Growler67

The only "creative liberty" I just cannot swallow is the "14th Company" part. Established lore is that lost companies, or those that diverge from the current Great Wolf for whatever reason, or renounce their oaths and go 'their own way' (as it appears your company has chosen) are considered "13th Company" based on the plaque of Great Company Stones in the Great Hall of the Fang. The blank stone "represents" those companies. Creating a "14th" just goes against the grain a bit too far, IMHO. Be different, be divergent, be creative.....be ALL that, but you can be any of THAT without going completely rogue and off the chain with a "14th". Having said that, I read your post except for the spoiler portions and it seems fine enough to me with the exception I previously mentioned. Giving plenty of wiggle room (quite a lot actually) for the formation of a whole company of those like the Lonewolves that cannot reassimilate into their original companies, for example, just seems less plausible than continuing to serve in the Deathwatch for instance. Pack survivors that cannot reintegrate into their old or even a new great company wouldn't be considered "unwanted" to use your own words, but could become training cadre at the Fang to share the lessons of their experience in continued service to Russ and the All Father. Having such a collection of , for lack of a better term, "misfits" all combined in a singular great company led by not one "Alpha Male" but two also goes deeply against the grain of ALL their indoctrination in becoming a Wolf of Fenris. That too is a hard sell, IMO. There would be too much chaotic frenzy, animosity, belligerence for the generally highly competitive yet jovial Sons of Russ. All meant as constructive criticism and not intended to be insulting in any way if any of it came off like that. Pushing the boundaries is one thing but you have to take into account that even in this kind of pursuit, there are limits at which things just cannot remain cohesive. Good start, but I think it can use some refining and tweaking is all.

PM sent, Available Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Pacific Time Zone but flexible on times depending on work shift

Ahhhhh....no, those "chirps" were misinterpreted as dolphin speak.....it's a code thing ;)

Perhaps some of our forum brothers down under with some helpful knowledge can also participate....

I cannot speak to that specifically but it is certainly very plausible as the vast majority of islands in and around the Pacific Rim are volcanic in nature and obsidian is a natural by-product of such environments. I am not familiar with any use in weapons by the Hawaiians but I cannot completely discount it. FWIW, I grew up in Hawaii and Hawaiian History or "Hawaiiana" as it was called during those years covered a very wide spectrum of information and details. Koa Wood was revered not only for being a hard wood with associated properties for specific uses, but because the trees are the largest that grow on the islands. They are related/descendant from Genus: Acacia. Canoes were (and still are) made from them as nothing else available had the same kind of durability and strength. Also sought for it's appearance and luster in addition to durability when bowls, platters and other "everyday items" were fashioned from them as they lasted and could be reused for a long time. Obsidian being used in weapons is rather common in neolithic time epocs most notably in Europe by Neanderthals and North America by the resident populations during the time of the Mastodons and Great Wooly Mammoths. Spear and arrow points as well as the heads of tools such as the Adz and smaller shards being used as knives and cutting/scraping implements was very common.

Reference your "Hawaiian Tattoo" entry....facial tattoos were explicitly and exclusive for those who were "outcasts" or "Kauwa". If one had a facial tattoo, they were likely a war captive from the opposing group, a criminal, a social outcast or someone deemed "untouchable" by the aristocratic class within their tribal system. Tattoos were very personal in nature to Hawaiians and reflected symbols of totemic or guardian like spirits or deities, in Hawaiian; "Aumakua". For instance, a shark represents a navigator or pathfinder as in their mythology and story telling histories as they were guided across the ocean to what would eventually become known as the Hawaiian Islands. They are also symbols of strength or "Ikaika" as their teeth were often harvested and meticulously impregnated and bound into Koa Wood to enhance the effectiveness of war clubs, spears and other hand weapons in common use; some current productions and reproductions imaged here: http://www.tikimaster.com/category/05.21/ *NOTE: in the Hawaiian language, a "w" is pronounced phonetically as a "v"; also like most phonetic languages, each vowel represents an individual syllable as they are not "combined" to form variations from the basic 'A=Ah', 'E=Eh', 'I=EE', 'O=Oh', 'U=Oo' (unlike the German pronunciation of 'Oh' in this circumstance) vowel sounds.

Every marine can get First Aid, but only Apothecaries can get a Narthecarium and Medicae....they are higher levels of First Aid and include "surgical knowledge"....for when it goes beyond a basic would....like missing limbs and so forth.

An Inquisitor might also provide a Servo Skull with Medicae to augment if the GM saw fit to grant it.

In terms of context justifying a GM's choice, the GM of a game I joined laid it down like this: You are dropping in as replacements for a Kill Team on the ground (could easily be for ANY new players).....you have no Solo or Squad Mode Skills or Traits because you are not fully acquainted nor integrated with your Battle Brothers and have not yet developed a more efficient rapport with them. You can function within the basics of rank and structure but keep in mind that you are new this operational realm. As your trust and cohesion with the rest of the Kill Team grow, so will your ability to exercise Solo and Squad Modes. They just got assigned together and have no real "feel" for their comrades in Battle. It will come in time.

I would also suggest you do some reading here: http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?showforum=161

Not at all. The point to these online forums and such is to help others with clarifications, interpretations, personal experiences and advice. Being helpful is just part of the deal.

My group (and I imagine others) when a player has to leave the session or is abscent, the GM plays them as an NPC. A tag-along servo skull with Medicae wouldn't be a bad asset either though. As a GM, making "adjustments" during the game would be crucial if things become problematic. Having the group end mission haggered and beaten up is one thing....killing them off (though it IS in the underlying fluff of the Deathwatch that most do not complete their Oath and retuirn to their Home Chapters alive) is a sure way to turn off gamers....especially new ones. Time and effort are spent on creating and developing a Character and to just have them wiped out and have to start over just takes it out of a person sometimes.

Aside from the link I provided, it IS a game, why can't she just role play an Astartes? There are guys that represent themselves as "female" archetypes on MMORPG's.....I would wager that there are at least a few females that represent themselves as "male" characters too. Why CAN'T she just pick a Chapter and play a Marine? As long as it's done in the proper context as a Character....what does it matter that the voice behind the actions is engendered as a female? The Character is merely and Avatar and NOT an ACTUAL female in Power Armor.....right? Just MY opinion....FWIW.

There are threads on these very topics on the FFG board. As for the "necessity" of an Apothecary....there really isn't. The Inquisitor can send along a Servo Skull or two with basic Medicae is nobody has chosen that skill or there is no Apothecary. I'm new to the DW RPG myself and the mission is still early on (Final Sanction) but so far there hasn't been need for "healing services". Rather than muddy the waters, I'll just link you to the threads over on FFG: Apothecary: http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/84456-need-healing/ Other healing related threads: http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/86943-healing-critical-injuries/ http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/84922-medicae-horde-outnumbering-and-thematic-questions/ Female Player: http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/75287-female-player-and-what-to-do/ The overall DW Forum page here: http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?showforum=161 You can read through the general questions there or enter the various other sections for more information. The Rule Writers used to pop in more often to actually respond to questions and clarify things...not so much anymore though.

Not sure if we have an Ultramarine or Templar, but we do have a Wolf.....Me Not sure if we have an Assault marine either but IIRC we don't.....yet. Again, ask Jared when he replies to your PM. He's easy to communicate with and very helpful. He can give you everything you need to get up to speed with the rest of us. Not sure wht days and times will work best for you. We have each shared ours with hims and he is trying to find the best times to set up game sessions. Right now we are still popping in at Roll20 for helper sessions and just chatting.