So, any thoughts as to which regiments are likely to feature?

I must admit that my primary interst in OW in its original incarnation as a DH supplement was to learn more about the calixian Imperial Guard; the Brontian Longknives, Maccabean Jannisaries etc. My only worry with OW as a core book is that interesting new regiments might get bumped into a subsequent supplement rather than feature from the start.

If OW has a totally new setting, I guess there's actually no reason why Calixian regiments would feature at all...

Also, if the core character classes are types of guardsman, are regiments likely to be "background" for characters?

Well, the Cadians are sure bet, as they are the IG's poster girls, just like Ultramarines are for SM and Black Legion for CSM.

There are Mordians on one artwork, but to be honest, neither them, nor the Death Korps are a good choice. Their speciality is to hold ground and since the game's focus is a squad behind enemy lines, they won't fit. Also Valhallans' tactics is quite different.

On the other hand Tallarns, Catachans, Elysians or Harakoni Warhawks seem to be good for such mission types (big maybe for Armaggeddon Steel legion).

Cadians or some Cadian-pattern regiment is a given. An FFG home-brew regiment of some kind is also assured. The rest is pretty much up in the air depending on how FFG plans to go about this. If they go with an emphasis on this "squad behind enemy lines" some seem to interprate from the description, we might see a lot of the fast attack or terrain-warfare regiments like the Tallarn or Elysians. If they go with a more balanced look at the guard, we might see mechanized and siege regiments like the Steel Legion or the Mordians.

My big hope is that it's a Collective Background for your PCs, just like you create your Rogue Trader Dynasty in RT. And you are all part of the same regiment. Ideally this would be a 'create your own regiment' thing (which makes sense, sure there's maybe 1000 Marine Chapters... but there's countless guard regiments - the posterboys can't hog all the glory), though with that create your own, give examples of how the main names would be created, because people will want to play them too.

Cadians and Catachans seem quite likely, these are the most well known and the most promoted by Games Workshop, many people will be disappointed with either missing and the competition is less fierce than for the Deathwatch core book.

A few other famous ones would probably feature, but which those are is not the least bit clear for me, I'd hope for Attilan (as anything increasing the chances for a Rough Rider speciality would be great) but it's anyones guess.

As previously mentioned a Fantasy Flight regiment is most likely as well.

If they've had mainline models, I'd say it's likely we'll see them. (as much as I hope regiment is handled like Rogue Trader, as a background element. I expect that won't be the case)

So Tallarn, Valhallan, and Catachan seem very likely too.

I'll also go out on a limb and say we will -not- see Tanith or any of Abnett's invented ones. Though if the Iron Snakes show up in the new Deathwatch book, there might be a chance.

In my opinion I really hope they add (if not in the core book then in a supplement), rules for Attilan Rough Riders. They'd fit the special squad bill as they themselves are strewn throuought the Guard in small specialized regiments. I mean who doesnt want to ride around on a war horse with a 9 ft long one shot "Spear of Death". If they dnt add Attilans specifically, itd still be nice to have a Roughrider Career path or alternate rank considering a bunch of regiments have their own. Krieg would be cool though not likely, id just want to get my hands on a Krieg style Las Gun, as in the fluff they are pretty strong in their own right. Valhallans would be awesome for role play as they have bad history with Orks leading to a strong hatred for them. Another regiment id love to see, due to their awesome fluff, and just for the fact that they're bad ass in general, would be the Vostroyan Firstborn. Having a whole player group full of Vostroyans could lead to a deep rich backstory for your characters as they have a strong sense of brotherhood (their lasguns are passed down from Vostroyan to Vostroyan). I can't wait to see what FFG will cook up itself aswell.

Though going back to the OP, I'm not entirely sure we'll see a Calixian regiment. At least not if a Cadian entry is guarenteed, previous books have all but stated outright that Calixian guard uses Cadian equipment and tactics. If Deathwatch is anything to go by , we'll likely see five regiments at start with one of them being a "sanctioned homebrew" and the "Golden Median" being played by dem boyz from Cadia. So if I may take a (second) random swing, my guess on the remaining three:

Catachans- Guard ultimately have three different kinds of regiments outside of the generalist Cadians: Terrain Warfare, Urban Combat, and Mechanized Assault. In the first group, no one is probably more easily recognized or stupidly tougher then the Catachans. Granted they'd be specialized in jungle warfare but with some refocus on their skills it shouldn't be too hard to fanmake the Tallarns or Gaunt's Ghosts.

Elysians- Most of the regiments that favor Mechanized Assault prefer massive battalions of tanks like the Steel Legion. Elysians would provide a vehicle focused regiment that still keeps to the small scale favored by an RPG.

Mordians- Mostly I'm basing my guess on the art we've seen so far though if we do have an Urban Combat background, the Mordians would be a solid choice only matched by the boyz from Krieg or the Firstborn. While focused on trench and siege warfare, all three also would have a skill set useful to more small-scale street brawls involving ambushes, fighting from cover to cover, and such.

Cadians are a definate must have. Depending on how influenced by the novels the writers of OW were we may see some Tanith First & Only. I would also like to see some vastly contrasted regiments like the Schola Progenium trained Terrax Guard and the drug-fueled Savlar Chem-Dogs; although I suspect neither of these regiments will actually make an appearance in the core rulebook. I also wouldn't mind seeing the Mordian Iron Guard in the core book because the idea of an army entering battle dressed like nutcrackers amuses me immensely.

Bad Dog said:

I almost guarantee we won't ever see Tanith. For one, First and Only. They -are- the only regiment from there, the first regiment ever founded from there.

Second: We haven't seen the Iron Snakes yet. Another Abnett Creation. The copyright probably won't allow it. Things get complicated between IPs like that (It's the same reason we won't ever see the Blood Ravens - they're owned in part by another company that isn't GW, so FFG would have to negotiate a license to use it with them too)

Dulahan said:

First, I have to say I never looked at them that way before but I like Bad Dog's idea. Now every time I see the Mordians I can't stop myself from picturing them doing a rendition of the Nutcracker while fighting Orks.

Other then that, you're probably right that we will never see them. At least not officially at any rate. Unofficially... I believe a couple people managed to put together something for the Blood Ravens in Deathwatch. Can't be too hard, favored speciality would be Librarian and they would have a fistful of bonuses and special advances pretaining to knowledge, intelligence, and psychic combat. Depending on how they write the Catachans or Tallarns (if they use the Catachans or Tallarns) for Only War, someone is bound to swap a few skills and bonuses around and volia, Tanith First & Only.

Psion said:

Yeah, fan made is a different matter entirely, I was only speaking of official. and if it goes with a more Rogue Trader like approach to creating your regiment like you do a dynasty in RT, all bets are off too. Because then it could easily be made to 'make' a regiment of a similar form.

And really, the RT Regiment thing could be awesome:

Age, most famous event, fighting style, etc etc. Could be quite fun! And makes sense for a universe as vast as this.

Dulahan said:

Interesting... reminds me that I need to refamiliarize myself with the new Dynasty rules, haven't played Rogue Trader in awhile.

I'll be pleased if, along with some stuff for "established" regiments, both from TT and one or two unique to this, or another FFG product, they open up some stuff for home-brewed regiments. I have a group I fabricated, for a fanfic I was/am writing, the 1st Lokarin Skyshock Droptroops. This group is a combination of Cadian and Elysian forces, tossed together to claim a world that had, until then, been cut off from the Imperium. The Cadians didn't have time, so a lot of their bigger guns had to stay behind, and the Elysians filled in the gaps, making for a more mobile army, and one that had more subtle, stealthy troops than the average Guard force might field. After the Segmentum Command got them more of their tanks/artillery, they became a more surging army, able to hold a central base, and strike out, rather than sit and wait to be assaulted. They also use more air forces, from the Elysian fragment, than Cadian tanks, but it works. They are in a siege with Orks on the forested planet they were sent to, and things move from side to side as things progress. This world, set-up, and everything could work great with Only War, if I were to run a game in it (my world). The world is in a specific place, but i could easily move that to fit with Only War's setting, and I would already have numerous NPCs established, some of which I have even statted in one or more of the other systems (G. Mil. Krueger, and a number of other special characters).

If things work out well in this setting, this could possibly become my favorite set from FFG, so I'll have to wait and see if I can get a copy, whenever it releases. Is there an official date? I've heard GenCon, but it's not one of the Cons I focus on, so its date is unknown to me. I'd rather hop on Amazon, or something, anyway.

klaymen_sk said:

H.B.M.C. said:

Is it?

I don't know anything about the setting, whether it's Calixis sector or a new one (although it it wonderfull if they spefically make it coherant with any of the existing setting locations).

On page 339 of the DW rule book there's a list of Notable regiments involved in the Crusade, including 11 different Regiments from the Calixis sector.

Plus there's a whole bunch in the locality of Calixis Kreig, Cadian, Elysian's and many, many more have had some presence in the Region (i.e. the sectors surronding the Eye of Terror.

But part of me thinks that if you pick a Regiment for the whole squad then they don't need as many options as they do in DW, at least in the first book. Although pressumably the regiments are going very specifically defined if that's how they play it. Pressumably it will change your requisition options, what orders you have (I pressume there are orders) and stat bonus's and equiptment. So what they might try to do is cover the main types of regiment, the types listed on the Lexicanium are:

• Light Infantry Regiment
• Infantry Regiment
• Heavy Infantry Regiment
• Drop Regiment
• Mechanised Infantry Regiment
• Artillery Regimen
• Armoured Regiment
• Abhuman Regiment

Not sure if they'll all be covered at first but I would have thought there would a specific example of which ones they use and probably the most famous examples. So, for example, Catachan Light Inf, Cadian Inf, Homemade Heavy Inf? (Gunmetal), Elysian Drop, Krieg Seige. Doubt they'll go as far as having Artillery regiments etc.

Dulahan said:

Actually the Iron Snakes have been mentioned officially in Deathwatch - there are stats for power spears for them. As such Abnett's IP is a-okay for usage.

By the later novels in the First-and-Only line, the regiment has taken heavy casualties but also merged with several other sets of troops. I see no issue with a platoon of Tanith being seconded to a heavy infantry or armour force as a scout detachment. Seems entirely viable to include them in the book, even if not statted up at least as an honourable mention under light infantry.

Kasatka said:

So, when you say this, are you sure it is a specific weapon, for specific people? Having a spear-format power weapon isn't the same as having a particularly picked weapon, listed as for a specific group, who don't happen to be Space Marines. If you have a page number, I would like very much to go see it, as I often like non-Space Marine things in DW; while they are the focus, it's nice to see a few little things for everyone else fighting in their war.

As for one IP allowing the use of others, even if they did get permission to use Abnett's stuff in one spot, that doesn't necessarily open the door for his other stuff; he has to agree to every little one. Luckily, a willingness to allow it, in a 40K official work, such as their RPG, does reflect, at least to me, a willingness to probably allow more, again, if only to get his stuff some more recognition, which might drum up some book sales for him.

If i get stuff for Cadians (almost a given), Elysians, and maybe some unique to the works Regiment, I'll be pleased enough. If they just say "Guardsmen are Guardsmen, all across the galaxy", and then give us some flavor packages to flesh them out, as a specific group, so that the Cadians and the Catechans are not the same, that'll work for me.

Not only is there an Iron Snakes reference but there is a Blood Raverns quote in the main DW rulebook. However That's all they can really do without risking contradicting the other companies fluff.

Which seems to be the main reason behind the policy. Everybody get's their own sector or subsector to do with as they will. Unless those companies colaborate with Dan Abnett to write rules for Iron Snakes, or with THQ to do rules for Blood Ravens as publicity for DoW III, say. Of course, I don't know the wording of the license.

Kasatka said:

Mentioned doesn't mean used. It's one thing to have a quote and acknowlege a part of the IP exists and quite another to outright use them. There's some real subtleties.

I think a little too much is being made of iP issues here. I'm not an IP lawyer, but my understanding is that GW own the IP to all 40k material, full stop. it's theirs to do what they want with. If they want to licence other companies to produce material set in their universe, they'll do so. If the Blood ravens or Iron Snakes prove popular, GW are quite within their rights to authorise FFG to produce material based upon them. (I'd stress that's an opinion, I don't have access to any facts one way or another!)

As for the Tanith First and only, I'd tentatively say it's unlikely they'd appear in only War, for reasons of setting rather than legality. The FFG games tend to be set around 816-817 M41. The Gaunt's Ghosts books are set roughly 40-50 years prior to this time period. Now I know that this is 40k, and rejuvenat treatment is available, but it would be very unusual for an entire regiment to be given rejuvenat. Gaunt, yes, but not all of them.

Of course, that assumes that the Only War setting is the usual 816 M41 40k RPG time period! Only War could be set at any other time. For all I know, it could be set during the Sabbat Worlds Crusade - but I doubt it. FFG tend to prefer to create their own settings.

No, don't think we'll see Gaunt's Ghosts, sorry. GW likes to keep a close eye on its IP, and would probably want to avoid any entanglements between its product diversification. But I'm not a lawyer either. It just seems like common sense to keep the crossover limited to coy references (like Commissar Holt, of Final Liberation (it's old) being quoted in Deathwatch books, or Arbitor Senioris Shira Calpurnia referencing Ciaphas Cain recruitment posters).

Now a thought I've been having recently, is if the book is going to have a relatively large number of Regiments to choose from, we might see two new regiments from FFG, instead of the more expected one. Perhaps one, that's entirely new as of the Only War book, and probably one that has been mentioned previously, from the Calixis Sector.

Cadians most definetly, Catachans as well (and the one or two FFG created). But after them I can't say I think any one of them is an absolute certainty. Even narrowing things down to the armies that have had rules and/or models still leaves too many possible options.

I think we need to evaluate what a Regiment will mean - Unlike in previous 40k RP lines, it will not be the Homeworld/Archetype that defines your individual character, but more the over-arching style of campaign you play. For example if the group and GM decide to run a Light Infantry style Regiment, you'll end up with lots of lightly armoured, stealthier characters than if you ended up playing a Mechanised or Heavy Infantry Regiment.

For those that have purchased the later supplements for Dark Heresy, i'd imagine the Regiments will work more like the inquisitorial Cell packages, whereby all the characters have access to a communal advance table to represent their shared training and methodology.

That is of course my two cents, but it makes little sense to me if the game ends up allowing each and every character to pick their own regiment until you end up with a spec-ops team of Doom. It'd break the flavour and the point of the game for me.

What you say makes sense, but i don't know if it leaves the game open and flexible enough to conduct the style of gameplay the title implies; war. If your group was deployed as part of the 8th Cadian Regiment (lucky you, you get to be among Castellan's Own), in order to help repel the Orks in the 4th War of Armageddon, things will start off one way, but then you, and much more likely your enemy, will begin to acquire more, and better assets. Wars have an annoying habit of evolving, and changing; what worked yesterday is fruitless now, as the enemy is onto your game, or maybe has taken an important asset from you. At that point, you need to prepare for what they are now doing, or lose. As soon as Thraka's Mek Boyz have cranked out a few trukks, and looted stolen Leman Russ Battle Tanks, your game has completely changed, and your light infantry plan goes out the window. You need your own anti-tank guys and stuff, and i don't expect you have three separate characters each, waiting to switch out for the appropriate theatre. Your characters will need to be good at various things, to roll with the punches they will receive.

Of course, I have no idea what level of involvement your group will have, among what size of formation, and over what time span, so I'm mostly just flapping my gums, at present, but it's a thought to have. I'll have to wait and see how involved one is in the makings and movements of the Guard army the players actually prove to be. It's different when you are a small group of Space Marines, probably the only ones on that given planet, but the Guard don't do much on the individual level, so I don't know how the characters will grow, whether you will build a character, and then modify it so that it is in a tank, or in a Horde (yeah extra BS and Magnitude health), or whether they will find a good way to make single soldiers among the millions actually shine, sort of like Space Marines without all bells and whistles (armor, weaponry, hope).

Well even light infantry will have a number of machineguns, missile launchers and demolitions for various task. Light infantry aren't literally just men with battle rifles. Conversely Mechanised infantry are just as likely to have snipers and Heavy infantry will have scouts.

It's more an overall ethos to a fighting force and how it conducts itself in warfare. Light infantry use their speed, stealth and tactical edge to fight. Heavy infantry rely on directly attacking strong points and using heavy armour to resist damage and heavier weaponry to deal it. Mechanised infantry are reliant on their troop transports and armour assets to stay highly mobile and deliver sledgehammer blows with pinpoint accuracy.

As i said in my previous post, if we end up with Regimental advance tables it would just mean that, for example, the Light infantry advances make it easier to increase your stealth, tracking and navigation etc skills, whilst the Heavy infantry table will have a higher profusion of heavy weapons training and things like Sound constitution.