Ultramarines FAQ

[Brother Pariah]

I'm tired of the tedious discussions revolving around peoples' misconceptions about the Ultramarines, and I'm sure some of you are too. Let's FAQ it, shall we? Hit me with all of the Questions that you are Frequently Asked, along with a good answer. Feel free to suggest changes or additions to existing FAQ entries. Stuff in the spoiler boxes hasn't been edited down by me yet.

 

Q. Why weren't the Ultramarines at the Battle of Terra during the Horus Heresy? Did the Ultramarines participate in any way at all during the Horus Heresy?

 

A. When the Horus Heresy unfolded, the Ultramarines were far away at the southeast of the galaxy. Depending on the source, it was either their own successes or a deliberate set up by Horus that had carried them so far away from Terra. They were not involved in the Istvaan V massacre or the battle for Terra, but they did have some bearing on the events of the Heresy. Horus had committed a considerable portion of the Word Bearers Legion to attack the Ultramarines in their home System, hoping to cripple them or even wipe them out in a surprise attack. These Word Bearer forces were therefor not present at the battle for Terra. The Ultramarines are also said to have destroyed a traitor fleet en route to support Horus when they were on their way to Terra, further relieving the defenders. They could obviously have done so much more, had they not been in such a disadvantageous position. As events went, they were not among the more cruicial or suffering Legions of the Heresy.

 

 

Q. Did Guilliman enforce his Codex on the other Legions/Primarchs immediately following the Heresy, and even fire upon loyalist troops, almost causing a second, more destructive Heresy?

 

A. To prevent such a Heresy occurring again, Guilliman re-organised the military of the whole Imperium, not just the Space Marines. The main point of contention between the Space Marines regarding the Codex was actually only the breaking up of the Legions into Chapters. He was supported in this in particular by Corax of the Raven Guard and Khan of the White Scars and was only opposed by 3 of his brother Primarchs. As tensions increased, they came to a head when an Imperial Navy Cruiser fired upon an Imperial Fist vessel, Dorn relented and with this all the Legions split into Chapters. - Source: Index Astartes Imperial Fists and Black Templars

 

 

Q. Did Guilliman take over the Imperium, breaking up the Legions to solidify his power-base?

 

A. Guilliman became one of the first High Lords of Terra and Lord Commander of the Imperium's military, the only man to hold command the entire of it's military. (Source: Codex Ultramarines 2nd edition) Reading this single quote logically, it is obvious that Guilliman was without a doubt a very powerful man, but did not command the Imperium at all, as the myriad of other organisations came into ascendance at this time and meant a single High Lord of Terra was unable to take complete control of the Imperium so easily. (The High Lord Vandire was an exception as he held dual posts within the High Lords council, Guilliman held only one.) The perview of the post of Lord Commander of the Imperium's military was a military position only, and therefore had no effect on the Astronomican, Astra Telepathica, Navigators Houses, the Adepts of Terra, the Adeptus Mechanicus etc.

 

The Ultramarines accounted for more than half the Space Marines in the field in the time of the Scouring and they were split all over the Imperium. (Sources: Codex Space Marines/Ultramarines 2nd - 5th editions) Breaking his own Legion down would do nothing positive to a bid for power, as all it did was take away his own direct influence, particularly on a long term. Indeed, the Ultramarines do not command all the other Chapters in present day 40K, and their influence is not more than that of the Space Wolves (see 13th Black Crusade) or the Blood Angels (see 2nd war for Armaggeddon).

 

 

Q. Did Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists, hate Guilliman and his Codex?

 

A. No. Following the death of the Emperor, and his internment on the Golden Throne, Dorn was inconsolable. He flew into a rage and began a ruthless pursuit of the Traitor Legions as they retreated across the Imperium. The Scouring, as this time period become known, was a period of war and strife matched only by the Horus Heresy. The Imperial Fists were merciless in their pursuit, focused solely on revenge. During this time only Guilliman had the foresight and wisdom to see that if the Imperium was neglected with the sole purpose of exacting revenge, everything the Astartes and the Emperor built would die out.

 

During the Scouring the Imperial Fists and Ultramarines worked together to expel the Iron Warriors from many different worlds, including Olympia, the homeworld of the Iron Warriors.

 

Unfortunately, Dorn's anger had blinded him to the changing times. He was absent from the meetings in which the fate of the Imperium was being decided. Seven years into the Scouring, Guilliman revealed the Codex and declared the Legions to be broken apart, but Dorn refused to comply with the Codex. Guilliman called Dorn a heretic and a rebel. It was only when the Imperial Navy fired on an Imperial Fist vessel, that Dorn saw the light. He would lead his men once more into Hell against the Iron Warriors, the last great battle of the VII Legion, and they would emerge a Chapter. The Iron Cage incident is well documented, and it is undeniable that without Guilliman putting aside his personal differences and coming to the aid of the Imperial Fists, there was a very real chance that there would be no more Imperial Fists. Dorn formed the new chapters, and retrained the remnants of his original Legion to the standards of Guilliman's Codex Astartes.

 

In spite of the infamous argument it can be assumed that Dorn and Guilliman were close, as only brothers can be. Dorn is one of only four Primarch's honored with a statue at the Fortress of Hera on Macragge. The Ultramarines and Imperial Fists Chapters have fought together in the ten millennia since the Heresy on multiple occasions, the most recent being the battle to retake Nimbosa.

 

 

Q: Are the Ultramarines generic?

 

A: The Ultramarines are generic in that they do not have any special units or wargear that is not available to any other average Space Marine Chapter*. They are considered to be absolutely generic in their military organization, their tactics, and their uniform markings. In these respects they are the benchmark by which other Chapters are measured.

 

The Ultramarines are not generic in their background. The systems of Ultramar had once been designed to supply a full Space Marine Legion, though a lot of the facilities had been given to the successor Chapters during the Second Founding. Their recruits selection is exceptional in that they do not pick from children that grew up in an environment of tribal or gang conflicts, as is the case with most other Chapters. Instead, the Children of Macragge are subjected to mandatory military academies from the ages 6 to 14, so by the time they are selected to become Ultramarines they have already had about 8 years of military drill. This means the Ultramarines come from a people whose mindset and physical prowess is completely geared to being strong, disciplined and dedicated to the art of war. The Ultramarines are therefore consumate professional warriors. Ultramar is a utopian vision, the Imperium's version of the perfect society; the people are loyal, hard-working, content with their place in life, and highly-productive. The Ultramarines themselves consider themselves to be members of the Imperial aristocracy.

 

*The Tyrannic War Veterans are a possible exception to this, as they are unique to the Ultramarines.

 

 

Q: Is the empire of Ultramar a violation of the Codex Astartes?

 

Games Workshop has stated in too many sources to mention that the Ultramarines are fundamentalist followers of the Codex Astartes. It is logical to infer, then, that their control of Ultramar is not a violation of the Codex Astartes. The Codex forbids Space Marines from commanding Imperial Guard regiments. The Codex insists that Space Marine fleets contain only ships which are designed to support planetary invasions and boarding actions. The Codex limits the size of Marine Chapters. All of these things were designed to prevent a concentration of too much military power under a single commander.

 

What causes people to look askance at Ultramar is that the Ultramarines could violate any of these important rules, if they so choose. They could build troopships and warships at the shipyards of Calth. They could raise regiments of PDF and load them onto the troopships, commanding Imperial Guard regiments in essence. With the population of eight worlds, they could step up recruiting and swell to Legion size again. The Ultramarines could do any of these things, but they do not.

 

 

 

Q: Does the introduction of such things as the Tyrannic War Veterans and the Seditio Opprimere mean that the Ultramarines have begun to violate the Codex Astartes?

 

By their very own description, yes, the Tyrannic War Veterans are a violation of the Codex Astartes. But the Ultramarines decided that it is ok in this instance, according to the Tyrannic War Veterans' background, as for one thing the Ultramarines were in dire need of a full 1st Company, and also because of their deep hatred for the Tyranids.

 

The Ultramarines are still also described as strict followers and paragon Chapter of the Codex Astartes, however, so currently it is basically up to the players which of these two mutually exclusive pieces of background they decide to go by. The Ultramarines are either the paragon of Codex Chapters, with no special units, or they have Tyrannic War Veterans, thereby being less Codex conform than the Imperial Fists or the Raven Guard. Both versions are supported in the 4th and 5th Edition Codex Space Marines.

 

NO. The Codex is a living and evolving document. New threats are abound to arise over time. Thus new tactics, techniques, and procedures are created to counter these threats. Though while the creation of these items may not have been in the letter of the Codex (at the time), they followed the spirit of the codex is tactical problem solving to the codex's balanced approach to warfare (C:SM 5th Ed, pg. 51). The Codex stress fluid and flexible operations.

 

The Ultramarines themselves were obviously divided on the issue, and eventually voted to amend the Codex Astartes to "legalize" the TWVs.

 

 

Q. The Luna Wolves, the Dark Angels and the Space Wolves were the top three Legions during the Great Crusade, and the Ultramarines were not really involved in the Horus Heresy. Did the Ultramarines Legion even distinguish itself in any way during those times?

 

A. The Luna Wolves, the Dark Angels and the Space Wolves were the three Legions with the most victories. The Ultramarines in the other hand were the Legion with the most liberated worlds. Each alien planet or fleet destroyed, or each defended Imperial world would count as a victory, but neither would count as a liberated world. The way Guilliman took care of establishing defenses and trade routes for the worlds he liberated allowed him to continue his crusade efforts where other Legions might have had to return to reinforce their ranks or defend worlds they had already liberated against new attacks.

In particular, the Ultramarine legion was praised for the following traits:

 

- They made faster progress than other Legions due to the way Guilliman organised their efforts, and they ultimately liberated more worlds than any other Legion

 

- They conquered worlds with a minimum of collateral and infrastructural damage and made sure the worlds were stable and well defended when they left.

 

 

Q. Cannot the success of the Ultramarines Legion during the Great Crusade be attributed entirely to the Legion's enormeous size?

 

A. The Emperor did not present Roboute Guilliman with an already over-sized Legion. He started with a normal Legion, and the Ultramarines were already said to be faster in their progress from the very beginning. After a short time the Legion started to be reinforced by the first recruits from Macragge, and because of the thoroughly organised recruitment program on the one hand and the few casualties on the other hand the Ultramarines soon came to be the largest of the Legions. The Ultramarines' successes were not a result of the Legion's size, their size was a result of their successes.

(5th Edition Codex Space Marines, page 13; 2nd Edition Codex Ultramarines, page 12)

 

- They suffered fewer casualties in battle than any other Legion due to Guilliman's tactical expertise

 

(5th Edition Codex Space Marines, page 13; 2nd Edition Codex Ultramarines, page 12)

 

[greatcrusade08]

Hit me with all of the Questions

 

i wouldnt want to hit you Pariah :P but i do have one that springs to mind.

 

Its the Guilliman nearly started another heresy by enforcing the codex on Dorn (not sure how to write this as a question its very late)

[Captain Idaho]

Great idea! Do you think we should put a source under each answer, to prevent people from disputing them?

 

Its the Guilliman nearly started another heresy by enforcing the codex on Dorn (not sure how to write this as a question its very late)

 

How about:

 

Q. Guilliman enforced his Codex on the other Legions/Primarchs immediately following the Heresy, and even fired upon/almost caused a second more destructive Heresy because of it.

 

A. The Imperium and humanity as a whole lost trust in the Astartes following the Heresy. To restore faith in them and prevent such a Heresy occurring again, Guilliman re-organised the military of the whole Imperium, not just the Space Marines. The main point of contention between the Space Marines regarding the Codex was actually only the breaking up of the Legions into Chapters. He was supported in this in particular by Corax of the Raven Guard and Khan of the White Scars and was only opposed by 3 of his brother Primarchs. As tensions increased, they came to a head when an Imperial Navy Cruiser fired upon an Imperial Fist vessel, Dorn relented and with this all the Legions split into Chapters. - Source: Index Astartes Imperial Fists and Black Templars

 

I have a couple, here is the 1st:

 

Q. Dorn hated Guilliman and his Codex.

 

A. Actually Guilliman and Dorn were often shown to be fighting alongside each other after the Heresy. They worked together to expunge the Iron Warriors from Imperial worlds and their even homeworld Olympia - Source Index Astartes Iron Warriors.

 

Immediately after the Heresy, Dorn went into a rage and persecuted the Traitors for many years during the Scouring, missing out on how much of the Imperium had changed. He and his Imperial Fists could not understand why the Imperium could not trust them anymore, and they rejected Guilliman's reforms, most notably the breaking down of the Legions. In a heated exchange, Dorn accused Guilliman of cowardice, who retaliated by calling Dorn a heretic.

 

However, despite their differences, Dorn relented his stance to prevent further conflict. He broke the Imperial Fists as best he could, but there were too many "die hards" left after this to make a Chapter so lead the remainder against the Iron Warriors at the Iron Cage. Guilliman pleaded with Dorn to allow him to assist him and later saved Dorn and the Imperial Fists when the trap laid out by the Iron Warriors became catastrophic, which contradicts the notion they disliked each other and were enemies. After all, why would Guiliman save him if he didn't need to?

 

Post Iron Cage, Dorn retrained his Imperial Fists to be second only to the Ultramarines in their adherence to the Codex. - Source: Index Astartes Imperial Fists and Iron Warriors. Such an act contradicts Dorn hating the Codex, as if he didn't like it he could have just done what the Space Wolves did and only split the Legion and ignore the rest of the Codex.

 

Lastly, Dorn was a well respected Primarch and fondly thought of. There is a testament to Guilliman and Dorn's closeness in the statue that stands eternal vigilance beside Guilliman in the Fortress of Hera on Maccragge.

 

Here is another one:

 

Q. Guilliman took over the Imperium/was a tyrant, which is why he broke up the Legions.

 

A. The Imperium and humanity lost it's trust in Astartes and one of the causes of the Heresy was the power a few (comparitively) had over entire fleets, Legions and Imperial Guard etc, (- Sources: particularly Index Astartes Ultramarines and Imperial Fists, Codex Space Marines/Ultramarines 2nd - 5th editions) so Guilliman created the Codex as part of his re-organisation of the Imperium's military to prevent such a Heresy happening again and restore faith of the Astartes in the eyes of the Imperium. - Source: Everywhere! Most notably Codex Space Marines but even Blood Angels, Dark Angels and Black Templars.

 

The Ultramarines accounted for more than half the Space Marines in the field in the time of the Scouring and they were split all over the Imperium. (- Source: Multiple again, most notably Codex Space Marines/Ultramarines 2nd - 5th editions) Breaking his own Legion down would do nothing positive to a bid for power, as all it did was take away his own direct influence, particularly on a long term. Indeed, the Ultramarines do not command all the other Chapters in present day 40K, and their influence is not more than that of the Space Wolves (see 13th Black Crusade) or the Blood Angels (see 2nd war for Armaggeddon).

[Brother Pariah]

It would be worth putting something about Guilliman becoming one of the initial High Lords of Terra and Lord Commander of the Imperium's military in that last one, Idaho. I'm at work, so I don't have references on those, though.

[Captain Idaho]

Codex Ultramarines (2nd Edition) is the only reference for that I can think of off the top of my head. Here it is added into my earlier Q&A:

 

Q. Guilliman took over the Imperium/was a tyrant, which is why he broke up the Legions.

 

A. The Imperium and humanity lost it's trust in Astartes and one of the causes of the Heresy was the power a few (comparitively) had over entire fleets, Legions and Imperial Guard etc, (- Sources: particularly Index Astartes Ultramarines and Imperial Fists, Codex Space Marines/Ultramarines 2nd - 5th editions) so Guilliman created the Codex as part of his re-organisation of the Imperium's military to prevent such a Heresy happening again and restore faith of the Astartes in the eyes of the Imperium. - Source: Everywhere! Most notably Codex Space Marines but even Blood Angels, Dark Angels and Black Templars.

 

It is worth noting at this point that Guilliman became one of the first High Lords of Terra and Lord Commander of the Imperium's military, the only man to hold command the entire of it's military. - Source: Codex Ultramarines 2nd edition Reading this single quote logically, it is obvious that Guilliman was without a doubt a very powerful man, but did not command the Imperium at all, as the myriad of other organisations came into ascendance at this time and meant a single High Lord of Terra was unable to take complete control of the Imperium so easily. (the High Lord Vandire was an exception as he held dual posts within the High Lords council, Guilliman held only one). The purview of the post of Lord Commander of the Imperium's military was military only and therefore had no effect on the Astronomican, Astra Telepathica, Navigators Houses, the Adepts of Terra, the Adeptus Mechanicus etc.

 

The Ultramarines accounted for more than half the Space Marines in the field in the time of the Scouring and they were split all over the Imperium. (- Source: Multiple again, most notably Codex Space Marines/Ultramarines 2nd - 5th editions) Breaking his own Legion down would do nothing positive to a bid for power, as all it did was take away his own direct influence, particularly on a long term. Indeed, the Ultramarines do not command all the other Chapters in present day 40K, and their influence is not more than that of the Space Wolves (see 13th Black Crusade) or the Blood Angels (see 2nd war for Armaggeddon).

[Captain Juan Juarez]

For example:

 

Q. If the Ultramarines are so great, why weren't they at the Battle of Terra during the Horus Heresy?

A. Horus so feared the might of the Ultramarines, he ordered them far from where the battle would take place. Then the Word Bearers Legion ambushed them to further slow them down.

 

It could just be me but, as Devils advocate, I think the emphasised above is bit... vague.

[Walter Payton]

Q. Dorn hated Guilliman and his Codex.

 

A. Actually Guilliman and Dorn were often shown to be fighting alongside each other after the Heresy. They worked together to expunge the Iron Warriors from Imperial worlds and their even homeworld Olympia - Source Index Astartes Iron Warriors.

 

Immediately after the Heresy, Dorn went into a rage and persecuted the Traitors for many years during the Scouring, missing out on how much of the Imperium had changed. He and his Imperial Fists could not understand why the Imperium could not trust them anymore, and they rejected Guilliman's reforms, most notably the breaking down of the Legions. In a heated exchange, Dorn accused Guilliman of cowardice, who retaliated by calling Dorn a heretic.

 

However, despite their differences, Dorn relented his stance to prevent further conflict. He broke the Imperial Fists as best he could, but there were too many "die hards" left after this to make a Chapter so lead the remainder against the Iron Warriors at the Iron Cage. Guilliman pleaded with Dorn to allow him to assist him and later saved Dorn and the Imperial Fists when the trap laid out by the Iron Warriors became catastrophic, which contradicts the notion they disliked each other and were enemies. After all, why would Guiliman save him if he didn't need to?

 

After this, Dorn retrained his Imperial Fists to be second only to the Ultramarines in their adherence to the Codex. - Source: Index Astartes Imperial Fists and Iron Warriors. Such an act contradicts Dorn hating the Codex, as if he didn't like it he could have just done what the Space Wolves did and only split the Legion and ignore the rest of the Codex.

 

As an Imperial Fists player first and an Ultramarines player second, this is the one that really irritates me. Why not have something mentioning that Dorn's statue stands alongside Guilliman's in the Fortress of Hera.

[Captain Idaho]

Yeah thanks I completely forgot about that one! Will add edit the post it was in to included (to reduce spamming and make sure there aren't duplicate Q&As for poor Brother Pariah to sift through! :P )

[Marshal Rohr]

I'll contribute to the Dorn and Gulliman relationship Q msn-wink.gif

 

 

 

Building off what Cpt. Idaho said:

 

Q.Did Dorn hate Guilliman and his Codex.

 

A. No. Following the death of the Emperor, and his internment on the Golden Throne, Dorn was inconsolable. He flew into a rage and began a ruthless pursuit of the Traitor Legions as they retreated across the Imperium. The Scouring, as this time period become known, was a period of war and strife matched only by the Horus Heresy. The Imperial Fists were merciless in their pursuit, focused solely on revenge. During this time only Guilliman had the foresight and wisdom to see that if the Imperium was neglected with the sole purpose of exacting revenge, everything the Astartes and the Emperor built would die out.

 

During the Scouring the Imperial Fists and Ultramarines worked together to expel the Iron Warriors from many different worlds, including Olympia, the homeworld of the Iron Warriors.

 

Unfortunately, Dorn's anger had blinded him to the changing times. He was absent from the meetings in which the fate of the Imperium was being decided. Seven years into the Scouring, Guilliman revealed the Codex and declared the Legions to be broken apart, but Dorn refused. The ensuing argument is famous, and the root of all the false beliefs of animosity between the two Primarchs. When Dorn accused Guilliman of cowardice for not being at the Emperor's side, it was not because he actually believed his brother a coward. Dorn's entire world was falling apart. His closest brother and friend had turned traitor, his sons had been nearly destroyed during the Siege of Terra, his father had been killed, the Imperium he helped build was in ruins, and now his own brother was attempting to take is Legion from him, or so he believed. Guilliman responded to this unfounded accusation in kind, as brothers often do, calling Dorn a heretic and a rebel. It was only when the Imperial Navy, acting on its own, fired on an Imperial Fist vessel, that Dorn saw the light. He would lead his men once more into Hell against the Iron Warriors, the last great battle of the VII Legion, and they would emerge a Chapter. The Iron Cage incident is well documented, and it is undeniable that without Guilliman putting aside his personal differences and coming to the aid of the Imperial Fists, there was a very real chance that there would be no more Imperial Fists. Dorn formed the new chapters, and retrained the remnants of his original Legion to the standards of Guilliman's Codex Astartes.

 

In spite of the infamous argument it can be assumed that Dorn and Guilliman were close, as only brothers can be. Dorn is one of only four Primarch's honored with a statue at the Fortress of Hera on Macragge. The Ultramarines and Imperial Fists Chapters have fought together in the ten millennia since the Heresy on multiple occasions, the most recent being the battle to retake Nimbosa.

[Brother Pariah]

Whoops, I almost erased your post by accident!

 

We have something like 8 paragraphs on the Dorn / Guilliman relationship. That's too long. We need to pare it down to a brief answer of maybe a paragraph with supporting evidence.

[Freakiq]

The reason why the Ultramarines weren't at Terra I feel needs to be reinforced a bit.

 

Right now it seems as if Horus fooled the gullible Ultramarines.

The truth though is that they had no reason to mistrust Horus.

 

Should the Ultramarines just have disobeyed an order by their trusted superior and stayed, babysitting their allies in case they turn traitor?

 

The fact that the Ultramarines had no reason to not trust Horus needs to be reinforced so as to make it clearer that they received the orders from Horus before his fall was made public.

[Legatus]

Perhaps an explanation that according to the IF Index Astartes Dorn did not just buckle under the pressure but was also having a realization that it may indeed be the way forward, which made him finally agree, would help explaining in a shorter text that the dispute over the Second Founding did not lead to irreconcilable differences between Dorn and Guilliman. Guilliman bailed out Dorn from the Iron Cage trap shortly after that.

 

 

Edit: About the Battle for Terra: Perhaps giving both accounts would help, as I think the 5th Edition Codex Space Marines goes back to (i.e. repeats unedited) the previous story that they had simply been carried that far away from terra by their own successes. Perhaps something like this:

 

"When the Horus Heresy unfolded, the Ultramarines were far away at the sout east of the galaxy. Depending on the source, it was either their own successes or a deliberate set up by Horus that had carried them so far away from Terra. Either way, when the Ultramarines learned about Horus's treason his attack on Terra was already underway. All the Ultramarines could do was race back to Terra as fast as they could, right on the heels of the Dark Angels and the Space Wolves. However, Horus had diverted a large portion of the Word Bearers to attack the Ultramarines at their home system, and they are said to have destroyed a traitor fleet en route to support Horus at Terra, so while not present at Terra directly, the Ultramarines did have at least some bearing on the events."

[Captain Juan Juarez]

Or a short paragraph then list in point form the relevant details?

[Marshal Rohr]

If you don't explain it fully it makes one or the other look bad. Just saying. Dorn didn't just give in because he was convinced, it took THREE years before he cane around.

 

 

You are explaining it like you would to an Ultramarine, you have to explain it like you would to an Imperial Fist.

[greatcrusade08]

This is a brillaint endevour guys.. keep up the good work :yes:

[Tranc]

I may be alone here, but these sound more like frequent accusations than frequently asked questions (many of them aren't even phrased as questions :)).

 

I agree that it's annoying how some players look down on Ultramarines, or come and post on this forum with a negative attitude towards Ultras. But I don't think it does us credit to confront them all pissy and defensive.

 

I think it would be better if these questions were posed in a more neutral tone, e.g., instead of

 

Q. If the Ultramarines are so great, why weren't they at the Battle of Terra during the Horus Heresy?

 

simply make it "Q: Why weren't the Ultramarines at the Battle of Terra during the Horus Heresy?"

 

And then if some (ignorant) person starts a thread based on a misconception, we can point them to the FAQ without danger of coming off as aggressive/hostile.

 

Also, if this is truly suppose to be an Ultramarines FAQ, it should contain other general Ultramarine information, not just issues we're sensitive about. (E.g., How many suits of terminator armour do the Ultramarines have? Granted, that's probably not frequently asked, but I need to know :( )

[Brother Pariah]

You're right about phrasing things neutrally, Tranc. I'll be sure to do that in the top post.

 

As far as the terminator suits go, that's not Frequently Asked. Feel free to start a thread with that question, though.

[StrangeGuy]

Q: How many times a second does an unladen native Macraggian swallow have to beat its wings in order to maintain sufficient air-speed velocity?

 

A: 43.

 

:D

 

 

....sorry.

[Captain Idaho]

Building off what Cpt. Idaho said:

 

Q.Did Dorn hate Guilliman and his Codex.

 

A. No. Following the death of the Emperor, and his internment on the Golden Throne, Dorn was inconsolable. He flew into a rage and began a ruthless pursuit of the Traitor Legions as they retreated across the Imperium. The Scouring, as this time period become known, was a period of war and strife matched only by the Horus Heresy. The Imperial Fists were merciless in their pursuit, focused solely on revenge. During this time only Guilliman had the foresight and wisdom to see that if the Imperium was neglected with the sole purpose of exacting revenge, everything the Astartes and the Emperor built would die out.

 

During the Scouring the Imperial Fists and Ultramarines worked together to expel the Iron Warriors from many different worlds, including Olympia, the homeworld of the Iron Warriors.

 

Unfortunately, Dorn's anger had blinded him to the changing times. He was absent from the meetings in which the fate of the Imperium was being decided. Seven years into the Scouring, Guilliman revealed the Codex and declared the Legions to be broken apart, but Dorn refused. The ensuing argument is famous, and the root of all the false beliefs of animosity between the two Primarchs. When Dorn accused Guilliman of cowardice for not being at the Emperor's side, it was not because he actually believed his brother a coward. Dorn's entire world was falling apart. His closest brother and friend had turned traitor, his sons had been nearly destroyed during the Siege of Terra, his father had been killed, the Imperium he helped build was in ruins, and now his own brother was attempting to take is Legion from him, or so he believed. Guilliman responded to this unfounded accusation in kind, as brothers often do, calling Dorn a heretic and a rebel. It was only when the Imperial Navy, acting on its own, fired on an Imperial Fist vessel, that Dorn saw the light. He would lead his men once more into Hell against the Iron Warriors, the last great battle of the VII Legion, and they would emerge a Chapter. The Iron Cage incident is well documented, and it is undeniable that without Guilliman putting aside his personal differences and coming to the aid of the Imperial Fists, there was a very real chance that there would be no more Imperial Fists. Dorn formed the new chapters, and retrained the remnants of his original Legion to the standards of Guilliman's Codex Astartes.

 

In spite of the infamous argument it can be assumed that Dorn and Guilliman were close, as only brothers can be. Dorn is one of only four Primarch's honored with a statue at the Fortress of Hera on Macragge. The Ultramarines and Imperial Fists Chapters have fought together in the ten millennia since the Heresy on multiple occasions, the most recent being the battle to retake Nimbosa.

 

I think this explanation is better than mine. Mine was too short and generic, while yours is much more specific Marshal2 Crusaders. I vote your version!

[Brother Pariah]

Sounds good.

 

Here are a few other FAQs for people to tackle:

 

Q: Are the Ultramarines generic? (Both yes and no. Explain.)

 

Q: Is the empire of Ultramar a violation of the Codex Astartes? (No, obviously. But support your answer.)

 

Q: Does the introduction of such things as the Tyrannic War Veterans and the Seditio Opprimere mean that the Ultramarines have begun to violate the Codex Astartes? (Note, I don't expect a pat answer to this one.)

[The Emperor's Champion]

Great stuff guys. Y'all cranked this one out real quick.

[greatcrusade08]

Seditio Opprimere

 

 

huh?

[Cptn. Palladorus]

Yeah, I have no idea either. People namedrop that in this forum all the time as "proof" that the Ultramarines have turned their back on the Codex but I haven't been able to find anything online about it apart from offhand comments. Apparently it's a battle barge with non-standard weaponry or something.

[Legatus]

Q: Are the Ultramarines generic?

A: The Ultramarines are generic in that they do not have any special units or wargear that is not available to any other average Space Marine Chapter*. They do not have any excentric quirks or personal agendas either. The Ultramarines are exceptinal in the resources available to them and in the selection of their recruits. The systems of Ultramar had once been designed to supply a full Space Marine Legion, though a lot of the industry and facilities had been given to the successor Chapters during the Second Founding. They still have access to a lot of facilities not usually available to Marines, such as their own fleet docks. Their recruits selection is exceptional in that they do not pick from children that grew up in an environment of tribal or gang conflicts, as is the case with most other Chapters. Instead, the Children of Macragge are subjected to mandatory military academies from the ages 6 to 14, so by the time they are selected to become Ultramarines they have already had about 8 years of military drill. An excellent foundation to make them into Space Marines.

 

*The Tyrannic War Veterans are an exception to this, as they are unique to the Ultramarines. However, they are also a violation of the Codex Astartes, and thus technically also in contradiction to the Ultramarines' own background. See question below.

 

 

Q: Is the empire of Ultramar a violation of the Codex Astartes?

Concidering who wrote the Codex, probably not. It is worth to point out, though, that however many systems chock full of PDF a Chapter may own are of no strategic value without the fleet to transport them to other worlds. All those systems can do is defend themselves. they are not strategic assets at the disposal of the Ultramarines, and having only one system or more than that is of little consequence, except that the Chapter has more resources available to resupply and has more worlds to look after.

Ultramar has hundreds of regiments ready to join the Imperial Guard on demand, but once they are introduced into the Imperial Guard they cease to be Ultramar units. They are then under Imperial command.

 

 

Q: Does the introduction of such things as the Tyrannic War Veterans and the Seditio Opprimere mean that the Ultramarines have begun to violate the Codex Astartes?

By their very own description, yes, the Tyrannic War Veterans are a violation of the Codex Astartes. But the Ultramarines decided that it is ok in this instance, according to the Tyrannic War Veterans' background, as for one thing the Ultramarines were in dire need of a full 1st Company, and also because of their deep hatred for the Tyranids.

 

The Ultramarines are still also described as strict followers and paragon Chapter of the Codex Astartes, however, so currently it is basically up to the players which of these two mutually exclusive pieces of background they decide to go by. The Ultramarines are either the paragon of Codex Chapters, with no special units, or they have Tyrannic War Veterans, thereby being less Codex conform than the Imperial Fists or the Raven Guard. Both versions are supported in the 4th and 5th Edition Codex Space Marines.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

Seditio Opprimere

 

 

huh?

 

 

Yeah, I have no idea either. People namedrop that in this forum all the time as "proof" that the Ultramarines have turned their back on the Codex but I haven't been able to find anything online about it apart from offhand comments. Apparently it's a battle barge with non-standard weaponry or something.

 

Lance-armed battlebarge.