“We still have no explanation for the death of the passenger. The only witness claims the void-lock unexpectedly opened just as that poor soul walked nearby, while the outer lock was also open. For both to be open is impossible when the auspex registers open void against the hull, yet it happened. I doubt we will ever know why he was so desperate to leave that system, though I am relieved he did pay in advance.”       –Captain Artesia Carnelline, Killian’s Prize

In May, we announced the upcoming release of The Lathe Worlds, a supplement for Dark Heresy. This invaluable tome reveals the secret history of the Lathe Worlds, from their mysterious founding to their current struggles against tech-heresy. What’s more, players will gain access to new Alternate Career Ranks and arm themselves with weapons and gifts of the Omnissiah. And in a thrilling new adventure, the Inquisitors will journey to a lost comet-station, where they’ll stop renegade tech-priests from heretical experiments into the Warp!

With the release of The Lathe Worlds just a few weeks away, we’re pleased to provide our first preview. Today, we’ll look at its engaging Alternate Careers Ranks, and we’ll present a glimpse inside the pages of The Lathe World, at the Adeptus Mechanicus’s shadowy instrument of the death: the Acuitor Mech-Assassin.

The Darker Side of the Mechanicus

To most within the Calixis Sector, the domains of the Adeptus Mechanicus appear as a single, impenetrable edifice. To the outside observer, they seem to be a unified organization whose presence and influence is felt almost everywhere. Those privy to the secrets of the Mechanicus, however, know all too well of the overlapping layers of military might, of the conciliators who promise things beyond imagination, and of the factions that cast out any who fail to conform.

Some even know of the darker side of the Mechanicus—the watchers and assassins who bring swift and unyielding punishment to the enemies of the Mechanicus. Some choose to reject the institutions of the Machine Cult, forming rival cults to oppose them. Others are born directly into the system, their lives an endless torrent of work and toil from birth to death. It is a horrific system, one not understood by many, but one that is vital to all.

Serving one such important function, the Mech-Assassins possess innumerable technological methods by which to dispose of their enemies. Hailing from secret fortresses scattered throughout the Calixis Sector, Mech-Assassins possess a unique outlook on the galaxy: nearly everything can be used as a deadly weapon. Download our preview (pdf, 2.9 MB) to learn more about these heartless killers.

Look for another preview of The Lathe Worlds next week, and get ready for your quest for knowledge in the name of the Omnissiah!

“We still have no explanation for the death of the passenger. The only witness claims the void-lock unexpectedly opened just as that poor soul walked nearby, while the outer lock was also open. For both to be open is impossible when the auspex registers open void against the hull, yet it happened. I doubt we will ever know why he was so desperate to leave that system, though I am relieved he did pay in advance.”       –Captain Artesia Carnelline, Killian’s Prize

In May, we announced the upcoming release of The Lathe Worlds, a supplement for Dark Heresy. This invaluable tome reveals the secret history of the Lathe Worlds, from their mysterious founding to their current struggles against tech-heresy. What’s more, players will gain access to new Alternate Career Ranks and arm themselves with weapons and gifts of the Omnissiah. And in a thrilling new adventure, the Inquisitors will journey to a lost comet-station, where they’ll stop renegade tech-priests from heretical experiments into the Warp!

With the release of The Lathe Worlds just a few weeks away, we’re pleased to provide our first preview. Today, we’ll look at its engaging Alternate Careers Ranks, and we’ll present a glimpse inside the pages of The Lathe World, at the Adeptus Mechanicus’s shadowy instrument of the death: the Acuitor Mech-Assassin.

The Darker Side of the Mechanicus

To most within the Calixis Sector, the domains of the Adeptus Mechanicus appear as a single, impenetrable edifice. To the outside observer, they seem to be a unified organization whose presence and influence is felt almost everywhere. Those privy to the secrets of the Mechanicus, however, know all too well of the overlapping layers of military might, of the conciliators who promise things beyond imagination, and of the factions that cast out any who fail to conform.

Some even know of the darker side of the Mechanicus—the watchers and assassins who bring swift and unyielding punishment to the enemies of the Mechanicus. Some choose to reject the institutions of the Machine Cult, forming rival cults to oppose them. Others are born directly into the system, their lives an endless torrent of work and toil from birth to death. It is a horrific system, one not understood by many, but one that is vital to all.

Serving one such important function, the Mech-Assassins possess innumerable technological methods by which to dispose of their enemies. Hailing from secret fortresses scattered throughout the Calixis Sector, Mech-Assassins possess a unique outlook on the galaxy: nearly everything can be used as a deadly weapon. Download our preview (pdf, 2.9 MB) to learn more about these heartless killers.

Look for another preview of The Lathe Worlds next week, and get ready for your quest for knowledge in the name of the Omnissiah!

“What threat might require an entire Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes to guard against it? I for one sleep no sounder at night knowing that such warriors guard our Imperium, for my nightmares are haunted all the more by what enemies they watch for."      –Lord Sector Marius Hax

The brethren of the Deathwatch are the champions of humanity, the elite of the elite, and the very best the thousand and more Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes can produce. But while many Battle-Brothers are drawn from the most well known Chapters—the Blood Angels, the Space Wolves, the Ultramarines, and others of the First Founding—still more hail from lesser known bodies, the Successors of the great Legions. Some of these Chapters are every bit as famous as their celebrated progenitors, while others are all but unheralded. Nevertheless, all are heroes.

Honour the Chapter, a supplement for Deathwatch, is now on sale via download at drivethrurpg.com and rpgnow.com! Honour the Chapter provides a wealth of options for players interested in characters drawn from Chapters created during the Second or subsequent Foundings. This comprehensive tome contains new character creation rules, a wealth of relics unique to each Chapter, and plenty of guidance and adventure seeds for Game Masters.

Epic Heroes

For more on Honour the Chapter, here’s a word from its lead developer, Tim Flanders:

Since the Core Rulebook, we've had a good chance to cover our core of Space Marine Chapters, and with First Founding we were able to bring the remaining progenitor Chapters to the fore. But now, for the first time since the inception of Deathwatch, we will be giving a huge number of the other myriad Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes the attention they deserve. I think players are going to really enjoy the chance to play Battle-Brothers from Chapters throughout the Imperium, each with as much depth as the Chapters we've covered in our past products.

Of course, with all this variety comes a price. Trying to form a Kill-team out of Battle-Brothers from such disparate backgrounds, all with their own histories, combat doctrines, and philosophies is tough work. Thankfully, we've covered that, too! GMs will find Honour the Chapter indispensable for making the most of their campaigns, by highlighting the strengths of their players, their characters, and the relationships between the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. In this way, they’ll really make their players feel like the epic heroes of the Imperium that they are!

Thanks, Tim! For ten millennia, Space Marines from a thousand chapters have fought and died in the name of the Emperor of Man. Download your copy from drivethrurpg.com or rpgnow.com today, and take your place among the legends of the Adeptus Astartes.

“What threat might require an entire Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes to guard against it? I for one sleep no sounder at night knowing that such warriors guard our Imperium, for my nightmares are haunted all the more by what enemies they watch for."      –Lord Sector Marius Hax

The brethren of the Deathwatch are the champions of humanity, the elite of the elite, and the very best the thousand and more Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes can produce. But while many Battle-Brothers are drawn from the most well known Chapters—the Blood Angels, the Space Wolves, the Ultramarines, and others of the First Founding—still more hail from lesser known bodies, the Successors of the great Legions. Some of these Chapters are every bit as famous as their celebrated progenitors, while others are all but unheralded. Nevertheless, all are heroes.

Honour the Chapter, a supplement for Deathwatch, is now on sale via download at drivethrurpg.com and rpgnow.com! Honour the Chapter provides a wealth of options for players interested in characters drawn from Chapters created during the Second or subsequent Foundings. This comprehensive tome contains new character creation rules, a wealth of relics unique to each Chapter, and plenty of guidance and adventure seeds for Game Masters.

Epic Heroes

For more on Honour the Chapter, here’s a word from its lead developer, Tim Flanders:

Since the Core Rulebook, we've had a good chance to cover our core of Space Marine Chapters, and with First Founding we were able to bring the remaining progenitor Chapters to the fore. But now, for the first time since the inception of Deathwatch, we will be giving a huge number of the other myriad Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes the attention they deserve. I think players are going to really enjoy the chance to play Battle-Brothers from Chapters throughout the Imperium, each with as much depth as the Chapters we've covered in our past products.

Of course, with all this variety comes a price. Trying to form a Kill-team out of Battle-Brothers from such disparate backgrounds, all with their own histories, combat doctrines, and philosophies is tough work. Thankfully, we've covered that, too! GMs will find Honour the Chapter indispensable for making the most of their campaigns, by highlighting the strengths of their players, their characters, and the relationships between the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. In this way, they’ll really make their players feel like the epic heroes of the Imperium that they are!

Thanks, Tim! For ten millennia, Space Marines from a thousand chapters have fought and died in the name of the Emperor of Man. Download your copy from drivethrurpg.com or rpgnow.com today, and take your place among the legends of the Adeptus Astartes.

“So many times I’ve heard the warning ‘here be dragons’ said about one region of the galaxy or another. When it comes to the Outer Reach however, it’s true, all of it. There really are things sleeping out there in the void ‘twixt the stars. Leave ‘em slumbering friend, leave ‘em slumbering…”       –Melkiario Grik

For as long as mankind has sailed the void of the Jericho Reach, it has been a place of danger and mystery. Evil slumbers in the forgotten places between the stars, and only the Deathwatch can stand before it.

Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce the upcoming release of The Outer Reach, a supplement for Deathwatch! Revealing the secret dangers that lurk in the darkness between the stars, The Outer Reach gives players and GMs never-before-seen access to the enigmatic Dead Cabal, a mysterious circle of warrior-scholars who have devoted their lives to fathoming the unfathomable.

What’s more, this arcane tome presents the lost history of the arrogant and merciless Necrons of the Suhbekhar dynasty, and it offers the latest intelligence regarding their horrifically imminent return. All this, along with details on various Suhbekhar warriors, in-depth looks at the worlds beyond the reach of the Achilus Crusade, and scores of useful plot hooks, makes The Outer Reach an invaluable addition to any Deathwatch library.

Evil Lurks in the Darkness

As war rages throughout the Jericho Reach, the enemies of man grow ever more numerous and daring. But there are evils that lurk within the shadows, malign forces beyond counting and more dangerous than the even the Deathwatch can fathom. Some weave tangled webs of lies and deceit, seeking to make humanity their puppets in the Reach. Others hope to eradicate the teeming masses of mankind, to drive the Imperium from the galaxy, and to return to the dominance they once enjoyed. But whether these dangers be subtle or overt, the only evidence of their existence are the countless unexplained mysteries throughout the Jericho Reach.

Though it falls to the Deathwatch to combat the countless dangers in the darkness, few possess the esoteric knowledge to tread the dead worlds seeded throughout the Reach, instead focusing their attention on aiding the crusade as best they can. Thus, confrontation with these mysterious villains and enigmatic manipulators is left to those dedicated few who seek to drive them from the shadows and into the scouring light of the Emperor. These are the warrior-scholars of the Dead Cabal, and you are invited to join them.

A Word From the Developer

For more on The Outer Reach, here’s a word from Deathwatch developer Tim Flanders:

Throughout the history of the Deathwatch line, we have gone to great lengths to make the Jericho Reach feel like a living, breathing setting in which players and Game Masters can play out their epic stories. With The Achilus Assault we brought readers into the history of the Achilus Crusade and set the stage for the setting's current timeline. Then, as our spiritual successor to that book, The Jericho Reach acted as a gazetteer for players and GMs to really sink their teeth into the events and conflicts that currently plague the setting. 

With The Outer Reach, we've taken things in a new direction. We've pulled away from the Achilus Crusade to explore the darker stretches of the Jericho Reach. The Outer Reach is all about mystery, dread, and the evils lurking in the shadows between the stars. This book will give Game Masters the tools necessary to create vivid story lines that showcase exploration, prophecy, and even a new foe who's arrival may spell doom for the Jericho Reach. Players, too, will find their curiosity piqued with hints of ancient mysteries and confrontations with foes from aeons long-forgotten. 

Thanks Tim! In the fourth quarter of 2012, join the Dead Cabal, learn what secrets they keep, and uncover their shrouded history within the Deathwatch!

“You think those Orks were bad? Wait till you land on Burnscour, or some of the other worlds out here. You’ll be wishing it was just greenskins coming after you."      –Arch-Militant Pel Lakken

From the enigmatic Eldar to the ferocious Orks, alien races seek to halt Mankind’s rightful rule of the galaxy. Will you master these foul creatures and rule the void, or become another foolhardy Explorer lost to the Expanse?

The Koronus Bestiary, a supplement for Rogue Trader, is now on sale at your local retailer and through our webstore! This detailed compendium provides invaluable information on deadly beasts, hostile xenos, unholy daemons, and other dangers that fill the uncharted regions of the Koronus Expanse.

In addition to its many adventure seeds and plot hooks, The Koronus Bestiary also features art and descriptions for a range of foes, including Shadowkith, Thornmaws, Void Krakens, and a host of others. Looking for even more vile enemies? The Xenos Generator rules allow players to create alien species as varied and dangerous as they can imagine!

Foes at Every Turn

Humanity may have settled untold worlds in the Koronus Expanse, but only the most audacious of Rogue Traders would dare claim that it asserts any true dominion over this lawless region of space. For every conquered planet there are dozens more under the control of vile aliens. Explorers operating in the Expanse are sure to encounter these threats in their journeys, either by accident or design, and must be ready lest their ship and their profits be lost.

Each of The Koronus Bestiary’s chapters concentrates on one type of threat, ranging from savage monsters to predatory alien races to the terrors that lurk beyond reality. Chapter one examines some of the more dangerous beasts found across the Expanse, while chapter two covers the major sentient xenos races in this lawless region of space (such as the devious Stryxis, brutal Orks, treacherous Eldar, ferocious Rak’Gol, and much more). Next, chapter three presents a different sort of threat: foul warp spawn that not only destroy an Explorer’s body, but rend his very soul. Finally, Game Masters can use chapter four’s xenos generator to produce unique beasts, dangerous plant life and even primitive sentient races ripe for exploitation and indoctrination.

Innumerable terrors populate the uncharted planets of the Koronus Expanse. Will you be ready for them? Learn more by reading our series of previews, then hunt down your copy of The Koronus Bestiary at your local retailer!

“So many times I’ve heard the warning ‘here be dragons’ said about one region of the galaxy or another. When it comes to the Outer Reach however, it’s true, all of it. There really are things sleeping out there in the void ‘twixt the stars. Leave ‘em slumbering friend, leave ‘em slumbering…”       –Melkiario Grik

For as long as mankind has sailed the void of the Jericho Reach, it has been a place of danger and mystery. Evil slumbers in the forgotten places between the stars, and only the Deathwatch can stand before it.

Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce the upcoming release of The Outer Reach, a supplement for Deathwatch! Revealing the secret dangers that lurk in the darkness between the stars, The Outer Reach gives players and GMs never-before-seen access to the enigmatic Dead Cabal, a mysterious circle of warrior-scholars who have devoted their lives to fathoming the unfathomable.

What’s more, this arcane tome presents the lost history of the arrogant and merciless Necrons of the Suhbekhar dynasty, and it offers the latest intelligence regarding their horrifically imminent return. All this, along with details on various Suhbekhar warriors, in-depth looks at the worlds beyond the reach of the Achilus Crusade, and scores of useful plot hooks, makes The Outer Reach an invaluable addition to any Deathwatch library.

Evil Lurks in the Darkness

As war rages throughout the Jericho Reach, the enemies of man grow ever more numerous and daring. But there are evils that lurk within the shadows, malign forces beyond counting and more dangerous than the even the Deathwatch can fathom. Some weave tangled webs of lies and deceit, seeking to make humanity their puppets in the Reach. Others hope to eradicate the teeming masses of mankind, to drive the Imperium from the galaxy, and to return to the dominance they once enjoyed. But whether these dangers be subtle or overt, the only evidence of their existence are the countless unexplained mysteries throughout the Jericho Reach.

Though it falls to the Deathwatch to combat the countless dangers in the darkness, few possess the esoteric knowledge to tread the dead worlds seeded throughout the Reach, instead focusing their attention on aiding the crusade as best they can. Thus, confrontation with these mysterious villains and enigmatic manipulators is left to those dedicated few who seek to drive them from the shadows and into the scouring light of the Emperor. These are the warrior-scholars of the Dead Cabal, and you are invited to join them.

A Word From the Developer

For more on The Outer Reach, here’s a word from Deathwatch developer Tim Flanders:

Throughout the history of the Deathwatch line, we have gone to great lengths to make the Jericho Reach feel like a living, breathing setting in which players and Game Masters can play out their epic stories. With The Achilus Assault we brought readers into the history of the Achilus Crusade and set the stage for the setting's current timeline. Then, as our spiritual successor to that book, The Jericho Reach acted as a gazetteer for players and GMs to really sink their teeth into the events and conflicts that currently plague the setting. 

With The Outer Reach, we've taken things in a new direction. We've pulled away from the Achilus Crusade to explore the darker stretches of the Jericho Reach. The Outer Reach is all about mystery, dread, and the evils lurking in the shadows between the stars. This book will give Game Masters the tools necessary to create vivid story lines that showcase exploration, prophecy, and even a new foe who's arrival may spell doom for the Jericho Reach. Players, too, will find their curiosity piqued with hints of ancient mysteries and confrontations with foes from aeons long-forgotten. 

Thanks Tim! In the fourth quarter of 2012, join the Dead Cabal, learn what secrets they keep, and uncover their shrouded history within the Deathwatch!

“You think those Orks were bad? Wait till you land on Burnscour, or some of the other worlds out here. You’ll be wishing it was just greenskins coming after you."      –Arch-Militant Pel Lakken

From the enigmatic Eldar to the ferocious Orks, alien races seek to halt Mankind’s rightful rule of the galaxy. Will you master these foul creatures and rule the void, or become another foolhardy Explorer lost to the Expanse?

The Koronus Bestiary, a supplement for Rogue Trader, is now on sale at your local retailer and through our webstore! This detailed compendium provides invaluable information on deadly beasts, hostile xenos, unholy daemons, and other dangers that fill the uncharted regions of the Koronus Expanse.

In addition to its many adventure seeds and plot hooks, The Koronus Bestiary also features art and descriptions for a range of foes, including Shadowkith, Thornmaws, Void Krakens, and a host of others. Looking for even more vile enemies? The Xenos Generator rules allow players to create alien species as varied and dangerous as they can imagine!

Foes at Every Turn

Humanity may have settled untold worlds in the Koronus Expanse, but only the most audacious of Rogue Traders would dare claim that it asserts any true dominion over this lawless region of space. For every conquered planet there are dozens more under the control of vile aliens. Explorers operating in the Expanse are sure to encounter these threats in their journeys, either by accident or design, and must be ready lest their ship and their profits be lost.

Each of The Koronus Bestiary’s chapters concentrates on one type of threat, ranging from savage monsters to predatory alien races to the terrors that lurk beyond reality. Chapter one examines some of the more dangerous beasts found across the Expanse, while chapter two covers the major sentient xenos races in this lawless region of space (such as the devious Stryxis, brutal Orks, treacherous Eldar, ferocious Rak’Gol, and much more). Next, chapter three presents a different sort of threat: foul warp spawn that not only destroy an Explorer’s body, but rend his very soul. Finally, Game Masters can use chapter four’s xenos generator to produce unique beasts, dangerous plant life and even primitive sentient races ripe for exploitation and indoctrination.

Innumerable terrors populate the uncharted planets of the Koronus Expanse. Will you be ready for them? Learn more by reading our series of previews, then hunt down your copy of The Koronus Bestiary at your local retailer!

“To bring the Emperor’s Light into the darkness; to bring the unknown to a greater understanding of Him on Earth; this is my calling and in my wake both seeds and ashes are sown.”       –Luminorem Majoris Skent Taltos

The Koronus Expanse is a perilous place for all those who dare to venture. Today, however, the journey becomes a little less dangerous! The FAQ for Rogue Trader has been updated to version 1.3 (pdf, 1.4 MB), and is now available on our support page.

A Word From the Developer

For more on the updates found in version 1.3, here’s a word from Rogue Trader developer Max Brooke:

The newest incarnation of the Rogue Trader FAQ, compiled based on fan feedback and rules queries, brings the Emperor’s Clarity to a number of issues from the nebulous corners of the Koronus Expanse.

Highlights of this update include improved clarity on certain aspects of Massed Combat in Battlefleet Koronus, enhanced scaling for the Astropath’s Psychic Techniques from the Rogue Trader Core Rulebook, and, of course, the hidden secrets of the Null Bay (supposedly optioned by enterprising Rogue Traders at great cost from the Holy Ordos of the Inquisition itself!) from Hostile Acquisitions.

The enhanced FAQ also adds answers to a number of common queries that have arisen since the last version of the FAQ. This update includes clarifications for Battlefleet Koronus and Hostile Acquisitions in addition to new insights into previously addressed Rogue Trader products from the Core Rulebook forward.

“To bring the Emperor’s Light into the darkness; to bring the unknown to a greater understanding of Him on Earth; this is my calling and in my wake both seeds and ashes are sown.”       –Luminorem Majoris Skent Taltos

The Koronus Expanse is a perilous place for all those who dare to venture. Today, however, the journey becomes a little less dangerous! The FAQ for Rogue Trader has been updated to version 1.3 (pdf, 1.4 MB), and is now available on our support page.

A Word From the Developer

For more on the updates found in version 1.3, here’s a word from Rogue Trader developer Max Brooke:

The newest incarnation of the Rogue Trader FAQ, compiled based on fan feedback and rules queries, brings the Emperor’s Clarity to a number of issues from the nebulous corners of the Koronus Expanse.

Highlights of this update include improved clarity on certain aspects of Massed Combat in Battlefleet Koronus, enhanced scaling for the Astropath’s Psychic Techniques from the Rogue Trader Core Rulebook, and, of course, the hidden secrets of the Null Bay (supposedly optioned by enterprising Rogue Traders at great cost from the Holy Ordos of the Inquisition itself!) from Hostile Acquisitions.

The enhanced FAQ also adds answers to a number of common queries that have arisen since the last version of the FAQ. This update includes clarifications for Battlefleet Koronus and Hostile Acquisitions in addition to new insights into previously addressed Rogue Trader products from the Core Rulebook forward.

“Do not waste your fear on the unknown, for in Koronus we have known terrors aplenty to fill your nightmares."      –Seneschal Venton Tiebolt

In December, Fantasy Flight Game announced the upcoming release of The Koronus Bestiary, a supplement for Rogue Trader. This comprehensive tome features art and descriptions for a range of foes, including Shadowkith, Thornmaws, Void Krakens, and others...plus a Xenos Generator that allows players to create alien species as varied and dangerous as they can imagine!

Some months have passed since we last previewed the pages of this terrifying tome; unexpected issues with the printing process unfortunately delayed its release. Now, however, The Koronus Bestiary is back on track, and its deadly predators will begin stalking local retailers in the middle of July.

In our past previews, we’ve surveyed the most vicious beasts of the Expanse, the cunning plots of sentient xenos, and the vile warp spawn that prey on the souls of humanity. Today, we’re pleased to present a Designer Diary by writer Jordan Goldfarb, who worked on the versatile Xenos Generator.

The Alien Wears Many Forms

Hello, Rogue Traders (and Arch-Militants, Astropaths, Navigators, and the rest). This is Jordan Goldfarb, a writer for The Koronus Bestiary. The Warhammer 40,000 universe is a huge place, with all sorts of alien denizens lurking throughout, and it was rather difficult fitting all the material you might want to have for tackling it. If any single tome could do the job, it would have to be this one. In addition to covering the more archetypal alien races, The Koronus Bestiary has an expansive set of guidelines, suggestions, and random generators for making your own aliens to populate the Koronus Expanse.

The generators in The Koronus Bestiary use a detailed system of Species Traits to customize the alien life for your Rogue Trader game. Alien life can be found across all sorts of different worlds, evolving to create and adapt to unique ecosystems and environments, and the resultant creatures are naturally (or unnaturally) going to be radically different from humanity and from each other.

The goal I took to heart in writing this material was to make sure aliens stayed alien, both to humanity and to each other. Some fauna might not be too different from that of modern Earth except for acidic blood or a few extra legs, but these only serve to accentuate the sense of the Other you encounter when a two-ton mound of living rock starts spraying bio-electricity. And of course, as any loyal Imperial citizen knows, the only thing worse than a horrifying alien monster covered in tentacles and spikes is one that appears perfectly harmless…

The Grass Beneath Your Feet

Even the simple plant life of the Expanse can be a threat to unwary Explorers—or a chance to claim big profits. In The Koronus Bestiary, you’ll find all sorts of rules for plant-based aliens, from toxic, spore-choked forests to active foliage that make animal predators look positively lethargic. There are even Species Traits specifically for the more deadly forms of xenoflora.

The Flora Generator was one of my favorite parts to handle in the writing process. There’s just something so very Warhammer about a planet where the firewood can chop back, and the meadows thirst for the blood of grazing cattle. I anticipate a great deal of Profit Factor being sunk into Flamers and other brush-clearing devices once this book makes the rounds!

The Strange Faces of Opportunity

The Xenos Generator is not limited to feral beasts and deadly blooms. Sentient xenos races can also be created using the tools within. These are beings no less strange than their bestial counterparts, but far more open to bargaining with an enterprising band of Explorers. A careful and canny Rogue Trader can make great profits in such deals, assuming they can maintain control of the situation.

There’s a truly staggering variety of possibilities available through the Xenos Generator, and I trust fans of Rogue Trader will find every single one of them exciting. Get ready for the galaxy to get a lot more interesting when your GM starts making use of these tools in just a few short weeks!

“Do not waste your fear on the unknown, for in Koronus we have known terrors aplenty to fill your nightmares."      –Seneschal Venton Tiebolt

In December, Fantasy Flight Game announced the upcoming release of The Koronus Bestiary, a supplement for Rogue Trader. This comprehensive tome features art and descriptions for a range of foes, including Shadowkith, Thornmaws, Void Krakens, and others...plus a Xenos Generator that allows players to create alien species as varied and dangerous as they can imagine!

Some months have passed since we last previewed the pages of this terrifying tome; unexpected issues with the printing process unfortunately delayed its release. Now, however, The Koronus Bestiary is back on track, and its deadly predators will begin stalking local retailers in the middle of July.

In our past previews, we’ve surveyed the most vicious beasts of the Expanse, the cunning plots of sentient xenos, and the vile warp spawn that prey on the souls of humanity. Today, we’re pleased to present a Designer Diary by writer Jordan Goldfarb, who worked on the versatile Xenos Generator.

The Alien Wears Many Forms

Hello, Rogue Traders (and Arch-Militants, Astropaths, Navigators, and the rest). This is Jordan Goldfarb, a writer for The Koronus Bestiary. The Warhammer 40,000 universe is a huge place, with all sorts of alien denizens lurking throughout, and it was rather difficult fitting all the material you might want to have for tackling it. If any single tome could do the job, it would have to be this one. In addition to covering the more archetypal alien races, The Koronus Bestiary has an expansive set of guidelines, suggestions, and random generators for making your own aliens to populate the Koronus Expanse.

The generators in The Koronus Bestiary use a detailed system of Species Traits to customize the alien life for your Rogue Trader game. Alien life can be found across all sorts of different worlds, evolving to create and adapt to unique ecosystems and environments, and the resultant creatures are naturally (or unnaturally) going to be radically different from humanity and from each other.

The goal I took to heart in writing this material was to make sure aliens stayed alien, both to humanity and to each other. Some fauna might not be too different from that of modern Earth except for acidic blood or a few extra legs, but these only serve to accentuate the sense of the Other you encounter when a two-ton mound of living rock starts spraying bio-electricity. And of course, as any loyal Imperial citizen knows, the only thing worse than a horrifying alien monster covered in tentacles and spikes is one that appears perfectly harmless…

The Grass Beneath Your Feet

Even the simple plant life of the Expanse can be a threat to unwary Explorers—or a chance to claim big profits. In The Koronus Bestiary, you’ll find all sorts of rules for plant-based aliens, from toxic, spore-choked forests to active foliage that make animal predators look positively lethargic. There are even Species Traits specifically for the more deadly forms of xenoflora.

The Flora Generator was one of my favorite parts to handle in the writing process. There’s just something so very Warhammer about a planet where the firewood can chop back, and the meadows thirst for the blood of grazing cattle. I anticipate a great deal of Profit Factor being sunk into Flamers and other brush-clearing devices once this book makes the rounds!

The Strange Faces of Opportunity

The Xenos Generator is not limited to feral beasts and deadly blooms. Sentient xenos races can also be created using the tools within. These are beings no less strange than their bestial counterparts, but far more open to bargaining with an enterprising band of Explorers. A careful and canny Rogue Trader can make great profits in such deals, assuming they can maintain control of the situation.

There’s a truly staggering variety of possibilities available through the Xenos Generator, and I trust fans of Rogue Trader will find every single one of them exciting. Get ready for the galaxy to get a lot more interesting when your GM starts making use of these tools in just a few short weeks!

“They shall be pure of heart and strong of body, untainted by doubt and unsullied by vainglory. They will be bright stars in the firmament of battle. Angels of Death whose shining wings bring swift annihilation to the enemies of Man. So shall it be for a thousand times a thousand years, unto the very end of eternity and the extinction of mortal flesh.”       –Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines

The brethren of the Deathwatch are the champions of humanity, the elite of the elite, and the very best the thousand and more Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes can produce. But while many Battle-Brothers are drawn from the most well known Chapters—the Blood Angels, the Space Wolves, the Ultramarines, and others of the First Founding—still more hail from lesser known bodies, the Successors of the great Legions. Some of these Chapters are every bit as famous as their celebrated progenitors, while others are all but unheralded. Nevertheless, all are heroes.

Honour the Chapter, a supplement for Deathwatch, is now on sale at your local retailer and on our webstore! Honour the Chapter provides a wealth of options for players interested in characters drawn from Chapters created during the Second or subsequent Foundings. This comprehensive tome contains new character creation rules, a wealth of relics unique to each Chapter, and plenty of guidance and adventure seeds for Game Masters.

Epic Heroes

For more on Honour the Chapter, here’s a word from its lead developer, Tim Flanders:

Since the Core Rulebook, we've had a good chance to cover our core of Space Marine Chapters, and with First Founding we were able to bring the remaining progenitor Chapters to the fore. But now, for the first time since the inception of Deathwatch, we will be giving a huge number of the other myriad Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes the attention they deserve. I think players are going to really enjoy the chance to play Battle-Brothers from Chapters throughout the Imperium, each with as much depth as the Chapters we've covered in our past products.

Of course, with all this variety comes a price. Trying to form a Kill-team out of Battle-Brothers from such disparate backgrounds, all with their own histories, combat doctrines, and philosophies is tough work. Thankfully, we've covered that, too! GMs will find Honour the Chapter indispensable for making the most of their campaigns, by highlighting the strengths of their players, their characters, and the relationships between the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. In this way, they’ll really make their players feel like the epic heroes of the Imperium that they are!

For ten millennia, Space Marines from a thousand chapters have fought and died in the name of the Emperor of Man. Pick up your copy of Honour the Chapter from your local retailer today, and take your place among the legends of the Adeptus Astartes!

“They shall be pure of heart and strong of body, untainted by doubt and unsullied by vainglory. They will be bright stars in the firmament of battle. Angels of Death whose shining wings bring swift annihilation to the enemies of Man. So shall it be for a thousand times a thousand years, unto the very end of eternity and the extinction of mortal flesh.”       –Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines

The brethren of the Deathwatch are the champions of humanity, the elite of the elite, and the very best the thousand and more Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes can produce. But while many Battle-Brothers are drawn from the most well known Chapters—the Blood Angels, the Space Wolves, the Ultramarines, and others of the First Founding—still more hail from lesser known bodies, the Successors of the great Legions. Some of these Chapters are every bit as famous as their celebrated progenitors, while others are all but unheralded. Nevertheless, all are heroes.

Honour the Chapter, a supplement for Deathwatch, is now on sale at your local retailer and on our webstore! Honour the Chapter provides a wealth of options for players interested in characters drawn from Chapters created during the Second or subsequent Foundings. This comprehensive tome contains new character creation rules, a wealth of relics unique to each Chapter, and plenty of guidance and adventure seeds for Game Masters.

Epic Heroes

For more on Honour the Chapter, here’s a word from its lead developer, Tim Flanders:

Since the Core Rulebook, we've had a good chance to cover our core of Space Marine Chapters, and with First Founding we were able to bring the remaining progenitor Chapters to the fore. But now, for the first time since the inception of Deathwatch, we will be giving a huge number of the other myriad Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes the attention they deserve. I think players are going to really enjoy the chance to play Battle-Brothers from Chapters throughout the Imperium, each with as much depth as the Chapters we've covered in our past products.

Of course, with all this variety comes a price. Trying to form a Kill-team out of Battle-Brothers from such disparate backgrounds, all with their own histories, combat doctrines, and philosophies is tough work. Thankfully, we've covered that, too! GMs will find Honour the Chapter indispensable for making the most of their campaigns, by highlighting the strengths of their players, their characters, and the relationships between the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. In this way, they’ll really make their players feel like the epic heroes of the Imperium that they are!

For ten millennia, Space Marines from a thousand chapters have fought and died in the name of the Emperor of Man. Pick up your copy of Honour the Chapter from your local retailer today, and take your place among the legends of the Adeptus Astartes!

Honour the Chapter, a comprehensive supplement for Deathwatch, will be on store shelves in just a few days. Today, we’re pleased to present a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of Honour the Chapter by FFG Associate Art Producer Mike Linnemann. Mike agreed to take us through the process of how FFG works with artists to create the perfect art piece for a book like Honour the Chapter. Thanks, Mike!

As Honour the Chapter is mere days away, it’s high time that we gave you a little insight into some art. This type of preview, called a “Sketch to Final,” focuses on a piece of new commissioned artwork and talks about how that piece of art travels from inspirational idea to finalized product. Today, we’ll look at a chapter plate from the upcoming Honour the Chapter supplement.

Initial Planning

Before every RPG book is created, an art director meets with a producer and discusses the art descriptions. Honour the Chapter was produced by Tim Flanders, a Space Wolves loving man who took an incredible amount of time thinking about each image that would be carefully placed within the pages of Honour the Chapter. After going through every image to be created, I went back to the chapter plates and read his art description:

A Space Marine Captain of the Blood Raven’s Chapter leading a squad of Blood Ravens in a charge out of a drop pod. The Captain is wielding a lightning claw and a plasma pistol, the other Blood Ravens are tactical marines with bolters.

I then asked him what motivated him on this particular artwork, to which he replied, “What is something that only Space Marines get to do? The answer is a drop pod assault. What has more impact than several tons of ceramite and plasteel fired from orbit, carrying a squad of Adeptus Astartes warriors into the thick of battle?”

I looked at the list of artists that I could call upon and found that the trusty and talented Matt Bradbury, a British fellow that enjoys working on Space Marines, was available.

The First Sketches

Here is what Matt turned in for his first sketch:

I knew ahead of time that Matt loves to send in semi-final works as sketches. We loved the imposing grandeur of the stance and the slight twinge of arrogance in the Blood Raven’s swagger. What we did not see, and desperately needed, was the scene of Space Marines arriving. They never travel alone, and the team aspect of the Space Marines was not quite exhibited.

I asked for two more fast sketches. Here is the first sketch I received back:

The first image of a Space Marine charging out of a drop pod is mighty cool. It brings movement and action directly into the piece. It even forces your eye to want to turn the page. If you’re a Scott McCloud fan, you’ll notice the concept from Reinventing Comics (his book) of pushing the viewer toward the right, building a “tease” for the next page, whether it involves the story or not. I like the image; it’s interesting, but it opens itself for interpretation. I’m always up for a good homage, but this takes the “marine” coming directly into battle perhaps a bit too close to literal:

Those are United States soldiers storming Normandy, June 6, 1944. I love the conceptual idea of tying brave troops fighting for freedom and Space Marines in the far future beating back Xenos threats, but there is a better way to depict the scene.

The Second Sketch

The second new sketch really showed us a strongly branded image that we wanted. Were any Xenos armies to see that image, they should be rethinking what they’re doing...if they’re able to think, of course. Both new sketches gave us a great insight into what drop pods look like and the impending battle that is immediate, but this one gave the awe inspiring power and the inevitability of fired up Space Marines landing.

This is a Space Marine invasion; bolter char is going to be the only thing remaining on this world.

Here is Matt’s final:

Notice how solid the foreground Space Marine is standing. Notice that there are five Space Marines shown. (They move in groups of five or two groups of five to make ten.) As Space Marines are organized not unlike the military, showing them as they would look in battle was key for us in this image. You’ll also notice that this type of superhero image used quite often in comic books, movie posters, and high school basketball line ups. Why, you ask? Power. It exudes it, and Space Marines relish in it. It brings the truism of “Might is Right” into a depiction that brings forth the physicality and the order that the Codex Astartes demands. We wanted impending doom and wide-eyed emotion. We got it. We wanted to keep viewers looking at this page, no teaser or preview to flip to the next. We got it. We needed to balance the sheer emotive quality with areas of detail to move the eye. We got it.

Did we get what we wanted? Yes, and then some. You really need to see this up close.

Thanks, Mike! Look for this great art, and much more, when Honour the Chapter invades store shelves in just a few days!

Honour the Chapter, a comprehensive supplement for Deathwatch, will be on store shelves in just a few days. Today, we’re pleased to present a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of Honour the Chapter by FFG Associate Art Producer Mike Linnemann. Mike agreed to take us through the process of how FFG works with artists to create the perfect art piece for a book like Honour the Chapter. Thanks, Mike!

As Honour the Chapter is mere days away, it’s high time that we gave you a little insight into some art. This type of preview, called a “Sketch to Final,” focuses on a piece of new commissioned artwork and talks about how that piece of art travels from inspirational idea to finalized product. Today, we’ll look at a chapter plate from the upcoming Honour the Chapter supplement.

Initial Planning

Before every RPG book is created, an art director meets with a producer and discusses the art descriptions. Honour the Chapter was produced by Tim Flanders, a Space Wolves loving man who took an incredible amount of time thinking about each image that would be carefully placed within the pages of Honour the Chapter. After going through every image to be created, I went back to the chapter plates and read his art description:

A Space Marine Captain of the Blood Raven’s Chapter leading a squad of Blood Ravens in a charge out of a drop pod. The Captain is wielding a lightning claw and a plasma pistol, the other Blood Ravens are tactical marines with bolters.

I then asked him what motivated him on this particular artwork, to which he replied, “What is something that only Space Marines get to do? The answer is a drop pod assault. What has more impact than several tons of ceramite and plasteel fired from orbit, carrying a squad of Adeptus Astartes warriors into the thick of battle?”

I looked at the list of artists that I could call upon and found that the trusty and talented Matt Bradbury, a British fellow that enjoys working on Space Marines, was available.

The First Sketches

Here is what Matt turned in for his first sketch:

I knew ahead of time that Matt loves to send in semi-final works as sketches. We loved the imposing grandeur of the stance and the slight twinge of arrogance in the Blood Raven’s swagger. What we did not see, and desperately needed, was the scene of Space Marines arriving. They never travel alone, and the team aspect of the Space Marines was not quite exhibited.

I asked for two more fast sketches. Here is the first sketch I received back:

The first image of a Space Marine charging out of a drop pod is mighty cool. It brings movement and action directly into the piece. It even forces your eye to want to turn the page. If you’re a Scott McCloud fan, you’ll notice the concept from Reinventing Comics (his book) of pushing the viewer toward the right, building a “tease” for the next page, whether it involves the story or not. I like the image; it’s interesting, but it opens itself for interpretation. I’m always up for a good homage, but this takes the “marine” coming directly into battle perhaps a bit too close to literal:

Those are United States soldiers storming Normandy, June 6, 1944. I love the conceptual idea of tying brave troops fighting for freedom and Space Marines in the far future beating back Xenos threats, but there is a better way to depict the scene.

The Second Sketch

The second new sketch really showed us a strongly branded image that we wanted. Were any Xenos armies to see that image, they should be rethinking what they’re doing...if they’re able to think, of course. Both new sketches gave us a great insight into what drop pods look like and the impending battle that is immediate, but this one gave the awe inspiring power and the inevitability of fired up Space Marines landing.

This is a Space Marine invasion; bolter char is going to be the only thing remaining on this world.

Here is Matt’s final:

Notice how solid the foreground Space Marine is standing. Notice that there are five Space Marines shown. (They move in groups of five or two groups of five to make ten.) As Space Marines are organized not unlike the military, showing them as they would look in battle was key for us in this image. You’ll also notice that this type of superhero image used quite often in comic books, movie posters, and high school basketball line ups. Why, you ask? Power. It exudes it, and Space Marines relish in it. It brings the truism of “Might is Right” into a depiction that brings forth the physicality and the order that the Codex Astartes demands. We wanted impending doom and wide-eyed emotion. We got it. We wanted to keep viewers looking at this page, no teaser or preview to flip to the next. We got it. We needed to balance the sheer emotive quality with areas of detail to move the eye. We got it.

Did we get what we wanted? Yes, and then some. You really need to see this up close.

Thanks, Mike! Look for this great art, and much more, when Honour the Chapter invades store shelves in just a few days!