So ready for the release of the game lets get some initial ideas of adventures with the Marines down and ready to go...
So ready for the release of the game lets get some initial ideas of adventures with the Marines down and ready to go...
The following was inspired by an idea by Drais on how to integrate all three 40K RPG`s. Players get to make characters for all three system and the groups play in a "shared continuum".
The Imperium is engaged in a Crusade to reclaim stars in the God-Emperors name. All His loyal servant have a role to play.
- The Rogue Trader has his hands full. Running supplies and troops to contested planets gives a steady profit. Exploring and mapping the War Zone is also needed. Doing some privateering on the side helps balance the books. Everything is running smoothly. Except for the small thing about the Inquisitor...apparently he wants to use your ship to get to some obscure planet.
- The inquisitor is busy, very busy. Infiltrating agents, establishing contacts, collecting reports and playing the never ending political game with other factions involved in the Crusade. Now one of his cells of acolytes has sighted a wanted heretic declared Excommunicate Traitoris. Need a ship and some troops fast. The window for a successful strike is limited.
- The Deathwatch team has barely time to do the proper maintenance rituals for their bolters. Long range recon, extraction of Imperial ( often Inquisition ) agents, sabotage of Xenos facilities. All part of regular days work. Now the Inquisitor has asked for your team to participate in a operation far behind enemy lines. You are to provide support for a team of Acolytes.
As a fan of the sound of Space Marines in Dawn of War yelling "Deepstriking!" seconds before their Drop Pod crashes hard onto the battlefield, I wanted an excuse to start off a game with Deepstriking deep into enemy territory. Came up with the following.
Basically, an Imperial world (or at least a major hive / city) has rebelled against the Imperium, and the Ordo Xenos become involved because they: a) were on their way to investigate reports on ancient Xenos tech, b) Eldar activity is strong in the area and there is evidence that the world may once have been a Maiden world, so its possible that they are behind the incursion, c) the humans on the planet have openly joined the Tau philosophy, and Tau have been reported fighting alongside the planet's defenders, or d) there was reports of a possible Genestealer cult on the planet, but not confirmed yet.
The biggest problem is the world is too valuable to simply destroy, and their are many on the planet that still believe in the Imperial Creed, so straight out destruction isn't desired, but rather must be re-captured the old-fashioned way.
Basically, the Deathwatch will start in a ship in space after the ground assault has already been initiated by the Imperial Guard and perhaps other fighting forces (Sisters of Battle due to the heretical nature of whatever beliefs the defenders now have perhaps?). While the capital's / hive's / city's defenders are busy fighting off the Imperial guard on the outer edges of their new fortress, the Deathwatch will plunge right into the heart of the enemy territory, secure a landing pad for their Inquisitor and his retinue, and then hunt down the instigators of the rebellion.
The most usable platform, of course, is still heavily defended, so the Deathwatch Kill-Team will be dropping right into the line of fire of some of the world's new ruler's best troops (will be scaled in such a way that the group shouldn't suffer casualties yet unless really unlucky). When the Inquisitor arrives with his Stormtroopers and retinue, the Deathwatch will split off to travel a different direction from the Inquisitor to hunt the leader.
Based off what I said above, the enemy leader could be a Genestealer Broodlord, an Eldar Farseer / Warlock, the Planetary Governor possessed by mind-controlling powers of Xenos tech, or a Tau Commander in some kind of battlesuit.
The adventure could be continued onwards by leading onto a hunt for fleeing Eldar / Tau, clearing the planet of any more potential Xenos artifacts, or preparing before the now-inevitable approach of a Tyranid Hive Fleet (the Genestealer incursion wasn't stopped fast enough to prevent it attracting the nearest Hive Fleet).
These times, people link "good idea" with "originality". While these two often overlap themselves, they are two different things.
While i value originality, i don't consider it "a must" for interesting, immersive session. So...
"The quest".
You are tasked with finding, acquiring and then destroying/preserving some item. Think : Lord of the Rings with Marines. Quite amusing idea that can form long campaign. Application of "The quest" ? Here you go : Deep inside ancient bowels of recently emerged hulk lies the Truth. What truth ? That Emperor is dead. That he wants to be dead. That he was never alive in first place. That he never WAS. These scrolls, protected by numerous Genestealers waves prove these ideas and you are tasked to secure, decipher them and then either destroy them, or form a cult devoted to preserve their wisdom. What ? Only Grey Knights never deflected to Chaos or Heresy - and this may be as well only propaganda.
"Twisted".
Brother Marine Sylas faces court trial. He is accused of betrayal, cowardice, disobedience. He is firm in his line of defence : the proofs of his innocence are hidden deep in fortress of Greenskins. Also, this proofs are of great value to whole Mankind... Your pack is tasked with going there with Brother Sylas, helping him. Also, at the slightest sign of betrayal you are free to execute Sylas at the spot. (Something similiar was covered in "Bloodquest" comic).
"Ghost of the past"
Another hulk leaves the WarpSpace. You clean Genestealers manifestation with ease, but what will you do with prisoners ? They are Marines like you, from Chapter long time gone, supposedly fallen to Chaos teachings. They are battered, wretched beings, swearing on the Emperor's name that they know nothing about history between Horus Betrayal and now. Horus Betrayal... They chased his subordinates right into Eye of Terror, where they battled them for eons. They do not deserve to be called traitors and they beg you to help them cleanse their name. Do whatever you want, but for Emperor, clean their Chapter's name !
"Angels to some, Demons to others".
Your ship broken, your commander dead, no way to reach or communicate Empire. That's the outcome of your crashlanding on some remote, unknown world. Yes, you're Deathwatch encased in steel armors, fighting aliens for the glory of Mankind, but now you are also alone here in a world separated from anything they know. All those primitive men around, feuding... What will you do ? Will you join war that's not yours ? Will you try to shape this primitive, Emperor-less world to your vision ? And what if you're forever lost to the Empire ? Will you succumb to temptation and become living gods among savages ? Your agendas does not necceserily have to be evil at first...
"Siembieda's connection".
Something similiar to "Angels". Just forget WH40k background. Take Deathwatch and inject them via Eye of Terror to any setting you like. Marines in Victorian Earth ? Deathwatch vs Vampires ? Maybe Marines in Kult's Illusion covered reality ? Take your pick.
"Last Stand of Leonidas".
Only two days. Two days until this city erected in sky-reaching canyon will be flooded by hordes of xeno. Citizens fled, and you are tasked with buying them as much time as you can. This may not be the best way for Deathwing company to die, but there are worse. You need to form some tacitcs, place minefields, traps, prepare for incoming holocaust. While at that... The small pack of Tau emerge, offering "to help" you. Will you take a chance ?
"Almost like looking into mirror..."
Waaaaaaaaaaita minute... Sure, they are green and ugly, but why the hell are they using Emperor's Name as a warcry ? Where did they acquired bolt weapons ? And why are they encased in Terminator armors ? What treachery is this ? Maybe going deeper into their stronghold will give some answers ?
"Semper Fidelis".
Ok, ok, i understand you are Deathwing and only hours ago you resolved the hard case of "Angel's Tears" hulk, but we have situation here and as an Ordo Malleus Grand Master i order you to help me here. If you disobey my orders, we may as well open gates of Terra and invite every daemon infestation WarpSpace has to offer. Are we clear ? Ok, here's what you need to do. Firstly, you'll kill everyone on this peacefull space station...
"Predator"
Ummmmmmmmmmmm... It's really easy. You are here, here are swamps, and somewhere here hides some man-mantis hybrid. We really can't do anything with this butcher while he slowly kills us one by one. Praise the Emperor you were near, oh great Deathwatch Marines.
Are they gone ? Great. Now go, cover yourself with this camouflage and lure them to trap. We will sell their armors and implants on black market.
...
Deathwatch Kill-Team Siberrus is send to planet XED-875486:48/5 to secure unknown artifact that Mechanicus Archeotech group uncovered. When they get to the solar system they try to make contact to the Archeotech group but nobody answers to the psychic hails. They don't notice any spaceship or warptrail that would have left the system so they continue to the planet. Kill-Team prepares their weapons and minds for possible enemy contact. Their ship establishes geostationary orbit and kill-team leaves with Thunderhawk.
On the planet surface they find the base camp but nothing seem out of ordinary except the Mechanicus group is missing. Kill-team starts to search the artifact but it seem that what ever took the Mechanicus team also took the artifact whit it. When one of the team member notices faint trail leaving camp they start to follow it weapons ready. After some happening they follow the trails to forest clearing and see that there is somekind of altar and the artifact seems to be on it. As they move in to secure the artifact group of dark eldar's attack them. Marines are hard pressed but prevail. After the combat they call Thunderhawk for extraction. When they are docking Strike Cruiser Xenos Purgation the ship is assaulted by slave ships of dark eldar. It seems that Imperium isn't the only one wanting the artifact and the rebelling of the boarding party falls for the kill-team. What happens after that.
Can the kill-team rebel the dark eldars succesfully and return the artifact to their ordo xenos master and be given new mission to cleans genestealer cult or search for some ancient tech from space hulk that just fell of the warp near Ghoul stars. Or are they over come and taken to the dark eldar ship where they are subjected to some homunculies whims or are they thrown to some bloodpit gladiator arena where they must fight for their lives just for the fun of their dark eldar captors.
And what is the artifact that is so coveted by the dark eldars. Is it weapon of mass-destruction or somekind of psychic amplifier.
Emperor only knows.
Deathwatch versus Vampires... I'd play in that. Especially if they sparkle.
Lyinar said:
Deathwatch versus Vampires... I'd play in that. Especially if they sparkle.
I think they would sparkle nicely after few burst from a flamer.
"I love the smell of prometheum in the morning. It smells victory."
Routa-maa said:
Lyinar said:
Deathwatch versus Vampires... I'd play in that. Especially if they sparkle.
I think they would sparkle nicely after few burst from a flamer.
"I love the smell of prometheum in the morning. It smells victory."
Why resort to something so crude as flamers? Just enjoy the show, once the Blood Angel in your group gets face to face with his opposite number. Only tonight! The Beast Within versus the Black Rage! Who is the Top Vampire of them all? Now taking bets! Crowd favorite is the reigning champion!"
- Vampire : RAAARGGH!
- Blood Angel : BLOOD!
- Ultramarine : Stop this at once! This was not part of the plan!
- Space Wolf : DonĀ“t interfere! This is a duel. A matter of honor.
- Dark Angel : Yes. Let them continue. We can always kill the Vampire afterwards.
- Raven Guard : Interesting bite technique.
Routa-maa said:
Lyinar said:
Deathwatch versus Vampires... I'd play in that. Especially if they sparkle.
I think they would sparkle nicely after few burst from a flamer.
"I love the smell of prometheum in the morning. It smells victory."
"Screw the flamer hit em with the multimelta!"
I like the idea of a scenario where an Ordo-Xenos Inquisitor gathers together a Kill-Team in the hopes that they will be able to eradicate a very dangerous race of xenos he has discovered that has begun to infest a very important human world (ie. no Exterminatus), takes them to the world and then sends them down to wipe out the Xenos.
The Deathwatch Kill-Team makes Planet Fall, only to find out they are not on a human world, but are on an infested world. Soon after contact is lost with their ship in orbit - they've been double crossed and sent to their deaths by the radical Inquisitor. Now they're on a hostile world with no support, and have to rely on one another to escape!
BYE
H.B.M.C. said:
I like the idea of a scenario where an Ordo-Xenos Inquisitor gathers together a Kill-Team in the hopes that they will be able to eradicate a very dangerous race of xenos he has discovered that has begun to infest a very important human world (ie. no Exterminatus), takes them to the world and then sends them down to wipe out the Xenos.
The Deathwatch Kill-Team makes Planet Fall, only to find out they are not on a human world, but are on an infested world. Soon after contact is lost with their ship in orbit - they've been double crossed and sent to their deaths by the radical Inquisitor. Now they're on a hostile world with no support, and have to rely on one another to escape!
BYE
I'd rather see that scenario played out on a Space Hulk infested with the 'Umbra' we saw in Xenology.
Deathwatch fighting sentient spheres of darkness that drain souls?
AWESOME.