Have to comment here because I can't do this in the News section:

Alex

Disappointing read to be honest. I really don't care for Storm Wardens and with this even less. Warp tainted marines in stasis? Pretty lame of a story. They could have eluded more to their gene-seed mystery or make this 'incident' more interesting than with some lame story of taint. Chapter mysteries was also 'meh'. Nothing really interesting or something that was not obvious before. Most of things there is already eluded to in their respective chapter descriptions in Core rulebook or Rites of Battle.

I personally like the supplement, for a free download especially. Nice that they codified the chapter lore skill mechanic (a point of contention on the forums from time to time) and I like that the chapter mystery plot hook was made a mission complication- especially that they gave some tidbits that were Roleplay specific. I think it's a decent addition, particularly for folks that haven't read all the novels and codexes.

As for the Storm Wardens, I've always kind of been lukewarm to them but I do like the legend aspect, it gives them more of a motivation than before, to kind of show off for King Aurther before he returns kind of deal (or Jesus if you want to take it that way).

So much for it being another First Founding Chapter of Marines.

Dulahan said:

The Nemesis Incident or the Storm Wardens? I don't think they ever implied that the Storm Wardens were part of the First Founding, and what's wrong with successor chapters, if you don't mind me asking?

Oh, the webcontent for Rites. I was really hoping they'd release at least one more of them. Because now I doubt we'll see any more of them until Christmas at the earliest. Certainly none of the books currently announced have any chance of them.

EDIT: So no complaint about the content itself. Just sad at it not being something entirely different.

Dulahan said:

Ah, I get it now. I wouldn't rule out that we won't see some chapter stuff in the Achillus Crusade supplement, but you're right in that it seesm like a different type of book

See, I want all the First Foundings sooner rather than later. Especially since the Create a Chapter rules pretty much require we know about the remaining 4 to do any related to them properly.

Nice fluff-eise for the Nemesis incident and adding a touch of mystery to DW...

However, is there going to be a follow on which includes details on the following chapters: Raven Guard, Iron Hands, Salamanders and the Iron Snakes?

...Or are we going to still use the exceptional fan based material on the first three and wait for a later supplement to come on 8-12 months down the line.

I cannot help but wonder, having noticed in previous titles such as the Radicals Handbook and Blood of Martyrs for DH, that elements get mentioned yet are not detailed (e.g. the Fire hammer and Fire Lance in BoM), only to be derided by others as typos/errata before DLC detailing them appears.

Dulahan said:

What's required? Between you and your GM, you should be able to come up with a reasonable set of stats that can reflect all of the remaining 1st Founding Legions/Chapters. And if FFG should sneak an update in where they cover the remainder, then you and your group can choose to adjust your stats to reflect the new 'official' rules or stay with the home-brewed stuff. In my party we have an Iron Hand Techmarine, who initially created his profile using the Ultramarine rules, but then proceeded to hammer out with our GM as to what the Iron Hands should actually play as. Also, it should be noted that he did this before RoB came out, and thus without the create a Chapter rules.

I highly doubt we'll see Iron Snakes because they're a somewhat separate IP, being from Abnett.

But I think you meant White Scars, since they're the other founder. And it STUNS me they weren't included. A book that details vehicles? That should have been a perfect chance to detail the chapter that utilizes them best.

Data007 said:

Not everyone is comfortable with House Rules like that. Most groups I play in refuse to do House Rules./ And the ones that do generally do to such an extent it's almost a different game. And most GMs won't even allow things like that because it is so hard to balance on either side if you're not both VERY good system monkies who can figure that stuff out.

I don't know what to say then. If you and your GM can't come to a mutually acceptable agreement, then you'll have to wait. Because the 40K spectrum isn't just limited to the 1st Founding, and arguably, there are 2nd Foundings which exceed some of the 1st in popularity. Iron Hands are a Chapter/Legion which I would say deserved a full write-up, but because they aren't as popular, they didn't get one. You may have to fall back to the old Tabletop maxim, Counts As.

As my main is a Storm Warden, this piece of fluff was just what the doctor ordered. It helps define this specific DW SM chapter a bit more. A thing that is helpfull when you consider the huge amount of fluff for those other chapters.

Rictus said:

I loved seeing the artwork in the Core book featuring The Iron Snakes. It was definitely surprising to see the beloved Snakes of Ithaka featured in some of the main books artwork.

It was a bit 'meh' for me. Interesting if you are one of the tiny minority playing a Warden, but that was mainly it. It was nice an' all, but more of an interesting 10 minute read than anything else. It's not like the idea of introducing personal plot that conflicts with the main plot-line was an idea that I -as a GM- had never considered before, nor that needed spoon-feeding to me.

Although it did at least pretty much acknowledge 'A Bad Beginning is a really harsh mission complication and will probably seriously impact some fun, so how about this instead'

Sister Callidia said:

Which is why I applauded FFG for this; plus I had posted a request for more data on the Wardens some time ago. Now while I don't know if that made any difference (doubtful), it's still good to see that FFG has realized the need to put some more material out for their own custom chapter.

@Siranui: what do you expect from free content? For anything really worthwhile you have to pay, of course. The free DLC stuff is just added value-for-money on top of the regular books.

Alex

Something I could use in a game, would have been quite nice. I applaud the release of DLC and I hope we get a lot more, but an updated errata would have been more useful, and a First Founding Chapter would have resulted in much of the fan-base screaming with joy.

Siranui said:

And then whining incessantly about why they rest of them aren't available yet.

ItsUncertainWho said:

Not only that but it would be throwing away money for FFG. I mean I am not appreciative of their multi-corebook strategy but I can see why it might make sense from a business pov. But here giving 1st Foundings away for free would pretty stupid from a business pov, unless as a PR coup, perhaps.

If the money from (a) future supplement(s) can finance other supplements, I say: take your time with the 1st Founding and release them bit-by-bit. Better then releasing it all now and DW itself running dry quickly.

Alex