Know the Alien, Hate the Alien (Warhammer 40k Deathwatch) Accepting 1 more player

[Ollumhammersong]

It is the Era Indomitus and the Imperium has been cleaved in twain. Despite the prophetic return of two primarchs and the Emperor's own custodians personally leaving the palace to bolster humanity's front lines, the Imperium teeters closer to the edge of annhiliation than ever before.

Primaris space marines represent a new generation of super human warriors that have been released from hidden mechanicus gene-vaults sprung seemingly every forgotten corner of the Imperium and all but flooded the battlefields of the 42nd millenium. Primaris space marines are the new breed of warrior tasked with taking up the holy torch that is humanity's defense, both as a species and a galaxy spanning Empire. A task previously held by the so called 'first born' space marines.

Deathwatch, Not an organization that can afford to turn away fresh help and the powerful new resources that accompany them. Has opened it's arms and eagerly extends the honour of 'the long vigil' to this new generation of warriors. The threat of the alien is greater than ever and the ordo Xenos was already barely containing the myriad of existential Xeno threats as it was. So this injection of fresh troops and material is a godsend to the organization.

Deathwatch is also one of the few organizations within the Imperium not slaved to a single set of traditions and ingrained behaviours like many chapters. Innovation, experimentation and adaptability are how the deathwatch keeps ahead of their prey. To that end, new all primaris squads are being formed, fresh tactics and formations are being developed and tested. Even new weapons and forms of ammunition are on the horizon. best of all, the strength and power of primaris marines are still a relative unknown, not just to the Imperium but to it's enemies. The ordo xenos will not let this opportunity to gain key strategic advantages go to waste.
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OOC: Hello Peoples! Now that the obligitory tone setting intro is out of the way. Let's get to the meat and potatoes of this idea. As you may have guessed this will be a deathwatch centered game. Currently planned to be freeform unless there is significant push from the players for some form of system.

As you may have guessed from the intro blurb, the idea is to have an all primaris deathwatch team. There would be a mix of unit types and armour and all that. So people can play gravis armoured Aggressors or phobos armoured infiltrators and the like.

The overall idea of the game would be episodic. With the watch fortress/rapid response vessel that serves as the base of operations and primary hub between deployments. And the players moving from world to world as to fight a variety of foes. This would also serve as a convenient means of introducing new players/reinforcements, as well as the ability to re-arm and upgrade or change the equipment used by the players. As while serving in deathwatch you will rarely use a single weapon for your entire vigil but rather switch often as the situation demands.

Options for characters are going to be broken up by armour style for easier listing. I am also open to the idea, (if the players want) to do an entire squad of gravis armoured warriors, or a mix of all phobos wearing stealthy warriors. Could make for some fun ideas and dynamics. Just phobos armour, for example has a lot of variety and a full five or six man squad of vanguard deathwatch could easily be made with no two characters being exactly alike.

Options for characters would be

Tacticus armoured marines
-Intercessor
-Assault Intercessor
-Hellblaster
-Librarian

Gravis armoured marines
-Heavy Intercessor
-Aggressors

Phobos armoured marines
-Reiver
-Infiltrator (possible helix adept)
-Incursor (possible occulus marksman or minelayer/ordinance expert)
-Librarian

You might notice that some options aren't present like chaplain. That's because I'm hesitant to include them unless the size of the group is larger, and other primaris options like eradicators or Eliminators are either one-note pony's that are too specialized at one thing, or by their nature don't really play well with a squad dynamic. As snipers (eliminators) are often going to be removed from the rest of the party and often get played as anti-social lone wolves that are frustrating as a DM to keep involved with the rest of the party. But.... I might be convinces to change my mind if a player promises not to play the stereotypical 'edgy loner' sniper and actually be a team player. Even still, if you want that roll than occulus marksman is a thing, or an intercessor with a stalker bolt rifle is probably a better option.

Someone would also ideally take the role of sergeant, if not that could be played by myself.

Well, let me know what everyone thinks. I'm open to suggestions and critique.

[Sorvoe551]

Are you familiar with FFG’s Deathwatch game? If not, definitely stick with freeform because it’s a bitch and a half to learn and broken as shit.

But I’m still interested, regardless. Get to finally play with my Raptor sniper (not an Eliminator, just really good with a Stalker Bolter)

[AndyZ]

I'd be interested in theory, but understand just how little I know about 40k.  I know more than the average person - I can tell you that Slaanesh is some sort of lust demon goddess - but there's a lot I don't know.  I've played some Rogue Trader but I'm far from an expert.

[Ollumhammersong]

i am intimately familiar with fantasy flight's deatwatch game. Which is also why I made the choice not to use it. As you said, it's a bitch to learn and granular as fuck. Which does not make for a smooth flowing play by post forum game. And will likely just drive potential players away

[Sorvoe551]

I'd be interested in theory, but understand just how little I know about 40k.  I know more than the average person - I can tell you that Slaanesh is some sort of lust demon goddess - but there's a lot I don't know.  I've played some Rogue Trader but I'm far from an expert.

I’d be happy to help you, especially with how crazy 40K can be. Though we’re playing Space Marines. I don’t know how far you’ve gotten in Rogue Trader, but there’s a Space Wolf on the cover, that’s one of the ones you can be. But I’ll keep things simple. What are some of your favorite colors? I can pick Chapters of Space Marines where that is their color and describe them to you quick, see if any catch your interest.

[Ollumhammersong]

I'd be interested in theory, but understand just how little I know about 40k.  I know more than the average person - I can tell you that Slaanesh is some sort of lust demon goddess - but there's a lot I don't know.  I've played some Rogue Trader but I'm far from an expert.

that's fine. You don't need to be an expert on 40k to play. As long as you know what space marines are and basics of some of the weapons and chapters then that is fine.

The cole's notes of deathwatch is that they aren't a traditional chapter. Rather the military arm of a specific branch of the inquisition. The deatwatch takes volunteers from every chapter in the Imperium that is willing to send them. These recruits are then formed into teams, trained on anti-alien tactics, use weapons and equipment that is highly classified and frequently unavaliable to normal chapters because of the high cost of manufacturing it.

These volunteers typically serve in the deathwatch for a few decades, maybe a century before being sworn to secrecy and sent back home. They aren't allow to tell anyone, even their own commanders about the specifics of what they did while in the deathwatch. But they are allowed to share information about how best to kill aliens that they learned while serving abroad. I.e How to recongize genestealer cultists, how to best fight tyranids or or disrupt a tau assault.

[AndyZ]

I’d be happy to help you, especially with how crazy 40K can be. Though we’re playing Space Marines. I don’t know how far you’ve gotten in Rogue Trader, but there’s a Space Wolf on the cover, that’s one of the ones you can be. But I’ll keep things simple. What are some of your favorite colors? I can pick Chapters of Space Marines where that is their color and describe them to you quick, see if any catch your interest.

Appreciated ^_^ I'm not at the level of basic where I'd need help picking a chapter, but I thank you for the offer.  I would have to read up on them again but I can do that.

that's fine. You don't need to be an expert on 40k to play. As long as you know what space marines are and basics of some of the weapons and chapters then that is fine.

The cole's notes of deathwatch is that they aren't a traditional chapter. Rather the military arm of a specific branch of the inquisition. The deatwatch takes volunteers from every chapter in the Imperium that is willing to send them. These recruits are then formed into teams, trained on anti-alien tactics, use weapons and equipment that is highly classified and frequently unavaliable to normal chapters because of the high cost of manufacturing it.

These volunteers typically serve in the deathwatch for a few decades, maybe a century before being sworn to secrecy and sent back home. They aren't allow to tell anyone, even their own commanders about the specifics of what they did while in the deathwatch. But they are allowed to share information about how best to kill aliens that they learned while serving abroad. I.e How to recongize genestealer cultists, how to best fight tyranids or or disrupt a tau assault.

I remember I really wanted a Storm Bolter in Rogue Trader but could never roll well enough to get one.  It's worth asking if Storm Bolters would only go to the heavy artillery class or if even the tactical support types would get one because they're so well-funded.

I'll read up on the different chapters when I find time.

[Sorvoe551]

Storm Bolters are probably for later or for a horde of baddies. They rip shit up like no one’s business and are usually reserved for Terminators

[Ollumhammersong]

Appreciated ^_^ I'm not at the level of basic where I'd need help picking a chapter, but I thank you for the offer.  I would have to read up on them again but I can do that.I remember I really wanted a Storm Bolter in Rogue Trader but could never roll well enough to get one.  It's worth asking if Storm Bolters would only go to the heavy artillery class or if even the tactical support types would get one because they're so well-funded.

I'll read up on the different chapters when I find time.

Ya so Primaris marines are a little different than traditional space marines. They use similar, but not quite the same weapons that older space marines use. i/e Bolt rifles instead of traditional bolters. 

If you want that kind of spray and pray weapon like a storm bolter to start with then I could reccomend three possible options. 

Intercessor with auto-bolt rifle, basically a lighter bolt rifle designed to operate at a faster rate of fire, and be more easily used on the run at the cost of long range accuracy,

Reiver with a bolt carbine, basically an even smaller auto bolter in carbine form

Or an aggressor with boltstorm gauntlets, basically like having two full auto bolt pistols strapped to your wrist. 

I'm tempted to recommend the intercessor because that is the new 'standard tactical marine' variant and the most versatile if you decide to try other loadouts and options in the future. 

[Sorvoe551]

I can reference the Deathwatch RPG for general stat spreads if you want for how things would spread out. For example, the Bolter (Bolt Rifle equivalent for all intents and purposes) has a range of 100m and Stalker has twice that. Auto would probably have a range of 75m due to the rate of fire and the Carbine would either have less range or a lower rate of fire due to the size

[Ollumhammersong]

I can reference the Deathwatch RPG for general stat spreads if you want for how things would spread out. For example, the Bolter (Bolt Rifle equivalent for all intents and purposes) has a range of 100m and Stalker has twice that. Auto would probably have a range of 75m due to the rate of fire and the Carbine would either have less range or a lower rate of fire due to the size

Not a bad reference spread for ranges. Probably best to use those

The tabletop range difference is you take the standard bolt rifle, and the difference between the auto and stalker variants is plus or minus 20% range respectively. Which is also what the newer wrath and glory rpg set uses for range differences

[FoxgirlJay]

Huzzah, an excuse to use this art! Or maybe do a librarian. Who knows. Interested.

[Sorvoe551]

That was the case in 9th Edition, yes. 10th did away with that, but not the point. Still, a full auto variant having slightly shorter effective range than the three-round burst standard makes sense. The one designed to act as a sniper only having slightly more range than the standard does not

[AndyZ]

I may just go Ultramarine.  That may be kind of the basic choice, but that’ll make it easy for me.  iIRC that’s what you played in the Space Marine game.

I’ll read up on other stuff like Intercessors, but my first thought is that that sounds good.

Also, hey FoxgirlJay!

[FoxgirlJay]

hi-hi andy~

I like Ultramarines when their Roman aesthetic/themeing is leaned in to. As well Marneus Calgar, their Chapter Master, and Roboute Guilliman, their Primarch and Progenitor have encouraged their soldiers to do more with their life than wage war. In a sort of optimistic way, so they can still contribute to humanity even once there are no wars left to wage.

[Sorvoe551]

Yeah, if you look at the cutscenes for Space Marine, Titus is a very good example of what the Ultramarines should be 

[Sorvoe551]

Huzzah, an excuse to use this art! Or maybe do a librarian. Who knows. Interested.

Yo! A Scythes fan? Hell yeah!

[Ollumhammersong]

Yo! A Scythes fan? Hell yeah!

that's a silver Templar. that was the cover art for their mini-dex back in 8th

[Ollumhammersong]

Huzzah, an excuse to use this art! Or maybe do a librarian. Who knows. Interested.

Good to see you! sorry about our 1x1. getting back to posting updates on all my games this week now that I have some time

[HairyHeretic]

I'd be interested. I played in an FFG Deathwatch campaign for a couple of years with a Raven Guard sniper. I'm not as familiar with the various Primaris units, but it wouldn't take too long to figure something out. I'll hold off on a chapter and specialisation til I see what other people are interested in.

[Ollumhammersong]

I'd be interested. I played in an FFG Deathwatch campaign for a couple of years with a Raven Guard sniper. I'm not as familiar with the various Primaris units, but it wouldn't take too long to figure something out. I'll hold off on a chapter and specialisation til I see what other people are interested in.

Well that makes four people so far. And to my genuine surprise most seem to want to play some flavour of intercessor. Not that I mind.

I can work with an all intercessor team easily.

[HairyHeretic]

I can play pretty much anything, doesn't have to be a sniper :)

Besides, a well rounded team gives more tactical flexibility.

[Ollumhammersong]

True. At this exact moment only one player has so far confirmed what it is they want to play. An intercessor with a stalker rifle. With the other two leaning towards Maybe playing intercessor.

[HairyHeretic]

I could go for a Space Wolf rune priest. I drink and I know things ;)

[Ollumhammersong]

Might want to take another look at the opening post in regards to availability options. Again, this isn't a firstborn game but a primaris one.