SgtBilko
Lieutenant
The Emperor forgets...
Posts: 141
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Post by SgtBilko on Jul 7, 2010 15:28:28 GMT -5
Having watched 'The IT Crowd' the other week (the first in the new series, catch it at 4OD), role-play seems like fun. I don't know anything about it though. If I buy this: www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Heresy-Core-Rulebook/dp/1589944542/ref=cm_lmf_img_1_rsrssi1Will I need anything else? How many players are required including Games Master? How long does one adventure last in hours, roughly? Will it get me lots of chicks? (joke) Cheers
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Post by Makarova (M.I.A) on Jul 7, 2010 15:36:22 GMT -5
You can start by buying a game that's actually good and not hideously unrealistic to the point where Newton cries and curls up in fetal position.
- Dices usually, depending on the system. - Up to the group. I prefer to have 3 or 4 players, not counting myself as a GM. Fewer than that and it becomes too stale, more and it becomes too messy. - I don't know what you mean by an "adventure", but if you mean the actions your character takes it can last anything from the 5 minutes it takes to boil an egg to the several days it takes to realistically play through 12 hours of in-game time. But that's all up to your group really, some skip everything that doesn't involve beating things or buying more equipment to beat things with. - As any other activity or interest that contains a mixed gender population, it will probably get you into contact with a chick at one point or another. They won't like you any more for playing games though. You just have to do it the old fashioned way.
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Post by Kommissar Orren on Jul 7, 2010 22:11:19 GMT -5
A few expansion books, such as: The Inquisitor's handbook, and DH: Ascension are good to have for extra gear. You may want to sed a PM to RedsandRoyals, one of the modissars around here, as he GMs some games and knows a thing or two. I know for a fact, that you will needs a bunch of d10s, as the game is based around d10s. A game session could last anywhere from 1 to 5 hours, depending on what you try to fit into each session, and a chapter, or 'adventure' could last a number of sessions, depending on their length. The preferred number of players, and what I see as working best would be 3-5 players, 5 being an absolute maximum, and 3 being an absolute minimum. (For fun gameplay that is) Makarova (M.I.A): Dark Heresy is good, great even, better than any other RP I have ever palyed, and more realistic than a bunch of other RP games, such as D&D. The only reason it would make Newton cry is because it is related to 40k, and in 40k, physics are heretical.
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 8, 2010 1:07:22 GMT -5
I have a long running game of DH I run (with another being set up) in addition to a few finished ones, have done a couple one shots and sampled Death Watch and Rogue Trader as a player and GM. I like the system, as it's fairly easy with d100s and d10s. Combat can be lethal very quickly, and character creation can be a bit clumsy at first, but you'll get into the swing of it. It's a very open ended system too, allowing for lots of changes, tweaks, and taking your characters in fun directions.
For starting stuff, pick up, say, a pair of d100s, a pair of d10s, and the usual GM gear of pencils, paper, etc. You can photocopy the character sheet in the back, but there are many editable PDFs you can find online. The Core Book is fine to start off with, but the Inquisitor's Handbook adds a lot of new weaponry, as well as the chance to play a Battle Sister, and a few different homeworlds. Creatures Anathema and the Radicals handbook are both good GM supplements, and provide some additional gear and starting options as well as explaining the background of Xenos and Radicalism, and giving you nasties to toss at your party.
Ascension and Rouge Trader are sister systems to DH, but their rules and weapons can be used interchangeably with the other systems (I run a hybrid of all three). Also, be sure to download the Errata for your books from Fantasy Flight, as it makes some rather important corrections.
Game group size depends on the GM. I know a guy who GMs an RT game with 6 people, while my limit is usually 3-5, depending if it's over the table or on AIM. Any larger then 6 though, and it's hard to keep the group focused and heading in the right direction. If you're all new to the system, 3 players and a GM would be best. You only really need one player and a GM, but 2-3 is usually the min.
Game sessions usually last for a while. I did a one shot during Free RPG day that lasted about 4-4.5 hours, while my online group usually goes from 8-11 EST most nights, and gets a good amount of stuff done. As for an Adventure, they usually last for, say, 3-5 sessions, depending on group speed (It took us 4 sessions to burn through the adventure in the back of th DH book the first time I ever played).
Well, I first talked to Sister G over AIM about DH, and Mel and I talk about it quite a bit, so...
Let me know if you've got any other questions!
Reds
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jul 8, 2010 1:40:47 GMT -5
Don't bother with a d100, just use two d10's. One for the ten's digit, and one for the one's digit. Just remember which die is which, or get one that is incremented in 10, 20, 30, etc. Just remember that 00 is actually 100. You can also just get MS Excel, or some other spreadsheet to roll for you, if you didn't want to spend the pittance on dice. As for the books, You only need the core of any system. However, I'd suggest getting the IH, and Ascension as well. IH adds a lot of nifty stuff, and Ascension adds more rules for the characters to advance past useful flunky level. Now you can be a really useful flunky! Or even an inquisitor. If you get RT, the expansion's coming out this summer, so good times there. Explorers (RT characters) are much better stats-wise at similar xp levels than acolytes/throne agents (DH characters). So if you just want to run around killing stuff asap, use that system. All the books are filled to overflowing with cool extra fluff, as well. And yeah, physics in DH are pretty solid. At least, for stuff where you could compare it with a practical test on your own. Obviously somethings are slightly simplified, but really, the GM can do whatever he wants. I alter a few things in the games I've run, just because I can. That's mostly to fix the somewhat awkward idea of turn-based combat, though. Someone once told me that some people don't deserve a turn... Oh, and yes... playing DH will get you chicks. You just have to roll 01, five times in a row.
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Post by The Envoy (AWOL) on Jul 8, 2010 8:47:10 GMT -5
Don't bother with a d100, just use two d10's. One for the ten's digit, and one for the one's digit. Just remember which die is which, or get one that is incremented in 10, 20, 30, etc. Just remember that 00 is actually 100. For reference purposes, the D100 is rather hard to find in stores, and a bit expensive, though I think the die Reds was referring to is the percentile (the 10, 20, 30, etc.). The great thing about DH is that you don't need to spend a ton of money just on dice, since you only really need 2 per player. This means you can usually just buy the White Wolf D10 dice bags (usually cost something like $8) to get 10d10 and a nifty dice bag to haul them around in. And like everyone here has mentioned, you really only need the core book to play, but the =][= Handbook is a great supplement with a ton of new gear. DH character creation can be a bit clunky at first, but it's nowhere near as bad as some other systems I've played, and even eventually becomes somewhat intuitive when you get the hang of it.
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SgtBilko
Lieutenant
The Emperor forgets...
Posts: 141
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Post by SgtBilko on Jul 8, 2010 11:24:59 GMT -5
Thanks, I actually have a whole bunch of d10s and some other weird ds. There was a d100, but I gave it away to an 40k Epic player. 2 d10s will do fine.
Question: If I always have to buy the books (my mates are skint) I'll probably read them. If I read the books first, will I always have to be GM. Does reading the book spoil it for players? I want to try playing and GMing.
PS the 'virgin' in the title refers to not having played RPG before and is in no way connected to the 'chick' reference. Just wanted to clear that up.
ALso Newton probably did that a lot anyway.
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Post by The Envoy (AWOL) on Jul 8, 2010 11:29:38 GMT -5
No you don't have to, in fact, you really only need one set of books for the group if you want to stick to the cheaper end of things. It can be a bit of a hassle for character creation, but since everyone follows the same rules otherwise, it's not a big deal.
As to playing and GMing, you can own the books and be either or, it really doesn't matter, nor does reading the book "spoil" the game as a player. I've read numerous RP rulebooks, and still had fun playing or running them. Owning the books make it easier to run, but not a requirement.
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 8, 2010 11:30:40 GMT -5
It depends. Don't have your players read the adventures in the back if you plan on running them, but no, aside from that it doesn't ruin the game really. It's best to make up your own adventures usually, so you can allow for your players doing unscripted things that maybe the pre-written adventure didn't count on.
Overall, it's good to have every player read the book, so they can be familiar with the combat system, the actions they can take, and the fluff of the Calixis Sector, which is, in theory, where DH takes place. It helps them to get a better feel on the game, so I recommend letting them take a peak.
Reds
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SgtBilko
Lieutenant
The Emperor forgets...
Posts: 141
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Post by SgtBilko on Jul 8, 2010 12:01:00 GMT -5
Nice one. Just ordered DH, will pick up the dice from work(school) when I pass next.
Lookin gforward to it.
Cheers.
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Post by Makarova (M.I.A) on Jul 8, 2010 12:02:10 GMT -5
Orren: Yeah, and dog pee smells better than cat pee.
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jul 8, 2010 12:12:52 GMT -5
Orren: Yeah, and dog pee smells better than cat pee. Especially after a few weeks of sitting in the carpet unnoticed. Dog pee still just smells like pee, but there's something special about cat pee. I think Tzeench is involved.
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SgtBilko
Lieutenant
The Emperor forgets...
Posts: 141
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Post by SgtBilko on Jul 8, 2010 12:57:40 GMT -5
Ok....
My wife says she'll join in if she can be an elf! Can you recommend a good fantasy RPG with elfs in, doesn't need to be Warhammer, but can be?
Cheers
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 8, 2010 14:02:07 GMT -5
Ok.... My wife says she'll join in if she can be an elf! Can you recommend a good fantasy RPG with elfs in, doesn't need to be Warhammer, but can be? Cheers I've got some houseruled Eldar stats around here somewhere, but the 2nd Edition Fantasy RP would be good if you're looking for Warhammer. Otherwise, Pathfinder is a good bet. Reds
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SgtBilko
Lieutenant
The Emperor forgets...
Posts: 141
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Post by SgtBilko on Jul 8, 2010 14:43:37 GMT -5
Cheers, what's wrong with 3rd edition WHFRP?
other than its twice the price!
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 8, 2010 14:58:46 GMT -5
Because it's a Boardgame now.
Reds
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jul 8, 2010 15:06:39 GMT -5
Yeah, you may as well combine DH and Candyland.
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Post by The Envoy (AWOL) on Jul 8, 2010 15:09:53 GMT -5
That actually sounds awesome until you really think about it.
Also, you can give D&D 3.5 a trial run, though I wouldn't suggest trying to buy all the supplements.
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Post by Kommissar Orren on Jul 9, 2010 2:04:36 GMT -5
Let her be a human mutant with pointy ears, its basically the same... Makarova (M.I.A): Whatever you think. You may not like most RPs, but you don't need to start out by saying they are bad to a newbie. Everybody already plays a realistic RP anyways, life. It kinda sucks.
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SgtBilko
Lieutenant
The Emperor forgets...
Posts: 141
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Post by SgtBilko on Jul 9, 2010 2:22:32 GMT -5
I think elf sounds more appealing than 'human mutant'. I'l just tell her she's an elf in Dark Heresy, she won't know the difference.
I am in fact a physics teacher. I get bored of physics the way that it is, it's about time that it took a kicking.
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Post by Makarova (M.I.A) on Jul 9, 2010 3:42:50 GMT -5
Let her be a human mutant with pointy ears, its basically the same... Makarova (M.I.A): Whatever you think. You may not like most RPs, but you don't need to start out by saying they are bad to a newbie. Everybody already plays a realistic RP anyways, life. It kinda sucks. It doesn't really. And there's a large difference, I can't punch people in the face with a plate gauntlet and shake them down for money in real life. Well, technically I can, but I get away with it in RPG's. Usually. But I guess we're all different, as you've probably figured out by now I'm a sucker for the concept of a realistic fantasy world.
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Post by The Envoy (AWOL) on Jul 9, 2010 8:50:42 GMT -5
I think elf sounds more appealing than 'human mutant'. I'l just tell her she's an elf in Dark Heresy, she won't know the difference. You could just have her be a Void Born. They're practically the same thing as elves, just human and lived in space all their lives.
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Jul 9, 2010 9:19:30 GMT -5
I think elf sounds more appealing than 'human mutant'. I'l just tell her she's an elf in Dark Heresy, she won't know the difference. You could just have her be a Void Born. They're practically the same thing as elves, just not like elves at all. Fixed . An Eldar on the staff of maybe a more eccentric Ordo Xenos Inquisitor would make sense, but it would mean the group has to be very careful about who they reveal that fact to. Each starting "World" has a specific stat boost they give to each character that they add to 2d10 to determine their starting stats. Usually, it's base 20, so to get one's Ag score, you would roll 2d10+20. Depending on the world though, some stats are boosted while others are dinged. A Hive World character, for instance, has d10+25 for Fellowship, but 2d10+15 for Toughness. If you were to do an Exodite Eldar, I'd say 2d10+25 in Agility and Intelligence, and 2d10+15 in Strength and Toughness. Just remember to tell her she should probably wear a hood or long hair to conceal the ears... Reds
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jul 9, 2010 9:59:51 GMT -5
"I just tall and skinny... both parents were the same way."
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Post by The Envoy (AWOL) on Jul 9, 2010 10:19:38 GMT -5
You could just have her be a Void Born. They're practically the same thing as elves, just not like elves at all. Fixed . It's the closest you can get without house rules. Though I do suggest checking out the fan site, Dark (something or other I can't remember it right now). It's got a lot of really cool info as well as a number of randomizers for gear your acolytes manage to find.
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