Are there Chaplains in the Deathwatch? Lexicanum lists two, but, nothing is mentioned in the Player's Handbook. I was curious as to why this Specialization was left out, though I do realize it's technically an HQ choice and I would think that Chaplains of different chapters would be very strong personalities to have interacting with each other. Anyone have any thoughts or ideas?
Chaplains
Personally I think that the reason chaplains are left out is because of the different views of the different chapters. Some view other chapters as being close to heretical. Look at the Wolf Priests, they are different from the rest of the chaplains, in more ways then just a different view. They are also the Apothecaries for the Space Wolves. How do you do the rules up for one Class when for different chapters they do different things. Also you have to deal with the whole interaction between different chapters. Just something to think about.
Aye, I think it's basically because a Chaplain from one Chapter would likely be useless for a member of another Chapter, since most Chapters have their own beliefs and cultures.
Plus, as the Deathwatch book states, Marines joining the Deathwatch are vetted by their own Chapter's Chaplains, as a Deathwatch member must be of the utmost spiritual strength, and able to steel himself against the horrors he may face. If he has to rely on someone else to keep him from breaking, and isn't able to attend to his own spiritual fortitude and purity, he has no place in the Deathwatch.
I don't see why a chaplain could not be seconded to the Deathwatch for a variety of reasons - perhaps he was the sole survivor of a particular xeno encounter and has the knowledge and moxy the Ordo Xenos need to tackle some threat. Chaplains are often the sole survivors of situations on account of being so hard.
Perhaps he had a doctrinal dispute with his more senior chaplains and has been effectively sent into exile to the Deathwatch as penance. The Ordo Xenos are not going to refuse such an exalted astartes and will definitely get some use out of him.
Perhaps the Chaplain has unfinished business with an enemy that has been claimed by a particular inquisitor. The only way to be involved in taking down this nemesis is to be on board with the Ordo Xenos.
I would simply assume that he would have no specific Chaplain duties within the Deathwatch beyond ministering to any marines he encounters from his original chapter.
Maybe there is some kind of ecumenical Chaplain prayer book that doesn't rub any marines the wrong way. It probably stops at 'The Emperor was awesome, wasn't he?'
I'm sort of with Cromwell on this one. There are plenty of good cases for Chaplains being in the Deathwatch. I believe they would also fill a good niche roll as a support/melee/buffing type specialization.
They need stuff left to put into other books?
And the fact Chaplains are very complicated compared to the rest of the specialties.
ItsUncertainWho said:
They need stuff left to put into other books?
And the fact Chaplains are very complicated compared to the rest of the specialties.
I kinda agree with this. They obviously went with a 6 by 6 matrix here (6 Chapter, 6 Specialties).
I'm pretty sure we can look forward to seeing the Chaplain make an appearance down the road.
Tarkand said:
ItsUncertainWho said:
They need stuff left to put into other books?
And the fact Chaplains are very complicated compared to the rest of the specialties.
I kinda agree with this. They obviously went with a 6 by 6 matrix here (6 Chapter, 6 Specialties).
I'm pretty sure we can look forward to seeing the Chaplain make an appearance down the road.
I would assume so as well. I think that it will need a section all to itself as well.
There definitely are and will be Deathwatch Chaplains. Read page 5 of Litany of War (the preview for coming Deathwatch products).
"The reading of the Tarot and the prisoner’s dire
words have left me with much discontent. I request
to be granted some time with a Chaplain in order to
strengthen my soul for the trials ahead. Chaplain
Deros has a talent for reminding Battle-Brothers
from many varied Chapters of their duty and their
honour."
Presumably, they'll be getting a few Pure Faith talents as well which didn't fit in the core book anymore.
Other than that, I think it's odd indeed that we'll be getting Deathwatch Chaplains - being a chaplain means being a paragon of ones chapter's traits while marines in the Deathwatch have to be able to put aside their chapters to work together. A Deathwatch Chaplain would be one rare specimen indeed.
yea, I'am also mentioned this quote
Cannot wait to run my angry redneck, err Black Templar Chaplain Reverend Maynard.
It may be called a Holy Orb of Antioch where you're from, but we like to call it the Holy Molotov of Moonshine.
You get them Aleeuns boys. And the witches too. We gonna have a good 'ol time round the bonfire tonight!
Another thing to consider is the Chaplain is the soul and conscience of the chapter. Their main contribution is making sure everyone thinks the "right" way - which is different for each chapter. They would be far more usefull at home then trying to force their version of right on the huge cross-section of chapters in Deathwatch. I would think their zealous nature would cause a lot more problems then their contribution merits - even if they had a close encounter of the fourth kind.
I am thinking they have enough friction issues in Deathwatch without stirring the pot.
Yes, Troll #1, I understand many chapters would already be considered zealous AND try to force their view points on the others, think of how much worse it would be if that chapter's Chaplain were there.
Here is a link to a thread I started on this a few weeks past:
One thing to consider is Deathwatch is a chapter and thus has rites and oathes specific to it, this is where a chaplain comes into play. It is my understanding that tthey also served as morale officers for their home chapters dating back to before the heresy and before the Emperor was thought of as a God (Word Bearers being an exception). Now most chapters don't believe from what I read that the Emperor is a God but there is still a sense their beliefs come close to that very deification .
My guess is an advanced scheme with chapter specific abilities akin to solo-mode type things as well as Deathwatch talents and such.
Well to the space wolves, they honor the emperor as the greatest warrior, the only one to beat Leman Russ. Thats about it....
Since there are comparatively few Chaplains in most Chapters (one to a company, if I recall correctly), and those Chaplains have an immense responsibility within their Chapter, it seems unlikely that Space Marine Chapters would regularly second their Chaplains to the Deathwatch. But, Astartes in the Deathwatch certainly need spiritual guidance as much (or more) than most chapters, so it stands to reason that there must be Deathwatch Chaplains. I'm interested to see their lore solution to this issue.
That depends really, one to each company may be the norm for a codex chapter. But the Black Templars, Space wolves, and Iron hands are not Codex chapters.
For instance in the Space wolves, Wolf Priests are part of the Great Wolf's Great Company, along with all the Iron priests, dreadnaughts, and Rune priests. So the number of them is unknown. If you want to go with the standard 1 to 100 for a chaplain (given that codex chapters are 100 man companies) then it could be more like 24 to 30 wolf priests in the Space Wolves chapter (given that I have seen numbers ranging from 2000 space wolves to 5000. Even if the 5000 is highly questionable). The space wolves are known to have more then 1000 marines. Still their is not much that the High lords can say or do as the Space Wolves are highly unlikely to break their oaths with the emperor.
@darq
Yes, Troll #1, I understand many chapters would already be considered zealous AND try to force their view points on the others, think of how much worse it would be if that chapter's Chaplain were there.
If you're calling me the troll, allow me to disabuse you of that notion.
I'm serious. Reverend Maynard has led my Templars across the battlefield armed with his Holy Molotov (Hand grenade, orb, flaming oil, whatever) on many occasions bringing the light of the emperor to the heathen masses. Usually orcs as that is my former roommate's army of choice. His favorite armaments are his crozius and a power fist.
Why do you think my forum name is bmaynard? Brother Maynard!
bmaynard said:
@darq
Yes, Troll #1, I understand many chapters would already be considered zealous AND try to force their view points on the others, think of how much worse it would be if that chapter's Chaplain were there.
If you're calling me the troll, allow me to disabuse you of that notion.
I'm serious. Reverend Maynard has led my Templars across the battlefield armed with his Holy Molotov (Hand grenade, orb, flaming oil, whatever) on many occasions bringing the light of the emperor to the heathen masses. Usually orcs as that is my former roommate's army of choice. His favorite armaments are his crozius and a power fist.
Why do you think my forum name is bmaynard? Brother Maynard!
Wasn't calling anyone anything - THAT was a pre-emptive strike against the first troll to bring that up
Direach said:
Since there are comparatively few Chaplains in most Chapters (one to a company, if I recall correctly), and those Chaplains have an immense responsibility within their Chapter, it seems unlikely that Space Marine Chapters would regularly second their Chaplains to the Deathwatch. But, Astartes in the Deathwatch certainly need spiritual guidance as much (or more) than most chapters, so it stands to reason that there must be Deathwatch Chaplains. I'm interested to see their lore solution to this issue.
IIRC the apothecaries are exactly as numerous in a codex chapter and there might be even less librarians in it. I'm also interested if and how they're going to solve that.
there was a captain asigned to the deathwatch perminantly surely he would have an officers core to back him up, librariums for battlefeild coms and pyskerness and apothacaires for triage and geen-seed reclimation, why not a core of chaplins for the troopers to mentally unload to/ be inspired by. yes you would be set to the deathwatch caus your awsomeness was spotted and your company captain was worried for his position, surely they would also have chaplins who need to be taught that brother marines of all chapters while odd if not **** right wierd are still marines and the emperor needs everyone of them even the red neck spacewolves ( i love the space wolves for the simplicity over all others) to the leigion of the damned who are the emperors revenge personnified.
as my chaplin said in basic training,
everyone here will be a Royal Marine, we only have Royal Marines.. some may be tall some, may be light, some may be dark, some might be short, some might be bumpy ( female). but your all bloody Royal Marines so f##king well start thinking like it .
just my justification on the chaplin side of things.
jain.
ps, wouldnt the ordo xenos want the death watch being kept on the path of rightiousness even when upto there noses in tyranid snot by thier freindly and smeggin' awsome chaplin.
pss, didnt the eldar leave behind lots of silly artifacts to trap chaos skum bags and nasties who might have a distinct fondness for corrupting space marines and would have an easy life doing so if a squad of deathwatch didnt have a chaplin about to reinforce their faith.
In either the GM screen adventure, or maybe the back of the DW corebook there is a Chaplain that is assigned to Deathwatch I thought, unless I massively mis-read it.
I suspect they were left out due to space constraints, plus as mentioned, stuff for new books. I would imagine we will see the Grey Knights in a supplement at some point as well.
Howdy!
Bmaynard I am looking forward to having you run Brother Maynard.
Chaplains- I see the Game (DW) as starting the PC at senior trooper/ junior sergeant experience level. Chaplains are elite veterans of the Chapters. I think we can see PCs as going down the Chaplain career path as a member of any of the specialities, depending on the chapter.
We have a "Space Wolf Wolf Priest canidate" in our game. He is using the Apothiecary track with some elite advances. Yes I know Apothicary is restricted for Space Wolves.
Howdy!
BTW Brother Maynard is not a troll....more of a grissley bear actually.
jain zaranth said:
there was a captain asigned to the deathwatch perminantly surely he would have an officers core to back him up, librariums for battlefeild coms and pyskerness and apothacaires for triage and geen-seed reclimation, why not a core of chaplins for the troopers to mentally unload to/ be inspired by. yes you would be set to the deathwatch caus your awsomeness was spotted and your company captain was worried for his position, surely they would also have chaplins who need to be taught that brother marines of all chapters while odd if not **** right wierd are still marines and the emperor needs everyone of them even the red neck spacewolves ( i love the space wolves for the simplicity over all others) to the leigion of the damned who are the emperors revenge personnified.
as my chaplin said in basic training,
everyone here will be a Royal Marine, we only have Royal Marines.. some may be tall some, may be light, some may be dark, some might be short, some might be bumpy ( female). but your all bloody Royal Marines so f##king well start thinking like it .
just my justification on the chaplin side of things.
jain.
ps, wouldnt the ordo xenos want the death watch being kept on the path of rightiousness even when upto there noses in tyranid snot by thier freindly and smeggin' awsome chaplin.
pss, didnt the eldar leave behind lots of silly artifacts to trap chaos skum bags and nasties who might have a distinct fondness for corrupting space marines and would have an easy life doing so if a squad of deathwatch didnt have a chaplin about to reinforce their faith.
Royal Marines. Bah...USMC Baby!. But yes the point holds true for your redheaded Step Children across the ocean.