Greetings, Deathwatch fans!

This week I have an exciting preview for Rites of Battle and some words from one of the authors, Andy Chambers. Enjoy!

Can't wait to see the final product.

This is like wow. I just have one concern though (some people might see a pattern here): Space Wolves. I hope there is an Iron Priest in RoB. Otherwise they will (again!) get the short end of the stick. And if it's not in there, well, one can still hope for free downloadable content (wink, wink).

Not stating this to put the book down (it looks like it's going to be awesomic), only talking out of care for the sons of Russ.

Alex

So... devastator chaplains? Sorry, I see new rules and my inner munchkin detection/countermeasures go off. I guess a chaplain with a heavy bolter can't break the game, just, well, never heard of em.

KommissarK said:

Corruption points requirements it must have.

Alex

ak-73 said:

I think you mean Wolf Priests here. As Iron Priests are the Space Wolf Techmarines.

Honestly, at this point I'm starting to think somebody at FFG really hates the Wolves, or at least has some vested interest in making them such an unattractive choice that no one wants to play them.

Daisuke said:

Or maybe they just paid attention to the Space Wolf Codex which doesn't have Chaplains? The problem with Space Wolves is they are one of those chapters that doesn't follow any of the Codex Astartes rules. So either you make them just like every other chapter (which means they aren't really Space Wolves) or you make a bunch of special rules for all the special types of Space Wolf characters. We haven't seen a list of all the specialties available in Rites of Battle, but I would expect at least one Space Wolf only specialty.

PS: I blame everything that is wrong with Space Wolves on GW.

Daisuke said:

lol, i guess that's why they gave SW a powerful free trait in addition to a reroll on an ability check with the errata.. and the ultras get just the reroll but no free trait.

True, but it shouldn't have needed to be in the errata. It should have been in the initial print of the book. Still, I'll take what I can get and wright house rules for the rest that I feel is lacking.

Also deinol, they needn't have excluded the Space Wolves outright. They could have just made the Apothecary specialization available to them and made the stipulation that only Space Wolf Apotecaries can become Chaplains, rather than the wide range of options available to the other chapters. That way, they can open the specialization to Space Wolves and still keep in line with the Space Wolf lore.

Daisuke said:

Given that you've seen a grand total of one of the alternate specialisations, I think it's a bit hasty to assume that the Space Wolves will receive no attention, based on the presentation of one that represents a role that they don't have in the Chapter. Wolf Priests are something different, not entirely apothecaries and not entirely chaplains, and the Space Wolves stubborn refusal to accept the Codex Astartes - a defining factor for them in the background - also makes it a little more complicated to include them in all their glory. I'm expecting to see a few Space Wolves specific options in Rites of Battle to account for the variety of ways in which they differ from the Codex Astartes way of doing things.

Okay, after reading the preview, I don't get why Space Wolves are excluded?

"The fierce dedication of a Chaplain to his own Chapter usually makes them unsuitable to become Deathwatch Chaplains, although examples of such broad-minded individuals do exist. More typically, Battle-Brothers find their calling through apprenticeship to anexisting Deathwatch Chaplain that has noted their unflagging zeal in pursuit of the alien."

Okay, so the Deathwatch Chaplains aren't Chaplains or even Chaplain trainees from their respective chapters. I don't see why Space Wolves should be excluded. Are they not zealous enough? That they could return to their chapter doesn't seem to be much of a problem either, because:

"Once a Deathwatch Chaplain takes his vows he will seldom see his old Chapter again, instead giving himself entirely to the Long Vigil and the duties of the Deathwatch."

Additionally it makes me wonder that Apothecaries aren't excluded. I know Space Wolves can't be Apothecaries either, but a Space Wolf Apothecary who goes into Chaplain would be pretty much exactly what a Wolf Priest is. (Yeah, I know we have already established that Wolf Priests in the Deathwatch should be rare like Rune Prophets in an Eldar pirate band, but still...)

Mjoellnir said:

As far as the Chaplain thing, it is because Space Wolves have never (so far) taken permanent positions with the Deathwatch. Their bonds to their packs and brothers are too strong to stay away any longer than necessary.

On the Apothecary note, the Space Wolves' Wolf Priests take that role, but they do so with potions and salves (the secrets of which are closely guarded). Apothecaries in the DW were the same back specialty in their home chapter, from what I've gathered. To be my own Devil's Advocate, though, one could argue that in times of great need, the Deathwatch would train even unlikely astartes to take the role of medic. Unfortunately, though, the Wolves are a bit superstitious, and I don't know how well received he would be back on Fenris.

That being said, I wouldn't hate a player for making a Space Wolf Apothecary in my game, provided he had a good enough reason or background for it.

Rites of Battle chaplain is kind of meh.

Basically only Assault Marine is good candidate for role of chaplin, sadly tactical marine have greater "social and inspiring" talents.

Devastator marine with Fearless. wow. Surrounded by horde of aliens, heavy weapon lying like anchor on ground and u with bolt pistol and combat knife try to scare all melee combatants. While assault marine is rolling from laugh...

Go devastator chaplain...

boruta666 said:

Well, it's not über but it isn't bad. Making the entire KT fearless can be very handy to avoid going from cohesion to confusion when meeting Senior Hive Tyrant. Rosarius as free starting equipment might not be bad. Fear Rating for the whole team is great, I wonder how the Tau will handle that. Crozius is probably more or less a power weapon. Skull Helm? Chapter Trapping equivalent?

I mean what do you expect from a Chaplain? He's a spiritual leader inciting hatred, keeping team cohesion and striking fear into the hearts of enemies.

Alex

People keep wanting to see Space Wolf "Apothecaries" and "Chaplains." And there are some that are upset about the way things have thus far been presented. You know, we may very well get an actual "Wolf Priest" advancement in Rites of Battle. So, until we see what's there in its entirety, I recommend people relax and calm down. After all, we can already manage the Space Wolves other "Priests" through Librarian (Rune Priest) and Techmarine (Iron Priest), I would expect to see the Wolf Priest eventually.

-=Brother Praetus=-

This sounds like a nice book to have. And with writings from Andy Chambers. That is a venerable name for the 40k society.

I only wonder about the wisdom to make a book that is half meant for GM's and half meant for the players. I would have preferred to not mix these types of books. Right now I am sure that I will not buy this book as I am not the GM for our DW game and I hate wasting money to pay for pages that I am not allowed to read.

Sister Callidia said:

So that both players and GMs will buy it of course. More potential costumers = more revenue.

Sister Callidia said:

To be fair, half the books released for Rogue Trader and Dark Heresy have a bit of both in regards to which books are good for GMs and Players. It seems to be something FFG specifically set out to do.

I like that they aren't doing "this is a book for GMs only/players only" though, as it means all my books see some use, rather than half of them being useless when I'm not GMing.

If Sanguinary Priest isn't an advanced specialisation, I can see Deathwatch Chaplain being a good choice for Blood Angel Apothecaries, actually, since they share pastoral duties with their Reclusiam.Might be cool.

"Rites of Battle chaplain is kind of meh" ?

really? based on what ? one advanced specialism?. lets not mention kill marine, keeper, watch captain as well as the chaplin eh? and thats the ones we know about.

my space wolf player would have been highly offended if chaplin was open to the Sons of Russ, he will be happy if a space wolfy career is in there but not that bothered if it isnt he would have been more bothered to see space wolf chaplins in breach of the fulff.

considering the roleplaying implaications of being a chaplin i dont think that many will be lining up to be one , some will , others will be looking at the other options

the book looks excellent so far and we can expect this not to be the last adding new careers, i doubt we will see many more new specialisms/ in the rites of battle due to space

Hardrainfalling said:

Rites of Battle chaplain is kind of meh. I did not read that right the first time too and that left me head scratching.

Alex

i see now, missed that too ,

the chaplain isnt too bad once over the first impression afterall do you really want more skill or stat advances? by the time a player hits chaplin his/her character should be pretty tough, some interesting skills not too uber powerful useful in a party and good roleplaying opportunties not sure fearless is that useful to marines, one concern is that by this rank players may have already had most of those skill advances listed

on another point

I am misreading or does the preview imply that dreadnought is a specialism ? hence a player accesses some special dreadnought skills?

Hardrainfalling said:

I wouldn't be surprised if the dreadnought specialization turns out to be something like one of the Elite Advance Packages from the Inquisitors Handbook in Dark Heresy.

One of them is called cybernetic ressurection and basically allows you to burn one fate point when you die to return in a full cybernetic body with only a human brain left.

to make it straight.

presented except from Rites of battle about deathwatch chaplain is dull.

u must pay 3k exp to enter carer, u gain for that investment: one hatred, fearless (great for suicide marines), litany of hate (good if u are ultramarine leader and rest of team is assault orientated)

only interesting thing on that advancement list is new talent "Icon of duty" (fear inspiring point) sadly u must use Fate Point to get it worked, i doubt i will see any use of that.

New oath isnt great too.

and ffs i really hope that dreadnought will not be elite advance.

boruta666 said:

Whether it's worth it depend largely on how good the Crozius and the Rosarius are. You get a power weapon and a force field for free and can spend your Signature Wargear talents on other stuff.

Also the Oath description does not detail which Codex Squad Mode abilities it unlocks, I hope it stands somewhere else in RoB. Other than that I think the Oath is okay.

Icon of Duty? Remember that bridge in Final Sanction which was secured by large hordes of Rebels? Spend a FP for Fearsome Assault and most likely you'll cut right through them.

As I have said, he's not a combat monster, he's a spiritual leader.

Alex