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So after reading the new codex and being somewhat satisfied with it, i noticed with the chapter traits either ill have to make a deathwatch army all from the same chapter or successor chapters. This doesnt feel like a true deathwatch army to me. Plus my shop is selling the strike force bundle for 160 instead of 225 so im really wanting to figure out how the rulings will work with this current codex cause i can get a good starting force of models on the cheap.

I'd say that the same way we've been going it for a while would work, using Pedro Kantor to get scoring Sternguard.

Just makes sure your opponent is clear that the army will be using Crimson Fists ( Imperial Fist successor) tactics. You might even throw in an ally for a different set of tactics if you want them to do something specific.

I think this would work pretty well.

I'm going to be using the Salamanders Chapter Tactics to better represent the Deathwatch.

Include Vulkan, and the flamers and meltas are built to a higher degree, characters have better crafted weaponry, etc.

A better list than the Crimson Fists, and doesn't require as many sternguard.

Yeah i totally didnt even consider doing allies of another chapter. I just wish there was a cheaper way to get the dw shoulder pads

I would have loved to see a deathwatch squad as an elite choice. Maybe in the future or perhaps the next gk coded that is rightfully named the inquisition instead of gk.

I think even just doing a sternguard squad as deathwatch would be a cool contrast in an army

Deathwatch use various squad types, gear and vehicles according to their fluff so go crazy with the codex - there's always the possibility GW could be kind and release a Deathwatch supplement for C:SM, but who's going to wait around for that?

Maybe you could copy my current plan - it's by no means original but I'm hoping its fun for me and my future opponents. Not sure if this is helpful but I'm planning to paint up only infantry units and maaaaybe a squad of centurions in deathwatch colours. Then I'll grab one of each special character as my budget allows (I could scratchbuild one or kitbash if I dislike them or if short on cash) paint them in Deathwatch colours as well - then I'll be able to use any chapter tactics/sc rules I feel like. No one can complain really - Iron hands, Raven Guard, and Black Templars ARE black and the rest of the founding chapters all have successors with black colour scheme.

TLDR - grab whatever characters you want, paint your deathwatch and change your rules/tactics every month or so to keep things fresh and exciting. Use whatever units/vehicles you like/can afford and go to town.

I'll be using whatever chapter tactics I feel like for whatever list I feel like makin for my deathwatch. I mean no matter what I'll have to "count as" something so may as well change from list to list.

The main problem with trying to make a "fluffy" list for deathwatch is for starters, they rarely fight in large conflicts as anything more than a few kill teams. So really no matter what your list is, unless it's all or mostly power armor it won't really be super fluffy so why limit yourself. I'd say be ready to use pods for sure. Sternguard are always a good start. It's also worth considering legion of the damned as kill teams. All their shooting attacks ignore cover now. Libby's are cheap and its always fluffy to throw a couple of them into some sternguard squads. Pedro isn't really worth it IMO, he makes the sternguard score but sternguard die just like normal marines so that might not help, especially if you're goin for drop pod alpha strike with a lot of combi weapons.

As far as chapter tactics, the imperial fist one is pretty sweet to essentially get bolter drill.

There's a Deathwing datasheet in the new Damnos supplement.

1 watch captain/marine captian

and 2 + squads of stern of van guard marines.

One to represent the amalgam of chapters is to ally with yourself. That way you will have two chapter tactics.
To represent it on the board make your squads with two different sets of bases to tell them apart.

Citizen Luka wrote:Deathwatch use various squad types, gear and vehicles according to their fluff so go crazy with the codex

Crablezworth wrote:The main problem with trying to make a "fluffy" list for deathwatch is for starters, they rarely fight in large conflicts as anything more than a few kill teams. So really no matter what your list is, unless it's all or mostly power armor it won't really be super fluffy so why limit yourself.

There's two types of Deathwatch with vastly different organisational fluff now - GW's original Kill-teams (4-9 Marines led by a Deathwatch Captain, Deathwatch Librarian, or Ordo Xenos Inquisitor) and FFG's own version (pretty much their own Chapter with tank formations, dreadnoughts, different rank structure, no Inquisition leadership etc). How one structures a DW army would depend largely on which of these versions the player follows.

This is really just a personal choice, but as I stick with GW's own stuff I'd thus run DW as a small Allies contingent (maybe check out the Damnos supplement mentioned by reds8n) to another army (ideally IG, maybe Marines or SoB), or alternatively designate a single squad in a Marine list as Deathwatch (Sternguard in 5E, not sure whether they still exist in 6E?) and just have them stick out as a visually different cool fluff detail of the army.

I myself focus more on the "40k men in black/xcom/alien hunters" vibe for my deathwatch instead of the whole lame super friends we're all from different chapters/friction/reality tv drama crap. Black shields all the way.

Yeah i really like the idea of elite xenos hunting force. I think its be cool to even do a custom fortress of redemption for them. Kinda like an out post to hold of xenos filth from advancing on upon a settlement or other military installation.

 Crablezworth wrote:
I myself focus more on the "40k men in black/xcom/alien hunters" vibe for my deathwatch instead of the whole lame super friends we're all from different chapters/friction/reality tv drama crap. Black shields all the way.

Wasn't the whole point of X-com co-opting alien tech until you were better with it than they were? That'd be pretty damn heretical to the Imperium.

X-Com also was about "we're all from different nations" coming together to face the alien threat.

Ironically, the concept of "Black Shields" was introduced by the same company/RPG that also made Marines from all sorts of different Chapters work together just like that.

GW's original White Dwarf article with the tabletop rules mentioned the Inquisition recruiting Deathwatch Marines almost exclusively from Codex Chapters:
"Deathwatch members are primarily volunteers from Space Marine chapters that rigidly adhere to the Codex Astartes. Because teams are made up of battle brothers from several chapters, it is essential they follow a similar doctrine."

 Lynata wrote:
X-Com also was about "we're all from different nations" coming together to face the alien threat.

Ironically, the concept of "Black Shields" was introduced by the same company/RPG that also made Marines from all sorts of different Chapters work together just like that.

GW's original White Dwarf article with the tabletop rules mentioned the Inquisition recruiting Deathwatch Marines almost exclusively from Codex Chapters:
"Deathwatch members are primarily volunteers from Space Marine chapters that rigidly adhere to the Codex Astartes. Because teams are made up of battle brothers from several chapters, it is essential they follow a similar doctrine."

And the only nation that would never, ever back down would be Russia.

You'd get plenty of messages of alien ambassadors being nailed to the Kremlin though.

Gotta love my motherland.

You can see how I've represented Deathwatch in my list here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/551372.page

 Lynata wrote:
X-Com also was about "we're all from different nations" coming together to face the alien threat.

Ironically, the concept of "Black Shields" was introduced by the same company/RPG that also made Marines from all sorts of different Chapters work together just like that.

GW's original White Dwarf article with the tabletop rules mentioned the Inquisition recruiting Deathwatch Marines almost exclusively from Codex Chapters:
"Deathwatch members are primarily volunteers from Space Marine chapters that rigidly adhere to the Codex Astartes. Because teams are made up of battle brothers from several chapters, it is essential they follow a similar doctrine."

True, I recall reading that in the original WD article. Funny enough, one of the picture showing off the Deathwatch colours and gear depicts a Space Wolves brother wearing the black...So yeah, that's GW logic for you

That being said, I love the Deathwatch concept and I think Steve Parker's stories are the best lore there is for the military branch of the Ordo Xenos.

I'm going to have a Deathwatch Terminator squad... Trade some minis with friends to get a range of paint jobs/companies.

Started my own Deathwatch army awhile back when FFG came out with thiers and I just love the RPG. Forcing myself not to go "all in" on this army until I finish at least 2 of my other armies.

First step was I started collecting shoulder pads from all the different units that are made by GW and FW mainly (no more than 3-5 Power Armour and 1-2 Terminator armour). Then I started finding and collecting Deathwatch shoulder pads. Purchased a BT and DA upgrade kit, bought some SW models and some BA bits. Now I am getting ready to buy some MK 4 armour and Umbra Ferrox bolters for all Vet Sgts and higher. All in all its pretty expensive but will look amazing IMO.

As far as rules go the plan is to initially start out with Pedro (painted in Deathwatch colors) and his Sternguard as the initial Deathwatch team. I will use them as allies at first (story is Deathwatch was called in for assistance in eleminating a Xenos menace), This will allow my Deathwatch to play as I slowly build them up. Eventiully I want to have a larger Deathwatch army to become the main force (Large Xenos invasion, Imperium called in specialists to take them out and capture unknown xenos technology we may use against them). At this point I hope to have more of the Special Characters so I can change up how the army plays avoiding the odd ball codecies [SW and DA] and sticking with the Codex chapters. The oddball chapters will be used as allies to further expand what I can use in the army (Deathwatch shows up to assist a chapter that suffered heavy losses from the Xenos attack.) If I find a good generic HQ build that I like I'll probably create my own Chapter master/Captain and just make his chapter shoulder pad swappable with magnets so I can show what chapter doctrine I am using.

All in all seems like good fun and even though the color scheme is lacking, I still get to have fun with all the chapter shoulder pads (throwing in some Black Shields too). Thought about adding a CSM bit or 2 on the Black Shields, but have to find something that isnt too "Hey im demented and chaosy" lol.

I'm making Deathwatch vanilla marines as allies because I plan on having a few lists using different chapter tactics, and the Deathwatch is the easiest way to explain the use of different tactics between forces from the same chapter