Dark Heresy - Rogue Trader - Death Watch - Black Crusade - Only War news and rumours

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**BrookM**

Got Into the Storm this afternoon with an extra discount for the long wait, with another promised when Death Watch finally arrives. From what I've gleaned so far, good stuff. A great expansion on ship creation as well, not to mention some very tasty career options and other background thingies. Building a dynasty is going to be a whole lot more fun now with these new careers and designations for first, second, third and fourth tier personal.

**skrulnik**

Ordered deathwatch yesterday from Amazon.
It is shipped and will arrive Sept 23-28.

I'd like to think I got H's preorder.

**aka_mythos**

Vertrucio wrote:How long has deathwatch been active? Since before the Heresy?

Pretty crazy if an entire chapter disappears or goes chaos while one deathwatch member is serving a term. Must be extremely rare, but I'd love to play one of those types.

The book, it gives the story of the Deathwatch's founding. Some prophecy of xenos threat that was taken so seriously a bunch of top ranking Inquisitors summoned all of the Chapter Masters of most of the marine chapters and convinced them this was worthwhile. The Deathwatch was the idea of the marines private discussion on the matter. It was during the 36th Millennium... that the DW were founded... if I remember the story correctly.

Look at the Fire Hawks or any number of chapters that were tragically lost. It says the black shields are generally rare. Showing up at the gates of Watch Stations and Watch Fortresses armor fully painted black vested in black robes, where its up to the Watch Captain or Commander to decide to admit them. I could imagine a fun conflict if a Fallen Angel tried to do such a thing... the Dark Angels might not take that well.

The text implies that black shields whose chapters have been lost are more common than renegades who have decided to "return to the light"... but when you think about it the latter seems like it should be more common than the former.

**H.B.M.C.**

You're probably right in that Marines turning from the Emperor is more common than whole Chapters being wiped out, but I'd say that those Traitor Marines returning would be even rarer still.

And M36 hey? That's not all that long ago, relatively speaking.

**Kanluwen**

I'd say it depends on the "renegade" Chapter.

I mean a Chapter like the Relictors could easily have the "pro-Daemon artefacts" faction and the "what the feth were we thinking?" faction.

**H.B.M.C.**

There's a difference between Chapters that go renegade, and Chapters that are considered to be renegade. The Relictors and the Soul Drinkers would be the latter. The Astral Claws would be the former.

**Kanluwen**

Thought that towards the end of the 13th Black Crusade the Relictors actually did go renegade, killing an Inquisitor in the process?

**H.B.M.C.**

Did they? Oh. Didn't know that.

Well the Dark Angels attacked the Black Templars. They're not considered a 'renegade' Chapter.

**temprus**

skrulnik wrote:Ordered deathwatch yesterday from Amazon.
It is shipped and will arrive Sept 23-28.

I'd like to think I got H's preorder.

That is unpossible!!!!! I got his canceled Pre-Order, says on the shipping label!

Hmm, the Relictors (as the Fire Claws) were founded in 36M too. Coincidence? I think so!!!!

Hmm, the whole Black Shields background "solves" the my making a whole army of Deathwatch "issues". Now I only have one excuse left from building them, location.

**H.B.M.C.**

You don't need an excuse to build a whole Deathwatch Army. I have. They're fun!

temprus wrote:Hmm, the Relictors (as the Fire Claws) were founded in 36M too. Coincidence? I think so!!!!

There were 9 Foundings during M36, so probably not.

**temprus**

I was not looking forward to making/painting so many different chapter pads or having too many of the same chapters in the army (I hate using transfers and my freehand sucks). Now I can just buy up some pre-molded pads like the BA/SW ones, and metal pads, and the rest can be Black Shields called up from some kind of reserve or such.

If you only have 1 A on your profile, you are a Black Shield, got more, you get a real pad.

**Kanluwen**

H.B.M.C. wrote:Did they? Oh. Didn't know that.

Well the Dark Angels attacked the Black Templars. They're not considered a 'renegade' Chapter.

The Dark Angels didn't let the Black Templars get a distress call off...so it's a matter of semantics about who attacked who!

**H.B.M.C.**

temprus wrote:Now I can just buy up some pre-molded pads like the BA/SW ones, and metal pads...

That's what I did. I even ended up doing it for my DW Terminators - Bits & Kits just happened to restock their FW resin Termy shoulder pads, and a I bought enough to cover 16 Terminators, so I've got cool things like a Red Scorpion Deathwatch Terminator and even a Salamander Deathwatch Terminator (w/Heavy Flamer, of course!).

**Alpharius**

Kanluwen wrote:Thought that towards the end of the 13th Black Crusade the Relictors actually did go renegade, killing an Inquisitor in the process?

Yes.

Maybe?

The problem is that GW kind of 'reset the clock' with the 5th edition SM Codex by including the Relictors in it and noting that they were a bit naughty and an eye was being kept on them.

So, not sure where they 'officially' stand now, which is too bad as when they had rules, they were a pretty cool chapter indeed!

**kartofelkopf**

Does the DW book offer any resolution for the way a techmarine's armor/shoulder pads are arranged?

Specifically, does he use the DW on the left arm, relegating his Cult Mechanicus pad to the right? And, if that's the case... where do his chapter markings go?

Also- red armor or black?

/painting up a squad for our group... eagerly awaiting our FLGS to receive the book.

**Vhalyar**

Chapter on the right, DW on the left.
Black armor save for the helmet painted red, in addition the right knee and the belt. Mechanicus symbols sprinkled over all three.

**Kanluwen**

Alpharius wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:Thought that towards the end of the 13th Black Crusade the Relictors actually did go renegade, killing an Inquisitor in the process?

Yes.

Maybe?

The problem is that GW kind of 'reset the clock' with the 5th edition SM Codex by including the Relictors in it and noting that they were a bit naughty and an eye was being kept on them.

So, not sure where they 'officially' stand now, which is too bad as when they had rules, they were a pretty cool chapter indeed!

I'm pretty sure the 5th edition SM 'dex is just supposed to be set before the 13th Black Crusade.

Don't have it handy to confirm right now though.

**kartofelkopf**

Vhalyar wrote:.

Much thanks!

**Alpharius**

Kanluwen wrote:
Alpharius wrote:
Kanluwen wrote:Thought that towards the end of the 13th Black Crusade the Relictors actually did go renegade, killing an Inquisitor in the process?

Yes.

Maybe?

The problem is that GW kind of 'reset the clock' with the 5th edition SM Codex by including the Relictors in it and noting that they were a bit naughty and an eye was being kept on them.

So, not sure where they 'officially' stand now, which is too bad as when they had rules, they were a pretty cool chapter indeed!

I'm pretty sure the 5th edition SM 'dex is just supposed to be set before the 13th Black Crusade.

Don't have it handy to confirm right now though.

Me neither, so it would be good to confirm either way. (It is a bit daft to set it just before events that have already taken place though... Their aversion to moving the timeline forward is getting absurd.)

And, they didn't kill the Inquisitor in question, they just thought they did.

It would have been better if they had though, as HE was the one that then manipulated events to get them declared Traitors as he wanted the artifact in question for himself. For, it was hinted, nefarious and traitorous reasons...

**Melissia**

Which is a bit of an annoying thing. GW is too quick to write about traitor Inquisitors, and not quick enough to write about ones who, you know, do their jobs.

Course, there's fridge logic in this, in a sense-- they don't write about them because the ones that are doing their jobs don't get noticed in the first place

**warboss**

Barnesandnoble.com has it in stock and is listed at a tad over $40 US... which is an awesome deal when you combine it with the 30% off coupon they just emailed out! i think i even beat alph's deal at $30.30 shipped!

**BaronIveagh**

Alpharius wrote:(It is a bit daft to set it just before events that have already taken place though... Their aversion to moving the timeline forward is getting absurd.)

Yeah, since people are starting to be in two places at once (Medusa V and Black Crusade) and the Black Crusade has been fought and ended..... twice now, I think...

**Melissia**

Thirteen times actually, in the fluff >.>

**H.B.M.C.**

Read the first 100 pages so far.

I love this book.

**Miss Dee**

got your DW book yet H.B.M.C?

**Alpharius**

Mine is on the way!

Looking forward to seeing just what a Librarian get get himself in to, and out of!

**Kanluwen**

Mine arrived today. Beginning readthrough...now.

**H.B.M.C.**

Hey look! Some actual news:

Salutations Acolytes!

It is possible that there is no bigger fan of the Inquisition and the Ecclesiarchy than myself. I fell in love with the Imperial Creed years ago at a local game store when the manager started up an Inquisitor game. My enthusiasm has reached new heights with the imminent release of Blood of Martyrs, the upcoming sourcebook for Dark Heresy.

The Ecclesiarchy plays a strong role in the culture of the Imperium of Man. It seeps into the every day life and defines characters in both broad and subtle ways. It is nearly impossible to escape, as the characters relationship to the Adeptus Ministorum plays into his story sooner or later. In Blood of Martyrs, our devout team of writers pored over more than a decade of gaming lore to bring the most comprehensive look at the Ecclesiarchy of the Calixis Sector to date.

Because all Imperial Citizens are in some way touched by the Imperial Creed, I felt it was very important for every Dark Heresy Career to have options for making faithful characters. The Alternate Career Ranks, Backgrounds and even three new home worlds inside Blood of Martyrs offer a ton of options for playing a faithful character who is a Guardsman, Assassin, or any of the other Dark Heresy Careers!

This week’s designer diary focuses on another aspect of Blood of Martyrs (and one of my favorite bits of the book!): the Adepta Sororitas.

One of the most iconic images of Ecclesiarchal influence and might are the Sisters of Battle. Created in the wake of Goge Vandire’s defeat, the Battle Sisters function as the militant arm of the Ecclesiarchy. Their power armour, bolters, and unshakeable faith bring hope on the battlefield and inspiration to Imperial Cathedrals across the galaxy.

Many Inquisitors of the Ordo Hereticus call upon the Battle Sisters when dealing with Heretics, Mutants, and Psykers. In Blood of Martyrs, the Adepta Sororitas Orders are presented as distinct character options, including the combat ready Battle Sister and the non-militant orders of the Dialogous, Famulous, and Hospitaller.

During development, the Blood of Martyrs team knew that one critical aspect of this book is for players to be able to take the role of the iconic Sisters from the beginning of a campaign and feel as if they were on a path distinctly their own. Each career or alternate career rank has talents, equipment, and other options from rank 1, making each Sister feel part of her distinct Order. This arrangement provides options for new campaigns as well as those that have been running for quite some time.

Thanks to the variety present in the new alternate career ranks, faith talents, and equipment, Blood of Martyrs gives the tools necessary to play an Ecclesiarchy Cell in service of a Cardinal or Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor. Acolyte groups comprised completely of the faithful (or even of only Adepta Sororitas), can be a rewarding campaign. Each player feels unique and has specialized skills setting them apart from one another.

Blood of Martyrs was an extremely exciting first project to work on and I can’t wait to get it into the hands of the players. I look forward to hearing stories at conventions from all of you about the tales of “Enemies Within” and dark investigations your gaming group crafted.

Next up... Ecclesiarchal Cell Directives!

**Alpharius**

Here we go...

Still, it will be nice to get some more background info on enemies for my Flesh Tearers army!

Go FT!

Maybe I'll end up with a FT Librarian in DW... Either that or Raven Guard, of course!

**H.B.M.C.**

Well if we don't get Flesh Tearer rules, you can still use Blood Angels as a sort of 'counts as', or wait for the Create-a-Chapter rules in the next big DW expansion.