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Well ...i tried to paint RavenGuard, then i tried Raptors (not too bad attempt) but then that dropped by the wayside... I still really love the RavenGuard chapter and all it's sneakiness so when the new dex dropped and the idea of a raven guard supplement coming with decals etc it rekindled some of the embers that were on the back burner... but what to do well along comes Paul Norton of GW's Eavy Metal team with a smashingly good Raven Guard successor chapter that is surprisingly easier to paint than i thought here's a model i'd already started with a Leadbelcher armour layer and just added his extra colours to it... Cheers, Mithril

Founding: 27th (Ultima) Gene Line: Raven Guard Specialisation: Void Combat/Anti-Insurgency Origins: "It is a thankless, lonely task I set you men. There will be little glory out in the darkness between the stars, few grand wars to be fought. But it is a true purpose, vital to the Crusade, to Humanity and to the Emperor Himself." - Roboute Guilliman. Born of Guilliman's Ultima Founding, the War Dogs were formed from a portion of the fleet elements of the Unnumbered Sons Of Corax. Assigned by the Lord Commander to operate behind the battle lines of the Indomitus Crusade, the War Dogs were originally missioned with protecting Imperial supply lines and eliminating pirates and insurgents, whether Chaotic, heretical or Xenos in origin. The Chapter took to this task with a vengeance, ranging out across the stars in the swiftest vessels they could find, eager to harry and destroy the enemies of the Imperium wherever they could be found. By the end of the Indomitus Crusade, with some small measure of stability returned to the Ultima Segmentum, the Chapter has refocused a sizeable part of its attention on the Cicatrix Maledictum. All along the edge of the Great Rift, the War Dogs track and hunt those traitor vessels that attempt to slip quietly across its borders and target unsuspecting Imperial worlds. Chapter Organisation: "A hundred Space Marines? Hah! I'll do it with thirty-four!" - Captain Maric, 18th Patrol, 'Iron Raptors'. Although the War Dogs were organised according to the strictures of the Codex Astartes at the time of their creation, in the centuries that followed they have adapted to better fulfil their purpose. The primary division of force within the Chapter is now the Patrol. Each Patrol consists of around thirty Primaris Space Marines, led by a Captain. The Chapter uses this higher rank because each Patrol leader is also commander of one or more of the many ships of the Chapter Fleet. This fleet is primarily made up of squadrons of Gladius-class frigates and Hunter-class destroyers, supported by deadly Nova-class frigates, though Patrols have been seen using repurposed Navy escorts and light cruisers. While entirely non-standard, this organisation is perfectly suited to War Dogs' role, allowing their forces to act with far greater flexibility and cover a vastly larger area than an average Chapter. The War Dogs Patrols are typically built around a solid core of Mark X Tacitus armoured Intercessor squads, ably supported by a mix of Phobos and/or Gravis units. Inceptor and Suppressor squads are rarely seen, their jump packs proving far less useful within the cramped environs in which the War Dogs usually operate. Likewise, the Chapter maintains very few vehicles other than void-capable transports such as Stormravens or Caestus Assault Rams. However, mobile fire support is provided by a variety of Dreadnought platforms deployed by modified Boarding Torpedoes, which are able to keep pace with the War Dogs fast moving infantry. While many Ultima Founding Chapters have been supplied en masse with the new Redemptor Dreadnoughts, the War Dogs have continued to favour and request the older Contemptor and Castraferrum Patterns, as their smaller chassis are often better suited for fighting within the relatively narrow corridors of many space vessels. Unsurprisingly the War Dogs Patrols and frigates need a great deal of support, both technical and medical. In an ideal Galaxy, each frigate would have aboard an Apothecary and at least one Techmarine. However, given the sheer number of such vessels within the Chapter Fleet, it is sometimes the case that a Patrol must rely on experienced Chapter serfs in these roles. Combat Doctrine: "Fourteen minutes. Fourteen stinking minutes! That's all the time it took for them to board us, hit the bridge and warp drive, cripple the life support, and leave us to choke... Astartes basta..." - Raun Trenchard, former Captain of the Grand Cruiser 'Ruination', awaiting execution for piracy. The War Dogs are furious close quarter specialists, their equipment and tactics focussed almost entirely on the maelstrom of ship-to-ship combat and boarding actions. Chapter frigates operate alone across the breadth of the Ultima Segmentum, patrolling shipping lanes and searching out the vessels and bases of raiders and corsairs. Brutal boarding torpedo assaults hammer such heretics, delivering squads into the very heart of their defences. In combat, the War Dogs are aggressive and yet tactically precise, channeling their fury into a coldly efficient and effective fighting style. Few renegade Captains are ready to face the physical or strategic power of these highly professional gene-hanced soldiers and are quickly defeated, their crews executed and their ships scuttled. Picapt.ref.WD-221.1+VCM.M41- Sgt Zdravko, 28th Patrol, 'Hellborn'. When heretics are discovered in strength beyond the capability of the Marines of a single frigate or squadron to crush, a Company gathers for the kill, forming a coursing pack consisting of as many as a dozen Rapid Strike Vessels. Any of these ships would be no match for a cruiser or battleship on their own, but as a precisely coordinated fleet, darting in to target key systems or launch boarding parties, they are more than capable of dragging down a far larger foe. On occasion, however, the War Dogs far ranging Patrols will encounter a vastly larger enemy force, an entire Battle Fleet or invasion force. Under such circumstances, the Chapter feels no compunction to engage in a foolhardy or suicidal attack and will instead shadow the enemy, picking off scouts or stragglers even as they send an urgent call for other Imperial forces to prepare a suitably heavy handed response. Homeworld: "For three days it darkened the skies, hiding us from the Emperor-Sun's blazing sight. Then the giants came, clad in iron that turned away arrow, blade and stone, to carry off the youngest of our kin." - Elder Cha'tima, Shaman of the Bison Clan. Given their assignment, it is unsurprising that the War Dogs have never claimed any single world as their home. Instead they operate from a Chapter Barque, the Canis Domum, a huge vessel that travels the stars behind the War Dogs' frigates. It visits all manner of worlds; civilised Hives to feral Deathworlds, primitive Feudal planets to high tech Forgeworlds. From these the Chapter requisitions, trades or simply takes whatever it needs to continue in its mission, whether it be supplies, weapons and ammunition, or young fighters to join their ranks. Within its vast hull, the Barque holds the Chapter's Forges, the Apothecarion where new initiates are transformed into mighty warriors and, at its deepest heart, the stasis-locked vaults that hold the Chapter's precious Geneseed. The vessel's outer edges contain the Labyrinth, a maze of mile after mile of twisting corridors, dead ends, choke points and bastions. This maze forms a part of the Canis Domum's defensive measures, but more importantly also provides the training ground in which the War Dogs learn their skills in short-ranged combat and boarding actions. While the Canis Domum is not a dedicated warship, being too slow to hunt beside the rest of the Chapter Fleet, it is nevertheless fully able to defend itself. Massively thick armour, dozens of void shield generators and countless weapons batteries and torpedo tubes protect its gargantuan hull, not to mention an ever-present and numerous shoal of smaller ships, frigates returning to resupply or awaiting new patrol routes to be assigned. The crews of these vessels would willingly give their very lives to defend the Canis Domum, for it carries within its halls and cavernous holds the future of the Chapter itself. Beliefs: "We are gathered from a hundred different worlds. Tall and short, light and dark, noble men of God and savage hunters. But we are united. United by duty, by training, by purpose. We are the War Dogs, the faithful hounds of the Emperor, and what greater honour could any man ask for?" - Chaplain Acanthio. The cosmopolitan nature of the War Dogs recruits, gathered as they are from countless different worlds and cultures, means that they have no common level of education or unified system of belief. The Chapter considers these differences as of minimal importance. Their Cult is very much a secular organisation, focussing purely on the Marines' duty to the Imperium, the Chapter and their shipmates. Those Initiates gathered from worlds of a religious disposition are permitted to worship the Emperor in their own time as they see fit, with the simple caveat that it must not interfere with either the fulfilment of their battlefield roles or their ability to work together with their brethren as a united force. Hence, Chaplains have become less religious, mythic figures within the Chapter and more morale and cultural integration officers. As such, they are most commonly found aboard the Canis Domum, working closely with the Chapter's recruiting Sergeants. The training given by these stern and dutiful veterans instills in the Chapter's diverse warriors an attitude of professionalism and humility. The War Dogs, as their name implies, see themselves as nothing more than simple, loyal servants of the Emperor and Mankind. While Marines are sometimes boisterous and boastful with their squad mates, like any band of soldiers, there is generally little concern among the brethren for such a nebulous concept as personal glory or any kind of self-aggrandisement. Honours won in battle are nevertheless treasured, but these tend to be kept with a Marine's personal effects rather than emblazoned across their armour. In fact, the Chapter seems to view such decorative adornments as overly ostentatious and ill-befitting for true soldiers of the Emperor. Geneseed: "...Implantation Success: 79%... ...Genome degradation: 0.06%... ...Status: Acceptable..." The War Dogs hail from the Unnumbered Sons of Corax. Unlike that of the inheritors of the Raven Guard since the dark days of the Horus Heresy, the Geneseed of the Primaris Marines created by Belisarius Cawl appears to have been cured of all degradations and losses. The War Dogs thusly have a full complement of working implants, though only time will tell whether these will continue to function on a permanent basis. Like all the sons of Corax, the skin tone of the Chapter's warriors tends to pale over time, even as their hair and eyes darken, though this does vary somewhat depending on the planetary origin and genetic makeup of each Marine. War Cry: "Kill! Kill! Kill!" - Captain Jabari, 22nd Platoon, 'Dragon Axes'. The diverse cultural origins of the War Dogs Marines, compounded by their Patrols' propensity for working alone for lengthy periods of time, has resulted in a vast variety of battle calls and chants among the brethren. It is often the case that these cries are tied in with the preferences and experiences of their Captains, ranging from the devout to the barbaric. However, some appear to be common to most battle groups, 'For the Emperor!' or 'For Corax!' being unsurprisingly ubiquitous. ***** Discussion Link

I'm co-running a crusade campaign with my new gaming group, and we're doing an escalation campaign. 1 PL is about 20 pts and so 1 RP = 100pts so you potentially could have a 3k OoB by the end if you didn't spend your RP on anything else. The metagame is pretty diverse, roughly thus: 2x Necrons 4x Loyalist Space Marines incl. Blood Angels (mix of Primaris?) Death Guard 2xOrks Custodes Sisters Knights/Mechanicus Thousand Sons Tau Astra Militarum We're doing 1000pt Orders of Battle to start, with the following missions and escalation tiers: 3 Combat Patrol missions at 500pts 3 Incursions at 750pts the other 3 Incursions at 1k 3 Strike Force missions at 1500 the final 3 Strike Force at 2k The core of the list is shooty with some objective holding elements; I may take a page from Lukoi's book and trying to orient play along the long end of the boards, and I'm also taking after Riddlesworth's Bolter Fusillades obsession given that my Captain(s) are hanging out with non-bolter units. I'm not running many snipers (one) and I think with the incoming RG CT nerf hitting rapid fire weapons particularly hard (can't fire two shots at 15" and stay outside 18" range for Dense Cover), the RG CT and super doctrine doesn't do me as much good as Stealthy plus another one. I'm tempted to take Rapid Assault but the Hellblasters are the only guys with assault weapons right now. The core of the list is this 495pt patrol. I'm using the Captain (and optionally Infiltrators) to block deep strike and charge shenanigans and to prevent the Hellblasters offing themselves. I can use Concealed Positions to put him slightly forward of my DZ and then the Infiltrators stratagem to move the Hellblasters up to join him before turn 1. I did some math and I think 2 shots at 24" with the ability to shoot and advance is better than wounding t4 on a 2+ when overcharged; there's not much Primaris in the meta. I could be convinced otherwise, though - I'm modelling them as Rapid Fire and I doubt anyone will care if I opt for either one as long as I don't change it without paying RP. The stupid little square boxes on top look awful. Captain in Phobos Armour w/ Ex Tenebris (-1 RP) 3x Eradicators (or 5x Infiltrators) 5x Veteran Intercessors w/ Power Fist (-1 RP) 5x Hellblasters w/ Assault Plasma Incinerators At 750 points, I'm adding Outriders to give me some more anti-infantry and mobility. At this point we'll be getting 6 CP to start with, and none have to be spend on pre-game upgrades, so I'm thinking of using Stranglehold and keeping the rest around for See, but Remain Unseen for performing actions, Deadly Prize, Transhuman Physiology, Skilled Riders, False Flight, etc. something like that. 3x Outriders 5x Infiltrators (or 3x Eradicators if not added before) 1k brings in an Invictor to join the Outriders in supporting a forward Infiltrator squad as well as a Judiciar with Master of Ambush to deploy the Veteran Intercessors to a forward objective and protect them from charges. Mathhammer says him plus the PF sergeant and the rest of the boys, on top of shooting, should be able to pulp 5 Sanguinary Guard before they get to attack back, even on the charge. Judiciar with Master of Ambush (-1 RP) and maybe Storm of Fire Invictor Tactical Warsuit At 1500pts I want to max out the Hellblasters and Intercessors, and add a couple more squads. I think it's important to do this now while I can still buy Fresh Recruits with RP, as I'll lose that ability once they get 16 Experience Points and become Battle-Hardened. With 1 point for every game (9), 1 for every third unit killed and 3 if Marked for Greatness, I think that's a serious risk. A big squad of Veteran Intercessors also lets me make the best use of Rapid Fire, Steady Advance, Gene-wrought Might, False Flight and Honour the Chapter now that we'll be getting 9 CP to start. Honestly I don't love Suppressors but I think I have a bit of an autocannon hole in my list, and they should be more effective at higher points levels with their 48" range than they've been so far in smaller games. +5 Veteran Intercessors +5 Hellblasters 3x Suppressors 5x Infiltrators Then finally at 2000pts, a long way off, but I'm thinking I'll expand to a second Patrol - there's no need right now, I could just run a Battalion, but at this point we'll be three months into the campaign and I expect the new Space Marine codex to be out, limiting us to 1 Captain per detachment. We should also have the new Smash Chaplain hopefully with his bonus attacks on the charge. I'm planning to bring the Centurions and CM along with SftS as a counterpunch, though they could easily start on the board if people get wise to zoning out their side of the table. I based the points cost for the Chaplain on the Legends Bike version so as it stands now, I have room to add an Apothecary to help protect the Centurions, but might not depending. Outrider Chaplain w/ Master of Sanctity, Wise Orator & Swift & Deadly, Exhortation of Rage & Mantra of Strength, and Benediction of Fury Primaris Captain w/ Chapter Master, Power Sword, Bellicos Bolt Rifle 3x Centurion Devastators w/ Grav-Cannons and Centurion Missile Launchers Primaris Apothecary w/ Chief Apothecary, Father of the Future Generally the overall plan is to largely abandon my deployment zone and try to form a few castles on mid-board objectives, with overlapping fields of fire so they can support each other. I have almost 50 multi-wound models on the table by 2k and I hope they'll be resilient enough with Stealthy and have enough damage output to earn primaries and deny my opponent. I'd love alternate ideas for Chapter Tactics, feedback on the efficacy of Invictors, Suppressors and Outriders, and any ideas on units I maybe haven't considered yet. I've looked at Terminators but so far rejected them in favour of stronger characters coming in at the end. Thanks for reading if you got this far!

"Speak." "So that the dead may hear!" "Kill." "So that the dead may be avenged!" "Live." "So that the dead may never be forgotten!" -Charnel Consuls Rite of Remembrance I decided to start a thread on my on Successor that I've been developing, the Charnel Consuls AKA The Unkind. I was inspired by Paul Nortons Iron Ravens. Originally they were to be my own DIY but as Death Watch. Suddenly the new marine 'dex dropped and alongside it I saw the IR's; so vanilla they became. It is a work in progress from fluff to models. ++ BEGIN DATA STREAM++ //ERROR_INFORMATION MISSING OR CORRUPT //DATA RECOVERY INITIALIZING... A History of Unkindness The Charnel Consuls are a Primaris chapter founded during the Ultima Founding. Like their ancestors, the Raven Guard, they excel in ambush and shock tactics. They favor high mobility mounted hit and run tactics using Impulsors and are experts in urban warfare. They wear black and gold armor with company colors on the left knee pad. Their symbol is a black raven on a field of gold. Chapter Beliefs The Charnel Consuls hold a deep reverence for the dead, even for those they slay. They believe that death is the darkness cast by the Emperors Light and that in communing with the dead they receive guidance from their fallen brothers, friends, and enemies. To this end they collect the skulls of the dead, friend or foe, and gild them in gold to don upon their armor. Notable Charnel ConsulsChapter Master [ERROR] Captain [ERROR] High Chaplain [ERROR] Lieutenant [ERROR] Chief Librarian [ERROR] Chief Apothecary [ERROR] Current WIPs 2,000 Point list I used and am building towards:

So points have dropped today via some leaks, and they are being parsed, broken out by faction, analyzed, complained about etc in high volume across the internet. I've been tinkering with adjustments to my list, and now that points have dropped, find myself close to a list I think I'll be trying out initially. I ran a RG-Successor list that did not rely on the Centurion "bomb" that the faction is so well known for, and felt pretty good with it. So the new points impact to me was only about 18% increase across the board, but my new list, in an effort to take advantage of some of the new stuff is going to cost me at least one Invictor (if not both) from my list, both of my suppressors, and my wicked cool little attack bike for being an engineer (also not really an issue in 9e comp missions). *Sad face.* A Battle-forged Battalion (12 CP) Primaria Chaplain - Warlord, Trifold Path (extra WL trait), Master of Sanctity: WL traits - Wise Orator (reroll litanies), Swift & Deadly (charge even if you advanced, all chapter units <6"), and three litanies (inspiring two per round) Canticle of Hate (+2" charge), litany of hate, recitation of focus; free relic is Reliquart of Gathalamor (3+ invuln) - 85pts, - 2CP Jump pack Captain Hero of the Chapter (WL trait): WL trait - Imperium Sword (reroll this char's charge, either die or both, and +1S/A for charging/being charged/heroic intervention), with a TH/SS 155pts, - 1CP Primaris LT - with Ex Tenebris (relic) - 70pts, - 1CP Assassin - 100ptsIntercessors x 5, with aux grenade launcher - 102 Intercessors x 5, with aux grenade launcher - 102 Intercessors x 5, with aux grenade launcher - 102 Scouts x 5, with bolt rifles - 70 Aggressors x 5 - 225 Blade Guard Veterans x 5- 175 Relic Contemptor Dreadnaught w/ TLC - 185 Eradicator x 3 - 120 Eradicator x 3 - 120 TFC - 130 So I should be starting the game with 8CP (or 6 if forced to use Shadow Assignment to swap assassins from what I normally start with on the list), which takes me to 13 (11) over the course of the game, which is 2 more than I'm used to playing with. Additionally, this list comes out to about 1741 (and is assuming BG Vets will be like aggressors, and allow to add models to hit 6 in total; obviously will reconfigure if that's not the case). I'm torn on what to add to finalize this list. I like the Assault intercessors, but for the price, and given I still have elite slots, BG Vets just seem to do the job better. I like the Invictor (was just about to pop the boxes open and start painting them for my Army as I've been playing exclusively online with my previous list), and while I don't want to be that guy.....the Eradicator team just seems to be so much better point for point, that I'm considering adding a third to this list, but that comes at the loss of utility in the TFC. Maybe a Suppressor squad and additional scouts? Idk. Option B - swap Master of Ambush into the Smash Captain, move Imperium Sword to the Chaplain, and let go of Swift and Deadly -- but with the random way the game starts, just not convinced MoA is worth it given you'll only get to use it 50% of matches. I can't see it being super likely to use going second (willing to hear different perspectives on that). Critiques, recommendations welcome. Thanks.

Hello again. Its time to show off my WIP command Razorback with t/l assault cannons. Actually I need advice. I was thinking about writing '4th company' on the banner somehow but don't know if this will ruin it. What do you think? Is it enough that 4th company has the green spot colour? The banner was downloaded from Wargames Foundry, in the free downloads section. It's actually a Viking standard but I repainted the background green and filled in the internal lines on the raven image. The Apothecary is one of my favourites. I'll refrain from retaking pictures of my ETL units until I've painted a few more details on about 16 marine infantry, like that missile launcher tactical marine in the last picture. Until then I'm more in the mood for painting tanks or drop pods.

Ladies and gentleman, brothers and sisters, comrades and friends, I'd like to take this oppertunity to share some pictures of my Raven Guard successor chapter, the Night Claws. Here's a little sneak peak: This is around about my 1500 point towards the end of 7th; it includes the following: HQ's: Shrike, 3 Librarians (inherited BA models) Troops: 10 Scouts w/ Land Speeder Storms Elites: 15 Vanguard Veterans, 5 Sternguard Veterans w/ Drop Pod Fast Attack: 3 Land Speeders With 8th edition around the corner, there's a lot of changes I'd like to make to this list. I plan on magnetizing all the arms for the Vanguard and potentially the Sternguard this time around to take advantage of the combi weapon changes. I'll post WIP's of the process and any other additions to the Night Claws that come along. I've got some more scouts coming in soon and some of the BA models need some touching up.

-Except from Administratum database: Index Astartes- -Clearance Level: Inquisition- -Access: Granted; Limited- The Praetorians (Chapter) The Praetorians are a Chapter believed by the Imperium to have been created in the Thirteenth Founding. They are noted for daring strikes at the heart of the enemy and precise disruptions of enemy infrastructure. They have been declared Lost twice and have been brought to the brink of annihilation on innumerable occasions, but have endured due to the resourcefulness and pragmatism of the Astartes. Colours and Chapter Symbol http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/Kelbeef/Praetoriantactical-1.jpg http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/Kelbeef/ChiRho.jpg Origins Records Lost The early history of the Praetorians has been lost to all but themselves. This is not an uncommon occurrence, especially for Dark Founding Chapters, but also due to the Age of Apostasy, which resulted in the loss or destruction of many records. The loss of records regarding the Void Stalkers Chapter and its demise may not have been caused by the Age of Apostasy, but rather a result of deliberate intent. It is believed by members of the Ordo Scriptus that only one Chapter was involved in their destruction and that the Chapter was the newly-formed Praetorians. Solid evidence still eludes them, but why this would be the case remains to be discovered. They suspect that the revolt was a much more serious affair than the limited Inquisitorial reports suggest. Like all of the Chapters founded during the Dark Founding, the reason for their founding have either been deleted from Imperial records or have been lost in time. The only hint to the reason being an early incident regarding the destruction of the renegade Void Stalkers Chapter not long after the Praetorians Founding. The records of the forces involved in the conflict do not name the Astartes Chapter that was present, but the Praetorians own records state they were involved in the conflict. The equipment and fleet of this 4th Founding Chapter vanished after this event, with only past Gene-Seed tithe and scant records of their past remaining to substantiate their existence. Homeworld Byzantium is a Feudal World that is located in the centre of a major cluster of systems that form the Byzas Subsector. Aside from the period which trapped the Praetorians in the Sector it is one of the few relatively safe routes for Warp travel in the Northern Segmentum Obscuris. It is a planet where fortified city-states and republics constantly rise and fall across the habitable regions of the planets equator. The planets population is focussed on the main continent, with a large inland sea where the most powerful city-states and republics reside along the coast. This inland sea is dotted with large volcanic islands, the home of port-cities and pirates. This sea is almost divided by a peninsular into two seas. Historically, the city-state or republic who controlled the city built on the peninsular was the most influential (and wealthy) on the planet. The Byzantines have a classical warrior culture, with the greatest ambition for every boy being to be granted command of their city-state or republics military. However soldiers are almost useless against the sophisticated fortifications of the major towns and cities on the major continent. The generals must rely on subterfuge, sabotage and assassination to allow their armies any chance of occupying these fortresses. As such, each State and Republic have extensive spy networks, as well as highly trained assassins that are recruited from orphans as soon as they can stand to be brilliant, but silent killers. These methods are the only way to have any chance of taking these fortresses without destroying the military, as losing excessive numbers of troops will result in the generals own rapid replacement and disappearance. The population is renowned throughout the Sector as ruthless and cut-throat, happy to murder anyone if it would help to improve their social status. The population is therefore constantly fighting each other, either for the honour of their city-states and republics or for social promotion. As such a strict code of honour has been necessary in the prevention of assassinations, with no-one allowed to go within an arm's length of each other. This has resulted in forging a scheming, deceptive and politically-minded population, very happy to get their hands dirty but also very good at not being caught doing so. To rule in the City-States or Republics is to live a hard and fast existence, with the entire nobility constantly looking for ways to gain greater privileges, usually via a well-placed knife in the dark. The Byzantines view the Praetorians the same way they view each other; with great suspicion, but with a general acknowledgment that their presence provides long term protection against a Galaxy of horrors. Finding a population with similar ideals that the Chapter upholds, the Praetorians established their Fortress-monastery; Castra Praetoria. The Fortress and city that surrounds it is situated on the peninsular which forms a bottleneck of the major inland sea, allowing the occupant of the city to control all trade between the major city-states and republics. The location was formerly controlled by the rebels of the planet when the Praetorians arrived, and thus received their highest level of attention. Castra Praetoria is now viewed by the Byzantines as a reminder of who holds supreme power over the population, but also of the glories and majesty of the Imperium. Early HistoryThe Praetorians built a reputation as a ruthless fleet-based Chapter, famed for their flexibility and on destroying their opponent's leadership structures rapidly. The first know Imperial record of the Chapter in action being the cleansing of Nerus, a rebel Forge World in the Segmentum Obscurus. In this they won great renowned for their rapid assault on the Ad Mechs headquarters early into the campaign, disrupting the rebel Skitarii legions, resulting in a fast conclusion and surrender of the rebels. Prior to this, there are Imperial reports that suggest they took part in the conflicts revolving around the Age of Apostasy and Plague of Unbelief. Another notable campaign in their early history was a crusade into the Halo Stars region. They wished to bring the Halo Stars region into the Imperium, and hopefully re-discover lost human colonies. Here they lost contact with the Imperium for two centuries, only to resurface below half-strength to declare only the dead reside in those stars, giving no other explanation for their absence or heavy losses. The reason for abandoning their fleet-based past was due to the events now remembered as the Pacification. The Praetorians were requested by Lord Solar Theodosius to spear-head the assault on the Byzas Sector; only infamous for being a hotbed for Xenos, rebels and pirates on the Northern edge of the Galaxy. The campaign was a drawn out affair due to the sheer number of different rebel factions, but ended with great success for the Imperial forces. However during the campaign, the Chapters Librarians and Astropaths felt great turbulence in the Warp, which was confirmed by a Warp storm erupting into existence, engulfing the entire sector, cutting them off from the rest of the Galaxy. Undaunted, they continued their mission until completion. This period of isolation from the Imperium was to last for over a Millennia. What exactly transpired during this period of isolation, just like the Halo Stars incident remains a complete mystery to the Imperium, and is never openly discussed by this reserved Chapter. Upon the Warp storm abating, the Inquisition moved into the Sector and assessed the Chapter. Finding the Chapter to still be completely loyal despite their isolation from the Imperium, the Inquisitors recommended that the Praetorians be gifted the Byzantine System formally and charged with garrisoning the Sector. This the Chapter were granted and to this day the Praetorians now garrison one of the few reliable routes through the Northern reaches of the Segmentum Obscuris. Since the end of their isolation, to continue their tradition as a fleet-based Chapter the Prefect Heraclius started a two-Company crusade to last for a century a time. This has resulted in their involvement in conflicts all across Imperial space, but in particular the conflicts surrounding the Eye of Terror, including the Gothic War. Details of the conflicts these Crusades fight in are fragmentary at best, at worst result in the disappearance of two whole Companies for a whole century before returning to Byzantium. Recent History Centenary Crusade The Chapters past is a strong source of pride for the Praetorians, and their past as a fleet-based Chapter is of particular importance. Indeed if it was not for the fact that they were granted the planet and had resided among their population for over a Millennium, they almost certainly would have taken to their old ways again. They still retain a particularly large fleet, alongside the Imperial Navy stationed in the Subsector. To not be found idle, each Century two Companies from the Chapter, alongside the entire Scout Company take part in a Centenary Crusade. In this they feel they can send aid to other Sectors, or even different Segmentum when the need is particularly dire elsewhere, such as during the Macharian Crusade, and also the ensuing Heresy. The greatest threat to the Byzas Sector in the last century was a revolt against Imperial rule, believed to have been instigated by the Alpha Legion two solar years after the Justinian Plague ravaged the Sector, resulting in the death of the Guard Stratagos Justinian. Initial conflict led to substantial losses, mainly due to the rebels hitting simultaneously on many different key planets throughout the Sector, which overwhelmed the Praetorians and Guard Regiments. Captain Apollyon of the 3rd Company was elected to the position of Prefect, mainly due to his Company getting results against the uprising. The Prefects more patient hit and run policy, designed to probe the rebels bases for weaknesses soon put the rebels onto the back-foot. This resulted in a swift conclusion to the conflict, however in the final days of the campaign, the Alpha Legionnaires escaped the battle and the Sector. In the final years of the M41, the Praetorians have been charged by the Ordo Hereticus and Xenos with the pacification of the neighbouring Pergamus Sector, since it has largely fallen into rebellion. Upon hearing that this rebellion is fronted by a Chapter located in the Sector, Prefect Apollyon has issued the mobilisation of six of the Chapters Companies with the intention of destroying the rebel Astartes in this Sector, supported by the regiments of Guard raised on the planet Thassalos, the other inhabited planet in the Byzantine system. At the same time, as is tradition within the Chapter two Companies are on a century long Crusade. This is a tradition to remind the Praetorians of their past as a fleet-based Chapter. Currently the IV and V Companies are en-route to the Eye of Terror to help the desperate defence of the Cadian Gate from the 13th Black Crusade. Timeline M36 Early M36 - War of Brothers: The Praetorians records state involvement in the renegade Void Stalker Chapters destruction. All Imperial records remain classified regarding the conflict. Early M36 - Age of Apostasy & Plague of Unbelief: Conflicting reports suggest Praetorians took part in these conflicts. 516.M36 - Nerus Rebellion: Forge World Nerus revolts, Praetorians commit the II Company. Rebel leaders killed in there first assault. First known engagement of Praetorians to the Imperium. M37 209-513.M37 - Halo Crusade: Entire Chapter deployed to search the Halo Stars for human occupation. Contact is lost with the Imperium for two centuries; Chapter declared lost 342.M37. Praetorians re-emerge from the Halo Stars with only four Companies remaining. Contact re-established with Imperium. Praetorians report that the Halo Stars are only inhabited by the dead. Despite the losses, they immediately offer aid to the Iron Knights Chapter, with their howeworld under siege by an unknown Xenos threat. 550-560.M37 - Occlusiad Wars: Chapter played some part in the war against the Apostles of the Blind King. Exactly what role remains a mystery. M38 101.M38 - The Watch: Chapter spends several centuries patrolling the Eye of Terror, aids in the defence during 9th Black Crusade. 877.M38 - The Pacification: Lord Solar Theodosius requests Praetorians aid in purging the Byzas Sector. When the campaign is near completion, a Warp storm erupts, trapping Imperial forces in the Sector for over a Millennia. Declared Lost to the Imperium. M39 M39 - Insolation: The Chapter is not seen or heard from for the entire M39 due to the Warp storm. What transpires in the Sector remains a mystery to the Imperium. M40 131.M40 - Isolations End: Warp storm abates, and reveals the Praetorians in control of the Byzas System. Formally gifted Byzantium as a Homeworld for remaining loyal. 139.M40 - Crusaders Legacy: Prefect Heraclius declares century long fleet action on the boarder of the Eye of Terror. The V & VIII Companies are the first dispatched. 619.M40 - Wraagh! Gorgotha: Ork invasion sweeps the Byzas Subsector. It is halted and crushed on Byzantines moon, Constance II, but not before the II & IX Companies were wiped out. M41 139.M41 - Gothic War: Companies III & IV take part in the Gothic War against the Despoiler. Heavy losses suffered during the battles in the Schindlegeist system. 979-981.M41 - Insurrection: Revolts break out all across the Byzas Subsector, two years after the start of the Justinian Plague. Heavy initial losses. Captain Apollyon declared Prefect. Tide turns against the rebels. Finally beaten above the planet Megara, but Alpha Legion cell responsible escapes. 997-present day.M41 - Pergamus Purging: Beginning of a crusade against the Pergamus Sector, after it fell to revolt and xenos invasion. Conflict on-going. 999-present day.M41 - 13th Black Crusade: IV & VI Companies dispatched to aid in the defence of the Cadian Gate. Gene-Seed The Gene-Seed is stable and exceptionally pure, with the only mutation being to the Occulobe, causing the iris of all Marines to turn orange or red. The Neophytes produced by this Chapter are renowned for their relatively rapid development into Astarte form, and the quality of the Marines that are produced. This is at complete odds with the Praetorians claimed descent from Corax, the Primarch of the Raven Guard, with a Gene-Seed that is known to be deteriorating. As such, there Gene-Seed has been analysed on numerous occasions by the Adeptus Mechanicus. Their findings have publicly concluded that the Gene-Seed is indeed descended from the Raven Guards, but the actual reports have never been made available. The Raven Guard themselves have never acknowledged the genetic link to the Praetorians. Whether this is because they just do not want any link to be known, or because they do not believe there is a link remains a mystery. Beliefs Like most Astartes, they do not view the Emperor as a God, but as the greatest example of Humanity, a pinnacle whose example all should strive towards. As with most Chapters who share this view, this puts them at odds with the Ecclesiarchy, but there is little ill-will between the two organisations. They maintain strong contacts with the Mechanicum, despite finding the worship and hoarding of technology distasteful. Reports suggest that the Praetorians secured a working STC in their reclamation of the Byzas Sector and gifted it to the Mechanicum upon the end of their isolation. These reports remain unsubstantiated, but it would explain there armoury being particularly well-stocked even after extensive periods of isolation. The Praetorians have always been renowned throughout the Imperium as being ruthless and efficient, even before their isolation. Recruiting from the Byzantine population has only heightened this sense of identity and their secretive nature. They were greatly influenced by the Chapter Master Scapula, who adopted Byzantium as there Homeworld, and with it adopted many of the Byzantines cultural practices, such as the Byzantine code of honour and the local language. Organisation The Praetorians broadly follow the tactics presented in the Codex Astartes, though like the Raven Guard they do not see the Codex as infallible and emphasise more flexibility in interpretation to suit their own fighting preferences. The Chapter deviates from the Codex in the structure of its Companies; most notably that there Battle Companies have there own Veterans. The I Company are specialised in boarding actions, so still maintain the Tactical Dreadnaught Armour and most of the Centurion War suits, though its members are not considered "Veterans." The X Company is a standard Scout Company, however when the Neophytes are close to completing their training and development they are selected by a Company to finish training alongside there future Battle Brothers depending on their mentality and skill set. This is a legacy of their isolation, with all Companies being required to fight on multiple planets and systems with no hope of outside support. To honour their past as a fleet-based Chapter, two Companies are launched into a Century-long crusade which has seen the Chapter fight all over the Galaxy. The two Companies selected also take the Scout Companies entire collection of Neophytes with them to maintain there numbers during the Crusade, meaning that once every Century the X Company has to be completely replaced with fresh recruits. Titles also differ from Codex Chapters, the Chapter Master being referred to as the Prefect though their function is usually identical, other titles for Codex units are referred to by the Byzantine languages interpretation, such as the Honour Guard being the famed Varangian Guard. The Kataphraktos make up the land vehicles of the Chapter, including Bikers, tanks and Land Speeders. Recruitment Each Company is responsible for completing the training of Neophytes. This is done to allow the Companies to focus on there specialty, and recruit appropriately. As the population of Byzantium is in a state of constant war among themselves, they make for brilliant recruits for the Astartes. Those that reside among the city-states where most recruits originate from, are trained as soon as they are able to fight. The only time the Byzantines will trust another being when they are marching to war together. Hypnotherapy is only utilised to ingrain trust for their fellow Battle Brothers to temper the populations cutthroat nature. The most notable quirk of there recruits is the speed with which they mature into their Astartes form, and the individual quality of the neophytes. The reason for these quirks are unknown to all outside of the highest ranking members of the Adeptus Mechanicus considering the Chapters claimed descent from the XIX Legion. Combat Doctrine The Codex Astartes is viewed with high regard by the Praetorians, even if they do not follow it to the letter. They see the Codex as a great guide, but not infallible and thus open to interpretation and change if the situation demands it. Many speculate this unpredictability originates from there conflicts with renegade Chapters and Traitor Legions, who are either ingrained with the teachings or have experience fighting against its teachings. The Praetorians put greatest emphasis on eliminating command and supply structures, resulting in the rapid collapse of the opposing military. More emphasis was put on this maxim during their periods of isolation, where they had no hope of reinforcements or resupplies and therefore had to plan every use of resource with meticulous detail. Thus their attacks initially involve stealth and reconnaissance, followed by rapid insertion of forces to key positions. When on the back-foot, they utilise sorties, hit-and run tactics, though this is usually intended to be a precursor to getting back on the offensive. They are known to have the uncanny ability to hit an opponent where they are most vulnerable, which is achieved through the diligent work of their Scouts. The Praetorians take the lessons they learn while Neophytes very seriously, allowing them to approach an enemy without alerting them. Usually the first moment the enemy notices the Praetorians is the flash of their Bolters at close range. Equipment Due to their periods of isolation from the Imperium, the Praetorians do not count on being resupplied for long periods of time. This has resulted in the recycling of armour, weapons and vehicles, and with the loss of most of their Land Raiders. Only a single Land Raider Redeemer, Byzantines Flame is still in service. The Prefect himself must sanction its use; such is its importance to the Chapter. Notable Members of the Praetorians Prefect Apollyon - Current Chapter Master, formerly Captain of the III Company. Ended the Cultist insurrection in the Byzas Sector, currently leading the Pergamus campaign. Known for being calculating, patient and resilient; he was seen as the best option for leadership during the insurrections. Prefect Heraclius - Former Chapter Master. Began Century long crusading tradition after Isolation period. Chapter Master Scapula - Former Chapter Master. Reorganized the Chapter after the Pacification events. Codicier Garro - Librarian, earning distinction in the 13th Black Crusade. Notable Elements of the Praetorians Megara - Flagship and former Fortress-monastery. Details as to when the Praetorians acquired this Battle-Barge is unclear, it was first sighted in the Nerus Rebellion. Byzantines Flame - Land Raider Redeemer, earned distinction during the period of Isolation in the Byzas Sector. Blade of Valens - Polearm that dates back to the Chapters campaign in the Halo Stars, this has been the Prefects symbol of office since there return to Imperial space. Motto Per ardua. (Through adversity).

Greetings Frater, I'm a fairly long time member but infrequent poster to Bolter and Chainsword, and you'll find a few of my plogs littered around the various sub forums. I'm embarking on a new project for 2018; the Carcharodons! This will be for my local club's summer tournament which has some quirky rules and missions (1250 points, single faction keyword, no Imperial or Chaos soup), and I'm hoping to build something both fluffy and effective. According to the Badab War book, the Space Sharks are Raven Guard successors so I'm making this my home for the plog; I certainly intend to use the RG rules for the army. Any way, every plog needs pictures, so here are a couple of shots from a few Sharks I painted a couple of years ago: Tactical Marine: The Red Brethren And finally something new; a Librarian with an overriding desire to whack stuff with an Axe! Thanks for reading and I'll post both hobby updates, lists, cunning plans, etc. as the whim strikes!