Hi, now that the Core Rulebook is out, Final Sanction and Oblivion's Edge can be played with full rules. For sake of clarity this thread should be dedicated to Oblivion's Edge exclusively. Anybody who has got ressources for OE is invited to post them here, I'll include the links in this topic starter.

To begin with, Requisition needs to be assigned. That's where the trouble starts... 3 possibilities (the first two tie into FS):

A. The simulationist standpoint: In FS the kill-team has been requested for dealing with a Genestealer investation. That's what the Marines have been equipped for. Going by that I would be generous and rate their mission as follows: 1 skilled level primary objective (ending the GS infestation) and (perhaps) 1 novice secondary objective (making contact with Inquisitor Kalistradi) for 25 + 16 = 41 Requisition Points. Note that this will make OE quite challenging but then again the pre-gen chars don't have much equipment either. If the kill-team succeeds it will only increase their heroics.

B. The middle-ground approach: Going more by the rules, FS has 2 primary objective, 2 secondaries and 3 ToO. This might be rated as follows:

25 skilled prim (broodlord) + 21 novice prim (elsharna) + 16 novice sec (thorsholt) + 20 skilled sec (recapture) + 10 skilled ToO (genestealer) + 6 novice ToO (rebel leaders) + 6 novice ToO (PDF support) for a whooping 104 Requisition points.

C. The Gamey (going by OE's missions as per the rules) approach: OE itself has officially 2 Primaries, 3 Secondaries and 3 Targets of Opportunity in total. So that might give the following:

21 novice prim (operations, novice because the kill-team can choose one of the easier operations) + 20 skilled secondary (complete operations) + 10 skilled ToO (hive intelligence) for 51 Requisition Points.

30 veteran prim (mind link) + 25 veteran sec (vitals) + 25 veteran sec (genus) + 10 skilled ToO (survivors) + 15 veteran ToO (tyranid prime) for 105 Requisition Points, adding up to 156 points.

One could also argue that escape from Avalos might be a skilled primary objective which would give another 25 Requisition points.

Personally I would opt for A because it's realistic and in line with the pre-gen chars. Sure, the rulebook Tyrannids have more powers, so do the rulebook Marines.

Even so - the comparison underlines the heroics of a kill-team that manages to complete the mission with option A Requisition points at their hands. When they should have had at least as many as under option C under normal circumstances.

Any thoughts or ideas? Someone please check the math?

Another topic: completing OE should be a remarkable feat even for Rank 1 or Rank 2 Deathwatch (especially if they are ill-equipped to do so). I would like hear from any of you under which conditions (especially in the light of page 271 of the rulebook) you would award any personal honours for surviving members of the kill-team.

Alex

Your math seems right.

I allowed no Requisition for FS, however i distributed some additional gear between the players.

For OE my players are going to make to Requisitions, one for the Imperial Operations on and around Avalos, the other for the Hive Ship mission. They have sent a distress call using deathwatch cyphers, therefore a cache of specialized Deathwatch equipment, accessible only by the team, was added to the fleet.

My values are a bit different, but that is a matter of perspective, for instance the Imperial Operations value i calculated, is a bit lower then yours as i count the intelligence tertiary as a novice objective (it is available during most operations and easily obtained)

I am not going to award the players any specific honours, however they will get a bonus of 3 renown points, and a record of exeptional performance, which may in turn lead to more tangible honours in the future (Imperial Laurel, Iron Star and of course the Crux Terminatus come to mind). I will set up a specific performance record for each character, to better judge when an honour would apply. As an additional reward i will give players access to elite Advances( Forbidden Lore (Tyranids), Hatred (Tyranids), Hunter of Aliens) for the base cost of 750 points, making some Rank 2 advances available at Rank 1, albeit for a heigher cost, and a Rank 1 advancement cheaper to obtain.

tkis said:

Good thing about the elite advances... we award those too rarely in our sessions. Stopping in a Tyranid invasion with a 4-man kill-team is a noteworthy feat by itself and I think the players might get a Skull and Motto for that (suggestions?)... for individual heroics perhaps some more personalized honour. Laurel would require a feat of extreme bravery, salvaging the entire mission - I don't want to give that away easily. Crux Terminatus... is more a reward for a distinguished career rather than a single act of bravery.

Okay, I don't seem to be able to edit the topic starting post... ... so I'll post everything anyone might have to contribute here, including your maps if you don't mind.

Maps for Oblivion's Edge can be found here: img820.imageshack.us/g/operationfirebreak.jpg/

Alex

Follow up question:

In Oblivion's Edge all of Avalos comes under the Shadow of the Hive. That should seriously hamper any librarians abilities. Any rules suggestions for that?

Alex

ak-73 said:

You could apply the Shadow in the Warp (Tyranid) Trait from the core book [p134] to the entire place...

Neisseria said:

The way I remember it the effect of an entire tyranid invasion is stronger though... perhaps at least 1 constant Fatigue point, long-range telepathy and divination becomes impossible. Perhaps even all Psychic Phenomena resulting in Perils of the Warp automatically?

Alex

ak-73 said:

Sounds good - I would agree with most of that. With regards to Perils, it depends on what version of the Tyranids you're using as a basis for your game. In tabletop 5th ed, then you're fine... But in tabletop 4th ed, I believe Shadow in the Warp stopped any Perils of the Warp from occuring. Thematically I prefer the latter.