Are OW characters compatible with DH2 ?

By GauntZero, in Dark Heresy Second Edition Beta

I mean...not only rule-wise but also balance-wise ?

Could I combine characters from the one with the other ?

I think it should be quite possible to integrate an OW character into DH2, if you ignore the comrade rules and give them Influence as characteristic.

Are there other things that could make problems or create imbalances ?

Their special abilities could be a balance issue. Not sure though.

They might have an edge in combat but lack elsewhere.

But does that really differ a lot regarding balance if compared to a warrior IG role ?

Not sure there would be much of an edge. By exp and starting skill, a DH IG warrior would roughly the equivalent of a comrade (Though, with HP, and FP). They have not yet achieved the 2000xp that would them to take one of the "Guardsman" roles in OW.

That Is how I would probably handle it: The beginning DH2 Guardsman would draw equipment according to the regiment he was assigned to. Once they have earned 2000xp I would have them "Elite Advance" into an appropriate guardsman class if they were still active in the regiment. (Basically choosing an MOS). Other than that I don't see a Generic IG Warrior having any special disadvantages or advantages against any of the Guardsman roles.

Characters in OW start with more Talents, that could be a balance issue. Nothing else comes to mind.

Rad's idea of advancing Guardsmen to an OW specialty class sounds like an interesting idea though.

I think the DH2 Guardsman has +1 Aptitude (7) unless the OW Guardsman buys a 7th Aptitude during regiment creation. And that fixed Fieldcraft Aptitude is a pretty big deal IMHO.

Characters in OW start with more Talents, that could be a balance issue. Nothing else comes to mind.

Rad's idea of advancing Guardsmen to an OW specialty class sounds like an interesting idea though.

Of course they do! An OW guardsman is a 2000xp character when created! A DH2b character is 0xp upon creation (Although you do get to add 900 pts. to that.) This goes to what I was saying; A DH2b IG warrior is the rough equivalent of a Comrade with actual wound points. To compare DH2 against DH1, this represents the first four levels of the Original DH1. Needless to say: A starting DH character should be weaker than a starting OW guardsman because even after starting experience they are 1700xp apart! At similar point values they would probably be comparable!

@ Lok: Thanks for the vote of confidence but I can't take credit for the idea. In OW: HoE it states that any character may "Elite advance" into any of the "guardsman" classes when they gain 2500xp (HoE pg. 53). I'm simply applying that to a DH character when they reach the appropriate level. Sort of explains how Gangers recruited into the guard eventually become soldiers themselves! (Read: Outcast desperado elite advances to perhaps weapons specialist, Or maybe even Sergeant as happened in the Gaunt's ghosts series!)

I have to admit I never read through OW:HoE, only our GM had a copy and as I was pretty content with my specialty choice I wasn't interested in the new stuff. Even if it wasn't your idea, thanks for sharing ;)