Today we head again to Rogue Trader and 1992 to see a number of the Grimdark’s craziest weapons.

Rogue Trader was a time of utter creativity for GW. Everything was new, and it appeared like nearly all the pieces was tried. From Willpower stats to clear plastic sheets and inside car blueprints for taking pictures – they tried every kind of stuff.

But when it got here to weapons, Nottingham set their brains on overdrive.

Here are only a handful of the nuttiest and most memorable weapons from the times of yore. All of those come from the Warhammer 40,000 Battle Manual (1992)

Assault Cannon

Once upon a time, the AC was the dread of xenos. With its Following hearth cube, it might pump out cube roll after roll of photographs every flip primarily based on how a lot of a gambler you have been. Right up till you bought too grasping and blew your self up with a catastrophic jam. It was a traditional “push your luck” rule mechanic. Oh nicely – no threat, no reward.

Harlequin’s Kiss

The Harlequin’s Kiss is now only a fancy melee weapon. But it has a very sinister origin story. Its “Kiss of Evil” identify is nicely deserved and you possibly can attempt it out about something – together with tanks.  Back in Rogue Trader, you possibly can throw warning to the wind and go for it. I nonetheless bear in mind my school pal again within the day with an enormous grin as his Troupe Master withdrew his Harlequin’s Kiss from my now useless and crewless Land Raider!

Heavy Flamer

Don’t you simply hate having to set robust targets on hearth flip after flip in trendy 40K till they die? Well again in Rogue Trader, the Heavy Flamer made certain they STAYED ON FIRE. Look on the unbelievable “Fire Test Chart” that stored the dangerous guys operating round screaming. Just bear in mind – STOP, DROP & ROLL! The being useless half actually helps in that division.

Virus Grenade

You are actually into the semi-legendary class of 40K weapons. The Virus Grenade might – in concept – destroy a complete military singlehandedly. Take a detailed gander on the guidelines. Yes, you’re studying it proper. A radius impact weapon that units off a brand new demise AOE every time a mannequin dies – endlessly! I consider my private file was 86 Orks useless with one Virus Grenade. It did take about quarter-hour to resolve. But I nonetheless bear in mind it 30 years later, in order that’s how good it was!

Shuriken Shrieker Cannon

If you thought the Harlequin’s Kiss was imply – you haven’t seen something. Behold maybe one of the horrific weapons of the Grimdark. Of course, it’s used solely by Death Jesters. Some notes – A sufferer of the particular Shrieker rounds doesn’t die instantly. He’s going to take just a few turns randomly careening across the board screaming hysterically – till he explodes! While he’s doing this, he’s understandably inflicting rout checks to all close by items – that’s, in the event that they aren’t killed by the fragment of his physique when the top lastly comes. Clowns are frakin jerks!

Cyclone Missile Launcher

Nowadays, Cyclones are simply 2-shot missile launchers. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Back within the day, the scary Cyclone held 12 missiles, and also you needed to preserve monitor. Each flip you possibly can hearth off one – or ALL THE REST! It was superior, and you possibly can blow away absolutely anything.

But… (in Rogue Trader, there was all the time a however for further lethal weapons)

If you bought shot, there was that little bit about possibly having all of your missiles cook-off in a mighty show. There was even a useful mishap chart down there to see simply how dangerous it may very well be. Hit the deck soldier!

The Vehicle Targeting Grid

Not a weapon, however we needed to save this bonus little bit of nuttiness for final. Back in Rogue Trader GW went by a interval of utilizing cross-sections of autos through the damaging course of. You would take this clear plastic grid (under), place it wherever you wished on the goal car cross-section (additionally under), roll some cube to see how a lot it deviated in every X and Y axis, and go from there. A really distinctive system, they by no means returned to in 30 years.

~Which considered one of these loopy guidelines is your favourite?

Dad, Gamer, Publisher, Pilot, Texan. All video games on a regular basis since junior-high.
I began BoLS Interactive in 2006. I’m a lifelong tabletop & RPG gaming fanatic, and web writer working to entertain and inform my readers on daily basis.
I’ve been enjoying RPGs and Tabletop Games for the reason that Seventies. I’m been enjoying and masking Warhammer and Warhammer 40K for over 35 years.

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