Hello, I tried to search this topic but it didn't exactly work out (mostly just got the Doom vs. Halo in the House Rules part).

I'll cut to the point, halo devices. How willing are you all to allow PCs to say, start off with them? I've got a PC that wants to start off with one (Because they're so L33T), but I've warned him that he's playing a doomed character and there's no point but if he really wants to, I'll allow him. He's never gotten back to me on it, but he was hardcore set on it (Where could it go wrong!?).

Well, essientially I'm asking what're all your experiences with them, recommended or not, that kind of thing. Hard to deal with the character? Does it derail the story any? Etc. etc. It just seems to me to be a very silly prospect to me and that whatever story elements the character will have, they'll be shot to bits. I'm not sure if I really want to revolve really anything too much around him since he'll be gone. There are also a few plot points that take several years to develop (since I'm not that kind of guy who has the PCs trip over the major enemy and all of his secrets during the morning walk to the corner store), so he's going to be eating people pretty quickly in real time.

Gah. It just seems this item is completely meant for big bad enemies. Am I wrong to presume that?

Disclaimer: I know this is very scatterbrained but that's how I am.

Fideru said:

Absolute ZERO.

These are very very special devices. Unless you (the GM) has planed to have a campaign centered around a pc figure having one, I would not even think about it.

ESPECIALLY NOT if a player glosses over it and starts to go all "kiddy-in-candyland".

To borrow a GM maxim from an old gaming buddy:

Ask your players (ALL of them, not just this twink) "Do you want to NEED a Halo device?". Be sure to ask this when they are all present, not via text, IM, phone-tag or whatever. All of them in the same room or on a conference line.

Social pressure should solve this pretty fast.

Fideru said:

If you allow him to have a Halo Device, then any story elements involving the character won't be shot to bits as he will have the main point growing inside of him. In other words, if he has the Halo Device, he becomes the main point, the plot monkey, the meta-plot and over arching arch that everything is about. If he's willing or you think he would be able to capitalize on the "cursed character" or "fall from grace" story that such a device demands, then go for it. If not, then don't let it happen. Halo Devices are very, very special things. When introduced to a plot (whether through an NPC or PC and whether during the course of a story or before it all begins even) it will become the plot; anything less would be a disservice to the Halo Devices. You have a great opportunity for a story here, if you think he can handle it and if your willing to go with a cursed and damned protagonist meta-plot for your campaign.

Of course, if you don't want to go down that road or feel he won't be able to play the curse, the slow draining of humanity, and the onset of insanity well, but won't relent on the Halo Device, give it to him. Play a session and let him revel in it. The second session will take place 5 years latter, the third session 10 years latter, and, ah crap, Halo Guy's gonna have to make a new character. Oh, and the cell has a new objective. There's this creature that need hunting...

As to the rest of your question, I've had limited experience with Halo Devices. On of the PC's in my group got infected with one a few sessions back, though he hasn't been able to really explore or play with it yet as, shortly after being infected, he was given the opportunity to skip out of Imperial space and out of the =I= grip and he jumped at it. His story will continue in RT. So, it's a limited experience, but I know this player can handle it and it helps enrichen his character's story.

Graver, as usual, is wise.

Look, the guy that wants the Halo Device? He wants to be Spawn. That's basically what a Halo Device does thematically. Not all Halo Devices operate exactly as described in DotDG by the by. You already can see examples of a different "style" of Halo Device in Rogue Trader. One thing they all share in common though is ultimately being destructive to their human host or rather their host's humanity.

You ever read any China Mieville? One of my favourite authors. Anywho, there is (for all intents and purposes) a Halo Device in his second Baslag book, The Scar. Very worth reading.

My overall point being, Fideru - sure there are occasions wherein a player may wish to take up a character with a Halo Device, I think it could make for a powerful story - but I agree with Graver that sooner or later, that particular PC's destiny will certainly come into conflict with the rest of the group.

I'm in support for PCs getting halo devices, but not in the power game aspect i read from this. It sounds like he wants the benefits to it, and doesnt understand that rollplay wise it has a drastic effect. I would NEVER allow a PC to start with one, and if one were to ask (or beg as you made it sound like) I would refuse him. In fact, if the PC's ever were to come into contact with one, they shouldnt even know what it is. Its not like a PC can go to the Immortality store, and buy a halo device with a full instruction manual and perhaps on the side of the box there would be a little disclaimer (Warning: Use of this product makes you a Xenos and you lose your soul after long periods of time).

Now if the PC's came across one, I wouldnt tell them its a halo device. I would go as far to say that "Nameless, that black sphere seems very special to you". Let them learn about it in game, not skimming the books to find a way to make a complete badass character.

Make the hunt for the Halo Device the main personal plot element of this players character. Tell the player that there will be a possibility for him to aquire a device during the coming campaigns. Then work out a background together that explains how and why the character knows anything at all about halo devices. Leave a small bredcrumb trail of whispered rumours and snippets of information across the galaxy. You can involve loads of Forbidden Lore and fellowship based skills, visit long forgotten libraries, ancient sages and corrupted nobles. Make sure to have plenty of hints as to the end result, such as the mad scribblings of a haloed persons former husband, broken into insanity by his beloved ones fall from humanity. Maybe even let the characters meet in person the imprisoned remains of a haloed human. Show that there is indeed tremendous power to be had and a horrible price to pay. Then near the end of the campaign, allow the character the possibility of getting his own halo device and let him use it for the final chapter. It will be an awesome crowning achievement for him, and since it is at the campaigns end, the nasty sideeffects won't all that much of an issue. Then for your next campaing you can reuse his character as an antagonist and even have the new characters follow some of the leads that was left by him during the first campaign.

I read between your lines that this player might well be somewhat of a powergaming munchkin, and that he could benefit from expanding his experience by getting a few snippets of lore. It will probably be quite easy to get him interested in the lore if it concerns, or at least might his beloved halo. By making his character long for the device, you can set the rules in a completely different way, and you can let the game be about things that your player find interesting and you will make his immersion in his character much easier. The argument to use: "It is too powerful for this level of play, but it would make an awesome epic destiny for your character, if you are willing to work for it." You will get a happy player, and you will be able to avoid breaking the immersion and "game balance".

PS: I realy agree with TS Luikart about reccomending "the Scar" by China Mieville. Also Perdido Street Station that is the first book set in that world. Very good steampunk/scifi/weird and seriously 40k-inspirational.

IMHO they are to be given to "Evil Geniuses Who Live For A Better Tomorrow" for plot reasons. If a PC had one for a significant period of time then they would become a NPC if you wanted to still run a classic DH game with PC's as members of the Inquisition.

....Unless you can handle a game where you brief most players one way then say to the halo'ed player "...same as the others plus you like the taste of wallpaper and every 10 hours try to drink some human blood through this gold straw. You also collect grey cats..."

Sorry but that rambled a bit as well but you get the idea.

Thank you all for your replies. You've all given me greater insight of what to do, and how I should think this out. Thanks again!

Fideru said:

Always happy to tell other people what they should think...

[Dreaded Doublepost]

Personally I'd hand the PC a Halo device as soon as I could. Sure a Halo device has some benefits in that he is hard to kill with the toughness/wounds, and will go 1st in initiative. The rest takes years or decades and the changes then are a dead give away. In exchange he gets something the rest of universe will either kill him for owning, or kill him to take.

Dalnor Surloc said:

That's one of the things I like about DH. Some players want to be special. And the system gives the GM the tools to make them special, and then teach them why being special is not a beautiful and wonderful thing in this setting.

Fideru said:

Your welcome. Anything we can do to help a fellow GM

Hodgepodge said:

Oh that is one of the best ways I've heard DH described!

...and as others say happy to help (if it was any help) and keep the questions coming...