Napoleonic themed chapter

[Regem Nox]

Just to start off with, i'm not french and don't speak it, i'm just interested in the millitary of france in that time period.

I was thinking of writing an IA for a chapter like this, but first is it a good idea?

I was planning on calling the 1st company the old garde and bike squads as cuirassiers.

Perhaps with each company (corps?) being lead by a marshals?

their chapter symbol would be a fleur de lis and their battlecry would be vive l'empereu

any suggestions?

[Paradill]

Combat Tactics: Surrender..

 

Sorry, I can't help it.... It's like a disease..

 

In regards to the topic itself; I say go for it, as long as it doesn't get silly. Maybe less french war cry, more high gothic? But a fully fleshed out background and reasons for the deviance in codex designations would be pretty neato.

 

Paradill

[AGPO]

In all honesty I think this would be a better theme for a guard army, but hey if you like it go for it. A few suggestions I have would be:

 

1. Don't go for the fleur de lys as chapter symbol - it was a symbol of the French monarchy and wouldn't really fit your theme.

 

2. Napoleon's armies were famed for being meritocracies, so maybe give some thought as to how you'd include this. Along with the radical and revolutionary nature of Napoleon as a commander, this seems to suggest the chapter should be fairly non-codex, promoting radical tactical doctrines and imaginitive junior officers working on their own initiative. Promotion in the chapter could be far more a question of talent than seniority and length of service than it is with other chapters, and a swift progression to the 1st company/command would be relatively common.

 

3. Napoleon loved his artillery, so maybe a heavy support focused army would be a good bet.

 

4. In terms of colour schemes and modelling ideas, take a look at some of the Osprey guides for suggestions. Give your bare headed marines moustaches as they were the symbol of a soldier in Napoleonic France. Any model with braiding would look good for officers. The plastic commander, some Blood Angels and space hulk termies have it.

 

5. Marshalls as company commanders is a really nice idea, make sure you give them some sort of batton.

 

6. Calling your scouts Voltegieurs (sp?) would be a nice touch. Skirmishers and light companies were considered fairly elite at the time, so maybe use the Space Wolf list and take Wolf Scouts to reflect this.

 

7. Napoleon was famously good to his troops and allies (especially Poles) but brutal to the populations he defeated. Maybe have the chapter treat allied units with unusual respect and kindness, but utterly devastate any world they invade if there is the slightest sign of corruption.

[AGPO]

Sorry for the double post but I got a bit carried away with this one. Can you tell I really like this era?

This is my concept for a Napoleonic style marine. The red shoulder trims and stripes indicate he is part of a grenadier (assault) squad, and are taken from the epulettes and shako plumes of Napoleonic soldiers. The eagle is a common theme between the Napoleonic era and the Imperium, so I'd expect it to feature prominently. Laurels too were a common symbol of the era, so I figure this marine has been decorated.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

I came up with an Austrian Napoleonic-era-themed Chapter once, fully fleshed them out and wrote up a full IA for them. In all honesty, it got a lot of flak because the eras and themes didn't seem to jive well, but if you can pull it off better than I, more cudos to you sir.

[PorridgeMeister]

Combat Tactics: Surrender..

 

Sorry, I can't help it.... It's like a disease..

 

Priceless! :lol:

 

Anyway, I think that AGPO's concepts would be great; the only thing is I wouldn't try to make it so obvious that it has an overtly French theme.

[Sobansa]

I've always thought that a Napoleonic-era-themed chapter would work really well if only because of the coloring. One of the major things that he did was to make his forces more mobile as well as being meritocracies so you might want to incorporate that as well.

[Ubermensch Commander]

How strongly Napoleonic do you want to theme the army? AGPO has some very good ideas. Heavy support and Infantry heavy seems to be the way to go, to represent the excellent French infantry and artillery of the time. Not that you cant have any fast attack or fast moving elements, it still is a Space Marine army after all, and while Napoleon may have loved his artillery he still used all elements of an army to win. And was noted for being mobile as well...so yeah can go either way. Mix of rapid deployment and strong artillery firebase (Thunderfire canons, vindicators, whirlwinds recommended.)

 

I must disagree with his Space Wolf codex idea. The Napoleonic army fits, thematically, more strongly with the Ultramarines and the standard C:SM, IMO. Strong infantry base, good organization, excellent co-ordination between all branches of the forces. While it might fit with the elite scouts, the rest of the army is somewhat lacking a Napoleonic theme. Carolinian and Charlemagne, maybe, but not so much Napoleon. :D

 

Force Organization down, onward to background- (Assuming you have not already handled this part)

To go with revolutionary and meritorious, I would have them recruit from a hive world or world with a strong noble background. The world, Patay Monarchia, whatever you wish to call it, had a long and glorious history of serving the Imperium. Sadly, their noble ruling families grew so corrupt and incompetent they ceased to pay tithes to the Adminstratum and perhaps declared themselves beyond Imperial law. A strike force of Guard and Marines is hastily assembled, they were in the area, and is sent to bring the world back into imperial fold. The fleet arrives to find their work already done for them. The populace, devoutly loyal to the Emperor and Imperium, albeit differently than the nobles, rose up and overthrew the corrupt leaders at great cost to their own lives. So impressed with this dutiful display, the Marines (pick a name) declare they shall recruit from this world and adopt it as their own (perhaps they were fleet based, perhaps they petition to create a new Chapter at this very world).

 

My two cents on the matter.

[blackoption]

6. Calling your scouts Voltegieurs (sp?) would be a nice touch. Skirmishers and light companies were considered fairly elite at the time, so maybe use the Space Wolf list and take Wolf Scouts to reflect this.

 

This could be represented 2 ways in codex SM.

-Sternguard

-Sicarius' Company of Heroes rule

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but light infantry companies were expected to act on their own initiative in battle in the Grand Army. I'd reflect that using Sternguard personnally. But then again, I love sternguards.

[Walter Payton]

Combat Tactics: Surrender..

 

Sorry, I can't help it.... It's like a disease..

 

How about:

 

Combat Tactics: Attack two biggest Empires on Earth and make a hell of a fight of it? :)

 

Napoleon was an artilleryman, so devastators etc are must, and have a kick-ass Terminator company to represent les Grognards.

 

Don't make their symbol a fleur-de-lis, it was the symbol of the Bourbon monarchy; an Eagle, the symbol of the First French Empire, would be beter.

 

Don't put the battle cry in French, it doesn't always work.