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I'm interested in running an allied detachment of deathwatch marines, represented by sternguard, but I need a troop choice. Does the deathwatch utilize scout armor?

Yes they do. A specialized bodyglove with cerapace on the stronger places they too has Space Marine Scouts.

Nate668 wrote:
I'm interested in running an allied detachment of deathwatch marines, represented by sternguard, but I need a troop choice. Does the deathwatch utilize scout armor?

According to the RPG, they do.

There are no tabletop rules for them, obviously, but you wouldn't be breaking the fluff if you modeled a group of Deathwatch scouts. They'd be a little weaker than they should be, since Deathwatch Scouts would be fully fledged Marine veterans like the Space Wolf Scouts and not young novices like Codex Chapters have, but a small glitch.

When they need stealth, I fail to see why they wouldn't use stealthier armor.

 Veteran Sergeant wrote:

Nate668 wrote:
I'm interested in running an allied detachment of deathwatch marines, represented by sternguard, but I need a troop choice. Does the deathwatch utilize scout armor?

According to the RPG, they do.

There are no tabletop rules for them, obviously, but you wouldn't be breaking the fluff if you modeled a group of Deathwatch scouts. They'd be a little weaker than they should be, since Deathwatch Scouts would be fully fledged Marine veterans like the Space Wolf Scouts and not young novices like Codex Chapters have, but a small glitch.

EVERY Chapter, not just Space Wolves, maintain "fully fledged Marine veterans" who function as Scouts.

The problem is that in usual fashion, they are not explored on the tabletop in detail beyond special characters like Telion and Naaman or in DOW2's Scout-Sergeant Cyrus.

That could be a cool elite choise for regular SM though. Elite scouts? How cool is that?

Maybe Wolf Scouts could better represent Deathwatch brothers in scout armor?

You could get pedro Kantor, paint him as Deathwatch, and field your Sternguard that sternly... guard... the stern... as troops.

well there are in the RPG so I cant see why not :?

Nate668 wrote:I'm interested in running an allied detachment of deathwatch marines, represented by sternguard, but I need a troop choice. Does the deathwatch utilize scout armor?

FFG Deathwatch: yes.
GW Deathwatch: no.

It's entirely up to you which one to pick, but there are some more differences than just force disposition options.

 Lynata wrote:

Nate668 wrote:I'm interested in running an allied detachment of deathwatch marines, represented by sternguard, but I need a troop choice. Does the deathwatch utilize scout armor?

FFG Deathwatch: yes.
GW Deathwatch: no.

It's entirely up to you which one to pick, but there are some more differences than just force disposition options.

GW Deathwatch was a single unit when the organization was barely fleshed out.

FFG's Deathwatch is the fleshed out version and makes far more sense compared to the "Superduper Space Marine Squads" version that GW had.

Besides, FFG's deathwatch is GW's deathwatch, just with more detail added.

Legion of Flame wrote:
You could get pedro Kantor, paint him as Deathwatch, and field your Sternguard that sternly... guard... the stern... as troops.

Kantor isn't Sternguard as Troops, he's Sternguard as scoring. Small difference, but it means they're still Elites.

I remember a piece of fluff about how some Deathwatch operatives work as individuals, living amongst the locals and get close to their targets by blending into their surroundings.

I'm willing to bet that these particular marines would use Scout armor instead.

 Arcsquad12 wrote:
I remember a piece of fluff about how some Deathwatch operatives work as individuals, living amongst the locals and get close to their targets by blending into their surroundings.

I'm willing to bet that these particular marines would use Scout armor instead.

Cite it, because there is nothing suggesting this at all.

"Deathwatch operatives" are Astartes. There's no "living amongst the locals and getting close to their targets by blending into their surroundings" when their targets are primarily Xenos.

 Kanluwen wrote:

 Arcsquad12 wrote:
I remember a piece of fluff about how some Deathwatch operatives work as individuals, living amongst the locals and get close to their targets by blending into their surroundings.

I'm willing to bet that these particular marines would use Scout armor instead.

Cite it, because there is nothing suggesting this at all.

"Deathwatch operatives" are Astartes. There's no "living amongst the locals and getting close to their targets by blending into their surroundings" when their targets are primarily Xenos.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Deathwatch_Kill-marine#.ULpLEYaphgo

According to http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Deathwatch then it goes, and I wouldn't hold it against people using it. Here is the page-quote about the issue:

Deathwatch Scout Armour - Based on the Scout Armour fielded by all Space Marine Chapters, Deathwatch Scout Armour is a lightweight, non-powered suit of armour modified by Watch Fortress Erioch Deathwatch armourers specifically to suit the needs of their unique mission. Similar to the armour worn by sniper Scouts of Chapters like the Raven Guard, Deathwatch Scout Armour is composed of a hardened Ceramite chestplate that covers the Space Marine’s torso, shoulders and groin area worn over a reinforced body glove. Armoured, elbow-length gauntlets protect the wearer’s hands, while heavily reinforced, Ceramite-toed Grox-hide boots keep his feet safe and dry. Since Deathwatch Scout Armour is essentially a half-suit over a form-fitted body glove, and is made of light materials, it does not hinder the wearer’s movement and allows him to retain his natural agility and stealthiness while still providing excellent protection. This armour is often worn in conjunction with Cameleoline Cloaks.

 Arcsquad12 wrote:

 Kanluwen wrote:

 Arcsquad12 wrote:
I remember a piece of fluff about how some Deathwatch operatives work as individuals, living amongst the locals and get close to their targets by blending into their surroundings.

I'm willing to bet that these particular marines would use Scout armor instead.

Cite it, because there is nothing suggesting this at all.

"Deathwatch operatives" are Astartes. There's no "living amongst the locals and getting close to their targets by blending into their surroundings" when their targets are primarily Xenos.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Deathwatch_Kill-marine#.ULpLEYaphgo

That is a HUGE difference between what you said and what you linked to.

"Kill-Marines" are explored in quite a bit of detail in FFG's stuff, which puts it down to the Kill-Marines being akin to 'crusading knights' traveling the lands and defending the populaces.

How is that any different than what I said?

Kill-marines spend time living alongside those they must ultimately defend, sharing their trials and seeing the world through their eyes. In their missions a Kill-marine will make allies and enemies of many that they meet, and hear tales that would never reach a Watch Fortress.

Living alongside those they must defend, in order to suss out a target. And so what if I use the word operative? It's still a marine.

 Arcsquad12 wrote:
How is that any different than what I said?

Kill-marines spend time living alongside those they must ultimately defend, sharing their trials and seeing the world through their eyes. In their missions a Kill-marine will make allies and enemies of many that they meet, and hear tales that would never reach a Watch Fortress.

Living alongside those they must defend, in order to suss out a target. And so what if I use the word operative? It's still a marine.

Here's what you said:

 Arcsquad12 wrote:
I remember a piece of fluff about how some Deathwatch operatives work as individuals, living amongst the locals and get close to their targets by blending into their surroundings.

I'm willing to bet that these particular marines would use Scout armor instead.

That is pretty clearly not the same thing as "Living alongside those they must defend, in order to suss out a target".
The statement you made suggests that the Deathwatch Kill-Marines are somehow able to live among the citizenry as though they're normal human spies, when in reality even when the Kill-Marines are "living among the citizenry" they stand out...even if wearing Scout gear.

It's a matter of semantics, but when it's in context there is a huge difference between what you suggested and what the Kill-Marine actually is described as.

 Arcsquad12 wrote:
I remember a piece of fluff about how some Deathwatch operatives work as individuals, living amongst the locals and get close to their targets by blending into their surroundings.

Which is totally believable for a seven and a half foot tall biologically modified super-human, lol.

I don't know the story you refer to, but I had to chuckle when the Alpha Legion was doing it (in Legion, iirc).

Kanluwen wrote:GW Deathwatch was a single unit when the organization was barely fleshed out.
FFG's Deathwatch is the fleshed out version and makes far more sense compared to the "Superduper Space Marine Squads" version that GW had.

That may be your opinion, but does not change that there are some fundamental differences in unit composition, organisation, allegiance and hierarchy between these two versions.

It would be "fleshed out" if it would not contradict the original writing, but as it is it's rather a different interpretation of the theme. Obviously with way more options and toys for RPG players who might be bored with the rather limited approach of the original DW Kill-Teams (not to mention that their mighty Astartes would have to work under some pesky "mortal" Inquisitor's orders!). Just like, y'know, FFG's Vostroyans also allow females into the regiment. Or how their Storm Troopers are assigned as individuals to ordinary Guard squads rather than retaining at least squad level coherency.

There'd be nothing wrong for a player to adopt these ideas for their army, but I would say that one should be aware of the differences.

 Veteran Sergeant wrote:

 Arcsquad12 wrote:
I remember a piece of fluff about how some Deathwatch operatives work as individuals, living amongst the locals and get close to their targets by blending into their surroundings.

Which is totally believable for a seven and a half foot tall biologically modified super-human, lol.

I don't know the story you refer to, but I had to chuckle when the Alpha Legion was doing it (in Legion, iirc).

Depends, maybe they all play a mixture of basketball and American Football at the place. Haha, that would be fun to see.

Or the planet has a high Ogryn population. Abhumans are pretty common.

I was always a big fan of Deathwatch kill teams as elite commandos that are sent in to take out targets, or assist alongside other forces.

I'm less than pleased with the treatment they are getting so that they are just Xenos versions of Grey Knights... that is to say that they have all the Vanilla strengths and mainstays of a normal Marine Chapter, but then all their extra unique strengths on top. Special strike cruisers and battle barges? Dreadnoughts? What?

Now they are edging closer to being just a Chapter made of other Chapters, rather than a small and elite organization that recruits specialists that show promise from other Chapters for a time, training and utilizing them, and then giving them back to their parent Chapter to continue as normal battle brothers after they are done serving the Ordo Xenos.

There's a few important bits of information that you're missing. Watch Fortress Erioch exists for a very specific reason, which is to watch for signs of The Dark Pattern in the Jericho Reach. Only now they're in the middle of a crusade that has contingents of marines from dozens of chapters. They took this rare opportunity to recruit large numbers of marines for shorter terms, or perhaps for the length of the crusade, and increased in size by several magnitudes. Not all Deathwatch kill teams are going to have access to an ancient watch fortress, especially mobile teams in other parts of the galaxy. It all depends on what their purpose in that region of space is. Though I'm sure such teams have a strike cruiser of their own or they wouldn't be very mobile to begin with.

The deathwatch has always been a chapter made of other chapters. The fact that you couldn't field whole armies of them at once never implied anything about their numbers on an Imperium-wide scale.