There has been some interest in this old gem so I’m putting it all up if anybody wants to tinker with it.

First some more words on the design:

As for the design my main idea was that the specialization would form the basis of the character while the chapter would add, ehm, character. So an assault marine would be just as efficient, game-wise, regardless of which chapter he belongs to. At the same time some combos would be more obvious, just like it is in Deathwatch (Black Templar Assault Marine anyone?).

This means that the specializations brings the stats, the moves and the stuff that is more worky, while the chapter choice adds character flavor through special moves and Hx with the combination giving unique characters.

The reason why there's both a chapter ability and a special is because I found it hard to boil down chapter traits to just one thing. So the design idea was that the chapter ability simply is a rather nice buff for the character while the special is something that can boost but also complicate. Or is a boost with a very narrow application. As an example the Black Templar's special is complicating, while the Imperial Fist's is narrow.

Then the Hx statements further help to define the character and add chapter identity.

As for the other loyalist chapters I actually have skeletons for them in my design document. I just finished the four I did to get to playtesting. The reason for why I “finished” them was that I figured a cool looking RPG would have a greater chance of finding my gaming group willing to try it out.

Normally you should just make the rules and try them out before going into the design phase. Believe me, I got burned on this one.


Since I actually playtested the hack a bit there are some changes that I should implement and then re-make the PDF, but I haven’t:

The Black Templar chapter ability is overpowered and the Dark Angels special and chapter abilities should be switched around. Otherwise it pretty much worked as intended.


Here are the links to the good stuff:
The design document with everything in it: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ZYyt0Vz89pFd2RbMjZUDAvgXIvSb3MC7-4fGupqOQMc

The beastiarium (containing only the basic beginning of orks so far): https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Rkx06WvQQQmT-n1T8h6r_J9eesbmJ18C8QRAgFOsIWA

The armories: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oN7b29Ii7TlGKXy8hfVf6kekWhVuPS-XXh6-tBEWpgQ

The templates:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7a4OBanGG4GSVdpeE9fSjd2dnM
The templates are for a open source desktop publishing program called Scribus which can be downloaded here: https://www.scribus.net/downloads/stable-branch/

It’s a kind of non-intuitive layout program that lacks the grace and ease of use of indesign and it’s buddies, but it’s free. Just open one of the templates in scribus and you’ll see what I did. I think you need to get two fonts for it to work properly: “Vtks good luck for you” and “Crust clean”, but those you’ll have to google yourself.

I put the pictures I used in the same folder. I don’t know if they have to be relinked or if they’re inside the scribus files.

Doubtlessly I’ve forgotten something, but this is a start. Good luck!

I love it! You took a totally different path than I did but you might be able to use some of the ideas here: http://apocalypse-world.com/forums/index.php?topic=6880.0

I've playtested it a couple of times and there are certain tweaks that I havn't yet done to the file, but it plays nicely as a space marine game. However, I don't know if it's my MC-ing that is lacking or something wrong with the game itself, but it didn't work at all as a play to find out game.

In the end it's all about having fun.

I'll see when I can take yours for a spin and see what I can steal ;)

Oh, that is so very true about the delay regarding action. Thanks again for your comments.

I'm probably beating a dead horse here but a search of the forums didn't show exactly the same idea used before.

A big caveat is that I haven't re-read the AW book for a while so I don't really remember how PvP conflicts are supposed to be resolved. I remember it as being fiction first? However the people I play with semiregularily have the idea of initiative hardwired into the backbones of their black murderhobo souls and think that solving stuff as they come up hint at some kind of "unfairness".

An idea I had was to exchange rolls for a single dice. A result on the lower half=missed, upper half=yes, but, and top result=10+
Add the actual stat to the roll as normal. So on a D8 1-4=missed, 5-7=yes, but 8=success.
The bigger the dice, the less impact of the stat. However in a PvP situation the biggest die wins. So on a D4 roll stats are amazing but you'll be trumped by bigger dice.

Neat? Stupid? Unworkable? Already hashed?

Hello. Among other things I'm working on an AW hack where the players are Giants in midieval England. The idea germinated in this story-games-thread: http://story-games.com/forums/discussion/comment/429872 As you can see it was Potemkin that had the great idea from the beginning but then revised his outlook. I continued on with the original premise.

Now I've gotten stuck on the moves. The stats I've settled for are Violence, Cunning, Finnicky and Wyrd. Violence and Cunning are pretty self-explanatory, Finnicky is everything to do with humans and Wyrd is to do with the domain of spirits.

So far these are the basic moves I have:

Rage - swift and mindless violence is dealt. Roll +Violence +1. Add one to Fatigue/Hunger.
-6 Fail, You suffer Harm as established and the MC can make a hard move
7-9: Success, You suffer Harm and Deal Harm as established
10+: Success, You suffer Harm and Deal Harm +2 as established

Attack - violence is dealt in a controlled manner. Roll +Violence
-6: You suffer Harm and Deal Harm as established
7-9: Success, you suffer Harm and Deal Harm as established and choose one from the list below
10+: Success, you suffer Harm and Deal Harm as established and choose three from the list below
Suffer less Harm (you suffer -1 Harm)
Deal greater Harm (you deal Harm +1)
Rout the enemy
Take hold of something important
Gain the advantage

Demand - Threaten to get what you want. Roll +Violence
-6: Fail, the MC can make a hard move
7-9: Success, they do as you want but you must promise something first and keep this promise.
10+: Success, they do as you want but you must promise something first. It is up to you if you keep your word or not.

Foraging and Hunting - The giant spends a day Foraging and Hunting. Roll +Cunning

-6 Ravaging! The Giant cannot control its hunger and cleans the area of anything edible. The area of the map is turned fallow and the Fatigue/Hunger stat is reduced by two. Also any settlements in the area get their Wealth reduced by one. If this means a settlement gets reduced to zero wealth that settlement is deserted and left in ruins.
7-9 Overeating. Despite the Giant’s intentions he or she cleans the land. The Fatigue/Hunger stat is reduced by one and the area of the map is turned fallow.
10+ Foraging and hunting. The Fatigue/Hunger stat is reduced by two.

Read a situation - See where opportunities and dangers lie. Roll +Cunning OR +Finnicky depending on the opposition (Giants or Humans)
-6: Fail, the MC can make a hard move
7-9: Success, you can ask one question from the list and the MC or player will answer truthfully
10+: Success, you can ask all questions on the list and the MC or player will answer truthfully
Who is most dangerous?
How can I escape?
What are the motives of the others?
How can I gain the upper hand?

Manipulate - Get another giant to do what you want, Stat: Cunning
-6: Fail, the MC can make a hard move
7-9: Success, they do as you want but you must promise something first and keep this promise. The other Giant marks experience when doing it.
10+: Success, they do as you want but you must promise something first. It is up to you if you keep your word or not. The other Giant marks experience when doing it.

Talk to the spirits - Get knowledge from the spirits, Stat: Wyrd
-6: Fail, you loose something important and the MC can make a hard move
7-9: The MC will tell you something new and interesting about the current situation, and might ask you a question or two; answer them
10+: The MC will give you good detail. If you already know all there is to know, the MC will tell you that.

Demand of the spirits - Control the weather, increase fertility of the land, etc, Stat: Wyrd, must give up something vital (a finger for minor stuff, all of childhoods memories for more important stuff).
-6: Fail, you loose something important and the MC can make a hard move
7-9: The spirits accept your offering but demand a promise. If you follow through mark experience.
10+: The spirits accept your offering.

Haggle - Bargain with humans, Stat: Finnicky
-6: Fail, the MC can make a hard move
7-9: Success, you get your deal but you must promise something first and keep this promise.
10+: Success, you get your deal but you must promise something first. It is up to you if you keep your word or not.

OK, so I realize a bit of these rules make no sense without the other rules but I'm just wondering if you spot anything missing if the players are 20ft Giants ravaging peasants in 17th century England?