DEATHWATCH FAQ and ERRATA

By tkis, in Deathwatch

I like how quickly FFG answers questions.

Here is the URL with the form: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_faq.asp

Q: The requisition example on page 138 states that requisition rating is per character. The Pooling Requisition textbox on page 273 states that requisition rating is per party. The requisition example textbox on page 274 states that requisition rating is per character.

A: The amount of requisition is allocated per group of Space Marines. Each Space Marine does not need to spend his full "share," (indeed, some Battle-Brothers may not need anything additional at all; Librarians, for example, carry their greatest weapons inside their own minds).

My question is below, followed by Ross' answer.

> Rule Question:
> In squad mode who is able to activate chapter squad abilities and
> who can benefit from them? My reading of the rules suggests that
> anyone can activate a chapter squad mode ability, but that only
> squad members of the same chapter can benefit. However it seems to
> suggest that the whole team (regardless of chapter?) gains access to
> the leader's chapter squad abilities. Could you clarify this for me?
> Thanks!


Any member of the squad is able to activate Chapter squad mode
abilities. Only members of the same Chapter can benefit from Chapter
squad mode abilities. Certain abilities (such as the Tactical
Marine's Tactical Expertise) can allow members of different Chapters
to use a Chapter ability.

Ross Watson
Senior RPG Developer
Fantasy Flight Games
[email protected]

From Ross Watson:

The Talent "Hot Shot Pilot" is a typographical error and should not
have been listed on the Talents list.

###########################################################

Also:

Also, "Inspire Wrath" talent isn't in alphabetical order in talent
description. It should precede "Into the Jaws of Hell".

"Independant Targeting" talent isn't in alphabetical order in
talent description. It should precede "Infused Knowledge"

darkrose50 said:

I like how quickly FFG answers questions.

Here is the URL with the form: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_faq.asp

Q: The requisition example on page 138 states that requisition rating is per character. The Pooling Requisition textbox on page 273 states that requisition rating is per party. The requisition example textbox on page 274 states that requisition rating is per character.

A: The amount of requisition is allocated per group of Space Marines. Each Space Marine does not need to spend his full "share," (indeed, some Battle-Brothers may not need anything additional at all; Librarians, for example, carry their greatest weapons inside their own minds).

I find that answer fairly vague. A question giving a specific breakdown of objectives and computed requisition would be better, imo.

But, if that means a starting group will get 60ish Requisition, that means that the group gets significantly less kit, beyond their standard stuff and makes it so you need a REALLY extensive mission to get any of the good stuff. Hell, a lascannon requires about 4 objectives on it's own just to pay for its cost, and then the group gets nearly nothing else. On a starting adventure, each marine would be lucky to get a magazine or two of kraken rounds. Not to mention there seems to be no adjustment for group size (100 Requisition for a group of 4 vs a group 6).

Seeing the book considers 200 requisition a large amount (enough for a protracted campaign for defending a planet), I'd say it's relatively clear every marine gets his own points. Those can then be pooled.

Otherwise, there'd be pretty much no way the players could ever field more than one terminator.

Cifer said:

Seeing the book considers 200 requisition a large amount (enough for a protracted campaign for defending a planet), I'd say it's relatively clear every marine gets his own points. Those can then be pooled.

Otherwise, there'd be pretty much no way the players could ever field more than one terminator.

And I say: reverse engineer the requisition for a loadout you could see with your kill-team for a given scenario. They will likely make different choices but the level should be about right.

Alex

> Rule Question:
> Hello i have to questions regarding Deathwatch rules:
>
> 1. Is requisition calculated via table 9-4 (p.273) divided by the
> number of team members, or is this the value assigned to each team
> member ?

Table 9-4 is the total for the entire group, not per individual.



Ross Watson
Senior RPG Developer
Fantasy Flight Games

tkis said:

> Rule Question:
> Hello i have to questions regarding Deathwatch rules:
>
> 1. Is requisition calculated via table 9-4 (p.273) divided by the
> number of team members, or is this the value assigned to each team
> member ?

Table 9-4 is the total for the entire group, not per individual.



Ross Watson
Senior RPG Developer
Fantasy Flight Games

Not having my book on me, is 9-4 the table that gives each Primary Objective as +20 Req, etc? If so, I agree with Cifer. It's impossible to field an entire squad of Terminators, or really much of anything besides standard kit. Plus, group size HAS to have some bearing on the requisition, or you just create player conflicts as they fight over who gets to pick what. "We'll give you 3 mags of Hellfire rounds for stopping this tyranid invasion. No, not each. Total."

Beyond the whole "common sense" thing, treating it as total party requisition would also directly contradict the example text on page 274 relating to table 9-4 and setting requisition, which reads:

A GM creates a mission with one Skilled Primary Objective, One Veteran Secondary Objective, and two Novice Tertiary Objectives. Adding all of these together gives a total of 62 requisition for each Battle Brother .

(emphasis added)

LGD said:

Beyond the whole "common sense" thing, treating it as total party requisition would also directly contradict the example text on page 274 relating to table 9-4 and setting requisition, which reads:

i'm new to FFG products (bought my first two in the past 10 days) but i've noticed that you simply can't trust DW examples as they frequently contradict the rules (perhaps they were an earlier playtest variant that wasn't edited out or simply a typo). the rules for determining damage (lascannon vs. marine) completely skip the pen rules, the psyker focus tests don't use the PRx5 rules (but instead start using challenging/ordinary classifications), requisition rules contradict the examples, etc. i hope a massive FAQ/erratta comes out quick before my campaign starts. as someone new to the game system and a rules lawyer (who is going to be a GM in this case), i'm finding the poor editing to be VERY frustrating.

Can we safely say that asking Ross Watson for the fourth time whether or not the Requisition is REEEALLY, totally, completely, for REAL real by team, not by individual... is probably not going to get us a different answer?

Sanguinary Priest said:

LGD said:

Beyond the whole "common sense" thing, treating it as total party requisition would also directly contradict the example text on page 274 relating to table 9-4 and setting requisition, which reads:

i'm new to FFG products (bought my first two in the past 10 days) but i've noticed that you simply can't trust DW examples as they frequently contradict the rules (perhaps they were an earlier playtest variant that wasn't edited out or simply a typo). the rules for determining damage (lascannon vs. marine) completely skip the pen rules, the psyker focus tests don't use the PRx5 rules (but instead start using challenging/ordinary classifications), requisition rules contradict the examples, etc. i hope a massive FAQ/erratta comes out quick before my campaign starts. as someone new to the game system and a rules lawyer (who is going to be a GM in this case), i'm finding the poor editing to be VERY frustrating.

I would love to see a FAQ. It would be nice to see one updated every week or two (till it is fleshed out).

EXAMPLE ERROR

Table 8-6, Target Size Modifiers, Lists as an example of Hulking's -10 modifier Ork Nobs and Armoured Space Marines.

Armoured Space Marines, due to their Black Carapace, do not give opponents Hulking's -10 modifier. Exceptions are not good examples.

*facepalm*

Balance issue (I assume it's not suppose to be this way):

Vortex of Doom - If this pyschic power gets to be 5 m large or more it is quite likely to continue to grow to infinity over time. The power essentially goes on forever, making another Eye of Terror. As it is only a chaos space marine librarian should ever use it.

Unusualsuspect said:

Can we safely say that asking Ross Watson for the fourth time whether or not the Requisition is REEEALLY, totally, completely, for REAL real by team, not by individual... is probably not going to get us a different answer?

Apparently not! I'd really like to thank Mr. Watson for his timely and well considered reply. The accessability and customer service really help separate Fantasy Fight from the rest of the pack.


> Rule Question:
> There has been some controversy surrounding the replies you have >been giving out as relates the proper way to set requisition. It has >been asserted that table 9-4 on page 273 is intended to be used to >set the total requisition a group has access to among all members, >rather than the total requisition each member has access to on an >individual basis (which can then be pooled). The problem is that this >contradicts the text on 273 which reads:
> "The final part of creating the mission is to choose its Requisition >total. This is the amount of resources that each Battle-Brother has to >draw weapons, armour, and equipment from the Chapter armouries for >use in the field."

> and the text in the example on 274 which reads:
> "A GM creates a mission with one Skilled Primary Objective, One >Veteran Secondary Objective, and two Novice Tertiary Objectives. >Adding all of these together gives a total of 62 requisition for each >Battle Brother."

> The only thing even *vaguely* contradicting this is the box relating >to pooling requisition on 273 which mostly seems like a clarification of >an optional way to spread resources around the group rather than >anything contradicting the "per member" interpretation.


> This is important because it's causing a furor on the forums and has >pretty HUGE implications for games- using the "clarified" method >means that a straightforward mission like the one used in the example >is going to give a party of 4-5 Deathwatch members around 60-70 >requisition total, which means that a load of Hellfire rounds for a >Devastator's heavy bolter, an auspex and a single melta bomb are >going to tap a squad's "budget" for an entire campaign. This seems at >odds both with common sense, the described setting, the rules text on >273 and 274 and the text in the armoury ch apter on page 138 where >the per-Battle Brother requisition of a "straightforward mission" is said >to be around 50, a number that would be VERY difficult to reach using >the numbers from table 9-4 as a measure of total kill-team resources >(as it would imply a "straightfoward mission" for 5 players had around >10 primary and secondary objectives).

> So my question is- is the requisition REALLY determined by taking >the number generated from table 9-4 as an aggregate total, or should >that table be used on a per player basis as my reading of the text on >273, 274 and the rest of the book would imply? If I'm wrong, I'm >wrong, but I feel it's more likely this is just an innocent minor error that >has gotten blow way out of proportion.

> Thanks for your time and your wonderful game!


Please post this answer on the message boards if you wish:

Mea culpa...It would seem that my logis implant failed due to irregular maintenance and not enough blessed oils!

The correct answer for Requisition is that it is per Space Marine in the Kill-team, not per group as I had previously stated.

The servitor responsible has been duly re-lobotomized.


Ross Watson
Senior RPG Developer
Fantasy Flight Games
[email protected]

It's that DAMNED servitor again! How many lobotomies has he had now?!? partido_risa.gif

He must be "touched by the fates". gran_risa.gif

Hello there!

On Oct 5, 2010, at 6:32 PM, Gavin Sayles wrote:

Ross,

I noticed you have been responding to questions about the many ambiguous / unclear rules and examples from Deathwatch Core Rule Book. Very commendable. Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions.

However, I have a few questions of my own, if you would be kind enough to indulge me?

1) It states on page 159, in the 1st paragraph titled Special Issue Ammunition: “Special Issue Ammunition for Heavy Bolters adds +5 to the requisition total.” This is due to the increased clip size. Which clip size does this refer to? The clip size of 60 of the Heavy Bolter or the clip size of 250 for the Backpack Ammo Supply?

Page 159, second paragraph simply states that Special Issue Ammunition for Heavy Bolters adds +5 to the requisition total.

The +5 applies to all special issue ammunition for Heavy Bolters, regardless of whether it is in the backpack or the weapon clip/magazine.


2) I have seen in one of your previous responses that Requisition Points handed out for any given mission as set by Table 9-4: Setting Requisition is for the whole team, who have an equal share of, as opposed to being per team member. So, is the example following on page 274 wrong? This example illustrates that each Battle-Brother gets 62 Requisition Points to spend on equipment - not the whole team divided amongst them...

Please post this answer on the message boards if you wish:

Mea culpa...It would seem that my logis implant failed due to irregular maintenance and not enough blessed oils!

The correct answer for Requisition is that it is per Space Marine in the Kill-team, not per group as I had previously stated.

The servitor responsible has been duly re-lobotomized.


3) Does a Fire Selector hold 3 standard size clips for the weapon it is used with? And, if so, can it be used with a Storm Bolter?
A) 3 Clips of 28 rounds each for the Astartes Bolter (Godwyn)
B) 3 Clips of 60 rounds each for the Astartes Storm Bolter? That’s 180 rounds of ammunition!

Yes (it can hold up to 3), and Yes.


4) Does Special Issue Ammunition purchased for an Astartes Storm Bolter (60 rounds) cost the same amount of Requisition Points as for a standard Astartes Bolter (28 rounds)?

Yes. The armouries of the Deathwatch are well-stocked...


5) A Deathwatch Tactical Marine gets one clip of Special Issue Ammunition up to the value of 25 Requisition Points per mission as part of his Starting Equipment. Is this clip only intended to used in the Marines Standard Issue Bolter? Or, could the marine requisition a Storm Bolter or Heavy Bolter and use the clip in this newly acquired weapon, as long as the 25 points limit is adhered to?

The special ammunition included in the Tactical Marine's standard issue is intended for the Tactical Marine's standard issue equipment.

To represent the flexible nature of the Deathwatch's organisation, I think it would be fine if the GM wished to allow the Tactical Marine to use that special issue ammunition for another weapon he has requisitioned.


6) When an Opposed Skill test is made, do the degrees of success of the loser negate any degrees of success of the winner? i.e. A Librarian is using his Force Weapon’s special ability and makes a focus power test (with 4 degrees of success) vs opposed WP test of the victim (with 1 degree of success). Does the Librarian have 4 d.o.s. or only 3 d.o.s.?


Yes, in an Opposed Test, degrees of success from the defender cancel out those of the attacker. In the example given, the Librarian would have succeeded at the Opposed Test with three degrees of success.


7) Can a focus power test made for using the Force Sword’s special ability generate Psychic Phenomena / Perils of the Warp? And, can the test be made using the 3 power levels as per casting normal Psychic Powers?

Yes, and yes.



Ross Watson
Senior RPG Developer
Fantasy Flight Games
[email protected]

Missile Launcher and backpack ammo supply. How many missiles does it hold?

RULES QUESTION - range modifiers

When shooting at

- point blank range modifier is +30 2m or closer

- short range modifier is +10 when range is +2m to half weapon range

- normal range modifier is +0 at weapons normal range

- long range modifier is -10 for double range or more

- at extreme range the modifier is -20 for triple range or more

Or so it says in the Core Rules

Does this mean that the default range of a weapon lets say bolter (range of 100m) is +50m-199m and the modifier is +0 cause it sounds kinda silly as the as the rules also that the weapon is accurate to the default range in this case the bolter to 100m and everything beyound that would be harder to hit?

Hope I'm making any sense with this question... I just cant get my head around it.

Hakula said:

RULES QUESTION - range modifiers

When shooting at

- point blank range modifier is +30 2m or closer

- short range modifier is +10 when range is +2m to half weapon range

- normal range modifier is +0 at weapons normal range

- long range modifier is -10 for double range or more

- at extreme range the modifier is -20 for triple range or more

Or so it says in the Core Rules

Does this mean that the default range of a weapon lets say bolter (range of 100m) is +50m-199m and the modifier is +0 cause it sounds kinda silly as the as the rules also that the weapon is accurate to the default range in this case the bolter to 100m and everything beyound that would be harder to hit?

Hope I'm making any sense with this question... I just cant get my head around it.

Correct, except Extreme range is from 3-4 times weapon range and is a -30, not -20.

RULES DISCREPANCY

Table 8-6 on page 249 Target Size Modifiers includes the following line:

"Hulking (Ork Nob, Armored Space Marine) +10"

I thought that the Black Carapace got rid of this, you don't get +10 to hit "Hulking" Astartes.

Yeah Radomo, except that the point he's trying to make is that since there is no additional penalty for shooting 99 meters farther than the range of the boltgun, it seems a tad silly to write the rules that way.

So firing from 51m to 100m is +0, or normal range. But if you happen to be firing at 101-199m, that is technically farther than normal range, but still +0 to hit. Seems like either a typo, or sloppy rules.

Is anyone working on a compilation of these answers? Structured like a proper FAQ? Would be nice!

Ravillius said:

Is anyone working on a compilation of these answers? Structured like a proper FAQ? Would be nice!

A company called FFG perhaps ;) As of now there are to many discrepancy , version errors, incompability and plain errors in the rules and examples, the faq and errata document is going to be pretty massive