I know Only War is built on the premise that you're part of this massive Regiment and you have the constant support of your squad members, but this unfortunately makes it  encumbering to manage socially when most of squad mates are around in case well..fighting breaks out, which is probably always around the corner as a guardsman, if it's not in front of you already.

Though you can't have an RPG without the RP elements into it where you play the character, rather than a guy with awesome combat stats and gear. Has anyone had success in putting RP opportunities in, not just inter-regiment or squad relations but outside as well?

The back of the book there is a good premade adventure with some cool set pieces. Especially the HQ with its commecary and the Pit. The place is a nice RP playground. Maybe instead of giving orders via courier or vox have a commanding officer give them in person?

Hya,

I played a sci-fi/military GURPS campaign a few years ago and while did not realy liked the GM's style (sitting idle for 3.5 of the 4 hours of play) he did have some interesting themes going.

* Most Imperial Guard Units are mixed, so you you can engage in romantic relations, perhaps they are forbidden.
* Competition with other units for the less dangerous patrolls
* Secretive cult within the ranks
* Some officer realy hates your particular squad
* Supply problems, little to no food, ammo or warm weather clothing
* etc.

GrtZ,

S.

A fun detour is.

Search for the headlight fluid. Making the players find something that is meant to be in the regiment but isn't. Good way to introduce characters for later use. The interaction inbetween players during this can be priceless if done right.

Laughs all round.

….Then the bullets start flying.

AlphaDeadOne said:

Headlight fluid? Yeah right. Now where can I find some Elbow Grease.

Apart from the inter-squad, -platoon, -company, -regiment interactions (and there a nigh infinate selection of options there) we could have a Lightbringer style 100 list.. Here's a few options:

3. Have some downtime among the legion of regimental followers, makes some contacts, get intoxicated and fool around.

4. Have the squad have to meet some locals, perhaps chasing partisan forces.

5. Have the squad sent to fortify a position that is in a small town with only tenacious priests and adepts not evactuated. 

6. The squad is garrisoned in a hive, likely on the outskirts but still with thousands of people and PDF around.

7. The squad is being transfered between battleground and get a chance to hobnob with the Navy crew, although the officers attempt to limit fraternising.

8. The squad is assigned to defend a logistics caravan, plenty of lowly Munitorium personal.

9. Have an important visitor (and his entourage) assigned the squad additional bodyguard.

DontEatRawHagis said:

Right next to the lengths of Flight Line.

I have fallen into the habit of before/after every mission having people spend some time back in their main camp or station and describe their day to day life, normally focusing on what players are doing in their off hours.  From there stories and RP just tends to flow from itself as characters deal with the horrors of War and the 41st millenia. 

- We already have a Weapon Specialist who lost his leg get hooked on pain killers, which put them in conflict with the Medic.

- Our Ogryn developed a fondness for the camp's chapel (Where da ladies in white sang pretty things about the Big Man on the Chair…) and when it got bombed during a sorty took it upon himself to start gathering materials and rebuilding it.

- A rivalry has started between the Player's regiment (55th Vostroyans) and another in the warzone (3rd Samsion Royal Hussars), which culminated in some folks being hung out to dry while taking a border town.  The squad set up a 'visit' and wound up getting into an all out brawl, which ultimately resulted in new found respect between the two.

- Our Ratling started a still with the Heavy Gunner and the Weapon Specialist…a black market grew around it until the Sgt found out and shut it down before it would catch the eye (and bolter sights) of the local Commissariat. 

I just recently picked up the first Ciaphas Cain omnibus (it's amazing, go read it right now) and it has a lot of what would be RP in a tabletop setting despite being about the Guard. Lots of time spent in camp, or while on missions but not actively fighting, and even in-between deployments. The Guard do plenty more than just fight.

Plushy said:

I bought it last week, and I'm finding that I enjoy it much more than I did most of the Gaunt's Ghosts novels.

Here's an example of one groups experience bringing a bit of role-playing to the table.

There's plenty scope for roleplaying off the battlefield, just look at movies and TV shows like, Band of Brothers, Pacific, M*A*S*H, Kelly's Heroes etc… Add in a dash of 41st Millenia insanity and Bob's your Uncle…

Daveyspawn said:

I am SHOCKED that you forgot THE best War shows ever made: COMBAT!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat!

If I ever manage to play OW, I'm making a Sgt Saunders or a Kirby/Caje lookalike

also most episodes are on youtube

Braddoc said:

Hmmmm, the Wiki looks interesting, I may well check out youtube… Plenty of major actors seem to have cut their teeth in this show too.

Killbeggar said:

and behind the box of grid squares

Right now, i am thinkin about writing a campaign around a traitor general.

Serving under such a man should bring a hell lot of RP on the table.

Having to execute orders such as

-having to serve as kill squads

-executing fellow soldier comrades for dubious reasons

-killing innocents in local population

-embarking on strange missions with unexplainable sense and circumstances

I defenitely want to see how far my players are willing to go, before asking questions or resisting orders.

and finally, when the guardsmen start thinking

-finding out, what is behind all this

-finding prove for heresy and betrayal

-staying under the radar of the traitor guardsmen

-routing out the root of evil or taking the evidence before the inquisition

Will have some atmosphere of DarkHeresy maybe, but it'll be way more interesting than just shooting things.

I even thought about a crossover.

You could for example have your guradsmen do the story up to the point where they bring tít before the inquisition and then switch your characters and play on with your DarkHeresy characters.