Space Marine Crusade army ideas

[Redfinger]

I run vanilla marines. I have my own chapter but I have been itching to paint some other vanilla chapters, ultras, fists, ect...

 

Anyway I was thinking of making a "crusade" style army. Vanilla marine units comprised of various chapters unified by a crusade patch, painted arm or some other unique identifier. According to some sources and books I have read engagements that multiple chapters are present at is not unheard of. I would only use vanilla marine rules for this army.

 

The current hurdle I have is the drop pods and vehicles. I was thinking of painting them a neutral grey. The Lords of Terra are the only one who can organize a crusade, I figure this would most likely be headed over by a high ranking inquisitor, though there may be a commanding office appointed from a chapter. Anyway, the navy grey color seems the most likely choice. The equipment would be requisitioned by the imperial navy and the marines, possibly guard allies, would provide the man power?

 

Any thoughts on this?

[Phantomzero17]

I too felt that need to paint something different now and again so I decided to paint various Dorn successors and include them in my BT crusade.  Whenever I feel like doing something different I put a model together, write up a little tid bit about him, and paint him in his chapter's colors.  I write it off as brothers seconded to the eternal crusade for a time.  A way for marines to learn something of other chapters and to build bonds between the sons of the 7th legion.

 

I could see something like this in other chapters as well especially the 13th.  But that would kind of limit your focus the way I limited mine.  TBH I think you could keep the crusade style with a mix of chapters by doing it squad by squad and vehicle by vehicle.  Just adding in some symbol somewhere as a crusade badge to symbolize a unified purpose.  Things can get pretty heavy on the battlefield and requests for reinforcement can go out to just whoever happens to be closest.  X squad of Imperial Fists has been pinned down at the Armalas concourse, Acknowledged Y squad of the Novamarines is moving to reinforce.

[Acebaur]

Well if you use the Achillies Crusade(from FFG's Deathwatch) as an example of a giant Imperial Crusade, then each Chapter that contributes forces does not really combine with other chapters. They might fight alongside one another or even deploy in a coordinated effort, but they will still use their own rhinos, pods, etc to go into battle. 

 

So for the vehicles I would go with whatever chapter is going to be using them the most. Otherwise sounds like a fun project!

[Vodunius]

Level of integration between Astartes forces is pretty much down to the relationship of the chapters involved. As the attrition mounted during the Declates Crusade the Crimson Fists and Black Templars even went so far as to fight in mixed squads. The Astartes contingent of the Damocles Crusade was described as five ad-hoc battle companies formed of marines from twelve chapters. Given their resilience and revered nature I wouldn't expect it to happen to Land Raiders, but once the attrition mounts I could easily see a crusade putting other replacement vehicles (Fresh from the nearest Forge World) into a central pool devoid of chapter markings.

 

The late lamented Codex Grey paint was so-named because back in 1st edition that was the standard colour dictated for Astartes vehicles by the Codex:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r155/khromash/rhino_zpsc2gvwgkf.png

[Redfinger]

Great points guys. I probably won't mix the squads with the exception of vet's. It would seem more likely that a few vets would joins at a time as opposed to entire squads.

 

The thing that brings the chapters together is the purpose of the crusade itself. To briefly summarize, the crusade's purpose is to collect a series of lost artifacts and planet systems that have been forgotten. The knowledge of which predates the Horus Heresy and has roots in the first legions. A recent battle uncovered an ancient 7th Legion citadel where this information was found.

 

I am thinking that with such deep roots to this crusade many chapters would join up as a matter of honor. I mean even be able to sneak in some Dark Angels, being present to ensure there secret is not discovered.

[Redfinger]

I am also thinking of bringing some Imperial Guard along as well(as allies) maybe a couple regiments of Cadians, as they are the most likely to have had exposure to working with Marines and not freak out when seeing them for the first time.

[Acebaur]

Well if there is a relic of the 7th, then I'd definitely have 2-3 chapters of the sons of Dorn. IF for sure, and Crimson Fists probably too if you are going to go with codex style chapters.

[Damo1701]

With the use of formations, and Chapter Tactics even a CAD, mixing chapters with the same CTs is perfectly reasonable.

 

Using formations gives you a wider variety of chapters, as each formation can use a different set of tactics.  It all depends on HOW you want to paint things.

 

In 5th edition, I did a Dark Angels army, but got bored very quickly of painting DA.  How did I counter this?  Successor Chapters.  As Azreal is Supreme Grand Master of the Dark angels and all their recognised successor chapters, what he says goes.  I can see the "Legion" combining when the manpower is needed.

 

Therefore, if you are looking for different things to paint, go as nuts as you want.  Just make sure you keep successors with the correct progenitor, and keep track of which CTs do which job.