Thoughts and opions on how the typical DW team makes it from one star system to another.

I generally assume that a team of initiated renown level DW operatives would be assigned a smalle transport or firgate as thier transport. However one of my players assumed that the squad would be using a strike cruiser with full teleport capabiliites.

Supplement adventures transports run from hitching a ride on a near by Rogue Trader to dedicated strike ships so thats not much help. Do you think a team would have a dedicated transport or just what ever is close to hand? My Kill-Team will likely be doing some planet hopping as they chase down leads so I am inclidned to give them a dedicated transport (that can be upgraded during play as the team levels.) but I am unsure as to what to use as a baseline.

zylosan said:

There is dedicated fleet under Deathwatch for Kill-Team to use but also hitching a ride from Rogue Trader is not out of option.

Here's few links from Lexicanum for pointers.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Deathwatch#.UY_1C0obgWk

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Space_Marine_Fleet#.UY_2TUobgWk

This being WH40K, anything is possible. But published fluff suggests strongly that a Deathwatch sector will have only few ship assets available. This will include a few strike cruisers and other suitably fast vessels as time is often a factor. Being ferried around by Rogue Traders or other commandeered vessels is also very likely as there likely will be more kill-squads than ships. Kill-squads with their own dedicated strike cruiser seems far-fetched as that would not be the optimum use of scarce resources. Such a setup seems more likely with an inquisitor and his posse of deathwatch marines.

Teleporters are extremely rare and wouldn’t be likely on a strike cruiser. AFAIK, they are typically found on battle barges (and battle barges only) and are used by terminator marines. The Rogue Trader line offers as an upgrade it but with a number of caveats.

I wouldn’t put them on a strike cruiser for technical reasons (e.g. for example not enough space and not enough power available) and for role-playing reasons. Getting to the target is often an integral part of the adventure. Simply warping in would spoil a lot of the fun….

Smaller ships, such as frigates or destroyers are a more appropriate option for small kill-teams. Imperial and space marine frigates and destroyers are can be found ranging and patroling away from large fleets. Imperial ships usually do this in squadrons while space marine frigates, when operating seperate from a larger combined fleet, tend to work as singular ships patroling sectors and providing support to planets who need their help or whom the chapter has sworn treaties or oaths.

The space marine frigates will rarely have more than a single squad of Astartes on board, when they do it is likely no more than a few more as those ships aren't designed for large Astartes capacity. Besides, 10 Astartes is more than enough for general picket, patrol, and many assault missions. Space Marine ships are designed with the most advanced tech the ad mech have and are usually very automated, requiring a very small crew of chapter serfs to operate compared to imperial navy ships.

Navy frigates and destroyers usually provide the same picket and patrol missions as the Astartes ships but usually do so in squadrons. Under special circumstances, a fleet will dispatch single ships for certain missions. Being comandeered by Inquisition of Deathwatch would be such a special circumstance. But these ships aren't as big or robust as larger ships, they may get you into a system but they aren't going to brave 2 orbitals, 3 cruisers, and 5 squadrons of enemy frigates to provide the kill-team combat support after they get on planet. They are going to find a nice large asteroid or something to hide behind or warp out while waiting for the kill-team to get back, or returning at a pre-arranged time.

Also, the alliance between the Deathwatch and the Ordo Xenos shouldn't be strictly one-way; if the Deathwatch need a ship and one of their own isn't available, they should be able to get their 'friends' in the Inquisition to legally commandeer any available vessel.

Hunter Class destroyers and Gladius and Nova Class frigates are all dedicated Astartes escorts per BfG. They are roughly analogous to the Cobra, Sword and Firestorm frigates respectively. If one used the Rogue trader ship design rules I'm sure they could make a frigate look like an Astartes dedicated vessel…

Bear in mind that it is highly unlikely that a kill team will be assigned to ANY particular transport. They will be boarded upon whatever vessel is handy and going that way and delivered accordingly. Said vessel could be a small raider or a Battlebarge depending on the situation. In any case, It is unlikely that the Kill-team will have any control whatsoever over this asset. It is simply there to support the insertion/extraction of the kill team!