I'm running a group of Acolytes through the published adventures. We finished "Rejoice for You are True" and are in the middle of "Shades on Twilight". After we finish "Twilight" the Tech Priest character will have enough XP to do some upgrades to his body. One of the upgrade he wants is to have the legs from the RfYaT antagonist, Theodosia, implanted into his body. My concern is that Thodosia was involved in Heresy and his parts could be compromised. Do you, fellow GM's, think that the Inquisition would have a problem with these upgrade?

Just as most questions on these forums are answered with "it depends on the planet", this question can be answered with "it depends on the Inquisitor". Really, the Inquisition isn't really good at being unified in their beliefs on what is and isn't heresy much less how one should go about serving the Emperor (hell, that would probably defeat it's purpose). While the psychotic Witchhunter Ryckus would probably have a big hairy problem with it, I seriously doubt the ever so messed-up Lady Rathbone would and so on.

Putting "it depends on ..." completely asight, I doubt that the =I= (or your players) have actually kept the body of Theodosian with them. How should say? Therefore, I would not allow it.

In addition, it sounds to me like the Tech-Priester player thinks about "getting some upgrade cheap". What is the actual benefit he thinks he will get from this? Remember, anything not "on the list" is an elite advance... and therefore a costly thing.

Gregorius21778 said:

Agree, I woudn't allow it either. Theodosia's technology is far too complex to be purchased as easily as any other implant. I even doubt it is possible to find a readily available analogue of it, let alone a precise replica.

Whether the Inquisition has a problem wit it depends on the one hand on the respective Inquisitor (Puritan or rather Radical) and whether the Inquisition would realize it at all. Though, I would think the Adeptus Mechanicus would have a problem with it. Salvaging the bionic legs of a heretek or whomever sounds like a Reclaimator to me, but not like a conservative Tech-Priest. Tech-Priests normally do not improvise.

In my opinion Tech-Priest players must be very experienced players and good role-players (fortunately in my group the Tech-Priest player is the 'best' ROLE-player and would hardly exploit ever), because of their almost alien-like attitude and their (un-)specific agendas.

I never understood why the IH mentions Adeptus Sororitas should only ever played by experienced players. The 'For the Emperor!' and 'Burn, Heretic!' shouting nuns do not seem that complex and difficult to play; Tech-Priests on the other hand are.

I asked about this same thing and was told, "Seeing how Theo is a heretek with xeno's technology, for the safety of yourself and the other acolytes, it would be a bad idea to try." That makes sense, burn the heretic and burn the xeno.

Whether the Inquisition has a problem wit it depends on the one hand on the respective Inquisitor (Puritan or rather Radical) and whether the Inquisition would realize it at all. Though, I would think the Adeptus Mechanicus would have a problem with it. Salvaging the bionic legs of a heretek or whomever sounds like a Reclaimator to me, but not like a conservative Tech-Priest. Tech-Priests normally do not improvise.

On the contrary - salvaging by itself is a very AdMech thing to do. Most bionic limbs are far older than their owners, to say nothing of the venerable power armours or plasma weapons (let's just not think about how a weapon can survive centuries when it blows itself up with every fiftieth shot...).

It only gets difficult when it comes to heretech. In this case, the AdMech would have to determine whether the legs contain xeno or heretekal technology and whether it's possible to either sanction or exchange those (and of course, whether the result should be given to the techpriest, although he might try to make the case that he is merely conducting an extended field test of the legs).

Putting "it depends on ..." completely asight, I doubt that the =I= (or your players) have actually kept the body of Theodosian with them. How should say? Therefore, I would not allow it.

Considering the value of the implants contained within the body (either salvaged by some reclaimator on the black market or for the studies of the AdMech), why wouldn't they?

In addition, it sounds to me like the Tech-Priester player thinks about "getting some upgrade cheap".

It sounds to me like it's a piece of equipment, duly looted from the enemy just like a boltgun or a chainsword.

In general though, a puritan Inquisitor would probably turn this problem over to the Adeptus Mechanicus for decision.

Thanks for all the input. Thaddius and Cifer, I think I'm going to take your approach. I was working under the assumption that all tech pieces are very ancient and have been passed down many times. Only the highest ranking or Priests directly on Mars would have "brand new implants". The acolytes looted the bodies and turned everything over to their masters with the request to have the legs implanted on the TechPriest.

I think what I'm going to do is have the TechPriest pay out the nose for an elite advance. He's given me a write up of what he wants, and I'm going to double check this math. If everything checks out the acolyte will go into the surgery-ritual for about 2 weeks and come out with his new legs.

Perhaps sometime later another member of the Serrated Querry will come to reclaim them, or perhaps the TechPriests that gave the acolyte the "go-ahead" missed something disasterous in their purity inspection. Secret rolls for Corruption points abound...

Damek66 - As I tell everybody, it's your game, but for what it is worth - the Serrated Query's top operatives do have new implants. They have members in their ranks who actively understand technology that the Imperium no longer comprehends. Theo was essentially a "full body conversion" and not as simple as "a few implants".

What I really want to address though is the faulty assumption that the Adeptus Mechanicus is a united front. They aren't. They're as fractious as the Inquisition - though just like the Holy Ordos they try to close ranks against outsiders to prevent anyone from actually knowing that. There are some Tech Priests who immediately abscond with all technology they find, "repurposing" it later after study. Others burn Heretek devices without a second thought. Still others will always try to discern what something is and attempt to reverse engineer it - if a given piece of technology was born of humanity, than such an Enginseer rejoices upon discovering a lost relic - or destroys it if it proves to be of xenos manufacturer.

In short - the Adeptus Mechanicus is every bit as screwed up as the Inquisition. No Tech-Priest necessarily has to act in any given way.

Cifer said:

I don't think a true puritan trusts the Adeptus Mechanicus in the slightest, Cifer. Maybe specific Tech-Priests, but never the institution.

I don't think a true puritan trusts the Adeptus Mechanicus in the slightest, Cifer. Maybe specific Tech-Priests, but never the institution.

Well, a true Inquisitor trusts noone period - but he'll still have barely an idea about what makes a rather complicated implant heretekal or orthodox, so if he doesn't burn it outright, he'll have little choice but to hand the matter over to the cogboys.

This is true, most of the time.

One of the NPCs in my house game is a legend in the Holy Ordos: Inquisitor Magos-Logi Phenx Cobolt. He is definitely the exception though.

You "old timers" that know the original list of 200 Inquisitors may recognize the name.

Just to chime in one one small niggly point that several folks mentioned. In regards to how much such an elite advance (the legs) would cost, if you're going by the RAW, it would cost absolutely noting, zilch, zero, nada, zip, and nil. Theo's legs are Bionic Locomotion, which, like a Bionic Arm, is a bit of gear one can purchase and have permanently attached but has no trait to go along with it. Since he's got the parts (theo's legs) he would only have to come up with a way to have them implanted, paying the medicae for his services alone or coming up with another method to reimburse the medicae for his time and work.

Since he's got the parts (theo's legs) he would only have to come up with a way to have them implanted, paying the medicae for his services alone or coming up with another method to reimburse the medicae for his time and work.

Paying a medicae? Pfft! A true Techpriest of course operates on himself, using either a mirror or his optical mechadendrite.

Just to chime in one one small niggly point that several folks mentioned. In regards to how much such an elite advance (the legs) would cost, if you're going by the RAW, it would cost absolutely noting, zilch, zero, nada, zip, and nil. Theo's legs are Bionic Locomotion, which, like a Bionic Arm, is a bit of gear one can purchase and have permanently attached but has no trait to go along with it.

While I agree with it in general, implanting stuff could also be used as an explanation for the buying of talents for a techpriest, whether normal or elite. In fact, I'd prefer having the techpriest say "While getting fixed up from the last mission, I got some subdermal plating implanted" rather than "Er... I'm suddenly more resilient because I've bought a Sound Constitution and a Toughness advance..."

Luthor Harkon said:

From my experience the Adeptus Sororitas is for experienced players because there is a high ability for Munchkinism inherent in the role. They start out with much better than average stuff and can expect to have ready access to amazing gear through the Sororitas, Its not a particularly hard role to play but it is hard to restrain yourself.

As for the OP, yes its possible to attach them. Is it Heresy? Just like all heretics, you never know you have crossed the line until an inquisitor shows up at your door with a bolter pointed at your forehead.

First I would agree that simply getting the legs put in would cost no xp, and only require that they have the legs and someone to put them in.

Getting the full benefit (beyond the normal perks of having good to best quality bionic legs), that is to say the crazy movement and action options that Theo had, would be a fairly reasonably priced elite advance I would offer (I'd say 200xp for a talent to exploit the functions of the legs) after the character had them for a few weeks or months.

As for getting permission, totally depends on who they work for, some would be all for it, others would consider executing the Tech-Priest for thinking about it.

However, I'd be sneaking in some well-concealed xeno-tech (Dark Eldar, specifically) in those legs, as a GM, and start messing with the character's head after a couple sessions.