Deathwatch squad

[MadGamerAK]

Hello all, looking into buying an intercessor squad and since my army is Black Templars, of course I have to throw a Black Templar in there. I have only one question about this. Would it be ok if I did a Sword Brother as my deathwatch Black Templar member, that would basically mean putting a Sword Brethren pauldron on there and then painting it red, or does that go against the codex/lore and I can only use a normal Black Templars pauldron?

[Mazer Rackham]

As a Deathwatch enjoyer, I don't particularly see a problem with it, nor do I think anyone else would.

 

It would be unusual to have such an experienced warrior join the DW ranks, but certainly not unheard of. However, what I might suggest is that a brother who joins the DW starts on the first rung, as he has to be integrated with his squad, and in such a mass of different chapters, and melange of colours, he may be mistaken for someone else, if they do not know his chapter's heraldry and glory.

 

Unthinkable, but possible.

 

I think it would be more likely that even a sword-brother would display proudly his chapter's symbol - the Emperor's symbol! - but would have gucci markings, shields, candles, fancy backpack and ornamentation to show to all, that he was once of the Marshal's Household, and is forever a crusader, regardless of his current panoply.

 

Essentially, there's nothing stopping you from doing either, and both choices are fully congruent.

 

To the darkness bring fire, brother.

[CastellanDeMolay]

As I understand it, the Sword Brethren are an ad-hoc formation of veterans picked by a crusade's Marshall, rather than a permanent rank. If seconded to the Deathwatch the brother in question is technically no longer a member of the SB, so such a rank should be irrelevant to the Deathwatch. It really could go either way; I doubt the DW are going to enforce the standardisation of a chapter's heraldry, if anyone doesn't recognise a chapter symbol they can always ask. The regular black cross on a white field makes more sense in terms of communicating the chapter from which the marine is drawn, but there's no guarantee anyone concerned will have even heard of the Black Templars, such is the rarity with which mortals encounter Astartes. 

 

I say go for it; they're yourdudes, and if you think it looks cooler and fits the story you want to tell that's all that matters.