Schola Progenium

A character from a Schola Progenium applies the following benefits during character creation:

Characteristic Modifiers

+ Ballistic Skill, + Willpower, - Perception

Fate Threshold

4 (Emperor's Blessing 10+)

Home World Bonus

Raised to Serve: Once per session, if the Schola Progenium character's actions leads to him gaining Influence, he gains an additional 1 point of Influence.

Home World Bonus Aptitude

Willpower

Wounds

A Schola Progenium character starts with 1d5+8 Wounds.

Recommended Backgrounds

Adepta Sororitas, Adeptus Administratum, Adeptus Arbites, Imperial Guard

I based this on Highborn, but changed the stats. I went for being strong-willed, to reflect previous materials, but also wanted to reflect how the Progena often end up in jobs with power, responsibility, or, at the very least, easy access to powerful equipment.

You can check out the following, its a bit along the same line, but also quite different:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/124970-house-rules-home-world-schola-progenium/

It's not quite what I'd go for, although it's not bad IMO.

I think the problem with both is that they don't really reflect Storm Troopers and Adepta Sororitas too well. I can't see either having Intelligence as an Aptitude.

I'd be tempted to switch out higher starting Influence for Toughess (lowering Wounds if Toughness is higher to start) or Ballistic Skill with mine. I also think that DH's 1st edition Tempered Will is inelegant - why are they strong against really bad Willpower checks, but not against the more basic ones? I think higher starting Willpower is simpler and works better.

Edit, yeah, higher BS to start makes sense. I don't think 9 wounds start is reasonable either - that's just Feral and Feudal Worlders (and Highborn, but they have weak Toughness).

All Schola Progena reflected on the tabletop - Tempestus Scions, Battle Sisters, and Commissars have high BS. The Raised to Serve ability reflects their authority and equipment - and their fast-tracking to Imperial power, whilst the + BS and WP reflects their schooling and upbringing.

I think the problem with both is that they don't really reflect Storm Troopers and Adepta Sororitas too well. I can't see either having Intelligence as an Aptitude.

Storm Troopers and Battle Sisters , probably not. A Sister Dialogous, Famulous, Hospitaller or Pronatus, absolutely. Then again, these would also gain this Aptitude from their Role, so that isn't a big deal.

The problem, as already mentioned in a previous thread, is that the Schola Progenium (at least in GW's material) yields such a large number of diverse specialists that it gets difficult to "distil" their Schola education down to the core. The students do receive one of the best educations in the Imperium. On the other hand, just receiving the training does not necessarily make them good at it -- which is, after all, why the progena eventually all end up in different organisations, all depending on their individual strengths and the potential they showed during evaluations.

This is also why I'm a bit hesitant to accept Ballistic Skill as an appropriate Aptitude. This is just what those progena chosen for military duty have, but it doesn't necessarily reflect the talent of those students who end up serving in the civilian administration. Which actually happen to be the majority of graduates.

Willpower as an Aptitude is absolutely appropriate, especially with all the brainwashing going on. For the second Aptitude ... I lean towards Toughness, to reflect the grueling paramilitary training they all go through. Not everyone may become a good shooter (+BS), but their bodies would probably adapt to a decade of rigorous physical exercise (+Toughness). So, less about actually getting buff, but growing more accustomed to pain and having a better constitution when it comes to stuff like running, holding your breath, etc. It might also be nice for representing how the discipline they learn would affect their future physical development.

This, to me, is the essence of any Schola graduate: an athletic, brainwashed tool. Everything else gets added on top of it based on whichever Adeptus recruits them for advanced training (Sororitas novitiate, Commissar Training Squads, Arbites riot control, Administratum induction, and so on).

I also think that DH's 1st edition Tempered Will is inelegant - why are they strong against really bad Willpower checks, but not against the more basic ones?

Yeah, have to agree there. It sounds like a nice idea at first, but the more you think about it ...

At the same time, I'm also not sure about the Influence -- it may be more appropriate for a Highborn who still has connections, or is accustomed to making some. For a Schola graduate, it would effectively depend on whoever grants them their Influence to favour them based on their background, and within the Inquisition, I'm not sure an individual Acolyte's previous life should matter much.

Unfortunately, I can't really think of a good alternative either. Ideally, it should be something unique, something that is useful regardless of whether your progena works in a militant or a non-militant capacity, and something that reflects their time in 40k's version of a Nazi Napola (either physically or spiritually).

Maybe something like: "Whenever this character spends a Fate Point to improve their chances at a Test, they gain a +20 bonus instead of the normal +10" and/or "Whenever this character spends a Fate Point to increase their Degrees of Success, they add +2 degrees instead of the normal +1" ... ?

Basically, to represent "trying really hard".

That's just my interpretation, though. I think it's good that this background sees some discussion and several different approaches.

I went with Ballistic Skill to represent the military training and proficiencies they all get in DH1. Some more good ideas there, though!

Another idea for a Background Bonus...

Tempered Will: The character may spend a Fate point to automatically succeed at a Willpower check, with a number of degrees of success equal to his Willpower bonus.

Another idea for a Background Bonus...

Tempered Will: The character may spend a Fate point to automatically succeed at a Willpower check, with a number of degrees of success equal to his Willpower bonus.

...and then you make your character psyker. Tada!

At the same time, I'm also not sure about the Influence -- it may be more appropriate for a Highborn who still has connections, or is accustomed to making some. For a Schola graduate, it would effectively depend on whoever grants them their Influence to favour them based on their background, and within the Inquisition, I'm not sure an individual Acolyte's previous life should matter much.

...and then you make your character psyker. Tada!

That shouldn't really be possible, anyways. Psykers get kicked out of the Schola and sent straight to the Black Ships!

It'd probably worth clarifying it, anyways, just for those edge cases who may grow up in the Schola and for some strange reason turn into Psykers at a later point. Something like their true nature colliding with the indoctrinated hatred of mutants nullifying this bonus as they are thrown into a crisis of faith ( "Why, oh Emperor! Have I not been a loyal servant?!" ).

Everybody expect from Schola graduate to be good. So when they are good, they became "on the list" faster. "Who was that guy who saved the day? Ah, it was Progena! We should track his efforts."

Every Acolyte should be expected to be good, though. For the Schola graduate, their origins probably were the reason for their recruitment. Other Acolytes will have other reasons to show.

If it were any different, I think no Inquisitor would recruit anything other than progena into their team (aside from certain specialists like Tech-Priests and Psykers).

Another idea for a Background Bonus...

Tempered Will: The character may spend a Fate point to automatically succeed at a Willpower check, with a number of degrees of success equal to his Willpower bonus.

...and then you make your character psyker. Tada!

An unsanctioned psyker.

So I'd add to it "If Tempered Will is used in place of a psychic power roll, the player is still required to roll the dice to check for psychic phenomena.

You could be Sanctioned - Eisenhorn was raised in a Schola, for example.

Regardless, Willpower isn't the only stat used for Psychic powers any more.

You could be Sanctioned - Eisenhorn was raised in a Schola, for example.

Was he really raised there, or just found out there?

In codex fluff, anyone found out to be a psyker immediately gets shipped off. Which makes a lot more sense than the Imperium just ignoring they have a witch in the ranks of tomorrow's elite, imo.

That shouldn't really be possible, anyways. Psykers get kicked out of the Schola and sent straight to the Black Ships!

Every Acolyte should be expected to be good, though. For the Schola graduate, their origins probably were the reason for their recruitment. Other Acolytes will have other reasons to show.

Of course, but some gradutates missed the opportunity to became Acolytes.

It's not something they have, it's something other people in Imperium elites see in them.

Why? He is rogue psyker who manifested after graduating.

Or, maybe, he was raised in Schola (Schola Progenium homeworld), manifested psy powers there, was sent to AAT

I think Homeworld should reflect a considerable part of someone's youth, something that irrevocably defined the nature of the character. In codex fluff, orphans enrolled in the Schola are rigorously tested for mutation including the psyker gene, so potential witches should not be there for long. The only possibility I see is someone mutating at a later point in life due to exposure to the Warp, and as I said before, I'd deal with such edge cases with a special "crisis of faith" subrule.

It also seems to be a matter of interpretation, though. After looking up Eisenhorn's past via the internet, it appears this is once again a case of the novels portraying the setting a little differently. Apparently, the "Abnettverse" is quite close to Sandy Mitchell's version of the Schola in that they don't practice gender segregation there, either. So I guess it comes down to how you prefer to handle things at your table and whether you're okay with Schola Psykers.

There are at least three witches in highest possible ranks of Imperial elite - Master of Astronomican, The Master of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica and Paternova Envoy. Quite the quarter.

Sorry, I tend to use the term "witch" for unsanctioned psykers. Sanctioned ones are just psykers.

Though I like to think the Imperial Adepts and the Navigators would agree with this distinction, given how "Burn the Witch" is a popular saying in the Imperium.

Of course, but some gradutates missed the opportunity to became Acolytes.

It's not something they have, it's something other people in Imperium elites see in them.

And for any other game this might be appropriate. But in Dark Heresy, you play Inquisitorial Acolytes. And there, Influence is based on how your Inquisitor - the person who has selected you - sees you. Except if you are the Inquisitor, but in such cases the other people you're dealing with when using Influence certainly don't know your personal history, as that'd be a secret.

Which could be another reason why an Influence boost may not be appropriate, come to think of it.

I think Homeworld should reflect a considerable part of someone's youth, something that irrevocably defined the nature of the character. In codex fluff, orphans enrolled in the Schola are rigorously tested for mutation including the psyker gene, so potential witches should not be there for long. The only possibility I see is someone mutating at a later point in life due to exposure to the Warp, and as I said before, I'd deal with such edge cases with a special "crisis of faith" subrule.

They are (but once again I don't believe you just can make gene scan and be sure somebody will not manifest - it's something more... hm... esoteric that just one sequence in your genecode). And OF COURSE detected psyker will be sent into Earth. Such as should be sent such psyker from Hive World or Forge World. But AAT psyker retains bonus from his homeworld, such as Hive World or Voidborn; why should be Schola, that define that orphan view of life, exception? Which homeworld such psyker should have?

Once more I want to describe a situation. Character is a progena. He was put into Schola Progenium, where he was confined for, let's say, 7-8 years. On 8th year another scan detected him as a psy developing. So he is immediatly sedated and sent into AAT with nearest Black Ship. Let's say we have Progenium homeworld as an option.

Which homeworld should such character have? Why not Schola?

Sorry, I tend to use the term "witch" for unsanctioned psykers. Sanctioned ones are just psykers.

That's just not true.

Oh, that's I completly agree. Gaunt used to save his father's ring, that's really is high-security imperial decoder. That's alone created great disbelief about Gaunt stories for me.

They are (but once again I don't believe you just can make gene scan and be sure somebody will not manifest - it's something more... hm... esoteric that just one sequence in your genecode). And OF COURSE detected psyker will be sent into Earth. Such as should be sent such psyker from Hive World or Forge World. But AAT psyker retains bonus from his homeworld, such as Hive World or Voidborn; why should be Schola, that define that orphan view of life, exception? Which homeworld such psyker should have?

There are different interpretations to what psychic powers are -- personally, I'm going with the more scientific one, as I like to see the entire setting in a more "grounded" manner. More scifi, less fantasy, so to say. Thus, psychic potential is merely a mutation/evolution, as explained in the TT core rulebook, and the Imperium uses various tests to "scan" for it.

I'm not sure my interpretation is actually compatible with how the setting is represented in FFG's books (see the controversy regarding the nature of machine spirits, which function very differently in the original material), though, so take my opinion on this subject with a grain of salt. It would probably be inappropriate if you want to play the game entirely as it is presented in the RPG books' fluff.

Either way, a psyker who is found out at the Schola would retain the Homeworld they were born on before arriving at the Schola.

Truth be told, there should probably be an AAT Homeworld as well, because I think the majority of psykers spend the most important part of their youth in the hold of a Black Ship and within a Telepathica training camp. It's like the AAT's own version of the Schola Progenium, if you will, but with different effects on the character.

Once more I want to describe a situation. Character is a progena. He was put into Schola Progenium, where he was confined for, let's say, 7-8 years. On 8th year another scan detected him as a psy developing. So he is immediatly sedated and sent into AAT with nearest Black Ship. Let's say we have Progenium homeworld as an option.

Which homeworld should such character have? Why not Schola?

This is one of the edge cases I mentioned earlier -- so this character should keep the Schola Homeworld, but have their Homeworld bonus disabled due to the "crisis of faith" subrule. After all, he or she was just ripped out of their familiar environment, effectively denounced and stigmatised over night, and he/she became what they were told is an aberration throughout the entirety of their time in the Schola. That's gonna leave a mark.

But like I said, personally I would try to avoid such cases to slip through. Unless the tests were somehow sabotaged because the Schola was infiltrated, or the equipment for conducting these tests was faulty.

That's just not true.

"This measures a character’s connections, reputation, and resources. High Influence can allow a character to quickly summon the aid of local military forces to his side, or arrange for fast transit to another star system. Unlike the other characteristics, Influence changes only as a character performs actions: it would decrease should he fail a mission in a highly visible manner, for example, or increase after he successfully rescues a kidnapped planetary governor."

Influence is based on how everybody sees you. Of course, your Inquisitor included, but definitly not only him. Well, when you're doing your Requesition roll, dropping right names in social interaction or creating contact web - you don't check how good your Inquisitor sees you.

Ah, but you have to keep in mind that this definition of Influence must apply to both Acolytes as well as the Inquisitor. Ask yourself this: How much sense would Influence make for an Acolyte if it would not run by their Inquisitor? Why should, for example, the "local military forces" be aware of an Acolyte's history? That sounds like a terribly exposed character to me!

It could just be a matter of interpretation, I guess. Personally I'm just not sure it is reasonable to pretend there's any kind of secrecy going on if the people you talk to are immediately aware of who you are. The only way not to immediately tip off any Chaos cultists in the region is if you work through other people without dropping your name ... or your history.

There are different interpretations to what psychic powers are -- personally, I'm going with the more scientific one, as I like to see the entire setting in a more "grounded" manner. More scifi, less fantasy, so to say. Thus, psychic potential is merely a mutation/evolution, as explained in the TT core rulebook, and the Imperium uses various tests to "scan" for it.

I'd say it's valid for every homeworld. Why not invoke it with Hive or Forge World? Or for Shrine World? Or for Feudal World? Yup, Schola Psykana as homeworld should be good too, no argue here. But why 8 years in Schola Progenium should be ignored at all? It's definitly more powerful as 5-6 previous years in some hive. Especially with mind wipes included (hey Eisenhorn!.. hey Gaunt!..).

Ask yourself this: How much sense would Influence make for an Acolyte if it would not run by their Inquisitor?

As much as they supposed to get, of course.

Somebody can know you as that big psyker who is good in telepathy. Somebody can know you as that guy who pays well for information. Somebody can remember that somebody quite like you happens to appear when his fellow noble had his daughter kidnapped and saves the day. Somebody can know that you helped Arbitres find that maniac on capital world. That's how you take your influence - Inquisitor can love you from the first glance, that's not matter here. He just will ignore you using his authority (and his Influence stat, of course).

Of course, if somebody suppose to collect all the bits and sums them, he can deduct you're working for Inquisition, because nobody else could be in all this places without such workplace. But it's not so easy when you're haven't Internet and/or free access to big archives. And if you have such access in Imperium it usually means you can ask fellow Peers - hey, guys, whose agent is it?

Also, of course, somebody can just ignore subtelty.

The only way not to immediately tip off any Chaos cultists in the region is if you work through other people without dropping your name ... or your history.

Yup. That's why autonomus warbands existed. With some levels of influence you can't just hope that somebody who matters ignores your appearing. Time for Throne Agent/personal Inquisitor retinue/Inqusitional post.

That seems too easy for me to control psyker population then. Not any hive born random telepathic overminds who are trying to get power, not suddenly awoken telekinetic in civilized world school and so on (and I like this stories). If it's so simple - just do SMRT in birth facility and problem solved.

Sure, if that technology would be readily available. But (apparently) it's not -- the Imperium only manages to do spot checks at best, such as with the Sororitas' so-called purity control missions who show up whilst the Arbites cordon the block and force people into a queue. The Schola merely gets a 100% check-up rate because it's a smaller number of people who are also much more important than your average hivedweller or peasant farmer. And with nobility, there is always a chance that parents may hide their child out of affection. I think this trope has even been used for several NPCs in 40k fiction.

It's a matter of preferences and interpretation, though. If you like psychic powers to be more esoteric, go for it. I was just explaining my reasoning.

I'd say it's valid for every homeworld. Why not invoke it with Hive or Forge World? Or for Shrine World? Or for Feudal World? Yup, Schola Psykana as homeworld should be good too, no argue here. But why 8 years in Schola Progenium should be ignored at all? It's definitly more powerful as 5-6 previous years in some hive. Especially with mind wipes included (hey Eisenhorn!.. hey Gaunt!..).

For the Shrine World I could see that, but not for the others. A crisis of faith depends on a strong conviction to exist in the first place, otherwise there is nothing to shake up -- and the bonuses of the other Home Worlds simply don't sound as if they would depend on the character's belief as much.

And like I already explained, this is not about ignoring everything that happened in your 8 years example, but about this one single effect that you have (correctly) criticised as being too unbalanced for psykers. The character would obviously still retain the other bonuses that represent the scholastic education or military drill they received.

Somebody can know you as that big psyker who is good in telepathy. Somebody can know you as that guy who pays well for information. Somebody can remember that somebody quite like you happens to appear when his fellow noble had his daughter kidnapped and saves the day. Somebody can know that you helped Arbitres find that maniac on capital world.

Honestly, to me that only sounds like one thing: a compromised identity. If a high Influence score truly represents a public reputation, that Chaos cult you are looking for will go into hiding the second your boot touches the surface of a world. And the rules should assign a penalty to secrecy the higher your Influence is. You may just as well walk around with Inquisition uniforms and your rosette displayed openly as a badge on your chest.

I mean, maybe it is supposed to work that way? Official artwork often displays Inquisitorial operatives with the signs of their order. But in that case we'd have a big divide towards the "cloak and daggers" gameplay that the rules seem to focus on.

For the Shrine World I could see that, but not for the others. A crisis of faith depends on a strong conviction to exist in the first place, otherwise there is nothing to shake up -- and the bonuses of the other Home Worlds simply don't sound as if they would depend on the character's belief as much.

Yes - if you're known as Chaos cult hunter to them. That's Subtlety.

You can be known, well, as a guard capitan with a bad habit to get into trouble. Or you can be known as a noble playboy with big money and your own megacorporation. Or maybe you're a personal friend of a friend of the Governor, after all there is not so many planetary governors! Or you're some strange guy with a lot of many things heard, but nothing definite.

So their reaction can be different. They can hide, they can try to kill you (as a threat or as a terror act!), they can ignore you ("bah, what that pop-diva can oppose Our Great Plan?!"), or they even can try to recrut you! But if you don't try to hide yourself they definitly will know about your arriving.

That's not said by rules directly, but I definitly sure it's supposed. After all, let rulebook says: "While Influence represents, in part, how well-known each individual Acolyte’s career and achievements are on a sectorwide level, Subtlety represents knowledge of the group’s current activities and whereabouts on a local level." and "Effective use of Influence requires an Acolyte to use his name and reputation. While it is possible to use Influence while remaining incognito, such as by dropping names or making vague threats, it is often more difficult. Similarly, if an Acolyte has been acting subtly, others may not believe him when he finally does reveal his true identity. When an Acolyte attempts to use his Influence whilst engaged in an investigation, the GM should determine if the group’s Subtlety has any bearing on the attempt. If so, then the GM can make a Subtlety test to determine the modifier to the Acolyte’s Influence test, just as for any other test the outcome of which depends on Subtlety."

Well, dissonance with "your world will never be the same" is the same. Think about homeworld as about your skills granted by the first period of life, not about some way you're looking into it (there is role for that, and Enemies Within added Pentinent).

But the skills you get from your Homeworld can - or at least should - be subject to further developments for your character. Obviously, you wouldn't just forget what you learned, but if there is an ability that requires a specific mindset, it should absolutely be possible for your character to get thrown so far off their course (psychologically speaking) that they can no longer use it.

And someone who spent their entire youth learning to hate psykers would absolutely get quite the shock at discovering that he or she is one themselves.

The same is true physiologically, of course; some abilities should stop to work if the character has mutated or experienced a loss of limbs, etc. Ultimately, it all boils down to the character's abilities reflecting their current condition.

Yes - if you're known as Chaos cult hunter to them. That's Subtlety.

You can be known, well, as a guard capitan with a bad habit to get into trouble. Or you can be known as a noble playboy with big money and your own megacorporation. Or maybe you're a personal friend of a friend of the Governor, after all there is not so many planetary governors! Or you're some strange guy with a lot of many things heard, but nothing definite.

So their reaction can be different. They can hide, they can try to kill you (as a threat or as a terror act!), they can ignore you ("bah, what that pop-diva can oppose Our Great Plan?!"), or they even can try to recrut you! But if you don't try to hide yourself they definitly will know about your arriving.

All of it still comes down to the character revealing that they pose a risk. It conflicts with a covert operation, and there really isn't much of a way as those two things are mutually exclusive: either people will know who you are, or they won't. You can't just de-couple good reputation by being a Schola graduate from good reputation by having saved Governor X on Planet Z.

Well, actually, I suppose you can, as the latter constitutes news that could travel on their own (being something far more obvious and public that the character did in recent times), whilst the former is just an obscure piece of background that nobody will know unless the Acolyte him- or herself presents the target of their Influence Test with a CV and proof of their upbringing, or if someone deliberately spies on the character in order to find out as much about their past as possible.

But that's the exact opposite of what you'd want to achieve, because you may want people to treat you better due to the Schola upbringing, whilst preferrably not knowing that you were actively engaged in several sensitive operations throughout the sector. So this is going to be a problem.

Nevertheless, the description you quoted clearly is on your side of the argument, though I find it puzzling how the book could offer such a strange approach when Dark Heresy gameplay always seemed to focus on covert operations. Perhaps DH2 simply wants to offers a far more "public" gameplay than DH1 and I have misjudged the theme of the game -- not that I'd be opposed to such a change. I actually like a more "open" Inquisition as it is more in line with the codices and the comics. I'm just surprised and would not have expected it.

I do hope RAW also hands out a penalty to Subtlety every time the Acolyte uses their Influence, though.

I do hope RAW also hands out a penalty to Subtlety every time the Acolyte uses their Influence, though.

Maybe it is quite strong, but I would do something like this as a bonus:

Tomorrow's elite: The students of the schola progenium are trained to become the best of the Imperium, such as commisars, sororitas and storm troopers, to name a few. Before being specialised, they receive a lot of training and knowledge until their true path becomes clear. Characters from the schola counts all skills as basic (can be used even if it's a specialist skill), except the forbidden lore skills. More than this, Schola Graduate suffers -10 instead of -20 to use pistol, basic or heavy weapon of imperial design in which they have no training.

I think this represents well to broad approach of the schola while giving a good kick to starting character, without being too strong for High Level character.

Ouch - that does sound pretty strong. Though it's an interesting idea.

Perhaps in a more moderate format?

" Imperial Education: Characters who have undergone Schola Progenium tutelage roll any untrained Common and Scholastic Lore Skills at -10 rather than half their Intelligence. The penalty for using a weapon without the appropriate Proficiency is only -10, as long as it belongs to the following groups: any Las, Bolt or Flame; any Low-Tech, Chain or Shock."

That should be a little useful for just about any type of character graduating from there, shifting the focus towards situational adaptability. I'm only concerned that this bonus becomes largely useless once a character has purchased all interesting Skills/Proficiencies for XP.

I also considered the following, though I'm not sure if the perk may start to feel "too bulky" when added to the above:

"If a Schola Progenium graduate faces an Athletics Test with a penalty, it will be reduced by 10, to a minimum of -10."

Half their intelligence doesn't exist anymore; its -20 now.

But when I meant basic, I meant -20 to all. So you say what I meant but upon rereading, I see that I miswrote.

I think it is strong at first, it wont be very strong for an adept, but for a guardsman and other combat oriented career, this is nice to be able to tap in any lore (except forbidden), even if it is with penalties.

On the other hand, adepts would have access to many weapon training that would cost them dear, even if it is at a little penalty.

Half their intelligence doesn't exist anymore; its -20 now.

Hmph. Oh well, it's still a bonus of 10, even though it'd not be quite as good in comparison.

But when I meant basic, I meant -20 to all. So you say what I meant but upon rereading, I see that I miswrote.

Oh! Now I see what you meant -- no worries, it could have been interpreted either way. In fact, it is me who was more wrong, for I believe in the official books usage of the term "basic" is far more common for Skill groups than it is to determine the rank of a Skill (where, upon re-reading the book, the 1st level is called "known").

Okay, that also means we are applying a similar idea to a different range of knowledge: my version results in progena being a lot better at untrained Common and Scholastic Skills (-10), whereas yours has them be a little better at untrained Common and Scholastic Lore as well as Navigate, Operate and Trade (-20).

By the same token, my version offers "improvised" weapon training to a smaller number of ranged and melee weapons (those which I believe the progena would train with), whereas yours applies to any and all Imperial weapons, but only if they are ranged ones .

[edit]

Here's another two, more streamlined versions I just came up with after re-reading over the existing chargen bonuses, so as to make them more consistent with the RAW ones:

Military drill: A progena can re-roll any Athletics and Command test, and can substitute her Willpower bonus for her degrees of success on these tests. (inspired by Arbites Background)

or

Imperial mould: A Schola Progenium character starts with the Jaded talent, and removes Fatigue in half the normal time. (inspired by Voidborn Homeworld)

These appear to be more militant traits, but they should still be useful even for Adepts as long as they get into trouble with the rest of the group.

Another idea for Schola Progenium:

Imperial Education: The Progena is automatically trained in Linguistics (High Gothic), and Common Lore (War). He also gets a free Weapon Proficiency talent.

And, the more important part...

Bonus Aptitude: Pick any Aptitude, except Psyker or Tech.

--

Edit: If this is on the weak side, I'd suggest adding another + stat, too. +WP +BS +Inf -Per