I just picked up Rogue Trader and found that I really liked the Origin Paths feature. I was curious if anyone has adapted it to Dark Heresy and how that worked out.

I figure that it would include an xp cost, though not sure how much. Thoughts?

There are variations of the origin path in the Inquisitor's handbook, as well as the Radical's Handbook (not to mention the ascension packages), if they aren't origin paths outright.

I have those, but are more supplementary to the Home World Origin, which they do include for RT in it's supplement as well. What I'm talking about is the multi-layed Origin Path, that has add background features. I am wondering if any one has applied it to DH and how it has worked out for them, and what the xp cost might be at each part of the path.

I'm thinking about overhauling the system to be more in line with RT and am looking for input.

Ah, gottcher. I haven't applied it to my games, but I think, when you incorporate it into DH, you could probably do without the xp cost, provided there is a reasonably equal balance between perk and negative. Or, you might consider doing 4 pathway categories, to incorporate the 400 starting xp with new characters. So instead of spending the 400xp on the career advances, you incorporate them with the origin path?

That's kind of what I'm thinking, I'm just not sure what the xp value would be. I've also been thinking about the basics to the starting careers, adjusting them somewhat as I feel that they are really underdeveloped at the start, but that's a different issue altogether.

What might help with the xp values is taking a look at the career background packages of IH, and taking a look at the types of skills you get for 100, 200, or 300 xp ranges. Then, compare those with the type of bonuses you'd get from the different levels of the origin path tree. That would give you a baseline to awarding xp cost with the skills/talents/items, etc.

are you planning on giving your characters a certain number of starting xp to spend on these origin paths?

If so, you could try making so they'd be able to get one or two expensive paths (300xp?), and some lower value ones from your Origin Path. This would prevent them from taking all of the expensive paths, forcing them to pick and choose between the cheaper and more balanced. Or, if they pick the cheapest ones, they'd have points left over to put to their career upgrades?

In addition, a "fresh start" group could actually do away with all the "Home Worlds" provided in DH and substitut them with those given RT & ItS.

I found them to be much more "polished". Especially the approach to turn a "double skill pick" into "Talent: Talented(Skill)". This way, you ensure that actually some player clerics do hail from an Imperial World (which the normaly will not since it is a waste of Origin-Skills).

I will probably use a blend of RT and DH homeworlds, though I think I will do a bit of rework on the origin paths in general as some don't seem to work well for certain classes altogether.

I do feel that in some ways that DH characters are too inexperienced to gain the attention of an inquisitor, though I don't think that the starting power level of RT is the way to go either. Looks like I have some work to do....

Gregorius21778 said:

Actually, and not to nitpick, but a double skill in RT becomes skill mastery in the skill. A double talent allows for you to pick Talented (Skill to be Chosen) . There's a bit of a difference where meeting prerequisites are concerned, but mostly identical mechanics in how you presented it. But it is an important distinction.

Of course, the group I play with has done that from day one with DH . An almost 18 month game so far...

-=Brother Praetus=-