I posted this in the general forums for players, but I wanted to get the GM's thoughts as well.

As the title asks, what is the general thought behind the Monthly Stipend? I know it's for a month of gametime, but how long does that equate to in your games? My current group just finished a mission in game-time of 3 days...which was 2 sessions...and 600 xp. Is this the norm? At this rate, we won't even come close to being able to afford any more than the most basic of gear and such. Of course, our group having seen this pace, has become a bunch of loot monkeys....which just doesn't seem right. But in the end....must needs right?

Also, what's the general guideline for gearing? There are some really awesome pieces of kit and gear...but when do you feel is a good time to grant your party access to them? If you go based off of the monthly stipend...most stuff is going to be and stay inaccessable.

What are your experiences along this thoughtline? And also, what have been your solutions? What have you done when your party found itself with several different weapon talents? Did you make those weapons accessable to your players? Did you choke them out in regards to how many Thrones they had so they couldn't feasibly buy it? Please, share your experiences.

In our group equipment granting differs from character to character.

Everyone gets their monthly gain but the interrogator they work for (rank 5, not yet high enough to see an actual inquisitor) supply them with stuff depending of the character of the character.

The guardswoman is used to getting supplied with her equipment and as such she has no contact or know-how in how to buy her own gear. As such the interrogator supplies her with what gear the guard will need. This also has the effect that the guard is properly armed for the occasion and she won´t have to bother her little soldier-brain with the strain of bartering, she can just focus on blowing stuff up.

The assassin on the other hand is a former freelance, a true professional with connections everywhere in gunmetals underworld. The interrogator grants him som extra cash each month as he is responsible for his own gear. Standard patterns might cramp his style and we wouldn´t want that

The sororita is the simplest on to handle. I decided that sororitas are not allowed to own anything, that means that they don´t get any montlhy salary. She does, however, get any gear required for the mission from her order. This depends on the mission briefing sent to the order, her legatine reads it and makes sure she is ready for action.

So in short, it depends on the character and what makes sense.

That's actually a fairly elegant way of dealing with it, as long as you have the char types that you can do that with...as well as have agreed on the gear level everyone will be playing with. I would say that one of my group's biggest concern is dropping xp on talents that will never be used, due to not having the gear to do so.

In my humble opinion, if a player spends XP on a talent he/she should get to use it regardless of what talent it is. If it is heavy weapon training: melta, then so be it but be prepared for enemies to match.

And using above example of melta training. If the characters cant afford a multi-melta, let them loot one of a dead enemy.

Disclaimer: There is no neeed to supply them with ammo, give them a single mag and let them worry about refills.

I use a straight 30-day period to determine when the characters get their monthly stipend. During missions, they can spend a lot of money in a short time, but since they spend a lot of time travelling between worlds (and I calculate the stipend based on Sidereal months) it averages out fairly well.

If I were to start a new DH campaign, however, I think I would scrap Thrones altogeather and use the Requisition/Aquisition system from Deathwatch / Rogue Trader . Every time my players make a trip into town to sell the used armour they have looted from dead bodies shatters the suspension of disbelief and puts me back in the D&D universe...

Oh, I hear ya! It just feels wrong stripping bodies for loot in DH...but must needs ya know? I'm digging all of the ideas though! Both threads have come away with some good ideas, all sticking to pretty much the same theme. Essentially, if your team is having to loot bodies for anything other some new shiny, your'e doing it wrong.

However, looting bodies is something I can imagine a scum character doing!

I just allow my players to basically own whatever equipment they are trained for as well. It's a prestige thing as well - when they rise in rank, and therefore the trust of their Inquisitor / Interrogator, then so they become more than just cannon fodder. They get better requisition, better salaries, and probably better lifestyles away from the action as well. In some way, working for the Inquisition is a curse - exceedingly dangerous, very little control of what you will be made to do in the name of the Emperor, but also with rewards for loyalty.

In short i think the requisition system is better, but the idea of grubbing around a little is more of a fair reflection of the lowly status of the humble acolyte - a middle ground would be the best solution - enough to lead a more independent life, but the feeling that you are on a chain and leash all of the time - an ability to try out a deadly new weapon, but also being limited by having to remain covert, and messing with enemies that are tougher and possibly even better armed and connected than you are.

Generally, my acolytes get their stipend after 30 straight days, which means that they probably won't see any new gelt during a mission, other than what they find assorted places (such as finding the local gang leaders stash of cash), but i generally give them quite a long down-time, probably 2-3 months, which make sense considering that they often have to travel to another planet.

Thus, they both get the gelt, and a chance to spend it, before their next assignment.

From what I can find, as well as my poor math...you almost have to combine monthly stipends, bonus gelt, AND looting/granting shiny things it seems. For instance, a basic Force Sword costs 3500 Thrones. And is should be attainable by Rank 4 (the first rank you can take Templar.) If you go off of pure stipend you would need.....well, several YEARS to pick one up.

I used to run a DH campaign, I started a t rank 1 and worked up to rank 10.
In the beginning the characters started with kitting out their (mainly) SP weapons but as they advanced they wanted better weapons, especially Bolt weapon, understandable since they are so iconic.
So the first Bolt Weapon they found on the deceased body of a Commissar, it was broken but after a while the Techpriest managed to fix it.
Their first Plasma weapon they got after they killed the wielder, it costed the Guardsman and the Psyker a Fate Point.
Another weapon they bought at the Haarlock Auction (House of Dust and Ash) was a Hybrid Xenotech.Imperial Sniper Rifle which used to be the personal property of Erasmus Haarlock.
The Moritat Assassin managed to pry two digital weapon from an Ashen Assassin (Logician) and decided to wear them because she thought them pretty, though never fired them, she didn't even knew they were weapons.

If the players get access to higher tier weapons have them earn them, not just buy them because thats boring.
For example if the Guardsman buys Basic Weapon Training (Bolt) have the Inquisitor award him a Bolter with an mysterious inscription for services rendered.
If the Assassin wants a power sword let her pry it from the dead hands of an advisary she was barely able to defeat.

Higher tier weapons should have stories attached to them, especially in Dark Heresy...

In that I agree. I've actually got it all planned out on how to get my Force Weapon...I just need to see if my GM will agree with it. Here's my idea.

With the insanity points I've gained at Chargen (12) I need to spend a decent amount of time meditating to lower it before I hit rank 4. Now, instead of just going off into my cubicle and spacing out, I've come up with the idea of going the Way of the Blade. In my next afteraction report, I'm going to be requesting to be sent to Lathe for some much needed r/r (I sustained Crit 2 damage our last encounter) so that I can "try" to find someone to teach me Trade, Armourer. I want to use that as my meditation (although I actually have the talent meditation.) While there, I was going to use the time to root out any legends (SLore Legends) about old Force GreatWeapons....preferably a claymore....and see if I can piece them together. If there aren't any, I was going to train and train to be able and craft one.....or have a TPriest craft one, with some form of understanding between us. (Might even use the TPriest in our party who's a Heretek, and he'll be leaving the group soon due to moving away.)

It's only a semi-half-formed thought at the moment, but I thought it had potential.