Help Choosing a Chapter

[Valantine]

Hi all,

 

As recommended by Tanhausen in my greetings thread here: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...howtopic=216235

 

I hope this is the correct place to post this but.....

I'm posting here asking you Brothers for help in picking what chapter to base my army on.

 

I used to play 2nd and 3rd edition with a large Blood Angels force - complete 3rd Company and elements of 1st, 2nd and 10th which I sold off a fair while back along with almost all my codex, rules, index astartes books and large bits box.

 

Since I am restarting I am currently only aiming at the modelling aspect of the hobby, although I may be pursuaded to return to the actual tabletop itself if I find the right group / club and found some additional free time.

 

Anyhow, if you chaps could help - I'm looking at starting a new force of Astartes, personally I'd like to stay clear of the Blood Angels this time as I don't think I can go back to painting THAT MUCH RED again.

Instead I am looking for a Chapter that sticks close to the Codex: I've toyed with the idea of Ultramarines, Crimson Fists, Salamanders, Imperial Fists or possibly doing my own DIY chapter however I can't quite decide.

 

I did see a thread about how many players use each canon chapter around here when I registered a week or so ago but for the life of me I can't find it or find it using the search function as I'd like to go with something not overtly represented already.

 

I'm looking for something:

 

1. closely codex related

2.preferably with a bit of fluff behind it but not over the top on fluff

3. preferably a "Canon" chapter

4. not red if at all possible

5.not overly played / seen around in large numbers

6. and for gameplay - I started to enjoy using tactical and devastator squads rather than assualt squads - laying down a lot of heavy fire whilst perhaps sacrificing the faster pace and hand to hand elements a little although the new sternguard type stuff looks quite good as specialisied veteran tac squads.

 

I've currently got the following built and undercoated black:

 

Command Squad

Predator

1 x 5 man Assault Squad

1 x 10 man Tactical Squad (1x plasma gun 1x Missile Launcher)

1 x 10 man Tactical Squad (1 x meltagun 1 x heavy bolter)

Techmarine and 2 gun servitors.

around 15 random assorted old styled plastic and metal marines, lots of missile launcher equiped marines too for some reason!

 

I've also got the following to build yet:

 

Rhino / Whirlwind (not sure which to make it as yet)

1 x 5 man Scout Squad (not sure bolters or shotguns yet)

1 x 5 man assualt squad

2 x 10 man Tactical Squad (thinking of making one of them into a converted Sternguard squad)

1 x Chaplain

1 x Captain

 

My models are a random assortment of new bits I picked up in store recently and bits I had left that I didn't sell before that have had their paint stripped using Dettol - just don't have much of a "bits box" right now.

 

If it helps: I quite enjoy converting models to make them a little more unique although my skills with green stuff are nowhere near brilliant! Most of my conversions are based on changing positions of legs and arms to give a wider variety of stances, running etc. My painting got quite good towards the end of my last outing in 40k but I am sure I'd need to practice quite a bit to get back into it and get a passable job done. I prefer to avoid transfers as they never look "right" but my freehand was never that smooth. Oh and one final bit about painting - I think I'd like to avoid painting bare skin so as many of my marines as possible will be wearing their helmets!

 

So any help in deciding what Chapter to collect could really be helpful.

 

Many thanks everyone

[Chapter Master Ignis Domus]

I have to recommend the noncanon Purifiers for a moderately well known reason.

 

Now that I'm done doing that, here we go:

Based on C:SM

Aurora Chapter- Lots of armored assault, more press and LRs than 3 chapters combined

Fire Lords- charge forwards into the smoldering ruins of an incendiary missile barrage

Doom Legion- Heavy Space Bound firepower, probably use lots of Short ranged weapons

 

Or(and I recommend this) you could create your own DIY chapter.

[Shinzaren]

You, my good (wo)man, need Iron Hands.

1. closely codex related:

The Iron Hands are a divergent Chapter in regards to organization, what with the Clans and all, but are otherwise Codex.

 

2.preferably with a bit of fluff behind it but not over the top on fluff:

Iron Hands fluff is both awesome, and horribly under appreciated. Seriously, go check it out. Right. Now.

 

3. preferably a "Canon" chapter:

Canon as can be. First Founding and all.

 

4. not red if at all possible:

They're Black!

 

5.not overly played / seen around in large numbers:

One of the most under appreciated and played armies actually.

 

6. and for gameplay - I started to enjoy using tactical and devastator squads rather than assualt squads - laying down a lot of heavy fire whilst perhaps sacrificing the faster pace and hand to hand elements a little although the new sternguard type stuff looks quite good as specialisied veteran tac squads:

I generally picture the Iron Hands being shooty, but I don't know all that much about them. Bannus, over in the Index Astartes forum will be much more helpful.

 

After that, I would recommend a quick jaunt over to the B&C Index Astartes Forum. They specialize in GW made chapters. We handle the fluff and creation of DiY Chapters. If you are going to make your own, you definitely found the right place <_<

[Chapter Master Ignis Domus]

He said he didn't want a well-played army. And everyone plays Iron Hands! Ok, most people. Maybe 50%. A quarter? 10%? 1%? A tenth of a percent? Three people?!

 

I can't believe I didn't think of them. I withdraw all recommendations and support the Iron Hands.

[ewhile]

I would suggest avoiding the Crimson Fists. Where i play they seem to be very common.

[Valantine]

I'm currently reading Rynn's World which is why they came up.

 

Thanks very much for your help so far gents! I;ve been using it to come up with a pro and cons of each of my current choices

 

For the pros and cons:

 

Ultramarines:

+ As Codex as they get pretty much

+ Blue and not Red!!

+ Lots of available stuff for the army

- Seems they are quite common?

- Seen as overtly fluffy / lame for some reason

 

Crimson Fists:

+ Great paintscheme

+ Decent Fluff

+ Codex to an extent

- A little too much info on Captains and names etc. in the novel limits creativity

- They seem to be quite popular, although is this just with new players due to them appearing on box art etc as the UM's did?

- Events in Rynn's world novel indicate that they would need a LOT of new kit and marines

 

Imperial Fists:

+ Seem a little rarer for a 1st founding chapter

+ Great paintscheme

+ Seem to fit my style of play

- Painting Yellow is difficult to get right and get consistant

- No real character to them as they are not very well fluffed out

- erm... painting yellow is a pain!

 

Salamanders:

+ Great colour scheme

+ Seem to match my style of fighting quite nicely

+ Growing amounts of fluff to bulk out the story behind them

- They seem to be increasingly common

- Seem to value taking to the field bareheaded - not good for someone who doesn't like painting skin

- Not sure I can do the green / flames and lizard scales these demand any decent justice

 

Iron Hands:

+ Cool Bionics

+ Seem to match my style of play

+ Offer lots of conversion opportunities

- Bionics come as metal rather than plastic

- Not so keen on black armour

- Deviate from the Codex a fair bit

 

DIY Chapter:

+ Choice of any paint scheme I like

+ Ability to match to my own play style

+ As much conversion and character building as I chose

- Not sharing that "brotherhood" with fellow xyz chapter players

- lack of guidance or foundation of chapter organisation / colours / characters

- No fluff

 

 

I know ultimately it is my decision to paint whatever I want (bright pink fluffy bunny marines if needs be!) but in all seriousness I'd like to "commit" to one as I did with my old Blood Angles army rather than chop and change. Once I've picked a Chapter I would like to stick it out for quite a while, so chosing the right chapter for me is my main priority right now.

Cheers and thanks for all the help so far gents!

[Octavulg]

There's another option:

 

Someone Else's DIY Chapter (it's been done before, honest)

+Fluff is easily accessible and unlikely to change wildly

+Fluff is usually very complete and will give you a good picture of the Chapter.

+There's plenty of them out there

+You get to be part of a larger thing, but still playing something unique

+The author will probably be very happy to talk about their Chapter with you

+The author will also probably get a kick out of working your fluff into his, at least to some extent

-You're still unofficial, and without the plus of getting to be as creative as you like

-There still are some limits to what you can do

-You're still going to have to explain what you're playing every time.

 

If you like the idea: this is a list of the DIY Chapters in the Librarium, with pretty color schemes

 

EDIT: I know a few people have made Castigators armies, and someone made a Heralds of Light army as well.

[Captain Juan Juarez]

In terms of named Captains and the like putting a downer on certain Chapters; pick a random point in the Chapters history to do your force for - "this is my Crimson Fist Crusade Company thirty years after the death of Kantor".

[Octavulg]

In regard to how those fit your criteria:

 

4. not red if at all possible

 

That eliminates the Brazen Claws (probably), the Castigators, the Thousand Swords, and Angels Sanguine.

 

1. closely codex related

 

That eliminates the Knights of Lydda, the Unpronouncables, the Stormbringers, the Lords of Oblivion, the Eagle Claws, the Sons of Doom, the White Crusaders, the Angels of Absolution, the Astral Hawks, the Blades of Duty, and the Night Scorpions.

 

2.preferably with a bit of fluff behind it but not over the top on fluff

 

Pretty much all of them have nothing more than an IA. Some of those IAs are pretty long, but nothing really has more than 8000 words. Most are more like 5000.

 

6. and for gameplay - I started to enjoy using tactical and devastator squads rather than assualt squads - laying down a lot of heavy fire whilst perhaps sacrificing the faster pace and hand to hand elements a little although the new sternguard type stuff looks quite good as specialisied veteran tac squads.

 

That would eliminate the Harbingers of Fire, the Children of Eternity, the White Hand, the Angels of Perdition, the Arctic Lions, and the Nebula Rangers.

 

The Black Guard and Shadow Warriors are similar to the Raven Guard, so might not work for you either.

 

Looking at the Chapters you've proposed, the Warriors Eternal, the Dark Sons, the Warlords and the Ice Lords all seem like they'd lend themselves to your preferred tactics to a greater or lesser extent. The Dark Sons are an official Chapter, but the background was created here. The ones I haven't explictly mentioned as not fitting could also work, and even the ones I have might take your fancy.

 

I'd recommend looking at the Dark Sons and Warriors Eternal first off. :)

[PorridgeMeister]

In terms of named Captains and the like putting a downer on certain Chapters; pick a random point in the Chapters history to do your force for - "this is my Crimson Fist Crusade Company thirty years after the death of Kantor".

Kantor is dead? :) When did this happen...?

[Chapter Master Ignis Domus]

I think he's talking about Kantor dying in the future.

[PorridgeMeister]

I think he's talking about Kantor dying in the future.

Oh...

[Valantine]

Cheers chaps!

I'll have a look at those recommendations Saturday morning!

I think I may need to paint a few test models up to see what I am happy painting, I've got 5 "paint set" marines set aside for this, only issue is they have molded ultramarines symbols but for paint testers it doesn;t matter too much.

Just need to cut it down to 5 options........ the Rynn's world novel is quite enjoyable so far (just started "book 2" of it so stil la fair bit to go) and the ultramarines movie looks pretty cool (since that is what got me back to 40k anyhow...) so the Crimson Fists and Ultramarines automatically snap up one model each.

 

Some FANTASTIC resources here on the BC too! So thanks very much to the community for all the hard work that has gone on here and for all the inspiration for paint schemes, conversions and general epic (but not EPIC) 40k ideas!

V

[Valantine]

I think I've narrowed it down to either the Crimson Fists, a DIY successor chapter of the Imperial Fists similar to the CF or lastly one of the many non fleshed out Ultramarines GW sucessor chapters.

 

First off: Are there any current DIY Fists successor chapters that I could take a look at?

 

Second: Any Sugestions for the Ultramarines GW Successor chapter?

 

Third: Any ideas if I do got for a Crimson Fists army with regards to army layout / personalisation?

 

Cheers all and very sorry if this is a bit between the Liber Astartes and Index Astartes, mods if you think this deserves to be elsewhere please move it and accept my apologies.

[NightrawenII]

I think I've narrowed it down to either the Crimson Fists, a DIY successor chapter of the Imperial Fists similar to the CF or lastly one of the many non fleshed out Ultramarines GW sucessor chapters.

 

First off: Are there any current DIY Fists successor chapters that I could take a look at?

Hundreds.

 

Second: Any Sugestions for the Ultramarines GW Successor chapter?

Well, it depends what you want or expect from UM chapter.

Mortifactors, Novamarines, Eagle Warriors, Howling Griffons and Silver Skulls.

[Octavulg]

First off: Are there any current DIY Fists successor chapters that I could take a look at?

 

Assuming you're still looking for a Codex chapter:

 

The Heralds of Light, Scions of Dorn, Grief Bringers, and the The Sons of Doom seem to be the ones in the Librarium.

 

There's others, of course, both in the Librarium and out of it, of varying degrees of codexness (and in varying stages of completeness). I was always fond of Swordlord's Praefects of Heliophon. My own Steel Dogs are Dorn successors, but they're still a secret project. :) I could PM you some details, if you wanted. Beyond that, I can't remember any that are Dornian (though I evidently remember two Ultramarines, one Raven Guard, and one that's currently locked between being White Scars and Imperial Fists (the Stonebound) .

 

Second: Any Sugestions for the Ultramarines GW Successor chapter?

 

The ones mentioned by Nightrawen are neat. Honestly, it's simply a matter of picking a scheme you like. The Howling Griffons, Marines Errant and Novamarines have all been explored in the recent IA9. Though I must point out that we don't know who the Howling Griffons are descended from.

 

Third: Any ideas if I do got for a Crimson Fists army with regards to army layout / personalisation?

 

Not really. One option is to be a historical Crimson Fists army, as previously mentioned. Beyond that...not sure.

 

There's a reason I play DIY Chapters. ;)

[Ecritter]

My new Sons of Pyron are Ultramarine successors .... if I remember correctly. They are also codex adherant, with just a higher use of flamers and other fire based weps and company composition setting them apart from other chapters.

[NightrawenII]

Though I must point out that we don't know who the Howling Griffons are descended from.

According to the Lexicanum, the Chapter War book of Soul Drinkers identify them as descendants of the Ultramarines. I don't have this Book of Sacrilege, so I can't check.

[Shinzaren]

My Sons of Lightning are Dorn successors that are moderately Codex. They really hate Eldar though, so if that's a problem, I recommend against that ;)

[Chapter Master Ignis Domus]

Go for Purifiers! They're on page three of Octavulg's search. They're still a WIP, but they're getting there. Your opinion is always valued, especially with that official community one going on. But I digress. They're an Imperial Fists chapter based in a space hulk who are possibly codex.

[Valantine]

Thanks for all the pointers everyone!

 

I'm going to finish up all my undercoating and reading around this week.

Still very much torn between some of the fantastic DIY chapters here and a couple of the more popular GW creations though - reading Rynn's World isn't helping get rid of the urge to paint Crimson Fists but compared to other chapters their schemes and decorations are very minimalistic. I am also loath to do an Ultramarines force since it carries that certain stigma!

V

[Chapter Master Ignis Domus]

Ignore the hatred of ultra awesomeness. To play Ultramarines is to be perfectly fine.

[Shinzaren]

Ignore the hatred of ultra awesomeness. To play Ultramarines is to be perfectly fine.

No.

[Ecritter]

Ignore the hatred of ultra awesomeness. To play Ultramarines is to be perfectly fine.

No.

 

Ignore the youngling ... he knows not what he says. :)

[NightrawenII]

Ignore the hatred of ultra awesomeness. To play Ultramarines is to be perfectly fine.

No.

 

Ignore the youngling ... he knows not what he says. B)

Yeah, you beardy Long Fangs are always right. :cry: