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I have a fairly good grip of the rules, I have read the book a few times so I decided I feel confident trying the game out. I recently downloaded the Shattered Hope introductory campaign to play with some friends and then I realized a disturbing balancing issue. I can't use a 1-1 ratio for squares-meters or inches-meters. If I were to do this then everything would have ludicrous range. What is the best way to mitigate this? Should I just cram more meters into each square/inch? Or should I try using a narrative combat system? If so, how? Any advice for a first-time GM is greatly appreciated.

I picked up a grid based battle mat and it works perfectly. I think 1 square equates to around 2 meters. Snag some GW and Warmachine/Iron Kingdom minis to represent the heroes and foes and have at it!

Cram more meters into each square. We usually do things at 2:1 or sometimes even 3:1.

[EDIT]: As it happens, I have a photo for how I did Shattered Hope:

Nice! Great usage of the Dungeon tiles! Heroclix/Horrorclix battle mats are also pretty handy as are the tiles from the Space Hulk game if you can get your hands on any.

Thanks, a battlemat definitely is looking like a good investment - especially a wet erase one. I really like the way you used those tiles, I have some DnD ones lying about that would probably serve just as well as accents for particular rooms. The magical circles and such would lend a nice bit of flavor to cult hideouts I kind of wish I had played inquisition or more necromunda just for the sake of having models on hand. I got everything but acolyte level stuff, haha! I was thinking my skaven might actually be used well as a tribe of abhumans declared too warped and corrupt to live by the inquisition. Interesting plot point I may have to file in my brain for later.

I just use a tape measure and state that 1 inch = 1 meter in the game. If necessary, you could downgrade the usage of centimeters. Finding tape measures for that is easy online.

I don't like to use phisical maps, also because I don't have the material to do it. Of course... I have Space Hulk tiles, but I'd love to use them for an adventure in ... a Space Hulk, that would be awesome.

I prefer to use a more abstract way. But I do understand that sometimes this gives many, many problems.

go 5 meters = 1 square or use the adapted SARNFU I used in my game (HERE)

The only issue is that some roleplayers will get hacked off easily if you say 'the orks are 40 meters away' and someone goes 'CHARGE' but their charge range is only 30... it seems people expect that they can charge the minute they see someone...

Also don't be afraid to hurt the PCs - the space marines are way OP as it is and so are highly resilient.

I do have the Deathwatch book but it looks that people want to start with Dark Heresy, and for now I think it's probably best they learn with that one. How does 5m to 1 square work? Must force a lot of rounding for things like half moves and blast radius.