Funny, I was thinking of writing up my own selection of things to allow Blood Raven marines in Deathwatch. Seems like you guys beat me to it, but there's one thing that's missing, and that's a chance to choose what Past Experience you endured before entering the Deathwatch. So I came up with the following:

Blood Ravens Past Events - Roll a 1d5 and consult below.

1. The Purging of Cyrene - You were part of the Company that accompanied Captain Gabriel Angelos to Cyrene for the Blood Trials. But something occured on the planet that lead to the Inquisition declaring Exterminatus upon the world, leaving it a blasted world devoid of life. What lead to the Exterminatus has been classified to the highest degree, and you have sworn never to reveal what transpired.

2. The Fall of Tartarus - You fought on the world of Tartarus under the command of Captain Gabriel Angelos against Orks, Eldar of the Biel-Tan Craftworld and Chaos Space Marines of the Alpha Legion. Though Tartarus was lost to a warp storm, you managed to escape with Gabriel Angelos along with many of your Blood Raven brothers.

3. The Kronus Campaign - You fought on the world of Kronus under the command of Captain Davian Thule against a multitude of foes, including Orks, Eldar, Tau, Necrons, Chaos and even the Imperial Guard loyal to the Imperium (though that incident has been covered up from the rest of the galaxy). Under Davian Thule's command, you and your brothers managed to seize victory and crushed all opposition, claiming Kronus for the Imperium.

4. The Kaurava Campaign - You fought in the system of Kaurava under the command of Captain Indrick Boreale against a multitude of foes, including Orks, Eldar, Tau, Necrons, Chaos, Dark Eldar and even the Sisters of Battle and the Imperial Guard (though those incidents have been covered up from the rest of the galaxy). Though the campaign was a dismal failure that cost the lives of many Blood Ravens, including Captain Boreale himself, you were among the few who managed to survive and return to the Chapter.

5. The Aurelian Campaign - You fought in the sub-sector Aurelia under the command of Force Commander Aramus against the forces of Orks, Eldar of the Ulthwe Craftworld and a splinter fleet of Tyranids that was once part of Hive Fleet Behemoth. Though the Blood Ravens were few and your enemies many, you managed drive back the forces of Orks and Eldar and destroyed the Tyranid Hive Fleet with the aid of Captain Gabriel Angelos at the final moments.

I purposely did not include the Second Aurelian Campaign. Think about it. If you played through as Pure (which I did) and found out what you did during that campaign, you'd probably want to focus on that and not join the Deathwatch. If you played anything else, the Deathwatch would probably not want a Space Marine already corrupted by Chaos, no matter how slight it may have been, to join their ranks.

Viper114 said:

If you plan on playing in the Jericho crusade timeline you can't use this as backgroud since the first encounter with the necron won't happen for the next 80 years (897.41M).

Oh, really? The DW RPG goes that far back? ****, I must have missed that bit, but I will admit sometimes trying to keep an accurate timeline in this whole series is tough...

Then I guess for three spots, they will have to be filled in with generic past events that don't tie directly to a specific event, sort of what the other chapters have in theirs. Might have to think a bit harder for those.

Then again, it's really up to the GM when to set it. I suppose if he wanted to set the Jericho Crusade during the "present day", or make it the "Second Jericho Crusade" or just use something else entirely, the list I came up with can work.

In reference about Blood Ravens being DW Librarians, if you read the DW Black Library novels there was a Librarian in the group that was a Blood Raven. I believe it was in the first book.

Sergeant Cyrus, Blood Raven's 10th Company from Dawn of War 2 has been in the Deathwatch for centuries.

wow lots of great ireas so far thanks everyone!

I found this searching for info about the Blood Ravens.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070216205534/uk.games-workshop.com/spacemarines/bloodravens-indexastartes/assets/index-astartes-blood-ravens.pdf

Hope it helps and I cant wait to play a Blood Raven in our Deathwatch game. We are just starting up.

Thanks again for posting all this great info

"Knowledge is power, guard it well. For The Great Father And The Emperor"

Ghostbear

Viper114 said:

Yes so unfortunately it means that to make a history that they can use in the current campaign setting, some-ones are going to have to have to do some digging or make it.

On the plus side you don't have to worry about them being decimated on Kronus by Necrons as that's in the future, although if their are any survivors they have invaluble experience for the deathwatch.

It also means that some one can stat up Cyrus as a NPC as he'll be in the Deathwatch at this point, and unless there is some story to contrary could be in the Jerico Reach at this point.

I would think that the Blood Ravens would make an excellent plot device for a campaign. The stories for their Chapter Master being corrupted by Chaos and their possible Thousand Suns origins are pretty cool.

Kilbourne said:

Spawn of Thousand Sons....::Spits on the floor as he readies his Frost blade and Bolter:: Death to the Oath-breakers!

Ranek7212 said:

Ummm....yeeahh. I'm not a fan of the Blood Ravens. I'm a Space Wolf, Imperial Fist, Black Templar guy myself. But, the Blood Ravens are great if I need something to kill in my campaign

How long does a Space Marine live for assuming he's not killed in battle? One thepasts of a Death Watch Blood Raven could be:

- Fought in the Gothic Wars

- Reforging the Blood Ravens after the War

- Finding a valuable artifact

- Cleansing of Cyrene

- Part the "Fated" 5th Company

Oldest living (non-Dreadnought) is Force Commander Dante of the Blood Angels clocking in at over 1000. Most real hardcore SMs tend to go to 3-600 before violence or mental degradation gets them. Actual maximum lifespan, under more ideal conditions, has never been observed. No full-on marine (though some who only got partial late-stage implants) have died from old age, unless you count genetically induced insanity (which is most common, ironically, amongst the Blood Angels).

This is what I came up with for Squad Mode powers. Let me know what you think.

Attack Pattern: Eternal Vigilance
Chapter: Blood Ravens
Action: Free
Cost: 2
Sustained : Yes
Effects: Such is the devotion to knowledge of the Blood Ravens that when in the company of other Chapters, they share this thirst. While active, all Astartes within Support Range of the Blood Raven gain a +10 to all Willpower and Perception tests.
Improvements: If the Battle-Brother is Rank 4 or above, this bonus increases to +20.

Defensive Stance: Guard It Well
Chapter: Blood Ravens
Action: Full
Cost: 3
Sustained: Yes
Effects: The Blood Ravens' secrecy and protective nature is surpassed only by the Dark Angels. While active, all Astartes within Support Range of the Blood Raven gain an additional Reaction per round that can only be used to Parry or Dodge.
Improvements: This ability cannot be improved.

If those are the Chapter Squad Abilities, remember that they can only apply to Blood Ravens, not to members of other Chapters (unless the Blood Raven that is activating the Ability is a Tactical Marine with the appropriate starting trait). It's just that the wording of your abilities seems to suggest that they'd apply to other Chapters too, when they can't (unless the above example applies).

MILLANDSON said:

Good point - these were written for a Blood Raven who will be playing a Tactical Marine, so I guess I got a little carried away with my descriptions. But do they seem balanced?

Octothorpe said:

They do, at least to my eyes, though they'd need to be playtested to make sure they are fine in-game. But yea, they could do with being rewritten so that they don't apply to anyone other than a Blood Raven, unless, as you say, they are a Tactical Marine.

Well, if I can edit a post, I can't figure out how to do it. So, here goes:

Attack Pattern: Eternal Vigilance
Chapter: Blood Ravens
Action: Free
Cost: 2
Sustained : Yes
Effects: A Blood Raven's will to seek out the unknown is legendary. While active, all Blood Ravens (including the leader) within Support Range gain a +10 to all Willpower and Perception tests.
Improvements: If the Battle-Brother is Rank 4 or above, this bonus increases to +20.

Defensive Stance: Guard It Well
Chapter: Blood Ravens
Action: Full
Cost: 3
Sustained: Yes
Effects: The Blood Ravens' secrecy and protective nature is surpassed only by the Dark Angels. While active, all Blood Ravens (including the leader) within Support Range gain an additional Reaction per round that can only be used to Parry or Dodge.
Improvements: This ability cannot be improved.

Just wanted to say good work everyone. To be a tad bit helpful I thought I would post all the information in one post to make it easier to view/use/add new information.

Stat Bonuses: +5 INT, +5 PER

Starting Bonus Skills/Talents: Total Recall

Chapter Demeanour: Knowledge is Power

Chapter Advancements:
Lore: Common (Any) * 400 xp
Lore: Scholastic (Any) * 500 xp
Lore: Forbidden (Any) 800 xp
Lore: Forbidden (Adeptus Astartes) 400 xp
Logic 400 xp
Logic +10 400 xp Logic
Logic +20 400 xp Logic +10
Foresight 400 xp Int 30
Meditation 800 xp
Infused Knowledge 1200 xp Int 40
* May be purchased multple times

Chapter Abilities:

Solo Ability:

Chapter Attack Pattern: Eternal Vigilance
Chapter: Blood Ravens
Action: Free
Cost: 2
Sustained : Yes
Effects: A Blood Raven's will to seek out the unknown is legendary. While active, all Blood Ravens (including the leader) within Support Range gain a +10 to all Willpower and Perception tests.
Improvements: If the Battle-Brother is Rank 4 or above, this bonus increases to +20.

Chapter Defensive Stance: Guard It Well
Chapter: Blood Ravens
Action: Full
Cost: 3
Sustained: Yes
Effects: The Blood Ravens' secrecy and protective nature is surpassed only by the Dark Angels. While active, all Blood Ravens (including the leader) within Support Range gain an additional Reaction per round that can only be used to Parry or Dodge.
Improvements: This ability cannot be improved.

Chapter Trappings:

The Fated 5th company Redemption Badge: Add +3 WP to any Willpower Test to resist fear effects and Cohesion damage

Philosopher’s Scriptures: Add +3 to all Logic and Foresight tests

Gemmed Raven Icon: +3 to Awareness Tests

Token of the Unknown Primarch: Counts as a Charm

Chapter Relic: Hate of Xenos
Battle Brother Trythios was the first Blood Raven to serve in the deathwatch, his trusted sidearm was a Plasma Pistol he named "Hate of Xenos". In the centuries since it has been passed down to all Blood Ravens serving in the ranks of Deathwatch.

Hate of Xenos Pistol: 30m, S/2/-, 1d10+12, Pen 8, Clip 12, 3 Full Reload, Volatile, Felling (1), Accurate. Hate of Xenos gains the Toxic Quality against Xenos opponents. Requisition 60, Hero.

Psyker Powers:

Chapter Power:
Similar to a Navigator, Blood Ravens can see into the Warp via a psychic mutation known as a 'Third Eye'. This ability is latent and affords them no special ability to navigate or guide a warp jump. However, with his sight turned towards the Astronomicon Beacon, he receives occasional inspiration and guidance from the Emperor and His glorious Astral Choir.
When spending a Fate Point to re-roll a percentile roll, a Blood Raven gains a +10 bonus on his new roll. When spending a Fate point to recover Wounds or gain an initiative bonus, a Blood Raven gains +1 on the roll.

Primarch's Curse:

Level I: Need to Know The Blood Raven develops a desire to collect and possess knowledge. He must pass a Challenging (+0) Willpower Test in order to forgo the chance to learn something new. If this knowledge is obviously corrupting or dangerous, or his hesitation would put his fellow Astartes in danger, the Willpower Test becomes Routine (+20).

Level II: Knowledge Is Power This is identical to the Level I Curse except that corrupting or dangerous knowledge never makes the Willpower never becomes Routine.

Level III Dark Secret The Blood Raven's quest for knowledge has led him to a secret so terrible it would shake the very foundations of the Imperium. The nature of the blasphemous secret is left to the GM to decide. Outrageous and horrible fates await the character should anyone discover what he knows.

Blood Ravens Past Events - Roll a 1d5 and consult below.

1. The Purging of Cyrene - You were part of the Company that accompanied Captain Gabriel Angelos to Cyrene for the Blood Trials. But something occurred on the planet that lead to the Inquisition declaring Exterminatus upon the world, leaving it a blasted world devoid of life. What lead to the Exterminatus has been classified to the highest degree, and you have sworn never to reveal what transpired.

2. The Fall of Tartarus - You fought on the world of Tartarus under the command of Captain Gabriel Angelos against Orks, Eldar of the Biel-Tan Craftworld and Chaos Space Marines of the Alpha Legion. Though Tartarus was lost to a warp storm, you managed to escape with Gabriel Angelos along with many of your Blood Raven brothers.

3. The Kronus Campaign - You fought on the world of Kronus under the command of Captain Davian Thule against a multitude of foes, including Orks, Eldar, Tau, Necrons, Chaos and even the Imperial Guard loyal to the Imperium (though that incident has been covered up from the rest of the galaxy). Under Davian Thule's command, you and your brothers managed to seize victory and crushed all opposition, claiming Kronus for the Imperium.

4. The Kaurava Campaign - You fought in the system of Kaurava under the command of Captain Indrick Boreale against a multitude of foes, including Orks, Eldar, Tau, Necrons, Chaos, Dark Eldar and even the Sisters of Battle and the Imperial Guard (though those incidents have been covered up from the rest of the galaxy). Though the campaign was a dismal failure that cost the lives of many Blood Ravens, including Captain Boreale himself, you were among the few who managed to survive and return to the Chapter.

5. The Aurelian Campaign - You fought in the sub-sector Aurelia under the command of Force Commander Aramus against the forces of Orks, Eldar of the Ulthwe Craftworld and a splinter fleet of Tyranids that was once part of Hive Fleet Behemoth. Though the Blood Ravens were few and your enemies many, you managed drive back the forces of Orks and Eldar and destroyed the Tyranid Hive Fleet with the aid of Captain Gabriel Angelos at the final moments.

i always liked the blood ravens, and i intend to use them in my game so cheers for the write up.

As for origin i allways liked the idea that one of the primarchs that has been expunged from imperial records landed on an alien controlled world, maybe an eldar exodite world, an orc controlled world even a craft world or any number of other minor alien worlds from the 40K universe. and the alien association is why all records of him are expunged from imperial records by the inquisition by the inquisition

Cifer said:

It's canon, bro. STEHL REHN FOHREVAH.

With the Blood Ravens predeliction to lots of psykers, perhaps a penalty or restriction about how they use their abilities? Perhaps making it a WP check to not push the limit when using their powers? Something like that could also go towards the Primarch Curse where the WP check becomes more difficult as time goes on.

Maybe some way that they earn corruption points more often than others, to explain how they may fall more often? Their falling had been mentioned previously so thought I'd bring this up to test the waters.

E

Octothorpe said:

Would be nice to know a good reason why they magically become quicker and more "aware"...

i dont know where you get the idea that the BR's fall to chaos more than other chapters, other than perhaps that one of 2 named BR characters in DoW 1 falls to chaos, admittedly i haven't read the books but lexicanum doesnt mention anything about that. actually the fact that the BR geneseed is stable and shows little evidence of mutation even though their tithe is checked more regularly than other chapters is an arguement against them being a successor to the thousand sons.

anyways, they should also get total recall at character creation as they have a slight mutation to their catalepsean node that gives them perfect memories and makes them unable to dream, which might justify a slight increase to the amount of insanity points they take.

also, the Kaurava campaign happened, it was just a dismal failure that ended in the death of most of the marines sent there and Brother Captain Indrick Boreale. Cyrus mentions it in the second game

As I wrote above, the Thousand Sons didn't fall to chaos easily anyway. Magnus's mistake was trying to warn the Emperor of Horus's betrayal via sorcery - which led to the Space Wolves attacking them. Even when within the Eye of Terror elements of the Thousand Sons tried to halt their brothers mutanting.