Breotan wrote:

Breotan wrote:

reds8n wrote:Not to mention specialist ammo and the like.

Balance wrote:So this book has rules for Inquisitors playing Role Playing Games? That's what the pic looks like- just needs some chips and soda.

Greetings, Deathwatch fans!

One of the greatest challenges I faced when developing Deathwatch was finding the right answer to a simple question: What Space Marine Chapters should be included in the core rulebook?

The Deathwatch is a unique opportunity to showcase the differences between the core beliefs, traditions, and gene-seeds of the various Space Marine Chapters, and there is no better way to showcase that than to focus on some of the most famous and distinct Space Marine Chapters in Warhammer 40,000.

In the background of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, there are a large number of interesting and unique Space Marine Chapters. Working with Games Workshop, we selected six of these Chapters for the Deathwatch Core Rulebook, but there are many more that await in future supplements for the Deathwatch line. I myself am quite a fan of the Space Marines, so I know that there are a lot of fans out there who are waiting with bated breath to see their particular favourite Chapter for Deathwatch.

In addition to that, it is a long-held tradition for Space Marine fans to create their own Chapters, or develop successor Chapters from some of the more famous and well-established ones in the Warhammer 40,000 lore. You can be sure that a thorough and extensive create-your-own-Chapter section is planned for the Deathwatch line in the future!

I am pleased to reveal the first of these Chapters in this Designer diary: The Space Wolves.



The Sons of Russ

The Space Wolves are a personal favourite of mine. These fierce Space Marines hail from the icy Death World of Fenris, and they are a proud and noble Chapter, their battle-lust tempered by cunning. Even in the grim darkness of the far future, there can still be heroes, and amongst their number you will find the savage fury of the Space Wolves. Here are some words from the talented pen of Andy Hoare about these Space Marines and their role in the Deathwatch:

“We may be few, and our enemies many. Yet so long as there remains one of us still fighting, one who still rages in the name of justice and truth, then by the Allfather, the galaxy shall yet know hope.”
–Ragnar Blackmane of the Space Wolves

Since the Imperium came into being, the Space Wolves have fought tooth and nail for the cause of the Emperor. Amongst the most famous of the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, their sagas are told from one end of the galaxy to the other. As headstrong as they are fierce, the Space Wolves excel at close-quarters fighting, their warriors vying keenly for glory on the field of battle. The Space Wolves live to fight, and death holds no fear for them.

The Battle-Brothers of the Space Wolves are ferocious and aggressive warriors. Though far from mindless berserkers, they are certainly possessed of a feral exuberance for battle. They have an overriding sense of duty and honour, and are driven ever onwards by a strong desire to right the many wrongs that have befallen the Imperium of Man since the heady days of the Great Crusade. Space Wolves exhibit a fierce sense of loyalty to their comrades in arms and this is on occasion extended to their compatriots in other branches of the Imperium’s military.

Although as devoted to the Emperor as any other Space Marine Chapter, the Space Wolves express their faith not in prayer and piety, but in feats of arms. While the Battle-Brothers of other Chapters may spend the night before battle in solemn meditation, the Space Wolves are more likely to mark the eve of battle in bawdy celebration, raising overflowing jacks of Fenrisian ale to brothers they may be mourning once battle is done. A Space Wolf will drink and make merry, for tomorrow, he may die.

In temperament, most Space Wolves are blunt and plain speaking, even to the point of giving offence to those not used to their ways. They abhor pretension and despise politicking. They are honest to a fault, and expect the same quality in those they fight alongside. Space Wolves embrace their lot with an uncomplicated enthusiasm, from the headstrong, newly recruited Blood Claw to the grey haired and taciturn Long Fang. Each plays the role fate lays before him, knowing that a life spent in service to the Emperor is a life well lived.

In the face of an enemy attack, a Space Wolf bounds forward like a Fenrisian wolf on the hunt, a joyous song of war on his lips.



In the Deathwatch

Many Space Wolves have served in the Deathwatch, and some of the most celebrated Battle-Brothers are drawn from the Chapter. Their propensity to engage the foe head on has led to many great victories, even if none outside of the Deathwatch ever hear of them. Though many Space Wolves have been elevated to the rank of Watch Captain in the Deathwatch, comparatively few have served as Watch Commanders. It is likely that this is due to the brothers’ natural gregariousness, and their desire to return to the great feasting halls of Fenris once their duty is done.

Greetings Deathwatch fans!

Just thinking of the term “Space Marine Chapter” brings to mind a host of images, from the colonnaded halls of Macragge (for the Ultramarines) to the cavernous depths of the Rock (for the Dark Angels) to serried ranks of Adeptus Astartes preparing for battle and chanting a prayer to their Primarch. During the development of Deathwatch, I felt it very important to get all the details right for the Space Marine Chapters—it would be vital to make sure the reader understood just how important the Chapter’s history, traditions, beliefs, and gene-seed are to each Battle-Brother who wears that Chapter’s heraldry.

The Chapter looms large in the life of all Space Marines. In the Deathwatch, it is a unique situation where you have several Space Marines working together who are all from quite different Chapters, each of whom is used to going about things in some very different ways!

One of my greatest resources for working with the deep and complex lore of Space Marines is Games Workshop. Getting a chance to ask questions and have involved discussions about all things Space Marine with the very people who created them made an incredible impact on the development of Deathwatch.

In fact, I am pleased to present a special bonus for this week’s designer diary, straight from the pen of Alan Merrett, Head of Intellectual Property for Games Workshop:

Genesis of the Space Marines

Sometime in 1985 (in the summer I think) Citadel Miniatures (the miniatures branch of Games Workshop) released a curious science-fiction warrior under the title ’LE2 Imperial Space Marine’ with the intention of ‘testing’ the market for a subject that wasn’t a traditional fantasy model. Fantasy absolutely dominated the world of hobby gaming and miniature figures in the early 80’s, science-fiction games and miniatures rated a poor second at best. The model was unencumbered by any fictional narrative or game rules – it was just a stand-alone white metal model. We were therefore understandably cautious about the impact LE2 would have and our expectations for it were quite modest. These expectations were quickly surpassed by the unprecedented demand we faced for the model when we released it. In fact so popular did it prove that we immediately set about commissioning a complete set of ‘Space Marines’ – which lead to August 1986 and the release of Citadel’s ‘C100 Imperial Marines’. Remember this was more than a year before the release of ‘Warhammer 40,000 – Rogue Trader’.

The release of that seminal product was accompanied by the first Space Marine plastic miniatures (the ultra-famous boxed set RTB01 designed by Jes Goodwin and Aly Morrison) and firmly cemented the Space Marines at the heart of the human struggle to survive in the dystopian war-torn universe of the far future. It is a position they have been unwont to relinquish every since.

The Ultramarines

It is difficult to talk about Space Marines without referencing the venerable and famous Ultramarines. This heroic Chapter has its home in the realm of Ultramar, an empire of beautiful and prosperous worlds acting as a bulwark on the Eastern Fringe of the Imperium. The Ultramarines are noble and devoted warriors who have turned back the enemies of the Emperor time and again over the course of their much-honoured history. Here are some words from the talented pen of Andy Hoare about these Space Marines and their role in the Deathwatch:

“We follow in the footsteps of Guilliman. As it is written in the Codex, so shall it be.”
–Marneus Calgar, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines

Of all the thousand and more Space Marine Chapters, it is the blue-clad Ultramarines that, in the mind of the countless billions of the Emperor’s subjects, personify everything that the Adeptus Astartes stands for. The Ultramarines and their many successor Chapters have stood at the very forefront of the war against the traitor, the alien, and the fiend since the very foundation of the Imperium. Across the domains of the Emperor, the Ultramarines are recognised as heroic, virtuous, and noble defenders of Humanity, their deeds celebrated in devotional works the length and breadth of the galaxy.

Even amongst the Space Marine Chapters themselves, the Ultramarines occupy a position of special honour. The gene-seed from which the original Ultramarines Legion was founded is considered the purest, and it is estimated that some two-thirds of Chapters share their inheritance, being either direct successors or created from tithed Ultramarines genetic material. This shared inheritance often ensures that when the Ultramarines go to war, they are supported by many other Chapters, and that when Space Marine commanders gather to consider common strategy, the counsel of the Ultramarines is greatly valued. Often, the presence of even a small number of Ultramarines units in a larger military undertaking will ensure the participation of many more Chapters, so highly are the sons of Roboute Guilliman held in their brothers’ esteem.

In all of their duties, from battle to study, the Ultramarines are thorough, analytical, and attentive to every detail. They are slow to anger and rarely make a rash decision. By constant recourse to the articles of faith enshrined within the Codex Astartes, the Ultramarines are able to face any eventuality with well-practised battle drills and established doctrine.

In their dealings with Battle-Brothers from other Chapters, Ultramarines often fulfil the role of facilitator and peacemaker. While the Battle-Brothers of some Chapters display extremes of character, from hotheaded to taciturn, the Ultramarines are balanced in their approach, and often able to broker agreements between wildly differing points of view. This is evidenced in the fact that a high proportion of Deathwatch leaders are drawn from the Ultramarines and their successors, a fact that has more to do with their outlook and character than it does with their numerical superiority.

Deathwatch is a roleplaying game in which players take on the roles of the bio-engineered super-soldiers known as Space Marines. United with their battle-brothers, players will complete extraordinary missions involving some of the greatest heroes and deadliest opponents the Warhammer 40,000 universe has to offer.

Hello Rogue Trader fans!

Before I begin this designer diary, I’m thrilled to announce that Lure of the Expanse is shipping out of our warehouse this week, and will soon be coming to a friendly local game store near you!

With that in mind, I’d like to spend a little more time talking about Lure, and in particular, the adversaries found within.

Rogue Traders and their trusted companions are individuals with vast power, wealth, and influence. Beyond the reach of Imperial authority in the Halo Stars, they are bound by no laws but their own, and potentially the remit of their Warrant. Rogue Traders are free to trade with xenos, wage wars, and even scour planets with the weapons aboard their starships. While that is all very impressive, it does bring up the question—who is powerful enough to pose a threat to these larger-than-life individuals?



In Lure of the Expanse, some of the most dangerous threats the Explorers will find themselves pitted against are other Rogue Traders. While they are all quite competent individually, the true danger lies in the resources at their disposal. Each possesses their own starship (or in some cases, their own flotilla!), and their own vast wealth and considerable influence. And each of them sees the players as rivals in gaining the fabled treasure they know is theirs.

I’d like to take a closer look at one of the rival Rogue Traders in particular, the fellow on the far right. Jeremiah Blitz is a consummate rogue and charming scoundrel, originally a dubious dealer in xenos art objects, not a scion of a famous dynasty. Nobody knows for certain how he claimed a Warrant of Trade, but most stories claim he won it in a game of chance with a Sector Lord of the Adeptus Terra. With singular luck, Blitz left the game possessing nothing—save the promise of a favour of the Sector Lord.

Within the year, Blitz was granted a Warrant and a cruiser, the Ordained Destiny. In short order, Blitz has carved his name across dozens of sectors, with short-term deals and trade arrangements of dubious legality—not to mention vast sums of money from the outright illegal Cold Trade. Blitz is a man of action who relies on his own resources and is not afraid to plunge headlong into a situation. His primary motivator is personal wealth and fame, and he is only reliable as long as he is receiving a steady stream of Thrones. However, he is not unwilling to working with others, especially if it will get him something he could not claim on his own.

His ship, the Ordained Destiny, is a mirror opposite of the man. Where Blitz is cooly competent and not prone to flashy showmanship, his cruiser is gilded and ornate. Much of the hull is plated in gold-leaf, and huge statues of Imperial saints and heros rise along the dorsal ridge. It’s said that the Ordained Destiny was the Sector Lord’s way of taking a petty vengeance on the scoundrel. If so, his plan seems to have backfired, as Blitz treats his ship with a backhanded but sincere affection...and has outfitted it with powerful weaponry.




However, rival Rogue Traders aren’t the only adversaries in Lure of the Expanse. A foe who strode the stars when man was still trapped on a single world moves against the Explorers. Ancient, mysterious, and powerful, these opponents have long foreseen the Explorers’ actions, and now gather to destroy them.

Greetings, Dark Heresy fans!

It has been an amazing experience since the release of Ascension! The book is a smashing success, has garnered excellent reviews, and has sparked huge interest. Of course, I am particularly proud of Ascension, and I would like to take a moment to give my sincere thanks to the writing and development team of “Project Rose”:

Owen Barnes, Alan Bligh, John French, Andy Hoare, and Sam Stewart

I am deeply grateful for all their help, and their paragon talent of “Write Sourcebook” is crucial to how the book turned out.

I would be remiss without mentioning the playtesters and proofreaders; their contributions are critical to Ascension’s success, and I am very appreciative of all their help!



Ascension is probably the most significant release for Dark Heresy since the core rulebook, and I couldn’t be happier with its reception so far. I’ve been inspired by many of the concepts and ideas in Ascension moving forward and I’m very excited about the future of Dark Heresy! On the horizon are plenty of new books and releases for Acolytes and Throne Agents alike, so keep an eye on the Fantasy Flight Games web site for more details in the future!

Heed the Higher Call

As a special bonus, this week I am pleased to present Heed the Higher Call, an 18-page free .pdf, chock-full of additional material for Ascension. Enjoy!

Heed the Higher Call - web quality (.pdf, 2.9 MB)

Heed the Higher Call - print quality (.pdf, 100.4 MB)

Now, you can bring the light of the Emperor to the darkest corners of the Koronus Expanse. Lure of the Expanse, the latest adventure for Rogue Trader, is now on sale at your local retailer and on our webstore!

Lure of the Expanse features three adventures set amongst the unexplored stars beyond the Imperium. Wealth and glory await those with the courage to venture into the farthest reaches of space.

In Eye of the Needle, your Explorers will travel to the perilous port of Footfall to learn of a dark prophecy of long-lost riches. In The Heathen Trail, the Explorers find themselves on the path of uncountable riches... but they must cross the wild tracts of the Heathen Stars. Threats abound, but can the Explorers transform danger into rewards? Finally, in The World Beyond, the Explorers discover the location of the legendary treasure world. Now, can they prevail against a host of enemies?

Head to your local retailer and grab your copy today! Opportunity abounds. Will you answer the call of the Expanse?

H.B.M.C. wrote:I'm still betting on Dark Angels, Blood Angels and then two FFG homebrew Chapters.