RPG-STYLE ACTIONS FOR NECROMUNDA AND INQ28
BY ROSS BRIMSTONE | TALESOFTHEAARONORIUM.COM
What I’ve set out to do is create rules for
common non-combat interactions that
you might find in common roleplaying
games like D&D. I also wanted to stick to
the principles of new Necromunda and all
the rest of GW’s recent games, and keep
them fast, easy, and intuitive.
The one major caveat to these rules is
that they are presented with the
understanding that players are using
them as an aid to storytelling, rather than
a combat bonus or something to
immediately one-up your opponent. They
don’t do anything, mechanically speaking.
They use characteristic checks to inform
players about how a character might
respond to an interaction with an
unpredictable outcome, but it is up to the
players to fill the shoes of their characters
and act as their characters would in the
situation.
Obviously, these are made to work in
N17, so if you’re playing a version of
Inq28 with some other rules, you might
need to tweak them if you want to use
them.
I’ve created four new actions that can be
performed in the Action Phase in addition
to the regular actions available in the N17
rulebook. To facilitate these rules, there is
a new type of check called an ‘opposed
characteristic check’.
OPPOSED CHARACTERISTICS
CHECKS
To make an opposed characteristic
check, both players make a standard
characteristic check for the characteristic
listed in the chosen action. A player wins
the opposed check if they pass their
characteristic check and if they beat their
opponent’s score. If neither player passes
their characteristic check, there is no
effect. If the result is a draw, the player
with the higher base characteristic wins.
If the characteristics are the same, there
is no effect.
ACTIONS
In the actions below, I allow for a model
to choose a group of models to target.
They may be trying to influence a gang,
or a pair of characters, for example. In
this instance you should either choose
the characteristic of the leader of the
group, or use an average or majority
value, as is appropriate to the group. You
will also notice there is no range
stipulated for these actions. Use common
sense in this regard. If the character is
speaking over a tannoy, he might be able
to target several characters spread out
over a wide area, whereas if they have
only their speaking voice their range may
be limited to 6″ or less.
You may also want to apply modifiers to
the opposed roll for either or both parties.
A Space Marine would not be easily
intimidated by a mere mortal, who suffers
a -1 modifier, whereas an angry mob
could be readily persuaded by a fiery
demagogue, who would gain a +2 to their
roll.
These actions may be performed by
Active fighters. If players agree, they
could be used by Pinned or Engaged
fighters in appropriate circumstances; a
frantic “Don’t shoot!” in the middle of a
fire fight, or a tirade of enraging taunts
during a frenetic melee.
PERSUASION (BASIC)
Choose a target model or group of
models and make an opposed
Leadership check against them. The
loser is swayed by the winner’s
persuasive words, and should act
accordingly until something happens
that would cause them to question their
decision. For example: Inquisitor Glavian
is trying to persuade some native
underhivers to lead him to a hidden
dome. He wins the opposed roll, and so
the hivers acquiesce. When they later
realise that he intends to destroy the
archeotech within, they quickly abandon
him.
DECEIVE (BASIC)
Choose a target model or group of
models and make an opposed Cool
check against them. The loser is fooled
by the winner’s deception, and should act
accordingly until something happens that
would reveal the deception. For example:
1
Rogue Trader Kell is trying to convince
Interrogator Vorrus that he is not armed.
He makes a successful Deceive action,
and so Vorrus must act as though Kell
is not armed. Next turn, Kell shoots at
Vorrus, and so the deception is broken
and Vorrus may return fire.
INTIMIDATE (BASIC)
Choose a target model or group of
models and make an opposed
Willpower check against them. The loser
is intimidated by the winner’s word or
actions, and should act accordingly until
something happens that would dispel the
intimidation. For example: Sergeant
Hassan tries to intimidate a Chaos
ritualist by pointing his weapon at him,
but he loses the opposed check, and
so is cowed by the ritualist’s boasts that
the dark gods will soon be summoned.
When the ritual fails however, Sergeant
Hassan’s bravery returns, and he may act
normally.
PERFORMANCE (BASIC)
Choose a target model or group of
models and make an opposed
Intelligence check against them. The
EXPANDING THESE RULES
If you wanted to use these rules for
loser is suitably impressed by the
more of a straight wargame like regular
winner’s performance, and should act
Necromunda, you could replace the “act
accordingly until something happens that
accordingly” clause with a direct buff or
would cause them to disregard the
limitation applied to the winner or loser.
performance. For example: Governor
For example, you might decide that the
Karios gives a powerful speech to his
winner of an Intimidate action counts as
subjects. He wins the opposed roll, and
having the Fearsome skill when targeted
so impresses the local populace. But
by the loser.
when it is later revealed that Karios has
been embezzling mining profits to line his
I also toyed with the idea of having
own pockets, he quickly loses favour with
psychic powers as ways to apply
the mob.
modifiers to checks, but that’s a whole
other thing. Psychic powers have been
As you’ve no doubt noticed, I’ve create
introduced with the Genestealer Cult-
an action to correspond with each of the
ists and Chaos Cultist gang lists, and
“mental” stats available in N17, so that
they act much in the way skills do. So
whatever kind of character you create,
you could come up with a ‘dread gaze’
they should have a chance at at least one
psychic power/skill that gives a bonus
of the actions. But that of course depends
to the Intimidate action, or a ‘mind scan’
on who they try to pull it on! With the
power that imposes a negative modifier
opposed characteristic check, a character
on a character trying to use the Deceive
may well end up suffering at the hands of
action.
their own action. Trying to reason with a
charging ogryn probably won’t go the way
a character expects, no matter how
eloquent they are!