DIY chapter thoughts

[ShasVa]

I recently had an idea of an Astartes chapter that would be mostly Terminators. The thought came about because I recently read online that Terminator Armour was in-fact going to replace Power Armour entirely.

 

The potential chapter would therefore:

• would probably descend from Iron Hands gene-stock
• have close ties with the Mechanicus as a result of the above
• would be technologically-minded
• have a better armory than most chapters usually do (possibly comparable to or better than the Reclaimers and/or Praetors of Orpheus), although some tech is rare - even for them

My other ideas for the chapter are:

• that they all wear Indomitus Terminator Armour (except for Assault Marines, Scouts, and vehicle drivers) - the Chapter Master and Honour Guard, however, get Tartaros Terminator Armour
• that they venerate the Emperor as most chapters do, yet show disdain (sometimes openly) for those who would worship him as a deity
• that their Chaplains get Iron Halos instead of a Rosarius (remember, the chapter doesn't like the Echlessiarchy!)
• that they, unlike their progenitors, do not have a "burning" hatred towards fleshy weakness (although the chapter would bionically enhance themselves voluntarily)

Given that their armoury is quite different, the chapter would not follow the Codex Astartes directly. Terminator Squads would be their tactical troops, able to wield a variety of melee and ranged weapons. Assault Squads would serve as the staple fast-attack, descending from above with bolt and flame, and slicing up enemies with a number of Power Weapons. The chapter's heavy support would mostly (if not entirely) consist of Predator tanks, Land Raiders, anti-structure Vindicators, and Whirlwind artillery.

 

Lastly (for now), the chapter would be friendly towards humanity in general. They are neither cold like the Marines Malevolent, nor compassionate like the Salamanders or possibly the Ultramarines. Rather, the chapter see themselves as the bodyguards of mankind, whom they must protect from all that would threaten it, which can include the very species itself. They do their duty with cold precision, and simply leave when their mission is complete. Also, they will hesitantly work with xenos, but ONLY against a common enemy that they cannot overcome by themselves (such an occurrence is rare for the chapter). Once the common enemy is destroyed, they just leave, neither reneging on their one-time alliance, nor exchanging pleasantries.

 

 

So...what do you guys think? Is such an idea for a chapter doable??

[Wulfebane]

From a mechanics standpoint, aside from the xenos, sounds like Grey Knights.

 

Though, I was of the impression that TDA were all heirlooms and either hard or lack the knowledge to reproduce, thus the lesser quantity in most all chapters.

[Octavulg]

Terminator armor is really, really rare.  It's hard to make, it involves rare knowledge and materials, and there are lots of chapters higher up the food chain than yours who would get first claim to it. 

 

I, too, love Terminator armor.  I wanted lots of it when I was young.  But think about it for a moment - why do you need lots of it?  You're never likely to deploy more than a company's worth on the tabletop.  Which plenty of chapters have. 

 

Outside of that...not really much to them.  Your chapter seems kind of aggressively bland. 

[Reyner]

It's an alright idea it's just not really feasible. How would they get the resources to have everyone in TDA when most Chapters struggle to build a few at a time? That includes the Salamanders and Iron Hands who have pretty decent manufacturing ability.

 

The anti-ecclesiarchy idea is quite good - I think you should push that more but drop the all Terminator stuff and maybe the uber armoury (unless you can justify it). Now you just need to think what makes your Chapter unique - not through what gear they have but mentally and what they do different and why. I think you should have a read of some of the guides and resources in this thread. They will give you ideas and point you in better directions.

 

[Ferrata]

As others have said - the Dark Angels are noted to have a large number of Terminator Suits and they can *only* field a full company of TDAs. The idea of one chapter possessing 1000 suits of TDA, or even anything nearing the number is a little hard to believe as a reader. 

 

A more reasonable idea could be a heavier version of power armour that is deployed by a chapter - but still power armour. This could be due to a large number of ship-to-ship battles in which frontal armour needs to be heavier. 

Like others have said, having lots of TDA is not really a chapter, it feels very hollow. You need to develop the character to make them interesting. A sitcom character whose only thing was they ate lots of pizza would be quite a plain character to watch. What makes your chapter your chapter? What makes them different? You've started to develop these ideas already, but that should be the focus and not the armour that they wear.

[ShasVa]

I could fuse the ideas here with that of one of my other DIY ideas, the Protectors. They could still descend from the Iron Hands, but embody the ideal of being humanity's supreme defenders; "we fight for the people of the Imperium, not those who rule it" (something like that). Their scheme would be metal and military green.

 

Name wise I was thinking:

• Steel/Iron Protectors
• Cyber Legion
• The Defenders
• The Protectorate

As far as TDA goes, I could do a Dark Angels thing and limit it to only the First Company (Indomitus pattern, the leader and his bodyguard still get Tartaros pattern).

[ShasVa]

Yep, definitely doing a Dark Angels thing. The entire First Company of my DIY chapter will be in Indomitus-Terminator Armour.

Also have some other ideas to mull around:

• like the Dark Angels, the 1st Company is entirely composed of Terminator Armour (just to reiterate)
• like the Iron Hands - their progenitors, most of the battle=brothers are enhanced with bionics and/or cybernetics
• the chapter has an armoury of relics, among these are the Spartan Assault Tank used by the Chapter Command, a Contemptor with massive firepower, and the most revered of them all - the "Godslayer" weapon gifted to the Chapter Master (and gene-locked to him as well, if anyone else tries to handle it, they die)
• as before they have disdain for the Imperial Creed, the Echlessiarchy, and pretty much anyone who would think themselves above the Emperor's people (some Inquisitors) or fellow Astartes who do not at least respect those they protect (Marines Malevolent)

More to come, soon.

EDIT:

"It is your duty to protect the people of the Imperium. To do anything less is to dishonour yourself and the Emperor!"
- quote from Chapter Master Adamas

[Octavulg]

You seem very concerned with the stuff they have.

 

Put some thought into what they're like. Who are they as people? What do they value? What traits define them? What are their preferred tactics? WHY are those their preferred tactics? How has that impacted their worldview?

 

That sort of stuff. Far more unique than a big armory ever could be.

[Reyner]

^ What Octavulg said. You really need to figure this out and it will make your Chapter.

 

Like my Chapter for example, they are white armoured marines who want to protect humans. Protecting humans is a theme you can work on - gear does not define a Chapter. Don't try to make them too awesome either, that does not end well! I should know ... I did it back in the dark ages.

[EzekyleVIII]

I concur, though the giant lawgiver you have in the armoury would make me suggest a name with judges in the title (as long as its not crap judges of course because then id have to run around shouting the crime issss life)

Back to point I'd very much like to see some proper history fluffage

[ShasVa]

I concur, though the giant lawgiver you have in the armoury would make me suggest a name with judges in the title (as long as its not crap judges of course because then id have to run around shouting the crime issss life)

Back to point I'd very much like to see some proper history fluffage

If the "lawgiver" you're referring to is the "Godslayer", it is not a ranged weapon.

 

EDIT:

 

I placed their founding date sometime in M38, but never had a reason for their founding until now. I was thinking that they could have been founded to put down a xenos tyrant in the galactic northwest and, in turn, liberate an Imperial system from alien oppression. These humanoid aliens would be Warp-using xenos-mutants. The Protectors would succeed in their mission after some decades, and establish their Fortress Monastery on the moon of Xantul Prime, the system's central planet.

[The Emperor's Fists]

Terminator armor is hard to come by for any and all chapters. Only first founding chapters can outfit their entire company in termie army.

Dark Angels are special that they have/had so many suits of armor that they can equip not just their first company, but all their successors first companies. Being the first legion and getting the first pick of the cool toys has some perks.

 

Second, all the iron hands fluff I've read (not much) says that the chapter is still reeling from the Isstvann massacre. literally 10,000 years later, and they still hurt. I mean, they still are depleted on terminator armor, tanks, special equipment.

 

An example of a not first founding chapter having a lot of terminator armor, is the minotaurs. and this is because the high lords of terra are backing them, pooling resources, and using them as space marine police.

 

Being a not first founding chapter that isn't backed by inquisition (exorcists) or high lords (minotaurs) means they probably don't really have the pull to feasibly aquire 115 or so suits of armor.

 

You can do what you want with your chapter. But choosing Iron Hands, doesn't make a lot of sense from GW's established Canon and Fluff.

 

Regardless, best of wishes