OK my friend's making and Arbitrator and we're looking through the errata to make sure we're not missing something. I look over the Starting Package and see that they get Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites). Now, you go to the errata for the Trooper Advance and it states, "Trooper Advances on page 51 should include the Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites) skill at a cost of 100 xp...". Um, don't you get that already? Why's it listed there? In the book it's listed as "Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites) +10". This errata is freaking confusing! Any help?

OK, there's more! You get "Literacy +20" at the Justicar level and "Literacy +10 at the Lord Marshall advance. Now, I'm assuming that when the errata listed the Literacy skill in the Trooper Advance it meant Literacy +10. If that's the case, shouldn't the Lord Marshall's Literacy +10 be a +20? I know it's a long way off, but some help would be grand!

Also, when are we going to get a more polished printing?

Sorry to keep adding, but there's no editing. Anyway, there's much hair-pulling as the Scum's got a couple skills as starting skills that are in the errata as also being the basic skill in the Dreg list. This sucks! We want to finish this character, but what's the correct thing?

Okay, first of all, all the skills that each career starts off with is duplicated in the first rank of that career as well. This is due to the possibility of various starting skills being altered by a background package or homeworld option. While I can't think of a specific instance of such off the top of my head, I know the potential is there.

Since it could happen that, through some option either in the books currently or added down the road, a starting skill or talent could be removed that is the prerequisite for more advanced skills or talents offered later in that career, all starting talents and skills have been added to the first rank of the career tree just to make sure that no matter what happens, the character can get the skill or talent.

The above should answer your question on the literacy issue with Arbitors. They get it to start, but if for some reason, due to some home world option or background package which prevented the character from getting Literacy as a starting skill, they would still be able to buy it in the first rank and, as such, the +10 at Lord Marshal and +20 at Justicar is correct as that's when they would be able to get advanced literacy.

If you already have the skill or talent, just try to resist the urge to buy it again ;-)

So, the Common Lore (Adeptus Arbites) +10 for the Trooper is incorrect? In fact, nobody should have a +10 at the basic Advance? Your description makes much more sense and I thank you! Please, feel free to add and explanation you may think I'll need.

Graver said:

Oh yeah...smart ass!

Dont even get me started on the career system with rank, skill and talents spread over 10+ pages! GRRRR anger over illogical choice of character generation and advancement building.... must... not.... SMITE!

In fact, nobody should have a +10 at the basic Advance?

Not quite - the Adepta Sororitas gets the extremely important skill Perform(Singer) at a +10 on first and +20 on second rank! Now if that's not something...

Other than that, the errata explicitly mentions the reason why the starter skills are integrated into the advancement table.

Oh, and the Edit button is next to the date of the post. No, it doesn't make sense or is in any way intuitive. Why should it be?

One thing: Is the =10 to "Arbites Lore" still in the Trooper rank? The errata doesn't say to remove it, so I assume that you can buy it right away. It makes sense, as they're law enforcement and should know their job!

Peacekeeper, the ranking doesn't bother me as you can still make a pretty non-cookie-cutter character, unlike most other "level" systems. I'm sure I'll be peeved about some things, but at least FFG makes errata. White Wold misspells COVERS and doesn't give a rat's ass! I stopped playing Exalted because of SOOOOOO many asstastical Wolfisms.

TalkingMuffin said:

Now *this* I find interesting. Any particularly good examples?

Oops! I meant "+10"...sorry. So, any takers on that?

As far as White Wolf goes (if that's what you meant), there's the "Games of Divininty" cover, the missing text in the apology block of the West book, the numerous inconsistencies with the martial arts weapons in Scroll of the Monk, the complete bull of the 1-mote perfect defense in Abyssals, the crap Charm Zeal in the First Age box set, the Dragon-Blooded Charms that were written before the author had the second edition rules and numerous things that I personally have come to hate. I feel that White Wolf doesn't care what crap it puts out and doesn't work to fix serious issues with their games. I cringed when I learned that the editor of the first edition was becoming the developer due to the slew of editing mistakes in the first edition of Exalted.

Want to know what impressed me? I've been following this upcoming RPG called, "Eoris Essence". The art alone has made me drool to dehydration! I preordered the book and when my order was messed-up by the credit card company, the game-makers asked if they could call me and they did! They also apologized that the game was going to be a month late due to printing issues (that seems to be the biggest stumbling block of RPGs). They gave me a free item, answered questions about the game and were all-around kick-ass. Supporting a product that hasn't been released? That earns MY support! Hell, I may as well plug the game and I really hope you guys will take a good look at Eoris Essence. That, Dark Heresy, ChtulhuTech and Twilight: 2013 are four games I'm silly-excited about!

As always, I really appreciate you guys. You've been super-helpful and have made my learning about Dark Heresy a blast. Thanks again!

TalkingMuffin said:

Yeah, you do have your 400XP to "specialize" your character, but I dont really feel its enough to start. But yeah, as Ive said elsewhere, what BI game us and FFG is supporting is a strong and usable system. I just am personally not a fan of that one aspect of the game.

I went in expecting something like WFRP (and have sense realized that that might not work as well) and what I got was something too close to 3E. And some of the Talents are a big "FEAT" like for my taste.

But still, best game I own.

starting with level 1 characters a teensy bit boring I find. At least give them more than 400 XP to start with, and/or access to some specialist gear and talents. I find it's a good way to let starting characters have a little more identity and flavour. Even give them 800XP but restrict them to level 1 advances or whatever. no one shoud feel that they're cookie cutter as the adventure opens, it's a bad way for things to start.

Locque said:

Agreed. I find it annoying that some of the trademark concepts of the 40Kiverse are pretty much absent for most starting characters, these things being chain weapons, bolt weapons, inferno pistols and the like. (mainly chain weapons LOL).

Starting with a auto pistol and a sword? Might as well just play Spycraft LOL.

I do use a set of charts the determine why the PC is selected by the Inquisition and it does add certain bonus skills, talents, characteristics and equipment based on what you roll.

Locque said:

I totally aggree with you...BUT...one thing to keep in mind is that in the grim future of the 41st millennium cookie cutter is the widely accepted non-heretical norm. If you see an Adept that doesn't fit the Adept mold at 1st level they're probably a heretic

Callidon said:

Or a PC. Let's face it, the 10 million interchangeable adepts toiling away in the capital city's Administratum Spire are not going to be recruited for service into the Holy Inquisition. It's the one guy who stands out from the crowd because of his skills, talent and/or sheer gumption who is going to attract the eye of the Inquisitor's attention enough to be worth making an acolyte.

Adepts of the Colleges of the Hetaireia Lexis are often sought after by Inquisitors. For the more Puritanical Inquisitors, because their very studies border on the heretical - and; therefore, they must be judged/cleansed/purged. For those of a Radical bent, because their very studies border on the heretical - and; therefore, they are a valuable asset in the hidden wars against the Heretic, the Mutant, the Alien.

These adepts are not generally Administratum, but purely scholars and students in search of hidden and/or forbidden lores.

-=Brother Praetus=-