Dark Heresy: running a campaign without money

[Jd Smith1]

So, I'm looking at Dark Heresy 2e for a campaign down the road; I figure my players will go for a lighter system, and you cannot beat 40k as a setting.

The thing is, money is not a factor in the game, which makes sense, because I can't imagine Eisenhorn collecting receipts and worrying about a budget, but I have always run campaigns based on the four pillars of player motivation: XP, gear, money, and petty vindictiveness.

I'm not sure how to run a long-term campaign without that fourth pillar. My players go after gold dental work in non-fantasy settings, after all.

Anyone have experience with this issue?

 

[TheSword]

Call of Cthulhu 7th has a similar abstract system I believe but it’s less abstract than Dark Heresy which is basically if you need it your patron gives it to you.

I think nice gear replaces that desire to gather wealth. With wargear taken from notable foes or acquired as part of missions.

For your motivations I would replace wealth with reputation as a major motivation. Allow them to requisition better equipment if their reputation and standing is better.

It’s always worth checking how Imperium Maledictum runs wealth. I’ll have a look in my copy later when I’m home.

 

[dbm]

The things you describe kind of combine ‘keeping score’ and ‘player empowerment’ so you just need to think how such things would apply in this context. My immediate thought is rank since the Inquisition is a militaristic / religious organisation. Rank provides privilege, access to resources, it comes with demands and obligations. Sounds like a great reward / escalation option for that kind of game.

 

[Jd Smith1]

The things you describe kind of combine ‘keeping score’ and ‘player empowerment’ so you just need to think how such things would apply in this context. My immediate thought is rank since the Inquisition is a militaristic / religious organisation. Rank provides privilege, access to resources, it comes with demands and obligations. Sounds like a great reward / escalation option for that kind of game.

A good point in theory, but the resources available do not look deep enough to support that concept in a long-term campaign.

In my other games, money is essential for day-to-day living standards, for fending off penalties inflicted by the environment and combat, to purchase training in order to translate XP into ability, as a solution to some problems, and a method to access temporary bonuses. Removing that leaves a deep hole.

Perhaps I should look at the Requisition system again. by tying it closer to rank, as you suggest, I can create a currency of sorts. A sort of 'what have you done for the Emperor lately' attitude. Your influence decays with time and the success of others, type of thing.

 

[Cergorach]

Take a look at how DH1e handled it?

 

[Jd Smith1]

Take a look at how DH1e handled it?

I don't have the 1e books, but I'll check around.

 

[Cergorach]

I don't have the 1e books, but I'll check around.

Keep an eye on Humble Bundle, the pdf collections have shown up there a couple of times.

 

[Jd Smith1]

Keep an eye on Humble Bundle, the pdf collections have shown up there a couple of times.

I'm not going to buy the book just for that.

 

[Cergorach]

I'm not going to buy the book just for that.

In 2023 it was like $25 for the 46 pdfs from DH1/DH2, Black Crusade, and Only War:

Humble RPG Bundle: Warhammer 40k: Dark Heresy, Black Crusade and Only War by Cubicle 7 Games

We’ve teamed up with Cubicle 7 for a bundle of Warhammer 40,000K Roleplay books including Dark Heresy, Only War, and Black Crusade. Pay what you want and support charity!

web.archive.org

That's a pretty good deal. The old physical books for these series tend to be quite expensive second hand. Soem cost as much as $200 for a good physical version (some LE versions even more then that).

 

[Jd Smith1]

In 2023 it was like $25 for the 46 pdfs from DH1/DH2, Black Crusade, and Only War:

Humble RPG Bundle: Warhammer 40k: Dark Heresy, Black Crusade and Only War by Cubicle 7 Games

We’ve teamed up with Cubicle 7 for a bundle of Warhammer 40,000K Roleplay books including Dark Heresy, Only War, and Black Crusade. Pay what you want and support charity!

web.archive.org

That's a pretty good deal. The old physical books for these series tend to be quite expensive second hand. Soem cost as much as $200 for a good physical version (some LE versions even more then that).

Still not buying an outdated book (pdf) just to check a rule.