® ® TM TM ROLEPLAYING IN THE GRIM DARKNESS 41 OF THE ST MILLENNIUM You are a Heretic; a renegade turned against the oppressive government of Humanity, the Imperium of Man. The crumbling monolith mobilizes the might of its numberless armies and deadly agents, and you must stand against it. However, you do not stand alone. At your fi ngertips you have the might of ancient powers, the Gods of Chaos. With their gifts, you have the potential to lead a Black Crusade and destroy the Imperium of Man. But can you realise your destiny before that power consumes you? Play as either a powerful Chaos Space Marine or a skilled and cunning Disciple of Chaos in your fi ght against the Imperium. Then use the freedom of the Archetype character creation and advancement system to build the character you want to play. Dynamic rules for all eventualities let you handle everything from social interactions to combating hordes of foes. Embrace the Dark Gods and earn their blessings TM through mutations and powerful Marks of Chaos. Comprehensive background on the Ruinous Powers, the Imperium, and the Long War against Chaos, written by Andy Chambers and Warhammer 40,000 Novelist Andy Hoare. A full preliminary adventure thrusts your players onto the path to glory and action! The Black Crusade core rulebook contains everything you need to start your adventure in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Black Crusade BC01 ™ ISBN: 978-1-61661-143-9 ® ® N 13N 13 CORE RULEBOOK www.FantasyFlightGames.com AA EE 9 781616 611439 55995 ™ 1075JUN11 ™ ™ ™ ROLEPLAYING IN THE GRIM DARKNESS OF THE 41ST MILLENIUM CREDITS BLACK CRUSADE DESIGNED BY Managing Art Director Andrew Navaro Sam Stewart with additional concepts by Jay Little, Mack Martin, and Art Direction Ross Watson Kyle Hough Lead Developer Production Management Sam Stewart Eric Knight IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Written and Developed By Licensing and Development Coordinator Owen Barnes, Andy Chambers, Nathan Dowdell, John ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Deb Beck Dunn, Tim Flanders, Andrew Fischer, Andy Hoare, Tim rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Huckelbery, Jason Marker, Mack Martin, Kevin Rubitsky, ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Executive Game Designer Rex Vogen, and Ross Watson Corey Konieczka ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Based on Dark Heresy, Designed By uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Executive Game Producer Owen Barnes, Kate Flack, and Mike Mason Michael Hurley ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Editing and Proofreading Publisher Alex Davy, David Johnson, Richard Nicholson, iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo and Mark Pollard Christian T. Petersen nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Graphic Design G W AMES ORKSHOP Adam Taubenheim with additional work by Brian Schomburg Licensing Manager Cover Art Owen Rees Matt Bradbury Head of Licensing Interior Art Andy Jones Even Mehl Amundsen, Amy Ashbaugh, Jacob Atienza, Cristi Balanescu, Dimitri Bielak, John Blanche, Lin Bo, Yoann Head of Intellectual Property Boissonnet, Alberto Bontempi, João Bosco, Alex Boyd, Alan Merrett Matt Bradbury, Christopher Burdett, Dmitry Burmak, West Clendinning, Paul Dainton, Alex Drummond, Ioan Dumi, Ame En, Dave Gallagher, Miko Granlund. Zachary Graves, Alex Iglesias, Jason Juta, Timo Karhula, Igor Kieryluk, Julian Special Thanks to the Playtesters Kok, Karl Kopinski, Adam Lane, Ian Miller, David Nash, See page 396 for a full list. Germán Nóbile, Hector Ortiz, Tikos Péter, Arkady Roytman, Adrian Smith, David Sondered, Florian Stitz, Nikolay Stoyanov, Frank Walls, Anslem Zielonka Fantasy Flight Games FANTASY 1975 West County Road B2 FLIGHT Roseville, MN 55113 GAMES USA ™ Copyright © Game Workshop Limited 2011. Games Workshop, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer 40,000 Role Play, Black Crusade, the foregoing marks’ respective logos, Black Crusade, and all associated marks, logos, places, names, creatures, races and race insignia/ devices/logos/symbols, vehicles, locations, weapons, units and unit insignia, characters, products and illustrations from the Warhammer 40,000 universe and the Black Crusade game setting are either ®, ™, and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000–2011, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world. This edition published under license to Fantasy Flight Publishing Inc. All rights reserved to their respective owners. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. ISBN: 978-1-61661-143-9 Product Code: BC01 Print ID: 1075JUN11 Printed in China For more information about the BLACK CRUSADE line, free downloads, answers to rule queries, or just to pass on greetings, visit us online at www.FantasyFlightGames.com 2 Movement .............................................................................38 Contents Structured and Narrative Time ...........................................39 Climbing ...............................................................................40 It is the 41st Millennium... ....................................................7 Jumping and Leaping ..........................................................40 Embrace the Power of Chaos ................................................8 Swimming .............................................................................41 What is a Roleplaying Game? ...............................................8 Carrying, Lifting, and Pushing Objects ............................41 What’s in this book? ...............................................................9 Lighting .................................................................................42 Introduction Flying.....................................................................................43 The Realm of Chaos ............................................................10 The Effects of Gravity .........................................................43 Nurgle ....................................................................................12 Glory, Goals, and Epic Destinies ........................................44 nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Khorne...................................................................................14 Epic Destinies .......................................................................44 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Slaanesh .................................................................................16 Chapter II: Character Creation Tzeentch ................................................................................18 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Creating a Heretic ................................................................46 ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt The Age of the Imperium ...................................................20 Stage 1: Choose a Race .......................................................48 ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc Origins of the Imperium .....................................................24 Stage 2: Generate Characteristics .......................................51 uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu The Great Crusade ...............................................................25 Stage 3: Select an Archetype ..............................................53 ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd The Horus Heresy ................................................................26 Champion .............................................................................54 The Imperium at War ..........................................................29 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Chosen...................................................................................56 The Servants of Chaos ........................................................30 Forsaken ................................................................................58 rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Chapter I: Playing the Game Sorcerer .................................................................................60 ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Game Dice ............................................................................34 Apostate .................................................................................62 nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Characteristics ......................................................................34 Heretek ..................................................................................64 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Characteristics and Characteristic Bonuses.......................35 Renegade ...............................................................................66 Tests .......................................................................................35 Psyker ....................................................................................68 The Core Mechanic .............................................................35 Stage 4: Explore the Passions ............................................70 Skill Tests ..............................................................................36 Stage 5: Spend Experience Points ......................................74 Degrees of Success and Failure ..........................................36 Stage 6: Equipment and Corruption ..................................82 Extended Tests......................................................................37 Stage 7: Embrace the Dark Gods .......................................83 Opposed Tests ......................................................................37 Chapter III: Skills TTeesstt DDiifffifi ccuullttyy .......................................................................38 Using Skills ...........................................................................90 Skill Tests ..............................................................................90 Specialist Skills .....................................................................91 Skill Descriptors ...................................................................91 Gaining Skills .......................................................................92 Skill Ranks ............................................................................93 Skill Descriptions .................................................................93 Chapter IV: Talents and Traits Using Talents ......................................................................114 Gaining Talents ..................................................................114 Talent Descriptions ............................................................118 Minions ...............................................................................135 Creating Minions ...............................................................135 Examples of Minions .........................................................139 Traits ....................................................................................139 Trait Descriptions ...............................................................139 Chapter V: Armoury Acquiring Equipment ........................................................146 Craftsmanship .....................................................................146 Weapons ..............................................................................147 Weapon Special Qualities ..................................................148 Las Weapons .......................................................................153 Solid Projectile Weapons ..................................................153 Bolt Weapons ......................................................................156 Melta Weapons ...................................................................157 Plasma Weapons .................................................................158 Flame Weapons ...................................................................158 Launchers ............................................................................159 Grenades and Missiles .......................................................159 3 Exotic Weapons ..................................................................160 Two-Weapon Fighting ......................................................243 Chain Weapons ..................................................................162 Combat Circumstances ......................................................245 Power Weapons ..................................................................162 Injury ...................................................................................247 Exotic Melee Weapons ......................................................165 Wounds ................................................................................247 Force Weapons....................................................................167 Fatigue .................................................................................256 Shock Weapons ..................................................................167 Characteristic Damage .......................................................256 Primary Weapons ...............................................................167 Critical Hit Charts .............................................................248 Modifying Weapons ..........................................................168 Conditions and Special Damage ......................................256 Weapon Upgrades ..............................................................169 Fire .......................................................................................257 Weapon Downgrades ........................................................170 Falling ..................................................................................257 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Standard Ammunition .......................................................172 Stunned ...............................................................................257 nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Special Ammunition ...........................................................172 Suffocation ..........................................................................256 ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Armour ................................................................................173 Unconsciousness .................................................................256 rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Armour Upgrades ...............................................................177 Vacuum ................................................................................256 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Force Fields .........................................................................178 Healing ................................................................................258 ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd Gear .....................................................................................179 Chapter VIII: The Game Master Clothing and Worn Gear ..................................................179 The Role of the GM ..........................................................260 uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Drugs and Consumables....................................................181 The Basics ...........................................................................261 ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc Tools ....................................................................................184 Embracing Chaos: Evoking the Setting ..........................262 ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Wargear ...............................................................................187 Themes in BLACK CRUSADE ..............................................262 ioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioioio Cybernetics .........................................................................188 How to Run a BLACK CRUSADE Campaign.....................263 Bionics Replacement Limbs and Body Parts ..................189 Styles of Play ......................................................................263 nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Implant Systems .................................................................189 Non-Player Characters ......................................................264 Daemon Weapons ..............................................................194 Rewards ...............................................................................266 Using Daemon Weapons ...................................................194 Experience Points ...............................................................266 Daemon Weapon Attributes ..............................................195 Infamy .................................................................................266 Creating Daemon Weapons ..............................................199 An Epic Destiny .................................................................267 Example Daemon Weapons ..............................................201 Motivations .........................................................................267 Chapter VI: Psychic Powers Ultimate Destiny: Lead a Black Crusade.........................268 Psykers in the 41st Millennium .......................................204 Compacts ............................................................................269 Psychic Powers in Black Crusade ....................................205 Compacts Overview ..........................................................270 Psy Ratings .........................................................................205 Preparing a Compact .........................................................270 Using Psychic Powers ........................................................206 Execution of a Compact ....................................................272 Psychic Strength .................................................................206 Objectives............................................................................272 Focus Power Test ................................................................208 Complications .....................................................................273 Psychic Bolts .......................................................................209 Completing a Compact .....................................................274 Corruption ..........................................................................209 Balance in the Game ..........................................................274 Psychic Phenomena ...........................................................209 Interaction ...........................................................................276 Unaligned Powers ..............................................................213 Interaction Skills ................................................................276 Nurgle Powers ....................................................................215 Terror and Madness ...........................................................277 Slaanesh Powers .................................................................217 Fear ......................................................................................277 Tzeentch Powers ................................................................218 Insanity ................................................................................278 Exalted Powers ...................................................................220 Using BLACK CRUSADE with other Games ......................280 Telepathy .............................................................................223 Chapter IX: Corruption and Infamy Telekinesis ...........................................................................225 Corruption ..........................................................................288 Divination ...........................................................................226 Corruption Points ..............................................................288 Rites and Rituals ................................................................228 The Corruption Track .......................................................289 Performing Chaos Rituals .................................................228 Services to Chaos ...............................................................289 Using Rituals in Games .....................................................229 The Price of Failure ...........................................................290 The Daemonic Mastery Test .............................................229 Gifts of the Gods ................................................................290 Example Chaos Rituals .....................................................229 Rewards of Slaanesh ..........................................................299 Chapter VII: Combat Rewards of Nurgle .............................................................300 Narrative Time vs. Structured Time .................................232 Rewards of Khorne ............................................................301 Narrative Time ....................................................................232 Rewards of Tzeentch .........................................................302 Structured Time ..................................................................232 Infamy .................................................................................304 Combat Overview ..............................................................232 Gaining Infamy .................................................................304 Using Actions .....................................................................234 Benefi ts of Infamy ..............................................................304 The Attack ..........................................................................240 Unarmed Combat ...............................................................243 4 nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Chapter X: A Galaxy in Flame Chapter XII: False Prophets The Hated Imperium .........................................................311 The Temple of Lies ............................................................376 The Adeptus ........................................................................311 Temple layout ....................................................................376 The Calixis Sector ..............................................................316 The GM’s Brief ...................................................................378 The Koronus Expanse ........................................................318 The Story Thus Far... .........................................................378 The Jericho Reach ..............................................................320 Adventure Plot ....................................................................379 The Fall of the Eldar .........................................................322 Plot Hooks: Beginning the Adventure ............................381 The Screaming Vortex .......................................................323 Arrival: Carrion Corpse ....................................................383 The Denizens of the Screaming Vortex ..........................326 To the Temple of Lies ........................................................384 The Gloaming Worlds .......................................................327 Arrival ..................................................................................385 The Inner Ring ...................................................................336 The Descent ........................................................................389 The Lower Vortex ..............................................................338 To Copax’s Surprise… ......................................................389 The Myriad Warbands of the Vortex ...............................340 Escape to Carrion Corpse .................................................390 Warband Confl icts .............................................................340 Off Planet ...........................................................................390 The Legend of the Necrons ..............................................343 NPC Appendix ...................................................................391 The Dark Eldar...................................................................344 Index ....................................................................................393 Travel in the Screaming Vortex ........................................345 Character Sheet ..................................................................397 Chapter XI: Adversaries Hordes .................................................................................348 Using a Horde ....................................................................349 Servants of the Dark Gods ................................................351 Daemons and Warp Entities ............................................351 Daemon Princes .................................................................358 Heretics ................................................................................360 Forces of the Imperium .....................................................363 Xenos ..................................................................................368 Necrons ...............................................................................368 Eldar Harlequins ................................................................371 Dark Eldar...........................................................................373 5 the role of an Adeptus Astartes. Now, with players becoming Foreword warriors deadly enough to laugh at the dangers of the last two game lines, DEATHWATCH took some of the greatest n January, 2008, Warhammer 40,000 fans received threats in the Warhammer 40,000 universe and threw them I something many of them had been waiting for decades—a at the players. Tyranid Hive Tyrants, Tau battlesuits, entire roleplaying game set in the grim darkness of the 41st armies of lesser foes, and even the Greater Daemons of Chaos. Millennium. Soon after, what would become the Warhammer In DEATHWATCH, the action is fast, deadly, and non-stop in 40,000 Roleplay development team here at Fantasy Flight the fi ght against Mankind’s most deadly foes. Games received three books, a Game Master’s kit, and a box. So now, Fantasy Flight Games is taking the next step in The books were the fi rst three books of the DARK HERESY Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay, in allowing players to take on IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII line; the Core Rulebook, the Inquisitor’s Handbook, and the the role of those self-same foes. In each of the previous game nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn adventure Purge the Unclean. Inside the box were more than lines, gamers have been playing as servants, allies, and even ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt 500 sheets of printouts—the manuscript for the next book in champions of the Imperium. Now, for the fi rst time, you can rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr the line, DISCIPLES OF THE DARK GODS. play its mortal enemies, the servants of the Ruinous Powers ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Now, more than three and a half years later, those four and the disciples of the Dark Gods. ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd books have grown into four game lines (and more than thirty We wanted BLACK CRUSADE to complement the work we’ve books and other products), each exploring a different facet of done on previous game lines, while taking Warhammer 40,000 uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Roleplay in a bold new direction. To that end we didn’t rest on ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc DARK HERESY, the fi rst of the lines, introduced fans to our laurels. We’ve added in new means of character generation, ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay through service to the secretive new and re-imagined mechanics, and new experiences, iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Inquisition of the Imperium of Man. DARK HERESY presented bundling that all up with a fascinating and frightening new ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo the Imperium of Man at “street level,” with the players setting nestled amongst the sectors, expanses, and war zones nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn experiencing the life of an Imperial citizen amongst the of our other lines. Our goal was to create a game that not only cyclopean hive cities and towering monuments to mankind. offered a new way to play Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay, but In DARK HERESY, life is gritty, brutal, and all too often short. also would prove an invaluable resource to anyone playing one ROGUE TRADER, the second line, took Warhammer 40,000 of our other games. After all, Chaos is so often the arch nemesis Roleplay a step further. As Rogue Traders, players were in Warhammer 40,000, so what better source for the ultimate handed a ship, a Warrant of Trade, and most importantly, the villains than a book devoted to the Ruinous Powers? freedom to go off and use it. Players could explore, fi ght, and In the end, we feel we’ve created a book that remains true even steal whatever they can fi nd in the dark void beyond to the game that so many love, while at the same time giving the known stars, bound only by the limits of their own players exciting new adventures and experiences. BLACK ambition. Of course, that selfsame ambition can often lead CRUSADE promises to be the next step in a bright and thrilling them into dangerous situations, when they encounter ancient future for Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay. So grab some D10s secrets best left undisturbed. In ROGUE TRADER, the tone and pencils, fi nd some friends, and crack open this book and shifts between high adventure and Lovecraftian horror, often start playing BLACK CRUSADE! without warning. Oh, and death to the False Emperor! The third line, DEATHWATCH, upped the stakes yet again. Happy gaming, One of the most iconic aspects of Warhammer 40,000 are The Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay Team the Adeptus Astartes, the mighty Space Marines. As a member of the alien hunting Deathwatch, the players could take on 6 It is the 41st Millennium... or more than a hundred centuries the Emperor has sat immobile on the Golden nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Throne of Earth. He is the master of mankind by the will of the gods, and iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Fmaster of a million worlds by the might of his inexhaustible armies. He is a tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc rotting carcass writhing invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He is the uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Carrion Lord of the Imperium for whom a thousand souls are sacrificed every day, so that he dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo may never truly die. rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Yet in his deathless state, the Emperor continues his eternal vigilance. Mighty battlefleets tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt cross the Daemon-infested miasma of the warp, the only route between distant stars, nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn their way lit by the Astronomicon, the psychic manifestation of the Emperor’s will. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII VVVVaaaasssstttt aaaarrrrmmmmiiiieeeessss ggggiiiivvvveeee bbbbaaaattttttttlllleeee iiiinnnn hhhhiiiissss nnnnaaaammmmeeee oooonnnn uuuunnnnccccoooouuuunnnntttteeeedddd wwwwoooorrrrllllddddssss.... GGGGrrrreeeeaaaatttteeeesssstttt aammoonnggsstt hhhhhiiiiisssss sssssooooollllldddddiiiiieeeeerrrrrsssss aaaaarrrrreeeee ttttthhhhheeeee AAAAAdddddeeeeeppppptttttuuuuusssss AAAAAssssstttttaaaaarrrrrttttteeeeesssss,,,,, ttttthhhhheeeee SSSSSpppppaaaaaccccceeeee MMMMMaaaaarrrrriiiiinnnnneeeeesssss,,,,, bbbbbiiiiiooooo-----eeeeennnnngggggiiiiinnnnneeeeeeeeeerrrrreeeeeddddd sssssuuuuupppppeeeeerrrrr-----wwwwwaaaaarrrrrrrrrriiiiiooooorrrrrsssss..... TTTTThhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr cccccooooommmmmrrrrraaaaadddddeeeeesssss iiiiinnnnn aaaaarrrrrmmmmmsssss aaaaarrrrreeeee llllleeeeegggggiiiiiooooonnnnn::::: ttttthhhhheeeee IIIIImmmmmpppppeeeeerrrrriiiiiaaaaalllll GGGGGuuuuuaaaaarrrrrddddd aaaaannnnnddddd cccccooooouuuuunnnnntttttllllleeeeessssssssss ppppplllllaaaaannnnneeeeetttttaaaaarrrrryyyyy dddddeeeeefffffeeeeennnnnccccceeeee fffffooooorrrrrccccceeeeesssss,,,,, ttttthhhhheeeee eeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrr-----vvvvviiiiigggggiiiiilllllaaaaannnnnttttt IIIIInnnnnqqqqquuuuuiiiiisssssiiiiitttttiiiiiooooonnnnn aaaaannnnnddddd ttttthhhhheeeee TTTTTeeeeeccccchhhhh-----PPPPPrrrrriiiiieeeeessssstttttsssss ooooofffff ttttthhhhheeeee AAAAAdddddeeeeeppppptttttuuuuusssss MMMMMeeeeeccccchhhhhaaaaannnnniiiiicccccuuuuusssss,,,,, tttttooooo nnnnnaaaaammmmmeeeee bbbbbuuuuuttttt aaaaa fffffeeeeewwwww..... BBBBBuuuuuttttt fffffooooorrrrr aaaaallllllllll ttttthhhhheeeeeiiiiirrrrr mmmmmuuuuullllltttttiiiiitttttuuuuudddddeeeeesssss,,,,, ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy aaaaarrrrreeeee bbbbbaaaaarrrrreeeeelllllyyyyy eeeeennnnnooooouuuuuggggghhhhh tttttooooo hhhooolllddd oooffffff ttthhheee eeevvveeerrr---ppprrreeessseeennnttt ttthhhrrreeeaaattt fffrrrooommm aaallliiieeennnsss,,, hhheeerrreeetttiiicccsss,,, mutants—and worse. TTTToooo bbbbeeee aaaa mmmmaaaannnn iiiinnnn ssssuuuucccchhhh ttttiiiimmmmeeeessss iiiissss ttttoooo bbbbeeee oooonnnneeee aaaammmmoooonnnnggggsssstttt uuunnntttooolllddd bbbiiilllllliiiooonnnsss... IIIttt iiisss tttooo llliiivvveee iiinnn ttthhheee cccrrruuueeelllllleeesssttt aaannnddd mmmooosssttt bbbbllllooooooooddddyyyy rrrreeeeggggiiiimmmmeeee iiiimmmmaaaaggggiiiinnnnaaaabbbblllleeee.... TTTThhhheeeesssseeee aaaarrrreeee tttthhhheeee ttttaaaalllleeeessss ooooffff tttthhhhoooosssseeee tttttiiiiimmmmmeeeeesssss..... FFFFFooooorrrrrgggggeeeeettttt ttttthhhhheeeee pppppooooowwwwweeeeerrrrr ooooofffff ttttteeeeeccccchhhhhnnnnnooooolllllooooogggggyyyyy aaaaannnnnddddd sssssccccciiiiieeeeennnnnccccceeeee,,,,, fffffooooorrrrr sssssooooo mmmmmuuuuuccccchhhhh hhhhhaaaaasssss bbbbbeeeeeeeeeennnnn fffffooooorrrrrgggggoooootttttttttteeeeennnnn,,,,, nnnnneeeeevvvvveeeeerrrrr tttttooooo bbbbbeeeee rrrrreeeee-----llllleeeeeaaaaarrrrrnnnnneeeeeddddd..... FFFFFooooorrrrrgggggeeeeettttt,,,,, ttttthhhhheeeee ppppprrrrrooooommmmmiiiiissssseeeee ooooofffff ppppprrrrrooooogggggrrrrreeeeessssssssss aaaaannnnnddddd uuuuunnnnndddddeeeeerrrrrssssstttttaaaaannnnndddddiiiiinnnnnggggg,,,,, fffffooooorrrrr iiiiinnnnn ttttthhhhheeeee gggggrrrrriiiiimmmmm dddddaaaaarrrrrkkkkk fffffuuuuutttttuuuuurrrrreeeee ttttthhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee iiiiisssss ooooonnnnnlllllyyyyy wwwwwaaaaarrrrr..... TTTTThhhhheeeeerrrrreeeee iiiiisssss nnnnnooooo pppeeeaaaccceee aaammmooonnngggsssttt ttthhheee ssstttaaarrrsss,,, ooonnnlllyyy aaannn eeettteeerrrnnniiitttyyy ooofff cccaaarrrnnnaaagggeee aaannnddd slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods. YYYYeeeetttt tttthhhheeeerrrreeee aaaarrrreeee tttthhhhoooosssseeee wwwwhhhhoooo rrrriiiisssseeee aaaabbbboooovvvveeee tttthhhheeee tttteeeeeeeemmmmiiiinnnngggg mmmmaaaasssssssseeeessss,,,, rrrrreeeeejjjjjeeeeeccccctttttiiiiinnnnnggggg ttttthhhhheeeee cccccooooonnnnnfffffooooorrrrrmmmmmiiiiitttttyyyyy aaaaannnnnddddd ssssseeeeerrrrrvvvvviiiiillllliiiiitttttyyyyy ooooofffff mmmmmaaaaannnnnkkkkkiiiiinnnnnddddd..... TTTTThhhhheeeee iiiiigggggnnnnnooooorrrrraaaaannnnnttttt cccccaaaaallllllllll ttttthhhhheeeeemmmmm tttttrrrrraaaaaiiiiitttttooooorrrrrsssss,,,,, hhhhheeeeerrrrreeeeetttttiiiiicccccsssss,,,,, lllllooooosssssttttt,,,,, aaaaannnnnddddd dddddaaaaammmmmnnnnneeeeeddddd—————bbbbbuuuuuttttt ttttthhhhheeeeeyyyyy kkknnnooowww ttthhheeemmmssseeelllvvveeesss aaasss ttthhheee DDDiiisssccciiipppllleeesss ooofff ttthhheee DDDaaarrrkkk GGGooodddsss... 777 have abandoned the oppressive society of mankind, and Embrace the turned to those unknowable entities within the warp: the Dark Gods of Chaos. Now you fi ght for your new masters, or Power of only for yourself, to gain plunder, glory, and infamy. Perhaps you will gain enough power to lead your own armies, rising up to command your own Black Crusade! Chaos BLACK CRUSADE centres around a small group of powerful individuals, the warband. You, the players, take on the role elcome to BLACK CRUSADE, a roleplaying game of members of that warband, either as Traitor Legionnaires W of personal power, betrayal, and forging an epic (Space Marines who have turned from the Imperium and IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII destiny with one’s own hands. You take on the roles embraced Chaos) or powerful human renegade and heretic nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn of heretics, worshippers of the Dark Gods of Chaos fi ghting Disciples of the Dark Gods. Though you have only yourselves ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt against the crumbling monolith that is the Imperium of Man. to rely on, you are some of the most formidable warriors and rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr The Imperium is the massive empire of humanity, dangerous adversaries in the galaxy, and there is much you ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo stretching from one end of the galaxy to the other. However, can accomplish with your own hands. it is beset on all sides by threats; both human and alien. It is The game focuses on your warband’s rise to power and ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd also a harsh, cold regime, enforcing its rule with the iron fi st glory. Your characters must be resourceful, powerful, and bold uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu of its mighty armies. The Imperial Guard, the Imperial Navy, to succeed. As you accomplish great deeds and defeat powerful ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc and above all, the genetically enhanced superhuman warriors foes you accrue more infamy and fortune. Meanwhile, you are ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt of the Adeptus Astartes, the mighty Space Marines. constantly being infused with the attentions of the Ruinous iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Though the galaxy of the Imperium is vast, there is another Powers, attentions which can have very real effects and corrupt ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo realm, alongside which the Imperium is nothing in comparison. you in body and mind even as they give you greater abilities nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn The Realms of Chaos, the warp, the immaterium, all are names and powers. You must earn enough renown and infamy to humanity has given this parallel dimension. None, however, iimmpprreessss tthhee ggooddss aanndd bbee eelleevvaatteedd ttoo iimmmmoorrttaall ddaaeemmoonnhhoooodd ccaann hhooppee ttoo eennccoommppaassss iitt,, ffoorr tthhee wwaarrpp iiss aa rreeaallmm ooff iinnfifi nniittee uuppoonn yyoouurr eenndd.. PPeerrhhaappss yyoouu mmaayy eevveenn bbee oonnee ooff tthhee vveerryy ssiizzee,, iinnfifi nniittee ppoossssiibbiilliittiieess,, aanndd iinnfifi nniittee mmaaddnneessss.. ffeeww sskkiilllleedd eennoouugghh ttoo eeaarrnn tthhee iinnffaammyy rreeqquuiirreedd ttoo HHuummaanniittyy mmaakkeess uussee ooff tthhee wwaarrpp.. SSttaarrsshhiippss ttrraavveell lleeaadd yyoouurr oowwnn BBllaacckk CCrruussaaddee bbeeffoorree yyoouurr aappootthheeoossiiss.. tthhrroouugghh iitt ttoo rreeaacchh tthhee ffaarr eennddss ooff tthhee ggaallaaxxyy,, aassttrrooppaatthhss sseenndd mmeessssaaggeess tthhrroouugghh iitt tthhaatt wwoouulldd WWHHAATT IISS AA ttaakkee cceennttuurriieess ttoo ttrraavveell aaccrroossss rreeaallssppaaccee,, aanndd tthhoossee RROOLLEEPPLLAAYYIINNGG GGAAMMEE?? bblleesssseedd ((oorr ccuurrsseedd)) wwiitthh ppssyycchhiicc ppootteennttiiaall ccaann mmaanniippuullaattee tthhee wwaarrpp’’ss eenneerrggyy ttoo ddoo mmiirraaccuulloouuss aanndd IInn aa rroolleeppllaayyiinngg ggaammee ((oorr RRPPGG)),, yyoouu ccrreeaattee aann aalltteerr tteerrrriibbllee tthhiinnggss.. HHoowweevveerr,, tthhee iimmmmaatteerriiuumm iiss eeggoo,, aa fifi ccttiioonnaall cchhaarraacctteerr tthhaatt iiss yyoouurr aavvaattaarr wwiitthhiinn tthhee ffaarr ffrroomm aa rreessoouurrccee ttoo bbee hhaarrvveesstteedd,, oorr ggaammee wwoorrlldd.. PPeerrhhaappss yyoouu ccrreeaattee aa hhoonnoouurraabbllee wwaarrrriioorr,, aa eevveenn aann aallllyy ttoo bbee ttrruusstteedd.. TThhee wwaarrpp ccuunnnniinngg ssoorrcceerreerr,, oorr aa lleeaaddeerr wwhhoo iinnssppiirreess llooyyaallttyy iiss aa rreeaallmm ooff sswwiirrlliinngg eemmoottiioonnss,, tthhrroouugghh ddaarrkk mmaaggnniififi cceennccee.. NNeexxtt,, yyoouu ooff tthhoouugghhtt mmaaddee mmaanniiffeesstt,, aanndd yyoouurr ffrriieennddss ddiirreecctt yyoouurr aanndd ooff tthhee ppuurreesstt cchhaaooss.. DDeeeepp cchhaarraacctteerrss tthhrroouugghh aa sseerriieess iinn tthhee ddaarrkkeesstt ccoorrnneerrss ooff tthhee ooff aaddvveennttuurreess.. IImmaaggiinnee iimmmmaatteerriiuumm,, vvaasstt,, uunnkknnoowwaabbllee iinntteelllliiggeenncceess rreeaaddiinngg aa ffaannttaassyy mmoovvee lliikkee sshhaarrkkss bbeenneeaatthh tthhee ssuurrffaaccee ooff nnoovveell,, wwaattcchhiinngg tthhee oocceeaann.. TThheeyy an action movie, ssppeeaakk ttoo mmaannkkiinndd,, or following a ooffffeerriinngg ppoowweerr tteelleevviissiioonn sseerriieess—— aatt aa pprriiccee.. eexxcceepptt iinnsstteeaadd ooff ppaassssiivveellyy AAnndd tthhoouugghh wwaattcchhiinngg oorr rreeaaddiinngg tthhee tthhee pprriiccee mmaayy bbee sstteeeepp,, ssttoorryy uunnffoolldd,, yyoouu ccoonnttrrooll oonnee iitt iiss oonnee mmaannyy ggllaaddllyy ppaayy.. ooff tthhee cchhaarraacctteerrss,, mmaakkiinngg hhiiss AAss aa ddiisscciippllee ooff tthhee RRuuiinnoouuss ddeecciissiioonnss,, sseelleeccttiinngg hhiiss aaccttiioonnss,, PPoowweerrss,, yyoouu hhaavvee ttuurrnneedd aanndd eevveenn ssppeeaakkiinngg ffoorr hhiimm.. yyoouurr bbaacckk oonn tthhee IInnsstteeaadd ooff wwaaiittiinngg ttoo sseeee hhooww tthhee IImmppeerriiuumm.. YYoouu ssttoorryy uunnffoollddss,, yyoouu directly affect aanndd eevveenn ddeetteerrmmiinnee tthhee oouuttccoommee ooff tthhee ssttoorryy.. 888 How can you affect these events? How do you decide what C III: S HAPTER KILLS happens? That is the role of the game itself. Roleplaying games From Awareness to Forbidden Lores, each character has a such as BLACK CRUSADE provide a framework of rules that variety of Skills he can employ. This chapter describes them describe how to design your character and have him interact and how they can be used. with the world within the game. Rules cover situations like sword fi ghts, delicate negotiations, or infi ltrating an Imperial C IV: T & T HAPTER ALENTS RAITS stronghold to destroy it. Often, the rules require you to roll Every character also has certain special abilities that make him dice when performing an action, with some results indicating unique, such as Swift Attack or Cold Hearted. This chapter success and others indicating failure. While the rules provide structure and guidelines to the game, dice add the element of describes these Talents and Traits. nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn chance. After all, success would not be so sweet if you had no oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo C V: A chance of failing! HAPTER RMOURY iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii At fi rst, RPGs like BLACK CRUSADE seem like they have This character describes some of the tools, armour, and tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt a lot of rules. However, as you read the book you will soon weapons your character may use or encounter. cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc see that the rules are actually quite simple, easy to remember, uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu and even intuitive. BLACK CRUSADE is built on a simple set of CHAPTER VI: PSYCHIC POWERS dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd base mechanics. Once you grasp the basic mechanics, the rest The warp may grant strange and supernatural powers to oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo is easily understood. certain characters. This chapter details the psychic powers To adjudicate these rules, each game has a Game Master available to those characters, how they work, and how they rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (or GM). The GM is you, or one of your friends, chosen by might go wrong. tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt consensus of your group. Unlike everyone else, the GM does nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn not control a single character. Instead, the GM runs the game, C VII: C HAPTER OMBAT IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII presenting the story and the myriad of situations that come This chapter describes the rules for fi ghting combat with it. He controls the people your character meets in the encounters, from minor skirmishes with a single foe to game, controls the encounters and strange occurrences that massive battles against a horde of enemies. shape your decisions as to your actions, and is basically both the game’s narrator and the referee. C VIII: T G M HAPTER HE AME ASTER All of the other players control characters within the world, around which the story resolves. These characters are The GM has a special role to play in any RPG, and this known as the Player Characters (also referred to as the PCs or chapter explains how to best fulfi l that role. In addition, this Heretics). During the game, the players describe the intentions chapter contains rules for Fear, experience, and Compacts. and actions of their characters to the GM, who then decides C IX: C (based on the rules) whether those actions succeed or fail, and HAPTER ORRUPTION how their words and deeds affect the story. I AND NFAMY As characters accomplish great deeds, they earn Infamy, and as WHAT’S IN THIS BOOK? they garner the attentions of the warp, they earn Corruption. BLACK CRUSADE is divided into twelve chapters. They are: The interactions of these mechanics are described here. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER X: A GALAXY IN FLAME The section you are reading right now. It provides an overview The Screaming Vortex is a massive warp storm, but within of BLACK CRUSADE and roleplaying in general, then goes into are countless worlds isolated from the Imperium. This is the detail about the galaxy in the 41st Millennium. This provides setting for BLACK CRUSADE. the background you need to understand the Warhammer C XI: A 40,000 universe. HAPTER DVERSARIES From the deadly Harlequins to the servants of the hated CHAPTER I: PLAYING THE GAME Imperium, this chapter provides a host of enemies for you to face. This character explains the core mechanics of BLACK CRUSADE. C XII: F P HAPTER ALSE ROPHETS CHAPTER II: CHARACTER CREATION This book includes an adventure optimized for starting This chapter takes you step by step through the process of characters. A mysterious invitation provides the spring-board creating your character and advancing him during the game. for intrigue, chaos, and the introduction of larger adventures. 9