Post by Katzu on Feb 12, 2010 14:03:47 GMT -6
((From the FFG website))
Renegades, Daemons, and Aliens
Ascended Adversaries for Ascension Comments (12)
Dark Heresy | Published 10 February 2010 Rating 22 votes
+++Incoming Astropathic Transmission+++
Greetings, Dark Heresy fans!
“Now, you face a somewhat better class of heretic.”
–Inquisitor Felroth Gelt
During the development of Ascension, one thing that became clear early on is that we needed to present ascended characters with suitably challenging enemies. An Inquisitor and his hand-picked retinue face different foes than the cultists and mutants that Acolytes often encounter.
One of my favourite bad guys from this ultimate bad guy chapter in Ascension is Governor Malakai Vess. He does not represent an unstoppable monster in personal combat. No, in fact, he is little more than a normal man (albeit hardened by years of service in the Emperor’s Name). What makes him truly and exceptionally dangerous is his heretical beliefs and his exceptional ability to inspire fanatical loyalty in his followers. Thus, Vess presents an interesting challenge to an Inquisitor and other Throne Agents, in that facing him head-on will likely not produce ideal results. Rather, a more creative approach is going to provide a much better outcome for the Throne Agents. It may even be possible to reason with Vess, and no doubt there could be a great deal of exciting roleplaying opportunities for the player characters to attempt to sway him...or perhaps for Vess to sway them to his point of view in turn!
As an Imperial Governor, Vess has a great deal of power and authority. This is represented by his Influence score. In Ascension, Influence is a game mechanic that measures the impact a person’s authority may have on the various organisations of the Imperium. For Vess, his impressive Influence score means that the Throne Agents will not simply have to face him in battle, they will have to first untangle the web of favours and pressure the Governor can use to slow their progress.
Influence may also be used to acquire special gear or the services of particularly useful groups or individuals. In Governor Vess’ case, this means that he not only commands the potent forces of his own personal guard, he may also be able to call on the services of the especially deadly Eversor Assassin!
Imperial Governor Malaki Vess oversees Zweihan’s World, a minor hive world located in the Malfian Sub-sector. A cool and temperate planet, much of Zweihan’s World’s surface is covered in water, resulting in a rather damp planetary climate. The planet is circled by several long, mountainous and almost serpentine continents, which are straddled by four hive cities near the equator. Zweihan’s World’s most notable feature is not on the planet, but around it: a vast ring system made up of the shattered remains of what used to be a large moon. Now the rock rings are mined, bringing the planet impressive mineral wealth.
As the Imperial ruler of the planet, Vess has overseen Zweihan’s World’s development for most of the last century. An intelligent, empathetic, and charismatic man and ruler, he has ruled his planet well, and as a result his subjects are prosperous and content. It is no wonder that Vess is respected, even adored, by his subjects.
However, trouble looms for Vess. The Adeptus Administratum has recently determined that Zweihan’s World is not properly exploiting the vast mineral deposits found in its planetary rings. As a result, the planet’s Tithe is set to increase to exploitive levels.
Vess knows what this means; Zweihan’s World will become a blasted, strip-mined, and polluted wasteland where the unlucky inhabitants scrabble for simple survival. He cannot stand to see this happen, and thus, plots rebellion.
Naturally, Governor Vess is simply one of the many ascended adversaries you will find within Ascension...this particular chapter is quite packed with other dangerous Xenos, foul minions of Chaos, and much more!
Renegades, Daemons, and Aliens
Ascended Adversaries for Ascension Comments (12)
Dark Heresy | Published 10 February 2010 Rating 22 votes
+++Incoming Astropathic Transmission+++
Greetings, Dark Heresy fans!
“Now, you face a somewhat better class of heretic.”
–Inquisitor Felroth Gelt
During the development of Ascension, one thing that became clear early on is that we needed to present ascended characters with suitably challenging enemies. An Inquisitor and his hand-picked retinue face different foes than the cultists and mutants that Acolytes often encounter.
One of my favourite bad guys from this ultimate bad guy chapter in Ascension is Governor Malakai Vess. He does not represent an unstoppable monster in personal combat. No, in fact, he is little more than a normal man (albeit hardened by years of service in the Emperor’s Name). What makes him truly and exceptionally dangerous is his heretical beliefs and his exceptional ability to inspire fanatical loyalty in his followers. Thus, Vess presents an interesting challenge to an Inquisitor and other Throne Agents, in that facing him head-on will likely not produce ideal results. Rather, a more creative approach is going to provide a much better outcome for the Throne Agents. It may even be possible to reason with Vess, and no doubt there could be a great deal of exciting roleplaying opportunities for the player characters to attempt to sway him...or perhaps for Vess to sway them to his point of view in turn!
As an Imperial Governor, Vess has a great deal of power and authority. This is represented by his Influence score. In Ascension, Influence is a game mechanic that measures the impact a person’s authority may have on the various organisations of the Imperium. For Vess, his impressive Influence score means that the Throne Agents will not simply have to face him in battle, they will have to first untangle the web of favours and pressure the Governor can use to slow their progress.
Influence may also be used to acquire special gear or the services of particularly useful groups or individuals. In Governor Vess’ case, this means that he not only commands the potent forces of his own personal guard, he may also be able to call on the services of the especially deadly Eversor Assassin!
Imperial Governor Malaki Vess oversees Zweihan’s World, a minor hive world located in the Malfian Sub-sector. A cool and temperate planet, much of Zweihan’s World’s surface is covered in water, resulting in a rather damp planetary climate. The planet is circled by several long, mountainous and almost serpentine continents, which are straddled by four hive cities near the equator. Zweihan’s World’s most notable feature is not on the planet, but around it: a vast ring system made up of the shattered remains of what used to be a large moon. Now the rock rings are mined, bringing the planet impressive mineral wealth.
As the Imperial ruler of the planet, Vess has overseen Zweihan’s World’s development for most of the last century. An intelligent, empathetic, and charismatic man and ruler, he has ruled his planet well, and as a result his subjects are prosperous and content. It is no wonder that Vess is respected, even adored, by his subjects.
However, trouble looms for Vess. The Adeptus Administratum has recently determined that Zweihan’s World is not properly exploiting the vast mineral deposits found in its planetary rings. As a result, the planet’s Tithe is set to increase to exploitive levels.
Vess knows what this means; Zweihan’s World will become a blasted, strip-mined, and polluted wasteland where the unlucky inhabitants scrabble for simple survival. He cannot stand to see this happen, and thus, plots rebellion.
Naturally, Governor Vess is simply one of the many ascended adversaries you will find within Ascension...this particular chapter is quite packed with other dangerous Xenos, foul minions of Chaos, and much more!
