Hello All

Been playing with my old ideas and another one which our group was discussing after our last game of DH (Acolyte Training)

be pleased to hear what you think - thanks

Courtesan
It is not uncommon for wealthy, powerful, or upper-class members of Imperial Society have unofficial partners, often a trained dancer and singer, who provide luxuries and status in exchange for his or her companionship. In some cultures, courtesans can play an important role in upper-class society, sometimes even taking the place of wives or husbands at social functions.
In the often dangerous world of social interaction they frequently find themselves pawns and prizes for the often jaded nobles but just as commonly, courtesans betray one another in acts of political intrigue in attempts to climb into higher positions of power within their usually rigid societies. Courtesans have been know to attempt (sometimes successfully) to supplant the mistress to the head of a Noble House, the Captain of ship or even a Planetary Governor. Typically, the present companion was discredited, cast aside and replaced, or even more direct methods being employed.
Within this world of intrigue and danger, some find themselves called upon to commit murder, or worse often at the behest of their protector. Assassins also enter the world of the Courtesan, infiltrating their target/s life and can often find lucrative employment. Once those unique talents become known, a few can find themselves in more demand due to the danger of taking such exotic creatures to bed.
However whatever their background and role – it is usually a fragile, unstable existence, watching for potential rivals whilst ensuring the continued interest of their protector. Inquisitors can find their abilities invaluable in infiltrating closed societies of Nobility, the strange customs of a Chartirist ship or even the rarefied air of the court of a Imperial Governor. Others are prized as much for their talents and knowledge as for their beauty. Some even continue to play the same role in the service of the Inquisitor, helping him or her to cope with the strains of their office.

Becoming a Courtesan

Required Career: Adept, Assassin, Joy-girl/boy
Home World: It is likely a Courtesan would be Void Born or from a Hive or Imperial World, however exotic beauties have also been found on Feral worlds and even some Nobles either choose this existence or are driven to it through a drastic change in circumstances.
Alternative Rank : Rank 1 or higher
Note this means you may opt to specify this at character generation as your Advance Scheme. This does not effect your basic starting Skills and Talents, only how and on what you can spend your starting XP on
Other Requirements: Fel 30+

Advance.....................Cost.......Type
Acrobatics…….......…100……..S
Awareness…….........100……..S
Carouse……….......…100…….S
Charm +10……......…100…….S
Concealment…….......100…….S
Deceive +10……........100…….S
Disguise…………........100…....S
Evaluate……….......….100…….S
Gamble…………….....100…... S
Inquiry +10……….......100….... S
Lip Reading……......…100…....S
Literacy…………..........200……..S
Medicare…………........100…....S
Performer…………......100…....S
Scholastic Lore…........200…....S..... Heraldry, Occult, Philosophy),
Scrutiny……….........….100….....S
Silent Move……...........100….....S
Sleight of Hand…........100…......S
Speak Language…......200….....S ...(High Gothic) (*)
Swim……………............100….....S
Trade (Courtesan) +10..100...S.....(Advanced, Interaction, Fellowship),
Ambidextrous......…..…100….....T ....Agility 30 required
Concealed Cavity….....300….....T
Mimic……………............200.....…T
Peer (Nobility)…….......200….....T
Pistol Weapon Training…200..T (Primitive, SP),

Joy-Girl/ Boy
Required Career: Assassin, Courtesan, Scum
Home World: Any.
Licensed and unlicensed, amateur or professional, prostitutes can be found throughout the Imperium
Alternative Rank: Rank 1 or higher
Note this means you may opt to specify this at character generation as your Advance Scheme. This does not effect your basic starting Skills and Talents, only how and on what you can spend your starting XP on
Other Requirements: Fel 30+

Advance..........................................Cost.....Type
Awareness………............................100……..S
Barter……………..............................100……..S
Carouse…….....................…….........100……..S
Charm …..………..............................100……..S
Common Lore…...............................100…….S (Imperial Creed, Underworld)
Concealment…….............................100…….S
Deceive +10....................……..........100…… S
Disguise…………..............................100…….S
Dodge……………..............................100…….S
Evaluate…………..............................100…….S
Gamble……………............................100….. S
Inquiry……………..............................100…. S
Lip Reading………............................100…..S
Medicare………….............................100….S
Performer…………............................100….S
Scrutiny +10……........................…...100….S
Secret Tongue……..........................100….S (Underworld)
Silent Move………............................100….S
Sleight of Hand……..........................100….S
Trade (Courtesan)…........................100...S (Advanced, Interaction, Fellowship),
Decadence………….........................200….T
Melee Weapon Training…...............200 ..T (Primitive,)
Peer (Underworld)……....................200….T
Pistol Weapon Training...................200....T (Primative)
Street Fighting……............................300…T

Background Package – Acolyte Training – 300XP
Home World: Any
Some Inquisitors ensure that those who they recruit as investigators and agents are given a basic grounding in the work that they will perform, the pitfalls and procedures that will best suit them in their Emperor given task.
This can be a formal training program at a Inquisitorial facility or merely a period of intense, on the job work with trusted members of his or her Retinue. Some Inquisitors consider this a waste of time and resources, theorising that the very nature of their work means that no training can prepare an indivudual for what they will encounter. Others feel that those unable to deal with the nature of the holy work will be quickly eliminated.
Still such training can also help to bring a team together to face their adversaries (or indeed sow the seeds of future conflict within the group………..)
Effects
Apply all of the Following changes to your character:

Skills: You begin play with Awareness (Per), Cyphers (Acolytes) (Int), either Inquiry (Fel) or Interrogation (Will) and either Medicae (Int) or Search (Per)

Nice.

Although they seem pretty generous, especially as they can be taken at first rank. Courtesan, for example, gets four +10 mastery skills. I'd be tempted to tighten the list a bit.

I'd remove Acrobatics, Concealment, Medicae, Scholastic Lore (Occult), Swim, Ambidextrous and Pistol Weapon Training from Courtesan. All those +10s shout specialisation to me, so I think the package should be very focused. And I'd only keep Concealed Cavity because I have a dirty mind. I'd also make the requirement Fellowship 35+ as only the most charming are going to make it in this game.

For the Joyboy/girl, I'd drop Awareness, Common Lore (Imperial Creed) (huh?), Disguise, Gamble, Inquiry, Lip Reading, Medicae, Melee Weapon Training and Pistol Weapon Training. I'd also raise the price of Decadence as it's normally only available at much higher ranks and Peer (Underworld) as prostitutes are hardly movers and shakers (well, not it thhat sense anyway).

Acolyte Training is excellent. But I'd go even further, making it 400 XP and adding a few skills.

How about secret Tongue (Acolyte), Tech Use (without which even simple investigations can get stonewalled), Forbidden Lore (Cults or Xenos) (basic know thine enemy education), Shadowing or Security. And for Talents, Street Fighting (to model martial arts training), Double Team, Takedown (to bring 'em in alive) or Nerves of Steel.

That's quite a lot, so I'd drop Medicae (as that's the defining skill of several paths), and add a disadvantage to balance it all out a bit. Nothing's coming to me right now but maybe it could reflect being paranoid, not sleeping well, not trusting others, that kind of thing.

So...

Background Package – Acolyte Training (400XP )
Home World: Any
Skills: You begin play with Ciphers (Acolytes) (Int), Secret Tongue (Acolyte) (Int), Forbidden Lore (Cults or Xenos) and three of the following: Awareness (Per), Inquiry (Fel), Interrogation (Will), Search (Per), Tech Use (Int), Shadowing (Agi) or Security (Int).
Talents: Street Fighting plus one of the following: Double Team, Takedown or Nerves of Steel.
Disadvantages: [200-300 XP of disadvantages)

vs

voidstate said:

Thanks for the interest and response ( I was not sure if this sprt of thing is of interest to people) although My computer has problems wiht this forum and seems to keep screw up the formatting ...........

I may adjust so that: Courtesans are only available at level 2+ - keep you 35+ Fel requirment - sounds right. Most of the others you suggest could go - although Acrobatics seems to fit............

Joy girls - I think Gamble, Inquiry and Melee weapon training fit..............and the Peer idea is that the prostitute could have got involved with or see things in the Underworld (very filmic I know) - may increase the cost - take your point re Decadence

Acolyte training (To me it just seems a thing that should be in the core rules and we were suprised nothing like it - something that the "team" pick up quite quickly?? Maybe just me?)

I am thinking - keep the basic version but have also have a version or yours as:

Acolyte Indoctrination

Some Inqusitors demand perfection from their trusted emmisaries and ensure that they have been throughly trained and indoctrinated in the roles and responsability they will be undertaking before they undertake missions on their own. Acolytes are put through grueling ordeals and scenarios to ensure they can act asa team and become effective agents. Often this can mean exposure to the enemies of the Inquisiton, serving with more hardend members of the Retinue or the Inquisitor himself, and can result in damage to mind or body.

Background Package – Acolyte Indoctrination (400XP )
Home World: Any
Skills: You begin play with Ciphers (Acolytes) (Int), Secret Tongue (Acolyte) (Int), Forbidden Lore (Cults or Xenos) and three of the following: Awareness (Per), Inquiry (Fel), Interrogation (Will), Search (Per), Tech Use (Int), Shadowing (Agi) or Security (Int).
Talents: One of the following: Double Team, Nerves of Steel, Streetfighter, or Takedown .
Disadvantages: Choose one of the following : Unhinged Gain D6 Insanity Points, Accident : reduce any one Characteristic by 5,

Da Boss said:

Looks good but that's still quite a lot of bang for 400 XP, especially as you get lots of choices to fill out gaps in your chosen career. How about making the disadvantage a bit nastier?

Disadvantages: Unhinged Gain D5 Insanity Points and D5 Corruption Points, Accident : You bear a scar either on your body or psyche that will never fully heal. Reduce any one Characteristic by 5; the cost to increase that attribute with experience points is doubled.

Is that too harsh?

Oh, and I changed the loss to D5 instead of D6 because that's what it normally is in the book.

vs

I think both is a little harsh - I'd still keep at either an Accident or "knowing too much".

I def have them as options when we start our next campaign...........

thanks

Hope you don't mind but I posted this to Dark Reign... and one of the characters in my group is now using it.

nope - thats whats its for - I did put it on Dark Reign as well under the submissions bit.

let me know how it works

thanks