I'm on my first read-through of the beta, and starting to put together my first game with it. I need to substantially pad out the NPC Profiles at the back of the book and I'm wondering how to go about this. Ultimately, I'll probably just throw in what numbers make sense to me, but whilst I'm still getting a feel for the power levels and talents, etc., I've been building NPCs according to the PC generation rules. Do other people do this? It seems to work quite well for me, but it leads to more involved profiles than those given in the book. Also, where do you pitch Novice vs. Elite vs. Master? If they're ordinary and there are a number of them, I use Novice. If they're not ordinary and there's a number of them, I use Elite. If they're not ordinary and they're one of a kind, that's when I start thinking about using Master.
Anyway, I'll need an Adepta Sororitas for my first game. She's not a villain, but I'm allowing for the possibility of combat given the circumstances of the mission. I wanted to make a standard Battle Sister. Fluff-wise, I've gone for "Imperial Guard would be definitely outclassed.They wont be purging chapters of Space Marines". Essentially Badass, not Badass+. Starting groups should be badmouthing their GM, not attacking him with dice.
Adepta Soroitas, Battle Sister rank
(Elite, Threat Rating 11)
WS BS S T A I P WP F 36 46 35 45 40 35 41 55 39 (45) Head Body Arms Legs 9 11 10 10
Skills@2 Athletics, Command, Evade, Medicae, Navigate, Observe, Pilot, Stealth, Survival
Talents Brace for Impact, Evasive, Hatred (Heretics), Lethal Blows, Nerves of Steel, Overwatch, Rite of Cleansing, Specialist (Adepta Sororitas), Weapon Training (Bolt, Flame, Las, Solid Projectile) Equipment Light Power Armour, Boltgun, Boltpistol
I figured Rank 5 was about right for the elite military force that is the Adept Sororitas, so I started with a Shrine World origin, added an Imperial Guard background as the closet thng and (obviously) a Warrior role. I then just kept buying advances. But I found by the time I'd got to mid Rank 4 (6,250) I already had something that I considered pretty fearsome and I didn't want to take her any higher.
So what do people think? Is this the right approach for NPCs? Too many talents? If so, how would you simplify but keep the power level? Is the sister about right or waaaay over-powered (I haven't actually run a game yet). And how do you guesstimate the Threat Level. I basically pegged the above one to be around the officer level military profile in the book.
Really interested in your responses and any discussion as I haven't really seen much in the way of what other people have created or how they go about this. Feel free to post anything you've created as I think examples can really help with getting to grips with how the game plays and how balanced weapons and combat actually are!
Edited by knasserII