Index Astartes: Star Wardens (WIP)

[Kelborn]

Imho, I'd give them a focus on pistols as well. They could have a special form of elite scouts or Vanguard Veterans like that, called Rangers.

 

Riding on their bikes, while wielding a pistol to shot something, these veterans of numerous campaign, act as the chapter's speartip. Scouting and outflanking enemy forces, the Rangers are the ones, who hunt down certain threads, be it an Ork boss or cutting their enemies off of supplies.

 

I also think that the Raven Guard could work as well. Corax was known for caring and kindness for the human race. Your chapter could be the incarnation of this character facet of him.

 

Just some thought to play with. :)

[Wargamer]

An agri world with deserts seems a bit strange, given that the whole point of an agri world is to be pumping out enough food to feed a Hive World. There's also the issue of low population to consider.

Maybe the planet could be an ex-agri world? Once highly fertile, but now vast stretches of the planet have been blasted to desert by some apocalyptic catastrophe. This would also justify large mutant populations; presumably mutated by radiation or fallout from whatever glassed so much of the planet.

[Olis]

I also think that the Raven Guard could work as well. 

 

I think this is an interesting suggestion. Normally bike-riding is the preserve of the White Scars and their ilk so making a Chapter of outriders from Raven Guard stock, by whatever route, could be an intriguing development of character.

 

Also, seeing as this discussion has gone beyond the realms of merely answering questions on lore and into the development of an IA proper, I will split this discussion off into a new thread for InAction. It'll then be his prerogative to edit the first post to show what has been developed so far. :tu:

[Minigiant]

If you follow Wargamers idea of ex agri world, now largly irradiated. Definetly take a look at the Castigators, plenty of which can inspire you.

 

You could go further and be inspired by WestWorld

Edited May 21, 2017 by Minigiant

[Wargamer]

Actually, if we go with the apocalyptic desert idea, you can work in another classic trait of the Wild West - the gold rush.

 

Maybe a Space Hulk crashed into the planet and its drive system exploded, rendering most of the surface into barren desert. However, that same desert now contains fragments of the Hulk, some of which are potentially worth a fortune. Prospector towns pop up wherever a fragment is found, eager to dig it up and strip it down for every scrap of value until the dig dries up, leaving behind those too weak, too poor or too stubborn to move on to the next big haul.

 

Alternative themes to explore in a post-apoc planet would be to have a Water Rush; settlements built to exploit deep water reserves. Alternatively, classic high-value resources of 40K like prometheum or adamantium make excellent driving forces for the one-horse towns so iconic to the western.

It also gives some potentially cool modelling options. Imagine the Space Marine recruiters wearing heavy leather cloaks, more like duster jackets than monastic garb of the Dark Angels or Black Templars.

[Kelborn]

And now I got a Postman / Water World scenary, mixed with Mad Max in mind. ^^

 

I'm also thinking about them guarding supply convois in order to uphold the oaths with an allied forgeworld and / or Navigator households.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

-Ranchers and frontiersmen defend against monstrous predators and scavenging mutants; aspirants drawn in from the strongest of these individuals

How old are these individual? 12 years old is considered optimum for gene-seed implantation, while 16 years old (Hyperion's age when he became a Grey Knight, according to 'The Emperor's Gift') is considered risky.

-Reserve Marines take up law enforcement on new, pioneer worlds until arbites can be established; mainly taken up by scouts as a form of intiation rite

Most Chapters (i.e., canon Chapters) would say their Marines have better things to do, i.e., wage wars; that violence (i.e., the lawless anarchy stereotypical of the Wild West) "builds character," creating hardy individuals worthy of recruitment into the Chapter; that if a man cannot defend himself, then he is weak and unworthy of life, to say nothing of the honor of becoming a Space Marine (an attitude held by the Iron Hands, the Marines Malevolent, mildly by the Crimson Fists and the Iron Snakes, etc.); and other reasons why Marines shouldn't take up the Arbites' duties.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

I'm reminded of the graphic novel 'Cowboys & Aliens' and its film adaptation. May I suggest the use of mechanical horses, e.g., the "mechanical steed" that was part of the Empire's forces in 'Warhammer Fantasy Battle'? Maybe as fast skimmers, as anti-gravity horseshoes were used in the graphic novel?

 

I also have an idea for a revolver chambered for heavy bolter rounds, with a points value of 3 (1/3 that of a heavy bolter), and the following profile:

 

Range 18", S 5, AP 4. Pistol.

Edited May 29, 2017 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Nomus Sardauk]

It also gives some potentially cool modelling options. Imagine the Space Marine recruiters wearing heavy leather cloaks, more like duster jackets than monastic garb of the Dark Angels or Black Templars.

Sounds like an excellent look for the Chapter's Chaplains, speaking of whom; Given a Chaplain's role as the keeper of the Chapter's relics, history, legends and laws, I suggest the Chaplains be styled after grizzled Old West Sheriffs, as well as naming them "Lawbringers" because it has a similar, if potentially darker, ring to it as the legendary "Peacemaker" Revolver.

[InAction]

Wow, got my own thread now. Cool, thank you. Lot to go over here...

 

First off, I like the idea of the ruined Space Hulk and the gold rush-like prospectors a lot better. I can always have like an agri-world somewhere else in the system they cover. Great place for ravaging mutants and feral orks to get into dust-ups with the locals.

 

I like where people are going with the idea for the connection to the Raven Guard, just I'm hesitant cause that means they'd potentially inherit their skin pigmentation and I don't really want to paint my dudes up as pale goth-dudes. Unless that could be somehow worked out; the Raptors are RG successors, right? They're depicted with regular skin tones, is there a lot reason for it?

 

The convoy escort idea sounds good too. Maybe part of the fleet are with the Mechanicus from a neighboring Forgeworld as was mentioned and work the different prospect towns cause I like the idea of wily looking adepts scurrying around.

 

They don't entirely take the place of the arbites, it's only temporary until the new colony world has developed enough to establish one. It helps to play into the image archetype of the lone gunman that stories of westerns exemplify.

 

Basically, yeah, age range I figured would be about from early to mid teens. I had thought of using special mounts, and had the same thought about mechanical horses in fact, but others were quick to convince me otherwise. Plus it wouldn't make much sense that they have an entirely separate exclusive mount type when they have ready access to bikes.

 

I love the idea for the visual tweeks for scouts and chaplains. For special titles, I had wanted to give captains ones like 'Justicar'. I like the sound of 'Lawbringer' even if it doesn't quite roll off the tongue. Peacemaker or peacekeeper work too.

Edited May 21, 2017 by InAction

[Wargamer]

Wow, got my own thread now. Cool, thank you. Lot to go over here...

 

First off, I like the idea of the ruined Space Hulk and the gold rush-like prospectors a lot better. I can always have like an agri-world somewhere else in the system they cover. Great place for ravaging mutants and feral orks to get into dust-ups with the locals.

You could still have viable farmland areas, and these are likely well guarded and the sources of major civilisation.

 

Perhaps these fertile lands are turned into gated (or rather, fortified) communities? The people in the desert likely trade with them for food and other resources, but especially successful frontiersmen might be able to buy access to the cities, and thus achieving a life of relative luxury. This would further encourage a gold-rush mentality, with the people of the deserts always seeking the next way to get rich, and thus finding themselves in conflict with mutants and each other (conflict is always a good way to spot potential Astartes recruits).

 

 

 

I like where people are going with the idea for the connection to the Raven Guard, just I'm hesitant cause that means they'd potentially inherit their skin pigmentation and I don't really want to paint my dudes up as pale goth-dudes. Unless that could be somehow worked out; the Raptors are RG successors, right? They're depicted with regular skin tones, is there a lot reason for it?

I think the pale skin is due to gene-seed mutations. You could always say the gene-seed has mutated so the cosmetic changes either don't occur, or occur differently. Alternatively, maybe everyone on the planet has darker skin to begin with (desert + radiation would do that) so they "lighten" into a more healthy, natural skin tone.

 

The convoy escort idea sounds good too. Maybe part of the fleet are with the Mechanicus from a neighboring Forgeworld as was mentioned and work the different prospect towns cause I like the idea of wily looking adepts scurrying around.

They don't entirely take the place of the arbites, it's only temporary until the new colony world has developed enough to establish one. It helps to play into the image archetype of the lone gunman that stories of westerns exemplify.

These are both good things to build "civilisation" around. The presence of an Arbites precinct might be enough to keep a given settlement stable, and would likely be where off-worlders gather, turning it into a trade hub where prospectors go to cash in.

[Brother Emund]

How about 'The Sons of Quantrill' with their first Chapter master... Chapter Master 'Bloody Bill' Anderson.

 

Quantrill's Raiders were the best-known of the pro-Confederate partisan rangers ("bushwhackers") who fought in the American Civil War. Their leader was William Quantrill and they included Jesse James and his brother Frank.

 

Your Marines could be experts in lightning raids. They could be a Scars Successor???

[Bjorn Firewalker]

How about 'The Sons of Quantrill' with their first Chapter master... Chapter Master 'Bloody Bill' Anderson.

 

Quantrill's Raiders were the best-known of the pro-Confederate partisan rangers ("bushwhackers") who fought in the American Civil War. Their leader was William Quantrill and they included Jesse James and his brother Frank.

 

Your Marines could be experts in lightning raids. They could be a Scars Successor???

Taking inspiration from the Confederates of the American Civil War? With such role models, one would expect the Chapter to turn renegade, even towards Chaos. Would they be created using gene-seed of the Traitor Legions, during the 13th or 21st Foundings?

[Minigiant]

I think your homeworld needs to be in the Segmentum Pacificus AKA the 'Wild' WEST of the Imperium

[Wargamer]

 

Taking inspiration from the Confederates of the American Civil War? With such role models, one would expect the Chapter to turn renegade, even towards Chaos. Would they be created using gene-seed of the Traitor Legions, during the 13th or 21st Foundings?

 

Is this your first time reading about 40K? It's pretty normal for Chapters to have hereditary slaves, for rich people to own slaves, for ships to mass-abduct people to fill out the work gangs, and so on. Owning slaves in 40K is a mark of success, not villainy.

[Minigiant]

 

 

Taking inspiration from the Confederates of the American Civil War? With such role models, one would expect the Chapter to turn renegade, even towards Chaos. Would they be created using gene-seed of the Traitor Legions, during the 13th or 21st Foundings?

 

Is this your first time reading about 40K? It's pretty normal for Chapters to have hereditary slaves, for rich people to own slaves, for ships to mass-abduct people to fill out the work gangs, and so on. Owning slaves in 40K is a mark of success, not villainy.

Probably best not to get invovled in politics here. Confedercy is a contentious topic. And will distract from what is a really cool idea for an IA

[Olis]

 

 

Taking inspiration from the Confederates of the American Civil War? With such role models, one would expect the Chapter to turn renegade, even towards Chaos. Would they be created using gene-seed of the Traitor Legions, during the 13th or 21st Foundings?

Is this your first time reading about 40K? It's pretty normal for Chapters to have hereditary slaves, for rich people to own slaves, for ships to mass-abduct people to fill out the work gangs, and so on. Owning slaves in 40K is a mark of success, not villainy.

Probably best not to get invovled in politics here. Confedercy is a contentious topic. And will distract from what is a really cool idea for an IA

 

Indeed. I suggest discussing other avenues of inspiration. The Confederacy and related topics are not up for discussion, period. 

[Kelborn]

So forget about politics, religion and every other reallife theme which only leads to unnecessary discussions and bad atmosphere, ok?

 

Let's get back to topic.

 

My vote for somehow implementing the great heroes / villains of the western era as well as John Wayne and Clint Eastwood!

Make Clint a badass veteran, who's responsible of training the new recruits, showing them how :cuss:ed this galaxy is and how to survive in it ala

 

[Minigiant]

Thinking about chapter badge. I think a sheriff badge (Star in circle) with a skull in the middle. Or maybe a skull and Inquisition I.

 

I can imagine they would have a close working relationship with the Inquisition

[Kelborn]

Maybe this with bolt pistols?

 

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Thinking about chapter badge. I think a sheriff badge (Star in circle) with a skull in the middle. Or maybe a skull and Inquisition I.

 

The former looks like the Chapter symbol for the Invaders (Imperial Fists successors), the latter like the Chapter symbol for the Red Hunters. Nothing wrong with reusing a symbol, considering Games Workshop itself does this all the time; but the OP should be aware of those canon Chapters, and differentiate his own somehow.

 

Personally, I favor a skull in the Sheriff's badge. Alternately, a skull with a star branded in the forehead, plus the ritual in which a star is branded in a sinner's forehead, used as a form of punishment on the Chapter planet.

[InAction]

My vote for somehow implementing the great heroes / villains of the western era as well as John Wayne and Clint Eastwood!

Make Clint a badass veteran, who's responsible of training the new recruits, showing them how :ed this galaxy is and how to survive in it

 

 

I won't lie, I've been thinking of how to make characters based on the likes of them and other similar characters in media focusing on westerns.

 

 

Thinking about chapter badge. I think a sheriff badge (Star in circle) with a skull in the middle. Or maybe a skull and Inquisition I.

The former looks like the Chapter symbol for the Invaders (Imperial Fists successors), the latter like the Chapter symbol for the Red Hunters. Nothing wrong with reusing a symbol, considering Games Workshop itself does this all the time; but the OP should be aware of those canon Chapters, and differentiate his own somehow.

 

Personally, I favor a skull in the Sheriff's badge. Alternately, a skull with a star branded in the forehead, plus the ritual in which a star is branded in a sinner's forehead, used as a form of punishment on the Chapter planet.

 

 

I was actually thinking of doing the same with taking the icon of the Invaders and repurposing it, basically following the same logic of 'if GW does it, why not?' And while I like the idea, I kind of like more my idea of using a horse as the chapter symbol. Just feels like it'd make for an interesting bit of heraldry to make my dudes feel unique.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

A horse as a Chapter symbol? I'm reminded of Paladin, the protagonist of 'Have Gun, Will Travel', who used the knight piece in chess as his personal symbol.

[Minigiant]

Have you got a colour scheme idea yet?

[Nomus Sardauk]

I suggest an earthy brown as the main colour, it's a highly unusual colour for a Space Marine Chapter to use sp it'll make your marines very distinct, plus it fits the theme given that Cowboys often wore a lot of earthy tones like cream, brown and black.