In Final Sanction the Elite Deathwatch Killteam responding to a request for aid from an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos drops into battle with 60 Heavy Bolter Rounds, 56 Bolt Pistol rounds and 28 Kraken Bolter rounds? Seriously?

So best thing the Non Assault Battle Brothers should do, barring emergencies is attack hordes with their Combat Knives to save ammo?

I think I've found the only thing I don't like about the scenarios.

Jonathan

i think most people have started them with 3 clips for each gun tbh

In Final Sanction the Elite Deathwatch Killteam responding to a request for aid from an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos drops into battle with 60 Heavy Bolter Rounds, 56 Bolt Pistol rounds and 28 Kraken Bolter rounds? Seriously?

I assume they were originally supposed to simply take a shuttle from the frigate (was it a frigate?) down to the surface, in which case they would have had pretty much all the ammo they could ever have wanted from the stores of the void ship, presumably to be air-dropped near them as they needed it. The ship being torn apart by the Tyranids on arrival just wasn't really in the plan.

Other than that, yes, it seems most people run the adventure with three clips for each weapon (the ammo belts for the Heavy Bolter presumably being stored in the pod and retrieved from there as needed).

Oh, OK. 3 clips per gun I can live with. I'm planning to see if I can run these for some friends.

Jonathan

More generally, depending on how you prefer to run your games there is always the alternative to "bean counting" ammunition. That is, rather than limit the ammunition, just say that the Marines have enough through whatever sources (pod, ammo caches, whatever). Then have "I'm on my last clip" be a Turning Point. From that juncture onwards, the Marine is going to have to bean count their ammunition, selecting targets or, even, picking up the weapons of the enemy (even if it is just used to beat them repeatedly over the head...).

Time-honoured tradition of the Bug Hunt. Just make sure that your AG shuttle doesn't crash into your APC. It never helps.

Kage

Kage2020 said: Published on 7/6/2010 - 09:29:47
More generally, depending on how you prefer to run your games there is always the alternative to "bean counting" ammunition. That is, rather than limit the ammunition, just say that the Marines have enough through whatever sources (pod, ammo caches, whatever). Then have "I'm on my last clip" be a Turning Point

Actually that is great idea, wish I had implemented that.

You could even tie running out of ammo to a certain number of degrees of failure on a roll. Kindda like a weapon jam; let fate (a bad die roll) decide.

RenoDM said:

Personaly, I've never liked those methods, as they don't allow for the player to know when they're about to run out. It doesn't allow for "I better save my last clip" etc.

Generally when space marines do not have a steady source of ammo they dont actually have a lot of space on/in their armor to carry it.

For Final Sanction the steady source of ammo and supplies would have been the ship that was horribly trashed in orbit. They could have sent supplies so the battle brothers would only have taken what they expected they would need and be able to use until the next supply run. Otherwise a brother ends up over encumbered or anyone with a flamer could cook off their clips and you end up with a TPK.

Most modern infantry on foot will bomb-up about 6 or so magazines in a combat load, between them for the section support weapon they'll have 500-600 rounds for it spread between them and the gunner will probably be carrying anywhere between 200-400 on himself (depending on the guns carried)

MKX said:

Which (kinda) meshes with Brother Agamorr's ammo clips in Purge the Unclean. He carries 6 Bolt Pistol Clips on him for a pre-prepared mission. As the marines in the Deathwatch adventure didn't really get proper prep time, I'd say giving them 2 or 3 clips each is ample to begin the adventure with.

Yeah, when I get around to having a group for this game, I'm planning to start with a Sci-Fi classic 'running threw the halls' scene as the marines get to their Drop Pod in an exploding ship. Gives good excuse to the load out, as well as giveing the players some agency for what they take with them.