@cifer

still not very innovative. It just gives you an action you can take, nothing new or amazing about that. No different then in Star Wars D6 where one guy makes the pilot rolls, another makes the shooting rolls, still another makes the shield rolls and other make repair or sensor rolls.

Same here, they just tag on the term ROLE and say its "new".

Sure, these are huge capitol ships and mass combat is going on with kilometer long star ships, but honestly, do you think that one PC is really the deciding factor for repairs and moral and what not in those situations?

A star ship fight is just like any other encounter, those who have the skills and know how are involved, those who dont stay out of the way. In a gun battle, the psyker and adept hide, the guardman and arbitrator fire, in a research situation the adept and tech priest make skill rolls,the guardsman tries not to break anything in the library, and so forth.

If anything, giving players "additional roles" is for the player not the character.

So I will say it again, based on what was shown so far, Im not impressed and the starship rules and focus isnt a selling point for me.

I don't want to sound snarky or anything but I would rather have a good game than an original one.

PS. For me being a Rogue Trader is selling point enough. I love picaro characters more than zealots and DH was always my second choice.

Cat that Walked by Himself said:

Im not saying its not going to be a good game, based on previous BI/FFG products it should be quite excellent. Im just saying we shouldn't be praising it yet. Or saying that this system is innovative or new. If thats the case then D&D 4E is just as innovative and original.

Im just calling my shots. Roles are not that innovative, they are just extra extended actions that individuals can take during ship to ship combat and are just assigned the name or category of roles. Even Ross states that these roles can be different from ship to ship, so you arent even stuck with the same one everytime.

Its just a method to assign dice rolling responsibilities to different members of the party so they dont get bored during combats in space.

To be fair, I don't think that it is being represented as being innovative, just playable.  For once, I was actually glad that it wasn't trying to be innovative, but rather works off tried and test methods that work. 

Kage

Not as enlightening as I would have hoped but at the same time at least I know it will be easier to make sure everyone in the party is doing something during those big ship battles.

"Got him, I GOT HIM"

"Great kid, don't get cocky!"

It's not what you wear, it's how you wear it.

I have to agree that I'd much rather have a good game than an original one.  I actually don't want an "original" one.  The wheel's been invented and I just want to see a 40k spin on it.

I see the "Roles" as a big step in the right direction. It's incredibly important to me (who digs starship combat) to have a fun, immersive system that will draw in my Players (who don't dig starship combat) and give them an enjoyable experience, even if they still prefer duking it out with Boltguns.  

 If you read between the lines, the article isn't just about "Roles" but also intimates other aspects of the starship combat that I was worried about.

For instance, a reference is made to rolling to fire a weapons component.  That says to me, that says we can expect "weapons components" to cover the vast array of impressive WH40k space weaponry, not just arbitrary firepower ratings like in BFG. 

The Chirurgeon part hinted that Crew compliment won't be arbitrary and there will actually be recordable crew losses, which I like.

I figured there would be emergency repairs going on, but the article also indicates firefighting.  This is promising, as the outbreak of onboard fires will make the fight more interesting and personal.  Especially if a character's quarters are ablaze and all their phat lewtz are melting....

I'm not going to jump up and shout for joy just yet, but so far I like what I'm seeing.

Maxim C. Gatling said:

I need a little more to be considered "excited" myself (although I am certainly interested, the decision to make these three[?] games somewhat cross compatiable has certainly made me interested) but that line certainly made my day.  Doesn't matter that most of a player's most important lewt is fairly resistent to fire damage, still made my day.

Psion said:

Yes, but being jettisoned into space after a breech in the hull or after the cabin area has to be vented to prevent the spread of fire, is more then likely to rid players of annoying items and loot.

Peacekeeper_b said:

Depends on the group Peacekeeper.  In mine, that would most likely just lead to an arguement on exactly how the ship's ventilation system works.   Some players I had/have to work with are more obnoxious then that guy running around here whining because his precious Space Marines haven't been statted yet.  Better for me to say, "The circuits for your power armor are ruined, it will take two months (game time) for a tech priest to heal the machine's spirit with replacement parts....  ONCE you find a skilled enough tech priest and the parts he needs that is." Or "You still have your favorite Blessed Storm Bolter, but all the specialist ammo for it is molten slag and the firing mechanism is damaged.  It will take two months (game time again) for a tech priest to find replacement parts and research the appropriate prayers."  Then keep coming up with BS excuses such as "The machine's spirit is cartankerous" everytime the players ask.

Or even better.  "Due to the damage the ship has suffered, [annoying piece of gear X] has either been cannibalized for parts to keep a vital system running or been seconded by a NPC of a higher rank then the party."

How about:

Following the fire in your quarters, helpul crewmen were dispatched to save wht they could and discovered your pile of (annoying item x) contraband/ interdited goods.  They have immediately been confiscated/ destroyed and you mut now defend yourself or be purged as a heretek.