I'm contemplating running a Deathwatch game in my local area with my regular gaming group.

One player in particular will be running a Black Templars marine. The player himself is a huge fan of the Black Templars and has more than 10,000 points of TT Black Templars models. He's been talking about how he's looking forward to playing a zealotous character who hates psykers and I've got at least one player in the group that wants to play a psyker (Rune Priest to be exact.)

Sooooo, at this point, I see a player vs player conflict coming before we've even started character creation.

The rulebook states in the Black Templars descriptions that the BT's selected for Deathwatch, while hating psykers are selected for their ability to work side by side with them in the Deathwatch. It also goes on to say the BT marine will spend lots of "off screen" time in contemplation and meditation to continue tolerating the psyker character.

What if the player of the BT doesn't want to play his character that way? I already see where this is going and it's going to be VERY interesting, if not problematic.

Should I sit down with the BT player and go over how his character should act? or should I just let the two players deal with the issues of how they want to play their characters from the start?

As it looks so far, I think the group make up will be 1 Black Templar, 3 Space Wolves (including the Rune Priest), 1 Storm Warden and I think 1 Dark Angel. I'm not sure what their specialties will be other than the Rune Priest at this time. We're still in the early stages of getting ready to play.

Anyone have any ideas how they would handle this from the start that they'd care to share?

The DW book notes Black Templars choose the ones sent to Deathwatch by their ability to suppress their hatred, so assuming he's a lore-monkey, you can shove that into his face.

Other than that, you should at least talk to him and ask him how he wants to express his contempt. If he's going to be a little preachy and suggest alternatives when his team wants to use psy-powers to achieve a goal, that's fine - brings a little dissent into the group and provides some material for roleplaying.

Still, the numerological superiority of the Wolves is probably going to help the situation as they'll back up their priest when the templar gets too aggressive.

LeBlanc13 said:

Yes, yes, yes. Sit down with that player and talk to him about it. Do not to attack him about it, just ask about it casually. Do it during character creation if you haven't made characters yet. See if the idea that there will be a Rune Priest in the Kill Team would be an issue for his character, or if his character would be willing to tolerate the psyker's presence. Its important that you ask the question about his character and not him. I don't know your group but I could imagine that the Space Wolves would tend to back up their brother and that this sort of behavior could turn against the Black Templar character very quickly.

On the same token I would ask the same question about the relationship between the Dark Angel and the Space Wolves. After all their chapters tend not to get along. Both of these scenarios can lead to some brilliant roleplay and I've been in and run games where player characters start off distrustful of one another, but at some point or another form a grudging respect of one another. Sometimes these characters become even become friends. When it happens it can lead to some truly memorable moments. This sort of thing occurs more than once in the Space Wolves novels, so there is a precedent.

Its all going to boil down to your group and how they plan to roleplay their characters. If your Black Templar is going to be outright hostile and unwilling to tolerate the psyker despite his usefulness to the Kill Team and the fact that he is still a Battle-Brother, you might have a issue. I've found that just talking with your players, or GM and fellow players if you are a player, tends to resolve issues very quickly and easily as long as everyone involved behaves maturely. The trick when starting these conversations is not to go on the offensive, be polite, and ask calmly.

I'd love to hear about how this goes, you have a decent mix of chapters and some possible animosities. Thats partially what Deathwatch is all about, different chapters with very different views of the galaxy working together against the enemies of man, overcoming their predjudices and realising that there is value in other viewpoints. Heck, maybe the Rune Priest becomes very cautious in the use of his pysker powers and learns respect the Black Templar's caution of psykers.

@ Cifer:

I think showing derision for the Rune-Priest or not talking to him directly would be perfectly acceptable. If the BT marine wants to be a jerk through roleplay, I don't have any concerns with that. In fact, I think that could be rather fun. I'm actually looking forward to seeing some good RP from my group around their chapter issues. I just don't want it coming to blows between the characters. The BT player has really expressed an interest in playing a psyker hating zealot. I will definitely talk to the BT Player, but I really don't want to dictate how he plays his character. I guess that's my real dilemma.

You are correct about the other Space Wolves in the group backing up their rune priest though. If the BT doesn't hold his tongue or stay his sword, he may end up getting a Space Viking Knuckle sandwich or three to shut him up.

@ Kosem:

I think that's pretty sound advice. I definitely want to handle this situation before we sit down to play our first session.

FYI. The Dark Angel may even take the background where he has won a duel against the SW's previously. That will be fun to see him lord that over the SW's in the group.

When you look at the group make up, the only one that won't be factionalized will be the Storm Warden.

In a game recently ther was a black templar and a storm warden librarian. The BT guy had hatred psykers for the extra lols over group construction. He even japed pre-game about how he was going to "miss" and "accidently smash the librararian. All in good humour of course.

At the start of the mission the watch commander (also storm warden) spoke to the BT prior to the briefing informing him that he would be fighting alongside of a librarian. The character was annoyed, but the captain went on to state that this was a true test of his loyalty to his chapter, the DW and the God-Emperor Himself.

Failure to work alongside the psyker would end with the BT being sent back to the chapter in shame, and that he should gather the hatred within him, and direct upon the enemies of mankind.

Worked a treat. He rarely spoke directly to the librararian, and he even agreed on a tactical point with the librarian, but in know way did that mean they were friends.

I wouldn't even bother giving him a heads up apart from as above. If he want to attack the psyker, let him go for it, every chance he will get a kicking for his troubles. A valuable lesson in humility.

FatPob said:

This is a great idea too! Thanks FatPob!

I'm glad I decided to solicit for advice... Please keep it coming if anyone else has anything to add.

I agree with FatPob- in-game methods are often the best when a player really wants to play a particular flavor of character. Having a watch commander or captain hint at the fact that failure to work as a team due to personal opinion wouldn't be tolerated, and result in dishonor.

Maybe even during character creation, if you do play out bits and pieces of the background, have some of these questions and concerns come up by the BT commanders that are judging if they see fit to send him to the DW. No Chapter wants to send someone to the watch that would result in shame and the Templars know there are psykers in the Watch. They'd definitely quiz the guy on it. Even if he is still a psyker hating zealout, he'll find that he has to hide this portion of his personality if he wants to go do this job

I find that these types of in-game discussions can warn people away from certain behavior without stepping on their character concepts, and can help lend to some great inter-party role playing experiences.

Howdy!

Remember this is a game about Space Marines. The mission is everything. The Chain of Command is absolute. There should be tension between some characters and chapters. Insubordination is a corporal offense, but disobedience of a lawful order is a capital offense. Leader selection is critical in this game because unlike a lot of RPGs not following the PC leader in DW has consequences. Remember Marines - "We are not judged by the good we do, but by the evil we destroy!" Mission first, last and always!

This is simple. Do chargen together. Talk to your players and have them talk to each other as mature adults. The guy who wants to play the Black Templar should explain how he wants to play his character. The group should discuss how this will work if there is to be tension among the characters. They'll come to an agreement or compromise. If they can't do this, you'll need to find another way or put this to the side until you can come back to it.

Actors play antagonistic characters in movies, but in real life they get along. Your players should too. Don't try to solve this in-game, in-character. Work it out as players first - come to some understanding that there will be this tension and how it will be worked out.

Talk to your players. That's all there is to it.

Talk to your players.

LeBlanc13 said:

The player needs to understand one thing: this isn't a game about the Black Templar. It's a game about the Deathwatch. If his character can't work together with a brother librarian, he isn't fit for the elite chamber militant called the Deathwatch.

On second thought... let him. Three space wolves, including rune-priest versus one lone Black Templar. Ouch. (Just kidding.)

Alex

ak-73 said:

*CRACKS KNUCKLES IN ANTICIPATION* Looking forward to the possibilities when LeBlanc13 is up to running. Though, I do dislike "in party snacking," as one of my old gaming colleagues refered to infighting.

-=Brother Praetus=-

Brother Praetus said:

Lol, Space Wolves with the Omophagea could give that term a whole new meaning.

Alex

Give the Librarian Terminator armour... Just kidding...

I think the players, as adults, should understand that its a game, and if they want to roleplay their characters a certain way, let them. You, as the GM, isn't there to play the game for them. You're there to bring consequences to their actions... And as the others have mentioned, DW revolves around a military organization. I'm sure you can think of some pretty interesting punishments, that isn't "off screen" time.

I spoke to the group as a whole. It seems the Black Templar player is aware now of how his character should behave. I'm not sure how much of the early talk was smack talk, or perhaps just premature to him reading the book and seeing the info about how a BT would act in the presence of his DW brethren.

Doesn't look like it should be an issue.

Thanks again for the advice. It was very helpful.

Be sure you can make a distinction for IC rivalries and OOC rivalries. When players have fun, all is well, but if the arguments of the characters become arguments ofthe players things go wrong.

As said, let everyone know what it means if characters have rivalries. How they wish to interact, and yes I have seen characters thet ultimately became friends, after some great roleplay of the players. I also have seen a group almost shatter because the fight in game became a fight between players.

I have a strict rule as GM for RPG's: Fun first, everything else is second.

LeBlanc13 said:

Then he can play his zeal-filled BT back in his Chapter, while everyone else plays DW.

The rules repeatedly state that PCs are chosen for DW because of unique abilities and suitability.

DW has Librarians. the BTs know this. Someone who cannot work with Librarians, is disruptive and refuses to 'play well with others' is not going to be selected for DW. Or if it comes out in play, they are going to either be sent back to their Chapter after their nominal one mission, or sent to another team.

I basically see no problem in this situation off saying to the player 'you can't play that character in this team any more', just as a disruptive member of any military SF team will soon fond himself RTU'ed.

As a side note, I also see no problem in giving out Cohesion penalties if the party start to argue during missions.