Dice Dojo - NECROMUNDA campaign 4/15

To answer your question in short, it depends on what you mean by understand nothing. You definitely need to understand the rules, but the setting and background information is just there for fun. However, you will not be cracking the skulls of innocents, as there is no such creature in Necromunda. There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

In long, I'll take some time to explain what Necromunda is.
Rules wise, Necromunda is a skirmish wargame with strong character growth elements. Players take control of a gang fighting for territory, reputation and wealth in the grim darkness of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Far from the mighty power armor of the space marines, the invincible tanks of the guard or the inhuman power of the xenos, the gangs of Necromunda are ordinary humans equipped with whatever they could scrounge or buy on the black market. Gangs can range in size, but typically start with 9 people and grow to a maximum of 20. Each member of a gang has its own stats, skills and experience, as well as persistent injuries that help define who they are and what their history is. The game is played in two phases. During battles, miniatures representing each gang member battle, either trying to kill each other or seeking some other objective. After battle, experience is tallied and injuries are recorded, and gangs collect income from their territories which can be used to buy equipment or hire new members. The goal is to grow your own power and crush your rivals.

The setting of Necromunda is, to some, just as big a draw as the game itself. Necromunda is an ancient world covered in Hive Spires - super dense hellish three dimensional cities that reach higher than mountains. The greatest of these, Hive Primus, is home to ancient Houses that have carved out their niche in the inhospitable lower reaches of the Hive. These Houses do not fight openly, but instead recruit and fund gangs to wage a clandestine war against their rival Houses or even other branches of the same House. In exchange for furthering the House's goals, the gangs receive support: equipment, manpower, prestige and wealth. While even the mightiest gangs couldn't threaten a House on their own, powerful gang leaders can rise to become warlords of their own corner of the Hive. There are six Houses, each with their own unique identity and approach.
House Orlock mines lower levels of the Hive for iron, tapping into rich pits of slag to provide valuable metal to their allies and contacts. Their gangs are diverse and versatile, possessing a wide range of equipment to suit any task.
House Goliath lives in the harshest areas of the already inhospitable Hive. As a result, however, they are powerfully built and ferocious, able to take anything they need. Their gangs are brutish and strong, able to charge foes and crush them with ease.
House Escher are arrogant aristocrats, and are almost all female due to a genetic mutation. They are quick and decisive, cutting down their foes with precision. Their gangs are agile masters of close combat, the fencer to the Goliath's berserker.
House Van Saar commands a great deal of technology and manufacturing. While not more advanced, per se, they have easier access to the most powerful of tools and weapons. Their gangs can easily use and master advanced weaponry, or even create it themselves.
House Delaque are hidden spy masters, dealing in information and secrets. With their trade in knowledge, even some of the Nobles of the upper Hive are in their debt. Their gangs are stealthy, preferring to pick enemies off at range rather than fight hand to hand.
House Cawdor are religious fanatics of the Cult of Redemption. Always clad in masks, they believe the universe will soon be destroyed, and that nonbelievers must be purged in fire. Their gangs fight with a crazed fury, wielding fire and sword to crush their enemies.

Players create a gang associated with one of the Houses, and fight a campaign against the other players. There's no DM or narrator like in an RPG, instead the story evolves naturally as the gangs shape their territory and form alliances or grudges. Every battle has permanent stakes on the line, and your gang will grow or die based on the choices you make.

Very cool, I was thinking of Inquisitor or another game. I'll try my best to join 4/15 as well

I'm also in. I was there on Tuesday when you ran us through a quick game.

And, Dougtrio, I have the rules for Inquisitor if you are interested. They're a bit excessive.

I'm in! I was also there the other day. Im debating cawdor or delaque I think. Unless we are going to allow the fan created gangs...

We're using the Community Edition rules, from Yaktribe. You can find them here. I have two copies of the Community Edition printed (although they are missing a little bit of errata) for use in person as well.

As for missing the first meet, I think we could catch you up. I think most of the first meetup will just be determining territories, generating gangs and such, as well as teaching any newcomers the rules. If we do start fighting that first week, we'll find some way to fix things up.

I'd prefer we stick to the House Gangs, but if you have a specific one in mind and we have enough House players I can check it out.


Since most people interested are here as well, it would be a great help if everyone with an idea of what House they want to play as posted it here, so that we can get a general idea of who wants to play what.

Outlanders also has a Community Edition update, which has the Pit Slaves. They are compatible, and are fairly well balanced. However, they are harder to play as they can only control one territory at a time, which makes them vulnerable. I'd allow it, but advise against it. But if it's what you really want to play, more power to you, we'll find some way to make it work.