Hello!

I am running a Only War campaign now and I would like some help to brainstorm ideas of more medals and awards I can give my players. There are so few in the books and I think that a Imperial Guard soldier who survives several battles and planets should have a decent amount of medals

And it's fun to award the players for doing fun/crazy/great stuff

Hmm, so you are looking to make a player into this:

With so many medals, they'll actually have an armor value, since they might still be easier to get than carapace armor (It's a shame Sturnn here, Alexander, and Stubbs really have little place in Only War)

As for medals, I've also tried to think of a few, but it can prove harder than I might've thought. Needs to be doable, but not everyday-doable, or it wouldn't be worth a medal, and with a nice bonus, but not a ridiculous one. One option, though possibly slightly loaded, is to have an idea of what the players might be playing, and then see what sort of achievements they might earn. What existing medals don't fit with their theme (they'll never get them), and what things they might do aren't covered. Some of them are painfully easy to get, so you might come up with something there. Also, could be cool if they were a tank unit, and you came up with some awards the Pasks of Only War might earn, such as for wiping out multiple enemy tanks in an engagement, or a Titan-kill (not suggesting they be forced to, but it could be a cool medal. THAT one, the medal might give them Tank Hunters, WHILE they are in a tank.

Lack of certain media might help, too. In my experience, limited though it is, snipers have a hard time with medals. Even if you get past all the BS about how they are dishonorable fighters, and they should be ashamed that they didn't "fight straight-up and fair", thus not deserving some medals (this is part of why, as I understand it, many points in our history, we had to reinstitute sniper schools, after they got swept under the rug, post each war), in this day and age, it can be tricky to give them medals, since the enemy can learn who they are, and they put out actual contracts on these soldiers, like Boba Fett is going to show up, and kill them. In 40K, though, they can be lauded as the heroes they are, and with little/no media, they can be rewarded for their valiant service, so maybe some sniper-themed awards, if you are recon, or something else appropriate.

Yeah, using medals more as achievements is something I would like to do. They should just me some fun/crazy things to try to do and survive it as well, the bonus is not the major thing. I am considering removing medal-bonuses completely and only maybe give the player some fellowship based bonuses when dealing with people who might have been on the same war or done similar things.

So more a RPG-element than something that buffs the players even more.

I've created medals as service badges or "getting your wings" for our drop troop regiment. Unfortunately, that has drawn the attention of my resident munchkin has checked the section on medals. He is now obsessed with capturing a Dominate general purely for the mechanical benefit the medal would bring - so I think removing that is a good way to handle awards.

I don't think medals should have any benefits beyond a positive modifier to fellowship. Fellow soldiers and officers will treat a (highly) decorated soldier differently. That's a natural effect which need not even be expressed mechanical benefit such as +5 fel or +10 fel. The GM should just let it happen naturally during role-playing.

And when using common sense, you could also argue that a (captured) enemy soldier would be more afraid of a highly decorated soldier so a interrogation bonus makes sense.....

In short, a highly decorated soldier will be seen as a highly accomplished warrior. That will provide a certain effect on anyone the soldier meets, from superiors, fellow soldiers and swooning civilians. The GM should apply such effect where applicable.

Medals, hm?

Perhaps a medal for surviving and completing a mission critical to the Imperial fighting effort?

A tankman's medal, awarded for a specific number of enemy armour kills while in a tank?

A sniper's medal, awarded for something like taking out a certain number of enemies or taking out an enemy officer of sufficient rank?

A medal awarded to every Guardsman to survives past a year after his first taste of combat?

-shrugs-

Just some stray ideas.

I've created medals as service badges or "getting your wings" for our drop troop regiment. Unfortunately, that has drawn the attention of my resident munchkin has checked the section on medals. He is now obsessed with capturing a Dominate general purely for the mechanical benefit the medal would bring - so I think removing that is a good way to handle awards.

Players like this always bother me. I've been blessed to have a bunch of friends who are much more into the story than creating the perfect build, but I've got one guy who's starting to toe the line.

On topic, I think a medal for surviving a campaign would be pretty sweet. Depending on what foe/planet, and how bitterly it's contested, could give them Hate, or a Survival bonus in that climate. Really, I think medals are supposed to reward actions already undertaken by the squad (e.g., capturing a Dominate general requires some tremendous skill) and show how those actions have strengthened them, as opposed to things to be pursued for their own sake ("Oh man, this medal gives a sweet bonus! Can we switch our regiment over to Line Infantry so we can have a better shot at it?"). You don't even have to make them medals per se, just unofficial honors. Either way, I'd keep the details secret so that your squad can't be actively working towards it.

So I'd recommend just keeping sort of a tally of what they do really well, and reward them at the end of the campaign in ways that will be helpful but not game breaking. Did they, throughout the campaign, go out of their way to help other soldiers? Have the other soldiers call them "Angel Squad" and give them a small bonus to fellowship. Did they impress the heck out of a Commissar by shooting a coward before he could get to them? Have their inspections suddenly get a little more lax.

Otherwise, you can take a look at awards and decorations for the Army to get some ideas. From the U.S. Army decorations and awards, there are a few that stand out to me:

- Join Service awards, for working well under a Joint Command group instead of only under one group. In game terms, maybe they participate in some joint Guard/Navy action. Good way to increase fellowship with non-IG groups.

- Silver Star, awarded for gallantry in action. If the unit repeatedly puts themselves in harms way, could give them an extra fate point.

- Training awards. If your mortar crew drops ten rounds in a row down on target the size of an Ogryn's brain, then they could be commended for their service with that weapon, and maybe get a bonus for that weapon only. Every time they line up a shot, they're going to be thinking about that day, and try to attain that same accuracy.

Just a couple ideas.