[BC] The Blackest Heart (OOC)

[FabiusV4lcoran]

Hey e'erbodeh; I'm finalizing my character as a psyker; he's not very fiery or change-related yet, just basic spells and I'm looking at spending the extra XP.

 

Do y'all recommend spreading it around for little bumps in a couple different areas, or does one generally prefer to specialize early? 

[Lysimachus]

The xenos threat, no match for the might of the Corsairs who followed the intrepid assault parties, and the kanker at the heart of the rock, a mighty Genestealer Patriarch did savage battle with the Space Wolf and his immediate entourage in the heart of a Necrontyr acropolis.

 

 

That's a shame, this sounds like it would have been fun to play through! (For the combat focused characters, at least...)

 

Would we have been part of Iorek's squad?

 

[Necronaut]

1 hour ago, FabiusV4lcoran said:

Hey e'erbodeh; I'm finalizing my character as a psyker; he's not very fiery or change-related yet, just basic spells and I'm looking at spending the extra XP.

 

Do y'all recommend spreading it around for little bumps in a couple different areas, or does one generally prefer to specialize early? 

 

That's a tough call in Black Crusade. I find well-rounded characters to be more interesting to play, but BC generally rewards/encourages early specialization. Really, what I find works best is to find a theme and stick to it like industrial-strength epoxy, and then your character will more or less build him/herself.

[Lysimachus]

1 hour ago, FabiusV4lcoran said:

Hey e'erbodeh; I'm finalizing my character as a psyker; he's not very fiery or change-related yet, just basic spells and I'm looking at spending the extra XP.

 

Do y'all recommend spreading it around for little bumps in a couple different areas, or does one generally prefer to specialize early? 

 

 

Just had a quick nose at your sheet in the BH folder - I hate to say it but unless I'm missing something major, I think you might have worked out your Characteristics wrong? Ballistic Skill 76 is... unlikely? As is multiple stats in the 50s or 60s, especially for a mortal Character...? 

 

[Necronaut]

'Cor! E's a bloody Primarch!

[Mazer Rackham]

6 minutes ago, Necronaut said:

'Cor! E's a bloody Primarch!

 

*Makes note*

 

*Players want a Primarch...*

 

*Thinks...steeples fingers...reaches conclusion...giggles.*

 

1 hour ago, Lysimachus said:

Would we have been part of Iorek's squad?

 

Would have depended on your choices, where you went, if you were alive after a massive battle on the third floor of the building, etc.

 

16 minutes ago, Lysimachus said:

Just had a quick nose at your sheet in the BH folder - I hate to say it but unless I'm missing something major, I think you might have worked out your Characteristics wrong? Ballistic Skill 76 is... unlikely? As is multiple stats in the 50s or 60s, especially for a mortal Character...? 

 

How did you go about rolling up, Fabius? The rest of your sheet looks like you've got a good handle on it so far. Just needs a little polish. 

[FabiusV4lcoran]

35 minutes ago, Necronaut said:

 

That's a tough call in Black Crusade. I find well-rounded characters to be more interesting to play, but BC generally rewards/encourages early specialization. Really, what I find works best is to find a theme and stick to it like industrial-strength epoxy, and then your character will more or less build him/herself.

Okay that's kinda been the philosophy so far, so I'll continue with that idea.  Thanks!

 

36 minutes ago, Lysimachus said:

 

 

Just had a quick nose at your sheet in the BH folder - I hate to say it but unless I'm missing something major, I think you might have worked out your Characteristics wrong? Ballistic Skill 76 is... unlikely? As is multiple stats in the 50s or 60s, especially for a mortal Character...? 

 

 

9 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

How did you go about rolling up, Fabius? The rest of your sheet looks like you've got a good handle on it so far. Just needs a little polish. 

Oopsk...hmm.  So it looks like I actually rolled a 51 on that...and then you're supposed to add 25 to all the numbers for it?  I mean I also rolled a 1 (that I tossed out per the rules), a 4 (T), and an 11 (S).  Then I have to add 25 per the book right?  I didn't move them around; those are what I rolled in order with the 01 tossed out for the Dark Gods' blessing.

[Necronaut]

7 minutes ago, FabiusV4lcoran said:

Oopsk...hmm.  So it looks like I actually rolled a 51 on that...and then you're supposed to add 25 to all the numbers for it?  I mean I also rolled a 1 (that I tossed out per the rules), a 4 (T), and an 11 (S).  Then I have to add 25 per the book right?  I didn't move them around; those are what I rolled in order with the 01 tossed out for the Dark Gods' blessing.

 

I see the problem: you're supposed to roll 2D10 and add 25, not 1D100. As it is 2D10 that you're supposed to be rolling for your stats, the unmodified scores should fall in a range between 2-20, then you add 25 to that.

[FabiusV4lcoran]

That's embarassing, lol.  I'll fix that in a bit!

[Lysimachus]

11 minutes ago, Necronaut said:

 

I see the problem: you're supposed to roll 2D10 and add 25, not 1D100. As it is 2D10 that you're supposed to be rolling for your stats, the unmodified scores should fall in a range between 2-20, then you add 25 to that.

 

 

The other option allowed is to start at 25 for each stat, then take 100 points and divide them out among the various stats, with the maximum you can add to any given stat of 20.

 

This gives you a range of between 25 and 45 for each starting stat (before any changes due to the Passions or XP spends that could take it higher!)

 

That allows you to focus a bit more on the stats that are important to your Archetype, but some prefer to stick to the randomness of the 2d10 rolls?

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2025 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

It's a bit of a blub from me as well, as onboarding new players isn't something I do often, and I should have specified the criteria for Chargen. I do generally advocate for random, and my default position as GM and Player is to roll random, not allocate. It doesn't bother me if people have done that, but it is a good reminder I need to include that in my campaign rules.

[Lysimachus]

I generally agree on rolling rather than allocating.

 

Of course we tend to decide on Archetype before rolling our Characters' stats, which is actually backwards as far as the proper order of things in the book goes. If you roll first, you can then choose which Archetype is best suited (i.e. high WS = pick a melee fighter).

 

However, if you know you want to play a psyker, and then roll badly for Wp, it's a bit awkward? I know you have 1 reroll, but sometimes that doesn't go as far as you'd like.

 

I quite like the House Rule I've seen before that allows you 1 reroll and the option to swap 2 of your rolls around to better fit the character you have in mind.

 

 

Edited December 23, 2025 by Lysimachus

[FabiusV4lcoran]

30 minutes ago, Lysimachus said:

 

 

The other option allowed is to start at 25 for each stat, then take 100 points and divide them out among the various stats, with the maximum you can add to any given stat of 20.

 

This gives you a range of between 25 and 45 for each starting stat (before any changes due to the Passions or XP spends that could take it higher!)

 

That allows you to focus a bit more on the stats that are important to your Archetype, but some prefer to stick to the randomness of the 2d10 rolls?

 

 

 

Yeah given that it's 40k I have easier time coming up with characters for it, I'm pretty okay with permadeath and this guy not lasting forever.  I think the randomness suits me better.  Thanks for the clarification!

 

15 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

It's a bit of a blub from me as well, as onboarding new players isn't something I do often, and I should have specified the criteria for Chargen. I do generally advocate for random, and my default position as GM and Player is to roll random, not allocate. It doesn't bother me if people have done that, but it is a good reminder I need to include that in my campaign rules.

Nah I shoulda asked if I wasn't sure.  As stated, I LOVE random.  I have an easier time accepting random than I do responsibility for choosing poorly.  lol

[FabiusV4lcoran]

28 minutes ago, Lysimachus said:

I generally agree on rolling rather than allocating.

 

Of course we tend to decide on Archetype before rolling our Characters' stats, which is actually backwards as far as the proper order of things in the book goes. If you roll first, you can then choose which Archetype is best suited (i.e. high WS = pick a melee fighter).

 

However, if you know you want to play a psyker, and then roll badly for Wp, it's a bit awkward? I know you have 1 reroll, but sometimes that doesn't go as far as you'd like.

 

I quite like the House Rule I've seen before that allows you 1 reroll and the option to swap 2 of your rolls around to better fit the character you have in mind.

 

 

That's a good point.  When I reroll tonight I might have to go with something completely different...............or I roll out six characters, take the best one for a psyker, and just hold on to the other rolls for later.....you know, the Fabius Bile cloning approach.

[Mazer Rackham]

47 minutes ago, Lysimachus said:

I quite like the House Rule I've seen before that allows you 1 reroll and the option to swap 2 of your rolls around to better fit the character you have in mind.

 

It's a decent rule to delete frustration - allocating, of course takes that out, because if you roll boxcars you just stick it where you want it. Might be an idea that instead of a re-roll, you could swap a stat out if you're happy enough with your results.

 

In the end, poor rolls for Ballistic Skill if you're a Gunman aren't fatal - with all the bonuses you get to Hit, you can negate a lot of it. Same with Psykers, you get bonuses to your Willpower when you add Power Rating via 'Push'. Obviously, the latter is just about how much you want to risk blowing up the universe.

 

If you're really desperate on the stats due to poor dice, Players can always give me a shout and we can take a look.

Edited December 23, 2025 by Mazer Rackham

[Lord_Ikka]

Hmm. After much internal debate (I totally didn't forget to spend my 500 XP from the last stoppage, or the 50 XP that he had earlier, honest...), Crux'as will take Logic - Trained for 200 and Scrutiny - Trained for 200. That puts him up to 3 Tzeentch, 2 Slaanesh, 2 Unaligned upgrades, so still Unaligned overall and 150 XP left over. 

 

I also added the looted stub revolver to his gear. I weirdly had a good-quality laspistol in my personal character sheet but not on the shared one, so let's say that it was lost in one of the various transits he had to take with the Genestealers. Crux'as isn't a fighter, so losing a weapon is not the end of the world. 

 

I think I'm ready to resume whenever. Just finished re-reading what happened and getting back into the mind of the Smiler.

Edited December 24, 2025 by Lord_Ikka

[FabiusV4lcoran]

I was actually confused on how alignment works because the data thread says it's based on actions over stats, but I don't know the cost for XP?  Do we use that table or is there a flat XP cost for talents etc?

[Trokair]

3 hours ago, Lysimachus said:

Of course we tend to decide on Archetype before rolling our Characters' stats, which is actually backwards as far as the proper order of things in the book goes. If you roll first, you can then choose which Archetype is best suited (i.e. high WS = pick a melee fighter).

 

I find it adds a bit of realness. Just because we might want our character to play a certain way doesn’t mean they are any good at it. Kind of the difference between what they think they can do and what they can actually do.

 

And the one reroll has so far always been enough to safe a character generation if it went really bad.

 

 

4 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

*Makes note*

 

*Players want a Primarch...*

 

*Thinks...steeples fingers...reaches conclusion...giggles.*

 

Are GM's suposed to giggle so much? 

 

22 minutes ago, Lord_Ikka said:

I weirdly had a good-quality laspistol in my personal character sheet but not on the shared one, so let's say that it was lost in one of the various transits he had to take with the Genestealers. Crux'as isn't a fighter, so losing a weapon is not the end of the world. 

 

Was it one of the bits of equipment that Mazer made us sacrifice on character gen on acount of us being prisonners. 

 

 

[Trokair]

21 minutes ago, FabiusV4lcoran said:

I was actually confused on how alignment works because the data thread says it's based on actions over stats, but I don't know the cost for XP?  Do we use that table or is there a flat XP cost for talents etc?

 

You start as unaligned, which treats all alignments as allied so initial spend for characteristic advances and skills are as per table 2-6 and 2-7 (both on page 77) and for talents as per table 2-9 (page 78).

[Lord_Ikka]

24 minutes ago, Trokair said:

Was it one of the bits of equipment that Mazer made us sacrifice on character gen on acount of us being prisonners. 

Definitely a possibility. Like I said, I'm not worried about it. The Smiler now has a pew-pew, which given his recent attempts to use BaSk, might not be the best thing for anyone around him.

[Mazer Rackham]

7 hours ago, Trokair said:

Are GM's suposed to giggle so much? 

 

A GM cannot and should not confirm nor deny his giggling quota.

 

Edited December 24, 2025 by Mazer Rackham

[Machine God]

BTW - What XP total should the established Characters be on?

[Lord_Ikka]

1900 I believe

[Lysimachus]

Hagga is on 1500, so mortals should be on 2k for their extra starting amount?

 

@Lord_Ikka I think you are missing when Mazer initially gave us 400, but revised it to 500 as the standard amount for a session?

 

 

[Lord_Ikka]

Oooh, so I have another 100? Yea, I can buy something!