Seezael Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Dear Fellow Brothers, In the Deathwatch RPG Rulebook there's a small part dedicated to these hooded black-armoured Astartes of unknown origin called Black Shields. Could they be Fallen Angels seeking atonement for their sins, thus serving in the Deathwatch? Or some of them may be, while the others are just unfortunate Space Marines without a Chapter (for any reason)? Or is it just me? What do you think about them, Brothers? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord_Edgimus Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 i know the blacksheild is what i originally planned to play for deathwatch having seen it and instantly thought "FALLEN" however i don't think it's purely fallen, and more it's there for role playing any player can make their own backstory Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/#findComment-2746155 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehoel Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Black Shield knights were knights that had given up their name and origins. I think the Black Shields in the Deathwatch are the final remnants of destroyed chapters, serving with the Deathwatch until they are gone. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/#findComment-2746354 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Some of them are probably Fallen (there must a group somewhere by now that has somebody playing one), but as Jehoel says many are the last survivors of destroyed chapters. So, what Lord_Edgimus said really. I don't know why I bothered posting. :tu: Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/#findComment-2748174 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaplain Lucifer Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Sorry, but Fallen in DeathWatch is far fetched. They don't pick up marines from the street market... marines must take a series of screenings, they don't jsut show up on DW doorstep and ask to get in and be a member .. and furthermore the other DA marines serving the deathwatch would be suspicious to say the least... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/#findComment-2748483 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Styphus Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 ...they don't jsut show up on DW doorstep and ask to get in and be a member .. and furthermore the other DA marines serving the deathwatch would be suspicious to say the least... Actually, that is what they do. A Black Shield shows up at a monastery, and the Deathwatch doesn't ask public questions. The Dark Angel marines do find it suspicious. This whole thread is just what Fantasy Flight hoped the gamers would be asking. It probably won't get a definitive answer, so hooray for suspicions and speculations. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/#findComment-2748491 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interrogator Stobz Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 Sound cool, where does a person get a copy of this Deathwatch RPG? L Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/#findComment-2748565 Share on other sites More sharing options...
EPK Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 You can start here - http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=108 Looks like you can buy and electronic version for half the price. I also see hard copies on Amazon for less. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/#findComment-2748634 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Lord Posted May 6, 2011 Share Posted May 6, 2011 In the Deathwatch and Rites of Battle books, I think it mentions a Blackshield who rose all the way to Watch Commander, and had a slightly "angelic" sounding name- Israfel or something like that. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/#findComment-2748811 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Brellak Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 A "Fallen" could easily be a Black Shield. Black shields are not questioned about their origin, and if they are they are under no obligation to answer. Black shields also do not have to be from a destroyed chapter. They could be from chapters that turn full traitor, a chapter declared traitor that are not chaos (example the knights of blood), or from a perfectly full strength chapter who personally did something dishonourable that they feel needs to be atoned for. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/#findComment-2750700 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenWolf Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 I think the answer is given in the description of what black shields are on page 319 of the Deathwatch Rule book, which to quote states: Who are these mysterious warriors, who shroud their chapter symbols...? Some say they are the last of their Chapters... some may even be traitors turned back to the light... Also, as has been stated, black shields are pretty much given entry into the Deathwatch as soon as they knock on the door to say hello, to quote again from the same page: By ancient tradition, these warriors are not questioned or pressed to explain their origins. The Watch Commander has the right to turn them away, but in practice this rarely occurs. The blurb about black shields goes on to talk about how one such figure named Israfil ascended to Watch Commander but was lost in a mission in which the intervention of a sizable Dark Angels force was noted. Israfil's body was never recovered. Hint hint, wink wink. So do some fallen become black shields within the Deathwatch? Yes, it would appear that such an event has occurred at least once. But plenty of other marines do as well. And by plenty I mean it is made fairly clear that the arrival of a black shield to a Watch Fortress is a pretty rare thing. Also realize that we as players know more about the 40k universe than the characters that inhabit it and most Dark Angels themselves (and their Unforgiven counterparts) are completely ignorant when it comes to the Fallen. Only the inner circles of the Unforgiven chapters are made aware of their old legion's darkest history. Either way, black shields sounds pretty awesome and a great way for a player to build up their own character in the Deathwatch RPG. Hope that helps! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/228997-black-shields/#findComment-2751319 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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