Now that it's been out a while, I was wondering what utility TF would provide for those who don't plan to run the adventure? Is there any useful/ interesting background information; new xenos/ artifacts; new rules or other pieces of interest in it? In the same vein, is there anything of note in Purge the Unclean?

It has a new background package/elite advance package .

It has some new beasties, primarily the Spindle-Maw , Venomous Lady and Arachnae Servitor .

Has game stats for a few new NPC types, including Cyborg Cladiator , Gambler and a few other Sci-Fi staple archtypes.

It has a new trait called Goaded and a new talent called Consumed by Spite .

It includes a 7 page Gazateer on the Planet Quaddis and the city of Xicarph . It also includes maps and pictures of both throughout the book.

Overall, while not my favorite book for Dark Heresy it isnt a bad purchase. The biggest flaw is the size of the book, it is only 70 pages.

Another major flaw is the adventure itself, I find it hard to actually figure out what is going on as there is no real "synopsis" of the plot and a lot of the book seems to just say things like "it could be here, or there, or whatever you want...." and so forth, so it isnt a very straight up adventure as much as it is a serious of potential encounters and suggestions.

Oh, and the PCs are shoehorned into the adventure via a rather sad deus ex machina plot element.

However, I recommend the book.

As far as Purge the Unclean, it is filled with suggestions on how to run adventures and has Dark Eldar, Warp Beast, Space Zombies, Space Marine stats and more.

Peacekeeper_b said:

SOME SPOILERS - PLAYERS LOOK AWAY

I agree that it is a rather naff way to start an adventure. I fortunately have lucked out in that it actually fits in with the plans I already had for my next adventure in that I am going to use the prewrit as punishment for messing with the Pilgrams of Haytes other plans from my adventure so I actually have a reason for this happening. I plan on acting as though they are still on my notes for the first act and only let them know they are doing the prewrit sometime in the second act (cause I think it will be funny when the realise). I can definetly see it feeling very artificial for most people who dont really have an organic reason for the Pilgrams of Hayte for kidnapping them.

Purge the Unclean also has a lot of background information on a criminal heresy known as the Serrated Query. There is information on the settings of the three adventures: Hive Sibellus on Scintilla, a Space Hulk, and Sepheris Secundus.

Peacekeeper_b said:

SPOILERS AHEAD!

I'm not sure how sad it will play out.

It's the old "capture the players so they have to escape" seen in many an RPG scenario. The savings grace with this one, is the capturing happens off stage, between game sessions. The escape plot is used in adventure books and movies all the time, but when I've done this to my players in the past by role playing the capture, they hate it. They are on a train, and I'm going to capture them or the adventure falls apart. Once they figure this out, they roll their eyes and say "whatever." Then they stay pissed at me and distant from the game for at least an hour.

Starting just as they wake up all helpless, might work better. I *think* so but, I'll have to wait and see.

Nojo509 said:

Oh dear, not that! WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD FOR PURGE THE UNCLEAN!

In "Purge the Unclean" they forced the escape of "Theo" and now they force the capturing of the whole group? My party will join the pilgrims, since they will hate the universe and its master from that on (thats me!). Anyway, perhaps it works better if they "start this way", like you said.

@Peacekeeper
Without "goading" you into re-typing things non-buyers weren´t meant to know : Can you name the new elite advance/starter pack? In addition, does the cyborg gladiator come with explanation on the backgrounds of this "sport"? (How common; how pricey; how some gets into this role?

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure if I will be running Tattered Fates or not. I will if my players request it, and I may depending on the rest of the Haarlock Legacy pans out. That being said, the Quaddis gezeteer at the beginning of the book, and the information on the capital city is fantastic and well worth picking up Tattered Fates . As for the adventure itself, I'm neutral towards most of it, but I absolutely loved the entire section at the estate of Gabriel Chase. I'd love to run that section as a LARP. Maybe next year...

Gregorius21778 said:

While no hard core definitions or descriptions are given it is implied throughout the adventure that fighting in the pits of Quaddis is a very common past time, especially during the festival of Tattered Fates. They do not give information about fees and prices, nor do they address how to become a cyborg or for that matter any other kind of gladiatior, but I beleive it would be the standard run of the mill stuff,such as debt, slavery, kidnapping, force or just plain old want to be one.

The new background/elite package is "Survivors of the Red Cages" it is a more or less event/incident of surviving the pit cages of Quaddis and hating the elements of the Haarlock Legacy and seeking revenge or continued freedom. Could easily be adapted to any survivor of any such horror, such as surviving a evil and deranged torture Hostel or escaping some other gladiatorial arena.

It gives precedence to pre-conceived Campaign themed elite advances. For example, my next campaign will be a group of PCs who are trained and prepared to go against a Xeno Worshipping Cult named The Brotherhood of the Cloth. After the first adventure they will all be allowed to purchase Forbidden Lore (Xenos) for 100XP, after the second adventure they can get it at +10 for 200XP, eventually others will be added and so forth. It is actually a rule add on I really like.

I do recommend getting this book, I give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. It could have gotten more if it would have included some more on the planet/city and the adventure had a little more direction. Could have easily been expanded into a 96 page book.