The Scarlet Hunt

[Waywatcher]

Hi everyone at B&C,

 

I just wanted to introduce myself and rather timidly step-up to introduce my early thoughts for my own SM Chapter/Company, with a view to seeking some constructive advice and guidance - please be gentle!

 

A little background first if I may, which I'll keep brief....

 

I returned to tabletop gaming about 2 years ago (after a 25 year hiatus) and started painting miniatures again. Then, after a brief sojourn into WHFB, I bought AoBR and started work on an Ultramarine army. I attempted to teach myself how to play 40K, but soon realised that it would be a struggle without outside help. So, a few weeks ago I joined a local gaming club and my experience and familiarity with the 40K universe is literally growing daily. However, I'm still *very* new to the 'fluff' and background of the hobby, so although I have good intentions, my thoughts about starting my own Chapter/Company may be way off.

 

Anyway, after exquisitely painting my first 10-man Tactical Squad over several weeks, I came to realise that as I grow my army I cannot afford to spend so much time putting display case detail into every model. So, as I now have a rapidly building force undercoated and ready to paint, it would seem prudent that if I'm going to make any colour changes, now is the time - start as I mean to go on! Therefore, my desire to create my own brand of Space Marine has been born out of just wanting to put something different onto the battlefield, whilst not straying very far out of my hugely naiive comfort zone.

 

Oh, and my current gaming nemesis is soon going to be fielding a Tyranid swarm, so I want to pulverise it :)

 

I am currently reading through the wealth of information B&C provide on DIY Chapters, and have checked name availability with the established 1,000 Chapter Gallery, so please don't fire off too many criticisms about how I should be going about this as I am furiously trying to get up to speed on this challenge.

 

Ok, thanks for reading that little prologue... now, here is my somewhat crude idea...

 

 

+ THE SCARLET HUNT +

 

I'm comfortable with my current Ultramarines army and the way I've been playing them at the club, so I'm looking for either a sub-chapter or special-role company under the overall command of the Ultramarines. Now, when I say 'special role', I DO NOT mean 'elite' like the Grey Knights or Deathwatch. Rather, a company set with fulfilling a specific ongoing purpose/task.

 

My initial thought has been to develop a role for a small chapter/company that feeds off of the background of 'Old One Eye', the Tyranid Carnifex defeated when Hive Fleet Behemoth attacked Calth. As the canonical story is told, Scout Sgt Telion finally defeated Old One Eye, yet never found his remains. However, originally Old One Eye lost his eye when "...a long forgotten hero of the Imperium who fired a plasma pistol through the beast's eye and into the beast's brain..." (Codex: Tyranids, p.57). Now, despite several opportunities to join the Ultramarines Honour Guard, Telion has remained with the 10th Scout Company, training new warriors, which I believe puts him in an ideal position to create the following scenario...

 

Telion has put a name to that 'long forgotten hero' - Kepler - a wet-behind-the-ears, recently recruited Marine who managed to bring down the Carnifex. The purpose in doing so is to act as heroic inspiration for his Scouts, enthusing them with thoughts of glory about 'local boy makes good' heroism. Putting a name to the nameless hero engenders a belief in them that any Ultramarine, no matter how lowly can turn the tide of a war and play a greater cosmic-sized role in the greater crusade.

 

But the fact that Old One Eye's body was never discovered has continually bothered Telion, and simply inspiring his scouts with thoughts of noble heroism has not been enough. Ultimately he wants the Carnifex found and put down for good. So, he has sought permission to have a Chapter/Company created from some of his favoured scouts that has received some of his hands-on experience, knowledge and training in order to deal with Tyranids, and most importantly to find traces of Old One Eye's current location.

 

'The Scarlet Hunt' IS NOT an elite Chapter/Company, however the higher echelon's of command in the Ultramarines have given their grace for Telion to indulge his desire to hunt down the Carnifex. Therefore, while the members of 'The Scarlet Hunt' are first and foremost an extension of the Ultramarines, and therefore primarily fulfill the needs of the Chapter above all else, during periods of respite and 'peace' they employ their knowledge and skills to seek out more information and leads as to Old One Eye's whereabouts.

 

As recognition of Telion's favour towards them as his right arm as it were, and as a direct affront to Hive Fleet Behemoth, The Scarlet Hunt wear power armour that mirrors the Hive Fleet's colouring (in some way) - scarlet red/blue-black (actual livery/paint scheme to be decided).

 

+++++

 

So, now that you've kindly taken the time to read through all that, what does everyone think? It's a rough idea that needs work, but with my little 40K knowledge I fear I may be treading on some toes or even some GW fluff that goes contrary to everything above.

 

I can take criticism, but do please make it constructive! :lol: Thanks in advance,

 

 

//Waywatcher

[ShadowSong7007]

First things first. It's your army so do what you want to do no matter what ;)

Secondly, Welcome back to the hobby.

Thirdly forgive the randomness of the post. its mostly brainstorming and just throwing things out there.

 

Now then as far as C&C go the biggest issue is that the Ultramarines already have a specialized 'nid hunting group called Tyrannic War veterans. Why would they form a group whose sole purpose (besides chapter needs/demands as you stated) is to hunt down a single tyranid?

 

Perhaps a chapter called the Scarlet Hunters or something to that effect. Be of Ultramarine geneseed, they hunt 'nids. Maybe the founders or first members were marines from the Tyrannic War veterans. Perhaps the chapter was founded to guard a section of space but they just happen to always "conveniently" be in the right spot to intercept a tyranid force.

 

Anyways just some ideas to kick around.

[Allfather1]

Now then as far as C&C go the biggest issue is that the Ultramarines already have a specialized 'nid hunting group called Tyrannic War veterans. Why would they form a group whose sole purpose (besides chapter needs/demands as you stated) is to hunt down a single tyranid?

 

Perhaps a chapter called the Scarlet Hunters or something to that effect. Be of Ultramarine geneseed, they hunt 'nids. Maybe the founders or first members were marines from the Tyrannic War veterans. Perhaps the chapter was founded to guard a section of space but they just happen to always "conveniently" be in the right spot to intercept a tyranid force.

 

I support ShadowSong. For the Ultramarines to have two tyranid hunting formations it wouldn't make sense. Tellion as their leader/founder strikes me as equally odd as we probably would have heard about it if he leads such a formation.

 

If you want a chapter that hunts Tyranids you could use the last founding (26th?) because it was only 7 years before the battle of Macragge. The training cadre could have such a love for the Ultramar system that they, after seeing the devastation caused by the Tyranids, concetrate on fighting tyranids and train the chapter accordingly.

[Waywatcher]

Thanks ShadowSong and Allfather for your replies.

 

This is where your experience and knowledge exceeds mine and is therefore very useful... I didn't know or realise that the Ultramarines had a dedicated and specialised Tyranid-focused task force :) Obviously, I can see how this throws my idea above out of whack. I'm going to dismiss the Telion part of the plot altogether for that reason, however I feel there is still some merit in a Chapter that has been inspired by the '...long forgotten hero...' who as we know is actually unidentifiable and unnamed. They though believe it *might* be someone specific (although they can't prove it) and have elevated that one to almost patron hero status.

 

Any further comments/suggestions are more than welcome as I re-structure my thoughts on this.

 

Thanks!

 

//Waywatcher

[Allfather1]

This is where your experience and knowledge exceeds mine and is therefore very useful... I didn't know or realise that the Ultramarines had a dedicated and specialised Tyranid-focused task force Obviously, I can see how this throws my idea above out of whack. I'm going to dismiss the Telion part of the plot altogether for that reason, however I feel there is still some merit in a Chapter that has been inspired by the '...long forgotten hero...' who as we know is actually unidentifiable and unnamed. They though believe it *might* be someone specific (although they can't prove it) and have elevated that one to almost patron hero status.

 

It certaintly has merit and ofcourse they could be inspired by him, but it wouldn't be the reason for them to be tyranid hunters just an inspiring example.

I had the idea sometime back that the chaptermaster of a newly founded chapter was close friends with Invictus and when Invictus was killed by the tyranids he swore that his chapter would hunt down every last tyranid.

 

Feel free to use it, or not. But I certainly want to see how your chapter turns out.

[Andrew J]

I like your idea a lot. My initial thinking in ways of making more canonical (is that even a word? fluffy perhaps?), would be to maybe have a chapter of an earlier founding like the late teens or early 20s, here is a link to the always helpful timeline which could give you a good idea of when would work for you.

 

I like the name scarlet hunters btw.

 

As for incorporating the 'nids in you can always have their most recent history be a run in with a large nid swarm and have some heroic sergeant end up doing something heroic but getting lost, body neverfound.... you know the drill. And from then ont he chapter has focused so much time and energy on finding him that they have become nid hunters and worked with the ultramarine tyrannic war vets to gain insight. Maybe they have worked with the UM a lot and have a good standing with them. You know you can tie in almost anything in 40K, that is one of the great things about it.

 

That is just my 2 cents. Hope it helps.

 

EDIT:also just thought of my avatar when I saw it. The Emperors Scythes were nearly destroyed by a nid swarm in the fluff. You can also find a good short story on them in the heroes of the space marine book (i think).

[ShadowSong7007]

Since Old one eye seems to keep popping up perhaps your chapter had a run in with him. Maybe your chapter finds a relic of the unknown hero. Could spin in a way thats almost like the Dark Angels in the hunt for the fallen but its a hunt for Old One eye. Any reports of Old one eye in an area and you guys are there ASAP.

[Waywatcher]

Thanks so much for the additional comments/suggestions, they are definitely helping.

 

I think Andrew J/ShadowSong that you may have hit the nail on the head. Rather than try and shoehorn my Chapter into the established fluff, I should be looking at establishing it earlier and then bringing the Tyranids in as a recent event that has changed their focus. The relic idea is a nice one and I think I may look further into that.

 

//Waywatcher

[Brother Tyler]

Consider an alternative that dovetails off of your original idea.

 

Your idea is a perfect opportunity to illustrate the principle of "fluffing out" a specific task force or company, with your army and background merely representing a snapshot in time.

 

So perhaps instead of being a new Chapter as others are suggesting, your "Scarlet Hunt" is just a task force of Ultramarines, primarily composed of Tyrannic War Vets along with Telion and whatever else you want. It could be a force set at the time right after Old One Eye assumed his new moniker (shortly before being known as "That Two-Eyed Crimson Gribbly"), or it could be a more recent force.

 

Your original idea is sound, though it might need a few minor tweaks to make it work better. You don't necessarily need to follow the more extreme route of making another Chapter to achieve your desired end state.

[Waywatcher]

Your original idea is sound, though it might need a few minor tweaks to make it work better.

 

Thanks Brother Tyler for the extra thoughts. So, what you are saying is that it could represent the task force Telion led immediately after defeating Old One Eye, representing the search he made to find the creature's body on Calth, and perhaps during other conflicts (where reports may have come through of Carnifexs matching Old One Eye's description) that took place during the First Tyrannic War? Therefore, he could be chosen as an HQ choice. But the rest of the force wouldn't really be made up of Tyrannic War Vets as they wouldn't have *yet* actually become veterans.

 

I would still want to perhaps paint their armour (pauldrons at least) in Behemoth colours in order to represent their specific role. The idea of representing a snapshot in time is perhaps the most workable one... but it will only be useful for a visual representation as any other games run with this army would be completely out of kilter with any other dating/fluff.

 

//Waywatcher

[Pall Ironbear]

A fine start Waywatcher. I have a book that might give you some more ideas on Chapter colours/designs if you do decide to create your own chapter. I'll take it to the club this week :lol: