An idea to illustrated fate point when spend

By Thebigjul, in Deathwatch Gamemasters

Hi, I'm here to present an idea I've got for my player in a new DW game.

Most of my player aren't W40K fluent and seem quite lost in the universe. So to help them to understand the world they are playing in, but also to learn more about their chapter i've come to think about a simple way to give them background lore.

When using a fate point to reroll I try to illustrated the action with memory of the player caracter like his first battle, hard scout training long ago, advise given by ancient master in the deep vault of the monasterty fortress, ect…

With this I give my player more tools and knowledge to play around their character demeanor and past.

When burning a fate point I have decided to play a little story (about 5 to 15 minutes) from the glorious history of the chapters past. Sometime even the primogenitor chapter for third and more foundings. Then the players live a short interlude of courage and honor, of pain and sadness, of grief and vengeance,…

With this kind of "historic" stuff I try to help my players to get a bigger picture of the W40k universe, and give them a sense of pride about their chapter and the inheritance (genetic and psychologic) they carry with them. In fact, what I believe to be the true essence of a SM character.

What do you think about?

Thank a lot for your coming answer and please forgive my sentences and my faulty english.

That's a great way to throw in lore, for sure, but I was a weiner and just made a big packet for my players about the background. :P

I assume that Fate Points are like the Zack Morris time-out. :P

I like your ideas a lot. However I doubt I would use them myself, simply because it seems like it would slow things down, and combat is already slow.

I agree with you combat is already slow, but I need this system because the lack of background knowledge my players have.

We are a 30+ table and I as a GM wants something else than I shot the bad guy roll, then damage then xp… I really want to create bond and barriers between my players, let them see a part of the universe that can help them to better play their character.

Once the background learned I will stop doing it often. Still for some great part where the knowledge couls be use in game like vision of the heresy when fighting Chaos SM. For the flavour…

I like the idea and it is especially good for people who aren't so familiar with the 40k world. My group are mostly hard-core 40k fanatics, each and everyone in their own way, but I might still use something similar time-to-time now that I heard the idea.