Hello. I've been looking through the forums, and I haven't found anything relating to what I'm asking. I like the Ordo Xenos the most and lean towards the teachings of the Recogreators and the Xenos Hybris. I resent the illogical oppression of mutants and the unnecessary xenophobia towards aliens that aren't inherently hostile to humanity, such as the Eldar, Jokaero, and the Kroot. I also believe that humanity would be stronger if we used superior alien weapons.

Which Ordo do you like the most, and which philosophy in the Inquisition do you prefer?

Arnstinium said:

Welcome Brother, ahem, rumour has it that Zakalwe is also a Recongregator with affiliations to the Ordos Xenos. Perhaps we should take this elsewhere, more, ah private, there are some, ahh, 'nasty-puritans' with a 'penchant-for-pyres' lurking nearby. Aparrently, so it is said anyway, that they don't like to even consider how overthrowing the Ministorum and Mechanicus would remove the shackles of ignorance holding Humaniti back from realising the Emperor's dream, and consider such talk 'heresy'. Some say however, that their attitude of ignorance is the real heresy.

Rumour also has it that Zakalwe considers himself one of the Emperor's most faithful servants, so expect that he will of course attempt to disabuse you of your Xeno Hybris beliefs, for the Emperor has no place for them in Mankinds destiny.

But that's all just hearsay right, who listens to rumours around here anyway?

(maybe) Interrogator Z.

I like all the Ordos, prefer Xenos or Malleus though. I also like the idea behind the libricars (the part with them being so puritan in belief that they are radical) but im not too certain wherein they are radicals.

I had a Malleus Inquisitor who hated all mutants, psykers, navigators normal mutants and so on. He allied himself with some Xenos Hubris in an attempt to use xenos technology to invalidate mutants in the Imperium. He hated them because mutations could be from warp exposure so why take the chance. Psykers use it as a power source and navigators can "read" it which must be heretical if one would think logically about it.

Ordo Hereticus, here. Recongregator. But I bounce, essentially because the intrigues and politics in my games by necessity require diversity.

Magistrate-Inquisitor Dameon Hekhate, of the Ordo Hereticus, was an outspoken Recongregator (though in truth his agenda is…ah, I mean was…something far darker), and a pupil of Lord Inquisitor Adres Reep, Ordo Hereticus (deceased, natural causes), who was himself a pupil of the infamous Inquisitor Lord D.H. Hathaway of the Ordo Praestigiator. Magistrate-Inquisitor Hekhate was slain by an Assassin of the Eversor Temple while within an inquisitorial safe house, his body rendered into so many individual chunks. Or so Acolyte witnesses have claimed. Upon initiating the investigation into Hekhate's death, his "corpse" was found to be that of an impostor…

Sire Opal Stark (no relation to Tony) is one of my favorite Inquisitor NPCs. He's a financier, a collector of archaeotech, and an employer of "specialists". If you were to put a tag on him it would read "Ordo Immortu". This Ordo is a fledgling faction focusing its attention on the Emperor Revenant and Lernaean Parable conspiracies. Sire Opal is presumed dead. Think of Sire Opal as the Intelligent and honest version of Boss Hogg; same height, same weight, same hair, same clothes, different guy.

The late Legate-Investigator Artemis Tholem, Executor of Stark Enterprises (following the "death" of Sire Opal), was nearing the completion of his sponsorship as an Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus, when he became the victim of assassination by polonium poisoning. If he had survived, he would have dismantled the "specialists" endeavor. He was Amalathian. He was also a genuinely good human being. To date, his assassin remains unidentified.

Malik Mourningstar, Exhonorator Primus (Chief Confessionist), Xanthite, Ordo Hereticus. His is the unenviable task of cleaning house in the aftermath of Legate-Investigator Tholem's death, and that task languishes at the bottom of his "In" box. Stark Enterprises has yet to be dismantled and lingers in limbo, many "specialists" disavowed and cut off in the field (admirably, these rogue Acolytes continue to pursue the Legate-Investigator's work). Mourningstar's assignment as Tholem's replacement was maneuvered by Hieronymus Baf. Exhonorator Primus Mourningstar is a cold, distanced, emotionless bastard. His placement by Baf is intended to "dead" end Stark Enterprises, though that's meant to be the extent their association.

Hieronymus Baf, a dirty weasel of a Phaenonite, poses as an Interrogator of the Ordo Hereticus (and triples his deep cover as a high-ranking member of the Imperial Navy Commissariat), and is one final "mission" from his elevation to full Inquisitor. His personal hero is the fabled Zephro Carnelian (aka: the Harlequin Man). He is sponsored by Bellastus Graeve, an Amalathian of the Ordo Malleus. Bellastus Graeve is a blow-hard theatricist, and his work "cleanses" far more innocents than the guilty. He is also a social and political moron. Baf, by way of contrast, is a social and political savant, and a terrible threat to the entire Imperium of Man.

Inquisitor Sofi Adellade, Ordo Chronos. Thorian. Sometimes young, sometimes old, always somewhere in time. Always.

Ordo Xeno for me. I do not know how or why, but I always get the feeling that, while Hereticus and Malleus appears to be filled with Inquisitor Psykers hwo mind **** any and every thing they run into (for the Emperor and after asking nicely, of course), the Ordo Xeno have the vibe that its ranks is filled with old mumbling bookworms who uses ancient and alien knowledge to safeguard the Imperium from whatever is hiding in the darkness of the unexplored void, who doesn't need no gimmic witch powers to do their duty. No sir, all about balls dipped in grey matter.

Not to mention they are 'reasonable' enough to let some xeno lives, like the Jokaero, and they got the Deathwatch, which is the best of the 3 armed branches (since it is the one less likely to kill you on the fact that you're around whatever they're hunting and got 'tainted' somehow or you saw them.)

I like Ordo Hereticus because of the wide variety of threats they deal with.

-But I'll probably be running an Ordo Xenos-based campaign (with lots of crossovers with Deathwatch ) after my current Hereticus-based campaign wraps up.

Hmm… with all of the supporters of Ordo Xenos, I wonder when we will get a (long-awaited) Ordo Xenos sourcebook…?

Well, any Creature book can double as an Ordo Xeno book- remove the Malleus section and you should be dandy.

Braddoc said:

I disagree. No 'Creature book' (and for DH , there has only been one - and a small one at that) features Ordo Xenos-focused alternate ranks and equipment, like Ordos Hereticus and Malleus recieved in Blood of Martyrs and Daemonhunter , respectively. I think the direction this thread has gone proves that there is a market for a Suffer Not The Alien book. There are a bunch of Calixis-specific xenos briefly mentioned in The Radical's Handbook - plenty of untapped material to justify a new sourcebook.

I agree at a 100%- and it would give a chance to focus more on the Guardsmen & adepts, as say Tyranid Hunters and Xenobiologists as well, filling the guardsman's now empty niche.

Its nice to see so much support for the Ordo Xenos. As has been said I would also like an Ordo Xenos sourcebook and some crunch for that Ordos.

Myself I'm a proud Amalathian Alien Hunter and militant. If it isn't pure human or under control, let it burn. And if it isn't faithful to the Emperor then it shall burn as well! All xenophiles and their masters will know the Emperor's will by our wrath! All these Recongretors reminds me of my brother, he was one of them. Until I torched the pyre beneath him.

Frankly I do not see the value in having Tyranid Hunters in the Calixis Sector, which is on the other end of the Galaxy where Tyranids are. and a whole book about dusty old coots who read alot and likes to visit ancient Xeno civilisations before going mad form what they learned? No thank you. Besides, apart from Xeno biologist/archivist, what is tehre to have? Maybe some Xeno tech guy for the TP, buit most are already filled with alternate ranks and origins, Xeno hunter career? They're called Imperial Guardsmen in the Imperium.

*Applies ointments on his burns.*

Ouch But I appreciate your honesty!

However, I'd like to point out that Creature's Anathema already sailed up the Tyranid boat by introducing Lictors [and Genestealers], not to mention an ability that specifically boosts other Tyranids around the creature… even though no other stats for such "compatible" creatures exist! Likely Only War was meant to introduce them before it was dumped.

Furthermore, Forbidden Lore {Xenos} is likely the hardest one to get out of all the Forbidden lores, so a bit more love for it wouldn't be out of place. People could come up with original ways to add to the classes, alongside the more generic hunter classes- a splicer class for example, an exotic weapon specialist could be another… They could focus on classes that do something original with Xenos, or that are specialized in hunting down another type of the enemy…

The Infiltrator!

An entire class of enemy exists that's just PERFECT for a Dark Heresy group to investigate- and only a tiny bit of "Dark Heresy" info exists, more suited for Death Watch games than DH, though it promises to expand on the idea in a later book…

You've guessed it! Genestealer Cults! The Hive-mind mind not have reached the Calixis sector yet, but these guys should be working overtime to make it happen.

Furthermore, the Imperial Guard might hunt down the Genestealers on the front- but the Simulacra, Crypts and other Xeno cults… Those aren't on the front-lines, they are found back at home!

I don't want to deviate this topic further- and I won't specifically mention my philosophical tendencies, seeing as diviners have foreseen that it would be get me into trouble with the more puritanical factions when they find that I would not mind reproducing Amicus' Tole Prognosticaon device (Well, without as many sacrifices of course, or maybe replace em with heretics!). When you have an untapped, unlimited energy source- why not exploit it! And an Occularian always knows the consequences of his actions.

By the team you've read this, I've already left this safe-house… All according to plan. Bwahaha….

Gurkhal said:

Ah dear Gurkhal.

So much talk of pyres, so few flames or support for such in the conclave. It is difficult to see how one could justify such an action as burning a true servant of the Emperor based on hearsay and rumors. A true tradgedy that your brother was taken from the Emperor's ranks by such a radical action.

But let us not quibble over 'labels'; please just know that should you ever need allies in a battle against the enemies of the Emperor and Humaniti that I offer what support I can give, as befits a true servant of the Emperor.

Most kind regards

Interrogator Z.

Zakalwe said:

Interrogator Zakalwe, we meet again.

In this cold hostile universe of ours it is only our faith in the Emperor that can illuminate the road before us, and the fire of purification that can warm us. I recognize the faltering faith of my peers yet in the name of the Emperor I must look beyond that towards His will and the future of mankind.

Shed no tears for my brother for he was a heretic and rebel and he died as he deserved. I heard myself how he pleaded that the divine order of the Imperium could be "improved" which is base heresy as vile as any that a Logician or Shrouded Master would spread. And I brought down justice upon him.

I thank you for your offer of support and I will take it into consideration for the future.

Braddoc said:

Adpets have always been a tough sell to most players (there is a thread on that very topic currently in the main DH Forum section); an Alternate Rank that makes them substantially mose useful to an Ordo Xenos team can only help, i.m.o.

Braddoc said:

Standard Guardsmen kill xenos the same way they kill everything else: through overwhelming numbers. But the fluff has always made references to elite xeno-killing specialists with skills beyond those of rank-and-file Guardsmen; the tabletop game made this fluff part of the rules in 4th Edition , which added a Xeno-Fighter Doctrine option to I.G. armies.

Braddoc said:

Off the top of my head, in addition to a Xenoarchaeologist and Xenofighter, and a xenotech specialist like you mentioned, I could see some kind of Diplomat option that negotiates with other cultures, including xenos (yes, it does happen in the Imperium, despite what the Adeptus tells the unwashed masses…), plus a buch of Radical options: humans raised by xenos (a la Stranger In A strange Land ), mad scientists who illegaly graft xeno organs and limbs onto humans, and some kind of Cold Trade specialist…

Plus, more fluff: info on the Calixis Deathwatch, more details about the Yu'Vath, the former rulers of Dread Calix (including examples of their ruins and technology), and additional Cold Trade material, ideally including a sample cartel with key npcs.

Crunch-wise, can we ever have too many examples of xenotech? Weapons, computers, vehicles, drugs, toxins, viruses (both organic and cogitator), specially bread guard/servant beasts, etc.

Rules for including a Deathwatch Killmarine in an Ascention -level party for those who don't also play Deathwatch would be appropriate.

The core, though, would have to be more xeno stats! The Radical's Handbook mentions the Calixis-specific Morgauth ('scavenging reptilids'), Xenarch ('of the Northern Rim'), Draethi ('dark alien race'), Q'Orl ('a particularly insidous insection race'), Fra'al ('merciless, highly psychic'), plus a mercenary army called the Cortax (I assume it's a group of various races, and not the name of a destinct race in itself); I'm not a big fan of repeating the same creatures between different WH40KRP books, but I wouldn't mind combining stats for Loxatl mercenaries (from Mark of the Xenos ), Sslyth mercenaries (from Koronus Bestiary ), and Kroot mercenaries (from various Rogue Trader and Deathwatch sources) in one volume. -And Hrud, with their focus on stealth and warp-based technology, would be a good fit for DH .

And of course, space permiting, a module. Not everyone likes the practice of including mini-modules in Sourcebooks, but, since nearly every DH module focuses on fighting heretics and/or daemons ( Maggots In The Meat is the only exception I can think of), I think a xeno-focused module would be a welcome novelty.

Tell me with a straight face that you wouldn't buy this book…?

Oh! And more detail on some of the xeno-contaminated Forbidden Worlds of the Calixis Sector.

My inquisitor Reiker (SHAMELESSLY stolen from inquisitor ascendant!) is an Ordo Hereticus inquisitor of Istvaanian leanings. He also occasionally dabbles in Ordo Xenos matters.

My personal favourite Ordo is a tie between Hereticus and Xenos. I'm not a fan of Ordo Malleus because, to me, it doesn't seem to open up for many adventure ideas, for me at least.

Adeptus-B said:

I throw my support behind this and I would kill to see a really good Xenos generator added, to make our own critters and races.