Where to Start for Deathwatch?

[SwashBuccaneer]

Hi all, new to the hobby and the forums.

 

I picked up the DI box last month and been putting together the Death Guard. However, I loved the Death Watch fluff, etc. and last week my wife went to the local store and she saw they had the new Codex out on the shelf early. 

 

She picked it up for me as well as the Start Collecting box set, a Black Star, and some Primaris units (some 5 man boxes, and some aggressors, apothecary, and librarian). Guessing she talked to some folks at the store and they made some recommendations on items.

 

So now I have all this random stuff I'm staring along with the DI primaris guys and no idea where to start. At this point I've yet to even play my first game so everything is just over my head. Not sure what kinds of kill teams to make, how to arm, etc.

[Vel'Cona]

If you haven't played your first game yet, my recommendation would be to just set down (on your kitchen table or wherever) with a squad of Troops per side and maybe a character and play out a few turns.  For example, take one of the Death Guard characters and a squad of Plague Marines and have them face off with a Watch Captain and a team of Veterans or Intercessors.  Alternatively, head to your local FLGS (or GW store if available) and ask for a demo game; there are quite a few players that love getting new folks into the hobby and will be happy to help.  Avoid the guy that wants to play a 1500 point game first thing with his Leviathan Dreadnoughts/Fire Raptor Gunships/Tarantula Guns or whatever, though; he's just looking for an ego boost and he won't help you get started. :)

 

Once you have a good grasp of the rules, then I'd start looking at your codex and building models in earnest.  For Deathwatch in particular, it's a much more complex list than standard Space Marines or even Death Guard, so there's a lot to learn and therefore a lot of mistakes to make, but from a challenge standpoint you can't ask for a more interesting army and there's a ton of opportunities to make it yours (through conversions, unique chapter Veterans, etc.).  Keep in mind that both your Primaris and standard Deathwatch Veterans are valid in the new codex, so everything you have will be useful; you can even combine different types of units into your Kill Teams for special benefits!

 

In either case, I'm sure you have a ton of questions.  I recommend reading the heck out of your big rule book and codexes to get familiar with the rules and stats and get ideas for how you want your armies to look, but also visit the forums and read up where you can.  You may even want to throw in a vow on our annual painting competition (http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/346726-deathwatch-outpost/) if you're looking for motivation to paint your new dudes!

 

Welcome to the B&C! :)

[SwashBuccaneer]

Thanks, Vel! Good stuff for sure. I've been going through my Codex and basking in the mighty glory of the Watch and getting excited to build and play them. :) Definitely seems like they are more complex and way more flexible which is both cool and kind of intimidating. I don't want to be super competitive but I also don't want to mess up and waste time and money and not have a bad army.

 

I did come across this and a couple of these teams sounds like fun (Close Assault Specialists & Assault Firebase): https://www.warhammer-community.com/2018/05/02/2nd-may-codex-deathwatch-building-primaris-kill-teams/ But I definteily want to mix in some Veteran Kill Teams as well especially since my wife did grab that SC box for me as well as a Kill Team box.

 

In the interim I've rounded out my DI Death Guard army to 1k to play some games with in a local gaming group I joined. And I'm down for painting contests and more. I've been having a lot of fun painting my first dudes and pretty happy with the results.

[Lemondish]

Thanks, Vel! Good stuff for sure. I've been going through my Codex and basking in the mighty glory of the Watch and getting excited to build and play them. Definitely seems like they are more complex and way more flexible which is both cool and kind of intimidating. I don't want to be super competitive but I also don't want to mess up and waste time and money and not have a bad army.

 

I did come across this and a couple of these teams sounds like fun (Close Assault Specialists & Assault Firebase): https://www.warhammer-community.com/2018/05/02/2nd-may-codex-deathwatch-building-primaris-kill-teams/ But I definteily want to mix in some Veteran Kill Teams as well especially since my wife did grab that SC box for me as well as a Kill Team box.

 

In the interim I've rounded out my DI Death Guard army to 1k to play some games with in a local gaming group I joined. And I'm down for painting contests and more. I've been having a lot of fun painting my first dudes and pretty happy with the results.

 

A few critiques I have for these teams listed in your link, just to maybe give you an idea of what to look for:

 

The Close Assault Specialist is listed as:

• 6x Intercessors with bolt rifles
• 1x Inceptor with assault bolters
• 2x Aggressors with flamestorm gauntlets
• 1x Reivers with bolt carbine

And the Assault Firebase is listed as:

• 5x Intercessors with auto bolt rifles
• 3x Hellblasters with assault plasma incinerators
• 1x Aggressor with flamestorm gauntlets
• 1 x Inceptor with two plasma exterminators

I've bolded where I think the issue is here for both. In 40k, every model in a unit costs points, and you kind of want to build units based on how useful and effective they'll be for their points. The flamestorm gauntlets are great for providing a benefit to a mechanic called overwatch where you get to fire at a unit that's charging you. Normally you only hit on 6s during overwatch, but flame weapons automatically hit, so they're really useful there. Unfortunately, their range is really, really low so you probably won't get to use them very often outside of overwatch. That means your opponent gets to decide if you use them, and the opponent can control that by just not declaring you as a charge target.

 

But don't fret - this isn't terrible or anything - it just means you have a lot of points spent on a situational pick. If you find yourself in that situation a lot, you can benefit a ton from it - perhaps more than others might. Every local gaming group has a different set of armies with different lists and generals that favour or prefer different playstyles, so you might find the flamestorm gauntlets are fantastic for you. You can absolutely 100% stick with them and do well if you want to. 

 

But a quick change to the boltstorm gauntlets instead would give you more range to cause damage more often so that you aren't finding your Aggressor lighting fires in a field wistfully wishing there were some xenos close enough to burn Deathwatch have a major pitfall where it becomes so easy to start adding different pieces to each of these kill teams until they're giant frankenstein monsters with half a dozen special abilities and no clear role. Try to look at your options with an eye to maximizing their time doing what they do best rather than trying to cover for every situation you can think of.  

 

And welcome to B&C!

[SwashBuccaneer]

Thanks, Lemon. That makes sense. I can see the Flamegaunts being very handy for overwatch and maybe the close assault team, but 8" is very short range and those Agressors are pretty pricey. Would make for a decent deterrent to charging the unit perhaps.

 

Can definitely see DW units being point sinks and having random upgrades and stuff all over the place.  So many options.

[Lemondish]

Thanks, Lemon. That makes sense. I can see the Flamegaunts being very handy for overwatch and maybe the close assault team, but 8" is very short range and those Agressors are pretty pricey. Would make for a decent deterrent to charging the unit perhaps.

 

Can definitely see DW units being point sinks and having random upgrades and stuff all over the place.  So many options.

 

That's my favourite part about them largely because it means you get to build a model with those options :D

[SwashBuccaneer]

 

Thanks, Lemon. That makes sense. I can see the Flamegaunts being very handy for overwatch and maybe the close assault team, but 8" is very short range and those Agressors are pretty pricey. Would make for a decent deterrent to charging the unit perhaps.

 

Can definitely see DW units being point sinks and having random upgrades and stuff all over the place.  So many options.

 

That's my favourite part about them largely because it means you get to build a model with those options

 

Yes, but want to avoid having a 1k list with 5 dudes on the field!

 

I'm thinking if I do go the route of that Community article and have the Assault Firebase and the Close Assault Kill Teams I'm probably best off going for a ranged Kill Team for the 3rd? I can see myself building more teams in the future but trying to meet detachment requirements first. Definitely want some vets and primaris guys. Love the models. :)

[Vel'Cona]

 

Yes, but want to avoid having a 1k list with 5 dudes on the field!

 

I'm thinking if I do go the route of that Community article and have the Assault Firebase and the Close Assault Kill Teams I'm probably best off going for a ranged Kill Team for the 3rd? I can see myself building more teams in the future but trying to meet detachment requirements first. Definitely want some vets and primaris guys. Love the models.

 

Don't worry, DW are pricey but they're not Custodes (thankfully) :P

 

I'd say that's a fine base to build from.  One thing to consider with your units is how you'll get them where you want them.  Transports are always a good answer, but keep in mind that our list has other options, as do many of the units themselves.  Just keep in mind what direct role you want your units to play and make sure not to try to go too deep into "Swiss Army Knife" territory, as this leaves you with lots of generalists but a lack of options to deal with specific threats (and it tends to be crazy expensive).