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{{quote| ''The intoxicating lure of Chaos leads untold millions down the path of corruption, and the noblest of intentions offers little protection against its dark influence. A soldier’s bloodlust, a politician's ambition, a lover’s desire, and even a mother’s whispered prayer over her feverish child – they are all the playthings of the Dark Gods. Why resist? Wealth, power, and happiness await those who serve the Ruinous Powers, and the only price is your humanity.''}}
{{quote| ''The intoxicating lure of Chaos leads untold millions down the path of corruption, and the noblest of intentions offers little protection against its dark influence. A soldier’s bloodlust, a politician's ambition, a lover’s desire, and even a mother’s whispered prayer over her feverish child – they are all the playthings of the Dark Gods. Why resist? Wealth, power, and happiness await those who serve the Ruinous Powers, and the only price is your humanity.''}}


''[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=154&enmi=Black%20Crusade Black Crusade]'' is the latest in a series of [[Tabletop Games|tabletop roleplaying games]] set in the ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' universe. While its sister games ''[[Dark Heresy]]'', ''[[Rogue Trader]]'', and ''[[Deathwatch (Tabletop Game)|Deathwatch]]'' focus on characters that are (at least outwardly) loyal to [[The Empire|the Imperium of Man]], ''Black Crusade'' focuses on characters who serve the dark powers of [[The Corruption|Chaos]] -- [[The Heretic|the heretics]], [[The Mentally Disturbed|the madmen]], [[Despair Event Horizon|the lost]] and [[Deal With the Devil|the damned]]. The game contains rules for playing both [[Super Soldier|Chaos Space Marines]] and human [[Cult|cultists]], with starting characters roughly equivalent in power to mid-level ''[[Dark Heresy]]'' characters or low-level ''[[Rogue Trader]]'' characters.
''[http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=154&enmi=Black%20Crusade Black Crusade]'' is the latest in a series of [[Tabletop Games|tabletop roleplaying games]] set in the ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' universe. While its sister games ''[[Dark Heresy]]'', ''[[Rogue Trader]]'', and ''[[Deathwatch (game)|Deathwatch]]'' focus on characters that are (at least outwardly) loyal to [[The Empire|the Imperium of Man]], ''Black Crusade'' focuses on characters who serve the dark powers of [[The Corruption|Chaos]] -- [[The Heretic|the heretics]], [[The Mentally Disturbed|the madmen]], [[Despair Event Horizon|the lost]] and [[Deal with the Devil|the damned]]. The game contains rules for playing both [[Super Soldier|Chaos Space Marines]] and human [[Cult|cultists]], with starting characters roughly equivalent in power to mid-level ''[[Dark Heresy]]'' characters or low-level ''[[Rogue Trader]]'' characters.


See also ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'', ''[[Dark Heresy]]'', ''[[Rogue Trader]]'', and ''[[Deathwatch (Tabletop Game)|Deathwatch]]''.
See also ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'', ''[[Dark Heresy]]'', ''[[Rogue Trader]]'', and ''[[Deathwatch (game)|Deathwatch]]''.


== This game contains examples of: ==
== This game contains examples of: ==
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* [[The Corruption]]: Given ''Black Crusade'''s focus, this is explored in more detail here than in previous ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' RPGs; in particular, the Corruption track is intended to be used as a sort of "progress meter" for the campaign as a whole, tracking how close the PCs are getting to becoming [[One-Winged Angel|Daemon]] [[A God Am I|Princes]] or [[And I Must Scream|Chaos]] [[Body Horror|Spawn]].
* [[The Corruption]]: Given ''Black Crusade'''s focus, this is explored in more detail here than in previous ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' RPGs; in particular, the Corruption track is intended to be used as a sort of "progress meter" for the campaign as a whole, tracking how close the PCs are getting to becoming [[One-Winged Angel|Daemon]] [[A God Am I|Princes]] or [[And I Must Scream|Chaos]] [[Body Horror|Spawn]].
** More specifically, there's actually ''two'' tracks in the game: actual Corruption, and [[Glory Seeker|Infamy]], which is the measure of both how much you've impressed the Ruinous Powers and your ability to control your mutations. Hit the threshold where you lose your humanity with a high enough Infamy score, and it's presumed your patron blunts the impact of the runaway mutations long enough [[Heroic Willpower|for you to control them]], and you become a Daemon Prince. Otherwise...
** More specifically, there's actually ''two'' tracks in the game: actual Corruption, and [[Glory Seeker|Infamy]], which is the measure of both how much you've impressed the Ruinous Powers and your ability to control your mutations. Hit the threshold where you lose your humanity with a high enough Infamy score, and it's presumed your patron blunts the impact of the runaway mutations long enough [[Heroic Willpower|for you to control them]], and you become a Daemon Prince. Otherwise...
* [[Evil Counterpart]]: The game as a whole is this to ''[[Dark Heresy]]'' and ''[[Deathwatch (Tabletop Game)|Deathwatch]]''.
* [[Evil Counterpart]]: The game as a whole is this to ''[[Dark Heresy]]'' and ''[[Deathwatch (game)|Deathwatch]]''.
* [[Fat Bastard]]: Assuming a chacter isn't this already, a possible mutation is that characters will become quite large. Followers of Nurgle have a chance of this being taken [[Up to Eleven]].
* [[Fat Bastard]]: Assuming a chacter isn't this already, a possible mutation is that characters will become quite large. Followers of Nurgle have a chance of this being taken [[Up to Eleven]].
* [[Fragile Speedster]]: Human Heretics lack the inhuman resilience and [[Powered Armor]] of Chaos Space Marines, but all possess an ability allowing them to act sooner in combat.
* [[Fragile Speedster]]: Human Heretics lack the inhuman resilience and [[Powered Armor]] of Chaos Space Marines, but all possess an ability allowing them to act sooner in combat.
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* [[Small Name, Big Ego]]: In-Universe, Tzeentch followers can become convinced they are incredibly powerful psykers. This makes them incredibly irritating to deal with, especially for ''real'' psykers.
* [[Small Name, Big Ego]]: In-Universe, Tzeentch followers can become convinced they are incredibly powerful psykers. This makes them incredibly irritating to deal with, especially for ''real'' psykers.
* [[Super OCD]]: Characters can develop this, followers of Tzeentch would manifest it as a paralyzing fear of contamination, while followers of Slaanesh can't focus unless something is "just right".
* [[Super OCD]]: Characters can develop this, followers of Tzeentch would manifest it as a paralyzing fear of contamination, while followers of Slaanesh can't focus unless something is "just right".
* [[Swirly Energy Thingy]]: The Screaming Vortex, the game's default campaign setting. [[Hub Level|Through it, one can also reach]] the Calixis Sector, the Koronus Expanse, and the Jericho Reach, default settings of ''[[Dark Heresy]]'', ''[[Rogue Trader]]'', and ''[[Deathwatch (Tabletop Game)|Deathwatch]]'' respectively.
* [[Swirly Energy Thingy]]: The Screaming Vortex, the game's default campaign setting. [[Hub Level|Through it, one can also reach]] the Calixis Sector, the Koronus Expanse, and the Jericho Reach, default settings of ''[[Dark Heresy]]'', ''[[Rogue Trader]]'', and ''[[Deathwatch (game)|Deathwatch]]'' respectively.
* [[Tragic Hero]]: Many join Chaos with [[Utopia Justifies the Means|the noblest of goals]] and [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|the best of intentions]]: to protect those they love, to make the world a better place, to stand against the tyranny and cruelty of the Imperium. Many [[Fallen Hero|fall]]. Many more [[The Hero Dies|die trying]]. Hardly any of them live to see their original dream fulfilled, in a form they would still recognize, and remain uncorrupted enough to care.
* [[Tragic Hero]]: Many join Chaos with [[Utopia Justifies the Means|the noblest of goals]] and [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|the best of intentions]]: to protect those they love, to make the world a better place, to stand against the tyranny and cruelty of the Imperium. Many [[Fallen Hero|fall]]. Many more [[The Hero Dies|die trying]]. Hardly any of them live to see their original dream fulfilled, in a form they would still recognize, and remain uncorrupted enough to care.
* [[Villain Protagonist]]: The flip side of the [[Anti-Hero]] / [[Anti-Villain]] example. Yes, Chaos does count among its followers legions of [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Well Intentioned Extremists]], [[Noble Demon|Noble Demons]], ill-informed [[Unwitting Pawn|Unwitting Pawns]] and [[Tragic Hero|Tragic Heroes]]... but in the end, some people really are just in it [[For the Evulz]]. And due to the corrupting influence of Chaos, all except the most principled and iron-willed of heroes eventually [[The Dark Side Will Make You Forget|forget the honorable cause for which they sold their souls]], and tragically end up doing it [[For the Evulz]] as well.
* [[Villain Protagonist]]: The flip side of the [[Anti-Hero]] / [[Anti-Villain]] example. Yes, Chaos does count among its followers legions of [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Well Intentioned Extremists]], [[Noble Demon|Noble Demons]], ill-informed [[Unwitting Pawn|Unwitting Pawns]] and [[Tragic Hero|Tragic Heroes]]... but in the end, some people really are just in it [[For the Evulz]]. And due to the corrupting influence of Chaos, all except the most principled and iron-willed of heroes eventually [[The Dark Side Will Make You Forget|forget the honorable cause for which they sold their souls]], and tragically end up doing it [[For the Evulz]] as well.
** The version of Imperial history and organization presented here is stripped of the usual implication that it's all justified and things were fine until the Horus Heresy. It really plays up the idea that PCs in the other lines are tainted by evil just for defending it. A repeated theme is that many heretics embrace Chaos just because it opposes the Imperium and have no real loyalty to it.
** The version of Imperial history and organization presented here is stripped of the usual implication that it's all justified and things were fine until the Horus Heresy. It really plays up the idea that PCs in the other lines are tainted by evil just for defending it. A repeated theme is that many heretics embrace Chaos just because it opposes the Imperium and have no real loyalty to it.
* [[Weak but Skilled]]: ''Black Crusade'' balances Chaos Space Marines against ordinary human heretics by granting the latter a greater variety of starting Skills and Talents and a greater amount of starting [[Experience Points]]. Of course, when the Talents include such things as "is a psyker" and "can shoot lightning from my nipples," the terms "weak," "skilled," "ordinary," and even "''human''" begin to lose some of their meaning....
* [[Weak but Skilled]]: ''Black Crusade'' balances Chaos Space Marines against ordinary human heretics by granting the latter a greater variety of starting Skills and Talents and a greater amount of starting [[Experience Points]]. Of course, when the Talents include such things as "is a psyker" and "can shoot lightning from my nipples," the terms "weak," "skilled," "ordinary," and even "''human''" begin to lose some of their meaning....
* [[...Who Needs Enemies?]]: Compacts<ref>(the ''Black Crusade'' equivalent of Endeavours in ''[[Rogue Trader]]'' and Missions in ''[[Deathwatch (Tabletop Game)|Deathwatch]]'')</ref> have three levels of objectives: Primary, which must be completed for the Compact to be successful; Secondary, which must be completed in order to complete the Primary Objective; and Tertiary/Personal, which represent each Heretic's personal stake in the Compact. The book recommends that for each Compact, the GM should make some Heretics' Tertiary Objectives incompatible, mutually exclusive, or even counterproductive to the success of the Compact as a whole, so that [[Hilarity Ensues|hilarity (and interesting roleplaying) will ensue]]. (Thankfully, the book also offers tips on how to stop the game from collapsing under the weight of all the intraparty conflict.)
* [[...Who Needs Enemies?]]: Compacts<ref>(the ''Black Crusade'' equivalent of Endeavours in ''[[Rogue Trader]]'' and Missions in ''[[Deathwatch (game)|Deathwatch]]'')</ref> have three levels of objectives: Primary, which must be completed for the Compact to be successful; Secondary, which must be completed in order to complete the Primary Objective; and Tertiary/Personal, which represent each Heretic's personal stake in the Compact. The book recommends that for each Compact, the GM should make some Heretics' Tertiary Objectives incompatible, mutually exclusive, or even counterproductive to the success of the Compact as a whole, so that [[Hilarity Ensues|hilarity (and interesting roleplaying) will ensue]]. (Thankfully, the book also offers tips on how to stop the game from collapsing under the weight of all the intraparty conflict.)
* [[Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds]]: A [[World Half Empty|completely]] [[Trauma Conga Line|viable]] [[Tragic Hero|character]] [[Madden Into Misanthropy|option]].
* [[Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds]]: A [[World Half Empty|completely]] [[Trauma Conga Line|viable]] [[Tragic Hero|character]] [[Madden Into Misanthropy|option]].
* [[Wretched Hive]]: The Screaming Vortex is a wild and lawless region of space. On the outer reaches, the laws being ignored are those of the Imperium and of common human decency; closer to the center, the laws being ignored are those of [[World of Chaos|physics]].
* [[Wretched Hive]]: The Screaming Vortex is a wild and lawless region of space. On the outer reaches, the laws being ignored are those of the Imperium and of common human decency; closer to the center, the laws being ignored are those of [[World of Chaos|physics]].
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