Skip to main content

Gang Alignment

RAW ✔️ House of Faith, p30

Unlike other gangs, those of House Cawdor frequently walk a fine line between being considered law abiding and being declared outlaw due to their often heretical interpretation of the Imperial Creed. In its more moderate forms, the Cult of the Redemption is accepted by Imperial authorities. However, those adherents that allow themselves to follow the more extreme interpretations of the Cult can quickly find themselves on the wrong side of Lord Helmawr's law and, in some cases, ostracised from House Cawdor itself for their heresies. Such gangs are known throughout Necromunda as 'Redemptionists', and are rightly feared as fanatics by all.

To represent this, all fighters in a Cawdor gang have one of two special rules: 'Pious' or 'Fanatical':

  • If a gang contains more Pious fighters than Fanatical fighters when it is founded, its alignment is automatically 'Law Abiding' (see opposite).
  • If a gang contains more Fanatical fighters than Pious fighters when it is founded, its alignment is automatically 'Outlaw' (see opposite).
  • If a gang contains an equal number of Pious and Fanatical fighters when it is founded, its alignment is determined by the Pious or Fanatical designation of its Leader.

What's in a Name?: Players should note that, throughout the rules, Outlaw House Cawdor gangs and fighters are referred to as 'Redemptionist gangs' or 'Redemptionists', whilst Law Abiding House Cawdor gangs and fighters are referred to as 'Cawdor gangs' or 'Cawdor'. However, all belong to House Cawdor and when the rules refer to 'House Cawdor', both Law Abiding and Outlaw gangs are included.

Changing Alignment: During Campaign play, it may occur that the structure of the gang changes due to a combination of attrition and hiring new fighters, and this may cause it to be viewed differently by both House Cawdor and Imperial authorities. During Campaign play, after each battle it takes part in a Cawdor or Redemptionist gang may be required to make an Alignment test if:

  • The gang now contains more Pious fighters than Fanatical fighters.
  • The gang now contains more Fanatical fighters than Pious fighters.

However, it is possible for a player to make a deliberate choice to include only Pious or only Fanatical fighters in their gang. In such cases, the player is able to control their gang's alignment:

  • If a gang contains only Pious fighters, it is always considered a 'Cawdor' gang and its alignment is automatically Law Abiding.
  • If a gang contains only Fanatical fighters, it is always considered a 'Redemptionist' gang and its alignment is automatically Outlaw.

Making An Alignment Test​

As mentioned previously, House Cawdor gangs may be required to make an Alignment test during any post-battle sequence should their composition change. This is done at the very end of the post-battle sequence (meaning any changes in the rules the gang must follow during the post-battle sequence are not applied until the gang's next battle – word of such changes travel slowly at first in the underhive).

To make an Alignment test, the gang leader makes a Willpower check. The player may apply a +3 modifier to the result if the Leader is Pious and their gang is currently Law Abiding or if the Leader is Fanatical and their gang is currently Outlaw (note that applying this modifier is optional, and it may be applied after the roll has been made).

If this check is passed, the gang's alignment does not change. If, however, this check is failed, the gang's alignment changes immediately.

note

Designer's Note: "What's My Alignment?"​

In some campaigns, the rules for Law Abiding and Outlaw gangs will be in wide use. In other campaigns, less so. In a campaign that does not use these rules widely, House Cawdor gangs might be something of an exception.

Arbitrators are encouraged to use these rules and can designate certain gangs Outlaw with ease based upon their type (Corpse Grinder Cult, Helot Chaos Cult or Genestealer Cult, for example), or based upon their behaviour. As a general rule, if these rules are not being widely used, all gangs should be considered Law Abiding in relation to Redemptionist House Cawdor gangs.