Hello,

I don't know much about the Warhammer 40K world or setting, but Deathwatch drew my attention (I really don't know why... I think the idea of an elite force put together with a single purpose is very fun and offers a lot of possibilities). Actually, neither one of the two previous books (Dark Heresy and Rogue Trader) interested me.

I'm an avid RPG player and master and never had any trouble getting into different systems. I'm just wondering if the setting of Deathwatch would be too "alien" for me. Do you think I can get into it without losing myself in references and the assumption that I'm familiar with Warhammer 40K?

Do you think reading Eisenhorn would be of any help in that case?

Thanks in advance,

Reading Eisenhorn is always a good thing, but it's really handy if you wanna run Dark Heresy. In my personal opinion, if you're looking at Deathwatch, I would start out with reading, naturally, any of the Deathwatch novels, or maybe the Ultramarines Omnibus to get a feel for how SMs view the universe, and maybe also the two Space Wolf omnibuses. You can score a lot of these at places like Borders and Barnes and Noble.

Well, having not seen the complete Deathwatch book yet, it's hard to say exactly how much of a setting intro/background fluff will be included. However, both Dark Heresy and Rogue Trader did an alright job at giving a general overview of the setting (at least as it was relevant to the differing scope of the two games), so I assume Deathwatch will give enough setting info that someone totally unfamiliar with 40k can get by.

Regarding Eisenhorn, I would say that if you're not interested in Dark Heresy, then don't bother. It really deals with the world of the Inquisition, which very different from the POV of Space Marines (yes, even Deathwatch), and I personally don't feel that Abnett does a very good job of getting what makes 40k 40k (though a lot of folks disagree with me on this. But I can have an opinion too, dammit! ).

One thing to remember is that unlike a lot of other sci-fi franchises, Games Workshop makes little to no effort to ensure that the various novels out there don't contradict each other. The official answer to questions about fluff contradictions or "canon-ness" is yes, no, maybe . But because of this, people's ideas about what is and isn't 40k often vary much more wildly than you get with other settings like Star Wars/Trek. If both you and all your players and totally unfamiliar with the setting, than this isn't really a problem, but I've found in my group a lot of issues with personal setting assumptions contradicting. In this case, I've found it's useful to have a chat with my group about our expectations for the game, both trappings and style, and to point out what sources we think of when we think 40k. This helps us find some common ground (though I have found that certain prejudices do die hard). So if anyone in your group is knowledgeable about the setting, you'll probably what to ask them about it.

Back to source material. Personally, I think the wargame rulebooks provide a pretty good overview of the must-knows about the setting. And since you're not looking to actually play the wargame, any edition will do (the wargame is currently on it's 5th). I'd say check ebay, or your local used bookstore and see what you can find for cheap. The main rulebook gives you the basics, while the different army books give you more specifics. Concerning fluff quality/quantity, 2nd and 5th editions give you the most, with 4th and 3rd (especially) being rather fluff light.

Another place to look would be the Dawn of War RTS game that came out a few years ago. The sequel (Dawn of War 2) is currently out, but the old game and it's expansions should be pretty cheap to pick up, if you're so inclined. It's a decent RTS, and while certainly not a in-depth dissertation on the 40k setting, you do get the basic ideas and themes and language and denizens of the setting just playing through.

Then there are sites like wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Main_Page which is a giant, great 40k wiki resource.

Also, as mentioned there are apparently a few 40k novels out specifically dealing with the story of a Deathwatch Kill-team, but I have no idea how good they are, or how well they would introduce the setting. Can someone who's read them give some details?

There are two novels written by CS Goto, Warrior Coven and Warrior Brood.

In my opinion the idea behind the stories are fairly ok but the books themselves are short and superficial and you don't get much insight into the Deathwatch. Almost as if the writer was afraid to go into too much detail on this unexplored area of 40k Background.

I'm not sure if there are any other books touching the Deathwatch subject.

-L

Not really. In one book of the Ultramarines series ( I think "Warriors of Ultramar" ), there is a Deathwatch Kill Team mentioned.

About the novels: C.S. Goto hasn't the best reputation as an author. At least not for Warhammer 40.000. The novels are okay in my opinion, but you don't really get into the expected Deathwatch feeling.

btw, here's the link directly to the Lexicanum Deathwatch page: wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Deathwatch

FIrst off, what Abnett does better than any other GW writer is depict the "common" man, the grunt guardsman, the guy on the street in habblok x, life. You will need that to get the setting feeling real and lived in, just reading about post human super soldiers (even if that is what the players play) will make your game one sided. Now of course Eisenhorn, but also the Gaunt's Ghosts stuff, Ravenor books, Status Deadzone, Relentless, Scourge the Heretic and Innocence Proves Nothing.

Marine stuff worth a brows is; Brotherhood of the Snake, the Horus Heresy books, Tactica Imperialis: A History of the Later Imperial Crusades, the Grey Knight's Trilogy and of course Deathwatch.

Non Warhammer stuff; Charlie Stross' the Laundry Files, again its the inquisition and the "kill team" in the book plays a minor role, but it has an awesome take on demons and will inspire you. Also by Stross Saturns Children is classic Sci-Fi with a twist. John Varley - Steel Beach, Heinlein - Starship Troopers (the man invented power armour), William Gibson Neuromancer (for hive feeling), Judge Dredd and if your feeling big headed Dan Simmons "Illium" and "Olympos" (some of the best books he ever wrote) for a debate about post humanism and the states of change that it causes.

theDevilofWormwood said >>>

One thing to remember is that unlike a lot of other sci-fi franchises, Games Workshop makes little to no effort to ensure that the various novels out there don't contradict each other... In this case, I've found it's useful to have a chat with my group about our expectations for the game, both trappings and style, and to point out what sources we think of when we think 40k.

Amen to that. Certainly this is useful for any popular franchise regardless of whether it is 40k or not, just that 40k has more of its share of issues than most (since this actually seems to be part of the creative agenda of the head honchos of the company).

theDevilofWormwood said >>>

Then there are sites like wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Main_Page which is a giant, great 40k wiki resource.

This gets back to the first point, but be warned about the "official status" of the above site. The more you have read about the game universe, especially from the official materials, the more that you'll find that some of the material presented in this site is just plain incorrect. With that said, they're not getting paid for it so I say kudos to them. Just be warned. (Same with the discussion forums, out of interest.)

Other than that, though, in many ways Deathwatch is arguably a better game than either Rogue Trader or Dark Heresy to introduce your players to the 40k universe. Thematically in 40k terms it covers the main one ("In the grim dark future there is only war!") and the rest comes down to the main pillars of the Imperial ideology with regards to purging heretics, mutants, aliens, xenos, and Brian Manilow impersonators (in hopes that you get the real one! ).

With regards to the usefulness of Eisenhorn , you'll probably find that the more 40k novels that you read the greater your sense of the game universe is, or at least where the authors wish to take the game universe. Eisenhorn does feature a Deathwatch unit, though you might not particularly feel that they encompass the "epic" feel that the designers of the Deathwatch game seem to have been going for (based upon the Designer's Diaries). As to the others? It's pretty hit or miss whether someone recommends them or not. See if you can get some cheap copies or borrow them from a library and read them. Make up your own mind, but when it comes to the 40k universe it's basically a situation of "Try it and see if you like it."

Kage

If you want to get into some of the background fluff you should pick up some of the short story collections they have. Theyre not super involved and yet you get a great feel for how different aspect of the universe are treated.

Also as someone said before the lexicanum wiki is a great way to get more indepth. Although you have to be careful becuase they still include some fluff from back when 40k was pretty wacky.

Thank you for the comments!

Actually my group knows even less than I do, so I think theDevilofWormwood is right and I won't have much trouble guiding them through Deathwatch. Either way I want to know the game and the setting better before the game is released.

I appreciate all the references and recommendations. I'll definitely look into Abnett and have already dug through the Lexicanum.

I'm really looking forward to Deathwatch now.

Thanks again!

Hi everybody!

Jffalaschi, i suggest you to read the short story "Headhunter" of the "heroes of the SM" novel. I think that it will offer you good ideas for your incoming games.

theDevilofWormwood said:

£14.99 first hand from Gamestation. In UK. All 4 from Dawn of War to Souldstorm.

And still excellent fun to play.

pyttman said:

I'll definitely check this one out. Thanks!