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Hey, Im trying to DM (or be a GM) for a campaign of DW or BC, I have a few years of experience with 3.5 and pathfinder, but I REALLY want to get into these 40k RPG's

any and all help will be greatly appreciated!!

Honestly, the best thing I have learned to do is if you are confused on how it works ad-lib it to the best of your ability. The rules seems like they are a little rough to learn but if you take it slow and kinda read thru Combat and playing and being the GM you should have a good grasp.

Honestly it is all about the image you portray to your players and if you do a good job and use the basic rules set before you then you should be fine.

The rules in these games are no where near as strict as 3.5 and allow quite a bit of creative leeway. Also a little hint if you get a chance pick up or download "Mark of the Xenos" as it is a great book for having more baddies to throw at the players.

Hope I helped!

Black crusade only really works with groups that are self motivated as otherwise they quickly deteriorate into the party killing itself. Deathwatch can be much more linear as the group could easily have to report to a higher up.

In general DM'ing either isn't the most difficult thing if you are up on your 40k fluff. The rule set allows the DM to fudge numbers however he wants as a minor success or minor failures can easily go either way after adjusting for the difficulty of the test. I'd highly suggest having players just tell you how many successes or failures their non adjusted roll was, that way you can gauge the results a little better all the while playing the part of story teller and mediator.

DW can easily turn into D&D 4th ed.
The fact marines are just meant to kill stuff can lead the game to become boring and/or repetitive.

on the other hand I haven't tried BC yet but both Rogue Trader and Dark Heresy are great games.

My suggestion would be to get the errata. The weapons appendix at the end will change the weapon stats – especially the bolter stats – so that combat becomes a challenge and not a complete cake walk.

Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:DW can easily turn into D&D 4th ed.
The fact marines are just meant to kill stuff can lead the game to become boring and/or repetitive.

Approach the game like that and yes, it will very quickly turn into little but a dungeon crawl. Apply a little more creativity beyond Marines are “just meant to kill stuff” and you can have a rich, deep, narrative driven game.

I say this all the time when I see comments like yours:

You get out of an RPG when you put into it. Approach Deathwatch like a 1-dimensional hack’n’slash, and all you’ll get is a 1-dimensional hack’n’slash.

In my group I’ve had players attempting to negotiate cease-fires whilst under fire, debating enemy commanders, answering questions before a tribunal (offering evidence and accounts of events and so on) and facing the consequences of said tribunal. I’ve had characters travel to distant worlds to conduct interrogations, to meet with and temper the mad whims of high-ranking commanders, and even join forces with a recent enemy to fight a common foe.

And yes, they’ve also blasted their way through wave after wave of Tyranids, Tau and Chaos.

The idea that Marines are “just meant to kill stuff” is laughable, and betrays a lack of imagination.