Deathwatch Chapter Membership

[Chengar Qordath]

I've been building a Deathwatch army for a while, but I've stalled out on figuring out what to do for all the shoulderpads showing what chapters they were in pre-Deathwatch. I've mostly got a nice mix of chapters, picked on the basis of their prominence and how much I liked their color scheme. However, I would like to give any chapters with strong ties to the Ordo Xenos/Deathwatch more representation within my force, particularly when it comes to painting my HQs. Are there any Marine Chapters that are particularly known for contributing to the Deathwatch? How about chapters that don't loan out any battle-brothers to the Deathwatch so I can avoid including them?

[Ameal2007]

Ultramarines have a lot of their warriors sign up due to particular talents against Tyranids, Crimson Fists would also send a fair few for anti-Ork fighting.

 

I'd say other than that, just slap in whichever ones you want. Going by short stories from the Black Library, members of the Exorcists, Ultramarines, Raven Guard, Crimson Fists, Imperial Fists, maybe the odd Mortifactor, all sign up.

 

If they're loyalists and their loyalty isn't in question, or their particular Chapter isn't known for being exceptionally reclusive, then they're fair game. Scythes of the Emperor are supposed to be nearly extinct, but the few surviving members would likely have been in the Deathwatch at the time anyway, so...

[- 7eAL -]

How about chapters that don't loan out any battle-brothers to the Deathwatch so I can avoid including them?

The Unforgiven Chapters, Black Templars and the Iron Hands perhaps?

Not that they absolutely wouldn't send brothers to the Deathwatch, but rather that they seem unlikely to send brothers in any significant number, since they are independent or insular even by Marine standards. They have their own priorities, loyalties and oaths, and the majority of brothers would likely be loath to leave their Chapter for service amongst the Deathwatch.

 

The Dark Angels and other Unforgiven might restrict their individual brothers from leaving, especially if the members of rank and council believe the individual has potential enough to someday enter the Ravenwing or Deathwing. On the one hand they might send all these potential Deathwing and Ravenwing veterans to the Deathwatch in order to provide greater training and political connections, but on the other hand they might not want these potential veterans to have any loyalties or obligations outside the Chapter itself.

 

The Black Templars are perpetually busy with Crusades. Crusading in great numbers with as much gusto and rancor as possible seems to be heavily ingrained into the Chapter's culture and practises, so work in the secretive and infiltrating Deathwatch would not only be a complete turnaround but also a serious case of culture shock for an individual battle-brother. Their veteran Sword Brethren seem to be close combatants par excellence akin to Vanguard despite any flexibility in their rules, and their advance in ranks seems to have nothing to do with other skills.

 

The Iron Hands are insular, and their Clan politics and relationship with the Adeptus Mechanicus are fairly important. Whether they are so important that they outweigh the value of any skills learned with the Deathwatch, however, is questionable. I would think very few individual brothers would be able to bear leaving that sort of culture wherein their personal roles and ties within and amongst the Clans seem so serious. An Iron Hand brother in the Deathwatch wouldn't simply be separated from his Company and Chapter, after all - his Clan affiliation is much more than just a flexibly assigned position within the Chapter.

[Commander Remiel]

How about chapters that don't loan out any battle-brothers to the Deathwatch so I can avoid including them?

The Dark Angels and other Unforgiven might restrict their individual brothers from leaving, especially if the members of rank and council believe the individual has potential enough to someday enter the Ravenwing or Deathwing. On the one hand they might send all these potential Deathwing and Ravenwing veterans to the Deathwatch in order to provide greater training and political connections, but on the other hand they might not want these potential veterans to have any loyalties or obligations outside the Chapter itself.

I do remember at least one story (in Warhammer Monthly I believe) about a Deathwatch team that had Dark Angel and Space Wolf members.

 

As the Deathwatch take on Inquisitorial missions, the Unforgiven may view such secondments as another opportunity to search for the Fallen. If so, they would definitely send at least Deathwing veterans (since they have been entrusted with the knowledge). Plus if they do run into the Fallen, they are better able to 'deal' with any problems.

 

And there are the neat toys (ammo) which Deathwatch members get to keep when they go home.

 

Some may say that the chances of a Xenos killteam running into heretics is slight. But if you read the Eisenhorn novels, as a member of Ordos Xenos, he tackles all three enemies (Hereticus, Malleus and Xenos). So it is possible.

[Chengar Qordath]

Poked around on the Lexicanum a bit, and they had a list of Deathwatch Marines that have appeared in various GW products and their chapters or origin. Most of it seems to mesh with what others have said, though apparantely the Black Templars do make some donations to the Deathwatch.

 

I've generally tried to match the chapter of origin to whatever trait the chapter is known for. My Techmarine was an Iron Hand (given that the Adeptus Mechanicus gets along fairly well with the people who provide them with Xenotech to study the occasional Iron Hand seems reasonable), my Salamanders have meltas or flamers, my Sternguard has a goodly proportion of Crimson Fists, etc.

[Justicar Valius]

here they all are in lexicanum style

 

Chapters Known

Specific chapters that are known to contribute troops to the Deathwatch include;

 

Black Consuls 3

Black Templar 2

Blood Angels 2*3*4

Blood Ravens 3*7

Crimson Fists 2

Death Spectres 8

Exorcists 8

Imperial Fists 2*4*8

Lamenters 7*4

Mantis Warriors 2*3

Raven Guard 8

Red Talons 3

Revilers 3

Salamanders 4

Scythes of the Emperor 4

Space Wolves 2*4

Ultramarines 2*4

White Scars 4

 

 

Hope that helps :)

[- 7eAL -]

How about chapters that don't loan out any battle-brothers to the Deathwatch so I can avoid including them?

The Dark Angels and other Unforgiven might restrict their individual brothers from leaving, especially if the members of rank and council believe the individual has potential enough to someday enter the Ravenwing or Deathwing. On the one hand they might send all these potential Deathwing and Ravenwing veterans to the Deathwatch in order to provide greater training and political connections, but on the other hand they might not want these potential veterans to have any loyalties or obligations outside the Chapter itself.

I do remember at least one story (in Warhammer Monthly I believe) about a Deathwatch team that had Dark Angel and Space Wolf members.

 

As the Deathwatch take on Inquisitorial missions, the Unforgiven may view such secondments as another opportunity to search for the Fallen. If so, they would definitely send at least Deathwing veterans (since they have been entrusted with the knowledge). Plus if they do run into the Fallen, they are better able to 'deal' with any problems.

I'm pretty sure everyone donates to the Deathwatch - it's just a matter of how many and how often.

[Chengar Qordath]

I'm pretty sure everyone donates to the Deathwatch - it's just a matter of how many and how often.

Probably; even notoriously independent-minded chapters like the Space Wolves can see the value in having members with Deathwatch training, special issue ammunition, and other benefits like exposure to Xenotech, making contacts in the Ordo Xenos, and a chance to learn a bit more about other chapters. There a probably a few exceptions with chapters like the Relictors who really don't get along with the Inquisition, and I expect chapters like the Blood Angels or Space Wolves with mutated gene-seed are careful to avoid sending members who show clear signs of their chapter's unique qualities.

[Loyalist]

My Deathwatch force has shoulder pads from more than a dozen SM chapters. Those of chapters known for expertise against xenos species are a little more common (i.e. Ultramarines and Crimson Fists) but there are only a few from chapters that aren't on the best terms with or don't trust the Inquisition (i.e. Blood Angels and Dark Angels). I've modelled Deathwatch SMs from the Ultramarines, Crimson Fists, Imperial Fists, White Scars, Dark Angels, Blood Angels, Dark Eagles, Silver Skulls, Skull Bearers, Red Hunters, Emperor's Hawks, Storm Lords, Black Templars and Salamanders. If I can get some Space Wolf SP decals I'll add 2 SMs from that chapter.

[Justicar Valius]

i mantain that the list i posted above are all the known ones. So any well known chapters not on that list are VERY unlikely to contribute

[CDR Grendelwulf]

Two excerpts from the old Deathwatch Kill-Team rules may shed some more light:

 

"Deathwatch members are volunteers from Space Marine Chapters that rigidly adhere to the Codex Astartes. Because teams are made up of battle brothers from several Chapters, it is essential they follow a similar doctrine."

 

"Deathwatch Space Marines are, of course, recruited from all different Chapters, including Space Wolves, Blood Angels, and the like. However, the discipline and training of such individuals are legendary among their own brethren."

 

Hmm, rigidly adheres to the Codex Astartes AND includes notable chapters that vary in their Astartes Organization?

 

I think there's abit of wiggle room for any and all chapters to be included. Besides, you are not talking more than one or two from each chapter.

 

Ciao,

CDR Grendelwulf