So was thinking… Maybe there was a ‘black market’ trader onboard where you could buy some xeno weapons to use, like some cool Tau guns, Eldar blades… or some Ork melee weapons or dakkas for Ogryn.
As you’re expendable rabble, deemed likely not to survive, perhaps the ship masters have turned a blind eye “if it gets the job done”.
I’m sure y’all lore scribes will pounce with daggers, but I thought it would be a nice way to add some super fun variety. We’re not guardsmen after all, just criminal slaves basically. It could fit with the prison chic vibe
I bet the sound and graphics artists could have some real fun with this.
Don’t even really need a black market; Shipmistress Brahms is strongly rumored to trade in xenos goods under her Letters of Marque.
By having us work for an Inquisitorial Warband stationed aboard a Rogue Trader’s vessel we are positioned to have access to virtually every weapon in the galaxy: all the most esoteric of Imperial weapons, any xenos weapon that can be traded or pirated, and even, if the Inquisitor is sufficiently radical, daemon weapons (but I hope Grendyl isn’t that radical, I don’t want to work for Eisenhorn the Second).
Unfortunately, however, this does not jive well with the weapon design philosophy of this game. The devs intend to keep all weapons viable and relevant, with their own functionalities and niches. It’s why no weapon is just a straight upgrade over another. If they are in the lore, then the versions we get are gimped somehow, e.g. power swords. The more weapons they introduce and the more powerful they are supposed to be, the harder it will be to strike this balance.
I’ve long hoped that they would introduce xenos weapons and, if they do, it will be an opportunity to have a parallel leveling/crafting system alongside the Imperial weapon one as no self-respecting Shrine to the Omnissiah nor Servant of the Machine God would ever deign to operate on xenos tech. Of course, a full-blown earth caste Tau, Eldar craftsinger, or Ork mekboy are kinda out of the question too, so maybe we just get a Jokaero weaponsmith instead.
I think we need more of the Imperial staples before we look to Xenos filth for armaments; I mean, come on, its not like we’re Ordo Xenos stares dreamily into space Oh, if only …
But yes, that is what I would hope we get first, all those weapons that have been listed in loads of threads (Hell-weaponry, Power Fist, Melta, etc, etc) before we start taking such heretical actions. But in the distant future? Be nice to have more variety appear later into the game’s life.
You’re absolutely right, they would have their own unique sounds and visuals, as well as potential for unique gameplay, but the stumbling block I have is 30 years of bias towards the Imperium (except Marines; Guardsman through and through). You can see why I would want more iconic Imperial weapons first.
Also, Ordo Hereticus are veeeeeeery leery of any form of dissent or deviance from orthodoxy. Whilst there will be those without any issues about using Xenos tech for their own purposes and ends, we don’t know what Grendyl’s stance would be or to which Inquisitorial faction/belief set he would align himself to.
