Dulahan said:

I don't think we have anything to worry about there. Commissars are useful, but they aren't tactical, and try to be your friend first as they might, you know that, if it comes to it, he'll shoot you dead renders any trust between them a bit strained. I think Officer was on the list. You will probably start as a Lieutenant, or some such, a Junior Officer working through the ranks, but still an Officer, a soldier driven by Intelligence and Fellowship. I just hope that they incorporate something extra in to work like IG tactics from the Codex. While I know it has its uses, and there are a couple Talents that benefit from it, Command often left me feeling like they didn't do as much with it as they could have. Some tactics abilities, to get some party use out of that skill, and bring an edge and cohesiveness to the squad, would be very nice, and help justify playing that Officer.

I'm pretty sure the confirmed Sergeant, and it might just be the progression for them, to go from lead grunt to unit lead, someday up to Major, Colonel, or even General. While it might not be the most accurate to real life thing (I don't know if Sergeants can become Lieutenants, and on), it could help to foster the connection, and faith, between the Guard and their Commanders; these leaders do, or not to long ago did, fight on the front lines, bleeding with the rest of us. Sure, you might hit a cap, beyond which your character would be promoted to a Proteus-class Command bunker, or the observation room of an orbiting ship, taking them out of the PC's range of combat, becoming NPC, but it seems like the logical plan for the RPG, IMHO.

I notice that Ogryns don't have Unnatural stats in the end. Or I guess it might be that they have just amalgamated them into the Size thing for the write up for the Free RPG thing, but even if they have they are not nearly as tough or strong as Marines… which is interesting.

I am also wondering why the Ratling has a base move of 4. His agility Bonus is 3 and I can't see any special rules that give him +1 to movement.

venkelos said:

That does nothing to make me confident.  :p

First, what we can see about the commissar is that it IS more than just charismatic.  She has those other skills too.  So it's worrisome.  Granted, with 12 different archetypes, it's nice if there's some overlap just to make sure roles get covered in a group.  :)

However, the sergeant thing?  I HOPE that Sergeant can NOT get promoted to Officer as part of some arbitrary advance scheme.  (Admittedly, I still hold out hope that 'role' isn't just a Dark Heresy like rank advance scheme and instead just a starting set of skills and MAYBE some sort of initial advance table or discounts, but I hope to god it isn't 8 ranks like DH that hammer you in and declare what rank and title you are)  NCOs are a very different thing from Commissioned Officers.  Different skill sets and rarely go that way.  (Though I will concede apparently some Guard Regiments do, like the Death Korps of Krieg).  I'd rather see the option, rank and all, of someone starting as the wet behind the ears Lieutenant for a group, especially now that we've confirmed it's Dark Heresy level of start. 

@borithan

I would assume that Unnaturals and Size simply got shortened into one trait.

@dulahan

Actually, there have been no specific rank titles since Dark Heresy, apart from Alternative Ranks. I'd assume this remains the case here as well, meaning a NCO who remains one can simply climb his own advancement tree and refrain from taking anything that reeks too much of officer status. Problem solved?

We'll know when we see it.  I suppose.

AKA, I'll hopefully know Thursday at Gen Con if my plans don't fall through (losing my roomates faster than a Space Marine drops mooks… currently at unaffordable room price levels. x.x  )

Still, I continue to hold out hope it's just starting package and maybe something else, but doesn't prevent other starts from becoming Sergeants or whatever.

I dont have a Problem with NCO's becomeing CO's some of the best CO's that i know of have been previous enlisted. Now i understand that not all NCO's become CO's but it souldn't be out of the question.

mrady said:

Exactly.  Nor should it be for your starting Heavy Weapons guy to become a Sergeant either.  Like I said, my ideal world is all of these things are starting points, not rigid never change things.  Something, somehow, more akin to Black Crusade's system.  I love how it handles stuff, just hate having to play a villain.  ;)  So hoping this will give the good guys a less rigid, class dictated option.

I havent played DH or BC only RT and DW, but for all of them the career paths were a more different and specific then what you'ed expect in an army. like you said there would be a little more veriaty in what you could do. but the nice thing in RT and DW is the alterent careers, in which you could take to branch out and either make your guy more a melee beast or give him a little more variaty

I noticed lots of Ratling characters which are like hobbits.  Kinda like the fellowship of the Ring in space. 

peterstepon said:

Which is why I dislike them. But I can see their appeal, so "different folks, different strokes" as they say. lol

The Russian said:

A swift one at shoulder height typically suffices. That said, I don't mind ratlings.

 So, we have…

Weapon Specialist

Heavy Gunner

Storm Trooper

Comissar

Ratling

Orgryn

Ministorum Priest

Battle Pysker

Tech-Priest Enginseer

What's left?

I do hope that playing a Ratling isn't the only way to be a viable Sniper Character, or even necessarily the best way.  Tied for best, ok, but I hope there's human options for Stealthy Snipers too.

EDIT:  Or at least, not the only 'good' one.  I'd definitely prefer if each one has advantages, but I REALLY hope that Target Selection thing isn't a Ratling only thing.  Otherwise they will become the only good sniper option.

Plushy said:

Medic is confirmed as is Sergeant in the earliest advertisements.

The Russian said:

Hmm. Interesting. Is that the full list, then?