Greetings, Deathwatch fans!
One of the greatest challenges I faced when developing Deathwatch was finding the right answer to a simple question: What Space Marine Chapters should be included in the core rulebook?
The Deathwatch is a unique opportunity to showcase the differences between the core beliefs, traditions, and gene-seeds of the various Space Marine Chapters, and there is no better way to showcase that than to focus on some of the most famous and distinct Space Marine Chapters in Warhammer 40,000 .
In the background of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, there are a large number of interesting and unique Space Marine Chapters. Working with Games Workshop, we selected six of these Chapters for the Deathwatch Core Rulebook, but there are many more that await in future supplements for the Deathwatch line. I myself am quite a fan of the Space Marines, so I know that there are a lot of fans out there who are waiting with bated breath to see their particular favourite Chapter for Deathwatch .
In addition to that, it is a long-held tradition for Space Marine fans to create their own Chapters, or develop successor Chapters from some of the more famous and well-established ones in the Warhammer 40,000 lore. You can be sure that a thorough and extensive create-your-own-Chapter section is planned for the Deathwatch line in the future!
I am pleased to reveal the first of these Chapters in this Designer diary: The Space Wolves.
The Sons of Russ
The Space Wolves are a personal favourite of mine. These fierce Space Marines hail from the icy Death World of Fenris, and they are a proud and noble Chapter, their battle-lust tempered by cunning. Even in the grim darkness of the far future, there can still be heroes, and amongst their number you will find the savage fury of the Space Wolves. Here are some words from the talented pen of Andy Hoare about these Space Marines and their role in the Deathwatch:
“We may be few, and our enemies many. Yet so long as there remains one of us still fighting, one who still rages in the name of justice and truth, then by the Allfather, the galaxy shall yet know hope.”
–Ragnar Blackmane of the Space Wolves
Since the Imperium came into being, the Space Wolves have fought tooth and nail for the cause of the Emperor. Amongst the most famous of the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, their sagas are told from one end of the galaxy to the other. As headstrong as they are fierce, the Space Wolves excel at close-quarters fighting, their warriors vying keenly for glory on the field of battle. The Space Wolves live to fight, and death holds no fear for them.
The Battle-Brothers of the Space Wolves are ferocious and aggressive warriors. Though far from mindless berserkers, they are certainly possessed of a feral exuberance for battle. They have an overriding sense of duty and honour, and are driven ever onwards by a strong desire to right the many wrongs that have befallen the Imperium of Man since the heady days of the Great Crusade. Space Wolves exhibit a fierce sense of loyalty to their comrades in arms and this is on occasion extended to their compatriots in other branches of the Imperium’s military.
Although as devoted to the Emperor as any other Space Marine Chapter, the Space Wolves express their faith not in prayer and piety, but in feats of arms. While the Battle-Brothers of other Chapters may spend the night before battle in solemn meditation, the Space Wolves are more likely to mark the eve of battle in bawdy celebration, raising overflowing jacks of Fenrisian ale to brothers they may be mourning once battle is done. A Space Wolf will drink and make merry, for tomorrow, he may die.
In temperament, most Space Wolves are blunt and plain speaking, even to the point of giving offence to those not used to their ways. They abhor pretension and despise politicking. They are honest to a fault, and expect the same quality in those they fight alongside. Space Wolves embrace their lot with an uncomplicated enthusiasm, from the headstrong, newly recruited Blood Claw to the grey haired and taciturn Long Fang. Each plays the role fate lays before him, knowing that a life spent in service to the Emperor is a life well lived.
In the face of an enemy attack, a Space Wolf bounds forward like a Fenrisian wolf on the hunt, a joyous song of war on his lips.
In the Deathwatch
Many Space Wolves have served in the Deathwatch, and some of the most celebrated Battle-Brothers are drawn from the Chapter. Their propensity to engage the foe head on has led to many great victories, even if none outside of the Deathwatch ever hear of them. Though many Space Wolves have been elevated to the rank of Watch Captain in the Deathwatch, comparatively few have served as Watch Commanders. It is likely that this is due to the brothers’ natural gregariousness, and their desire to return to the great feasting halls of Fenris once their duty is done.
Deathwatch is a roleplaying game in which players take on the roles of the bio-engineered super-soldiers known as Space Marines. United with their battle-brothers, players will complete extraordinary missions involving some of the greatest heroes and deadliest opponents the Warhammer 40,000 universe has to offer.