Inquisition DRAFT v1.5 (HA)

[flybywire-E2C]

Hi all! BIG changes here! I'll re-post this in all the pertinent places.

First of all, the FAQ/Errata is DONE!!! A LOT of work went into this, an dit will remain in draft form for another week jusnt in case there's a few more kinks to work out that all of us missed, but this is essentially what the FAQ will look like. Sorry it took so long to get right, and sorry we pushed it so close to 2011!! Barring any unforeseen problems, we should be able to stamp this FINAL sometime around December 27th. SPECIAL THANKS to Horizon and Masque- I've decided to give them every dime I make from this effort!   

Rogue Traders DRAFT v3.5: Like the FAQ, the Rogue Traders saw a lot of back and forth so the version number is quite different. VERY SPECIAL THANKS to Sam Shepherd, the creative design lead from Fantasy Flight Games that took the time to square our Rogue Traders with their Rogue Traders! How cool is that?     Now we just have to keep tweaking it until it's right.

Powers of Chaos DRAFT v2.8: A few changes and tweaks here, specifically to the Hecate, Inferno and fleet lists. It's still in work, but we're getting very close to what the final product will look like. Chaos is already a pretty solid fleet so most of the changes here were to correct balancing issues as opposed to anything else.

Inquisition DRAFT v1.4: A few formatting changes and minor tweaks, but nothing really different here- it's still in work.

Well, that's it! The link to all the files is in my signature. I'll be leaving town for a week and will try to stay in touch. Keep your smiles on, game on and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

- Nate

[Gron]

Just noticed that the points are different for the Inquisitorial Cruiser, 270pts in the description (p.5) and 275 in the summary (p.7)

*edit*
It seems possible to have both an Inquisitor Lord and a Master of the Fleet (by choosing a SM list) in the same fleet as it is stated that the Inquisitor doesn't have to be the commander. In a 1500pts list (to have one Inq. Cruiser) one MUST have a Master of the fleet and MAY also have an Inq Lord and not necessarily as the commander (giving a theoretical maximum of 5 fleet rerolls and two terminator carrying ships?).

I did misread the SM list (20101023) thinking it was possible to allocate a SM Captain with honour guard to SC's, but this wasn't the case. However this would be a very lovely/fluffy (IMO) option to GK SC and I'd be more than happy to pay +35pts per cruiser for that option/ability.

[Navarion]

Okay, first a minor nitpick (excuse me if it was mentioned before): As far as I remember the black ships belong to the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, so they are not directly affiliated with the Inquisition. I think they should be accepted as nice and flavourful mission objectives like a craftworld and not as the inquisitorial battleship.
I love the inclusion of the former inquisitorial black ships, but I'm not sure about the changes (higher battery range but only torpedoes OR attack craft) maybe the old version would be good as an option...
Grey Knights strike cruiser... I like it, what's not to like. However I would prefer it if it would be bound to the Ordo Malleus inquisitor and if there were also a Deathwatch strike cruiser and a Sororitas or Arbites strike cruiser for Ordo Xenos and Hereticus. An alternative would be to allow Deathwatch escorts instead of a strike cruiser, according to their RPG rulebook they often use the Gladius and Hunter classes.

Now to the Inquisitors.
I hate the one from the Ordo Hereticus, which is perfectly fine.
I like the Ordo Xenos Inquisitor, however it should be "choose one" instead of "roll once against the following table" the Ordo Xenos definitely hasn't worse access to xenotechnology than a Rogue Trader (who can choose for +5 points). Additionally I can understand the points for not adding xenos ships to a space marine chapter fleet but I don't see the Deathwatch deserting an Inquisitor because they have to fight alongside a few aliens for one battle. I think being able to buy one alien cruiser for its normal point cost +20 or something like that would be okay.
Now the Ordo Malleus Inquisitor. I'm unhappy. In the Codex Demonhunters you couldn't take Grey Knights when you were using Daemonhosts. In BFG you can't take Grey Knights when you take a bunch of ships from older imperial designs? What exactly is the Inquisitor doing? Hiring chaos raiders? But if he did they would leave after his death instead of getting the strange happenings rule... Maybe I'm crazy, but I think to properly get rid of his Grey Knights the Inquisitor should at least take a demonship. That's the closest thing to a daemonhost BFG has.

[Dark Depths]

Additionally I can understand the points for not adding xenos ships to a space marine chapter fleet but I don't see the Deathwatch deserting an Inquisitor because they have to fight alongside a few aliens for one battle. I think being able to buy one alien cruiser for its normal point cost +20 or something like that would be okay.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Given that the Deathwatch are, to my knowledge, trained to root out all alien influence, why would they tolerate even a temporary alliance?  The battle might not be very long, but the fleet isn't just going to be brought together the day before, the alien ships will have to be part of the larger Imperial fleet for some time before, and probably after the battle (due to the time it takes to find the enemy, time to learn fleet manouvres {possibly}, and time it takes to bring all the ships together in the first place, as the warp can delay ships for days or even weeks).  Easily enough time for the alien's presence to annoy the Deathwatch enough for them to abandon the Inquisitor.

[Navarion]

Given that the Deathwatch are, to my knowledge, trained to root out all alien influence, why would they tolerate even a temporary alliance?

Because the Deathwatch are Space Marines who work with the Ordo Xenos and can't be compared to the puritan brainwashed Grey Knights or the holier-than-holy Sororitas. Deathwatch Marines can be far more radical and commit heresies like supplying the Inquisition with xenotech for use and/or reverse engineering. Interesting passage from the Deathwatch RPG:

"Despite the many clashes between Humanity and the Eldar, there have been many occasions when the two races have fought side by side. This is generally when a common enemy, usually Chaos, is faced. However, the Eldar have also lent their power to the fight against the Tyranids. Such operations are tense, for the common soldier is indoctrinated to hate and fear the xenos, and the Eldar, all too human in their appearance, are especially reviled. Even the most disciplined of Space Marines finds it hard to stay his hands against such enemies, and it is often the case that the Deathwatch is the only force able to share a battlefield with the Eldar without losing control and opening fire on their allies." (p. 315)

A Malleus Inquisitor can't take Grey Knights if he summons demons because they would put him down for treason. Space Marines won't let an Inquisitor order them to fight alongside aliens (allowing them to command them at all is more than enough). However, Deathwatch Space Marines do already take orders from the Ordo Xenos Inquisitors, both puritan and mildly radical.

The battle might not be very long, but the fleet isn't just going to be brought together the day before, the alien ships will have to be part of the larger Imperial fleet for some time before, and probably after the battle (due to the time it takes to find the enemy, time to learn fleet manouvres {possibly}, and time it takes to bring all the ships together in the first place, as the warp can delay ships for days or even weeks).  Easily enough time for the alien's presence to annoy the Deathwatch enough for them to abandon the Inquisitor.

They would have to commandeer a warp capable ship to get away and they would have to defy a direct order. If they were ordered to serve as bodyguard and assault troops for an Inquisitor they have to. They don't have to like to work with xenos, but they can't simply go. (Additionally them not being there was probably meant to show that the Inquisitor simply didn't take them along like the Grey Knights and the Malleus Inquisitor, but there is simply not that much of a reason. Imperial propaganda damns xenos along with witches, mutants and demons, but there is simply not the same stigma attached to working with aliens. Marneus Calgar did it, Pedro Kantor did it, Inquisitor Czevak did it....

[lastspartacus]

Where are xenos escorts allowed?

[Gron]

In addition to previous my post...or maybe just a clarification:

Do an Inq cruiser/Blackship have a SM crew as default? (How to determine its Ld 6-9 or 8-10 and would this affect any current boarding modifiers like the Blackship having additional +2 for SM crew)

Do an Inq Cruiser have to pay for the ability indicated at p.7 (as an embarking -I-Lord has probably already paid for this)
Quote: "Notes: In addition to the profile listed above, Inquisitorial cruisers follow special rules specific to the Ordo they serve under for the point costs listed on page 7."

Do Inq Cruisers and GK SC have Thunderhawk Annihilators in their launch bays?

Regarding GK Strike Cruisers: The option of purchasing them from Armada may be superseded by the new Marine list instead? Armada has no options for SC's but in the new Space Marines Fleets (FINAL 20101023) pdf any SC can take Honour Guard for +10pts (this would definitely reflect their fluff regarding skills vs regular marines IMO).

[flybywire-E2C]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! The Inquisition draft rules have been updated with a few changes and corrections, and v1.5 is now up on the Repository page.

[lastspartacus]

Why no 6+ armor on the Black Ship?

[Admiral_d_Artagnan]

With 5 shields and 5 turrets? It shouldn't have 6+ all around armor.

[lastspartacus]

Might as well, considering its purpose.  Much easier to do 6+ than 5 shields anyway, I'd guess.  The purpose of prow armor is linebreaking, it doesn't make sense considering this thing would be trying to avoid any conflict.
 You could count the number of these things in the galaxy on a your fingers, so its a super rare, super expensive investment, and its a 300+ point treasure ship with cruiser weaponry.  6+ armor seems like it would have happened before 5 shields.

[horizon]

?
Black Ships aren't made for line breaking.

They are made to run & transport.

[lastspartacus]

That was my point, actually.

[Admiral_d_Artagnan]

Roll a couple of dice and see how hard it would be for direct fire and bombers to do damage to a fully 6+ armored ship with 5 shields and 5 turrets.

[lastspartacus]

My point, exactly.