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Cripple X

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Posts posted by Cripple X

  2. Posted · Edited by Cripple X

    The DH2ed PDFs I have all run very smoothly, so I think the optimization is fine, at least.

     

    As for the delay in releasing the PDF, it certainly seems that based on this thread the decision is losing FFG business and rightly so.

     

     

    When you download a illegal reproduction of the product, you are denying yourself a vote in the way the business runs. This is the reason I hate it when companies release "free" products. The products are not truly free, only that other people are paying for them. Businesses will do what the people paying them tell them what to do. It is stupid to surrender that power and live at the mercy of others.

     

    There's so much wrong with that statement I don't know where to begin. I really don't mean any offense by that, you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but it feels so completely out of touch with reality. I wished we lived in a world where it worked in the idealized way you think it does, but we don't. Not really. Maybe a tiny percentage of businesses out there work like that, but not most. FFG is certainly not one of them. I've given them quite a lot of money over the years and never have I once felt like they have ever genuinely listened to me as a customer or valued my contribution to keeping their company alive. Overall, I feel more abused than anything. And when a company treats you that way you stop buying. That is really the only voice you have. "I wanted to support you. I wanted to help you. I wanted you to succeed. But you wouldn't let me. You didn't value me." Buying doesn't give you a vote. Not buying does. In that context, Piracy is voting and it's also  a warning sign for the company from the consumer to check themselves. "Hey, we want this product, but you aren't providing it to us. Don't you think you might be screwing up? Don't you want to succeed? We'd really like to support your game line. No? Maybe the next company will do better."

     

    I can actually point you to major companies in the industry where if we were having this discussion on their forum somebody from the company would pop-in, acknowledge the discussion, and give genuine feedback (and not standard corporate drivel) from the company's perspective. That no one from FFG has done so yet, I think, is entirely indicative of the problem. Customers aren't just credit cards and profit margins. They aren't rage-beasts that exist to get upset at every decision made by your company. They are people who would like to be treated as such. I don't think that there's anything wrong with that.

    cpteveros reacted to this

  4. Posted

    The War Hymns idea is great. Thanks for that. The idea for Frateris Militia doesn't strike me as an talent thing so much as something that develops during gameplay.

    I do love the idea of Confessors having abilities that benefit their allies, though I do wonder about the actual utility of those abilities when it comes to a solo game, which is primarily the reason I am developing the Advance. Fate points being a PC thing means those types of talents wouldn't be of any use.

    Talon of Anathrax reacted to this

  5. Posted

    I am glad to see this thread pop up because I have been wanting to create a Confessor Edge, but have been at a loss as to how to do so exactly. All I have come up with is:

    Confessor

    Prerequisites

    Influence: 50

    Fellowship: 40

    XP cost: 750

    Instant Changes

    Gains the Peer (Ecclesiarchy) talent, the Scholastic Lore (Imperial Creed) skill, the Forbidden Lore (Heresy) skill, and the Leadership Aptitude.

    Equipment

    Rosarius and Monotask Servoskull (pick one)

    Beyond that, I am not too sure. I think a mix of certain Inquisitor and SoB talents might work.

    For new stuff, a talent that lets you add your fellowship bonus to the degrees of success for Charm, Command, and Intimidate. Another talent that lets you add your WP to opposed scrutiny checks if someone is lying to you.

    What are you all's thoughts?

  7. Posted · Edited by Cripple X

    In regards to Weapon Training, did DH do away with the rule that says a character is counted as trained in any weapon mounted on a vehicle if he is part of Vehicle's crew? If that's still in there, then Naval Pilots don't need any proficiencies to represent their vehicle based weaponry. That doesn't extend to when he is not crewing the vehicle. Just because he can fire his ride's lascannon doesn't mean he can shoot one on foot. Counterintuitive, but that's the way it worked in Only War.

    If the Ace role doesn't have Fieldcraft, that's going to get Errata'd. There's no way that's not a huge oversight. Having not gotten my hands on the book yet, I cannot say for sure, but if feels like Finesse probably was supposed to be Fieldcraft and somebody done goofed.

    Skarsnik38, Talon of Anathrax, bluntpencil2001 and 1 other reacted to this

  8. Posted

    Here's an idea I'd like to try and I am hoping someone can accommodate me.

    I'd like to play a solo game of Dark Heresy 2nd Edition with a bit of a twist. I'd like to explore an oft-referenced but rarely looked at portion of the 40k universe--I'd like to play an Adeptus Ministorum Priest tending to his flock. The details can vary of course. Maybe it's a posting on a Fortress world, a humble village on an Agriworld, the teeming masses of pilgrims on a Shrine world, or the constantly changing community of a void-based way station or voidship. Whatever the case the game would revolve around the Priest ministering to the needs of his congregation, but it need not be entirely mundane, this is 40k after all. Maybe the community is remote and has been infiltrated by some sort of heretical cult which needs be rooted out? Maybe the powers that be turn against the Imperium and the priest must look out for those still loyal to His light? Again details can vary.

     

    A few ideas:

    --A preacher tending to his parish on a Hive World.

     

    --A Confessor weeding out a particularly insidious cult taking root in the Nobility of a vital Imperial world.

     

    --A lone missionary bringing the Emperor's Light to a frontier world.

    --Assigned to an Imperial Guard Regiment. We could use Only War if necessary and the character would get to know the soldiers under his care, minister to their needs, keep them strong, weed out heresy and corruption, and deal with losing people in service to the Emperor.

     

    --Leading a group of pilgrims on a pilgrimage to a Shrine World. The trials and tribulations of reaching their destination.

     

    I think 40k is best when it focuses not the wide-scale action, but on a person or persons trying to survive, and maybe even better, a dark and predatory universe. Whether or not they succeed, it can make for some really wonderful stories. I really want to explore the humanity there, even if that humanity isn't very nice. That's not to say that action shouldn't happen. It can and it should. Maybe a cult or other heresy tries to take root? Maybe a rogue psyker targets the priest's parishoners. It doesn't matter what so long as the solution isn't "Space Marines land and kill it" or "The Inquisition issues Exterminatus."

    I'd really like to keep this a solo game and one with a decent posting rate. A few posts a week at least, but a little faster would be okay too. I'd like to use Dark Heresy 2nd Edition, but I would be okay with Only War if you wanted the character to be assigned to an IG regiment. If this idea sounds interesting to anybody please respond here or PM me. Thanks for reading.

  10. Posted

    You're still assuming that the FLGS owners believe that holding back the pdf benefits everyone when it's not true. You're assuming that they do not understand their own business.

     

    I'm saying that they know it's not true. They don't even pretend that it's true. But they push pdf delays because it benefits them and they put their own profits above what benefits FFG and/or the customers.

    Ah, I see what you're saying. Well, if it is intentional than it's even worse and harmful not only to the industry as a whole, but ultimately to the FLGS itself. In that situation whatever benefit the FLGS sees in the short-term, IF there is a benefit at all, would likely be outweighted by the loss of sales that FFG sees from the PDF service problem. If those sale hurt FFG bad enough they may drop a line of products leaving the FLGS with nothing to sell at all.

  11. Posted · Edited by Cripple X

    Right. That's exactly what I meant. I'm didn't mean to imply that FLGS are intentionally being deceitful. I'm saying that they are likely perpetuating something they believe to be true but actually isn't and using that belief as a basis to strong arm FFG.  People inadvertently spread misinformation all the time. So it's likely FLGS owners believe that the practice genuinely does have a benefit. I just think that ultimately the practice hurts FFG more than it helps and it certainly hurts the consumer. So I think they should take a hard look at the process and reassess it.

  12. Posted · Edited by Cripple X

    Oh, I get the rationale and why FLGS and FFG do what they do according to the 'Brick and Mortar' argument--I just think they are quantitatively wrong about it and ultimately all it does it hurt digital sales on FFGs behalf. Nobody I know buys a hardcopy because it's the only version available. They either hold out for the PDF to release or they find the pirated version that is actually available. Maybe somebody out there does actually buy a book instead. Maybe. But people want different types of copies for different reasons as this thread has outlined. Buying a Hardcopy when you really need a PDF isn't going to help you really. So I doubt that this gap in the availablity of the PDF is actually bumping FLGS sales much if at all. Maybe FLGSs say it does and FFG back them out of necessity, but is it really the case? I've certainly never seen anybody attempt to present definitive hard sales data on it. So maybe it's an actual thing and maybe it's not. Since nobody seems to willing to share data on it, all I have to go on is my own experience and the experiences my peers share with me and that leads me to believe that it's just something FLGS perpetuate because they are ignortant of how things work. So, no, based on what I have to go on, limited though it may be, I am not convinced that the PDF delay helps book sales appreciably.

     

    What it does do is hurt digital sales by presenting that service problem that you mentioned-- "Well, I want to support FFG, but I'd like to have this new material for use in my game this weekend and since I cannot buy a copy even though I want to I guess I'll just grab this scan of the hardcopy somebody posted." I'm not saying that is right at all, but it does happen. People are impatient even if they are often well intentioned. Maybe some of those people go buy the book later. But what percen tage don't? It'd be difficult to get data here but not impossible. FFG could release the PDF copy of a book simultaneously and see if they see an appreciable increase in the number of PDF copies sold and/or a proportional drop in number of hard copies sold. If they did that then released their data and the 'Brick and Mortal' argument was proven correct then I wouldn't be mad about a delay at all. I'd be absolutely fine with it. I'd encourage it. But until that point, I'm going to continue to feel that the practice is ultimately more harmful to the sales of their various lines than it is helpful and that they are treating me ultimately as an unwanted customer which really does eventually affect their bottom line. If there are a few products coming out that I want, but I can't afford all of them then I will always purchase the product of the company that has treated me better in the past. Maybe that's just me? If not then that money must add up eventually. It's why business practices matter.

  13. Posted

    I prefer PDFs for many of the same reasons. That, and storage space. You run out of bookshelves pretty quickly as an RPG hobbyist. It's just more convenient to have a library of books on a device of some sort.

     

    I think you're absolutely right that service is the main problem, Bilateralrope. Why make it harder for people to support your company than not? That seems like an awful idea from the perspective of a business. Like I mentioned, I think the PDF problem comes from FLGS owners putting pressure on FFG and distributors because they think the delay helps their sales when it doesn't.

     

    I wish FFG had enough respect for us as customers to just state their reasons for doing it the way they do, because as it is, it doesn't make me feel very respected as a supporter of their business.

    Robin Graves reacted to this

  15. Posted · Edited by Cripple X

    I don't know for sure, but in general it's 3-4 weeks between the hardcopy release and the PDF release.

     

    I really don't know why companies still do this. I've heard two main reasons. One is that it helps FLGS owners. The other, like you mentioned, is piracy. I find the rationale bogus in both cases.

     

    FLGS: I think the premise here is that Hardcopies and PDFs are competing products and that having a hardcopy available earlier is going to mean people buy them, This is not the case. I'm going to buy a hardcopy if I want a Hardcopy or the PDF if I want that. They don't compete. You want the two for different reasons. It doesn't hurt to make a PDF available alongside a hardcopy because I (and most people I know these days) won't buy a hardcopy regardless. If a book does not have a PDF available, well that company isn't getting my money. Even if If I want to support FLGS I'm going to do so regardless of what product is available when. I have waited longer for product to become available and paid more than I would have had I ordered a product from the internet explicitly because I wanted to support my FLGS. Let's face it, FLGS will never compete with Amazon or other online sources when it comes to price and convenience. It's not going to happen. FLGS stay in business (or not) based on the services they provide and how well they generate loyalty in their customer base. People with choose to support their FLGS on its merits and not on a three week excusivity period. Releasing PDFs on time for those who do not want hard copies is not taking food from anybody's mouth.

     

    Piracy: The assumption is that everybody is going to run out and pirate the new product immediately. If somebody is intent on pirating the product three weeks isn't going to stop them. The vast majority of people want to pay for products that are of good quality so that the company keeps making them. I want to give you my money if your product is good. I think you deserve it. But restricting my access to that product because you're treating me like a potential criminal when all I want to do is buy your products is a very good way to alienate me. Alienate enough people and your business is going to fail. There's also the argument that piracy absolutely sells books, but that's a topic for another thread.

     

    So, yeah, I really wish FFG would stop this bogus 'You have to wait for the PDF' garbage. All it does is frustrate me and make me feel like a second-class customer. Don't they want my hard earned money? I can always just spend it elsewhere.

    cpteveros reacted to this

  16. Posted · Edited by Cripple X

    What kind of thing would you want more of, after these 3?

    In addition to what others have mentioned, like an Askellion Sector book and more adventures, I'd like to see more on the Adeptus Mechanicus of the Askellion Sector. At the very least, we need an Elite Advance for Mechanicus characters (Magos?) and Homeworld Bonuses for Cerix Magnus and Core Theta like Selvanus Binary received.

  18. Posted

    For some reason when I try to download the Player Support Materials from FFG's Rogue Trader page I keep getting an error similar to:

     

    <Error>

    <Code>InvalidObjectState</Code>

    <Message>

    The operation is not valid for the object's storage class

    </Message><RequestId>58ECB2FA7A0A40D6</RequestId>

    <HostId>m9azXPXJs6trQ62NJW2AdB5m26mPWBr9RydOlf5VV6Cp2+KjqmvI/gjwp64LiZ7AiQXFMTmZon8=

    </HostId>

    </Error>

     

    This only happens on the Rogue Trader page. All the other pages I have tried on FFG's site seem to be working fine.

  20. Posted

    We will also add the function to attach Weapon Modifications to a specific weapon as well as a searchable List of ammunition. Weapon mods are currently selectable in the "gear" list with the upgrade limitations set in the description part. My current workaround for knowing which weapon mod is attached to which weapon is creating the mod with a unique name (like Custom Grip 1) and adding this to the weapons description field.

    That sounds excellent, Tom! I hope Cybernetics gets the same treatment.

    Looking forward to that Windows update so that I can get this on my PC. ;)

  22. Posted · Edited by Cripple X

    As part of a PbP game I am preparing, I have come up with customized specialties and suitable replacement advances for each player-worthy position on a Baneblade. Some advances are simply existing advances that have been renamed, some have had their rules tweaked, and others are wholly new.

    Most of the specialties are default or fairly close to it. The only one that's undergone significant revision is the Commander, which is a Sergeant meets Tank Ace advanced specialty. I felt it was important to give the Commander several different Orders to play with as he's the only person on the Baneblade, besides the Engineseer without a weapon to fire. Between the Orders and liberal use of the Command skill, I figure he'll be fine.

    I would really appreciate other people's thoughts on this stuff, especially the new Orders. Any feedback would very welcome.

     

    Commander:

    as Sergeant except:
    Aptitudes: Agility, Fellowship, Leadership, Perception, Tech, Willpower

    Advances
    On My Mark...Fire!
    Type: Order (Full Action)
    Cost: 400 xp
    Effect: The Command Suite of the Baneblade provides the Commander with precise tactical information to help him pinpoint the fire of his gunners where they will do the most damage. The Commander chooses a single target, and makes a Challenging (+0) Command Test. If the vehicle has undertaken any Movement Action other than Tactical Maneuvering during this Round, this Test is Very Hard (–30) instead. If the Commander succeeds on his Test, the vehicle’s weapons gain a +2 bonus to their Penetration for every Degree of Success the Commander scored on his Command Test when firing on the chosen target.

    Gunners, Kill on Sight!
    Type: Order (Half Action)
    Cost: 200 xp
    Effect: The Commander gives his gunners the discretion to choose their own targets and unleash hell. The torrent of fire the Baneblade is capable of creating is truly terrifying. Enemies required to take Pinning Tests or Toughness Tests due to the Concussive Trait have the difficulty of those tests increased by a further 10. A Challenging (+0) Pinning Test would thus become a Difficult (-10) Pinning Test. This lasts for a number of turns equal to the Commander's Fellowship Bonus. It may only be used once per combat encounter.

    Strike and Shroud
    Type: Order (Half Action)
    Cost: 200 xp
    Effect: Tanks are often equipped with smoke launchers to shield them from fire or aid in obscuring their movements. Well-trained tank companies are adept at deploying their smoke rounds to obscure as wide an area as possible and maximize the advantage that the cover provides. When smoke launchers are used as a result of the Strike and Shroud Order, each vehicle that participates in the order increases the radius of the cloud by 2m and increases it's duration by one round. Thus, if five tanks participated in the Order each tank would count its own smoke cloud as having a radius of 25m which would last 1d10+15 rounds.

    Brace!
    Type: Passive
    Cost: 400 xp
    Effect: The Commander and Driver work together with the smooth ease of practice, one calling out incoming threats as the other moves to avoid them. The vehicle’s driver can make a Hard (–20) Operate Test (plus the vehicle's maneuvering penalty) in response to any incoming fire as a Free Action. If he succeeds, the incoming fire strikes the armor facing of the Commander’s choice instead of the armor facing it would originally have hit.

    Driver: Operator

    Advances
    Ace Maneuvering
    Type: Passive
    Cost: 400 xp
    Effect: Super-Heavy tanks are crewed by elite tankers. These men and women are capable of feats no ordinary tanker would dare believe possible. The driver reduces the Maneuvering Penalty of any vehicle he operates by 10 for every two points of Agility Bonus (rounded down) that he possesses. In addition, the Size Penalty when attempting to Jink with a vehicle is reduced by the same amount.

    Machine Spirit Assistance
    Type: Passive
    Cost: 250 xp
    Effect: The sophisticated nature of the Mars-wrought systems and sacred Machine Spirit aid the crew in their duties, coming to know their habits and behaviors much in the same way as the crew comes to know their tank. If the Driver spends his full turn driving the Baneblade, he may also make a Ranged Attack Action using the forward mounted Heavy Bolter Turret as if he were operating it himself.

    First Gunner:

    as Weapon Specialist except:
    Aptitudes: Agility, Ballistic Skill, Fellowship, Fieldcraft, Finesse, Perception.
    Starting Talent: Deadeye instead of default choices.

    Advances
    First Loader
    Type: Passive/ Order (Full Action)
    Cost: 300 xp
    Effect: The First Loader is responsible for loading the meter long shells into the Baneblade Cannon. The First Loader receives the Rapid Reload Talent. In addition, the First Loader may spend a Full Round Action to load an Anti-Tank Shell. While limited in number, these shells increase the AP of the Baneblade Cannon to 14 for the next shot.

    Gun Telemetry
    Type: Passive
    Cost: 300 xp
    Effect: Equipped with the most sophisticated logic engines, the Baneblade is able to feed targeting data from one gun to all the gunnery stations, enabling those weapons to compensate for the movement of the tank as well as the enemy. All guns fired from the Baneblade reduce the penalty for firing from a moving vehicle by 5. This can be combined with the Second Gunner Advance Rolling Fortress to completely remove the -10 Penalty for firing from a moving vehicle.

    Second Gunner:

    as Weapon Specialist except:
    Aptitudes: Agility, Ballistic Skill, Fellowship, Fieldcraft, Finesse, Perception.
    Starting Talent: Deadeye instead of default choices

    Advances
    Second Loader
    Type: Passive
    Cost: 300 xp
    Effect: The Second Gunner loads Demolisher Cannon shells onto a rail sled which feeds into the cannon itself. A well-trained loader can retrieve spent shells and load new ones in the time it takes the Second Gunner to pick a new target and aim the cannon. The Second Loader receives the Rapid Reload talent. In addition, the Demolisher Cannon gains the Reliable Trait.

    Rolling Fortress
    Type: Passive
    Cost: 300 xp
    Effect: The Baneblade is a vehicle of such durability that is it able to fire even the mighty Demolisher Cannon while on the move--the force of which would sheer lesser tanks in two. The stability of the platform, even in rough terrain enables the gunners to keep the enemy under fire in even the worst conditions. All guns fired from the Baneblade reduce the penalty for firing from a moving vehicle by 5. This can be combined with the First Gunner Advance Gun Telemetry to completely remove the -10 Penalty for firing from a moving vehicle.

    Third Gunner:

    as Weapon Specialist except:
    Aptitudes: Agility, Ballistic Skill, Fellowship, Fieldcraft, Finesse, Perception.
    Starting Talent: Vigilant instead of default choices

    Advances
    Third Loader
    Type: Passive
    Cost: 250 xp
    Effect: The Heavy Bolter banks are fed from magazine reservoirs and the Lascannons from powerlines connected to the main generator, freeing up the third The Third Gunner and Third Loader work in concert to ensure the weapons along the mighty tank's flanks deal death to the Imperium's enemies. If the Third Gunner spends his Turn operating a Sponson he may also make a Ranged Attack Action for the opposite sponson as if he were stationed at it himself, provided his comrade is in Cohesion.

    Keep Them Off Us
    Type: Passive
    Cost: 400 xp
    Effect: As long as the Third Gunner's Comrade is within Cohesion, Overwatch and Suppressing Fire Actions with the sponsons cover a 90-degree arc on the side of the tank, instead of the usual 45-degree arc (see Overwatch on page 247 and Suppressing Fire on page 248 of the Only War Core Rulebook).

    Engineseer:

     

    Commune With The Machine Spirit
    Type: Passive
    Cost: 250 xp
    Effect: A Baneblade super-heavy tank is driven by a willfull and mighty Machine Spirit. Those Tech-Priests blessed with the ability to work upon these mighty engines find their efforts guided by the spirit within. When interfaced with the vehicle via his Mind Impulse Unit, the Enginseer gains a +10 bonus to all Tech-Use Tests to make repairs, and halves the time any repair takes.


    This message was last edited by the GM at 14:48, Today.

    Arnbjorn and pearldrum1 reacted to this

  23. Posted

    Most orders work just as well in a tank as out of it, really, with some notable exceptions like Dig In.

    I don't think this is the case at all. Covering Fire is useless in a Tank. Get Them! is useless in a tank. Snap Out Of It! Is vastly reduced in scope. No one is taking Pinning Tests in a tank. Fear, I could see that, but not pinning. Similarly, the orders from the Commander Advanced Speciality are no good because many rely on extra Comrades. Extra people are not going to fit into the tank.

    I'm actually working on some specialized Orders and Advances for a Baneblade crew. I'll post them up in the House Rules section once I get them finished.

  24. Posted

    It's in running with Codex Astra Militarus/Imperial Guard; you can order infantry, but not vehicles. Even their Tank Aces really only order their own little group, sometimes only their OWN vehicle, ala "Gunners, Kill on Sight!"

    Those are exactly the sort of Orders that I am looking for, Order for the Sergeant to give to his Crew. I guess for right now I will just adapt the Tank Ace Advances.

    It is really disappointing how under-supported Armoured Reginents/Vehicles are considering how very important they are in the source material.

  25. Posted

    I'd really like to see another book as well. The last three Support Specialists (Commissar, Storm Trooper, and Sanctioned Psyker) need the same treatment that the rest of the specialties received. It feels like the line is incomplete until that happens.

    Plus, with Grimtoof in charge of such a massive Waaagh! I would REALLY love to see rules for Stompas and Gargants presented more than anything.

    PhilOfCalth, Adeptus-B and Myrion reacted to this
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