Ascended characters are definately on a par with Deathwatch marines in combat and will outclass them in almost every other sphere of activity which gives you the option of including female PCs. After all, remember that the Deathwatch is under the auspice of the Inquisition. It is therefore entirely appropriate to mix it up with other types of character.

Deathwatch is SO MUCH MORE than a monochrome combat kill-team. their primary task is investigating xenos breeds for exploitation or extermination.

The simple fact is that space marines are ALL MALE. Its pretty much the only solid canon that GW has ever issued (not mentioning the female space marine miniature released in the early days http://www.coolminiornot.com/169720 ...that was just 'a female in power armour' apparently).

And as mousemuffin says, why should we let that spoil our fun? http://www.coolminiornot.com/159605

Seriously, all marines are male.

But if you want to change your 40k to have female marines, go for it!!

Still, the 'female space marine' topic crops up every now and then and typically guarantees over 100 replies and a flame war! Hehe...

This thought line keeps coming up so I figured I would put out what my 5 player group is running. They started out in DH and we replaced one character who died (a lot!) with a Space Marine from DW. Later, I allowed another to change over (hard to say No when he comes with his miniature assembled and painted to match his new character.)

Rank 12 Ascended Inquisitor

Rank 12 Ascended Sage (Female player)

Rank 12 Ascended Psyker Primaris (Female player)

Rank 3 Blood Angels Assault Marine (was an Assassin prior to reincarnation)

Rank 2 Ultramarine Tactical Marine (was an Imperial Guardsman prior to .... getting lost)

We played the "What if game..." and the Psyker still eats Space Marines most of the time, especially if there is range between them. The Sage is critical for the knowledge skills and the most protected player on the block (although I keep telling my BA Space Marine that she is not his wife in this world). The Inquisitor leads this highly specialized Ordo Xenos strike team and they are finishing up the Lure of the Expanse adventure from the RT game. The Ultramarine Space Marine has developed a habit of leaving the power armour behind when they are in port and wearing ragged robes, basically looking like a ogryn-blooded slave to the Inquisitor. Of course the BA Space Marine will do no such thing. Keep in mind that although citizens may know of Space Marines, nearly all will never, ever see on up close.

-Cynr

Yes I would say that an Ascended Psyker would deffinetly eat up a spacemarine if given half a chance(wins initiative roll). Really all those that are saying that Ascended DH characters are weak, I wonder if they have really ever looked at some of the Paragon Talents. What they lack in organs and unnaturals is far exceeded by sheer experiance and raw power. I was going to play a game as a DH Ascended Magos, when the GM saw what I had in comparison to a tech marine he decided to not allow it. Then of corse he ended up leaving and I had to GM, but anyway I must say give them a shot you will be surprised.

Nimon said:

Some might be surprising, but others - like the Crusader, Judge and Desperado - are just not going to cut it if placed into the kinds of combat encounters that are common in Deathwatch.

Nor are they going to cut it against the kind of combat encounters you can quite often see in Ascension -level Dark Heresy campaigns. The reason? They aren't supposed to.

The GM is just as justified in pulling out a freakin' Lord of Change as the big bad in DH. Hell, it even gives you the stats for one!

Also note; everyone matching ascension combat characters against a space marine: even if you're taking battle sisters as fighty characters with no social skills (they're not!), they still aren't supposed to be taking on space marines - the space marines are, after all, on their side. For example, a horde doesn't care if it's being shot with angelus-calibre bolt shells or more common 'mere-mortal-sized' ones, and the Palatine's bolter won't jam every ten shots.

"Ascended characters are definately on a par with Deathwatch marines in combat and will outclass them in almost every other sphere of activity which gives you the option of including female PCs. After all, remember that the Deathwatch is under the auspice of the Inquisition. It is therefore entirely appropriate to mix it up with other types of character.

Deathwatch is SO MUCH MORE than a monochrome combat kill-team. their primary task is investigating xenos breeds for exploitation or extermination."

Agreed. I've got a 'second character' for Deathwatch who is an Interrogator. Frankly I have as much with him as my Storm Wardens Devastator (who is fun if a bit...unsophisticated*). Wild skills and talents allow you to make some truly bizzare individuals, and as noted, some paragon talents are awesome.

* Morgan Kestyr has the lowest ballistic skill in the kill-team, the highest base strength, a claymore, a heavy flamer, unrelenting devastation and cleanse and purify. He is amusing to use, but is essentially crowd control and little more.

I first intended to post "Just let there be female Speess Mehreenss if that is so much of a problem!", but that has been posted elsewhere before - And tends the start the Holy Rightious Flame War Of Nerd Rage.

But then a simple thought occurred to me; Would it be possible to use the Chapter generation rules in the DW man book and perhaps supplements to generate "Chapers" named "Sisters of Battle", "Ascended Ordo Xenos Inquisitors" and such?

These "Chapters" would perhaps not all have Astartes grade battle armor, but I could see them with most other equipment - Including some nifty specialist stuff.