The Tarantulas Chapter

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

I recently acquired the book What Price Victory?, an anthology of short stories containing the only appearance of the Tarantulas Chapter in the entirety of 40k. Specifically, a brief mention as part of the Imperial force approaching a planet undergoing Genestealer Revolt. Despite my chosen Chapter only appearing as part of a single sentence, the short story in question was actually pretty good, with the only flaw being the depiction of hellguns as a kind of projectile weapon.

 

 

Anyway, from this infinitesimally small appearance, we can deduce a few things about the Tarantulas:

 

They once took part in the purging of the Imperial world Garial-Fall.

 

They're located in the Ultima Segmentum, thus they've probably fought Tyranids and Tau more often than Chaos Marines.

 

Along with Battlefleet Ultima Secundus, they fought alongside the Fifteenth, Seventieth and Ninety-Third Regiments of the Karadmium Guard at Garial-Fall. Where Karadmia(?) is in relation to Aztlán is another question entirely. (The Emperor calls and we obey, through the Warp and far away...)

[Olis]

Where Karadmia(?) is in relation to Aztlán is another question entirely. (The Emperor calls and we obey, through the Warp and far away...)

 

Anywhere, really. Although it's more likely that Karadmia would not be on the other side of the galaxy, that's no guarantee that they actually aren't. Because of that, unless you wish to incorporate them into your IA, the question is moot. :)

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

Where Karadmia(?) is in relation to Aztlán is another question entirely. (The Emperor calls and we obey, through the Warp and far away...)

Anywhere, really. Although it's more likely that Karadmia would not be on the other side of the galaxy, that's no guarantee that they actually aren't. Because of that, unless you wish to incorporate them into your IA, the question is moot.

True, but least my characters now have the 'I've fought beside people from there before' dialogue option.

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

A few more things I've thought off:

 

The Chapter follows standard progression; Scout to Devastator to Assault to Tactical. However, those who show tremendous aptitude for a certain role often revert to it after completing their time as a Tactical Marine. Thus Scout, Devastator and Assault Squads are often lead by a Sergeant who, in other Chapters, would still be in a Tactical Squad, and there are special 'advanced' version of Devastator, Assault, and Scout Squads entirely comprised of these 'full' Marines.

 

What suits of Terminator Armor the Chapter possesses are generally saved for Space Hulks and boarding actions, with the majority of Veterans serving in either Sternguard or Vanguard Squads.

 

There are no static Companies. Instead, each Captain gathers the Marines best suited for the job that are available. Below the Captains but above the Sergeants are the Force Commanders. Essentially 'Sub-Captains', Force Commanders lead multiple squads in independent actions outside of the Company Captain's direct control. While the vast majority are 'Captains-in-Training', some are those who have been tried and found ill-suited to larger commands.

 

The Chapter's preferred method of fighting is to cripple the enemy and make it incapable of defending itself from the killing blow. To this end, highly-mobile Squads will perform hit-and-run raids on positions vital to the enemy, such as destroying fuel reserves or disrupting long-range communications. When this leaves enemy deployments isolated and bereft of materiel, Assault Squads move in to kill everyone present. This does not mean that the Chapter isn't capable of more protracted engagements, however. The Chapter's motor pool contains sufficient levels of Heavy Ordinance, and both Urban and Close-Quarters Combat are the Marines' specialty.

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

The hardest part of this project is figuring out the Warp-damned Chapter Symbol.

[Olis]

The hardest part of this project is figuring out the Warp-damned Chapter Symbol.

 

Well, how abstract do you want to take it? Do you want the symbol to be literally a stylised tarantula?

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

 

The hardest part of this project is figuring out the Warp-damned Chapter Symbol.

 

 

Well, how abstract do you want to take it? Do you want the symbol to be literally a stylised tarantula?

On the one hand, it has to be something simple enough to be visually identifiable even when painted really, really small.

 

On the other hand, I don't want it to be something that makes people go 'wait, what does that have to do with tarantulas?' all the time. (Example A: the White Scars logo is a lightning bolt over a rectangle.)

[Olis]

So you want to be able to paint it, and still stick with the theme, right? 

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

So you want to be able to paint it, and still stick with the theme, right?

 

Ideally, yes.

[paulJam]

was going to comment on this before but didn't, but have since made observations re similar points on another post that is quite similar so.... copy/paste concept...

 

Marine. Thus Scout, Devastator and Assault Squads are often lead by a Sergeant who, in other Chapters, would still be in a Tactical Squad, and there are special 'advanced' version of Devastator, Assault, and Scout Squads entirely comprised of these 'full' Marines.

Your tactical marines are all capable/trained in these other roles, so they could be equipped for assault/heavy without making a specific distinction of behind devs/assaults etc.

A tactical squad will already have a heavy weapon specialist etc who might be awesome with a flamer/heavy bolter etc. but could theoretically be any of the squad.

and tactical by definition are meant to be the epitome of versatility...

 

Is there a specific reason for creating the labeling distinction?

 

 

There are no static Companies. Instead, each Captain gathers the Marines best suited for the job that are available. Below the Captains but above the Sergeants are the Force Commanders. Essentially 'Sub-Captains', Force Commanders lead multiple squads in independent actions outside of the Company Captain's direct control. While the vast majority are 'Captains-in-Training', some are those who have been tried and found ill-suited to larger commands.

the sub-captain concept (force-commander/lieutenant/lead sergeant/etc) seems popular (perhaps in light of 'bundles').

i like the concept, as librarian and chaplain seem more a specialist role than a HQ role (to me).

how will you be identifying your force-commander and would you envisage them having altered stat lines crunch-wise?

[Olis]

The image on the right might be a good place to start. It's about as simplified for brushwork as I could find for now. Barring that my only other ideas revolved around a frontal shot of a tarantula.

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

The image on the right might be a good place to start. It's about as simplified for brushwork as I could find for now. Barring that my only other ideas revolved around a frontal shot of a tarantula.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm going to base the Chapter Logo off of this: http://www.cliparthut.com/clip-arts/1884/tarantula-spider-clip-art-1884138.png

[Doctor Perils]

The image on the right might be a good place to start. It's about as simplified for brushwork as I could find for now. Barring that my only other ideas revolved around a frontal shot of a tarantula.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm going to base the Chapter Logo off of this: http://www.cliparthut.com/clip-arts/1884/tarantula-spider-clip-art-1884138.png

I thought you said you wanted it to be simple to paint

(Obviously you're a better painter than me)

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

 

 

The image on the right might be a good place to start. It's about as simplified for brushwork as I could find for now. Barring that my only other ideas revolved around a frontal shot of a tarantula.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm going to base the Chapter Logo off of this: http://www.cliparthut.com/clip-arts/1884/tarantula-spider-clip-art-1884138.png

I thought you said you wanted it to be simple to paint :P

 

 

(Obviously you're a better painter than me)

I said I was going to base the Chapter Logo on it, not use it as-is.

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

I have decided that the Chapter Master of the Tarantulas is named Xalvador Barboza.

[Nine_Breaker]

 

 

They're located in the Ultima Segmentum, thus they've probably fought Tyranids and Tau more often than Chaos Marines.

Maybe. But remember that both Tyranids and Tau have only become a major threat to the Imperium in the later years of the 41st millennium. In M35 the Inquisition discovered the Tau but they were stone age savages that just discovered the wheel. I guess a case could be made for genestealer cults but it's a bit of a reach.

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

 

They're located in the Ultima Segmentum, thus they've probably fought Tyranids and Tau more often than Chaos Marines.

Maybe. But remember that both Tyranids and Tau have only become a major threat to the Imperium in the later years of the 41st millennium. In M35 the Inquisition discovered the Tau but they were stone age savages that just discovered the wheel. I guess a case could be made for genestealer cults but it's a bit of a reach.

Considering the size of the Tyranid Hive Tendrils, they're probably a more frequent problem than the Traitor Legions.

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

So the Tarantulas are from the 14th Founding now.

 

Course, Aztlán was brought into the Imperium way before that.

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

Æons ago, the civilian leaders of the planet Aztlán fell to the corruption of Chaos and succeeded in dragging their world from the Emperor's Light. As this world was an important source of weapons and manpower for the Imperium, it's loss precipitated a crisis that robbed the Imperium of control over much of the Sub-Sector. Thus, it's retaking was a top priority for Segmentum Command.

After 50 years of constant bloodshed, Aztlán was returned to Imperial control. The question, now, was what to do with it's people.

 

It was known to many members of the Holy Inquisition that in the millennia before their discovery by the Crimson Fists, the people of Aztlán had engaged in planet-wide worship of the Ruinous Powers, and most believed that this recent betrayal was proof that this world and it's inhabitants were inherently corrupt, that all born here were born with their souls already stained. Even though many had resisted the call to heresy and had fought against those who had ruled them, it was decided that the planet's native population was to be purged, so that there would never be a second Aztlánian Rebellion.

 

But then, something unexpected happened.

 

Word had come from the High Lords of Terra. The Emperor had decreed that there was to be a new Founding, and that Aztlán was to be the home world of one of these new Chapters.

 

And so there was no Purge. The people of Aztlán were spared, and their civilian government was replaced with a military junta led by a Governor-General, who rules the planet with an iron-clad fist in the name of the Emperor.

 

Secretly, however, the Governor-General is merely the highest-ranking Chapter Serf of the Tarantulas, who watch over Aztlán from their hidden-in-plain-sight moon fortress.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

I would like more details regarding the reason Aztlan wasn't purged. As written, it can be claimed the "Emperor's decree" was falsified, and some secretive party- the future Tarantulas Chapter Master? a radical Inquisitor? a Chaos worshiper who managed to infiltrate the Administratum or even the High Lords themselves?- spared the planet for his own selfish reasons. Did a miracle occur, forcing the High Lords to cancel the purge, e.g., a vision of the Emperor manifested before the gathered High Lords, and spoke to them?

 

Or do you intentionally want to keep the matter vague?

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

I would like more details regarding the reason Aztlan wasn't purged. As written, it can be claimed the "Emperor's decree" was falsified, and some secretive party- the future Tarantulas Chapter Master? a radical Inquisitor? a Chaos worshiper who managed to infiltrate the Administratum or even the High Lords themselves?- spared the planet for his own selfish reasons. Did a miracle occur, forcing the High Lords to cancel the purge, e.g., a vision of the Emperor manifested before the gathered High Lords, and spoke to them?

Or do you intentionally want to keep the matter vague?

Well the transmission had all the code things that marked it as definitely having come from the High Lords of Terra, but there were some who were still not convinced.

 

They were out-voted though, so they had to shut up and let the Aztlánians go.

[Lord-Captain Cepinari]

I've found another canonical reference:

 

http://m.imgur.com/a/Yodoe

 

Looks like my Chapter is not going to be working with the Eldar any time soon.