Toxic's Deathwatch Vow

[Toxichobbit]

At the start of ETL II I made an additional vow that I would convert and paint up five Deathwatch Marines to be part of my ten man Kill Team with details decided by some (un)lucky ETL II participants. Now that ETL II is over and I have the information I need from Captain Semper, i'm going to make a start on this project and use this thread to document how the project develops and provide an easy means of communication with the participants. Although this is mainly to show the development of the models and give the participants somewhere to discuss their Marines, any input from other people on the conversions, background and painting would be most welcome.

This is the original vow I made. The rest of the post can be found here.

The Vow

What i've decided to do is open up half of the Kill Team's details to public opinion. The top five participants in terms of total points of completed vows from the Codex Chapters (Liber Astartes, Index Astartes and Ultramarines) will each get to pick a member of the Kill Team and choose some details about him. In order to count the vows must all have been completed to ETL standard (so, for example if you complete your first four vows but not your fifth, it won't count). I want this to be something for the people who make the really big effort for ETL and contribute a lot to the Codex Chapter faction and to encourage everyone to get all of their vows finished.

Since then i've made a slight adjustment - i'm going to allow six ETL II participants to choose the details of a Deathwatch Brother, rather than the original five.

I want to make this entire Deathwatch Kill Team an allied detachment on it's own. That means one HQ choice and one Troops choice minimum. I've done this by using the Siege Assault Vanguard list from IA:10 to represent the Kill Team. The HQ is a Librarian (using the C:SM entry), the Troops choice is a Siege Assault Squad (using the IA:10 entry) and there is an additional Elites choice in the form of a Sternguard Squad (using the C:SM entry). Together they make a 10 man Kill Team with the option of a mixture of melee, basic, special and heavy weapons while still allowing the bolter armed members to use the special issue ammunition that is the hallmark of the Deathwatch. It's also a completely legal allied Detachment for my C:SM & C:IG forces.

Rules

There are a few rules, or regulations if you like, just to keep the squad legal for gameplay and to give some semblance of order to the process of participants choosing the details of their Brother:

• In order to avoid repetition of choices and two people wanting the same thing, i'll operate on a first come first served basis, starting with the largest vow and then working through the others in order of their vow sizes, largest to smallest. This is relevant to three things. Firstly, the Brother's Chapter of origin, secondly the Brother's rank within the Kill Team and thirdly the Brother's equipment load out.

• Participation is of course, voluntary. If your one of the six participants and you don't want to have a Brother in this Deathwatch squad, then i'll simply default to the next highest vow from the relevant forums until we have all six slots filled.

• These are still my models. I'm modelling the squad up with input from other Fraeters, but i'm not actually giving any models away. This is just a "for fun" exercise, not an actual competition with a prize.

Eligible Fraeter (listed in vow size, largest to smallest)

Honourary 1st - Captain Semper (Grand Master of ETL)

2nd - Arizonajirt (Index Astartes)

3rd - tdemayo (Liber Astartes)

4th - Malus Trux (Index Astartes)

5th - Daemonifuge (Index Astartes)

6th - deathspectersgt7 (Index Astartes)

You probably noticed that Captain Semper has made his way onto the list despite being a dirty non-Codex deviant . I've decided to include him and let him take first choice to say thankyou for all the hard work he's put into ETL over the last two years. This is actually the first he knows of being eligible to have a Brother in this Deathwatch squad despite me badgering him for information for this project multiple times. See Cap, it's not just the Sons of the Lion that can keep secrets.

I'll need Captain Semper's choices first, then Arizonajirt can make his, then tdemayo and so on until everyone has finished choosing their Brother's details. Then I can get on with the converting and painting.

Project Details

So, onto the meat of the project.

How much detail a participant puts into a member of this squad is up to them. The minimum I ask for is the Brother's Chapter of origin, rank and equipment details. Anything beyond that is extra that your welcome to add on if you like, but is by no means needed. As this is my squad I will be the ultimate arbitrator for all details, so it's not a complete carte blanche to
pick whatever the participant wants, but i'll only be restrictive in extreme circumstances.

Chapter of Origin

This is the first detail I need. Any currently loyalist (circa M41. 999) Chapter is fine and there can be only one representative from each Chapter within the Kill Team. It doesn't have to be the Chapter you represented in ETL and it doesn't have to be a Codex Chapter. DIY Chapters are fine as well, as long as they have a strong concept and nothing too silly with regards to colour scheme and background.

For painting purposes it will, at the very least, influence the Brother's right shoulder pad. However, if a participant wishes we can go beyond this and include Chapter paraphernalia in the conversion. Some things to take into consideration here would be whether any particular Mk of armour is relevant, whether the Brother would wear a helmet or not, what kind of tokens or honour markings might the Chapter use, whether the Brother would have ornate weapons representative of his Chapter.

Kill Team Rank

Simple one here. Participants can pick the rank of their Brother within the Kill Team. Rank affects two things - title and equipment load out. Title is self explanatory, it's simply the rank of the Marine. Equipment load out gives more freedom to the higher members of the squad, although even the basic
members have much more choice than an average Marine squad. I've made a slight adjustment to the listing in the original post to accommodate a change i've made in the background, but that will only affect title, not load out.

Here's the available Ranks:

Codicier x 1 Reserved

Sergeant x 1 (can be chosen to lead either the Tactical or Assault combat squad)

Squad Leader x 1 (will lead the second combat squad)

Assault Brother x 4 (members of the Assault combat squad)

Tactical Brother x 4 (member of the Tactical combat squad, one reserved)

Equipment

Once the Chapter of origin and rank are picked, the participant can then choose the exact equipment that they want their Brother armed with. The equipment available will be determined by rank and may also be influenced by Chapter or origin. Small changes to this list to fit in with the character of the participant's Brother and his Chapter are certainly possible and indeed encouraged, for example swapping the bolt pistol sidearm on a Tactical Brother for an axe on a Space Wolf. As long as it's something that can be easily represented on the model and allows him to still look as though he's operating as part of his squad (holding his bolter while having a sheathed melee weapon for instance) i'm happy to make these Marines as unique and characterful as possible. In addition to this, if any of the participants pick a member of the Tactical Combat Squad they're welcome to wait a few weeks for C:SM 6th edition as this might open up new options. This doesn't apply to the Assault Combat Squad members, as the army list entry for them is from IA:10.

On a personal note, i'd prefer it if we kept the equipment sensible. I don't mind dual wielding pistols, but i'd like to avoid dual wielding combi-weapons or a Tactical Combat Squad member with no ranged weapons.

Here's the various load outs available:

Kill Team Command

Codicier (reserved) - Power armour, bolt pistol, paired force swords, psychic hood, frag & krak grenades.

Tactical Combat Squad

Tactical Sergeant/Squad Leader - Power armour, boltgun, bolt pistol, special issue ammunition, frag & krak grenades. May replace bolt pistol and/or boltgun with one of the following; plasma pistol, power axe, power fist, power mace, power sword, lightning claw. May replace boltgun with one of the following; storm bolter, combi-flamer, combi-melta, combi-plasma, storm bolter.

Tactical Brother 1 - Power armour, boltgun, bolt pistol, special issue ammunition, frag & krak grenades. May replace boltgun with one of the following; combi-flamer, combi-melta, combi-plasma, storm bolter, flamer, meltagun, plasma gun.

Tactical Brother 2 - Power armour, boltgun, bolt pistol, special issue ammunition, frag & krak grenades. May replace boltgun with one of the following; combi-flamer, combi-melta, combi-plasma, storm bolter, heavy bolter, heavy flamer, lascannon, missile launcher, multi-melta, plasma cannon.

Tactical Brother 3 - Power armour, boltgun, bolt pistol, special issue ammunition, frag & krak grenades. May replace boltgun with one of the following; combi-flamer, combi-melta, combi-plasma, storm bolter.

Tactical Brother 4 (reserved) - Power armour, boltgun, combat blade, special issue ammunition, frag & krak grenades.

Assault Combat Squad (note no jump packs)

Assault Sergeant/Squad Leader - Power armour, bolt pistol, chainsword, melta bombs, frag & krak grenades. May replace bolt pistol and/or chainsword with one of the following; storm bolter, combi-flamer, combi-melta, combi-plasma, plasma pistol, power axe, power fist, power mace, power sword, lightning claw, power fist, thunder hammer.

Assault Brother 1 - Power armour, bolt pistol, chainsword, melta bombs, frag & krak grenades. May replace bolt pistol or chainsword with one of the
following; flamer, meltagun, plasma pistol, power axe, power mace, power sword.

Assault Brother 2 - Power armour, bolt pistol, chainsword, melta bombs, frag & krak grenades. May replace bolt pistol or chainsword with one of the
following; flamer, meltagun, plasma pistol, power axe, power mace, power sword.

Assault Brother 3 - Power armour, bolt pistol, chainsword, melta bombs, frag & krak grenades.

Assault Brother 4 - Power armour, bolt pistol, chainsword, melta bombs, frag & krak grenades.

Name

Any participant can name their Brother if they wish. As long as the name fits with the Chapter chosen then anything goes. If no name is chosen then i'll choose one when i'm naming the other members of the Team.

Background

Any participant can come up with a background for their Brother, which i'll edit and include with the final pictures of the completed model. Anything goes here as long as it doesn't stray too far from the relevant Chapter and the 40k background in general.

I still don't know if i'll give the other members of the Team their own background. I always like reading threads where the author has gone to the trouble of writing a bit of background on their squad members, especially when it ties in with the conversion or painting of the model. I'll decide at a later date when i'm converting and painting the models - if I feel inspired then i'll add a background for that member, otherwise they'll just get a bit of background generic to a Marine from their Chapter.

Conversion

I welcome any input from participants on how they'd like their Brother converted (or not converted, as the case may be). I'm not even going to try and give restrictions here, suffice to say that it will be a two way street where we'll discuss the conversion in this thread and come up with something cool. Some things to consider is Mk of armour, whether the Brother wears his helmet (all Marines will have a helmet, although they may not all be wearing it), honours and Chapter trappings modelled on their armour, unique weapons (for example, axes for Wolves, tulwars for Scars, broadswords for Templars etc), artificer (fancy ) weapons, armour modifications (additional comm aerials and extra equipmenent for a Raven Guard or Raptor, ornate armour for a Blood Angel or Wolf, robes for an Unforgiven etc). Really anything goes here, as long as it looks cool and it doesn't involve me having to shell out massive amounts of cash for the parts. Don't worry too much about the last bit though, I have a very extensive bits box already. My only personal preferences here is that i'd prefer as many squad members as possible to be wearing helmets, but if every participant wants their Marine to have his face showing then that's how it'll be and i'd also prefer it if older Mks of armour were kept to a minimum. I'm fine with some parts of MkIV, V & VI mixed in, but for anything older than MkIV or an entire suit of older armour there needs to be a good reason, either from established 40k
lore or from the participants own background.

Paint Scheme

This is where the participant gets the least input. All Kill Team members, without exception, will have their power armour painted in the colours of the Deatwatch. That means black armour with a silver left arm and shoulder pad and the right shoulder pad painted with the Chapter colours and symbol. Beyond that though, i'm fine with a bit of personalisation. Colour of robes or tabards can be done to match the Chapter and if there are any honour markings that a participant wants represented (for example, markings from a certain campaign in the Chapter's history or a part of the armour painted in a specific colour as a mark of honour) then it's something we can discuss.

[Toxichobbit]

Finished Conversions

It wouldn't be a proper WIP thread without some pictures, so here's some shots of the first two finished members. Brother-Codicier Defirenze, Deathwatch Blackshield and Brother Tsukino of the Blood Cobras.

Brother Tsukino is actually a Marine "drafted" from a friends DIY Chapter, so apart from changing the original boltgun and left pad for the Deathwatch equivalents, this isn't my work. I wanted to include him though as he's a cool Japanese themed Marine, something you don't see a lot of. If you look closely he's got haidate (samurai armour cuisse) style armour plates on his thighs and a nice long Japanese moustache. His sword is actually closer to a tulwar than a Japanese sword, but if I can find a scabbarded replacement around the same size i'll replace the tulwar.

[deathspectersgt7]

Thanks Toxic.Brother Misko of the Deathspectres is honored to join The Deathwatch.Brother Misko is the Hvy weapons specialist Of 4thsqd 4thco.and has prefered the hvy flamer as his weapon of choice.And has earned many honors for his actions against hive fleet jormungandr.

Just wanted to post this pic as a refrence.

[arizonajirt]

Ohhh I can't wait. This will be fun. Come on semper!!!! I've got such an idea...

[Nomus Sardauk]

So what, we just suggest what marine we'd like to be what and you might do it? Is this open to anyone?

[Toxichobbit]

So what, we just suggest what marine we'd like to be what and you might do it? Is this open to anyone?

The participants are already decided with the results from ETL II. It's the top five vows from the Codex Chapters faction (Index Astartes, Liber Astartes and Ultramarines). If it works out well I might expand next year to include Black Templars, Blood Angels, Space Wolves and Dark Angels. Maybe do something like a Crusade Honour squad of mixed Chapters. For this year I just left it at the Codex Chapters - it seemed a bit wrong to encourage the competition .

[Captain Semper]

This is a great honor indeed Toxic - Thank you! :)

 

Now let's see...

 

Name:

Brother Antoniuns of the Dark Angels Chapter - 8th Company.

 

Background:

The Master of Recruits had spotted Brother Antonius since he was a scout in the 10th Company. Brother Antonius was singled out for his especially savage demeanor and although he shared the discipline of all Dark Angels, he was particularly adept in close combat situations. His skill with the power axe and his singlemindedness in combat made him ideal for the role the Master of Recruits for looking for: The role of the executioner!

 

Brother Antonius joined the 4th Battle Company as an Assault Marine and quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant of the 7th squad. His blood-thirsty attitude led him to lead the relief force in Anxius III where an Imperial Guard force were surrounded by Orks. Once elements of the 4th Company, led by the Master of Recruits, and sprearheaded by 7th squad cleared the path allowing the armoured columns to pass through and relieve the Guardsmen, the Master of Recruits approached Colonel Matazia of the Corporius XXII and openly accused him of cowardice that ultimately allowed his troops to be encircled. He then ordered Antonius to execute the Colonel on the spot - something that happened in a fraction of a second. This test of unquestioning loyalty was not missed to the Master of Recruits. Several other incidents cemented the conviction of the Master of Recruits that Antonius was indeed someone to be trusted with the more delicate and gruesome tasks. He soon achieved the status of Veteran Sergeant. He was then moved to the 8th Company and took over the Second squad. After a number of more tests the Master of Recruits was convinced that Antonius possesed all the qualities to become a member of the Deathwing. Before he officially proposed him though, he had another task for him.

 

Interrogator Chaplain Amadis of the Consecrators Chapter had brought evidence that the infamous Fallen ex-Librarian Colcheus has re-emerged and was followed by agents of the Deathwing until his trail was lost in the Relian system - a well known recruiting world of the Deathwatch!

 

The Inner Circle, working on the assumption that he joined the Deathwatch as a blackshield, came to the conclusion that Colcheus most likely took the identity of Codicier Defirenze - a black shield Librarian that emerged at roughly the same time in the ranks of the Deathwatch. Although the Inner Circle was not 100% sure that Defirenze and Colcheus were indeed the same person the descision was taken: Defirenze had to die.

 

In order to implement the Inner Circle's descision the Master of Recruits proposed the following course of action: To plant an agent of the Inner Circle in the Deathwatch with the explicit orders to exterminate Defirenze! Given that Defirenze is a psycher and might detect his intentions, said agent should be initially unaware of his mission. However he must be trustworthy enough to execute the order when it comes without question or second thoughts. The answer was simple: Antonius!

 

So Antonius joined the Deathwatch as an Assault Squad Battle Leader given his experience (no time to negotiate a Sergeant position) and the Inner Circle made sure he ended up in the force led by Defirenze. He was told that the Master of Recruits will contact him soon to give him further orders...

 

I CHOOSE THE ASSAULT SQUAD, SQUAD LEADER

 

Conversion:

 

Well nothing too funky. He's still a Veteran Sergeant of the Dark Angels so some level of blink is required. The weapons should be a power axe and a plasma pistol. I really like to break with the notion that DAs are primarily a shooty army with a noble knight-like attitude. I want him to be savage (not a Khorne Berzerker mind you) and avoid the noble weapons like swords and go for the more executioner-like axe! Ideally I'd like a MkV helmet for him - the more savagely styled helmet imo! But MkVII or MkVI are fine and is up to you with the robes. He's not Inner Circle but robes can be worn by practically anyone in the Chapter and certainly by Veteran Sergeants. So up to you. Oh, and I'd like a helmeted version - to give the impersonal tone of the executioner.

 

I also messed with your fluff. A bit. :)

 

Paint scheme:

 

Dark Angel plain and simple! :D Green shoulder pad and white Chapter icon.

[The Yak]

What about Rolling Larry Vines of the Purple Hooligans? If anyone could pull it off Tox its you! The lad has earnt a shot in the deathwatch, he's been on his best behaviour and everything...

[arizonajirt]

Sergeant Jan (pronounced Yan) Grimus, tactical expert, from the 4^th
company of the Raven Guard under the command of Shadow Captain Shaan.

 

Tactical Sergeant (only because Semper stole my assault Sergeant out from under me!!!)
 

Preferred Combat Load, Plasma Pistol and Lighting Claw

 

 

I will write up some more later, I have a warmachine event going on here at my shop. So I shall return

[Captain Semper]

I didn't get the Sergeant! I got the squad leader, I believe that's like the second in command... Back in 2nd ed. they even carried back banners... Seriously go for the Assault Sergeant! :tu:

[Adeptus-Alaska]

Not to hijack a thread or anything, but what Codex would be best to do a Death watch army?

[Malus Trux]

@furioso-prime

Honestly any of the loyalist chapters will do. Dark Angels can represent a terminator detachment, Space Wolves have great diversity through their Wolf Guard and Blood Angels/C:SM have Sternguard/Vanguard which fit the old rules but most often you'll see C:SM with Kantor & Sternguard.

 

@Toxichobbit

Thanks for the opportunity. I submit Brother Alnilam of the Mantis Warriors for one of the Sternguard spots. I think I've got background from a DW RPG character I didn't use somewhere. For now, the look: Mk4 armor with Mk7 helmet, a bolter with a silencer attachment & scope and small serrated blades attached to the under arm like Batman has Batman Begins.

[Adeptus-Alaska]

Thanks Malus!

[tdemayo]

So I'm up third?  How about a regular tactical marine for me? Nothing is better than a line brother rapid-firing a bolter into some Xenos face. My DIY is the Vigil Marines.  They look my little thumbnail picture -- black armor, green shoulder pad and gold trim.  The chapter symbol is a white cross -- a Templar or German Iron-Cross style cross.  They often wear tabards or robes.  So I guess a deathwatch version would have a green shoulder field (Snot Green/Warpstone Glow) and a white cross with gold trim.  I'll write up some fluff in a bit, if you're okay with these basics.

[Daemonifugue]

I would like to gratefully submit Veteran-Brother Ser'jorah of the Storm Lords Fox Brotherhood for one of the Tacticals slots.

Ser'jorah is from the Recon veterans squad of the Fox Brotherhood (5th Battle Company) and as such would be armed with a stalker-pattern bolt gun, plus grenades, etc. He also has his traditional falchion instead of a bolt pistol - nothing puts a xenos down better than a heavy sword though the skull. Recommendation would be for a few wolf-tail talismans, the devestator sergeant head, mk 7 armour, grey knight falchion and a fancy backpack if possible.

Fancy backstory for Ser'jorah to follow.....

[marvmoogy]

This is one of those threads that brought a smile to my face!  Can't wait to see the finished result :)

[Toxichobbit]

Ok chaps, we have a slight issue here.

 

We've currently got a Tactical Sergeant, Assault Squad Leader and four Tactical Brothers. Unfortunately there is only three spots for Tactical Brothers, the fourth being taken by the Marine in the second post. tdemayo, Malus or DSS, are any of you happy to switch to a member of the Assault squad?

 

@ DSS - I don't know if we can do a heavy flamer yet. You've got last choice and currently the Tactical squad is full, so we'll have to see if anyone wants to switch. If not you've got a choice of assault positions for Brother Misko.

 

@ Arizona - It just so happens that I have some Ravenguard parts saved for an occasion such as this. Funny how that worked out eh :p.

 

@ Ser Yak. Don't push it :p.

 

@ Cap - Don't worry about "messing" with my background. I fully expected some mistaken identity to pop up given the Librarian's attire, either someone mistaking him for an Unforgiven, or a Fallen.  I can do robes and a MkV helm. Just need to decide which robes to use.

 

@ Malus - Deathwatch bolters are already scoped, so adding a silencer isn't a problem. I'm not sure how i'll do the forearm blades yet, but I have a couple of ideas.

 

@tdemayo - Basics are fine. Want me to come up with a name or shall I leave that with you?

 

@ Daemonifugue - No problems with any of that. Would you prefer to have him with the falchion scabbarded, or the bolter slung? One thing i'd like to avoid is one handed bolter + melee/pistol poses. I might cut the falchion down a bit as well. The Grey Knight weapons are very long, a bit too long to be a secondary weapon.

 

@marvmoogy - glad you like the idea. Hopefully you'll enjoy the conversions and painting too :).

[deathspectersgt7]

I'm cool with that brother misko is to be armed with two power swords bolt pistol and frag krak and melta bombs. and jump pack if possible.

[Toxichobbit]

I can do no jump pack and only one power sword, if that's ok? If you have a look through the first post it lists the various equipment options available.

[deathspectersgt7]

Yeah I re-read it last night and forgot to fix,

[Firepower]

Loving the squiggly greenstuff on the force swords.  Wish I could manage that sort of work.

 

Alas, every time I have gone to war with the dreaded jade enemy, it has triumphed over me soundly. :teehee:

[tdemayo]

How about this:

 

Brother Gelimar comes from the Vigil Marines, a Chapter on the southern flank of the Eye of Terror.  Based on the world of Vigil, the Chapter's main responsibility is to patrol a wide swath of wilderness space and abandoned planets, interdicting and punishing any Arch-enemy that might filter from dangerous and lesser-used warp paths.  Additionally, it protects scattered Imperial worlds and Mechanicus outposts in the region, none of which have sufficient integration to qualify as a formal sector.

 

Brother Gelimar was born approx 789 M41 on the planet of Vigil.  In 794 M41, he and 231 other youths from his tribe participated in the grand melee initiated by Relusiarch.  Having survived, distinguished himself, and passed preliminary gene-screening, he entered the Novitiate.  In 797 M41, Gelimar had matured sufficiently to enter the Scout Company.  Over the next two decades, he particpated in long patrol abord the Strike Cruiser Watchful Gaze.  In 821 M1, the Watchful Gaze returned to chapter space to particpipate in a purge campaign against Waagh Facekicka.  Following the end of campaign, Gelimar received his final implants and promotion to full Battle Brother. As a Devastator, he distinguished himself in the defense of Technar Major, and as an Assault Marine he single-handedly seized the Spire top of Casa Have following a catastrophic Drop Pod failure that slew the rest of his squad.  He became a full Tactical brother of the Fifth Company in 839 M41.  His squad gained note in the destruction of the Xenos infestation of Lacnhar XII, on which campaign he gained the marksman badge.

 

In 863 M41, Gelimar began his first service with the Deathwatch, where he was seconded to the retinue of Inquisitor Anthragar.  At the Inquisitor's command, he personally slew the entire Legislatorium of Marche Minor, as it sat in session debating treasonous secession from the Imperium.  Gelimar returned to his Chapter in 931 M41, where he became Vexilary to the 5th Company's command Squad.  In 935 M41, he defended the standard with his body, and required extensive reconstructive bionics. Upon his recovery, he received induction into the first company Sternguard. 

 

In 967 M 41, the Deathwatch requested that Brother Gelimar perform a second tour among their Kill Teams, a service to which he applies his extensive experience of extended patrols and independant action.