Help me with my DIY

[GrandMagnus]

Hey all, like almost everybody who plays marines I've long been wanting to create my own chapter. I've had a few ideas in the past that I have promptly thrown out the window because I couldn't get into the idea. But now, since I will be away from my minis for a couple of months I thought it could be a great moment to work on a DIY I could bring to life when I return home and I would like your help with the creation of the chapter, to give life to some of the details and to expand on them. So, without further ado, here is what I have so far:

 

First of all, the colour scheme. I was thinking grey with yellow pauldrons and purple/blue/red lenses. For company markings my idea is to maybe add a stripe down the helmet in the companys colours or maybe not depending on the organisation of the chapter that I end up choosing.

 

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/spacemarine_zpsywwu8zca.jpg

 

For the chapter badge I'm a bit undecisive, I have thought of three possible symbols:

1st. A bird of prey. So a birds head and the wing underneath. I quite like this one. I was thinking the wings could represent each company (ergo, 4 companies) and the head the HQ of the chapter.

 

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/Sin%20tiacutetulo_zpsb4ubivu8.png

 

2nd. A scarab. Just a plain scarab. 

 

http://www.ancient-symbols.com/images/symbolsonline/scarab-egypt.jpg

 

3rd. The last idea is a squid/octopus. I absolutely love those cephalopods. I don't have an image and I think they might be difficult to add to a space marine pauldron because of all the arms.

 

Now for the description of the chapter, here are my ideas so far (warning, undecisiveness ahead).

 

Geneseed: Unknown (maybe VIIth or XIXth legion).

Founding: Unknown (35^th Millenium, maybe)

Homeworld: Oceanic tribal world, think waterworld. Or a oceanic hive world. Or a desert world. Or... I don't know.

Culture: ...

Location: Segmentum tempestus, but mostly fleetbased with maybe an orbital space station surrounding their homeworld.

Combat doctrine: Close combat raids and terror tactics. 

Organisation: I was thinking they could be organized into  either 3 - 4 companies with their own veterans and scouts, like the Sons of Medusa. Or the entire chapter could be without squads and companies, formed in a rather tribal way were a single war leader (captain) takes the warriors he needs to a warzone. 

Belief system: ... 

Personality: Mistrust of outsiders, strict chain of command within the ranks.

 

As far as rules go, I think space wolves might suit them if I go the barbaric way due to the whole "warleader gathering warriors to follow him" so as to add A) Wolf Guard as veterans with a lot of freedom and B) Bigger squads of designated close combat warriors. If not, then just Codex: SM would do.

 

Anyways, as you can see it's still quite unorganized (I'm a complicated man :P ). So any ideas, suggestions, critiques you can come with will be most welcome. I will keep writting and thinking in what little time I have right now and I will of course post what get done here. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Olis]

First of all, the colour scheme. I was thinking grey with yellow pauldrons and purple/blue/red lenses. For company markings my idea is to maybe add a stripe down the helmet in the companys colours or maybe not depending on the organisation of the chapter that I end up choosing.

 

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/spacemarine_zpsywwu8zca.jpg

 

 

I can definitely see the Space Wolves influence, here. As far as company markings go, I'm not a fan of the colour coding at all. I much prefer numerical designations. Would that strike you as an idea to run with or are you more taken with the helmet stripes?

 

For the chapter badge I'm a bit undecisive, I have thought of three possible symbols:

1st. A bird of prey. So a birds head and the wing underneath. I quite like this one. I was thinking the wings could represent each company (ergo, 4 companies) and the head the HQ of the chapter.

 

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/Sin%20tiacutetulo_zpsb4ubivu8.png

 

2nd. A scarab. Just a plain scarab. 

 

http://www.ancient-symbols.com/images/symbolsonline/scarab-egypt.jpg

 

3rd. The last idea is a squid/octopus. I absolutely love those cephalopods. I don't have an image and I think they might be difficult to add to a space marine pauldron because of all the arms.

 

 

 Personally, the bird of prey seems like the best option overall. Perhaps you can even look into making some brief background material (brief enough to stick in a sidebar) about the bird in question. Maybe it's unusually large (and the planet it is native to has sub-terra gravity). Maybe it's an ostrich sized bird used as a mount. Maybe it's the terror of the skies and is partial to human-flesh. It's up to you.

 

Now for the description of the chapter, here are my ideas so far (warning, undecisiveness ahead).

 

Geneseed: Unknown (maybe VIIth or XIXth legion).

Founding: Unknown (35^th Millenium, maybe)

Homeworld: Oceanic tribal world, think waterworld. Or a oceanic hive world. Or a desert world. Or... I don't know.

Culture: ...

Location: Segmentum tempestus, but mostly fleetbased with maybe an orbital space station surrounding their homeworld.

Combat doctrine: Close combat raids and terror tactics. 

Organisation: I was thinking they could be organized into  either 3 - 4 companies with their own veterans and scouts, like the Sons of Medusa. Or the entire chapter could be without squads and companies, formed in a rather tribal way were a single war leader (captain) takes the warriors he needs to a warzone. 

Belief system: ... 

Personality: Mistrust of outsiders, strict chain of command within the ranks.

 

With the Founding, you need to be aware of what other events have occurred in the same time period. You never know, it may very well provide ample information for you to use as reasoning the Chapter into existence. Making them Raven Guard, with the bird of prey symbol, is maybe a bit too obvious but then again Fist successors are pretty ubiquitous (and have been for years). Flip a coin?

 

An Oceanic-Tribal/Feudal Homeworld sounds alright to me - do you plan any little twists for the planet or will you largely go by the numbers?

 

I like the entirely non-codex approach to the organisation to this Chapter with the Captains being warleaders, however (as always) there will need to be a good explanation for them to break from the Codex. Crisis, philosophy or isolation could be good starting points.

 

And, oh yeah, the name. Where do you want to go with that?

[GrandMagnus]

- I'm not set on the helmet stripes, it was just an idea. However I do like your point on using numerals and it actually makes more sense than the colour coding. But it would depend on wether the chapters gets companies or not. However the similarity to the Space Wolf colours, would you say that's a bad thing? 

 

- The idea of a large bird of prey native to their homeworld is something I had not considered and it's a good idea, I'll see if I can work something out. Maybe something similar to the pre-historic albatross, which is one of the largest birds that have ever existed (and also they had teeth, which is nice). Perhabs if the world is oceanic covered in mostly small, rocky islands then that could explain how the bird has adapted to hunting marine life and humans, as you said. I like this idea.

 

- Perhabs maybe even White Scars succesors. I would fit with the tribal behaviour, perhabs the first recruits of the chapter were trained by veterans of the WS and after they left the recruits adapted their own culture to the chapter.

 

I'm not sure what you mean with "little twists for the planet or will you largely go by the numbers", could you clarify? I think the homeworld could be, as mentioned above, oceanic with small rocky islands, the natives have been forced to make a living off the sea, hunting primitive alien oceanic creatures and face a costant state of warfare between eachother.

 

For the organization, I'm beginning to like the idea of not having any sort of companies or formal squad organization but rather having the captains or sergeant (depending on the size of the warband) choosing which warriors to take, with the permission of the chapter master of course. i'm just a bit worried about it being too unorthodox. So, for an explanation, I don't really have any right now. I guess I could say the natives are quite set in their ways and traditions and a couple of centuries quickly eliminated the organization established by the veterans who originally trained the chapter.

 

- Ah, and the name. I totally forgot about mentioning that in the first post. I have no idea right now, but I'm trying to think of something. 

 

Thanks for your input Olis :)

[Doctor Perils]

 

First of all, the colour scheme. I was thinking grey with yellow pauldrons and purple/blue/red lenses. For company markings my idea is to maybe add a stripe down the helmet in the companys colours or maybe not depending on the organisation of the chapter that I end up choosing.

 

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/spacemarine_zpsywwu8zca.jpg

 

I can definitely see the Space Wolves influence, here. As far as company markings go, I'm not a fan of the colour coding at all. I much prefer numerical designations. Would that strike you as an idea to run with or are you more taken with the helmet stripes?

 

The grey is nice, but it seems a bit... monotone ? I'd add a bit of colour on the legs somewhere.

Also, if you're not interested in using numbers or colours to represent the companies, you can create a set of sigils, possibly on one kneepad to avoid taking up to much space and making people think of Space Wolves even more.

 

 

 

For the chapter badge I'm a bit undecisive, I have thought of three possible symbols:

1st. A bird of prey. So a birds head and the wing underneath. I quite like this one. I was thinking the wings could represent each company (ergo, 4 companies) and the head the HQ of the chapter.

 

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/Sin%20tiacutetulo_zpsb4ubivu8.png

 

2nd. A scarab. Just a plain scarab. 

 

http://www.ancient-symbols.com/images/symbolsonline/scarab-egypt.jpg

 

3rd. The last idea is a squid/octopus. I absolutely love those cephalopods. I don't have an image and I think they might be difficult to add to a space marine pauldron because of all the arms.

 

 Personally, the bird of prey seems like the best option overall. Perhaps you can even look into making some brief background material (brief enough to stick in a sidebar) about the bird in question. Maybe it's unusually large (and the planet it is native to has sub-terra gravity). Maybe it's an ostrich sized bird used as a mount. Maybe it's the terror of the skies and is partial to human-flesh. It's up to you.

I agree with Olis here, a bird of prey can look pretty awesome. If you still want to explore the other animals, use them as different parts of the chapter (either company sigils, or specialists)

 

Now for the description of the chapter, here are my ideas so far (warning, undecisiveness ahead).

 

Geneseed: Unknown (maybe VIIth or XIXth legion).

Founding: Unknown (35^th Millenium, maybe)

Homeworld: Oceanic tribal world, think waterworld. Or a oceanic hive world. Or a desert world. Or... I don't know.

Culture: ...

Location: Segmentum tempestus, but mostly fleetbased with maybe an orbital space station surrounding their homeworld.

Combat doctrine: Close combat raids and terror tactics. 

Organisation: I was thinking they could be organized into  either 3 - 4 companies with their own veterans and scouts, like the Sons of Medusa. Or the entire chapter could be without squads and companies, formed in a rather tribal way were a single war leader (captain) takes the warriors he needs to a warzone. 

Belief system: ... 

Personality: Mistrust of outsiders, strict chain of command within the ranks.

 

 

With the Founding, you need to be aware of what other events have occurred in the same time period. You never know, it may very well provide ample information for you to use as reasoning the Chapter into existence. Making them Raven Guard, with the bird of prey symbol, is maybe a bit too obvious but then again Fist successors are pretty ubiquitous (and have been for years). Flip a coin?

 

An Oceanic-Tribal/Feudal Homeworld sounds alright to me - do you plan any little twists for the planet or will you largely go by the numbers?

 

I like the entirely non-codex approach to the organisation to this Chapter with the Captains being warleaders, however (as always) there will need to be a good explanation for them to break from the Codex. Crisis, philosophy or isolation could be good starting points.

 

And, oh yeah, the name. Where do you want to go with that?

If you want a bird of prey, then it might be interesting to link that to their homeworld. For instance, the hive cities of the world could be the nests of lots of predators (including the majestic sea eagle...)

And yes, you need a very good reasoning for not being codex. You could simply be descended from the Sons of Medusa, and perhaps your people on the planet live in gigantic nomad boats...

 

 

 

[Olis]

- I'm not set on the helmet stripes, it was just an idea. However I do like your point on using numerals and it actually makes more sense than the colour coding. But it would depend on wether the chapters gets companies or not. However the similarity to the Space Wolf colours, would you say that's a bad thing?

Not really. It would depend on how you go about themes and any extra details. Obviously, you'll need to refrain from pelts and wolf-like symbols. Obviously. What exactly the theme will be may very well evolve as you go, rather than be something definitively decided upon at an early stage.

 

- The idea of a large bird of prey native to their homeworld is something I had not considered and it's a good idea, I'll see if I can work something out. Maybe something similar to the pre-historic albatross, which is one of the largest birds that have ever existed (and also they had teeth, which is nice). Perhabs if the world is oceanic covered in mostly small, rocky islands then that could explain how the bird has adapted to hunting marine life and humans, as you said. I like this idea.

Might I suggest researching large birds, such as the Ostrich, the Emu or the Moa. Granted, they are technically flightless birds but they should at least help, same with Terror Birds. If you're looking for examples of toothed beaks, the Pelagornis genus may be worth a gander.

 

I'm not sure what you mean with "little twists for the planet or will you largely go by the numbers", could you clarify? I think the homeworld could be, as mentioned above, oceanic with small rocky islands, the natives have been forced to make a living off the sea, hunting primitive alien oceanic creatures and face a costant state of warfare between each other.

 

 Well, what I meant was adding something unusual. If we go with an Ocean world with smatterings of islands and archipelagos, then maybe something weird would spice things up a teensy bit. Like... a giant crystal cenotaph inscribed with an unknown language. The fact that it is thought to be pre-imperial human has saved it from destruction but it's still out of place on a planet otherwise pretty backwards technologically. 

 

For the organization, I'm beginning to like the idea of not having any sort of companies or formal squad organization but rather having the captains or sergeant (depending on the size of the warband) choosing which warriors to take, with the permission of the chapter master of course. i'm just a bit worried about it being too unorthodox. So, for an explanation, I don't really have any right now. I guess I could say the natives are quite set in their ways and traditions and a couple of centuries quickly eliminated the organization established by the veterans who originally trained the chapter.

 

Maybe the native creed, "The Way of the Water" (can you tell I made that up right now?) not only insinuated itself into the chapter creed, but also supplanted it. It could be some pseudo-religious, hippy dippy, meditation stuff. It would certainly be something that the Ecclesiarchy would frown on. 

[GrandMagnus]

Thanks for the feedback Thørn and Olis.

 

- Personally I like monotone power armour, I'm not much for halved schemes or schemes with a diferent colour on the arms/legs/torso, etc. I can see your point, but it is a personal preference. Although what you said about sigils is a good point, perhabs marine creatures which would suit the oceanic world. Olis, I will of course refrain from any wolf iconography since it would be too similar to SW and there are no wolves underwater (right? RIGHT?! :P ). Although the wolf teeth amulets from the space wolves kits would look great as teeth from sea creatures.

 

- Okay, I'm set on the bird of prey now as the chapter badge.

 

- Thanks for the list of birds Olis, I will have a look through it tonight. I will also have a look at sea creatures to see if I can fit some altered pre-historic beasts into the worlds fauna.

 

- Gigantic nomad boats? You sir, are a genius :D I like that idea, similar to the medusans and their giant moving fortresses. I believe the planet could even be home to giant hive cities, that may or may not be abadoned in the past and are now home to some of the world fiercest predators, think of something similar to the oil platforms we have in our world, just the size of hive cities, descending thousands of meters into the ocean.

 

The presence of ancient alien structures are not a bad idea either. Thanks for that idea Olis.

 

- "Way of the water", I like the sound of that. I wouldn't go for meditation or, in your words, "hippie-dippy", but perhabs an instinctive fear/respect for the ocean. I mean, a world covered in water where humans have to fight for survive (essentially a death world) wouldn't exactly breede calm and meditative people. Or perhabs it would. I guess the chapter organization could be explained with this phylosophy, they move move smoothly and swiftly like the sea, changing their strenght depeding on their need. They could even be a bit bipolar, in the sense that like the sea they can change in an instant. Just an idea, not sure if its that good.

[Volt]

To be honest the color scheme screams more Pre-Heresy Iron Warriors to me instead of Space Wolves. However, eagles are fairly common, and scarabs are obvoiusly deeply associated with the Thousand Sons. I say go with a cephalopod and run with it. Eight highly individualistic Great Companies that both have unifying leadership, but can act effectively on their own. The Chapter Specializes in ambushes, encircling their prey and crushing it with surrounded might.

[GrandMagnus]

To be honest the color scheme screams more Pre-Heresy Iron Warriors to me instead of Space Wolves. However, eagles are fairly common, and scarabs are obvoiusly deeply associated with the Thousand Sons. I say go with a cephalopod and run with it. Eight highly individualistic Great Companies that both have unifying leadership, but can act effectively on their own. The Chapter Specializes in ambushes, encircling their prey and crushing it with surrounded might.

This has been noted. Not a bad idea at all. I'll see what I can work out with this. 

 

http://www.artisticstencildesigns.com/images/octo.jpg

 

Found this while googling. And this:

 

http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/assets/222847/Kraken_Logo.jpg

 

The top one would probably be easier to incorporate into heraldry.

[Volt]

 

To be honest the color scheme screams more Pre-Heresy Iron Warriors to me instead of Space Wolves. However, eagles are fairly common, and scarabs are obvoiusly deeply associated with the Thousand Sons. I say go with a cephalopod and run with it. Eight highly individualistic Great Companies that both have unifying leadership, but can act effectively on their own. The Chapter Specializes in ambushes, encircling their prey and crushing it with surrounded might.

This has been noted. Not a bad idea at all. I'll see what I can work out with this. 

 

Alternatively you could draw on the mythos of the mighty Kraken, your chapter specializing in boarding enemy ships and capturing them. Breaking and towing back looted battleships from Orks to have their machine spirits soothed and brought back into the Imperium's fold.

 

http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/kraken-illustration.jpg

 

Also I have to agree with not being a fan of helmet stripes. It reminds me too much of Phase I Clone Troopers from Star Wars.

[GrandMagnus]

Yep, helmet stripes are definetly out now. 

[Olis]

- Thanks for the list of birds Olis, I will have a look through it tonight. I will also have a look at sea creatures to see if I can fit some altered pre-historic beasts into the worlds fauna.

 

Megalodon

Mosasaurus

Moby Dick

Dunkleosteus

Kraken

 

I guess the chapter organization could be explained with this phylosophy, they move move smoothly and swiftly like the sea, changing their strenght depeding on their need. They could even be a bit bipolar, in the sense that like the sea they can change in an instant.

 

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/93/93ae4baa31e98be52e9f2b325a3e19b3753e7ffdfc5517bcb7264659435119e0.jpg

 

This comes close to what I was thinking with that credo.

[Conn Eremon]

Aye, I was going to suggest the kraken as well. House Greyjoy's emblem, from Game of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire, would be a nice Chapter badge as well. Wouldn't go over hog with that theme, and just leave it at borrowing the badge.

 

Just an alternative thought, the bird of prey is also a good choice.

 

You might want to check out the Iron Snakes Chapter (there's a very good Black Library book of that title), who are very uniquely organized similar to your intentions.

 

If you're looking for Chapter names, might I suggest:

 

The Knights Mariner

[GrandMagnus]

Speaking of dunkleosteus (wow, it's hard to remember the spelling of that) I found this from one of the jurassic park movies if I'm not mistaken:

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/cB_zpstvyjms4i.png

That head/skull image could make a brutal chapter badge too. Saving it to my folder as we speak.

EDIT: And it made me consider maybe a slight change in the chapter scheme:

Blue seemed more fitting considering the are going to be from an ocean world. Yellow, while it could be a reference to the sun (?) seems more desert related. Although it could probably be a darker blue.

Conn, funny you should mention one of my favorite houses from GoT But about the Knight Mariner, I want to keep away from any knightly titles in the name, because I wouldn't see this chapter as being in any ways chivalric. Thanks for your input though

[Conn Eremon]

Well, the Marines Mariner just doesn't roll off the tongue, so I'll just try to get someone else to choose the Knights Mariner. :p

 

I do however, love the sea-based rationalization for their philosophy and organizational doctrine. That's a definite go.

[Volt]

Well Space Sharks are already Polynesian/Maori, so why not the Sea Peoples? Those mysterious guys who basically were the real legends of the vikings (as in the Sea People did cause a collapse of civilization, they basically sabotaged the Bronze Age).

 

http://www.salimbeti.com/micenei/sea.htm

 

You can read about them here in detail. It's actually quite interesting because despite showing up all across the Mediterranean on their raids, we know little about them. We largely know that they came, they saw, and they fethed stuff up.

[Wargasm40k]

Speaking of dunkleosteus (wow, it's hard to remember the spelling of that) I found this from one of the jurassic park movies if I'm not mistaken:

http://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t373/Philip_Breusch_Magnussen/cB_zpstvyjms4i.png

That head/skull image could make a brutal chapter badge too. Saving it to my folder as we speak.

EDIT: And it made me consider maybe a slight change in the chapter scheme:

Blue seemed more fitting considering the are going to be from an ocean world. Yellow, while it could be a reference to the sun (?) seems more desert related. Although it could probably be a darker blue.

Conn, funny you should mention one of my favorite houses from GoT But about the Knight Mariner, I want to keep away from any knightly titles in the name, because I wouldn't see this chapter as being in any ways chivalric. Thanks for your input though

How about the Leviathans as a name? If it isn't already taken that would be a very good name for a chapter from an ocean world, and would fit the barbaric theme as well as the terror tactics if you want to stick with that as the Leviathan was a creature to be dreaded if I recall correctly.

[Olis]

Speaking of names, they could refer to themselves as 'Veteris Tonitrus'. This is a bastardisation, on my part, of the Latin for 'Old Thunder' (which is the nickname of Captain Ahab). I've totally dog-Latin-ed it. This may or may not play into the Thunder Bird mythology depending on how palatable it would be to your conceptual Chapter, and could also tie into the idea that they see themselves as direct descendants of the Emperor's oldest/favourite sons (an opinion that they would hold which others might disagree with).

[GrandMagnus]

Volt, nice idea, I like it. I had read about the sea people before, but not in great detail. I remember something about them being considered the basis for the mythological atlantis. Anyways, thanks for the link.

 

Wargasm, putting the Leviathans into my notes, it's a nice name, full of dread and terror. Thank you.

 

Olis, how are you so wise? Tell me your secrets! :P Nice, I'm putting that down in the notes.

[Olis]

Olis, how are you so wise? Tell me your secrets! Nice, I'm putting that down in the notes.

Halfway decent Google-fu is a good start. Also being able to somehow feed some ideas into other ideas tends to be a plus, too. Sometimes it just happens. :wink:

[Aqui]

The good thing about being a Chapter that doesn't follow the Codex is that they can pick and choose what parts they want to adhere to It's a pity about the stripes being out, but I suppose that's I started playing 40k in the '80's However, perhaps you could distinguish differing Companies (or whatever you decide to call them) in a similar to the White Scars? (Insofar as they have a unique marking) As for Chapter names, as far as I recall, "Leviathans" isn't taken by a GW official Chapter. That said, there's nothing to stop you from saying that they're a subsequent one rather than the "original" I quite like the stylised picture you posted of Dunkleosteus. I considered a water world based Chapter using a nasty looking Turtle head for the badge. I didn't go anywhere with it though...

Also, the risk of your Marines looking like Space Wolves - there are a few that sport grey The main problem with Space Wolves is that they are covered with pelts etc. A little restraint and there'd be no problem with perhaps the leaders having them as it'd mark them out as such Perhaps instead of pelts, scaly skin cloaks? But that would depend on how good you are with greenstuff.

It's good to see a water world DIY. I haven't seen many of them

[GrandMagnus]

The good thing about being a Chapter that doesn't follow the Codex is that they can pick and choose what parts they want to adhere to It's a pity about the stripes being out, but I suppose that's I started playing 40k in the '80's However, perhaps you could distinguish differing Companies (or whatever you decide to call them) in a similar to the White Scars? (Insofar as they have a unique marking) As for Chapter names, as far as I recall, "Leviathans" isn't taken by a GW official Chapter. That said, there's nothing to stop you from saying that they're a subsequent one rather than the "original" I quite like the stylised picture you posted of Dunkleosteus. I considered a water world based Chapter using a nasty looking Turtle head for the badge. I didn't go anywhere with it though...

Also, the risk of your Marines looking like Space Wolves - there are a few that sport grey The main problem with Space Wolves is that they are covered with pelts etc. A little restraint and there'd be no problem with perhaps the leaders having them as it'd mark them out as such Perhaps instead of pelts, scaly skin cloaks? But that would depend on how good you are with greenstuff.

It's good to see a water world DIY. I haven't seen many of them

Thanks for the input. I'm no master with green stuff but I have tried makign scales with it, so with a bit of practice and some tutorials it should be possible. The Dark elf corsair kits have some nice ones too that can be cut up and worked with. So far, I was thinking they would be rather plain in their armour, in fact I want to use mostly MK V and VI because I really like those marks. But I would like to add scaly skin as you said and necklaces with teeth from marine animals as trophies. maybe I can think of some more trophies taken from marine creatures, like something similar to the spikes from stingray tales, a helmet crest of metal that looks like the back of a fish or some other sea creature. The new alpha legion bits would look great here and there.

What can i say other than I love the ocean :P

[Lysimachus]

Just a little thought regarding the combat doctrine, if the natives are based on a tribal island culture then they'd probably end up having lots of little raiding parties operating out of small ships (or skiff type vessels?). That could easily translate to the preference in the Chapter for space combat/boarding actions you mentioned - maybe take that further and have fewer big ships (barges/cruisers) but lots and lots of frigates, light cruisers, etc? That could also work with the more streamlined Chapter organisation (1 Warlord, his hand-picked retinue of Warleaders, all the other Marines)

 

On the Chapter badge, I like the squid, not often used so it makes them stand out. (Though if you went with the lots of smaller ships idea, something like a piranha could work too?)

[Aqui]

What can i say other than I love the ocean

Well, you are Scandinavian it's in the blood of your ancestors!

To add to your planets' background though, I read somewhere that either Fenris or another world similar to it was rumoured to have had an ancient sea creature that resembled an abandoned Tyranid. I forget where I saw that now Perhaps you could incorporate something like that if your world is to the galactic east? The idea previously mentioned of having massive boats carrying hundreds (or even thousands...because Grindark ) of natives is interesting. The entire clans survival at the mercy of the elements (and the viability of the boat/vessel) could be an indication of hardiness and of desperation. After all, who knows how many Clans perished at the mercy of the winds, Tsunamis etc, the flotsam and jetsam being highly prized by the others. Naval warfare borne out of the need to gather dwindling resources that can't be found on land (perhaps because the only land mass is taken by the Chapter and is verboten to land there) The Clans could have escort ships to act as deterrent to enemies and are far more manoeuvrable. That insular mind set of self sufficiency and determined resolve could be a major part of the Chapters own beliefs

[GrandMagnus]

I sadly ran out of likes, but the small raiding parties was my thought exactly. One idea I had was the following:

Let's say theres agroup of renegade pirates raiding a particular stretch of imperial trade routes. A small group, light vessels perhabs with a few hundred renegade humans as crew. The chapter, being mostly fleetbased, is nearby so they decide to eradicate the threat. The warleader (captain) choses one of his loyal veterans to lead a small group of marines of his choosing into battle. The veteran chooses to take 20 - 25 marines with him in a boarding party that heads straight for the enemies capital ship while the rest of the company engages the smaller enemy vessels. The boarding party breaches the hull of the main ship and proceeds to slaughter all in their way until they reach the bridge. They make short work of the ships captain, the enemy routs and the chapter proceeds first loot and then tow, as Volt mentioned earlier, the ship towards the nearest imperial space port/admech space station and hands it over to them.

Just a small idea I had. For planetary assault I would imagine the chapter going in hard, with drop pods and a massive amount of assault units in hopes for causing as much havoc and bloodshed as possible to cripple the enemies morale.

Aquilanus, I believe it was Fenris that had tyranid like creatures. I do love the idea of the planets inhabitants living in giant ships or submarines that could date back to the dark age of technology (I'm currently working on the fluff for the world, I should have something solid for tomorrow night). They need to sail to the varios abandoned and decayed hive cities and rocky islands located around the world to loot for materials and food, as well as hunting the local marine life which could end up badly for the hunting party. Imagine being out hunting for the smaller creatures of the planet and suddenly encountering a big like this:

That would definetly be the very description of death world. That and immense storms, waves reaching hundreds of meters in height. The inhabitants would have to either adapt or die. As for the chapter, I think it would make more sense for them to own a space station orbiting the planet and being mostly fleet based, after all the void is like a giant ocean. From the space station they would be able to observe their homeworld without interfering with the mortals and being able to defend it if necesary.

EDIT: BTW, I thought of a good name for the homeworld: "Nahmu" based on the summerian primeval goddess Nammu who represents both chaos and life-giving water and fertility, so quite fitting. I thought Nahmu could translated into low gothic mean "Blue Mother" or "Old Mother".

[Aqui]

Whilst a Space station is a cool idea (the main sticking point in my mind would be where did it come from? Was it abandoned from ancient times? Was it a gift from the Ad Mech? Was it stolen from the Ad Mech? They aren't all that common if I recall, so a reason for the Chapter to have one would make it easier to accept), if you pursue the fleet based idea, perhaps the whole Chapter moves in lots of vessels, many smaller than the others, following or clustering around the larger ones, like Remora fish.