All Space Marines are duty-bound to protect the Imperium, and those that embark upon narrative Crusade campaigns do so by swearing fresh oaths of service. However, the specific pledges they make are up to them, and you can bet your last bolter shell a Chapter like the Dark Angels is careful to ensure their own secretive interests line up nicely with their stated aims.
Accordingly, Codex Supplement: Dark Angels takes you on secret-salvaging missions, campaigns with the Lion, and shadowy hunts for the Fallen, all while your characters earn induction into the Inner Circle. This is all in addition to the Crusade content from Codex: Space Marines, fully doubling the amount you can do in a narrative campaign.
Much like their regular Space Marine brothers, Dark Angels start by picking one of the Oathsworn Campaigns available to them. Two of the three work in a similar manner to those found in Codex: Space Marines, offering a special pre-battle Requisition to bolster your forces while challenging commanders to complete Bonus Agendas for Honour Points.*
The third is an altogether different beast – the Hunt for the Fallen. After completing at least one Secrets of the Unforgiven campaign and one other from either Codex, your Crusade force can attempt to root out a member of the Fallen in a high-stakes pursuit where their elusive quarry can be lost at any moment.
Success requires completing three different agendas in order, with failure in any one ending your hunt. The first – A Trail Uncovered – tasks you with scoring any three of six separate objectives, while Pursuit Across Worlds can be completed by extending control across the entire battlefield – sounds like a job for the resilient Deathwing.
Finally, the quarry is within sight. In this climactic struggle, the Fallen manifests on the battlefield as a free CHARACTER in your opponent’s army,** and victory can only be claimed with their destruction.
Each step of this hardcore campaign awards a huge stack of Honour Points, and the satisfaction at having expunged one more faithless traitor from the galaxy.
Once you’ve amassed a hefty stash of Honour Points, you can promote one of your characters to a number of roles within the Inner Circle. Terminator Captains, for example, can become a Master of the Deathwing and boost their unit’s effectiveness against your Oath of Moment target, while Ravenwing models claiming mastery over the 2nd Company all-but guarantee their high speed charges reach their target.
The new options don’t stop there, with expanded Requisitions, Battle Traits, and Crusade Relics turning your Unforgiven heroes into finely honed killing machines. Who knows – you might even carve your own legacy as a son of the Lion, and take your place at the head of the Inner Circle.
You can get your hands on the full Crusade rules in Codex Supplement: Dark Angels. Don’t worry if you missed out on the Deathwing Assault boxed set – the book will be available to preorder separately soon, alongside the miniatures.
* You’ll spend these on upgrades later.
** Converting your own Fallen miniature is an awesome hobby project – or you could make use of Cypher!