I just got my copy of Hostile Acquisitions, and so far it's an incredible book (probably one of the bests supplements of the RT line so far). I specially liked the Auto Temple supplemental component, since it's awesome. I have a few questions about it, though:

1- According to Table 2-22, the Auto Temple doesn't cost any Ship Points, how can that be possible? I mean, that makes it a far better option than the Temple-Shrine from the Corerules, with cheaper cost and an additional function.

2- Could you drop the Auto Temple to a plenet's surface full of people or it must be empy? If you can drop it with people inside, it's one of the best ways to land troops and vehicles on the game so far (since the Component, like all Components, is huge).

3- Once the Auto Temple lands on a planet surface, is it unpowered? Since the Component needs 1 Power to work, I assume it doesn't have a Genatorium build into it.

Maese Mateo said:

"My apologies captain, I must have misheard you. You want to fill this temple of the Emperor, which has been consecrated and dedicated by no less than five arch-deacons of the Ecclesiarchy, with what!? Sentinels, Chimeras, and not to mention that xeno brood of, of - KROOT! - within halls are meant to bring the mercy of Him on Earth to these benighted worlds! Have you gone entirely mad?"

Yeah, Ecclesiarchy would LOVE that.

Except that the Imperial Creed is an extremely Militant faith, with a long history of Holy Wars.

For typical mercenary work Errant has a point. If, however, the Temple is dropped onto a work filled with Xenos or Chaos Worshippers and the troops are all blessed by the Priests and chanting the Litanies of Hate as the Temple descends- I can see the Ecclesiarchy being all for that. Just be careful which troops you use and what missions you send them on.

On the other hand, if you can do this with a Temple, then you can also do it with other facilities- such as a fortress. Giant Drop Ship and instant battlefield fortification all rolled into one. But such a component would have to be house-ruled by the GM of course.

Tantavalist said:

I can imagine an Auto Temple full of zealots with flamers and chainswords, Arco-Flagellants and maybe a couple of Holy Tanks, all singing prayers to the Emperor, ready to purge a planet and reclaim it in the Imperium's name. While it isn't something you should do all the time (unless conquering planets for the Minestorum is the campeign's focus), it can be an awesome tool to use from time to time (and let's be honest, just the picture of a Cathedral descending from the heavens full of holy soldiers is awesome!).

On the other hand, I can see an Auto Barrack that works similarly to this Components, for more religious-neutral Dynasties. The problem I see with the Auto Barrack is that it will really suck while unpowered. While that is not a problem for the Temple (whose main purpose is to host missionaries and help them to convert worlds to the Imperial Creed), it is a great flaw for a facility designed for combat since it leaves you vulnerable. That's why I think that Hab Bases (Into the Storm) are more useful for housing an army on a planet's surface (and you can have several of them to better distribute your troops).

A pre-fab cathedral, descending from the heavens, filled with holy warriors and stuff? Why does this almost feel more like a Necron thread?

"If their fates seemed uncertain to them, the next sight removed all doubts, for above them, descending as if lowered by the hand of some terrible god, came a great, towering pyramid, it's surface cold and terrible. Toxic, green energy coruscated across its surface, as various weapons emplacements already seemed to be training. As it neared the surface, they could see, on one side of it, an archway, the space within filled with swirling, sickening light. The ground trembled as the ediface touched down, and then numerous figures, soulless machines glowing with the same cursed, green light were belched forth from the doorway. Surly, this must be the end times."

Then again, if the Necrons could do it, I don't see why, to a lesser degree, the Imperium couldn't. I would be a bit interested in knowing if one would just have to send down a ship, carrying a plasma generator, and have tech-priests install it in the auto-barracks (if there were such a thing), or what?

Maese Mateo said:

I often like to flip through my books, and find stuff I have somehow repeatedly missed, sort of a nice way to dig up ideas. Even after looking through Into the Storm this many times, I still haven't found anything regarding the Hab Bases. Could I possibly get the page number in there for them? Thanks much.

Sure! =D

Into the Storm, p. 136. Just below the Gravity Generator.

I don't have the book yet, but wow it seems like it is most intriguing. To try and answer you're question from a GM perspective, does the description of the Auto Temple state that it comes with storage compartments, troop holding bays, atmospheric heat dampers, etc etc? Stuff a normal shuttle, cargo hauler, or such needs to transport troops, vehicles, and material down to the surface. Not having a breathable atmosphere would sure suck if I was in that Auto Temple. Not to mention vehicles and equipment rolling around due to turbulence and weightless gravity. Does it even have retro thrusters to stop it's own descent, or does it have to be towed/hauled down to the surface like the Hab Bases? Don't own the book yet, but it still seems like a great addition for any Rogue Trader conducting Creed/Military Endeavors. Can't wait for the The Koronus Bestiary either. Hope it's better than the Creatures Anathema.

I think the Auto-Temple should cost at least 2 Ship Points to keep the Temple-Shrine still a useful option, what do you think?

Yeah, the fact that it costs no ship points is a little... strange, like many things in Hostile Acquisitions, if you ask me.

I personally would make the argument that the temple mainly requires ship power for the purpose of launching it - once it lands, keeping a few prayer-casters and some lighting going probably doesn't take all that much. This is what limits the temple's use as an assault platform as well - I doubt it has any defensive guns or force fields, and I hardly think it moves as fast as, say, a drop pod. This means it can be shot down. So, if you're attacking a planet full of savages and primitives it could be a great asset, but if you're planning on diving into an Iron Warriors stronghold you're sorely out of luck.

All in my humble opinion.

Everything can be airdropped at least once.

Not that I would like to be along for the ride...

Magellan said:

Yes, I suppose the biggest Power expenditure is to keep running the Vital Support Systems, once you are in a planet with an atmosphere, you don't really need that much Power. It probably has a small Genatorium (like the one the Hab Base have) to keep the basic functions working. Sounds reasonable.

I suppose until no errata comes out, I'll set the cost in 2 Ship Points.

Remember that it would take several days to get that Temple back, though. I don't remember how many - I don't have the book in front of me atm.

But yes, I can see how this may be a bit overpowered in a narrative/mechanical crossover kind of way. After all, if you're invading a hostile world, I can't see the Ecclesiarchy complaining about using the Emperor's mercy as a drop-pod.

That is clearly not the mechanical intent, but it is hard to make an argument as to why that wouldn't work; as long as the world being assaulted isn't filled with the faithful or potential non-heretical faithful, any way. I think the Ecclesiarchy would be a bit disappointed in you if you started murdering potential converts.

I also agree with all Magellan's points.

On the Temple-Shrine comparison & issue; Is there anything preventing you from having both? Honest question. Again, don't have all of it at hand.

Fgdsfg said:

By RAW, you could have both.

As a GM, I wouldn't allow it unless the Temple-Shrine works as a back-up Temple. That means that the Component is Unpowered, but as soon as you drop the Auto Temple from orbit you can activate the Temple-Shrine to always have a Temple aboard (that way both AP bonuses will never stack).

Maese Mateo said:

Well then I really don't see the issue. The Temple-Shrine being useless by comparison to the Auto-Temple is because of your own (very understandable) house rule. So it would stand to reason that it would take a house rule to rectify that; which you did.

Why would there be an Errata on a non-issue?

Fgdsfg said:

My issue is that the Auto Temple is better than the Temple-Shrine, takes the same Power/Space and costs no Ship Points (while the Temple-Shrine costs 1 SP), which doesn't make sense.

Maese Mateo said:

I think that is more of an issue than any conflict with the Temple-Shrine. Putting it at SP 2 makes more and more sense by the minute.

An issue comes to mind with the use of an auto-temple as troop landing vehicle: deployment. Are the walls of this cathedral going to split aside to allow sentinels and chimeras through? Infantry sure, but even they are going to be delayed in getting out, never mind supplies. It would be a logistical nightmare. Still doable, especially with the frateris militia types, but hardly a solid replacement for real landing vehicles.

Decessor said:

And to be honest; In a narrative, fluff-sense, it's hard to come up with reasons as to why you don't actually have real landing vehicles, whether they're real Drop Pods or entire structures, when you're able to have things like the Auto-Temple.

"There's no rules for it (yet)" is ultimately a horrible excuse.

I also have an issue with the Auto-temple .0 ship points I hope is an error. But any game I run it will cost 2. I would also rule while you could fit some troops into the temple, it is not made for warfare and could not hold all that many. You would have to gut and reinforce it as something else for it to really work as a troop lander, making it no longer a temple at all.