View source for OOC: Playing the Game

=Your Role=
Your are Roleplaying as one of the Emperors Primarchs from the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. You were created to lead the mighty Space Marine Legions and take part in a Great Crusade across the Galaxy to unite Mankind after the Age of Strife.

However grand the Emperors plans are there are others perhaps more cunning and dark intelligences making schemes of their own. 

They seek to turn the Primarchs against the Emperor and allow the fell agents of Chaos to rise Ascendant of the Imperium. 

Who turns traitor and who will stand against them is down to the players and the actions and interactions they have with the Galaxy and each other. 

To begin with you should look at creating your Primarch and Legion. Details of which are here: [[OOC: Legion Generation]]

Working with your GM use this guide to forge your ideas into an entirely new Primarch and Space Marine Legion.

=Starting the Game=
At the beginning of the Game you will need to have created the relevant Wiki pages so people can read about your Legion and signed up as your Primarch to the Forums. The Forums will be your main means of communication between the players.
(Wiki templates and Forum link are on the Wiki Home Page)

You will also have a Private Character Sheet you share with your GM, this will detail all the specifics of your Legion which are used during the Calculation stage to see how well you do with your various orders.

You can view the Galaxy Map and look at the different Sectors and Warzones. The players will be briefed on these at the opening.
You can also locate your Homeworld which will be the Staging point for your Legion Fleet. 
You can learn about Legion Fleets here: [[OOC: Legion Expeditionary Fleets]]

Once you are comfortable with the Map and have surveyed the various locations which require Astartes aid you can begin to plan your turn in cooperation with the other players.

=A Game Turn=
A turn is divided into 2 Phases the '''Order Phase''' & '''Resolution Phase'''. The order Phase is where Players submit what they want to do. The Resolution Phase is where the GM collects all the orders and calculates the effects on the Game. 

At the Begging of the Game all Imperial Forces actions are resolved before other Races. 

Once another Faction containing Players has emerged and Broken Loyalty with the Emperor a new Initiative order will be determined. This means all moves and assaults from one side will happen before all moves and assaults from the other side.

Details on Orders can be found Here:
[[OOC: Turn Structure & Orders]]

=Galaxy Map Guide=
The Galactic Map is where most of the Game State is represented. 
There are 4 Different Entities on the Galaxy Map. '''Sectors, Warzones, Locations, Fleets'''
===Sectors===
Sectors represent large chunks of the Galaxy, e.g '''Inner Northern Ultima Segmentum'''. They can contain Locations, Warzones and Fleets.
===Warzones===
Warzones are especially dangerous and troublesome areas of the galaxy where a prominent threat has gathered. They are Located within a Sector and can contain Locations and Fleets. Warzones often require the might of Several Legions to deal with.

Note that in a Warzone there will likely be multiple locations connected together along a route. You will need to defeat each location in turn in order to progress through the paths. Progress may be locked until other routes are completed.

===Locations===
Locations are places on the map that your Fleets can interact with. It could be a Hostile Planet or Warzone, a Friendly Forgeworld, or a Specific Scenario of a Warzone. If a location has the tag '''STRIKE TEAM''' That means only your Primarch or Special Characters will be combatants in that Location.
===Fleets===
Fleets represent Legion on Xenos Fleets which are present in that Sector or Warzone. They can be the target of a '''MOVE''' or '''ASSAULT''' order just like a Location.

=Combat=
Once you have identified a Hostile Location, in order to attack it you must bring your Legion to the Relevant Sector or Warzone (usually via a '''JUMP''' order) and Declare an '''ASSAULT''' order.

Then During the Resolution phase the GM will simulate the Battle that occurs there. Giving details on Casualties and the end result.
Battles are simulated by comparing Attribute Ranks of the Legion and the opponent.

You can see more details of what the different attributes do Here: [[OOC: Attributes]]

Multiple Legion Fleets can Assault the same location, enemy Strength is divided between the Fleets. 
However due to Logistical bottlenecks and Combat Widths if multiple Fleets from a single Legion assault a Location then every Fleet After the first will suffer a 50% penalty to it's effectiveness.
If multiple Fleets from '''Different Legions''' assault the same Location/Fleet this penalty does not apply due to the different Legions having separate Supply routes and different combat tactics.

Occasionally Locations can be brought to Compliance without Combat. This is usually via Diplomacy and will require a '''MOVE''' order rather than assault once you have identified a potentially friendly Location.

=Developing my Legion=
As the game goes on and your Legion Fleet crushes the Enemies of the Imperium and builds it's relationships with other Legions and other Factions you will be awarded additional Ranks in various Attributes.

The GM will inform you of which Ranks are being increased and adjust your Private Character Sheet. 

The Total of all Ranks in all Attributes represents your '''Total Legion Power'''. 

Once this reaches 65 you have developed your Legion enough to Support another Fleet (as detailed here [[OOC: Legion Expeditionary Fleets]])

You will also Unlock an "Archetype". This provides your Legion a specific bonus based on their tactics and Style.
You find more about Archetypes here: [[OOC: Archetypes]]