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CheshireCatAW
2010-09-23, 11:26 AM
Hello Playground,

I've joined my first Dark Heresy game and am looking for help making an Imperial Psyker. The DM has said that he was running a rather hard game and I'm the only "new-to-Dark Heresy" player. Some tips and hints on what items, skills or traits to pick up would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Psyx
2010-09-23, 12:03 PM
Yeah... 'don't play a psyker', would be my top tip.

They're the most complex character, making it a bad idea for a new player.

They also face a nightmare of RP challenges, as even 'friendly' humans have been taught since birth that psykers are scum and should be 'dealt with'. Everyone hates you, nobody trusts you, most people would quite like you burned at the stake.

Most of the Warp is looking for a way to use your feeble mortal mind as a gateway into reality. Many really, really nasty critters will target psykers firstly, or exclusively. Followers of Khorne will be near the top of the list, of course.

System-wise they are absurdly over-powered.
This is countered by the fact that the system balances them out by making them likely to die within three games. It won't be long until you fumble a casting, and then you'll die. Either at the hands of the demon that popped out of the warp, or the NPCs/PCs nearby when something whacky starts happening, because the entire galaxy knows that psykers are better off dead.


Seriously: If new to the game, stick to something that is less complex, less likely to kill you, and doesn't put you front-and-centre as regards every NPC wanting you dead.

If that doesn't convince you, then the best advice is 'don't throw more than one power dice' and 'never read anyone's mind, because if they're tainted, you'll be picking up corruption too'.

Tyger
2010-09-23, 12:30 PM
To add to what Pysx noted, if you plan on living beyond a session or two, remember that your powers are both your greatest strength, and the thing most likely to kill you. Use them accordingly.

Translation: Be skilled in other means of your primary skill. If you want to kill things, use a bolter, not your brain. Want to get the truth out of someone? Torture is a remarkably effective tool, and very unlikely to make your head explode.

Not only will some of the Warp effects effect you, some of them have the potential to wipe out your entire group. Keep that in mind at all times.

Asheram
2010-09-23, 12:30 PM
Yeah... 'don't play a psyker', would be my top tip.


They're the most complex character, making it a bad idea for a new player.

They also face a nightmare of RP challenges, as even 'friendly' humans have been taught since birth that psykers are scum and should be 'dealt with'. Everyone hates you, nobody trusts you, most people would quite like you burned at the stake.

Most of the Warp is looking for a way to use your feeble mortal mind as a gateway into reality. Many really, really nasty critters will target psykers firstly, or exclusively. Followers of Khorne will be near the top of the list, of course.

System-wise they are absurdly over-powered.
This is countered by the fact that the system balances them out by making them likely to die within three games. It won't be long until you fumble a casting, and then you'll die. Either at the hands of the demon that popped out of the warp, or the NPCs/PCs nearby when something whacky starts happening, because the entire galaxy knows that psykers are better off dead.


Seriously: If new to the game, stick to something that is less complex, less likely to kill you, and doesn't put you front-and-centre as regards every NPC wanting you dead.

If that doesn't convince you, then the best advice is 'don't throw more than one power dice' and 'never read anyone's mind, because if they're tainted, you'll be picking up corruption too'.

Agreed. By playing a Psyker you've got a good chance of being introduced to a "stray bullet" by your friends.

Go Guardsman instead. :smallbiggrin:

Lycan 01
2010-09-23, 02:08 PM
Guardsman or Assassin would be better options for a newbie. They just shoot stuff, are simple to build, and you can roleplay them very easily. Psykers are really complex, complicated, and prone to dying just because of a bad roll, let alone actual enemies or bad situations. Roleplaying is not easy for new players taking on a Psyker roll, either, since they have a ton of fluff you need to understand. Not beginner friendly at all.