So the Description page mentions there being a total of six Space Marine Chapters being included in Deathwatch, almost certainly taking over the 'Homeworld' part of Character Generation for DH and RT, so what Chapters do you think will be included.

In my option, most certainly:

Ultramarines (they're always somewhere)

Space Wolves (there was a Deathwatch Marine in 'Innocence Proves Nothing' DH Novel from SW)

Blood Angels

And I'm thinking the others will come from 3 of the following:

Imperial Fists / Crimson Fists

Black Templars

Dark Angels

A new FFG Chapter (like Relic's Dawn of War has the Blood Ravens)

A chapter located near the region from DW, RT and/or DH (I think some of the books or maps show Space Marine worlds in or nearby the Calixis Sector)

What I'd like to see, but I don't have many hopes for, are the Raven Guard.

What do you guys think?

I just checked the Warhammer 40k 5th edition rulebook and it looks like the chapter closest to the Calixis sector is the Black Templars. Unfortunately, there's a Space Marine occluding some of the image, so there may be another chapter closer (obviously not one of importance).

I dont think we'd have Black Templars and Imperial Fists, since BT are descended from Imperial Fist. SW, Ultras, Blood Angels, Imperial Fist and maybe Dark Angels. For the sixth, I'm not sure. Could be anything.

I don't think homeworld location will be much of a factor given the access to warp travel the Adeptus Astartes has. That being said, I think the the Dark Angels former homeworld is the closest to the Calixus sector.

For the sixth one, I hope they choose something really unique and different, like the Exorcists or the Iron Hands

I also think we will get Space Wolves and Ultramarine as they are some of the more iconic chapters, the same goes for Blood Angels and Dark Angels. Also the description section mentions Space Wolves in the section on Deathwatch Libarians:

". Amongst the Space Wolves, for example, Librarians are known as Rune Priests, and manifest their powers through the casting of stone-engraved runes, manifesting spectral wolves of legend, and summoning violent thunderstorms."

I would think that FFG also wants to add one or two chapters of their own making, most likely with some ties to the Jericho Reach or Calixis, as others have mentioned.

Not that this makes much of a difference, but the Space marine in the left of the Deathwatch page, the one with the winged helmet, looks like he has a Dark Angels emblem on his armour.

Personally, I would be expecting chapter 'archetypes' more than any specific chapters, for a more broader approach to marine backgrounds.

Much like how Dark Heresy has "Feral, Hive, Noble, etc" instead of "Dusk, Scintilla, Malfi", I'd prefer to see "Steadfast, Frenzied, Reclusive etc" to "Imperial Fists, Blood Angels, Dark Angels", if you all get what I mean. Specific chapters of origin should be left like DH unique homeworld options IMHO.

Oh, and the Hammers of Retribution from PtU for DH.

I wondering if the sixth chapter would be the Grey Knights - after all aren't they the Militant order of the Ordo Malleus. I mean, DH has already given us rules for the Sisters of Battle and Deathwatch will give us rules for that militant order, maybe we might get the GK too...though I think that might be in a supplement, rather than the core.

prophetsteve said:

Definitely won't be one of the six DW chapters, as Deathwatch Marines specifically are the Ordo Militant for the Ordo Xenos, and as you said the Grey Knights are the Ordo Militant for Malleus. That makes Grey Knights the 1 Chapter exempt from having its members able to join the Deathwatch.

Besides, Grey Knights are superior even to a regular Space Marine, so probably wouldn't be a playable chapter in normal games. We might see them as NPCs though, as a 'standard' Grey Knight could feasibly fight alongside players of ranks higher than starting rank without making the group too strong.

Ultras
Blood Angels
Dark Angels
Space Wolves
2 Chapters made up by FFG that have 'other' combat aspects beyond Generic (Ultras), Bloodthirsty (BA's), Secretive (DA's), Feral (Woofs).

If there are only 6 Chapters in the book that's what I'd guess.

From the pictures there will be at least:

- blood angels

- dark angels

- space wolves

H.B.M.C. said:

"FFG Special" plus one from the remaining First Founding Chapters maybe? Personally I would go with the Relentless ( Iron Hands ) to get the Mechanicus aspect covered. The close ties with the two would provide for some interesting RP opportunities whenever the Iron Hands member starts talking with his DW Battle-Brothers.

You can bank on Ultramarines being involved as the definitive Codex Chapter - but I would quite like to see FFG putting in less familiar chapters, trying out something new too, while still catering to those who really want to play a Marine from the Space Wolves or the Dark Angels. It may also be quite good to offer a perspective of the First Founding Chapters that don't often get a look in from conventional fluff (well, at least not as much) - like the raven Guard, Salamanders or the White Scars.

I'd say:

Ultra Marines
Space Wolves
Dark Angels
Grey Knights
Blood Angels
+
1 Ancient obscure Chapter made up by FFG which will be cooler than the rest....perhaps a redeemed Traitor Legion or something

From what I remember about Calixis sector, there is known presence of aspects of two chapters: Black Templars (they have a chapter keep somewhere there) and Iron Hands (two of their Dreadnoughts are guarding shrine of Drusus on, ehm, not exactly sure, Sentinel?). There are mnetions in Radical´s Handbook about one named Inquisitor cooperating with Relictors , plus I think there would be Hammers of Retribution as PtU gives them some mystery and they are unique to 40kRPG (my speculation is they are based in mentioned Jericho Reach).

From artwork already online, several chapters can be identified: Dark Angels /Unforgiven (main page left), Space Wolfs (clearly in description article), Iron Hands (description artwork of SM with bionics and poweraxe, his right shoulderpad, altough barely visible clearly bears symbol of IH) and maybe Black Templars (Terminator at the bottom of description, not exactly sure but his armour and little visible part of shoulderpad have some distinct crusader feel).

I hope for supplements about some little bit wierder chapters who have dealings (willing or not) with Inquisition: Grey Knights, Red Hunters, Relictors, Exorcists and so on.

The Hobo Hunter said:

I'd prefer that too. Means more initial diversity than having fixed Chapters for each "homeworld" option.

MILLANDSON said:

Well I think it could be done quite nicely and fluffy-sounding. Origins as Sons of Sanguinius (for Blood Angels and all their descendants), Unforgiven (robed ones and their inheritors), Codex Chapter (Ultramarines and such), Scions of Iron (Iron Hands, Iron Lords, Preators of Orpheus and other chapters with ties towards Mechanicus), Crusaders (IF, BT and dozens other chapters sharing crusader form of existance)... And more unique chapters could be added as unique origin in IH (so there would be modification for Flesh Tearers in Sons of Sanguinius origin)

I´m wondering how is character creation handled, from Chapter of Origin to Career/Specialisations. Origin Path as in Rogue Trader? Backround Packages as DH? Or something new?

I's think they'd be less chance of founding chapters and more of their successor's (though there's bound to be some), such as the Relictor's successor chapter to the Blood Angle's.

TorogTarkdacil said:

Yeah, that's where I see this going (my post was pretty much my thoughts typed out in about two seconds so it was pretty rough). At least, I see this as the best possible course of action, as it leaves things open enough for as many chapters as possible, and allows the same sort of 'unique' origins in a vein similar to DH.

Dark Angels (the guy on the left) has Dark Angels iconography on his armor.

Blood Angels (the guy on the right) has Dark Angels iconography on his chest.

I think the other one is a Space Wolf but I'm not 100% on that.

It's possible they are doing the chapters that have GW books and one of the more popular chapters like Iron Hands, Crimson Fists ect. They might also introduce Grey Knights with a serious note that they are NOT Ordo Xenos and are there to help create traditional drama and roleplaying opportunities. Then again there would be power level issues... unless GK's are getting nerfed in an upcoming Codex. Of course that would mean GW knows what's going on more than 3 months in the future...

AH SO MANY THINGS TO TALK ABOUT AND CONSIDER! HEAD HURTING! RANT SMASH!

I would imagine FFG will go for 6 of the first founding chapters, probably:-

1. Ultramarines

2. Space Wolves

3. Blood Angels

4. Dark Angels

5. Imperial Fists

6. Either the Whitescars, Salamanders or Raven Guard, leaving the others for later supplements.

They'll probably make each of them the equivalent of a "Homeworld" in DH. The beauty of this system is that it would enable you to play characters from any of the successor chapters. So if you wanted your character, Brother Sergeant Colin Jones (I might work on the name further), to come from the Novamarines, you'd generate the character as if he was from the Ultramarines, and then adjust his background and skills according to your own perception of the doctrines of his personal chapter.

From there, you'd then decide upon his speciality (techmarine, assault marine etc.)

That's how I'D do it anyway! It would work because 99% of the Marine Chapters would be successor chapters from these guys. Technically the Salamanders and Space Wolves don't have a lot of successor chapters, but I suspect there'd be a bit of an outcry if the Space Wolves weren't included.

Lightbringer said:

Outcry? More like howl from beyond...

Don't the Spacewolves hace some newly rediscovered fleet that was lost in the Eye of Chaos?