Power Armour Creation Tables
This article presents a custom set of tables to create your own Power Armour from Fantasy Flight Games' Deathwatch Role-playing Game's Power Armour Chapter Creation Tables, allowing you to create your own unique suit, albeit without in-game mechanics.
Armour Origins
What Mark is the Power Armour? (d20) | |
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1 | MK II - Crusade Armour: The oldest mark of power armour still in use, for the first mark of Astartes series plating was made for the Thunder Warriors and has only few pieces of ceremonial gear remaining with full suits of MK I Thunder Armour being all but unheard of in all but the most ancient of Chapters, specifically reserved for ceremonial duties only. As such, a suit of MK II Armour is the earliest variant that can still see active duty. MK II Armour carried the Great Crusade and is a reminder of the time when mankind still had hope, the elder machine spirits carry a touch of this glory and burn with a desire of justice and vengeance against the traitors who ruined the dream, tempered by a literal ten thousand years worth of experience. Any Astartes who is granted a set of this armour is surely an honored veteran of countless conflicts. |
2 | MK III - Iron Armour: A reinforced and up-armored version of the Mark II, the Mark III is still prized by chapters who specialize in boarding actions, siege warfare, and underground combat, where its heavy frontal armour provides a decided advantage. This variant was the backbone of the dangerous combat zones of the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy. The faceplate is still relatively common. |
3-4 | MK IV - Maximus Armour: The first true advance in power armour technology and the standard type in use at the height of the Great Crusade, just before the Horus Heresy. The Arch-traitor Horus is known to have diverted production to traitors sworn to him before the Heresy erupted, but the loyalists got their share of suits as well. |
5-6 | MK V - Heresy Armour: Relics of the desperate days of the Horus Heresy, these studded plates are still used by some Chapters. Many variations existed, most of which were emergency ad-hoc repairs done in the desperate times of the Horus Heresy, while the official variant used bonding studs, originally designed for expedient vehicle plating field repair if proper service is unavailable, as an emergency measure to make as many suits as possible in the short time available. Chapters which use this variant commonly are poorly supplied Chapters who aren't well connected to the wider Imperial bureaucracy, by choice or necessity. Other Chapters flat out reject the use, perhaps preferring to avoid thinking of the dark days of the Horus Heresy. Better equipped Chapters are unlikely to use this pattern, except for specific relics of legendary provenance. |
7-8 | MK VI - Corvus Armour: Named after the Primarch Corvus Corax, this mark is based on his grace and stealth. The pattern was in testing in the last years of the Great Crusade, with the Iron Warriors rejecting it and the Raven Guard excelling in it. An unknown amount found itself in the hands of the Alpha Legion at this time through unknown means. This pattern is the second most common suit used by most Chapters. |
9-15 | MK VII - Aquila Armour: Tried and true, the Aquila pattern has been the most commonly used power armour of the Adeptus Astartes for the last ten millennia. The suit was designed in secret during the Horus Heresy to be back compatible with the Corvus Armour and to use advances from all patterns to give the loyalists an edge. Unveiled at the Siege of Terra, they were a nasty surprise to the traitor forces. Ten thousand years on, it is the standard Power Armour for all but the more poorly equipped Chapters. |
16-17 | MK VIII - Errant Armour: An upgraded version of the Aquila pattern, typically issued to officers and leaders. Many suits are also reserved for the veterans of the Deathwatch, who issue this pattern as standard to the veterans it takes from Chapters. This pattern is expensive to make and a Chapter being fully equipped with this pattern means that they have close ties to the Mechanicus, a rich section of the Imperial government, or even the High Lords. For most Chapters, individual pieces are handed out to veterans who achieve glory and anyone with a full suit is a bona fide badass expecting promotion to command rank. |
18-19 | MK X - Tacticus Armour: The newest type of Astartes power armour, reconfigurable into several sub-patterns such as the Gravis (heavy assault), Phobos (stealth), and Omnis (specialist aerial autocannon capable). This pattern is reserved for Primaris Space Marines. The design was rationalized by the charmed Belisarius Cawl (or any of many souls his body carries along) and at baseline is superior to all previous marks in all aspects, though the Machine Spirits are young and hotheaded. It is likely that the introduction of the MK X has precluded any chance of MK VIII Armour ever achieving common deployment. |
20 | Terminator Armour: The unstoppable heavy breakthrough armour of the Adeptus Astartes, this suit is issued only to veterans and used in the most dangerous situations. (Roll on the next table to determine what pattern this armour is.) |
What pattern of MK X Armour does the Machine-Spirit prefer to be configured as? (d6) (Roll only if you rolled up MK X Armour) | |
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1 | Phobos Armour: This suit's lighter-weight ceramite and streamlined design allow for greater mobility, and its servo-motors are engineered to be completely silent. This variant serves Reivers, Incursors and other Vanguard Space Marines. All who wear the Mark X Phobos variant depend on stealth and secrecy to accomplish their missions. |
2-5 | Tacticus Armour: The most commonly used MK X armour, worn by everyone from Intercessors to Bladeguard Veterans. Tacticus armour is a suit that combines the most effective elements of ancestral Horus Heresy patterns with more recent developments in power armour technology, and is fit for a multitude of tasks. |
6 | Gravis Armour: Heavy armour used by Commanders, Aggressor Squads, Eradicator Squads, and the Jump Pack-capable variant Omnis-Pattern used by Inceptor Squads. This pattern is more heavily protected and allows for a level of protection near Terminator Armour level but with the flexibility of standard designs. |
What pattern of Terminator Armour is it? (d6) (Roll only if you rolled up Terminator Armour) | |
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1 | Cataphractii Armour: The heaviest personal armour ever used by the Adeptus Astartes, Cataphractii-pattern armour is more tank than suit. The only surviving examples are relics from the time of the Horus Heresy and a handful made by legendary artificers hence. Easily the most durable plate a Space Marine can wear, surpassed only by Custodes armour. |
2-5 | Indomitus Armour: The most common type of Terminator armour in use, this iconic suit is a familiar sight on battlefields across the galaxy. |
6 | Tartaros Armour: A lighter and sleeker suit of Terminator plate, incorporating systems from the Mark IV Maximus pattern. Even rarer than the Cataphractii pattern, Tartaros suits are nearly equal to normal power armour in speed and mobility while not giving up on Indomitus level protection, and correspondingly prized. |
What battle scars does the Armour have? (d20) | |
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1 | Death of a Battle-Brother: The armour still bears the mark of the death of a comrade in arms, forever reminding the new owner of this tragedy. |
2 | Trophies of Battle: The armour is decorated with purity seals, oaths of moment, and trophies claimed from battlefields across the galaxy, all telling the story of its previous wearers. |
3-4 | Blood-Soaked: No matter how often the armour is cleaned, there are some bloodstains which simply cannot be removed. |
5-6 | Mark of Those Who Came Before: The inside of the armour is etched with the names and deeds of its previous wearers. |
6-9 | Battered by War: The armour has unrepaired bullet holes, scars and scratches from previous warzones. |
10-20 | Pristine Condition: Fresh, undamaged and ready for war, the armour looks like it has just come from the forges. |
What stories are bound to the armour? (d10) | |
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1 | Warp Taint: The armour has felt the touch of the Ruinous Powers, and carries a dark aura. Its machine spirit is aggressive and willful. |
2 | Hero's Shame: The previous owner was a renowned hero of the Chapter who failed at a critical moment, with dire consequences. Being granted this suit may be less an honour and more a mark of penance. Its machine spirit demands a chance for redemption. |
3-4 | The Emperor's Finest: Having been worn by many Astartes who were held as paragons by their Chapter, the armour itself has become a symbol of salvation and purgation. Its machine spirit is noble and valorous. |
5 | Undefeated: Whether because of the skill of its former wearers or a blessing of the Emperor, this armour has never seen defeat on the battlefield. The armour's machine spirit seems to know this, and bears itself with pride. |
6-7 | Lone Survivor: Owned by the last surviving member of a squad, this armour has seen incredible stress and heartfelt courage. Its machine spirit is defiant and proud. |
8-9 | Pristine Condition: This armour is fresh from the chapter forges, and its machine spirit is eager for the chance to prove itself on the battlefield. |
10 | Unknown Provenance: A mysterious piece of armour, all records of its existence have been struck from the annals of the Chapter. |
Armour Design
What personal touches have the artificers added to the armour? (d8) | |
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1 | Destroyed and Rebuilt: Completely destroyed in battle and later painstakingly rebuilt, this suit of armour has weak points and a mean streak a mile wide for those who killed its last wearer. |
2 | Cannibalized: This armour has been reassembled with parts originally taken from several other suits of the same mark. |
3 | Alien Parts Included: Pieces from other marks of power armour, like the advanced Errant pattern or the hotchpotch Heresy pattern, have been incorporated into the armour. The owner must learn to control the somewhat schizophrenic Machine Spirit. |
4 | Overclocked Machine Spirit: The Machine Spirit of this armour is remarkably advanced, and uses its strengths to ensure that its wearer gets the most out of the armour, overworking servos and increasing sensitivity in the autosenses and other onboard systems. The armour's power plant tends to run hot as a result. |
5 | Crusader Marks: Having been used far beyond the reach of the Imperium, this armour has modifications made to bring the Emperor's light to the outskirts of the galaxy, such as advanced ceramite plates for dealing with different Xenos or heraldry from unique campaigns. |
6 | Ancient Heraldry: The spirit of ancient wars lies within this armour, maybe from the Horus Heresy or the Macharian Crusades, imbued in golden runes, ancient purity seals, and old but well-kept and experienced machinery. |
7 | Reinforced: Heavily modified and rebuilt to be almost completely different from the mark it was based on, this armour has been changed to withstand the tides of infidels and xenos with extra plates, fortified ceramite mesh and strengthened servos. |
8 | Master-Crafted: Painstakingly crafted by artisans and the best Techmarines in the Chapter, this armour is the very definition of the might of the Imperium and is so well made, it could have been crafted during the Dark Age of Technology. |
How does the Machine Spirit act? (d10) | |
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1 | Cower Not Before the Enemy: The spirit within this armour is prideful, and the armour is adorned with myriad honours, seals, and other items of importance. It actively sabotages any attempt to hide from the enemy. |
2 | None Shall Escape the Emperor's Wrath: The spirit dedicates itself to ensuring that none escape the wrath of its wearer, and devotes much of its power to the armour's sensors, scanning tirelessly for new targets and continually seeking the most efficient way to rid the world of the horrors that assail the Imperium. In return, the armour's servos work on a slower level than normal, feeling more sluggish to use. |
3 | Scourge of the Impure: This spirit is as much a crusader as its wearer, and is driven to rip apart any enemy standing before it. Reckless and brave, the armour assists the user to hit in the grind of melee, but is less accurate at range. |
4 | Death is Joy: The machine spirit of this armour is methodical and efficient, downing each enemy with calculated ease. Slowly, the wearer and the spirit become one, the wearer adding his aggressive zeal to the spirit's cold calculation. |
5 | Fury as Lightning: While the Astartes Power Armour doesn't infer on the speed of the wearer, this Spirit increases it and makes the wearer speed ahead and dodge incoming blows with increased ease. |
6 | Strength of Legend: Like the Herculean legends of ancient Terra, this armour has a heroic and powerful Machine Spirit that makes sure every step and punch shakes the surroundings, and that no obstacle can stand against the overpowered servos of the armour. |
7 | Superhuman Terror: This suit of armour has a menacing aura about it, and weaker souls cower before its dread mien. The spirit within revels in this fact, and relishes watching the enemies of man flee from its wrath. |
8 | Lead by Example: This spirit has been shaped into a leader, and its armour is adorned with heraldry that inspires its comrades and strikes fear in the hearts of the enemy. Easily distinguished, this suit yearns to be in the middle of any battle, driving its battle-brothers to further heroics. |
9 | Death from Afar: Some suits of power armour are made to rush into the heat of battle, but not this one: this spirit has been inloaded with data-fragments that make it ideal at balancing heavy ordnance and light bolter alike, losing next to no accuracy while plodding menacingly towards the enemy. |
10 | Never Forgive, Never Forget: The Spirit within this armour is a vengeful one, forever waiting to be able to fight the enemy of which grudges are written on the plates of the armour. Upon receiving the suit, the Astartes and Spirit soon learns to combine their drive to further stack pain on the enemies of Man. |
- - - Unfinished - Please Help with Mk 10- - -
Lastly, add a name, colours, and Chapter, and you're ready to release your special snowflake piece of armour into the world.