Ahead of time, this is a bit of a repeat of a secondary question I asked on DWs page, but no one wanted to answer it/them (I think they are tired of my pointless, silly questions; please don't follow suit?) so I apologize ahead of time for the repost, of sorts. The main one was about aging as an along the game mechanic, based on two seemingly switched stat blocks, among the IG officers in DW core (go read the thread under DW if you like). The question/BS more relevant to here I leave below.

As a second, how hard would it be for a Guard Officer of their high ranks to acquire a refractor field? Could they use a variant of Dark Heresy's "pay out your bum prior to getting Influence", or Deathwatch's Requisition system (they are also a military organization)? Would they be able to justify the requisition? I came to appreciate that the most recent codex for IG made it so that their high-end HQ's had a bit more survivability, in order to keep order-barkers around, even as their Inquisitors (Codex GK) seemed to put down all means of Invul saves beyond Termie suits, which only Malleus has the pull for) and request summary execution from the enemy, but refractors are rather rare/expensive, and I don't know if the officers could justify it, when Munitorum would say "no, if you don't have this priceless relic, you'll be all the more likely to pay attention for threats, and when you die, because you are IG, so you will, we don't have to retrieve it", coupled with "what, the Proteus bunker/ship's bridge in orbit isn't good enough protection for you, Senior", and deny the acquisition. Makes one wish the Guard could be a bit like Rogue Trader, where their efforts garnered them real benefit, and they could turn that in for better stuff, sort of like their pension (you can never retire, but we'll give you better stuff, so that you can continue to better serve Him on Terra).

Through some variant of Requisition, Influence, or money, could a high-ranking Cadian officer, for example, get the people who hold all the gear to feel his individual life, and battle experience/tactical acumen are important enough to safeguard that it warrants a refractor? If so, what method would he use to acquire it?

Thank you

I can think of lots of ways an imperial Guard Officer might get a Refractor Field. Here's a few;

• The first that springs to mind is the same way my DH Assassin got his Rosarius: He took it from the BBG he had just hacked into little pieces (in a published adventure too!),
• Or, your IG Maj Gen or whatever is from a Noble House, that has traditionally sent the youngest child to the guard and has a refractor field they have passed down through the generations.
• Perhaps said officer engaged a thief to 'liberate' one from the local Cardinal on a World they were pacifying,
• Or was given it as a bribe to look the other way while key memebrs of a corrupt ecclesiarchy sect escaped,
• Won it in a high stakes card game or bet: "Cardinal, I bet my Winter House against your refractor field that my 25th Bad Asses Company gets to the ridge before your Battle Sisters",
• "Thankyou General, you actions have greatly assisted the Inquisition in this matter. While there can be no official glory for you today, please take this as a token of my personal appreciation for your efforts, may it serve as a reminder of our 'special relationship' ".

venkelos said:

It's a long established bit of 40K lore that exceptional IG officers can have refrator fields. I suspect that when Only War comes out, it will have an alternative system for military personel acquiring equipment through means other than buying it out of their own pocket.

Zakalwe said:

Me personally, I prefer ideas 1 (a bit ruthless, if practical), 2 (hope it never gets lifted), and 6. Could easily see any of those. The others, too, but I like these more.

Adeptus-B said:

Here's hoping. I sort of see how much of this system is combat-light for non Space Marines, since having characters live is the preferable (hence, DH and RT are more based around skills interacting with environments, and combat when necessary, while for SMs it IS necessary), but having stuff so you could maybe manage, or be a part of an active Guard regiment, while it's being an active unit, could be cool, too. Granted, one supposes they could also just say such an officer has Influence 30 (within the Guard), and maybe Peer/Good Rep (Imp. Guard) or Ally of the Departmento Munitorum, and let them roll for it, like any other Influence-possessing character. Joy of being NPC, more than likely; the GM just says they have one . I suppose I'm not certain just hoe badly he needs one, but I know I'd rather have the shield, and avoid several attacks, being squishy.

Sometime, though, it might be interesting, at least to me, to do some sort of mock Apocalypse/TTop simulation, where a player has an Officer-flavor character (likely a Guard Colonel or General), and he controls several hordes and squads of troops, using Influence to pimp them up at the beginning, and get to steer their groups at large enemy formations. Maybe said book will cover aspects of that, as well.

venkelos said:

Thanks Venkalos, i'm glad you liked them. Number six is my favourite, because right there is your hook to the Inquisition should you need one.

p.s. we hadn't actually shot at the BBG before my character cleaved him into little pieces, so we didn't know he had a rosarius, and so I didn't kill him to take it. However, it was a nice bonus for me as I searched him for the keys we needed. What a scene, very epic. Too many spoilers to say more though.