When does a chapter become renegade?

[Blitzkreig]

So I have been toying around with an idea for a Chapter which has a fairly big mutation. They don't grow extra limbs or anything like that but one of their artificial organs does act in an abnormal way.

 

So I wanted to ask, how much genetic deviancy is enough for the Inquisition to say "thats it, kill them all"? The Black Dragons have survived because their gene-seed tithes always pass stringent tests, but they are still genetically deviant. So how much is too much?

[Rider-75]

can you elaborate on this "fairly big mutation"?

 

which organ is it?

 

what effect does it have on the organ?

 

how does effect the marine, both physiologically and psychologically?

 

is the effect obvious to those around the chapter?

 

does it produce a physical manifestation, or is it just behavioural?

[Shinzaren]

Does it affect their ability to serve the Emperor?

Does it reflect badly on the Imperium?

Does it cause noticeable change?

We need these answered, as well as all of Rider-75's questions.

[Blitzkreig]

Beltcher's Gland mutates from Acidic Spit to creating a highly flammable gas that ignites when combined to air. I'll explain it more fully when I actually write up the IA but thats the basic gist of it. You wouldn't know it is there unless you see it happen, those with the mutation become a little more aggressive.

[Shinzaren]

So they can breath fire? I don't think that would be ground for Exterminatus. Its not visual when not in use, its not affecting their mental processes to a large degree, and since they can already spit acid, flames aren't a huge leap. They would have to conceal it as best they could, ensuring that the stories of it would be just that: stories. Just make sure they aren't randomly spitting fire everywhere they go, and that it can be controlled, like the Betcher's acid.

 

Also, this idea reminds me of umm... Reign of Fire? I think. The movie with Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey? The Dragons in that breath fire with a similar, though not quite identical, method.

[Blitzkreig]

Well the idea is that after a few uses the gland begins to burn itself out literally, causing the marine to lose the ability. As such it is generally considered as a last resort type deal where you need to kill something and have no other means to do so. Not like a "look dudes I can breath fire!" type thing. In the fluff I am writing it reflects the Black Dragons to a degree where the afflicted are either Sargeants (it is much more likely to manifest the longer a marine lives on their homeworld, it is a combo of radiation and gene seed like the Salamanders skin) or formed into their own units.

[Tutteman]

As others have said this probably wouldn't affect the chapter much. However I assume the chapter is hardly in a hurry to show anyone outside of the chapter? After all those lovely people at the Inquistion aren't noted for thinking rationally...

[Blitzkreig]

Yeah, they don't like to use it at all... like I said it is a "So, we are surrounded by Orks, nobody else from any other Imperial or Xenos Organisation is within the vicinity and I had Chilli for lunch. LETS DO THIS!"

[Grand Master Tyrak]

So I wanted to ask, how much genetic deviancy is enough for the Inquisition to say "thats it, kill them all"?

 

Opinions will always be different for each individual Inquisitor (and the other Chapters who might be called upon to purge you), but as a general rule it is when you become a greater threat to the Imperium than usual. Since the major mutating power in the 40k universe is Chaos, and Chaos is so corrupting and hard to remove, that means you have to stay within touching distance of the norm or risk being purged. There isn't really room for taking risks with possible Chaos contamination.

 

It's a pretty vague rule, but for an organisation as diverse and disunited as the Inquisition it's the best there is. Given the attitude to mutation in the Imperium, a bigger question would be why does your Chapter tolerate the mutation in the first place? Why didn't they try and stamp it out when it first appeared?

[BassWave]

Thats a pretty cool idea, gameplay wise you can give the seargents combi flamers/meltas/plasmas. The rules for combi weapons of only one use a game really matches up with your fluff. I'd certainly would love to see that effect modeled. Good luck! ;)

[soddinnutter]

I would shy away from the organ 'burning out'. the Astartes can recover from damn near anything short of decapitation.

 

perhaps they are reluctant to use it because the rest of their face is not fire proof and it is extremely painful and its hard to explain the scars and lack of lips to the more Puritan factions of the Imperium. And it takes time to replenish supply of the toxins.

 

Why would the evident mutants be considered worthy of the rank of Sargent?

 

Perhaps they could be decendants of Rogal Dorn and this is a semi-succesful attempt ot get the Betchers Glands working again.