I'll throw my Imperial Guard helmet in the ring along with everybody else rooting for a book of locations and settings.

However, I would like to see an opening chapter covering the court of Governor Hax. This then followed by a chapter for each sub-sector, mentioning a sub-sector governor, notable NPCs in the sub-sector Governor's court, a rundown of important planets/stations within said sub-sector (again including important NPCs relating to the individual places, and also sub-sector encounters/happenings/phenomenon, not relating to the planets themselves, that have been reported in the past (e.g. Eldar pirates, Warp Storms, a Space Hulk flight path etc. etc.)

The closing chapters could be dedicated specifically to the operations of the Inquisition's separate factions within the sector, and stats for any Calixis Sector beasties of note (space-kraken, anybody?!)

There is loads of amazing material already written about the campaign setting, it's just a bit cumbersome juggling through so many reference books to find what you need. I think that a "Book of the Sector" would be a great way of tying all the brilliant strands of DH information together.

Just my 2¢.

A book of locations is only useful to people who play in the Calixis Sector.

A new book full of creatures/adversaries is useful to everyone.

BYE

H.B.M.C. said:

Don't go we've only just met. Oh well.

While I see what you mean, I've got to disagree. At the end of the day one sector is very much like another and if you've gone to all the trouble of creating your own sector it won't take much to change the names of the planets.

I mean more adversaries are useful but I find it more difficult to describe whole worlds and location than to change a few stats.

H.B.M.C. said:

There's already a book full of monsters that, without too much bother, are easy to adapt. You want a Striking Scorpion instead of a vanilla Eldar? give him two lasguns strapped to his chin and a chainsword.

There's not a book on the Calixis Sector. Why would FFG alienate their core following by not writing a book about the setting they have lovingly created, just because a minority don't use the Calixis Sector?

Nuff said....

I know that I get as much enjoyment out of playing and running DH as I get from reading about the Calixis Sector. FFG has some talented writers onboard and they've made a setting (within a setting) that I love exploring.

H.B.M.C. said:

Well, if D&D has teached us something during its thousand years of existence and many incarnations, it's that Monster Compendium #n+1 always sucks. Always.

And D&D has what to do with 40K? Oh, that's right - nothing.

There's a lot of existing stuff in 40K left to mine, so unless we're getting a few more interesting adversaries in Deathwatch, it'd be nice to get a new creature book that contains expanded DH-level creatures/NPCs/enemies and also Ascended-level creatures/NPCs/enemies. It doesn't have to be detached from the Calixis sector - Creatures Anathema wasn't - but it is useful to anyone (like those playing RT or DW).

H.B.M.C. said:

Well, I was suggesting that the same rule applies to most other RPGs. I don't remember a single creature from any bestiary/MC/whatever #2 or 3 I read (and I read a lot of those in my time) which wasn't uninspired, derivative or just plain lame. So the idea of a Creature Anathema Volume II doesn't exactly fill me with joy.

On the other hand, I would be more enthousiastic regarding an Inquisition's 10 most wanted-style book about ascended-level villains and their organisations, what they are trying to do and how they could be used in adventures.

Kyorou said:

H.B.M.C. said:

And D&D has what to do with 40K? Oh, that's right - nothing.

Well, I was suggesting that the same rule applies to most other RPGs. I don't remember a single creature from any bestiary/MC/whatever #2 or 3 I read (and I read a lot of those in my time) which wasn't uninspired, derivative or just plain lame.

AD&D 1E Fiend Folio.

Death Knight. Drow. Mountain Giant. Githyanki. Crypt Thing. Revenant. Skeletal Warrior. Yellow Musk Zombie. The Slaad.

AD&D 1E Monster Manual II

Yuan Ti, Thri-Kreen, Squirrel, Shade, Wemic.

Im not entirely sure what you idea of deriviative is (in general, that could be inspired from another source or creature) but I find your statement untrue.

Truth is, MMI in AD&D 1E had over 200 beasties in it. Creatures Anathem, no where near that number. Always room for more eldar, more mutants (pre-made to save GM Time), exotic Xenos and Animals, daemons and technological horrors. At least for a second monster book.

Peacekeeper_b said:

So, if I read your post correctly, you're saying that those were good creature ideas (or at least not uninspired, derivative or lame) ? Thri-Kreens and Wemics ? Seriously ? Well, I guess there is a market for this kind of stuff after all... I wasn't even sure to be interested in Creature Anathema (the monster-as-enemy concept in RPGs, so deeply xenophobic) but I will probably buy it anyway and there's a chance there's gonna be a second one. **** my completist side !

Kyorou said:

It is Warhammer 40K, that in itself is the master of derivative works.

Enough with the semantics. Producing another monstrous manual with tougher creatures is a better prospect for Deathwatch. I'd be willing to wager (sportsman's bet , of course) that FFG aren't going to make another Creatures Anathema for Dark Heresy.

As this is the Dark Heresy forum, and not the Deathwatch forum, a Calixis sector setting sourcebook would be more appropriate. Leave the setting to the role-players, and the huge beasts to the roll-players.

;^D

Methsdrinker said:

Oh I quite agree, a Guide to te Caixis sector is what I have been asking for since the game came out. Now if only they compile all the existing information to make it more accesible, add new stuff and put a nice cover on it.

A Source book which deals with the various worlds, more information on the different sorts of worlds (Pleasure, Hive, Death, etc.) with encounter/location examples, much like what Damnation City dit for Vampire the Requiem.

Perhaps a books with ready made npc's (average guardsman to interesting characters) and ready to play PC's for all levels.

Necrons will not be in DH but might be in Rogue Trader since there were several signs of Necron Tech among the world descriptions.