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Deathwatch Kill-Teams


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I've been browsing Lexicanum for details about the DW, but as well all know it can be very sketchy when it comes to how correct certain details are!

 

Can anyone corroborate these details from a fluffy perspective:

 

The left arm being silver instead of black

 

Any specific weapons not used.

 

Is there a set size of a DW KT?

 

Transport - How would they move about? Are there DW Strike Cruisers?

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deathwatch marines do have silver left arms

 

they generally get to use whatever weapons they want or need, some weapons are kept by the deathwatch and handed to the next marine from the chapter of the guy who was killed.

 

generally the kill team size depends on the mission, there can be multiple squads for large missions, each has a sargeant with a captain in overall command. standard size for a kill team is 5-12 man (fluffwise) 5-10 man in the game.

 

the marines can use the same ship as the inquisitor they serve, inquisitors ship or imperial navy vessels, they may have their own strike cruisers for rapid deployment.

Actually the Deathwatch do not have sergeants. Teams are led by either a Captain or a Librarian though sometimes may include both. Teams do not appear to have any set size or composition and there are Deathwatch Terminators and Dreadnaughts in various sources. Bolt weapons are popular particularly due to variant ammunition types, hellfire rounds especially.

 

The Deathwatch do however have access to the best of the best when it comes to Imperial technology. Rare and specialised grenade types, top of the line night and infrared vision systems in their helmets, high tech targeters, suspensor systems for heavy bolters and so on and so forth. The Deathwatch are the elite of the elite and are suitably equipped to represent that.

 

A Deathwatch Captain also has the same authority to requisition Imperial forces and equipment as an Inquisitor, however Deathwatch Teams themselves do not appear to have as much autonomy or independance as the Grey Knights do. Where the Grey Knights can and will do whatever they please and Inquisitors have to ask nicely for their help, Deathwatch Teams seem to be on a need-to-know information basis and don't have nearly as much say in where they go and what they do and will many times be accompanied by an Inquisitor on missions.

 

Secondment to the Deathwatch is both a great honor and a great responsibility, there are no terms of service and some Marines can be seconded to the Deathwatch permanently. Even after returning to their Chapter a Deathwatch marine may be recalled at any time.

 

As for transportation, it could be anything. As I said Deathwatch Captains can requisition men and material when needed and that includes ships. The Deathwatch also maintains rapid strike vessels and strike cruisers for use by various teams though the numbers of these vessels is unclear.

I would start off by referring you to Heroes of the Space Marines, the Headhunter short story. This is one of my favorite stories in the collection. It features a diverse Deathwatch Kill team. I would tell you more, but I don't want to ruin it for you if you get the chance to read it.

 

I agree with Vash's post. It really does spell out how the Deathwatch works with/for the Inquisition.

 

Alas, there are no current rules to represent a true Deathwatch team. The old rules (were you lucky enough to download them before they were removed from the gw website) gave you a very acurate and fluffy kill team. They could deep strike without a drop pod or terminator armor, they had true grit, they had varying ammo types, power weapons for everyone, ect.. Those were the rules I used when I built my own Deathwatch team. But now I am running them as a Sternguard squad with attached Librarian. One Combi-melta, heavy bolter, and 3 bolters. Librarian only upgraded to an epistolary. They work to a degree, but having an assault 3 heavy bolter with Hellfire Rounds was much better than a heavy 3 Heavy Bolter with standard ammo.

 

I'm hopeful that when and if a new Inquistion Codex comes out for 40k that they will include the Deathwatch, even if they don't get Terminators.

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