Astra Militarum Homebrew for Wrath & Glory

In the dark present of Ulisses lack of production for the Warhammer 40,000 RPG, Wrath & Glory. I had become very enthusiastic about the possibilities of a system where Space Marine and Guardsman could be made relatively balanced in the same gaming group. I was then disappointed by the product and set about making some homebrew that would make me less depressed about the entire situation using Fantasy Flight's Only War as a starting point with the Astra Militarum Archetypes.

Design Choices and Clarification

Nearly everything is based on the classes from Only War and its supplements, such as Shield of Humanity.

I made caveats and tried to keep it close to as balanced as I could figure using the Astra Militarum Codex for 8E and having the PCs be considered Veterans or Sergeants of their respective classes/squads. This is including the weapon point costs in addition to the base unit costs.

I am making this clear now, because most of the Archetypes I have made are around 30BP as a Base before special rules are employed, which is reflective in that while Veterans are around 6 Points per Model, they are definitely more expensive then the 10 point model of the Tempestus Scion after adding whatever weapons you plan on giving him as part of his base gear.

In addition, it was reflecting on my own Homebrew when it comes to the point model of Attributes and Skills and their costs. I made it less expensive and more importantly, simpler with each advance on Attributes being twice its new value and Skills costing its new value in BP. I also changed the limitations on BP spent on Attributes to follow Table 1-0.
With a design choice that the combination of Race and Archetype not using up more then 1/4th of a Player's available BP at Character Creation unless extra options are taken. Finally Ascension was recalculated to be
(New Tier - Old Tier) Multiplied by 10 then + 10. This left my players able to do a lot of things at character creation without terribly imbalancing it unless they develop really really focused characters.
This actually happened, but they both chose killer types in an intrigue entry game that I told them will be a mixed intrigue/fighting game. So... they can't find Mcguffin, but they can kill everything.

Table 1-0 Tier Attribute Limitations

Special Options and Costs

Nearly each of the following Archetypes have Special Rules that can change how weapons are chosen, give more options to the player at additional costs, or clarify wargear options. I based this on the Inquisitorial Adept and the variant options for wargear in the wargear section of the Wrath & Glory Core Rule Book. I separated them because its easier for me to edit and read in that format.

Thanks to The Homebrewery

I am using Homebrewery for this file to make it easier to look at from both an asthetic sense and a organizational sense.

I however will not be using images since it might be an issue of rights usage with both Fantasy Flight, and Games Workshop and I just don't want to bother with issues like that.

Weapon Specialist

Table 2-1

Benefits

• Keywords
  • Imperium, Astra Militarum, (Regiment)
• Influence Bonus +1
• Weapon of Choice
  • Choose a Ranged Non-Exotic Weapon without the Traits Pistol, Heavy, or Explosive, of Uncommon or less Rarity, and of a Value that is Equal to or Less then 3+Tier of Campaign. It must have the Imperium Keyword or a Keyword that your character has.
    It may or may not have the Adeptus Astartes, Adeptus Mechanicus, or Adeptus Sororitas or any other Imperium subdivision depending on your GM.
    You gain a Weapon Upgrade with a Value of Tier+4 with a Rarity of Rare or less that you can apply to your Weapon of Choice. In Addition, if your Weapon is a Mastercraft Weapon, you can treat your Weapon’s Rarity as Very Rare for the Purchase of additional Weapon Upgrades with BP.
• I Know a Guy:
  • +1/2 Rank on Influence Checks to get Disposable or limited use equipment such as special ammunition or Grenades

• Regiment Affiliation: As Imperial Guardsman

• Wargear:

  • Weapon of Choice, Flak Armour, Knife, Guard Issue Mess Kit, Blanket, Grooming Kit, Uplifting Primer, 3 Ration Packs

Place Holder

Weapon Specialist Homebrew based on the Only War Class.

Design Decisions was to focus on keeping the Weapon of Choice Relevant for the character’s career at any tier.

• Set the Destination to "Save as PDF"
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• If you are printing on A4 paper, make sure to have the "A4 page size snippet" in your brew

If you want to save ink or have a monochrome printer, add the Ink Friendly snippet to your brew before you print

Special Options: Weapon Specialist

You can choose each option once

• Additional Requisition
  You can spend an Additional 5BP to increase the Base Value for the Weapon and the Upgrade by 1.

• Special Dispensation
  You can spend an Additional 5BP to increase the Rarity for your Weapon and the Upgrade by one step.

• Grenadier Status
  You can spend an Additional 10BP to change Flak Armour to Carapace Armour, the Knife to a Mono-Knife, and gain a number of Frag, Krak, and/or etc Grenades with the Imperium Trait with a Value of 2+Tier and a Rarity of Uncommon (or less), Equal to your Rank. These limitations are also improved by the Additional Requisition and Special Dispensation Special Options.

• Breacher Status This Requires Grenadier Status
  For 5BP, Replace Weapon of Choice with a Voss Pattern Grenade Launcher. It comes with a Bayonet Lug, an Ammunition Bandolier, and one Appropriate Weapon Upgrade of a Value of Tier+2 of any Rarity. The number of Grenades you gain is now your Rank+2.

Brawler

Table 3-1

Benefits

• Keywords
  • Imperium, Astra Militarum, (Regiment)
• Influence Bonus +1

• Weapon of Choice

  • Choose a Melee Non-Exotic Weapon without the Traits [Unwieldy] or [Force], of Common or Uncommon Rarity and of a Value that is Equal to or Less then 3+Tier of Campaign. It must have the Imperium Keyword or a Keyword your character has.
    You gain a Weapon Upgrade with a Value of Tier+4 with a Rarity of Rare or less that you can apply to your Weapon of Choice. In Addition, if your Weapon is a Mastercraft Weapon, you can treat your Weapon’s Rarity as Very Rare for the Purchase of additional Weapon Upgrades with BP.

• Sidearm:

  • Choose a Ranged Weapon with the Pistol Trait and the Imperium Keyword or a Keyword your character has. It can have a Value of 2+Tier and a Rarity of Common. It comes with 3 Reloads and you can spend BP to put a Weapon Upgrade on it as described in Select Wargear subsection of Character Creation.

• CHARGE! :

  • +1/2 Rank to Speed During a Charge Action

• Regiment Affiliation: As Imperial Guardsman

• Wargear:

  • Weapon of Choice, Carapace Armour, Sidearm, Guard Issue Mess Kit, Blanket, Grooming Kit, Uplifting Primer, 3 Ration Packs, 1 Krak Grenade, 1 Frag Grenade

Special Options: Brawler

You can choose each option once

• Additional Requisition
  You can spend an Additional 5BP to increase the Base Value for the Weapon and the Upgrade by 1.

• Special Dispensation
  You can spend an Additional 5BP to increase the Rarity for your Weapon and the Upgrade by one step.

• Medallion Crimson
  You can spend an Additional 5BP to gain one Augmetics of a Value of 2+Tier and a Rarity of Rare or less. This can be increased by the Additional Requisition and Special Dispensation Options. You gain 1 Trinket, the Medallion Crimson. In Addition, you can select this Option, paying the cost again, a number of times equal to the Tier/2. Gaining an Additional Augmentic and Medallion Crimson

Scout

Table 4-1

Benefits

• Keywords
  • Imperium, Astra Militarum, (Regiment)
• Influence Bonus +1
• Weapon of Choice
  • Ranged Weapon with the Trait Projectile or Bolt but without the Trait Heavy with an Integrated Silencer Weapon Upgrade (reducing available upgrades to 2) with a Value of Tier+3, Imperium Keyword, but not the Adeptus Astartes Keyword, and of Uncommon or less Rarity. You can buy it Weapon Upgrades, as if it was Very Rare, as described in Selecting Wargear.

• Follow In My Steps:

  • A Scout and any Allies with the Imperium Keyword that is within 15 Metres of the Scout, gain + ½ Rank to Stealth Tests.

• Regiment Affiliation: As Imperial Guardsman

• Wargear:

  • Weapon of Choice, Mono-Knife, Flak Armour, Cameleoline Cloak, Magnoculars, Guard Issue Mess Kit, Blanket, Grooming Kit, Uplifting Primer, 2 Ration Packs

Design Choices and Reasons

This Class is Based on the Scout as well as the Ratling from the Hammer of the Emperor and the Only War Core Rule book. It can probably fit the Specialist Trailblazer from the Shield of Humanity as well.

Sniper

Table 4-2

Benefits

• Keywords

  • Imperium, Astra Militarum, (Regiment)

• Influence Bonus +1

• Weak Spot:

  • Add ½ Ranks to the AP value of your weapon so long as you take the Aim Action.

• Regiment Affiliation: As Imperial Guardsman

• Wargear:

  • Long Las with an Integrated Silencer Weapon Upgrade (ignoring the Bolt and Projectile Requirements and reducing available upgrades to 2), Knife, Flak Armour, Cameleoline Cloak, Magnoculars, Guard Issue Mess Kit, Blanket, Grooming Kit, Uplifting Primer, 2 Ration Packs

Special Rule
At Tier 4+, the Long Las is also Mastercrafted

Design Choices and Reasons

This Class is Based on the Sharpshooter as well as the Ratling from the Hammer of the Emperor and the Only War Core Rule book. It can probably fit the Specialist Longshooter from the Shield of Humanity as well.
Special Rule is to Keep the Long Las Relevant at Higher Tiers of play.
The game could use a few more Sniper Rifles

Heavy Weapon Specialist

Table 5-1

Benefits

• Keywords
  • Imperium, Astra Militarum, (Regiment)
• Influence Bonus +1

• Heavy Weapon of Choice:

  • You can choose a Weapon with the Heavy Trait and the Imperium and/or the Scum Keyword (The GM may allow other Keywords as Appropriate); that has a Value of 3+Tier of the Campaign and of Common, Uncommon, or Rare Rarity.
    
    If you choose a Weapon that expends Ammo Per Shot, like a Missile Launcher, you gain 2+Rank Rounds of a Value of 3+Tier of Campaign, ignoring Rarity and you replace the Knife with a Ranged Weapon with the [Pistol] Trait and a Value of 2+Tier with a Rarity of Uncommon and the same limitation on Keywords as the Heavy Weapon. It has 1 Reload.
    
    You gain a Weapon Upgrade that is appropriate for your Heavy Weapon of Choice with any Rarity but of a Value no Greater the 3+Tier of the Campaign.

• Lean Into It:

  • When you are Braced, you are treated as if you are in Power Armour. You can carry and gain Additional Reloads for a Heavy Weapon equal to ½ Rank.

• Regiment Affiliation: As Imperial Guardsman

• Wargear:

  • Heavy Weapon of Choice, Flak Armour, Knife, Guard Issue Mess Kit, Blanket, Grooming Kit, Uplifting Primer, 3 Ration Packs

Design Notes

Inspired by the Heavy Weapon Specialist, Sentry, and Gun Lugger from Only War Core, Hammer of the Emperor, and the Shield of Humanity. Balanced for usage as is at Tier 2 and with the Ascension Homebrew Rule as well as the Special Options in Tiers 3+

Special Options: Heavy Weapon Specialist

You can choose each option once

• Additional Requisition
  You can spend an Additional 5BP to increase the Base Value for the Weapon(s) and the Upgrade by 1.

• Special Dispensation
  You can spend an Additional 5BP to increase the Rarity for your Weapon(s) and the Upgrade by one step.

• Grenadier Status
  You can spend an Additional 10BP to change Flak Armour to Carapace Armour, the Knife to a Mono-Knife, and gain a number of Frag, Krak, and/or etc Grenades with the Imperium Trait with a Value of 2+Tier and a Rarity of Uncommon (or less), Equal to your Rank. These limitations are also improved by the Additional Requisition and Special Dispensation Special Options.

Bulwark

Table 6-1

Benefits

• Keywords

  • Imperium, Astra Militarum, (Regiment)

• Influence Bonus +0

• Simple, Brute Force:

  • Ignore the Unwieldy Trait on Melee Weapons
    Ignore the Bulk Trait on Armour
    +2DN to Repair Weapons and Armour

• Double Time

  • You can Sprint as a Move Action and as Part of a Multi-Action with Charge.

• Regiment Affiliation: As Imperial Guardsman

• Wargear:

  • Industrial Bludgeon, Hand Cannon, Flak Armour or Flak Coat (Whichever is Easier to Put On, Really), Guard Issue Mess Kit, Blanket, Grooming Kit, Uplifting Primer (Picture Edition), 3 Ration Packs

Special Options – Bulwark
+5BP to change Flak Gear to Carapace.
Requires 2 Intelligence or an Assistant. (You are an Exceptionally Intelligent Ogryn or you have someone to help you put it on)

Design Choices and Reasons

An Ogryn, whose simplicity bore a natural talent to smashing things really, really hard, has been set aside to be trained differently than other Ogryns. It is based on the Bulwark Class in Shield of Humanity.
Natural Focus is to Grab a big Unwieldy Weapon with huge Base stats and then get just enough Weapons Skill to Hit’em; Going for a Greater focus in Strength Vs. Initiative.

Field Medicae

Table 6-2

Benefits

• Keywords

  • Imperium, Astra Militarum, (Regiment)

• Influence Bonus +0

• Designated Medic

  • +Rank on Medicae Tests when treating Characters with the Imperium Keyword

• Regiment Affiliation: As Imperial Guardsman

• Wargear:

  • Flak Armour, Medikit, Diagnostor, Weapon with Pistol and Imperium Trait with a Value no greater than Tier + 2 and Uncommon Rarity, Knife, Guard Issue Mess Kit, Blanket, Grooming Kit, Uplifting Primer, 3 Ration Packs

Special Rule
Your GM could also add Tier to Medicae tests, unsure if it would unbalance things to much.
Tiers 3+ should make the Knife a Mono-Knife and the Pistol up to Rare Rarity.

Design Choices and Reasons

meowmix

NCO Guardsman

Table 7-1

Benefits

• Keywords
  • Imperium, Astra Militarum, (Regiment)

• Influence Bonus +2

• Regiment Affiliation: As Imperial Guardsman

• Aura of Command

  • The NCO subtract ½ their rank to all Leadership Test’s DN. This can also reduce a Multi–Action’s DN, so long as it includes a Leadership Test.

  • You can spend Glory in response to a squad mate(s) gaining a detrimental combat effect(s) to immediately roll a Leadership test to ignore or recover from said effect(s). Multiple targets or effects count as a multi-action in terms of DN.

• Wargear:

  • Flak Armour, Laspistol, Chainsword or Sword with a Dueling Grip and Distinction, Guard Issue Mess Kit, Blanket, Grooming Kit, Uplifting Primer, 3 Ration Packs

Special Options: NCO Guardsman

You can choose each option once

• Grenadier Commander
  Requires Tier 3+
  For 10BP, the NCO can replace their Flak Armour with Carapace, Laspistol for a Hotshot Laspistol, and their melee weapon with a Power Sword, Power Axe, or Shock Maul.

• Commander's Awards
  Requires Grenadier Commander
  For 5BP, the NCO replaces their Hotshot Laspistol with a Plasma Pistol, a Master-crafted Bolt Pistol, or a Master-crafted Hand Cannon that is loaded with Manstopper Rounds.

• Medallion Crimson
  You can spend an Additional 5BP to gain one Augmetics of a Value of 2+Tier and a Rarity of Rare or less. This can be increased by the Additional Requisition and Special Dispensation Options. You gain 1 Trinket, the Medallion Crimson. In Addition, you can select this Option, paying the cost again, a number of times equal to the Tier/2. Gaining an Additional Augmentic and Medallion Crimson

NCO's Design Choices

Inspired by the Sergeant from Only War Core Rule Book by Fantasy Flight Games, but mechanically influenced by Kill Team Core, by Games Workshop, Leader Specialist and the Combat Effects mechanic of Wrath & Glory, by Ulisses and Cubicle 7.

Use of Leadership;
Ignore or recover from Combat Effects
Personal Rule of Thumb;
Recover from psychological, ignore physiological for a number of turns equal to 1 + Hits exceeding the DN. Each additional target is +2DN; +2DN for each Combat Effect.