Condensed Chapter Template

[Bloodspeaker]

This is a quick and dirty look at what I tend to think of when writing up a new chapter idea. Obviously only use the sections that you feel are relevant to your chapter. Just remember the 4 W's. What, Where, Who and When.

I typically right-align the section from chapter name to heraldry because this gives a quick look at a chapters general flavour. Also don't let each section become just a wall of text. Try to make paragraphs based around each point of interest. It'll make it much easier to read.

 

I hope somebody finds this useful.

 

Chapter Name

Warcry - 

Founding - 

Primarch - 

Sucessor of - 

Homeworld - 

Chapter Master - 

Allegiance - 

Heraldry (armour colour and chapter symbol only)-

History

⦁ Origins (if known) - tie-in events to wh40kverse past?

⦁ Notable Battles or other formative events - tie-in to wh40k past/present?

⦁ Recent activities - tie-in to wh40k present

⦁ Operational specialization or other noteworthy traits

⦁ Other info requiring an explaination - non-standard organization? mutations? special relationships with other Imperial institutions? name change?

 

Recruitment

⦁ Location - Where does this chapter recruit from? If fleet-based do they have a prefered type of world to recruit from? Why?

⦁ Noteworthy recruiting rituals - ritualized combat? trials of hardship? Initiation into secret cult or knowledge?

⦁ Passage - Does the chapter mark the change from Initiate to Space Marine? How? is there some other event in training and recruitment the chapter gives significance to? What, why and how do they make that event special?

 

Gene-seed

⦁ Lineage - what chapters gene-seed does your chapter use? is this significant to them? if unknown, why?

⦁ Special - does the chapters gene-seed have any flaws? mutations? is it particularly unstable? does it have a high failure rate? why?

 

Organization

⦁ Strength - is the chapter at strength(1000 marines)? if under strength was this deliberate or did it was there some kind of tragedy? if over strength, why? are there plans regarding the extra marines? is the chapter trying to get back to strength? how long did that take? are companies the usual size (100 marines)?

⦁ Forces - codex-compliant? assault heavy? why? unusually well equipped? lots of vehicles or just generally better equipment? favourite weapon types? any special formations within the chapter (eg. ravenwing, death company)? what are these made of and why do they exist? are the companies organized according to codex? if not, whats different and why?

⦁ Command Structure - Is the chapter led by an absolute leader? is the chapter master more like a first among equals? is there a reason for this? Is it missing one of the hq elements (chaplins, librarians, apothecaries)? do any of the HQ elements serve a dual purpose or have extra duties? Do company leaders have greater than normal freedom?

 

Beliefs

⦁ Figure head - does the chapter hold anyone in particularly high regard? do they worship the Emperor as a god (as does most of the Imperium) or venerate him as an exceptional man (most space marines)? is the Emperor seen as the chapters father? how does the chapter feel about the primarchs, both loyal and traitor? how do they feel about other space marines?

⦁ Traditions - does the chapter still hold to anyof the beliefs/rituals of it's founding? does the chapter still hold to the beliefs/rituals of it's homeworld? has it developed any new rituals or beliefs? have any of the old ones changed?

⦁ Attitude - how do the chapters space marines view themselves? are they knights or soldiers? Noble bringers of enlightenment or a hard-bitten protectors? guardians or avengers? how does this affect the chapter actions?

⦁ Reputation - is the chapter known for being secretive? outspoken? bloodthirsty? how do other Imperial organizations typically react to having to work with them? 

 

Heraldry

⦁ Markings - what is the chapters symbol? does it mean anything? how does the chapter denote company and squad type/number? what else do they use? is there a common theme for the chapters markings?

⦁ Colours - what are the chapters traditional heraldic colours? have they changed? why? do the colours have meaning?

⦁ Other - do they have an unusual form of honour markings? do they carry totems (eg.wolfs teeth, dragon skins)? do they wear robes? do hq's have personal banners? kill markings? personal heraldry? do they remember notable opponents or conflicts in some way?

 

Noteworthy Individuals/Events

⦁ Individuals - why is this marine remembered? what happened to them? when? who were they (marine/chapter master etc)? are they revered or reviled by the chapter?

⦁ Events - when did it happen? where? with or against who? how was the chapter involved? what was the effect on the chapter? was there an effect on the Imperium at large? did any heroes emerge? did this affect the chapters reputation? how? 

[Olis]

An interesting, short tutorial. This wouldn't go amiss in the Liber. :)

[Bloodspeaker]

Really? Well i'll be more than happy to sort that out when i'm done making dinner lol :)

[Olis]

Sure. Short of people taking the time to read the (lengthy) established guides already, a 'cliff-note' version like yours might help some of the newer members in the Liber. :)

[Bloodspeaker]

Also I think you might have just won the 'quickest reply I've had since the internet was born' award.