Ever since I first saw space marines and genestealers back in the late eighties, I was wanted to roleplay in that universe. The table top mass combat was fun and all, but I was (am) a roleplayer, not a miniatures general. So, when I first saw that Dark Heresy (original from Black Industries, but now under license with Fantasy Flight Games) was released, I knew I had to buy it. I didn’t even care much about the game system; I just wanted to read more about the Warhammer 40k universe.
Well, the game is truly exceptional. The rules are based off Warhammer Fantasy (2nd or 3rd edition) and are quick and gritty (especially so after the laborious miniature-obsessed D&D4e) but it’s the setting that is phenomenally presented. Dark Heresy is a low power game where the players are acolytes working (usually secretly) for the Inquisition to root out heresy amongst its citizens. It’s about rewarding subtle and smart play and discouraging heavy handed full assaults, but it’s always good to mix it up. My players and I are hooked and I have since bought all the books, including the two other systems that raise the power level: Rogue Trader (you seek your fortune with a warrant of trade on the outskirts of civilized space) and Death Watch (you are one of the famous space marines asked to serve in the prestigious Order known as Death Watch).
I have made a website for my players (and me) to keep track of all the non-player characters the players meet. I’ve named our campaign Dark Horizons, after the ship that is pivotal in the story arc.
I also made some character sketches for the Rogue Trader game my friend Dave ran.
Here is a time lapse movie on how I created Fortunis.
