Do Marine helmets carry any sort of recording equipment like the helmet cams in "Aliens"?

Not that I've read about in any of the novels, or seen referenced anywhere.

I think it would be safe to say they do.

IIRC, the intro to DoW: Dark Crusade looked like it was from a Marine's helmet cam.

I could see it. Space Marine helmets are quite advanced. Including the auto-senses, filters, targeting, and MIU systems.

In the original Space Hulk videogame on the PC, back in the early to mid 90s, you controlled a whole squad of terminators using their helmet cams. It was actually a very good game (for its time). As you lost marines to Genestealer attack, the video feed from each terminator would switch to static, which was a genuinely chilling effect, neatly derivative of /reminiscent of Aliens.

So I'd say yes.

none as a standard...

but it's a good roleplaing point.

give some squad the pitch recorder......

Huuum, I believe that Signum links and all the (lower-level) likes may approximate that. I recall reading something about Marines potentially visualizing what the others see, but I don't remember where, nor find it, so it must be my own failure

But I'd see it as cool

It would make pict recorders (which cost Rew) completely moot and pointless. I'd say 'no', but if a player buys a pict recorder or perhaps signum link as suggested, then maybe it could include a helmet camera.

Well, seeing as Marine armour has auto-senses it's potentially possible on any SM (PA or better of course), as it's not mentioned much would suggest it falls down somewhere, probably on the quality of the communicators (long range and secure being higher priority than video) so that's not outside the possibility of a team making it happen.

Thanks for the replies guys. The pict recorder would seem to preclude 'helmet cams' being standard issue (as Siranui points out why bother paying req for something that the helmet could do anyway). The question arose from the fallout of our last session. I wanted to check whether the Deathwatch could simply review the camera logs of the kill-team or whether the marines themselves would be called upon to give personal report of their actions.

MikeN said:

I believe you can stream your auto-senses feed to other folks but there is no recording device installed, you need the pict recorder for that. Incidentally, my BA Librarian also has a data slate (in addition to the pict recorder) to which the feed gets forwarded and linked to his cartographer. Kinda like google maps with vids attached to specific locations. And if a Brother discovers sth interesting, I put his auto-senses full screen onto my display and can archive that too this way.

All just for maintaining proper records to file into the Erioch Librarium, of course.

Alex

Not as standard, but many teams carry them. Several of the entries in Mark of the Xenos mention helmet camera footage. Mostly likely from an integrated pict recorder. I'd imagine that there is a pattern of pict recorder specifically made to integrate into the helmet.

To be fair, watches (chronos?) and mag boots are also availible for purchase with req, and power armour comes standard with those as well, so i'd say that using a req cost as an indication of no being standard doesnt work for everything. (IIRC, don't have my book on me at the moment)

On the other hand, it's not specified, whereas magboots are. Additionally the vox unit mentions it can broadcast vital signs, with no mention of picture link or recording. After all, it doesn't mention that power armour includes three lascannons, a grav chute and a propeller hat either, so we wouldn't consider those to be included for free.

The Warhammer 40,000 Compendium (from 1989) says this about Terminator suits:-

++++The communicators carried in Terminator suits are specially rigged to carry visual as well as auditory signals. This means that any member of a Terminator Squad can tune in one of his comrades, and see exactly what he sees through his own auto-sense unit. Although all Terminator suits are capable of broadcasting, to avoid confusion it is usual for only the Sergeant's suit to send out visual messages.++++

With that said, I think it is generally going to be better for the game if Marines can lie to their superiors about what they have been up to.

Although video relay doesn't mean video and audio recording, of course.

Helmet cameras have popped up in the fluff a few times, often to provide an apocalyptic log of a world that was razed by Necrons or Tyranids or what have you. There's a picture in the Necron codex of a Land Raider being speared that could only have come from a helmet camera. They also appear in some BL books; off the top of my head, Brothers of the Sna ke vaguely implies that the main character either has a helmet camera, an implant that works as a camera, or just a photographic memory.

Helmet cams don't make pict recorders otiose, as a pict recorder isn't attached to a helmet and can be left mounted somewhere to record things. I've played a game where we needed this exact function, as the kill-team needed proof that Tau were ambushing Imperial patrols in order to authorise an assault on their base. I brought up helmet cameras and we realised it wouldn't work because the helmet would be pretty visible (and I would be without a helmet for the rest of the game.)

Comparing them to propeller hats is a little silly because while propeller hats make no sense for a high-tech alien-hunting special forces squad, a helmet camera does, as it might often be the only way to gather intelligence on an enemy who has managed a total party kill (and to monitor the activities of the Marine for any signs of corruption.)

The bottom line is that if the GM says they have helmet cams, they do, and if he says they don't, they don't. If it's never brought up, it's never brought up. Give them cameras if it is convenient to the plot that you do so; do not if it is inconvenient. It's not like you can't make them standard issue if you want.

Bastard of Melbourne said:

Maybe the helmet camera footage came from marines who'd paid the Requisition for it.

A totally agree with your summery, but I feel it's worth pointing out that we are talking 40k here. It should never be taken as given that any 'simple' piece of technology would be commonly available, even to those who would seem to require it.

It's worth noting that even given how superior the modern US military is as regards information and intelligence networking compared to 40k institutions, there really isn't a need or requirement for such equipment.

Siranui said:

Maybe the helmet camera footage came from marines who'd paid the Requisition for it.

They were Black Templars, though, so they don't get to request Batman gadgets like suspensors or hellfire rounds.

Anyway, the gist of it is that there's some examples of them having them, it's reasonable for them to have them, and if a GM thinks they should have them, he shouldn't be told that he's doing something wrong. It's a minor plot device that GMs should rule in or out at their leisure.

In several of the novels, both tech marines and apothicaries can interface with suits of power armor and utilize functions not available to the marines inside said suits. I wouldn't put it past the Mechanicum to include recording devices in all suits of power armor, but restrict access to the data the device records.

Personally, I count a basic recording capability as part of the autosenses of Power, Artificer and Terminator Armour, with the Pict Recorder entry in the armoury being for situations when a Marine is wearing Scout Armour (and thus doesn't have autosenses).

That does however somewhat stifle some roleplaying, as characters can no longer lie (for whatever reason) about what they did, saw et al.

Sure they can. I imagine they will still decide when the camera records or not.

We just run with the pict-recorder for requisition, being added to the helmets, if the player so wishes. I think it is fairly cheap, and as for now itcan make a difference in taking it, as opposed to the marines all having them.

When they hit higher levels of renown, they can possible request it as basic part of their suits if they feel the need. That would be ok with me.

Jackal_Strain said:

"So this bit here, after where you argue about what to do with the prisoner.... where it gets switched off for two minutes... That's not when you went back in the room and shot him, right?"