Warhammer 40K RPG: Deathwatch Core Rulebook

by Fantasy Flight Games

• Deathwatch Role Playing Game Core Rule Book by Fantasy Flight Games

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1 x 11 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: 1589947789
• Manufacturer recommended age: 14 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,880 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)

Product Description

Deathwatch is a roleplaying game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, where you take on the role of a member of the Adeptus Astartes - the devout, bio-engineered super-soldiers also known as Space Marines. Only the most exceptional candidates from the fighting forces of the Adeptus Astartes are invited to join the Deathwatch, and take on a new oath to safeguard the Imperium from the darkest of threats. United in this newly forged brotherhood, all Deathwatch Marines must learn to put aside their differences and work together to succeed in the most extraordinary operations - whether facing the threat of total annihilation when confronted by implacable alien foes, or fighting against the foul daemon menace that crawls forth hungrily from beyond the Warp. Deathwatch offers a brand-new roleplaying experience by focusing on elite, special-missions style action at the furthest fringes of Imperial space, involving some of the greatest heroes and deadliest opponents the Warhammer 40,000 universe has to offer!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sci-Fi RPG for Just About Anyone October 13, 2010

By Vincent C. Daniels

Format:Toy|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the third core rulebook of the Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay system (following Dark HeresyDark Heresy RPG: Core Rulebook (Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay) and Rogue TraderRogue Trader RPG: Core Rulebook (Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay)). You assume the role of a Space Marine from the Chapters of the Black Templars, Blood Angels, Dark Angels, Space Wolves, Storm Wardens or the Ultramarines. You are inducted into the militant arm of the Ordo Xenos - the Deathwatch. You defend the Imperium of Man from the myriad alien threats that seek to wipe it from existence like the Tau, the Tyranid and the Orks among many others.

For those new to roleplaying, Deathwatch can prove to be enjoyable and fast. The characters you create are larger than life and possessed of a cornucopia of powers and abilities. The universe is grim and offers no shortage of conflicts to resolve and foes to face.

For those already familiar with Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 Universe, this book is easy to read through. Your first gloss over can pretty much cover the crunch (the rules and mechanics) in under a week since the background and story, or the fluff, is pretty much known to you. However, after that you'll still want to sit back and enjoy re-acquainting yourself with it. This book puts forth some incredibly interesting facts regarding some of the Chapters.... You will learn more about their preferred methods of battle, their attitudes regarding alien species (I was amazed to find that some Chapters are indeed even less tolerant than others), attitudes toward the Codex Astartes (the Space Marines' version of the Military Uniform Code of Justice) and more.

For those familiar with either of Deathwatch's literary predecessors, you will be pleased to know that the overall system remains unchanged and this book even gives suggestions on do's and dont's for Dark Heresy/Rogue Trader/Deathwatch crossovers. You may want to use miniatures for combat as there are rules to allow players to face down entire hordes of enemies.

There is something in this work for those familiar with only the tabletop wargame, those familiar only with tabletop rpg's, those familiar with both and those familiar with neither. A worthy purchase. Read more ›

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The wait was long; finally We can be Astartes! November 14, 2010

By Anibal Madeira

Format:Toy

Since the eighties that many players of WH 40K awed by the wealth of background, the fabulous imagination of the battle system storyplot and the immense material published in novels, wanted to play Adeptus Astartes in a RPG. The amount of adaptations of the WFR (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay) by RPG troupes were numerous but they always failed to capture the power and glory of the Astartes. It was difficult for many reasons including game balance and homogeneity of the characters.

FFG rose up to the challenge. First "Dark Heresy RPG" showed us the WH 40K Universe coming alive; "Rogue Trader" added the exploration and titanic vessels commanded by the players...but all the players still waited for the Astartes. Now, after more than 20 years you can do just that - Play an Adeptus Astartes!

Belonging to the Deathwatch, this game gives you the opportunity to mix Space Marine Chapters (in the basic rulebook you can choose from Ultramarines, Space Wolves, Blood Angels, Dark Angels, Storm Wardens and Black Templars) adding diversity, mixed loyalties and chapter politics into the equation.

The players can also choose from six specialities including: Tactical, Assault, Techmarine, Apothecary, devastator and Librarian. The costumization of each character is extraordinary and the players can choose skills and talents from several sources. But they also share several standard characteristics: all are Adeptus Astartes with superhuman capabilities, they are all highly trained having an enormous amount of starting standardized skills and talents provided by their training and implants, they are loyal to the Emperor and they know no fear....

The rules for Deathwatch are very similar to the other WH 40K RPG games Dark Heresy and Rogue Trader (and based in the second edition of warhammer fantasy), although there are some new rules: including solo and squad mode, oaths of battle, cohesion and squad mode abilities (including defensive, offensive and from specific Chapters), etc.

The game play is very militaristic and objective driven. From the selection of equipment for the mission (with requirement values), the choosing of the leader and the establishing of a plan, the Kill team has lots of freedom on how to acomplish each objective. Obviously there are many more types of stories you can run with your characters, but the basic structure is the mission.

Just two remarks: There are some typos that escaped the editor and the game examples could be much better.

Very good art and flavour text are abundant and everything highly respects the already existing sources of information on this rich universe.

But what are you waiting for? Humanity and the Imperium need YOU! Don your Power armour and grab your sacred Boltgun and start cleansing the heretic, the alien and the Witch.

By the Emperor, I highly recommend this book. Read more ›

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars For The Emperor! October 18, 2010

By Yellow Striped Armadillo of Doom

Format:Toy

Deathwatch is the 3rd installment of the Fantasy Flight's role-play core rule books for the Warhammer 40,000 universe. It is also one that for many was highly anticipated. At long last the Adeptus Astartes are available to play. What does this mean for the universe as a whole? Well quite a lot.

Continuing with the theme built in in the previous books Dark Heresy RPG: Core Rulebook (Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay) and Rogue Trader RPG: Core Rulebook (Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay)the galaxy is expanded some more, this time taking the players south of the Ultima Segmentum. The Deathwatch is a chapter dedicated to defending the Imperium of Man from the Xenos, as such it works with the Ordo Xenos of the Inquisition, however it is the firepower. Taking soldiers from different Space Marine Chapters, the players form a Kill-Team in Deathwatch, and must learn how to work with Space Marines from a different chapter with different traditions.

Key to this book is the militaristic style of missions, it is not based on a free-flowing style as Dark Heresy or Rogue Trader is, but more on orders coming from above. Even in this there is room to expand and create a campaign that is fun and enjoyable for everyone. Also, if you are so inclined, all 3 core rule books are compatible and can be used in each of the others...just beware doing so because a Space Marine is very powerful! Because of the high combat nature of the book, combat is streamlined making for easier faster fights and more powerful enemies are given. Chaos Space Marines, Tau, and Tyranids all present formidable opponents for Space Marines of the Deathwatch....

Overall this was an excellent book, the Psyker powers are more akin to the style of Rogue Trader suggesting that power rolls and power thresholds are no longer the need, as such each chapter of Librarian has their own Chapter specific powers. This allows for more flavor of powers. Also squad-mode and solo-mode combat is allowed. This is a must have book for any fan of the Warhammer 40K universe and roleplaying! Read more ›