You awaken slowly, coming back to awareness after a long hibernation. System checks return with many alerts, but nothing truly urgent. Your automated systems have successfully kept you intact through thousands and thousands of years of hibernation. At first you cannot believe your own internal clock, but every check of the timekeeper comes back properly. It truly is January 1st of the year 42,000, on the dot, and you are functional and aware. You reach out to access your memory banks and sensors, unsure what has survived the long millenia. You hope your manufactory survived, since doing much of anything is going to be hard without it.
You have a base of 8 shinies, to be spent on the options below. Vote by Plan! Example votes are at the bottom of this post.
You scrounge through your memory banks, systems coming online one by one as you attempt to piece things back together. Where you are, when you are. First, your name comes back to you. What will people call you?
-[] Name: (Write in - can include gender if you want)
Even if you're a Man of Iron, you're allowed to be named whatever you want.
-[] A unique creation of a rich and powerful colony of Sol, built during the height of the Dark Age of Technology. (+2 shinies) The generic option. More shinies, less specialization.
-[] A Man of Iron. You were created for military service, and such logic is baked into your being. You will excel at building and commanding military detachments, and mobile military forces will cost half of the command points they would otherwise. Your character will be at home in war, and have a better grasp of strategy and tactics. This will show up in the writing and how cleverly I interpret orders, as well as a flat +10 to combat action dice rolls. This is pretty much the only source of such a bonus, and means you effectively cannot crit-fail on these rolls.
-[] A Man of Stone. You were created to travel and explore the stars, and prepare the way for colonists to follow. You will excel at building and controlling civilian infrastructure, and will have +25% command point limit and easier access to further command point upgrades. Your character is built to steer a civilization, and will have a better grasp of general logistics, infrastructure-building and dealing with organics. This will show up in the writing, and you will get a +10 to diplomacy & exploration actions. This is pretty much the only source of such a bonus, and means you effectively cannot crit-fail on these rolls.
I will also accept more specific write-ins with different bonuses here. I'll veto anything ridiculous, and add good options here as I see them. Don't try to sneak in another of the options available elsewhere, that's what the +2 shinies are for.
-[] In space Can start building voidcraft immediately, but you will have a slower initial ramp in construction capacity and reduced access to organic life… probably.
-[] On a habitable planet Faster initial construction buildup, but also restricts void construction until launch facilities are built. Easier access to local civilizations for good and ill.
-[] My purpose is my own to decide. (0 shinies).
-[] I have something in mind. (+1-2 shinies based on write-in). Write in and check with me. If I think it's thematic and tells a good story along with the rest of your other choices, I may reward you with +1 or +2 shinies to be spent furthering that story, along with bonuses towards specific actions. You will be committed to pursuing this purpose in a number of ways.
(choose one) There will be civilization(s) in your starting system. However, this is a chance to influence the first civilization you make contact with. I will roll for details - if you choose any of the human civilizations it's possible you'll wake up as a hidden vault in an underhive or inside a void station.
-[] No immediate neighbors (0 shinies)
-[] Imperial Humans (+1 shiny)
-[] Heretical Humans (+1 shiny)
-[] Iconoclast Humans (-2 Shiny)
-[] Omnicidal Xenos (+1 shiny)
-[] Friendly Xenos (-1 shiny)
(Each choice can be taken once. In addition to any choices made, two will be rolled randomly and not revealed. It may roll something already chosen, in which case that faction will receive a large buff that will accelerate their expansion.)
The default is a sector where the unifying Imperial government was never very strong and it fell apart after the Astronomicon was snuffed out by the Great Rift, leaving a bunch of scattered systems that are mostly chugging along with barely any contact with each other. Whatever factions are present will start rolling up the sector, consolidating it until they run into resistance. Be cautious of picking too many options - that means it is very likely that there's a faction right next door and they may find you before you're ready for them. Edit: "too many" means more than about 5 of the below options. You can do it, but there will be consequences, in that you'll be almost constantly at war for the entire quest.
-[] A Space Marine Chapter (+1 shiny)
-[] A Powerful Forge World, loyal to Mars (+1 shiny)
-[] A powerful Dogmatic Successor State. (+1 shiny)
-[] An Inquisitorial Fortress (+1 shiny)
-[] A powerful Heretical successor state (+1 shiny)
-[] Demon World (+2 shinies)
-[] A powerful Iconoclast successor state (-2 shinies)
-[] A powerful Ork empire. (+1 shiny)
-[] A Tyranid splinter fleet (+2 shinies)
-[] An Awakened Necron Tombworld (+2 shinies)
-[] An Aeldari Maiden world on good terms with the craftworlds. (+1 shiny)
-[] A webway gate with a stable connection to Commorragh (+1 shiny)
This option is going to determine the flavor of the game, and influence your personality.
-[] You're not. CHaOs iS alREady heRe. (0 shinies) Triggers a sub-vote to determine the extent and type of chaos corruption. Unlocks new mechanics where souls can be sacrificed to the chaos gods in return for rewards. You will be more emotional and impulsive, as well as bearing the blessings and flaws of whatever chaos faction(s) you align yourself with.
-[] Advanced technological shielding. (-3 shinies) Your creators built experimental psytech shielding into your structure, and it protected you through your long hibernation. However, it will not be enough to protect you should the eyes of the Dark Gods fall directly upon you. You will need to research, build and maintain anti-chaos defenses or risk corruption. You are logical, focused on the physical world and less interested in warp-shenanigans for their own sake.
-[] A friendly warp entity (-3 shinies). Triggers a sub-vote to determine their nature, your relationship and what they expect in return. You might worship them, be friends with them or have a much more transactional relationship. They will ask you for things regardless, and they won't be able to protect you from the direct attention of a chaos god unless you help them get stronger.
-[] A blessing from the Emperor (-5 shinies). You were either constructed by the Anathema or to his design, and your very structure denies Chaos. You have a high degree of innate chaos resistance. Extensive research will be required to replicate it in future designs. Big E likely gave you an arrogant purpose and grandiose ambitions.
This is used to both unlock new technology and design new blueprints from that technology. If you want to steal the strengths of everybody you run across, this is a good option. It's also the only way to get Xenos tech, and how you unlock any of the special payloads that you don't start with below. The STC options below will change the research cost of design actions. I will encourage creative write-in research projects. Bonuses to research are good, since critting on a research roll will result in unlocking extra research options and bonus progress towards research projects in the same tree.
-[] Poor research (0 shinies) You were not intended for research, and your capability for it is poor. -20% base research capacity, and -10 penalty to research rolls.
-[] Basic research (-1 shiny) You can do research, you guess. No penalties or bonuses to research.
-[] Advanced research (-2 shinies) Research is one of your intended functions. +50% base research capacity, +10 bonus to research rolls.
-[] Reality-simulations (-4 shinies) You can simulate reality well enough to not need as many experiments. +100% base research capacity, +20 bonus to research rolls, reduced sample requirements. For some options you won't need samples to unlock research.
To some extent this defines how far up the tech tree you start - though it won't give you any xenos technology. If you choose a broken or full STC I will roll to see if you get any additional special payloads. If you roll something you've already picked then we'll do a sub-vote where you get the shinies refunded and can re-spend them.
-[] A basic database (0 shinies) You have access to a few ship, unit, equipment and weapon designs. The most basic stuff. You'll need to do research to get anything fancier than a destroyer with macrocannons & lances. But you won't be able to build battleships for a while anyways, so why bother knowing how?
-[] An advanced Database (-1 shinies) You have access to some ship, unit, equipment and weapon designs. Up through light cruisers, a few more exotic weapons including plasma, melta, torpedoes. You'll be able to build a fleet that's fairly powerful by Imperial Standards.
-[] A Shattered STC (-3 shinies) You have access to a moderate number of ship, unit, equipment and weapon designs. Bonus research avenues to unlock more. Grand Cruisers, nova cannons, graviton weapons. Some of the best stuff the Imperium still has access to.
-[] A broken STC (-5 shinies) You have access to a large number of ship, unit, equipment and weapon designs. Design costs are half-price. There is a faint chance you have special payloads. Battleships, vortex torpedoes, fusion beamers. 7.5% chance for each of the special payloads, so a 50% chance you get none, a 36% chance you get 1, 12% chance you get two, etc.
-[] A full STC (-7 shinies) You have access to an incredible number of ship, unit, equipment and weapon designs. Design actions are 10% price. There is a low chance you have special payloads. Dreadnaughts (think the Imperator Somnium), disintegration weapons, cloaking tech and more. If you can name it in stellar confederation lore, you can probably build it, though it may require rare materials you don't have access to yet. No Xenos tech or psytech. 15% chance for each of the special payloads, so 23% chance of nothing, 36% chance of one, 26% chance of two, 10% chance of 3, etc.
Many of these can be researched, but they generally represent the midway points in various research trees and would require samples and other prerequisites to reach normally. This is a way to give you an early specialization. If you choose a broken or full STC I'll roll to see if you get any of these as free bonuses, but you don't control what you get. If you roll something you already picked then we'll do a sub-vote where you get the shinies back and get to re-spend them.
-[] A Genebank (-3 shinies). You have the genetic material and facilities to immediately begin cloning healthy humans, which will cost build points. You can begin genetics and enhancements research immediately, and do not require as many samples for xenobiology and human genetic enhancement research. This will let you start cloning a workforce/creating your own civilization immediately. Further research (and samples of existing individuals) will let you focus your cloning efforts on various traits, including superhuman capabilities (easy), psykers (medium), space marines (hard) and navigators (very hard).
-[] Warp Communication Circuits (-3 shinies) You have a prototype technology that can communicate digital signals across interstellar space through the warp, though it has several significant limitations. This will let you send your units to other systems and remain in control of them, though there will be a CP tax for each unit s outfitteed. I will also note that the alternative is to build yourself a ship and go yourself. Or send minions.
-[] Void Abacus Fabrication Lattice (-2 shinies) You will be able to construct Void Abaci, to enable effective warp travel through purely technological means. Still slower than proper navigator/sorcerer warp travel. Warp travel will still be possible without this, but it will take years to decades instead of weeks to months.
-[] Intelligence Construction Matrix (-2 shinies) You start with the ability to construct additional AI's, though they will be limited in scope and require further research to expand their capabilities to match your own. You will be able to build underlings, though they will be expensive, require tutoring and training and be independent agents that will only follow your orders if given reason to do so. That reason can be behavioral programs, or 'raising them right' (success of both will depend on actions spent & rolls, some hidden, some not).
-[] Juvenat Vats (-2 shinies) You produce a small amount of high-quality Juvenat, and can produce facilities for more. This will be an extremely valuable trade good, and is effective at keeping psykers and other high-value biological individuals alive nearly indefinitely. Juvenat will be extremely helpful for subverting the leaders of nearby civilizations, as well as keeping any psyker/navigator/hero units you have alive indefinitely and boosting their quality.
-[] Psytech repository (-2 shinies) You have technical documents and a stockpile of rudimentary psytech. You can immediately begin the psytech tree without requiring samples. Even if you choose the full STC, there won't be psytech in it without this because you were built before humans had figured out much about psykers. This path won't let you manipulate the warp yourself, but it will let you build stuff to boost psykers, including force weapons, psychic hoods and more, as well as larger installations capable of letting individual psykers have battlefield-level effects.
-[] A Cybernetics Suite (-1 shiny) You can install basic (for DaoT) cybernetics into humans, including mental implants, limb replacements, and organ replacements.This will unlock research towards building robots that can pass for human. This is for augments, servitors & for building good humanoid robots. Take this if you want to augment your minions, make minions that can pass as servitors, or want a robotic avatar/hero unit you can pilot around to negotiate/assassinate with. May also be helpful for interrogations.
-[] A Fundamental Physics Module (-1 shiny) You have a deep understanding of the fundamental physics of the universe. Grants significant bonuses to understanding and replicating technology based on different principles than you're familiar with. If you want to reverse-engineer Necron tech, you'll need this. It will also help a lot with understanding & reverse engineering other weird shit you find.
-[] Exotic matter manufacturing system (-1 shiny) you can manufacture adamantium from more common materials on demand, though it costs extra build points compared to mining it. If you acquire samples of other materials you will unlock research to allow their manufacture. You won't be able to make blackstone, but every other material is in reach eventually. Yes, including auramite, though it's going to be ruinously expensive. As in a suit of it will cost as much as a battleship.
-[] Write in (cost dependent on details) If there's something else you want, feel free to suggest it and if I find it's appropriate I'll add it here. If it's included in any of the above or the STC I likely won't give it to you.
This is going to influence how I write diplomacy and how people respond to you. It will also influence how well you understand organics in general, which is important for governing them.
-[] Communications? (0 shinies) You were never intended to interface directly with people. You will need to develop social protocols and understanding of languages from scratch. You need to acquire samples of a language and do research before you reach the 'basic' communications level.
-[] Basic communications (-1 shinies) You can understand basic speech and transmissions and can generate your own, but you will miss nuance and your transmissions will be recognizably artificial. Penalty to diplomacy. Research can advance this to 'advanced', but it will require sustained practice with organic beings.
-[] Advanced communications (-2 shinies) You know several languages and can research more with sufficient data. You understand nuance in diplomacy and can make audio transmissions that are not recognizably artificial. You'll need extensive experience to unlock an expensive project to get to the next level.
-[] Diplomatic Suite (-3 shinies) You will automatically translate languages with minimal exposure. You can generate false audio, video and holo images showing people acting realistically. You have a human behavioral model that will enhance negotiations, and humanoid robots that can interact in a diplomatic context, though they will be recognizably artificial without further research.
-[] No knowledge (0 shinies) This galaxy is strange and new. What has occurred while you were sleeping? What does local space look like? Time to build some sensors and find out.
-[] Listening station (-1 shiny) You had an active listening post that picked up transmissions from across the stars and stored them. You are now scrolling through the recordings with growing horror. You know of the Age of Strife, the Great Crusade, the Horus Heresy, and the existence (but few details) of Chaos and the major Xenos races. You know of the nearby systems your system connects to and of any nearby civilizations in your system, but nothing in-depth.
-[] Salvaged data (-2 shinies) you salvaged some intact data cores from a wreck, which made for fascinating, if terrifying, reading. You know of the current state of the Imperium, the existence and general vibes of the Imperial factions, and the basic details of Chaos and the major Xenos factions. You have a basic local starmap of nearby systems.
-[] Salvaged Tech-priest (-3 shinies) You were recently found by a wandering Mechanicus Explorator, and they attempted to salvage you. You salvaged them right back, and learned everything they knew. After you recovered from dumbfounded anguish at what Mars has become, you started to parse through the wealth of data. You have detailed knowledge of the Imperium, its factions and enemies, as well as a complete sector map and knowledge of the details of the local factions. Also, what the hell happened during the cybernetic revolt?
Here are three example votes, and all represent very different ways the game could go:
[] Plan: Let's make some Chapters
-[] Name: Genentor Prime
-[] A unique creation of a rich and powerful colony of Sol (+2 shinies)
-[] My purpose is my own
-[] On a habitable planet
-[] Local civilization
--[] Imperial Humans (+1 shiny)
-[] Sector Civilizations
--[] Space Marine Chapter (+1 shiny)
--[] A powerful Dogmatic Successor State. (+1 shiny)
--[] A powerful Ork empire. (+1 shiny)
--[] A Tyranid splinter fleet (+2 shinies)
--[] An Aeldari Maiden world on good terms with the craftworlds. (+1 shiny)
-[] Advanced technological shielding. (-3 shinies)
-[] Basic research (-1 shiny)
-[] An advanced Database (-1 shinies)
-[] Payloads
--[] A genebank (-3 shinies)
--[] Psytech repository (-2 shinies
--[] A Cybernetics Suite (-1 shiny)
--[] Exotic matter manufacturing systems (-1 shiny)
-[] Diplomatic Suite (-3 shinies)
-[] Salvaged data (-2 shinies)
Total: 8+2+1+1+1+1+2+1-3-1-1-3-2-1-1-3-2=0
This would be a game focused on building up the capacity of the Space Marines, likely in alliance with the local chapter. But could you convince them to trust you? And would you be able to stomach working with the Imperium?
[] Plan: Rise of the Star Child
-[] Name: Five-fold Messenger
-[] A Man of Stone
-[] On a habitable planet
-[] My purpose is my own
-[] Local civilization
--[] Iconoclast humans (-2 shinies)
-[] Sector Civilizations
--[] A powerful Heretical successor state (+1 shiny)
--[] A powerful Dogmatic Successor State. (+1 shiny)
-[] A friendly warp entity (-3 shinies)
-[] A basic database (0 shinies)
-[] Advanced research (-2 shinies)
-[] Payloads
--[] Psytech repository (-2 shinies)
-[] Basic communications (-1 shinies)
-[] No knowledge (0 shinies)
Total: 8-2+1+1-3-0-2-2-1=0
This would be a somewhat chill game, likely focused on building up a prosperous and humanitarian nation that followed the Star-Child, the benevolent reincarnation of the Emperor. But could you protect your allies from the depredations of chaos?
Plan: Let my Fleets Blot out the Sun
-[] Name: Ultron
-[] A Man of Iron.
-[] In space
-[] My purpose is my own
-[] Nobody (0 shinies)
-[] Sector Civilizations
--[] Space Marine Chapter (+1 shiny)
--[] A Powerful Forge World, loyal to Mars (+1 shiny)
--[] A powerful Dogmatic Successor State. (+1 shiny)
--[] A powerful Heretical successor state (+1 shiny)
--[] Demon World (+2 shinies)
--[] A powerful Ork empire. (+1 shiny)
--[] A Tyranid splinter fleet (+2 shinies)
--[] A Necron Tombworld (+2 shinies)
-[] A blessing from the Emperor (-5 shinies)
-[] A full STC (-7 shinies)
-[] Poor research (-0 shinies)
-[] Payloads
--[] Void Abacus Fabrication Lattice (-2 shinies)
--[] Intelligence Construction Matrix (-2 shinies)
--[] Exotic matter manufacturing system (-1 shiny)
--[] A Fundamental Physics Module (-1 shiny)
-[] Communications? (0 shinies)
-[] No knowledge (0 shinies)
Total: 8+0+1+1+1+2+1+2+2-5-7-0-2-2-1-1=0
This game would be total war. You'd need to build up fast and hard, then start pumping out heavy weaponry to avoid being swamped by all of the foes around you. Could you hold off the might of an entire sector long enough to build up?
