+++Subject & Author+++
Campaign Settings – Jack Vogel
+++Thought for the day+++
Here's a topic I can really sink my teeth into, as it
has always seemed to me to be a problem with 40K, not
as written maybe, but certainly as applied.
Have you ever noticed how the average 40K battle
usually takes place on a tabletop that looks more like
a golf course than anything else? Generally there is
smooth, gentle grass, low rolling hills, a babbling
brook, and perhaps a few decorous trees.
While this terrain setup describes most tabletop
wargames, I always thought that it was very limiting
where 40k (or Inquisitor) was concerned. Inquisitor
is a science fiction milieu, so where is the
science-fiction terrain? More importantly, where are
the rules to cover these alien environments?
A few possibilities (note that most of these required
sealed suits and special equipment):
Low gravity, airless moons: Powered armored troops get
greater movement, but less control, so you might throw
a scatter die for where somebody lands. Of course, a
suit breach is at least incapacitating, and probably
deadly.
Undersea fighting: Allows 3D fighting, as specially
equipped powered troopers swim into combat. Gimmicks
include giant moray eels popping out of caves to
gobble up the troops, submarines, trained sea
monsters, and varying effects on weapons (most energy
weapons would probably diffuse and be useless).
Gas Giant "cloud island" fights: This is kinda science
fantasy, but, hey, so is Inquisitor. Here, I picture
artificial antigravity "islands" of matter orbiting a
high gravity gas giant, possibly giant "cloud
creatures" which might be harvested for rare gases,
etc. High winds could cause the troops to move
randomly, possibly knocking them off the islands to
30G death below.
Starship boarding actions: These are great fun, and
have a lot of the feel of a dungeon crawl, especially
if you find an abandoned alien starship somewhere.
(Milord, why dost that octopus-thing hug thy face?).
But the possibilities for a conventional fight are
great too. I imagine that while the physical conflict
is going on, rival groups of adeptus mechanicus or
other techies are battling to control the ship's
computer from various consoles, seeking to shut off
life support to certain areas, close computerized
doors, etc.
Hellworlds (like Mercury): Flares of burning gases,
rivers or explosions of molten lava, etc., could be
loads of fun for the troops. So why would anybody
fight over a world like this? Simple: readily
processed metals lying on the surface for the taking.
Such worlds could provide raw materials for entire
sectors, if they can be controlled.
Deathworlds: And what is more fun that jungle
crawling? Trying to kill the rebels while Cthellean
Cudbears are trying to kill you? Need I say more?
Battles in deep space: These offer alot of
possibilities for the adventurous modeller, but even a
black sheet laid out with a model spaceship and a few
white rocks for asteroids can look really stunning.
Rules-wise, if you combine the 3D movement of an
undersea fight with the possibilities of a boarding
action (maybe fighting both inside and outside the
ship) you can have quite a game.
Tyranid Boarding Actions: Anybody remember Advanced
Space Crusade? What could be more fun than crawling
around in the guts of some loathsome,alien monster? Yummy!
