Australian Themed Space Marine Chapter

[VENGEANCE]

Hiya peoples!

 

I have recently discovered through school history the joys of Australia's role in WWI. This got me thinking; how awesome would an ANZAC themed Army be, using Lieutenant Jacka as a famed captain with some awards and name the battles of like Palestine and Suez Canal as battles fought against renegades?

However, I'm not really sure how they would be painted. I thought that they'd look khaki and maybe have slouch hats and sling their boltguns over their shoulders. I am seriously considering painting a squad of Aussie Marines.

 

What do you guys think of the idea? Feedback from fellow Aussies or even overseas peoples would be appreciated! Cheers!

[Grey Hunter Ydalir]

Wotcher mate!

 

Another aussie on the forum is a welcome sight. Welcome to the Liber.

 

I would, personally love to see a chapter themed on the ANZAC legend. However, the problem lies in how strong the theme needs to be to carry over. Imperial Guard regiments are easy to theme because it doesn't matter how obvious or extreme their themes are. Space Marine chapters need to be themed much more subtly to avoid coming off like the Space Wolves for example (Space Vikings).

 

The problem with toning back the theme is that it ends up being a military-themed chapter, which is not much of a theme at all.

 

The closest I have found to my own interpretation of what an ANZAC theme would be like is from reading Horus Rising in the Heresy series. The Luna Wolves tend to have that same belligerence and lighter attitude that seems to be equated with the ANZACs, at least in popular depictions of them.

 

I think slouch hats are not a good idea, frankly. You need to go with depth of character rather than cheap cliche's. Yes the Slouch Hat is an icon of the ANZACs but to give them to space marines would I think be a little absurd.

[Brother Argent]

Well there was an idea a short while ago about one such Chapter and I am currently working on an Imperial Guard Regiment based of the Australian involvment in WW1 and some WW2. That is the problem, however. Australia's involvement in such earlier battles is better suited to a themed Guard force then Space Marines. It was, after all, very much a British tactic to send in the colonials first (much like the Imperium). Although the Australian (and other allied forces) one some pretty spectacular victories in the WWs they were so spectacular because they were mostly won on the backs of heroic soldiers, common men for the most part, winning against insurmountabl odds. With space marines its super humans stomping all over the little guy.

 

So whilst I would love to see your work with this, I'm not sure how it could work.

[VENGEANCE]

Thanks for the replies! I have to agree with you about the slouch hats, I was just throwin' ideas out there, but I still think bolters over the shoulder would look awesome. However, while your premis of "With space marines its super humans stomping all over the little guy", what about the Lamenters? The Celestial Lions...The Crimson Fists are fierce warriors but they still got taken by the Orks. This is the sort of thing I think I'd be going with; stubborn, relentless yet under strength.

 

Anyway, I'll write up a fluff piece and have it posted tomorrow. Thanks again for your input!

[Jacobius]

You could call your Chapter: Koalas - Not to be shot at or sent overseas

 

Before you laugh the original 'Koalas' were the militia boys sent to New Guinea to stop the Japanese.

 

The regular army guys called them Koalas as the law said that the Militia couldn't be used off Australian soil, hence, the subtitle.

 

-J-

[Pcm979]

The Drop Bears.

[Lord_Reven]

To be honest i think the hats would be awesome. I have seen a guy make a whole space marine army with a Scottish theme. He used green stuff to give them all KILTS! When i think of a space marine with a slouch hat i see in my minds eye this huge power armor wearing badass with a cigar and a grin on his face, aiming a flamer at some poor heretic. So if you want space marines with slouch hats id say go for it!.. but maybe limit it to the sergeants to try and make it not go way OTT.

[Slick Jimmy]

If you do make the chapter, include fluff on a Gallipoli type situation for either them or for the natives of your planet. It would be a fitting battle/tragedy for an Aussi themed army.

[ChaplainMathreyn]

I read an account once, of an American Officer, who, upon meeting their allies, wrote some pretty interesting descriptions on the characteristics of the soldiers he would be fighting with. What I liked about the Australians (Who he also liked), were:

 

A "Give me that, and I'll get it done", industrious attitude. The initiative is there, seize it, forget higher command ordering you to do it.

 

Abit Too lackadaisical, borderline disorderly, attitude towards command... (I don't know How you could translate that to the Space Marines, though.... ).

 

Although, he does cite some disregard for command that he wrote about as well... So, as to disloyal Space Marines...Not more "renegade but loyal" Marines... Oh heavens no...

 

Honestly... When I think "Australian"... Definitely some severe modification of the Space Wolves... Definitely...

[tehkonraf]

I don't think slouch hats are a good idea-Hats and marines are not a good mix. However an Australian themed Marine force, preferably understrength and fighting against semi-impossible odds would be cool. The name Taipans would be good as well (presumably along with some marine-y name like Night/Brazen/etc.)

 

 

Also another name, but perhaps better suited for a fighting vessel: Thylacoleo

[VENGEANCE]

Hiya guys! Thanks for the extra input. Here's what I've come up with as a basic summary:

 

Name: I'm not sure on this one; I was thinking something like "the Diggers", but that doesn't really seem that suitable to me. I had a look at the Marsupial Lion and that is probably the best bet, but the "Marsupial Lions" doesn't seem much better than "the Diggers". The other name for Marsupial Lion is Thylacoleo, so I dunno if I could call them something like that...it's a work in progress.

Geneseed: Rogal Dorn

Strength: ~700-800, currently understrength

Founding: 24th Founding

Homeworld: Amarak (this is an Aboriginal tribe)

Chapter Master: Not sure yet

Captain of the 2nd Company: Allarsio Jacka - based on Lieutenant Jacka; can have heaps of honours (in honour of Jacka winning the VC)

Captain of the 7th Company: Not sure on a name - based on the Lighthorsemen and can be bikemounted

[Sempronius]

I honestly think Drop Bears would be an awesome name. And don't forget the NZ in ANZAC is for the Kiwis, so I'd name at least one company after them, "The Sheep Shaggers" sounds about right...

[Grand Master Tyrak]

but I still think bolters over the shoulder would look awesome.

 

I can't see a problem with having slings on the bolters, but having them slung over their shoulders all the time seems a bit unwise. If you happen to find the enemy with your bolter slung over your shoulder, you can't fire it. Space Marines will probably be smarter than that, especially whilst wearing their shiny non-camouflage armour. I'd recommend saving it for mini-dioramas and a few guys who are allowed to stand around and pose. Otherwise you risk creating an army of poseurs. :)

 

The other name for Marsupial Lion is Thylacoleo, so I dunno if I could call them something like that

 

You could always use it for the founding Chapter Master.

[Jacobius]

The other name for Marsupial Lion is Thylacoleo, so I dunno if I could call them something like that...it's a work in progress.

 

May I suggest Thylacine as a name? Rolls off the tongue a bit better (Thigh-la-seen) and has more source material for icons etc.

 

-J-

[RagingGriffon]

The Drop Bears.

 

LOL! Points to you, sir!

I think if you want an Aussie theme then the homeworld should be based off Aussie culture and then

Figure out how that translates into your recruitment. Then recruitment affects your Chapter's culture.

[Stryke]

Perhaps the chapter recruits from the death world of dow'nunder, which is full of lethal animals such as man eating sharks, snakes, and most importantly, drop bears :P.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

+1 for the Drop Bear Chapter. I love crossing my games so much that I'm fighting the urge to make a DIY in Marik Militia colors.

[VENGEANCE]

Due to popular consent, Drop Bears will definitely be making some appearance in the final fluff. Sorry, but it won't be the name of the chapter. Though it may seem stupid to those who know what it is based on, a planet named Dow Nunder might not be a bad idea; maybe Dow Nundar? Now, chapter name. To me, there seem to be four options; Something Lions, representing the Marsupial Lion (extinct), Something Tigers, representing the Tasmanion Tiger (officially extinct, but sightings have been known), Something Snakes, representing the monstrous snake Wonambi (extinct) or Something Devils, representing the Tasmanion Devil. The "Something" in front of the animal would be something like "Space Lions" or "Iron Devils" or

"Sunburnt Devils".

New Zealanders, don't worry, you'll get your own company, and I'm thinking of having a company based around Aboriginal Australians? As I've said, 7th will be based on the Light horsemen of the First World War, 2nd Company will be based on the normal Australian army, 4th or 5th will be representing the Diggers and will specialise in Trench warfare (that's why I chose Rogal Dorn's geneseed).

Sorry about the fluff delay; as I said, I got this idea from school, and though education spawned the inspiration, school is hampering it's completion (stupid homework!)

[Jacobius]

If you plan on messing with the Chapter structure you could have the 9th company be famous for defending the imperial spaceport T'brook from the forces of Chaos?

 

-J-

[A_POINTED_STICK]

How about the Swamp Sabers?

Billabong+ Thylacosmilus fangs+ Bunyip+ Cavalry Weapons+ Crocodile Dundee Knife= Swamp Sabers

Now imagine it entirely scummy with caked on mud, aquatic flora, blood, and sand and armed with a 3 foot long bowie knife...

Yummy.

[VENGEANCE]

I was thinking something more like the Raptor's colour scheme (not the yellow one)

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Raptors_(Chapterhttp://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/6/6c/Raptor.gif)

[Lord_Reven]

Crocodile Dundee Knife

 

Ha, converting something like that for a space marine would be a lot of fun :devil:

[Aqui]

How about calling the world they are from (in they have a home world) Por Artur (as in Port Arthur), or k'Unbara (Canberra)?

 

-_-

 

EDIT: Didn't see you already have a name

[Grey Hunter Ydalir]

If you're going to make a concerted, decent effort on an ANZAC themed chapter any and all silliness and mucking about with cheesy and cliche material has to be given the short shrift and left behind.

 

While being a larrakin has it's place, bringing that into what is a serious effort to integrate the two concepts of Space Marines and the ANZAC legend together is not one of them.

 

Any reference to Koalas, drop-bears and Croc Dundee will only serve to rip the reader out of his little bubble wherein he suspends his disbelief. That is pretty much the worst thing that you can do as an IA writer, break the readers suspension of disbelief. A good article sucks you in. A bad one has your internal dialogue picking it apart before you've even finished it.

[Brother Argent]

What he said.