space Knight" (a warsuit kitbashed with Stormtalon gunship and/or Stormhawk interceptor components, so it can fly), to serve as WH40K Mandalorians.

It is possible that Knights could function while submerged, albeit limited on how deep they can go (the Titan crew is quite terrified of falling off the continental shelf, so the deep sea is probably off-limits). Maybe, the knightly nobles only visit the world for training and supplies, but certainly have an interest in the AdMech being in control of the mining operations?

Time to kitbash "Sea Titans" and "Sea Knights," write up Stats and Special Rules for god-machines and warsuits specifically modified for naval and amphibious combat.

Also, since I read that Titandeath passage, the idea of submarine Titans is living rent-free in my head. Maybe, someone actually fell off the continental shelf and prayed to the wrong god(s) for salvation ...

Excellent idea! We can have its gun barrels mutate into fire-breathing beast heads, to represent the mythological Scylla; and put a giant toothy maw in its chest, to represent Charybdis. Edited October 29, 2021 by Bjorn Firewalker

[TechCaptain]

Maybe an idea that isn’t something with Knights fighting yet. (As we are starting small.) but might be cool and playing off an earlier idea. How about a Titan did break down walking through the infinite ocean and now the moss covered wreckage and pieces are an area of contestation during the upcoming battles as both sides try to recover pieces of said Titan that may or may not have like black rock inhibitors in it….

[Gamiel]

Maybe an idea that isn’t something with Knights fighting yet. (As we are starting small.) but might be cool and playing off an earlier idea. How about a Titan did break down walking through the infinite ocean and now the moss covered wreckage and pieces are an area of contestation during the upcoming battles as both sides try to recover pieces of said Titan that may or may not have like black rock inhibitors in it….

Or if we want escalation can we have that a downed Titan is found at the end of the first or second stage, leading to some new factions suddenly finding the planet very interesting

 

 

It is possible that Knights could function while submerged, albeit limited on how deep they can go 

We have one HH story/fluff piece where a group of Knights marches across the ocean floor to where they belive the big fight is happening (think it was that their transport had been shot doen or something like that).

Edited October 29, 2021 by Gamiel

[Kelborn]

Now that result is rather obvious. Including Hive from the previous one, we got:

 

Hive

Ocean

Knight

(+ Agri) <- we could implement themes of such but I'd rather say we don't use too many themes on a single world. Sure, our world is multicolored and diversified, too but for the beginning, let's keep it simple.

 

Already read some intriguing ideas like Maori Knights.

Heck, even my Samurai vs Kaijo themed House Toho could jump in, as well.

 

Lots of possibilities! :D

 

*edit*

And furthermore, it's settled that well be operating in the Segmentum Obscurus. Had a quick look on present canon factions and there's certainly enough space for us to play with.

Edited October 30, 2021 by Kelborn