Evening all

I'm plotting out my first campaign for DH. I'm thinking it'll start with all the PCs as members of a feudal+black powder society in which the vast majority are basically unaware of the rest of the Imperium except in a very vague mythological kind of way. I can't however quite work out the world class this should be.

Feral feels as if it shouldn't quite be this stable and civilised, but Imperial feels more conscious of the Imperium. How have you all (if you have) approached the problem.

I'm thinking of letting the players use either dpeending where on the planet/ what social class/ethnicity they use.

Herne said:

Your last option is a good option and works in many places. Planets are massive things and can support many different cultures and lifestyles. some of which aren't really even connected. Heck, even today we still have some folks in the ever dwindling lesser developed areas who would definitely be considered a primitive.. just imagine the diversity of some imperial worlds.

So, definitely go with Feral Worlder or Imperial Worlder depending on the kind of character being built and where they are from on that world. Since having an Imperial World as a background gives you CL (Imperial Creed), CL (Imperium), and CL (War) as basic skills (not trained, the character only gets 1/2 their int to actually know anything of value or specific), this quite easily translates to knowing the vague legends and stories of the Imperium.

Alternately, you can replace them with other skills if you want the myths and legends to be all but forgotten. Say, 1 Trade or Performance Skill of choice, CL (Planetary History), and CL (Planetary Religion of Choice). In the careers, simply replace all instances of Common Lore (Some Imperial Institution or Knowledge) with an equivalent that deals strictly with the planet they are on. Once or if they become aware of the Imperium on the whole and have lived or operated in it for some time, you can open up the regular Common Lores for them to from if you wish.

Herne said:

Technically its an Imperial world. However you are free to change that background as it fits. That said, even most Feudal planets have a connection to the Imperium, delivers a tithe of psykers and resources, and probably has a PDF, maybe even with some modern weapons. Most people are uneducated (like most of the Imperium), worships the Emperor in some way (the Ecclesiarchy is very tolerant in some aspects), and apart from that need not know much about the Imperium at all. I'd let them keep the Common Lore really, and use it for mostly their own planet/country/region, and basic knowledge that there is a galaxy out there somewhere (even though they may have no idea what that actually means).

Or you can have a planet that is almost totally cut off from the Imperium, in which case the Feral World background is more appropriate. And as said, more than one background can be used on a single planet. Also don't be shy about changing gear and skills/talents for the Careers as well. Primitive weapon groups should replace the modern ones.

However so not to completely nerf the PCs, you could offer them the chance of obtaining modern skills and talents later as they travel the Imperium, perhaps at discounted prices to account for their mostly useless primitive ones.