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I've scoured Dakka and Lexicanum for information on the Deathwatch and have a couple of questions remaining.

1. Do they employ scouts? I assume not as they are supposed to be very battle hardened marines who have performed exceptionally in combat. If they don't have scouts who performs recon and intelligence gathering roles?

2. Is there any given size limit for a Kill Team? From the fluff it makes it sound as if they are normally squad sized units but I assume major operations require larger teams.

3. Are imperial Guard units ever likely to be seconded to a Kill Team? Obviously if they are led by an inquisitor they can requisition pretty much what they like but I was thinking a longer term attachment (maybe a light infantry company to gather intelligence or similar).

Any help much appreciated!

1. Yes. They're veteran Marines who ditch Power Armour for Scout Armour. The Deathwatch actually has its own specialist Scout Armour variant, which is the same visually but has some extra gubbins.

2. Kill-Team sizes are not altered. If the operation is large enough to merit it, multiple Kill-Teams will be employed.

3. No. The Deathwatch do not "command" anyone, and as such cannot really have anything seconded into their command...much less the Imperial Guard. Astartes/Imperial Guard chains of command are separate because of a little mishap called the Horus Heresy.

I'd advise you to pick up the Deathwatch RPG books if you want some in-depth details on the Deathwatch. Fantastic resource, with the GW Studio staff having advised/worked on the books as well.

Thanks, I'll try and pick up a copy.

Another question, are there any rules for fielding Deathwatch available or is the best bet just to field them using standard codex chapter rules?

(I'm looking for a new army and am torn between IG and Deathwatch hence the allies question).

Pretty much the standard Codex: Space Marines is your best bet.

The Deathwatch used to have rules in the form of a single Kill-Team.

Your best bet is probably going for C:SM with sternguard/vanguard vets or terminators, few vehicles (maybe a dreadnaught), tacticals or assault marines and scouts, with every possible thing dropping in via pods (to get the shock-and -awe and surgical strike feeling of the deathwatch).
A possible idea could be that to ally two different flavours of marines to give the impression of marines coming from multiple different chapters, as is standard for the deathwatch (unfortunately, it's impossible to mix inside the single squads...).
Alternatively, having your main army as IG or Inquisitorial-GK (Coteaz, possibly with guardsmen, stromtroopers or sisters as acolytes) with allied deathwatch C:SM dropping in to save the day could be cool (and deliver the "cinematic" feeling GW values so much...), too.

MassDriver wrote:I've scoured Dakka and Lexicanum for information on the Deathwatch and have a couple of questions remaining.

The first thing you need to realise is that there are currently two "versions" of the Deathwatch around.
First the one from GW's own books, and then a different interpretation in FFG's Deathwatch RPG. They differ considerably in some key areas such as affiliation, organisation and equipment availability. There may be areas where the various interpretations overlap, though it would be down to your personal preference to (a) choose whether you'd want to go primarily by GW or FFG and (b) what to adopt from the alternative, if anything.

I'll try to answer your questions by providing answers for both variants.

Do they employ scouts? I assume not as they are supposed to be very battle hardened marines who have performed exceptionally in combat. If they don't have scouts who performs recon and intelligence gathering roles?

GW: No.
FFG: Sort of. As Kan said, the normal Deathwatch Marine can use Scout or even Terminator armour in lieu of his standard suit as the mission demands.

Is there any given size limit for a Kill Team? From the fluff it makes it sound as if they are normally squad sized units but I assume major operations require larger teams.

GW: The standard DW Kill-Team seems to be 4-9 Deathwatch Marines and their leader, which is either a Deathwatch Captain, a Deathwatch Librarian or an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos. Sometimes, a Deathwatch Captain will also lead non-Deathwatch Kill-Teams that incorporate human Inquisitorial operatives of the Ordo Xenos.
FFG: There doesn't seem to be a set size for the team, but given that it is a pen&paper game, the usual Kill-Team size would be somewhat smaller, at about 3-5 player characters including their leader. Of course, the players may well be an exception from the rules, if there are any. Also, in this version, the squad leader is chosen anew before each and every mission by the squad's Marines (-> the players).

Are imperial Guard units ever likely to be seconded to a Kill Team? Obviously if they are led by an inquisitor they can requisition pretty much what they like but I was thinking a longer term attachment

GW: If the Kill Team is led by an Inquisitor (standard), he can requisition anything, but it will be attached to him as an individual rather than the Kill Team itself and likely not permanent. When not led by an Inquisitor, a Deathwatch Kill-Team is led by a Deathwatch Captain, who is granted Inquisitorial authority for the purpose of requisitioning anything he needs - but it will only apply to the mission itself and not be permanent.
FFG: DW Marines can requisition temporary support from the Imperial Guard, but nothing permanent. Also, in FFG's version of the setting, the Deathwatch is not subordinated to the Inquisition but is its own entity, merely allied with the Ordo Xenos. This means there will not actually be an Inquisitor "leading" the squad, but perhaps accompanying them as an equal.

Thanks all, very helpful.

I think I prefer the GW incarnation of the Deathwatch and will try to field something that fits it. Looks like it's going to have to be IG with a Kill Team falling from the sky to (hopefully) save the day.

I'm returning to 40K after a very long hiatus (people with swords could parry last time I picked up my dice) so it's a bit of a learning curve. Next task to find out if a light infantry themed IG army is even vaguely viable...

 MassDriver wrote:
1. Do they employ scouts? I assume not as they are supposed to be very battle hardened marines who have performed exceptionally in combat. If they don't have scouts who performs recon and intelligence gathering roles?

FFG's Rites of Battle mentions Kill-Marines, one-man units who perform recon, sniping, etc. They utilise scout armour, apparently.

MassDriver wrote:I think I prefer the GW incarnation of the Deathwatch and will try to field something that fits it. Looks like it's going to have to be IG with a Kill Team falling from the sky to (hopefully) save the day.

That should work, with 6E's new Ally rules.

If you'd like to read up more on GW's Deathwatch, the sources I used are:
- Index Astartes II, "Purge the Unclean"
- White Dwarf #306 (UK), "Chapter Approved : Deathwatch Kill-Teams"
- Inquisitor RPG (online PDFs available on GW's website here, here and here; just search for the term "Deathwatch" within the documents)

At least the White Dwarf stuff should be relatively easy to find via the interwebz; just google for "Deathwatch kill teams".

I believe either GW or FW also sell Deathwatch shoulder pads to pimp up your team properly. I've seen some pretty impressive pictures of DW Marines on dakka already.

Oh and, welcome back and good luck!

1. In theory, scouts could join the Deathwatch. Also, DW marines can operate in scout armor, with scout equipment.
2. There is no size limit for a kill team that I know of. But once you have more than 12, just tactically, that would kinda defeat the purpose.
3. Kinda. In the RPG, a kill team of PCs can requisition IG assistance.

 Lynata wrote:

MassDriver wrote:I've scoured Dakka and Lexicanum for information on the Deathwatch and have a couple of questions remaining.

The first thing you need to realise is that there are currently two "versions" of the Deathwatch around.
First the one from GW's own books, and then a different interpretation in FFG's Deathwatch RPG. They differ considerably in some key areas such as affiliation, organisation and equipment availability. There may be areas where the various interpretations overlap, though it would be down to your personal preference to (a) choose whether you'd want to go primarily by GW or FFG and (b) what to adopt from the alternative, if anything.

I'll try to answer your questions by providing answers for both variants.

Do they employ scouts? I assume not as they are supposed to be very battle hardened marines who have performed exceptionally in combat. If they don't have scouts who performs recon and intelligence gathering roles?

GW: No.
FFG: Sort of. As Kan said, the normal Deathwatch Marine can use Scout or even Terminator armour in lieu of his standard suit as the mission demands.

Is there any given size limit for a Kill Team? From the fluff it makes it sound as if they are normally squad sized units but I assume major operations require larger teams.

GW: The standard DW Kill-Team seems to be 4-9 Deathwatch Marines and their leader, which is either a Deathwatch Captain, a Deathwatch Librarian or an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos. Sometimes, a Deathwatch Captain will also lead non-Deathwatch Kill-Teams that incorporate human Inquisitorial operatives of the Ordo Xenos.
FFG: There doesn't seem to be a set size for the team, but given that it is a pen&paper game, the usual Kill-Team size would be somewhat smaller, at about 3-5 player characters including their leader. Of course, the players may well be an exception from the rules, if there are any. Also, in this version, the squad leader is chosen anew before each and every mission by the squad's Marines (-> the players).

Are imperial Guard units ever likely to be seconded to a Kill Team? Obviously if they are led by an inquisitor they can requisition pretty much what they like but I was thinking a longer term attachment

GW: If the Kill Team is led by an Inquisitor (standard), he can requisition anything, but it will be attached to him as an individual rather than the Kill Team itself and likely not permanent. When not led by an Inquisitor, a Deathwatch Kill-Team is led by a Deathwatch Captain, who is granted Inquisitorial authority for the purpose of requisitioning anything he needs - but it will only apply to the mission itself and not be permanent.
FFG: DW Marines can requisition temporary support from the Imperial Guard, but nothing permanent. Also, in FFG's version of the setting, the Deathwatch is not subordinated to the Inquisition but is its own entity, merely allied with the Ordo Xenos. This means there will not actually be an Inquisitor "leading" the squad, but perhaps accompanying them as an equal.

This is a good analysis, but I'd stress the fact that FFG Deathwatch Kill-Team limited size is due mainly to Pen and Paper space/room constraints more than to anything else. There's nothing in the FFG book setting a fixed cap on the number of Marines in a Kill-Team.

In the Ultramarines book where Uriel is fighting Tyranids, the Kill-Team operates at more than 5 but less than 10, if I remember correctly. Uriel also joins the team for a certain mission. The Inquisitor in that book also has the right to requisition pretty much anything.

The fact that the Kill Team's leader changes each mission is also a balancing factor to make everyone feel that they have some time in the spotlight, and not an actual fluff piece.

As others have said - DW marines have the right to choose the armour they go to battle in. Making a scout of DW scouts would definitely be fluffy - my DW Kill Team played such a mission, where stealth was of the utmost importance.

As for fielding a deathwatch, there will be mini's released, so maybe rules for them in the newC:SM