The Horn of Gilgamesh - Initial Discussion and eventual OOC Thread

[Trokair]

The Horn of Gilgamesh

 

Ladies, Gentlemen, Princeps, Moderati and Tech-Priest, ready your God-Engines, it is time for a Walk.

 

 

 

This game was original envisioned for 3 to 4 players (One Princeps, one or two Moderati and one Tech-Priest) playing co-operatively to control a Warhound Titan.

 

 

However given that the OW game that was due to start soon is now paused for a bit and there are likely more interested players I could see this game having more players by either:

• Having a second Titan, making space for an additional 3 to 4 players

 and/or

• Some players take on the roles that are ancillary to a Titan Crew on the understanding that their play/participation might be more limited during any actual Titan Walk segments but otherwise are full members of the party. This is my preferred option as the vague story line I have in mind was based on a one Titan game.

 

Such ancillary roles can really be anything as long as you can justify the inclusion to me.  

For example a member of the Secutarii, or one of the Autokratoris (they are to Titans what Sacristans are to Knights, ie the maintenance and care specialists).

Perhaps a liaison form another Imperial Institution, such as an Ministorum Cleric there to bless and sanctify the Walk.

 

 

Fluff

The Titan Crew belong to a cadet branch of one of the Big Named Titan Legions. I don’t know enough about the named Legions to go into more specifics, it should not matter for the story.

Other players if there are any are either ancillary to the same (Secutarii, Autokratoris and such) or from a separate background as relevant and agreed.

For narrative purposes Titan Crew (and any ancillary) should assume that while they are part of the same Titan Legion none of you have met in person before this mission (as you will see from the game into when that goes ahead), though you can decide on a case by cases if your character has heard of the other characters (by reputation, gossip, etc).

 

 

Mechanics

I am going to be using Dark Heresy (1^st Edition) as the base for general game play, with the Vehicle Rules as per Deathwatch Rites of Battle with some modification.

 

 

Characters

Aside from the Tech-Priest I am not aware of any Carerer Paths that are a good fit for this, so my general thought was that player chose one that vaguely makes sense in terms of available skills and talents. For an example the Moderatus could be based off the Adept or maybe a Guardsmen for one more militarily trained. Feel free to make suggestion.

 

Also as Titan crews are well trained and valuable I was thinking of starting character of at a higher rank. The extra XP should help players build their character into something relevant to the game scenario. Initial thought is 4,000 XP, which is a third of the way into rank 5 (3,000 to 5,999). I would ask that you limit spending on higher rank table choice to what you would have been able to do if this was progressive starting from rank 1. As rank 5 starts at 3,000 XP you can only spend 1,000 of your starting XP on rank 5 choices. As rank 4 is 2,000 to 2,999 you could spend up to 2,000 of your starting XP on rank 4 choices, however doing so would cut into you rank 5 allowances if that makes sense.

 

Titan Crew regardless of which Career Path chosen will start with the following (as applicable):

• Mind Impulse Unit: Best for Princeps and Tech-priest, Good for Moderati
• Dress uniform: Princeps and Moderati
• Walksuit: Princeps and Moderati – Think of this as the Titan equivalent a flight suit for pilot – AP4 All Locations , counts as Voidsuite, Helmet includes Micro-bead.
  While in the Titan you have to wear this, outside of this you can wear other gear you have from character creation or otherwise obtained.
• Standard issue side arm: Princeps and Moderati, Tech Priest can choose to have it as well. Autopistol with +2 Damage, +2 Pen, RoF of S/3/6 and Reliable
• Mono Edged ceremonial Sabre: Princeps
• Common Lore (Machine Cult, Imperium, Tech, War, Titan): All
• Scholastic Lore (Heraldry, Tactica Imperialis, Titan): All
• Forbidden Lore (Archeotech , Adeptus Mechanicus, Titan): Tech-Priest
• Command: Princeps

 

 

Titan

I am using the Warhound Titan on p186 of DW RoB as a starting point with the following modifications:

 

Instead of having an overall Armour and Structural Integrity value the Ttian has individual values as listed below. Hits are allocated the same way as hits to players, except that the Legs are one unified entity and not two separate, as critical damage to a leg is probably going to be pretty lethal for the entire titan.   Critical hits will use the same tables as if it was a player character (modified as need by GM fiat to make sense in context).

 

Head: Armour: 45 Front and Side, Structural Integrity: 10 – The head cannot be hit from the rear, any hits that are allocated to the head from the rear hit Torso instead.  

Torso: Front 50, Side 45, Rear 45, Structural Integrity: 30

Right Weapon: Armour: 45 All Round, Structural Integrity: 10

Left Weapon: Armour: 45 All Round, Structural Integrity: 10

Legs: Armour: 50 All round, Structural Integrity: 30

 

Reactor Level 

• Low – Energy reliant weapons cannot fire, movement is limited to half action, reduces Detectability by auspex/sensors by -20
• Normal -
• Stressed -
• Critical Low – Detectability by auspex/sensors by +20,
• Critical – Detectability by auspex/sensors by +20, Went Plasma Titan Action and Emergency Repair Titan Action are at -5
• Supercritical – Detectability by auspex/sensors by +20, Went Plasma Titan Action and Emergency Repair Titan Action is are at -10, Emergnacy Power Down Titan Action at -10 (on the Tech-Use Test) Additionally If the reactor level would rises above Supercrittical the Torso takes d5 Structural Integrity Damage. Each subsequent Reactor level rise (if the reactor level has not been lowered since the last such rise) increases the tests modifier by 5 (so +25 Detctability, -15 for Plasma Vent/Repair/Power Down, then +30 & -20 and so on)

 

 

Titan Action

The Warhound Titan will have 2 Titan Actions (or 4 Half Titan Actions or 1 Full Titan Actions and 2 Half Titan Actions) per structure time round. A Titan Action is a normal player action of the same type (i.e half or full) that dose anything of the bellow lists. As there are three or four players crewing the titan you need to coordinate who does what, the remaing crew can take other actions from the normal lists of actions as applicable, including potentially assisting in some way with the Titan Action:

 

Titan Action List:

• All vehicle movement Actions (full or half as appropriate)
• Shoot Titan Weapon (Half, Full, SAB, FAB etc)
• Shoot another Titan Weapon (Half, Full, SAB, FAB etc). If 2nd Power Drawing weapon then raise Reactor Level by One step                                           
• Went Plasma (Full Action, Challanging (+0) Tech-Use: Pass reduce Reactor Level by one step, 3 or more Dos Reduce Reactor level by two steps)
• Emergency Repair (Full Action, Challanging (+0) Tech-Use, on Pass restore d5 Structural Integrity/Critical damage to one location
• Restore Voidshiled (Full action as per p186 of DW RoB)
• Use Enhanced Auspex Arrays as per p186 of DW RoB
• Use Long Range Comms Array (Full Action, Ordinary (+10) Tech-Use to use comms up to: 25km (secure) or 150km (open))                                           
• Emergnacy Power Down (2 Full Action: Hard (-20) Tech-Use & Difficult (-10) Pilot Test performed by two crew, if both pass: Titan powers down, voidshields turn of and Reactor level drops to Low, if only one test passes then same but take d5 Structural Integrity Damage to Torso)

 

Other actions that crew can take:

• All normal actions in the combat section of the rules as applicable
• Push Reactor – Challanging (+0) Tech-Use, raise Reactor level by one unless 3 or more DoS. Success on test allows one of the following:
  • Increase Tactical Speed by 50% for any Titan movement actions the same turn
  • Provide +30 Assistance to Enhanced Auspex Arrays/ Long Range Comms Array Titan action used the same turn
  • Allow Plasma Plastgun to fire on Maximal Setting
  • Create a third temporary void shield for d5 rounds
  • Allow a Third Full Titan Action this turn
• Use Auspex/comms for shorter range/more local things
• Assess damage (Full Action: Challanging (+0) Perception Test, Pass provides +15 Assistance to Emergency Repair or Went Plasma Titan Action this or next turn) Note: Can be stacked if multiple crew perform action 
• Aim for a weapon (Half or Full) - Allow one crew to aim a weapon and another to fire that weapon in the same turn
• Assist other Crew Member – Full action, no test, provide +10 to other Crew Members action this turn

 

 

 

So erm yes, here is the somewhat rushed and work in progress start of this experimental game idea. Comment and complaints away.         

 

Edit: updated                                                                    

Edited June 10 by Trokair
Update details

[Mazer Rackham]

Sounds like a good premise, Tro. Big stompy robot!

 

I'm afraid I'll not be available to ride in this one, but I'll help out where I can, and I know the techy-nauts of the Nook will certainly be able to help you shape this up. Keeping the Warhound a simple vehicle I think is a strength here.

 

My instinct would be to avoid diving too deeply into the mechanics of the titan's jodhpurs.

 

Looks good!

[A.T.]

Warhounds did always used to operate in pairs after all.

[Lysimachus]

It's an awesome idea, very iconic 40k!

 

In terms of the practicalities, I wonder if it might be a bit hard to give all players something to do? Also, the Princeps is very much in charge of what his titan does, so does that mean that whoever plays him is going to give orders and the other players will just do what they're told?

 

In some ways, I'd say it might work better to make each player a Princeps with a titan to control? A Canis Maniple of Warhounds could be up to 5 players?

 

Edit: or perhaps the even simpler option to scratch the 'big, stompy robot itch' might be to do a Knight based game...? Single pilot simplifies things substantially, and variety of weapon loadouts would allow for variety between players, even if you only used the 'standard' Knight chassis?

 

 

 

 

Edited June 4 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

If you do want to do the Knight game, feel free to use whatever you want from 'Knights of the Golden Throne'.

 

I'd keep it simple, though - whilst that discussion had the amazing, almost mechwarrior-level of multiple systems using the ship rules from Rogue Trader, I think it would be better to cleave closer to your ideas and principles above, for a lighter admin load.

[Trokair]

3 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

I'm afraid I'll not be available to ride in this one, but I'll help out where I can, and I know the techy-nauts of the Nook will certainly be able to help you shape this up. Keeping the Warhound a simple vehicle I think is a strength here.

 

My instinct would be to avoid diving too deeply into the mechanics of the titan's jodhpurs.

 

On the one hand keeping the titan simple will make it easier on everybody. So that may well still end up being the case. On the other hand however, looking at the vehicle rules, I feel like they are not going to give a proper play experience for such a complex machine. Hence the few amendments I have suggested so far (distinct body parts, reactor level).

 

2 hours ago, A.T. said:

Warhounds did always used to operate in pairs after all.

 

Pairs are the most comment grouping, but far from mandatory. Also current plot bullet point list address that... (if we ever get that far).

 

1 hour ago, Lysimachus said:

In terms of the practicalities, I wonder if it might be a bit hard to give all players something to do? Also, the Princeps is very much in charge of what his titan does, so does that mean that whoever plays him is going to give orders and the other players will just do what they're told?

 

I was envisaging that the Princeps is the ‘ designated lead’ of the team when dealing with NPC and such (same way Sergeants and similar function in normal games) but amongst the players everybody is equal and no one is subordinate to another player.

 

In terms of things to do, I get the concern, which is in part why I envisage this to be co-operative play where the players have to work together and coordinate to make the most out of the titan action. This may well be a more narrative game and a less combat game so as to be more freeform.

 

1 hour ago, Lysimachus said:

In some ways, I'd say it might work better to make each player a Princeps with a titan to control? A Canis Maniple of Warhounds could be up to 5 players?

 

Potentially down the road, especially if the planed story of this trial game gets a follow up, then a maniple going for a walk could be on the cards, but for this initial game I’d rather stick to just one titan just to test the waters.

 

1 hour ago, Lysimachus said:

Edit: or perhaps the even simpler option to scratch the 'big, stompy robot itch' might be to do a Knight based game...? Single pilot simplifies things substantially, and variety of weapon loadouts would allow for variety between players, even if you only used the 'standard' Knight chassis?

 

Maybe. However my first though/worry is that that would play out more like normal DW game with a group of marines (or dreadnaughts) running around independently from each other. And that isn’t what I am looking for with this game idea. This is a team that has to work together to act as one* (give or take) instead of a group acting separately towards the same (or not so same) goal.

 

*Like a Baneblade crew in a tank duel or a rough trader officer crew working their ship. (My one experience of a RT game did not go that far, so not sure how much a RT game actually goes towards this concept. And at the time I remember feeling a bit lost/struggling with how to play my character as I had not quite got my head around having NPC at a players direction and that we were ranking officer of a ship with a crew.)

 

 

1 hour ago, Mazer Rackham said:

If you do want to do the Knight game, feel free to use whatever you want from 'Knights of the Golden Throne'.

 

I'd keep it simple, though - whilst that discussion had the amazing, almost mechwarrior-level of multiple systems using the ship rules from Rogue Trader, I think it would be better to cleave closer to your ideas and principles above, for a lighter admin load.

 

I remember reading through that thread at some point and think that would be fun, but also a real big challenge to play from a logistic/admin side. I don’t think I can pull that off. If I were to do knights they probably bew more like Dreadnaugh XXL rule wise. 

[Necronaut]

@Trokair the Dreadnought solo campaign that @Mazer Rackhamhastily, and very generously, threw together for me spring/summer of last year was an absolute blast and I can't recommend a stompy robot/mech-warrior style campaign strongly enough. Titans seem like it would be that on steroids. Not sure if I would be able to commit to this sort of thing at this time, but I am keenly interested to see what you come up with!

[Lord_Ikka]

Secutarii Alpha Psi-Darius-XII reporting in.

 

I don't think I would be great for a main character in this one, but I think as an in-and-out helper I can be of service.

[Trokair]

7 hours ago, Lord_Ikka said:

Secutarii Alpha Psi-Darius-XII reporting in.

 

I don't think I would be great for a main character in this one, but I think as an in-and-out helper I can be of service.

 

Fair enough and welcome abord. 

 

 

7 hours ago, Necronaut said:

@Trokair the Dreadnought solo campaign that @Mazer Rackhamhastily, and very generously, threw together for me spring/summer of last year was an absolute blast and I can't recommend a stompy robot/mech-warrior style campaign strongly enough. Titans seem like it would be that on steroids. Not sure if I would be able to commit to this sort of thing at this time, but I am keenly interested to see what you come up with!

 

 

I remember reading part of that, looked like good fun, and also a bit hectic I think (though that could have been more as a result of dipping in and out in the reading).

 

 

[Xin Ceithan]

I’d love to contribute to this in some form - I’ll gladly be in second line here but if no one else is willing I won’t say No princepsing a Titan 

I mean, it’s all stompy

 robots and techno mysticism.  Glory to the Omnissiah!

 

[Trokair]

So right now we have:

 

Titan Crew

Princeps – Xin Ceithan- potentially

Moderati :  

 - Moderatus –

 - Moderatus –

Tech-Priest –

 

Ancillary

Secutarii – Lord_Ikka

[Iron Father Ferrum]

I would *love* to command a Titan.

[Trokair]

34 minutes ago, Iron Father Ferrum said:

I would *love* to command a Titan.

 

Welcome aboard, did you have a specific role in mid or are you ok with any of them? 

[Iron Father Ferrum]

*Command*, I said.  Not to put too fine a point on it  

 

Edit for clarity: Xin said he'd take a second seat, so I assumed I could slot in as Princeps.

Edited June 6 by Iron Father Ferrum

[Machine God]

10 hours ago, Trokair said:

So right now we have:

 

Titan Crew

Princeps – Xin Ceithan- potentially

Moderati :  

 - Moderatus –

 - Moderatus –

Tech-Priest –

 

Ancillary

Secutarii – Lord_Ikka

 

Do the Moderati get access to Plasma weaponry? 

 

 

[Trokair]

1 hour ago, Iron Father Ferrum said:

*Command*, I said.  Not to put too fine a point on it  

 

Edit for clarity: Xin said he'd take a second seat, so I assumed I could slot in as Princeps.

 

Ok, so you can be the ‘retired from active duty’ higher up who Commands the Titan into battle from the safety of orbit. Yes? 

 

Jokes aside, I did get the gist of your original post, and I also read Xin’s post as him being ok with another position if someone else wanted to be the Princeps. However as a GM I wanted to double check so as to not runn into issues later.

 

So @Xin Ceithan, for clarity, are you ok with another role on the Crew (or ancillary player character like Lord_Ikka is intending) or do we need to arrange a duel at dawn with Iron Father Ferrum.

 

43 minutes ago, Machine God said:

Do the Moderati get access to Plasma weaponry? 

 

There is certainly a chance that the Warhound will come with a Plasma Blastgun (1/4 just like any of the other four weapon options).  

 

As for acquiring a personal plasma weapon, well....  as Mazer would say, Faustian bargains can indeed be made, what are you prefered to offer in exchnage? 

[Xin Ceithan]

12 hours ago, Trokair said:

So @Xin Ceithan, for clarity, are you ok with another role on the Crew (or ancillary player character like Lord_Ikka is intending) or do we need to arrange a duel at dawn with Iron Father Ferrum.

I’m totally fine with this, especially since you mentioned this being intended to be a shake down episode to take the rules for a spin, so  it’s probably smart having someone who can post on shorter notice to keep the momentum up 

 

If this works out, there might still be an opportunity later ( and I’ve always fancied the Reaver over the Warhaound anyway… )

 

Also,  I am not really a morning person, so we’d have to skip that duel at dawn anyway..

 

Edit after thinking a bit about it, I think I’d Auxiliary or Techpriest rather than the second Moderati position - or maybe “supporting Princess  “ if you are looking into play testing a second, one player,  Warhound on a Scout Titan Pair alomg the multi crew set up? 

Edited June 7 by Xin Ceithan

[Trokair]

Thanks Xin, pencilling you in for the Tech-Prist for now. I take it from your post that time for hobbing is still tight for you.

 

 

So assuming MG does indeed take the first Moderati space then that has us at a minimal number for the game to go ahead.

 

I am going to try and sort out more of the backend stuff in the next week (or two) including the usual google doc folder with character sheets for everybody to use.

 

 

Titan Crew

Princeps – Iron Father Ferrum

Moderati :  

 - Moderatus – Machine God - potentially 

 - Moderatus –

Tech-Priest – Xin Ceithan - potentially

 

Ancillary

Secutarii – Lord_Ikka

 

[Mazer Rackham]

So IFF gets the big chair...

 

And Xin is the Techie who controls the chair....

 

Hmm.....

 

IFF: 'Adeptus Maximal, why is my chair turning my posterior into a grilled waffle?'

Xin: 'The machine demands the rites of cooling, my Princeps.'

IFF: 'How much hotter will it get?'

Xin: *Turns the dial up* 'Yes.'

 

Edited June 7 by Mazer Rackham

[A.T.]

Always happy to jump in and fill any empty seats - though no straight-up tech guy this time. Already got a few guys fixing stuff up so guns, scanners... perhaps a factor of the lathes and/or Turanshush origin at the laud hailer console.

 

Would have tech-use of course just not the primary engineer. Perhaps requisition a stasis grenade or two so they can fix the reactor leak 'later' :p

[Trokair]

51 minutes ago, A.T. said:

Always happy to jump in and fill any empty seats - though no straight-up tech guy this time. Already got a few guys fixing stuff up so guns, scanners... perhaps a factor of the lathes and/or Turanshush origin at the laud hailer console.

 

Would have tech-use of course just not the primary engineer.

 

So a Moderatus with a Tech backgorund. Always good to have some skill coverage across the team should one player get incapacitated.

 

Are you thinking someone who just happen to have some Tech related training (perhaps alongside the Autokratoris), or were you think more along the line of someone who was in training to be a Tech Priest and then switched/was dismissed/otherwise could not proceed and found a second career/live as a Moderatus.

 

 

51 minutes ago, A.T. said:

Perhaps requisition a stasis grenade or two so they can fix the reactor leak 'later' :p

 

While I can see how that would fix the leak in the short term, it might also immobilise the titan and collapse void shield as the system is starved of power. So proceed with caution...

[Machine God]

On 6/6/2026 at 9:51 PM, Machine God said:

 

Do the Moderati get access to Plasma weaponry? 

 

 

 

I meant to say Melta weaponry. It was a reference to this august forum. 

 

Fear the Moderati of the Bolter & Chainsword for they wield the Melta. 

 

 

 

[Trokair]

I am afraid for Titan scale Melta weapon you need atleast a Reaver. 

[Trokair]

On 6/5/2026 at 2:11 AM, Lord_Ikka said:

Secutarii Alpha Psi-Darius-XII reporting in.

 

Were you thinking more Secutarii Hoplite or more Secutarii Peltast (or something more custom)?

[Trokair]

 

A google doc folder with a Ttian Sheet and character sheets is ready (see pm, if anybody else wants to have a look let me know), and I have also edited the initial post to refine some of the points on how this will work.

 

 

The sheets for the Crew have the equipment and skills listed in the first post repopulated. I have made a sheet for Lord Ikka’s Secutarii as well, but it is just the default sheet for now.