Warlock Marines, rate them

[DBX]

what do you think of them? how would you develop them?

IMO one of the best concepts in Palladium books from "fluff" point. put them behind only Apok, Demon Queller in that regard.

are they the best military (group, not individual occ) type concept out in any palladiumbooks?

[Carl Gleba]

I like them

Carl

[Vrykolas2k]

interesting for sure.

let's see what Dan Bishop has in his UWW book, he might expand things.

or has that been shelved until 2006 ?

Or maybe it's another one we'll never see... or if we do, it will be called something else, with little in common with the original title.
At any rate, I always liked the Warlock marines.

[Carl Gleba]

interesting for sure.

let's see what Dan Bishop has in his UWW book, he might expand things.

or has that been shelved until 2006 ?

No idea when it will be done, but keep in mind its not something you can do in a weekend.

I work a full time job, so it usually takes me a good six months to get the bulk of a book done. Thats working at it everyday too. When Mr. Bishop gets the manuscript back to Palladium, they'll have to fit it into their schedule. That could take another 2 to 6 months. Sorry these things take time.

Trust me I'm looking forward to the book too!

Carl

[DhAkael]

interesting for sure.

let's see what Dan Bishop has in his UWW book, he might expand things.

or has that been shelved until 2006 ?

No idea when it will be done, but keep in mind its not something you can do in a weekend.

I work a full time job, so it usually takes me a good six months to get the bulk of a book done. Thats working at it everyday too. When Mr. Bishop gets the manuscript back to Palladium, they'll have to fit it into their schedule. That could take another 2 to 6 months. Sorry these things take time.

Trust me I'm looking forward to the book too!

Carl

WANT THOSE SPACE MAGIC SPELLS!
Not your fault Carl, but when I found out that your space magic was dropped from the 3-galaxies book I was bummed out...THEN there was the whole "look for them in the next rifter and \ or cutting room floor".
Neither senario has happend Again, not YOUR fault.
Mr. Bishop then had his UWW book on tap...with a whole slew of stuff..space magic and what looked like different divisions of the Warlock marine corp.
"YAY!" Said I...
Then the delay \ re-write...
ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!
Let's hope everyone is happy when the book finally comes out

[DhAkael]

As for rating the Warlock marines..hmmm
4 out of 10 for game mechanics, 7 out of 10 for style \ concept.

[Marcethus]

one big Issue they forgot the Warlock Marines Magic Specialist PPE. Other than that they rock.

[DBX]

As for rating the Warlock marines..hmmm
4 out of 10 for game mechanics, 7 out of 10 for style \ concept.

just giong by their fluff text, their concept is really good, interesting.

BUT after the fluff text made you take notice of them, & make you want to roll a character, their stats/execution of the fluff text made you want to throw up

I hope their execution is better in future books. but since that book came out TW has been done a little better (FOM, SOT book) so if the WM's & especially their gear get a similar make over. their stats make sense & also reflect the fluff text & the artwork for them also looked good.

which artwrok/image of WM's do you prefer from PW book, the PA pic or the EBA pic.


i really hope that the dragon WM is really well executed. (IMO) i would like to see the dwarven WM shocktrooper, or the elven assasin WM

[Guest]

the PA RULES...

the class is ok, good for a munchkin...

but the magic specialists...oh man...

slap a Silhouette into that job, drop them in a flight suit, give them a volcano rifle and a sniper rifle...replace the vibro sword with a phase sword...maybe a crystal assault rifle too...and you have a VERY scary opponent...

before adding in possible phase fields on the suit.

[DBX]

the PA RULES...

the class is ok, good for a munchkin...

but the magic specialists...oh man...

slap a Silhouette into that job, drop them in a flight suit, give them a volcano rifle and a sniper rifle...replace the vibro sword with a phase sword...maybe a crystal assault rifle too...and you have a VERY scary opponent...

before adding in possible phase fields on the suit.

how would a warlock marine with similar types of TW weapons from say FOM book/SOT 1 be?

how much mdc would an hatchling/adult/ancient dragon's PA have before it got the tW **** added to it.

[DBX]

Somehow I don't think a dragon would use that armor, and if they did, they'd use it in human form.

i thuoght the books say that dragons are members of the warlock marines.


different species being warlock marines is one of their edges

[DBX]

Warlock Marines are a great idea. The problem is that the OCC is retarded.

Chemically enhanced, non-magical warriors? It doesn't make any sense.

this just doesn't add up. i liked the idea of enhancing mortal or immortal species to survive/fight in the hostile environment of vaccuum, udnerwater or on the elementals worlds of the UWW or to travel through a star hive ( makes sense). but the execution of this left alot to be desired. could be written better, but the idea is good.


Warlock Marines should be something like a polished Battle Magus. Maybe not more powerful per se, but more refined, specialized, and less scrappy.

The Warlock Marines should be one of the most terrifying forces in existence, a highly elite force that can attack from nowhere in their ornate, arcane power armor-- forged by the combined might of the Star Elves and the Dwarven Guildmasters.

well that is how the fluff text & armour pics made them sound, that is until you looked at their stats

[Guest]

well...if you omit the warlock marines, and just make them all magic specialists, things can get pretty scary...

especially since there is virtually no restrictions, so anything from a silhouette, to a great horned hatchling, to a fallen knight is eligible

[Sir_Spirit]

Somehow I don't think a dragon would use that armor, and if they did, they'd use it in human form.

i thuoght the books say that dragons are members of the warlock marines.


different species being warlock marines is one of their edges

No, we dragons would use it in our true form, not some puny form.

[Sir_Spirit]

Somehow I don't think a dragon would use that armor, and if they did, they'd use it in human form.

i thuoght the books say that dragons are members of the warlock marines.


different species being warlock marines is one of their edges

Being a member doesn't mean you follow the OCC and OCC equipment.

Doesn't mean you don't either.

[EyeOfElor]

The Marines rock .... I played one before and he was devastating on RIFTS Earth ..... and its always fun talking to your PA like its a living entity

[Sir_Spirit]

Somehow I don't think a dragon would use that armor, and if they did, they'd use it in human form.

i thuoght the books say that dragons are members of the warlock marines.


different species being warlock marines is one of their edges

Being a member doesn't mean you follow the OCC and OCC equipment.

Doesn't mean you don't either.

It does if you're an RCC that doesn't allow OCC's.

It's a good thing Dragons do then isn't it?

[DBX]

Somehow I don't think a dragon would use that armor, and if they did, they'd use it in human form.

i thuoght the books say that dragons are members of the warlock marines.


different species being warlock marines is one of their edges

Being a member doesn't mean you follow the OCC and OCC equipment.

Doesn't mean you don't either.

It does if you're an RCC that doesn't allow OCC's.

that is no limitations if you go by the books, for example

it doesn't stop Psistalkers from being cyberknights, RCC with an occ.

Warlock Marines fluff text made it appear that they have lots of dragons not just hatchlings, but adults, ancients as Warlock Marines.

[The Artist Formerly]

I dig the marines. While I usually mock and belittle magic user OCCs, the Warlock Marines are a impressive and fun to play group of characters.

[Guest]

to gadrin...sure...do you have p.p.e. to use those spells though?

it says the training includes a chemical cocktail they are fed which provides the bonuses...though I'd smack a Munchkin Warning label on any Dragon Warlock Marine Magic Users who have "Forgotten they are Dragons" and stay metamorphed in human form so they can wear their flight marine power armor suit with dual wielded volcano rifles..

[The Artist Formerly]

I dig the marines. While I usually mock and belittle magic user OCCs, the Warlock Marines are a impressive and fun to play group of characters.

as I've been itching to ask a knowledgeable psionic advocate like your self...

what's your opinion of Mind Bond ?

can a 4th level Mystic who has it, use it to gain mystic knowledge from another mage (friend) like a Ley Line Walker or Shifter ?

it says in caps: EVERYTHING

Absolutely. But they don't get to retain the spell knowledge beyond the normal duration of the power. Still a great way to bump your groups over all power for a quick boost.

I'll go you one better. Mind Melter with Shifter or Line walker or Temporal mage spells and knowledge.

Needing a spell to make things work for my mind melter, I've tied down a mage in game. Mind Bonded him to gain his magic, the knifed him in the face to get the PPE I needed to cast.

One game I played in:

In Ciaudad Juareze(sp?) the Psykes keep a few mages who've run afoul of them in perminant drug induced comas to tap their magic knowledge, for when the Guild for the Gifted needs to be reminded of who's the boss and who's the ***** in that town. Once you have the know how, you just need the juice. Pre-staked vampires (got to keep those the Dog boys, kill hounds and psi-stalkers busy or they get out of hand) wraped in concreate and then submerged in a large pool. Open the drain to let the water out, turn on the water flow to help refill it, creating a moving water condition, and the Psy-mage now sucks up the PPE.

[Dr. Doom III]

7 out of 10.

They have a nice beat but you can't dance to them.

[Guest]

7 out of 10.

They have a nice beat but you can't dance to them.

more like they can give a nice beat down, but you don't wanna dance with them

[The Artist Formerly]

that's my feeling too. sometimes with PB writing you never know. just looking thru the GMG recently and seeing how they addressed other types of confusion.

Long Shot -- would OCC powers like Ley Line Phasing, be beyond a Mind Bond's ability to learn ? These and powers like a Titan's Dim Teleport seem to be "learned" in some manner ?

Depends on the GM on those. Generally, if we're talking a matter of learned or experienced events leading to an ability, the sure if it's innate or derived from a state of being, then no.

whoa, so you're saying the Mind Melter also learns how to cast spells (my example used someone already familiar with magery, even though he's a mystic).

That's what I'm saying. The old FAQ even mentioned that you could pull it off as a Mind Melter, spesifically. I haven't seen it since Kromelizard posted it way back when, but I don't go to the FAQ areas. I end up crying...

boy that's some nasty tactics <scribbles quickly> consider it stolen!

Psychics rules and mages drool. In that event, literally.

[DBX]

that's my feeling too. sometimes with PB writing you never know. just looking thru the GMG recently and seeing how they addressed other types of confusion.

Long Shot -- would OCC powers like Ley Line Phasing, be beyond a Mind Bond's ability to learn ? These and powers like a Titan's Dim Teleport seem to be "learned" in some manner ?

Depends on the GM on those. Generally, if we're talking a matter of learned or experienced events leading to an ability, the sure if it's innate or derived from a state of being, then no.

whoa, so you're saying the Mind Melter also learns how to cast spells (my example used someone already familiar with magery, even though he's a mystic).

That's what I'm saying. The old FAQ even mentioned that you could pull it off as a Mind Melter, spesifically. I haven't seen it since Kromelizard posted it way back when, but I don't go to the FAQ areas. I end up crying...

boy that's some nasty tactics <scribbles quickly> consider it stolen!

Psychics rules and mages drool. In that event, literally.

ley line phasing/line walker powers and ****: in CWC book, the RCSG scientists can utilise them, because they are "learnt" ability. these abilities have nothing to do with magic (honest). IMO that wrecks one of the best occ's in Rifts books.

i am not to sure, but one of the WOR wilderness occ also gets line walker special abilities ( again totally unnecessarily IMO), and i think, could be wrong, but they too learn them. ( not to sure, so could be totally wrong about that)

[Guest]

Here's the other thing that bugs me. Only 1% of the Warlock Marines are magic-users. President George W. Bush tee eff, mate?

now THAT is a good point.

here they have this awesome power armor that allows spells to be cast through it...and they don't seek more mages? or even train the mages?

btw, I can think of many R.C.C.'s anyways, and several Magic O.C.C.'s that get the ley line walker abilities (usually numbered, like LLW Abilities #1,3, and 5}

[The Artist Formerly]

ley line phasing/line walker powers and ****: in CWC book, the RCSG scientists can utilise them, because they are "learnt" ability. these abilities have nothing to do with magic (honest). IMO that wrecks one of the best occ's in Rifts books.

i am not to sure, but one of the WOR wilderness occ also gets line walker special abilities ( again totally unnecessarily IMO), and i think, could be wrong, but they too learn them. ( not to sure, so could be totally wrong about that)

It's true they get some line walker tricks. How a GM rules on that is up to them. But like I said, such abilities and how they come to be ascribed to a certain character can be varied with the GM and might not get hooked over to the PC psychic.

Example. The mind Melter can swipe a line walkers spells (and maybe other abilites too), but he couldn't take a mystic's spell casting (or atleast that's how we play it) because those aren't "learned" so much a intution. Nor could you rip spells from a Warlock in our games. You migh know where and when to wiggle your toes and chant "Abra-cadver" but you just aren't connected the way the Mystic or Warlock is.

I do recomend the knife to the face in the warlock, spell rip or no. Those guys are dangerous and need to be put down anyway.

Also, when using MB, take care. Don't mind bond with things that have made pacts, have fragments, bonded with Rune Weapons, or any other case where you might run into something else in the mind of your target. 1) You don't want some Alien Intel to know your secerts or pick though your brain. 2) You don't want to have to make that insanity saving throw. 3) Certain powers, links and aliens/Gods can rewrite the way MB works...

[The Artist Formerly]

those that want to be super-duper mages, stick with a normal magic OCC.

Oh man, that's a good one.


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Oh wait, you're serious.

[Guest]

Now taffy, a mage with heavy firepower, and Power Armor that prevents spell interruption, but enables spell casting is alot better off than most mages.

as it is, I just pretend palladium's magic system doesn't exist, I think BTS2 is a great step forward, with the seperation of magic from the rest of the book

[Guest]

I wouldn't bother with Dragon warlock marines, Dragonoids/Silhouette warlock marines would rock though..


Also, The UWW seems to get most of it's mages From Dwarves and non human populations then human ones.

Oh yeah...Silhouette Warlock Marine Magic specialists...

damn that rocks..

[Sir_Spirit]

RCCs that can take up OCCs are explicitly listed as such.

Exactly, like dragons for instance.

A dragon warlock marine is going to be a dragon who happens to be in the Marine corps, not a dragon that underwent the Warlock Marine OCC training...

NO it's going to be a Warlock Marine. HAVING undergone the training.
Period.

[kamikazzijoe]

actually that's what they are: marines who are from the UWW.

those that use magic are the "magic specialists"

those that want to be super-duper mages, stick with a normal magic OCC.

I always thought magery was a full-time profession, while the magical specialists are "lesser mages" (as per PPE channeling "groupings" and such like the mage super-spy in Rifts Mercs).

I forget, what's the size of the USMC as compared to its brother services ? It should be much tinier.

The USMC is one corp hence the name us marine corp. The USAR has 18 divisions 10 active 8 reserve, which comes out to two armies which are made up or 2 or 3 corps. A marine colnel was talking at our milball and was talking about his exp training with the army and said how amazed he was at how large the army was. I don't know how large the AF is, but it has fewer aircraft then the army. The navy has fewer ships than the army too.