Editing Blackstone Fortress (section)

==The Game==
Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress is a dungeon crawler board game along the lines of [[Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower|Silver Tower]] and Shadows Under Hammerhal, albeit in the 40k setting as opposed to [[Age of Sigmar]]. The players control a party of four adventurers (chosen out of the eight in the box) on an expedition into the depths of the Blackstone Fortress. In between expeditions they stop at Precipice to trade archaeotech and utilize the various services of their ship. The ultimate goal is to conquer four Strongholds and find your way to the Hidden Vault, in order to claim the ultimate prize, hidden in a special envelope that you're probably going to tear open as soon as you open the box because you're too impatient to play ten sessions in order to legitimately find out.

===Game play===
The game consists of two kinds of events - challenges and combats, drawn from the deck of Exploration Cards (The Escalation Expansion uses a a book of pre-laid out chambers and passages). Challenges involve dice rolls - either of D6 (Activation/Destiny Dice) various Action Dice (D6, D8 and D12 laid out with options for failure, success and critical success) and the Blackstone Dice (D20), often involving the chance to end up either with a discovery card or a serious injury depending how lucky you are. Combat involves psykers fighting hostiles in a set area shown on the card set up using modular dungeon tiles marked with hexagonal movement squares. Players must usually reach another portal to escape, gathering discovery cards ([[archeotech]] and clues that can be traded for resources) and fight randomly generated hostiles (in some combats, and most vaults, set hostiles are laid out for the players to fight). Dead hostiles can be returned to the table via reinforcement roles - emerging through portals. All the dice mentioned above are also used in combat for various purposes. Explorers can take a number of wounds (which can be healed during the exploration) and grievous wounds (which generally cannot) before being taken out of action. Any explorer that is taken out of action risks dying permanently and not being available for future missions.

===The Playable Characters===
''From the original Blackstone Fortress Box''
*'''Janus Draik''': A [[Rogue Trader]] and the closest thing to the main character of the games. He has a pistol but his real skill lies in his swordmanship - with his Flurry of attacks being excellent at close quarters. Also gets a free gambit at the start of each round of combat, increasing his chances of attacking ahead of the hostiles.
*'''Taddeus the Purifier''': A mad priest who came to the fortress due to a vision from the [[Emperor]]. For a rather tubby looking zealot, he can pack a hit with his [[Power Weapon|power maul]] and [[stubber]] - while his servo skull mounted gun allows him to put good quality fire power into medium range targets.
*'''Pious Vorne''': A hive-ganger acolyte of Taddeus. Despite looking like she wears armor, she has terrible defense. She makes up for it with her [[heavy flamer]], arguably the best weapon in the game.
*'''Espern Locarno''': An Imperial [[Navigator]]. Despite being rather poor in combat, he has a plethora of support abilities that make him incredibly useful, being able to save Destiny Dice, mind-control opponents, create psychic defense barriers, and owning a ship that is the only way to resurrect dead party members.
*'''[[UR-025]]''': An [[Legio Cybernetica|Imperial Robot]] working for the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]], definitely not a [[Men of Iron|Man of Iron]], nope. Probably the most powerful character in the game, with his amazing defense and strong weapons. To compensate, he only gets three activation dice as opposed to the four everyone else gets. Capable of surviving, and dishing out, a good amount of firepower.
*'''Rein and Raus''': [[Ratling]] twins who [[Heresy|deserted from the Imperial Guard]]. Though individually weak, their gimmick lets them operate as two characters in one. One boasts one of the best [[Sniper Rifle|sniper rifles]] in the game while the other has a grappling hook which grants him a lot of mobility (and can be used to move rapidly to seize/reach objectives). Both are also equipped with stub pistols should they find themselves lacking sufficiently high activation dice.
*'''Dahyak Grekh''': A [[Kroot]] tracker, and probably the individual who knows the most about the Fortress due to absorbing the memories of those he eats (even finding out a way to do this with the Spindle Drones). His field craft ability allows him to get the drop on hostiles early on, and his booby traps can deal with most smaller hostiles and he can hold his own both at range and in close combat (although he is far from the best at either).
*'''Amallyn Shadowguide''': An [[Eldar Ranger]] from [[Biel-Tan]], searching for archaeotech she believes might be able to rebuild her fractured [[Craftworld]]. A capable addition to any team of explorers with both good close combat abilities and a sniper rifle.

''From the Escalation Expansion''
*'''Neyam Shai Murad''': A new Rogue Trader from Escalation, here to smoke out terrorists. She's more of a gunslinger than Draik and has a sword for a leg. Despite having the sword for a limb, she doesn't seem to use it in combat - with both her attacks being based on her use of her negotiator pistols - not that she needs anything else as she can, with the right activation dice, lay down a considerable amount of shots capable of causing severe damage to large enemies or ripping apart grouped together hordes of weaker hostiles.
*'''Daedalosus''': A Technoarchaeologist from Escalation. He can handle himself in close combat but his Eradicator Pistol is relatively useless at short and medium range until he inspires. His designated target ability is useful (especially since he struggles to take down targets himself).
*'''Aradia Madellan''': A [[Primaris Psyker]] from Escalation. She comes armed with a [[laspistol]], which delivers reasonable medium range attacks, and a force staff. She also has the powerful smite psychic ability.
*'''Gotfret de Montbard''': A [[Crusaders|Crusader]] from Escalation. As with the models in the Ministorum lists, he's big and tanky with a [[Storm Shield]] and Power Sword. Possesses no ranged attacks but more than makes up for it with excellent close combat skills, surprisingly mobility and a solid defense.

''Solo Explorer (From editions of White Dwarf)''
*'''[[Solitaire|Harlequin Solitaire]]''': A new explorer introduced for playing the game with just the one explorer. It has no spaceship and can't team up with others, purchase items at Precipice or generally do much beyond kick ass and take names. An incredibly powerful explorer capable of incredibly fast movement, with formidable defense and the ability to one-shot kill enemies like the Dreaded Ambull.
*'''[[Eversor|Eversor Assassin]]''': A kill-crazy Eversor who runs around the fortress single-handedly. Packs a lot of firepower.
*'''[[Watch Master|Deathwatch Watch Master]]''': Probably one of the few times the [[Astartes]] on the tabletop match the ability of those in the fluff, as he can dispose of countless lesser combatants with no issues.

''Retinue characters (one of these may accompany any four of the above explorers, controlled by the party leader)''
*'''X-101''': A Strange [[Servitor]] from Escalation. It can only do two things a turn (three if Daedalosus is present - the only circumstance in which he can become inspired) but has close range and long range attacks. Realistically he is, at most, going to kill a few low level hostiles or put a few wounds on a large one during each combat. Since there are no penalties or costs for taking him though you may as well have him along. You never know when you might run into a traitor guardsman who needs a cheeky bit of cutter-beaming.
*'''Gren "Knuckles" and Dorg "The Wall" Broggan''': A pair of [[Ogryn]] brothers, a Bodyguard and a Bullgryn, introduced in the September 2019 issue of White Dwarf. Gren comes equipped with a ripper shotgun while Dorg is tooled up with a maul and shield. Since they're retinue characters, only one of the brothers may accompany your explorers on an expedition (this is vaguely explained away in the back story by the fact that Xalleus, the data trader who brought the pair to Precipice, always likes having one of them with him to guard him). Gren, as a bodyguard, sticks close to his charge and becomes 'inspired' when they are grievously wounded (which, if he is any use doesn't happen). He is armed with a ripper shotgun and may wound or kill a few light hostiles in combat per expedition. Big brother Dorg is slightly more autonomous (possibly due to his BONE implant). He has no ranged attack but is happy and capable of crushing anyone who gets too close with his power maul and shield - easily the better of the two brothers crunchwise.
*'''Skarburn Zapdakka''': An [[Ork]] [[Flash Gitz|Flash Git]] retinue character with rules and a special mission in the October 2019 issue of White Dwarf. It's not clear how many people are going to be prepared to fork out £32 for the Flash Gitz box of five boyz for one retinue character. Increasingly solidifies fears, first considered with the Broggan brothers above, that retinue characters are a ploy by GW to get mugs buying expensive 40k units to field new characters... [[skub|Or they are just a bonus for Xenos players since in most groups of 3-6 40k players odds are there is at least one Ork player]]
*'''Penitent 707''': Taddeus's [[Arco-flagellant]], presumed lost in an earlier expedition to the Blackstone Fortress.
*'''The Archivist''': A [[Zoats|Zoat]] "data broker" ostensibly here to salvage the remains of an ancient Zoat spaceship captured by the fortress, but as long as he's around he's not averse to looting as much other archaeotech as he can. While powerful, it might be a good idea to remember that he has a reputation for getting others to do his dirty work and then running off with the loot when they die.
*'''The Tinkerer''': A [[Jokaero]] weaponsmith. It can upgrade explorers' weapons or activation dice, place defense orbs around itself, and fire off its digital weapon.

===The Hostiles===
''The Original Box set''
*'''Obsidius Mallex''' - [[Chaos Lord]] and resident hardman commanding [[Black Legion]] forces present. Armed with a [[thunder hammer]] and [[plasma pistol]] ([[Chaos]], obviously).
*'''[[Chaos Space Marines]]''' - Black Legion warriors armed with classic [[Boltgun|boltguns]]. (Chaos).
*'''Rogue Psykers''' - Psykers who have, uh, gone rogue? Their disrupt ability can prove an irritant. (Chaos)
*'''[[Beastmen]]''' - The ever lovable beastman - armed with melee weapons and laspistols (Chaos).
*'''[[Negavolt Cultist|Negavolt Cultists]]''' - Wire-headed mad lads whose attacks negate defence rolls. Best shot at range (Chaos).
*'''Traitor Guardsmen''' - Standard Imperium Troops [[Lost and the Damned|who have fallen to Chaos]], squads over 5 strong must include a Sgt with a melee weapon and pistol and a bloke with a flamer. A full seven-man squad has weapons including melee, grenades, a flamer and lasguns. Probably the best ranged general unit for hostiles (although they are easy enough to kill). (Chaos)
*'''Spindle Drones''' - see dedicated section above. Get more lethal as their comrades get killed. (Unaligned)
*'''[[Ur-Ghul|Ur-Ghuls]]''' - Transported from Commoragh to the fortress. Often under-estimated but, with a few lucky rolls on their part, can mess up your day in melee. (Unaligned)
''The Dreaded Ambull expansion''
*'''The [[Ambull]]''' - Giant muscular insect. Lots of wounds and has a separate 'enraged' profile in certain scenarios. Will attack, and be attacked by other hostiles - meaning there is a chance to keep your distance and let the hostiles weaken each other - a combat that can go either way but should leave the winner weakened and defeated side dead. (Unaligned)
*'''Borewyrm Infestations''' - Baby Ambulls, capable of delivering a nasty bite but nowhere near as lethal, or durable as big daddy Ambull. Like the Ambull, they are as happy ripping apart cultists and traitor guardsmen as they are the explorers. (Unaligned)
''Traitor Command Expansion'''
*'''[[Traitor Commissar|Traitor Commissars]]''' - From the Grendish 82nd regiment. He wields a power fist and a bolt pistol and can be dangerous in close combat. Only has two wounds but this is mitigated to an extent by his chaos Ogryn bodyguard. (Chaos)
*'''[[Ogryn Brute|Chaos Ogryn]]''' - High wound count and a nasty close combat attack. (Chaos)
''Escalation Expansion''
*'''Cultist Firebrand''' - An excellent model with some dangerous flame based attacks. At only five wounds quite easy to pick off before he can become the threat he is billed to be. Occasionally explodes with chaotic energy upon death with the potential to kill or injure anyone standing near him. (Chaos)
*'''[[Cultist|Cultists]]''' - Appear in squads of up to seven. A full complement includes a champion with a pistol and chainsword, a grenade launcher, a heavy stubber and a number of grunts with autoguns. About as durable as traitor gurdsmen (which is to say, not very). (Chaos)
''No Respite Expansion''
*'''[[Plague Marines]]'''- The 6th Plague Company warband called the Infested Brethren, here to spread [[Nurgle|Nurgle's]] gifts to the fortress's denizens.
*'''[[Poxwalkers]]'''- Here with their [[Death Guard]] masters.
''Annual 2019''
*'''Astroth Mythrak''' - A [[Master of Possession]] who's decided to start corrupting parts of the fortress. Has a spell that can rob a player of an Activation or Destiny die.
*'''[[Greater Possessed]]''' - Chaos Marines, but now super-possessed. Tasked with protecting Astroth with their freakishly powerful claws.

''Deadly Alliance''
Does not have any hostiles. It's possible the zoat becomes a hostile if he gets paranoid enough.

''Ascension Expansion''
*'''Guardian Drones''': Giant spindle drones with a very high number of wounds, the potential to be shielded from range attacks and a blistering array of weaponry. Also make the smaller spindle drones more dangerous.

===Other named characters (potential spoilers)===
*'''The Council of Precipice''' - ruling body of Precipice, the space station/settlement that the explorers are based on between expeditins to the Blackstone Fortress. Ensure the uneasy truce is, somewhat, maintained.
*'''Grey Duchess''' - a trader in rare creatures who is believed to have taken the first Ambull aboard the Blackstone Fortress. (Dreaded Ambull)
*'''Gandar Sett''' - An Adeptus Mechanicus Genetor and 'the foremost authority' on Ambulls. (Dreaded Ambull)
*'''Veth Rayden''' - A [[Drukhari]] pirate. She is current captain of the Eye of Vect. (Traitor Command)
*'''Xalleus''' - a data trader who brought the Broggan brothers to Precipice. Hires them out one at a time to groups launching expeditions into the Blackstone Fortress while keeping the other by his side (which also conveniently explains why you can't take both at the same time as you can only have one retinue character per party). Doesn't seem to bother asking for any tangible fee for their services as it costs nothing in terms of resources or archeotech to bring them along (maybe he needs them fighting to keep them from to getting bored and the explorers are babysitting). (White Dwarf Broggan Twins Expansion)
*'''Fleshspoiler''' - Obsidius Mallex's torturer. (White Dwarf January 2020 Daring Rescue Quest)
*'''Vykross Blackshard''' - named Black Legion Chaos Space Marine (White Dwarf January 2020 Daring Rescue Quest).
*'''Adepts of Blood''' - The Fleshspoiler's understudies (Traitor Guard Sergeant) (White Dwarf January 2020 Daring Rescue Quest).

===Expansion Box Sets===
*'''The Dreaded [[Ambull]]''': An Ambull is infesting the Blackstone Fortress and the explorers have been hired to exterminate it.
*'''Traitor Command''': Introduces two new enemies in the form of the Traitor Commissar and his Chaos Ogryn bodyguard, and a new quest revolving around preventing him from doing some nefarious Chaos ritual.
*'''Escalation''': The biggest expansion pack yet, adding in four new playable characters and new chaos cultist enemies.
*'''No Respite''': New quest featuring Nurgle enemies (no new models, just the Easy To Build ones).
*'''Deadly Alliance''': Adds The Archivist, more location tiles, and new cards to represent the strange phenomenon called the Seethe.
*'''Ascension''': Stated to be the end of the game, adding the Guardian Drones (literally GIANT SPINDLE DRONES). The Fortress is Awakening, and boy is it pissed off.
===De-Facto Miniature Packs===
''(Note these following two just contain additional miniatures previously released with earlier releases and have no additional rules/quests).''
*'''Servants of the Abyss''': One of the two boxes of minis released to support the Abominable Intellect Deck (see Card expansions), includes one sprue from the original Blackstone Fortress set that includes 7 Traitor Guardsmen (including a Sgt and a flamer), two Ur-Ghuls, two Negavolt Cultists, two Spindle Drones, two Beastmen, a Rogue Psyker and a Chaos Space Marine.
*'''Cultists of the Abyss''': All the Cultist miniatures from the above Escalation Expansion to complement the Abominable Intellect card deck - namely a Cultist Fireband and seven Cultists (including a champion, auto stubber and grenade launcher).

===Expansion Card Decks===
*'''Endless Peril''': 30 new exploration cards, 15 of them challenges and 15 of them combats.
*'''Advanced Arsenal''': New 24 resource cards for the original six explorer ships from the main box set (for a total of four each).
*'''Abominable Intellect''': Hard mode expansion. A deck of 44 new Encounter cards that have more enemies than usual (the expansion will be released with additional kits of the main game and Escalation hostiles, to complement the new encounter rates), plus additional rules that last for the remainder of a turn to make it more annoying.

===Blackstone Fortress Annual 2019===
''Contains all the White Dwarf add-ons listed below from between December 2018 and December 2019 and includes a miniatures showcase and designer's notes on Abominable intellect, as well as the following:''
*'''Strike Team''': Rules for playing an expedition with two-three explorers as opposed to the full four
*'''Wrath of the Daemonkin''' - a brand-new quest that sees your explorers take on a Master of Possession and his minion.

===White Dwarf add-ons===
*'''Light in the Dark''': December 2018 issue of White Dwarf. Prequel mission for two players (which must pick Thaddeus and Vorne), also coming with a bonus artifact as a reward.
*'''Hostile Threat Detected''': May 2019 issue of White Dwarf. Expanded rules for the hostiles player.
*'''A Deadly Lure''': June-July 2019 issues of White Dwarf. Requires the Dreaded Ambull expansion. Set after the mission from the expansion, the explorers have to come back and lure out the Ambull so that it can breach through a sealed chamber.
*'''Precipice Awaits''': August 2019 issue of White Dwarf. Features a list of additional things you can do between missions, making it feel more like old Warhammer Quest.
*'''The Broggan Brothers''': September 2019 issue of White Dwarf. Adds a pair of Ogryns as retinue characters, with an additional sidequest that is required to do to "unlock" them in other quests. Requires Escalation to be played.
*'''Skarburn Zapdakka''' - October 2019 issue of White Dwarf, including an Ork Flash Gitz mercenary as a retinue character, as well as the obligatory mission to "unlock" him for future expeditions.
*'''Harlequin Solitaire''' - November 2019 issue of White Dwarf. Introduces a Harlequin Solitaire to be played as a solo explorer (as opposed to the usual four-person team of explorers).
*'''Penitent 707''' - December 2019 issue of White Dwarf. Introduces a new retinue character (an Adepta Sororitas Arcoflagellant) and a mission to unlock them.
*'''A Daring Rescue''' - January 2020 (450) issue of White Dwarf, a new six-part quest to rescue an explorer from Mallex's minions.
*'''Sanctioned Carnage''' - February 2020 (451) issue of White Dwarf. Introduces the Eversor Assassin as another solo explorer like the Solitaire.
*'''Alien Intelligence''' - March 2020 (452) issue of White Dwarf. Introduces the Jokaero Weaponsmith as a retinue character.
*'''Xenos Hunter''' - April 2020 (453) issue of White Dwarf. Introduces the Deathwatch Watch Master as a solo explorer.
*'''Men of Metal''' - October 2020 (457) issue of White Dwarf. Features a quest where Daedalosus and UR-025 go to study the Spindle Drones. Originally planned to be in the August 2020 (455) issue, but postponed because the required Ascension expansion wasn't out yet due to COVID-19.
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