I was wonder how you would explain the classes to another person with no 40k knowledge what so ever, but has a great general knownledge of DnD?

I pretty much figured things like;

Assassin : Ranger

Arbite: Fighter

Psyker: Mage

But what do you see the DH Careers as in a DnD perspective.

I see the Arbiter more as the Paladin... Kind of...

Tech Priest is the Druid of the future.

Scum is Rogue (that's bloody obvious).

First off I would never ever explain this game in relation to D&D. The further I can get people away from that with this game the better.

I would give them Warhammer Fantasy examples instead: Arbiter = Enforcer, Cleric = Priest, Guardsman = Soldier, Rogue = Thief, Psycher = Wizard, Tech-priest = Engineer & Adept = Scribe

Still don't know what they are then? Whip out the book and let them actually read. If they can't do some thinking on thier own they aren't going to really get into the game themselves, and ask questions that might actually mean something. Somewhat negative, but I find the lack of peoples independant non-spoon fed thought to be rather under-par these days. People just look things up on the internet and might think it's all true for instance, or miss out on key elements of say a discussion or lesson, because they were too busy talking or texting on thier mobile.

Attention spans, are they just gone?

Oh and I'm just saying all of the above to get people on a Tabula Rasa point of view for the game. If they're just thinking this is some kind of D&D game in space, then it's not going to help you or the GM get in a new frame of mind for a very different game. At least that's my reasoning. When I read a new game manual I look at it as if it's an entirely new experience, and don't compare it to 'this or that game' while doing so.

Um....wha? I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention.

Movie and comic comparisons are better.

Arbite is Judge Dredd,

Guardsman is Starship Troopers the movie or Jayne Cobb,

Assassin is Ultra Violet or Aeon Flux or Aryn Sun or the Agent of Parliment from Serenity,

Scum is Han Solo or Badger from Firefly,

Adept is John Crichton or C3PO or Mr. Universe from Serenity,

Psyker, Tech Priest and Cleric are the hardest to compare IMHO.

Peacekeeper_b said:

Just, yknow, less competent. A junior, half fat version, if you will.

But I will also answer in the style you requested, as it make work better for you.

Arbite is Ranger,

Assassin is, well, Assassin

Adept is a rogue who focuses his skills into knowledge and secrets as well as literacy instead of sneaking and thieving.

Cleric is a cleric, but his or her spells are more focused on knowledge, fear, hate and inspiring, not healing and spiritual hammers. Alternatively he may be a Paladin or Barbarian.

Scum is rogue

Guardsman is a fighter

Tech Priest is a cleric who worships technology, his spells and abilities are focused into fixing and amplyfyinf tech as well as cyberware.

A psyker is a wizard or sorcerer or priest who focuses on mind powers, but his powers come at a cost of sanity and corruption.

The sisters are perhaps paladins.

Peacekeeper_b said:

Looks like someone actually gave me the examples that i want, i might have to disagree on the arbite being a ranger, but other than that thank you.

Turpin said:

Just how I see them. Lawmen tracking down enemies of the imperium and lawbreakers. Its probably just the way I use to play rangers in D&D as frontier lawmen like wyatt earp and so forth, so I see them as a sort of marshal or state ranger.

Im also basing that ranger theory on the chart in TTT (the thousand thrones) from WFRP that lists the following WFRP careers as Rangers.

Bounty-Hunter, Fieldwarden, Outrider, Roadwarden and Toll Keeper. To me, they all sound quasi or semi Arbite like, for WFRP that is.

Fair enough, Now that you explained it, I understand where your comming from.

Peacekeeper_b said:

It's interesting that you should write that, because the knee-pads (as in the character image) the Arbiters wear are identical to those worn by Judges in 2000AD.

Well Clint Langley's career sort of first started off doing 2000AD comics, so its bound to have embedded itself somewhere

Adept Bard/Factotum (non-casting)

Arbitrator Justicar (PrC from Complete Warrior 3.5)

Assassin Assassin (non-evil and no sneak attack or death attack)

Cleric Evangelist (PrC from Complete Divine sans healing magic)

Guardsman Fighter

Psyker Sorceror/Wizard that can quickly become a Taint Mage or internalized fireball

Scum Rogue

Tech Priest Artificer (Eberron)

I'm with letrii except for:

Psyker -> Psionic

Don't know why that slipped away from me.

Wilfred Owen said:

Not all that surprising since it was the 2000AD miniature line/games that GW produced which inspired the 40K versions.

D&D and Dark Heresy are two different games, and I don't like to compare apples and oranges all that much.

dwraley said:

Well, with respect, that is good for you. I agree, I hate 3E and beyond of D&D and only like OD&D, BD&D, AD&D (1E and 2E) as a sense of loyalty to my youth. But he is asking this specific question for a reason. Obviously the people he aims to play with have no familiarity with Dark Heresy, 40K or probably even WFRP. They probably play, well D&D.

So our friend here is asking for advice on how best to let those poor unfortunate D&D only souls know what is up in a better game a setting.

It is like when somebody asks you "How does rabbit taste, Ive never had it, Im familiar with chicken though" and you say "well, its like chicken, but sweeter and a bit stringier. A rabbit has a bit different muscle system, so a rabbit is more akin to chicken in that it is like a chickens leg."

Or "I have never had an apple, what is it?" "Its like an orange, only less juicy, red and crunchier for lack of a better word."

Now I dont condone D&D playing (other then for nostalgic reason) but if someone has to recruit from D&D groups, he needs a way to inform them about the world and setting that is 40K and Dark Heresy.

Not just tell them its like another game they never played.

"Whats rabbit like?"

"Its like snake."

"Ive never had snake, how is that?"

"Well I hate chicken so I aint going to tell you about that"

"But Ive eaten Chicken"

"Tough, its like Snake."

I had heard there were some people that had a death grip view that 1st & 2nd edition D&D was the only true edition of the game, but I thought they were a myth.

Actually, I've played all editions of D&D and each one was a different animal with some basic similarities.

I do find some of Peacekeeper's comparisons, especially the apples to oranges one as a bit of a stretch.

If someone wants a description of a game, you can definitely give them comparisons that make sense for game purposes, but giving them abstract or forced comparisons is not going to help.

Saying a Guardsman is like fighter that concentrates on firearms as much or more than melee is fair. A Psyker is like a Pscion is a fair example too.But trying to push off something like the Imperium is kind of like the Forgotten Realms, except the cities are planets and the whole Imperium is ruled by a dead emperor held together with life support and he's worshiped like Lathander....It's a stretch at best.

Try giving them comparisons that make sense and it will work. You won't be able to describe everything in the game in D&D terms but you can give them a sense of what to expect.

My thought is to use REAL world comparisons instead where appropriate....I know, there is a real world out there.... go figure.

Assassins are like.... serial killers that work for the government.

Adeptus Arbites are judge, jury and executioner. Did you ever see the movie Judge Dredd?

A Guardsman is like a soldier in the army. They are grunts intially, but as they advance they can get specialized training.

Psyker is a like a wizard with some telepathic powers. Do you remember stories of Merlin? Now imagine him with psychic powers on crack and give him a techno edge.

Scum...You know your brother-in-law who's always asking for money and has done jail time?

Adept is like Norma from accounting. She always has a wealth of information to share...especially when no one wants to hear it. And you know how she's always able to find the exact fact that the boss needs? They have that ability too.

Those are just a few examples of things you could do to describe as well. There isn't always a need to compare it to the current game they are playing. Just use something that will get your point across that they will understand.

Personally peacekeeper, it's those kinds of examples, (apples are like oranges...eh?) that reinforces stereotypical ideas in people.

Think about food. Like today I brought in some kimchi to eat, along with a rather good Mabu Tofu. So a mate comes up and asks, "What are you eating?"

Right here's what I do: I offer to let them try it. "Go knick a fork/chopstick and give it a go. Any allergies to food?" (I'm not allergic to anything but I reckon some people are diabetic or whatever, best to make sure.)

But they wish to know what it is made of. Whay should I bother. 90% of the time if I attempt to describe what is in the food and what it tastes like I'll get strange looks, and most closed minded people will just go, um, eww. Or, whatever. Especially Americans who reckon the only foods in the world are pizza, plain chicken or burgers. That and some foods have no base taste to comapre it to, especially from other countries. They get a misconception that anything other then what they limit themselves to eating (comfort food) is automatically bad/wrong.

Now if they are actually wanting to know what this 'new food' is, they'll taste it. That's what real people do. Not surprisngly most people will actually like something more before they 'find out' what's in it.

Example: "*Chews* Wow I love this kimchi! Spicy though. So what is it?"

"It's cabbage that's been fermented in chilis, garlic, onions and fish sauce for a few weeks."

"Oh...*pukes*"

----------------------

And that's why I refuse to describe anything as 'similar' to anything else. It's just not true, and it leads to many more pre-conceptions in peoples minds. The same applies to games. One can't accurately compare D&D to DH or else you'll be bringing in so many misconceptions it's not funny. Break people out of the habit of 'pre-forming' thoughts before actully experiencing it. (Unless you're an Imperial worker or the like lol)

Some people may be willing to try it blindly. I am the type of person that needs to know exactly what it is before I try it, be it game or food.