Howdy!

Which one of the two Adeptus Mechanicus archtypes is the "best" - most flavourful, representative, and thematic? The RT template would probably be 4,000 more XP than the DH archtype at start in balance terms, but do they both work as far as being reflective of the Mechanicus?

Thanks!

Ken

From how I understand the workings of Adeptus Mechanicus, both are in their own way equal representatives. The Dark Heresy Tech-Priest career represents the more "civilized" AdMech whereas the Explorator is an AdMech on the frontiers, searching for lost knowledge in places many rightly fear. Both pursue the quest for knowledge in their own way.

However, the DH Mechanicus is probably the one most people think of when they hear "Tech-Priest".

Explorator I always had pictured as that guy who is the weirdo the Ad-Mech send out to find new and shiny things. Most of the time those things will kill him, corrupt his body, soul and be just cause for being burnt, but once in a while, one of them will come back with something fantastic that will write him into legend.

Tech Priest, he'll work with the system regardless of its lack of innovation and crawl his way to the top by hook, crook or merit... or maybe they just promote someone because they stuck around for long enough and didn't screw up too much. As a career, there's some great diversity with the tech priest but some pretty hefty drawbacks as well which the explorator fills out as a better all-rounder.

Look at their available combat talents. Make both characters then you'll see it. DH characters outclass RT characters for = xp in every way. If he allows both get the DH explorator. No difference in the mechanicus implants. Some Universal weapon skills might look good but they're not, unless you want to use ten different weapons. Ask if you'll be allowed to elite advance with DH or RT or both careers, that might allow you to pick up the one or two skills you won't have access to like pilot spacecraft or one or two others. But then again you can get a servitor with a skill implant for that.

We've solved this in my gaming group by allowing a precursor career so the RT careers can compete and we can have both in a campaign but your GM probably isnt up for that if hes allowing you to choose - he might not even see the dreadfully underpowered nature of the RT careers.

My favorite thing about the Explorator over the Tech-Priest is that you are not working for the Inquisition. You are working for a Rogue Trader. This means that you can decide that you are none too fond of the God Emperor and you would really like to see Mars rise up and slay the great protector of mankind. That is exactly the sort of highly heretical opinion that would get you purged if you were a Tech-Priest, but as an Explorator you are too far out in the Kronus Expanse for the Inquisition to find out about you for a long time.