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Hey fellow Dakkaites,

I've been playing the new iOS "Deathwatch : Kill Team" game lately, and it got me all hyped about building a small Deathwatch task force !
Most probably a single, maybe 2, 5-man squads, along with a character...

But I'm not sure which rules to use... Could you help me out ?

My perfect objective is to be able to get :
- Veteran statlines ;
- Variable squad size, so that I can add additional Marines if need be ;
- Top-of-the-notch gear, with maximum flexibility (ranged, melee, heavy weapons all in one squad?) ;
- Assorted rules & wargear, like Preferred Enemy, Hatred, Special Ammo, Auspex, etc...
- Maybe a Chapter Tactics that represents their role as hunters (IF for the Bolter reroll, WS for the H&Run, UM for the general Doctrines, some FW Badab War ones ?) ;
- Point cost is irrelevant (that would be a fluff-based team).

Ideas I've had so far (Pros // Cons) :
- Sternguard / Vanguard (Lots of Wargear, can adopt any Chapter Tactics if needed // cannot mix types of weaponry in the same squad)
- a Reclusiam Command Squad (Lots of special weapons, Apothecary possible - I love Combat Medics , is a formation by itself, chapter tactics, Chaplain can represent a Watch Commander (Zealot), can use Cassius // DW have Chaplains ?, need a Razorback, fixed squad size)
- a regular Command Squad (lots of special weapons, Apothecary possible // fixed squad size, no formation)
- Blood Angels Death Company (melee weapons AND bolters in same squad, Deathwatch-y Infernus & Flamer pistols, great rules & statlines to represent Veterans // no Heavy or Special weapons, maybe the most overstretched rules in relation to DW, no formation)
- Dark Angels Company Veterans (all types of weapons in same squad // no formation, no Special Ammo, rules pretty blank except Grim Resolve (Overwatch BS=2))
- The "Apocalypse Warzone : Damnos" formation ie. 1 Captain, 2+ Sternguard or Vanguard squads (some flexible rules (Preferred Enemy), Anti-Necrons wargear // Anti-Necron wargear ONLY, 11 models minimum which could be too much already, cannot take a Librarian for the character)

- Last idea : the "Tyrannic War Veterans Dataslate" (looks interesting for a formation // DON'T KNOW IF WORTH THE HUGE PRICE !!!)

So if anyone could share his own ideas or experience, help me with the ones I've written above, or give a hint at whether that expensive Dataslate is worth it, I'd be grateful !

Thanks in advance,

Yggs

Yggs, you might want to look at the "First Company Veterans" formation from Codex: Space Marines.

It's 3-5 units of the following:
Vanguard Veterans
Sternguard Veterans
Terminator Squads
Terminator Assault Squads

Kanluwen wrote:Yggs, you might want to look at the "First Company Veterans" formation from Codex: Space Marines.

It's 3-5 units of the following:
Vanguard Veterans
Sternguard Veterans
Terminator Squads
Terminator Assault Squads

That's an idea, except I now need to build (and paint) 15 models !!!

 jpwyrm wrote:
I wouldn't bother with the Tyrannic War Veterans Dataslate if you don't plan on using the St-Tylus Formation.

The vets are sub-par Sternguards (i.e.: only have access to Hellfire rounds, no specials/heavies, Sergeant can only take Meltabombs) with PE (Tyrannid). Unless you regurlarly play against Nidzilla kind of lists, there is no point in taking those, sadly.

Copied this from my Plog : thanks a lot jpwyrm !!!

Anyone has had different experience with the Tyrannic War Vets ?

Sternguard and vanguard is probably your best bet.

But personally if you are going full ham on a few modesl you might as well do Movie marines with Captain level dudes.

Apocalypse : Warzone Damnos, p.45 (2013)

Deathwatch Strike Team.

Composition : 1 Watch Captain (SM Captain), 2+ Deathwatch Kill Teams (Vanguard/Sternguard in any combination).

Special rules :
- Antiphasic bolts. In addition to their other ammunition, bolter or combi-bolter armed models from this formation have antiphasic bolts with the following profile: R24'' S4 AP4 Rapid Fire, Antiphasic (successful Necron RP/Everliving rolls must be rerolled)
- Forewarned is Forearmed. All models of the formation have PE against Xenos Codexes.
- Scour the Xenos : if the enemy Warlord is killed by a model of this formation, you score an extra victory point.

It is perfectly official but it's for Apocalypse games. But with some rule of cool, it should do the trick for regular games

Honestly, most Apocalypse formations are easily useable in plain 40k without issues.

 RazgrizOne wrote:
Apocalypse : Warzone Damnos, p.45 (2013)

Deathwatch Strike Team.

Composition : 1 Watch Captain (SM Captain), 2+ Deathwatch Kill Teams (Vanguard/Sternguard in any combination).

Special rules :
- Antiphasic bolts. In addition to their other ammunition, bolter or combi-bolter armed models from this formation have antiphasic bolts with the following profile: R24'' S4 AP4 Rapid Fire, Antiphasic (successful Necron RP/Everliving rolls must be rerolled)
- Forewarned is Forearmed. All models of the formation have PE against Xenos Codexes.
- Scour the Xenos : if the enemy Warlord is killed by a model of this formation, you score an extra victory point.

It is perfectly official but it's for Apocalypse games. But with some rule of cool, it should do the trick for regular games

That's a freakin' cool formation. I'm gonna have to ask my buddies if I can use that in standard 40k.

 j31c3n wrote:

 RazgrizOne wrote:
Apocalypse : Warzone Damnos, p.45 (2013)

Deathwatch Strike Team.

Composition : 1 Watch Captain (SM Captain), 2+ Deathwatch Kill Teams (Vanguard/Sternguard in any combination).

Special rules :
- Antiphasic bolts. In addition to their other ammunition, bolter or combi-bolter armed models from this formation have antiphasic bolts with the following profile: R24'' S4 AP4 Rapid Fire, Antiphasic (successful Necron RP/Everliving rolls must be rerolled)
- Forewarned is Forearmed. All models of the formation have PE against Xenos Codexes.
- Scour the Xenos : if the enemy Warlord is killed by a model of this formation, you score an extra victory point.

It is perfectly official but it's for Apocalypse games. But with some rule of cool, it should do the trick for regular games

That's a freakin' cool formation. I'm gonna have to ask my buddies if I can use that in standard 40k.

Honestly nothing that even screams APOC only for that formation ether.

The Apoc formation is the closest thing there is to fielding "true" Deathwatch squads.

But, I think the 1st Company Strike force from codex Space Marines would get your more for your bucks than this one. You get Fear and Fearless, along with a -2 LD inside of 12" of three or more units from the Formation (this include transports). On top of that, you can choose one unit from the opponent's army for wich all your squads get Prefered Ennemy.

My suggestion would be to take 2 Sternguard Squads and 1 Vanguard squad, along with an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor as "handler". You could deploy all your men on the ground or get them Drop pods to target a specific threat. The Inquisitor can take the Relic that gives a special rule depending on the Xeno(s) you face.

Again, not perfect, but if I had to field Deathwatch, that's how I would do it.

That's a freakin' cool formation. I'm gonna have to ask my buddies if I can use that in standard 40k.

Yes indeed ! I used it many times against an Eldar friend. With drop pods and grav guns, you have a costly unit but you will destroy any WK or Wraith unit with surprising ease !

Honestly, most Apocalypse formations are easily useable in plain 40k without issues.

@Kanluwen. I guess it depends on your meta isn't ? I mean limits between Apoc and regular games are now very blurred but can you really show up and play this with no drawbacks ?

The Apoc formation is the closest thing there is to fielding "true" Deathwatch squads.

But, I think the 1st Company Strike force from codex Space Marines would get your more for your bucks than this one. You get Fear and Fearless, along with a -2 LD inside of 12" of three or more units from the Formation (this include transports). On top of that, you can choose one unit from the opponent's army for wich all your squads get Prefered Ennemy.

My suggestion would be to take 2 Sternguard Squads and 1 Vanguard squad, along with an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor as "handler". You could deploy all your men on the ground or get them Drop pods to target a specific threat. The Inquisitor can take the Relic that gives a special rule depending on the Xeno(s) you face.

Again, not perfect, but if I had to field Deathwatch, that's how I would do it

That's a good idea but special rules given by the Book of Vethris are not that great and PE for everyone in the formation is very cool. Plus nothing is against taking transports in the Apoc formation I mentioned ! I have a slight preference for it since it reflect better the nature of the small elite kill team the Deathwatch is, IMO. But on the other hand, your formation allow to take Termies, which are rare among the Deathwatch but used by it still.

DID SOMEONE SAY KILL TEAM?

If it's actual Kill Team you want to play with Deathwatch, nothing's better than Kill Team: Heralds of Ruins - They actually have a list for them! They are among the most costumizable lists in the entire game.

http://heralds-of-ruin.blogspot.dk/p/kill-team-rules.htm