"So driven to martyrdom are the
penitent, that it can drive them to take unnecessary risks,
lamenting that they can only sacri?ce themselves once.
Penitent characters must pass an Ordinary (+10) Willpower
Test in order to retreat from combat or otherwise act in the
interests of self-preservation."

Odd line of text in Bold text

This seems to contradict itself (Penitent Regiments): All about dying for the Emperor, but is all about running away when the situation seems to lack the panache of the glorious death they seek. I would make the test at -10 or even -20, rather than making it easier to not die in His Service.

Geez, no, just no.

"Only One Life to Give" could use a higher bonus maybe.

If you want to run away, chances are you're trying to avoid PK or a fate burn.

Braddoc said:

Given that the average starting Willpower of an Imperial Guardsman is only 31, imposing a penalty seemed too harsh and basically forced a group to sit there and face untenable situations without any chance of avoiding them. A bonus improves their chances, but even a fairly strong-willed starting character is only passing that test half the time.

Remember, anyone else, from a different homeworld, can freely act in the interests of self-preservation (which isn't just running away - it also includes things like hiding until the threat goes away, or taking a different route towards an enemy base because your first choice is too well-guarded and filled with snipers - basically any situation where you're choosing to avoid danger) without requiring a willpower test, so any required test, even with a bonus, is still a restriction.

That seems like a very harsh penalty that could result in PK or fate burning, though.

I guess Commissars/Sergeants are supposed to keep them in line somehow?

All I can see now is Commisars demanding a retreat and shooting brave fools for advancing rather than waiting for support.

Valadrim said:

Isn't that what Krieg Commissars do canonically?

What really gets me (though not in a bad way) is how this makes Kriegers and Maccabians play- as gung-ho asskickers rushinh into danger and going full-on Rambo, because if you're going to be burning FPs, then by the God-Emperor you're going to do something awesome to get them back!