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Divergent Colour Schemes


Frater Cornelius

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So here's  question. How far is it deemed acceptable (in universe), to diverge from the original Legion colour scheme before the Second Founding? We are talking about anything from some company using lighter or darker blue in the 13th Legion up to someone incoporating red into the UM colour scheme (either red and blue or going full on red).

 

Have there been examples of this happening? Also, what in universe reasons might there be for doing so?

 

Cheers ;)

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As long as the legion symbol is on there I think you're generally covered. Night Lords/crimson sons, 2 schemes 1 symbol, the imperial fists have their black scheme, alphas have their blue/bluegreen/indigo/multicolour schemes depending on which piece of art you look at.

Just tie it in suitably to the legion and you should be golden with little justification

Another in-universe reason would be to show solidarity to the commander or to mark a veteran of some significant event. For grins, a commander of a great company has the moniker Flamewalker for marching through a burning inferno to assault some enemy. As a consequence, his legs were scortched black. After that event his entire great company paints their legs black and adopts the name Flamewalkers.

 

You have a variant scheme of a legion but it is still part of the legion and recognizable to others what great company they hail from.

I think anything goes to be honest. I thinking its more likely the longer a force has been away from the parent legion but even that is only my opinion. As for individual characters anything goes. Surely a character can have their own heraldry. Thats my 2 cents anyway

One example that was fairly obvious in the novel Pharos was the Nova Company of Ultramarines. They coloured their armour to match the captains heraldry, which of course is the Novamarine colour scheme.

I think that is a pretty solid approach. Strong loyalty to ones leader and showing said respect is always easier to justify than some external factors causing the entire company to reach for the nearest brush. I like that one.

Do what you want. As long as the legion logo is present, and there is no disputing what legions rules you are using.

 

Just look at the Imp Fist art in book 3, there is a wide variety of paint schemes for them.

 

The legions where massive, who is to say that some specialists company does not use a variant scheme.

There are two or three Legions I really do not see wearing a divergent colour scheme simply because of the nature of their legions and their approach to functionality over appearance outside of Chaplain/Apothecary colours.

 

+ The Death Guard - They might possibly wear a different shoulder pattern, but its doubtful that they would colour anything other than swamp green shades.

 

+ The Iron Warriors - Shoulder pads colour divergences for Grand Battalions/Companies and Cohorts? I could definitely see that. Change to the Silver plate though I really can't see happening from where I stand no matter the section.

 

I was going to include the Iron Hands, but it is really really open to change of colour considering the events of Isstvan and the sundering of the Legion.

What about Ultras with their rather massive Legion size?

 

The Ultramarines are more likely to diverge from the colour scheme for there so many Chapters under the Legion banner and they are in charge of so many worlds. There is so much room to apply colours to the Legion as long as the Ultima is shown.

 

As referenced above, there was a fellow in Pharos that wore the Novamarine colour scheme, there was also the fellow in Know No Fear who slipped my mind (unless they are the same Astartes). In addition even on the artwork for Redmarked, the new heresy audio, a red ultima on the shoulder of one of the Ultramarines fighting the Death Guard/Word Bearers.

 

Ultramarines might be proud of their heraldry or armour, but out of all the Legions, only they and the Alpha Legion as I see it, are on the top of most likely to have a large verity of schemes over their vast numbers.

In my opinion it's perfectly acceptable and perhaps even logical that some companies/chapters have different colours schemes than the standard legion scheme they serve (except for death guard and iron warriors as mentioned above). Legions are so huge that warriors want to stand out (because of traits earned by members or something else) I've seen this in almost every HH forgewold book,if I remember correctly the sons of horus have a great variety in colour schemes.

Basically, all it boils down to is this: Do what you like, within reason. Got a reason? Crack on. thumbsup.gif

But just remember when making Variant Schemes: The Legion comes first (Unless Shattered Legions or other force).

So paint your Marines in whatever way you want just make sure to have a Shoulder Pad Reserved for Legion Colors :p

Thats how I go about it at least.

As long as you have a reason that's within reason (Not "I got totally boozed up and decided Ultras should have rainbow shoulders.... baghajaaubgtobg") But a logical reason, like using red instead of blue on WE (Aka, my plan for my WE), because of the nails or something.

As long as you have a reason that's within reason (Not "I got totally boozed up and decided Ultras should have rainbow shoulders.... baghajaaubgtobg") But a logical reason, like using red instead of blue on WE (Aka, my plan for my WE), because of the nails or something.

Y'know....

 

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@ Bladewolf - You might not believe it, but I already got a colour scheme and sketches of the planned models and the colours are ready. Last thing I am looking for is material for the scratch build. Specifically, a suitable pair of legs for the first model :D

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