How do you feel about Primaris?

[FerociousBeast]

This isn't about how effective they are, more interested in polling the audience to see if you're happy Primaris Marines are now in the game and setting.

 

I personally have mixed feelings. While I like the scale and look of the Primaris models, I just really wish the scale had been applied to the traditional units like Tacticals, Devastators, and Assault marines. Updating the traditional line of models to be "true scale" would have been awesome, but the future is Primaris, and since Primaris are not Tac/Dev/Assault, those units are essentially dead. Sure, they're effective on the tabletop still, but they are not the future, either of the background or of the model range. Space Marines are going to look less and less like the Space Marines we've known and loved for so many years as time goes on.

 

I also don't like the reason Primaris Marines exist: GW had sold too many Space Marine models, and needed to think up a justification for selling even more. Business needs dictating fluff and creative direction should never be so transparent, in my humble opinion.

 

Thoughts? Like 'em, love 'em, want some more of 'em?

[Sugarlessllama]

I'm pretty happy with them. It is really hard for me to not build out a new chapter of primarily primaris marines.

[Brother Captain Sirus]

I like them, wont be buying anything except some aggressors but i'm fine with them, i also like that they didnt invalidate entire collections with their release.

[Firepower]

Just another decision by GW I'm ignoring, really.  For the time being that's easy enough.  

[Adeptus]

They're lame and boring, I've come up with my own headcanon to make them more palatable to me, but their fluff is unforgivable and the scale difference is egregious so I won't be buying any.

[Minsc]

Mixed feelings.

I (still) think the concept of "Space Marines +1" is dumb, really dumb, and I think the fluff behind their creation is pretty lame. 
I'm also fearful that GW might drop the old SM-line completely over time, and that we won't see any new non-primaris units.

But then I saw the Reivers and got instantly swooned...

 

[Brother Sefiel]

Greetings

They aren't metal, so nope.

[Doghouse]

I think the models are ok but overall bland is the word I'd use to describe them in rules, lore and design. I get why they did this but just wish they'd made bigger versions of the original guys with lots of armour marks with more basic options.

[Wargamer]

I think there's potential for some interesting lore surrounding them, and I really like how the models look after a little conversion work (even headswaps will do), but otherwise I'm not really on board.

 

I don't hate them, but I only enjoy a specific vertical slice of them.

[Belisarius Cawl]

 

Thoughts? Like 'em, love 'em, want some more of 'em?

 

I see nothing wrong with Primaris. I love models and choices, the more the merrier. 

 

It seems like it was only a matter of time someone augmented your friendly neighborhood space marines. Whether it was Guilliman light bulb from 10,000 years ago, or the Emperor's idea for a new generation of his sons, or that rascal old man Cawl trying to get away with something before being found out by those meddling kids, it advances the timeline and technology a few more degrees from the first incarnation of 40K. 

 

Given time and resources, I would like to remake my tactical, assault, and devastator squads with Primaris for a more uniform look. I may build a few tacticals with bolters AND chainswords; not a legal build but the chainswords aren't usable anyway so no harm no foul.

[Agatone]

I'm happy with Primaris. I don't concern myself with a business making business choices as long as I like their products. If I like, I buy them - If I don't, I don't buy them. 

 

At first, I thought of getting a few and using them for my character and sergeant models. Then I figured, why not a few squads? 

 

Their scale doesn't bother me. I'm thinking of maybe building a few cursed founding Black Dragons as it adds to their bestial nature. Or maybe even Iron Hands as these may be battle brothers who were further augmented through technology rather than the Primaris process. 

[Boldthreat]

I like the new Primaris.  But I am disappointed by there options, even with the new codex.  I like the Intercessors.  I like the Aggressors.  I even can stomach the Inceptors.  But I am very disappointed that there is not 1 chainsword in the whole line up.  And I would rather have had a more traditional Primaris Assault Squad over the Reivers... which I do not like at all.  I honestly feel the Codex also did not adequately describe how the new Primaris only Chapters organize...

 

Yeah, we know how they are implemented into a battle Company... but what about a Primaris only first Company?  What are they made out of?  Thats a pretty big question.

[Tyberos the Red Wake]

I like them. They progress the lore and give us more options, and it's a bit more interesting than the "it's just new armor and equipment" route. I won't say the current Guilliman and Primaris lore is GREAT, but I don't find it as bad as a lot of people do.

 

Now personally, the concept of the Primaris I like, but the "character" of them, I don't. I prefer the original marines more, and I'm glad the Primaris now make them underdogs. My favorite chapters have always been underdogs and now it will be even moreso, and we'll get less complaints about marines being "Mary Sues" which always struck me as dumb and hypocritical when "non-Mary Sues" like IG can do the same thing while being weaker and less well equipped, thus technically making them even bigger Sues.

[Endova]

I'm really not a fan. People have already said more than enough about the bland lore that doesn't fit the universe, and I agree with all of it. My real beef is that all the time that went into making Primaris kits that no one asked for could have been much better spent on filling holes in the range, like how the Adeptus Mechanicus still feels like half an army, or how it's been 8 editions and the Iron Hands still don't have a character in the SM Codex.

[Grey Wolfe]

I like them. Their concept and possible futures is exciting. The lore is OK and much more will be built on the current foundation. I was so tired of the same old stories about the Imperium losing tech, winning battles at great cost, praying to freaking calculators, using equipment that is 1,000s of years old. So predictable and boring. Nice to have a real change and progress start to slip into the lore. Lorewise I am wondering why Cawl after 10,000 years didn't introduce a kill switch in the new marines in the case they rebel or turn heretic (as we have a long evidence trail for the old astartes).

 

They play OK and are currently certainly limited in versatility to the umpa lumpa marines.

[Blindhamster]

Pretty happy with them.

 

Models are good, better than existing marines in just about every way (to me)

 

Rules are decent enough now that we have a bit more substance to them,as a blood angel I'm a little sad that I miss out on power sword sergeants lol.

 

Lore I don't have any issue with, honestly I don't think it's any worse than existing marine lore, the fact many of them are from the crusade gives potential for interesting storylines. It's too early to tell where things will go for them though.

[Extropian]

Models are fantastic, and a huge improvement over previous marines.

 

Fluff is weak, but it's mainstream GW writing....of course its bad. It hasn't been good for years, this isnt a change.

[Gratan]

I've been playing Space Marines since 1990. 

Around middle of 2e, the S4 T4 was no longer enough to separate them from other humans as matching their supposed fluff as superhuman soldiers. Over the years, this divide became greater and greater. This was compounded by the fact that the entire minis line scale never matched the fluff either. Hell, some of them became dwarfed by other human and non human models and thus the disparity of fluff and rules began to make my OCD twitch more and more... 

 

Problem is, over the years, GW had many chances to correct this disparity, but they never did... So the divide just grew and grew. 

 

Now enter Primaris. The models scale now matches their fluff and dwarf all other human troops. Now with their S4 T4 W2 A2 statline, they are now the supersoldiers they were always meant to be. Even with the limited model line so far, I think they are better kitted weapons wise and organization wise than normal Marines have EVER been. They "fit" better than any other iteration to the fluff. 

Problem is, instead of GW coming out and saying: "This is the new Space Marine model line moving forward", they tacked them on in a way that really breaks things for me... Now my 2 (Ultramarines and Dark Angels) companies of normal Space Marines no longer fit within my OCD ideal. IT wasnt so bad before, because there was no other option (Truescale conversions were too much of a hassle IMHO). Now? I cant look at my normal Marines without my OCD giving me fits... 

 

To be honest, I would have preferred GW just killing off the normal Marine line and replacing it in its entirety with Primaris becoming the new Marines. Yes, this would invalidate my 200+ Marines and vehicles. But hey, anything to keep OCD from twitching is preferable... 

I know my stance is a bit extreme, and not shared by all. I'm sure it would have exploded in nerdrage had it happened... But it wouldnt be the first time I've replaced marines wholesale. They should have made the changes in the late 90s when they released the first MkVI plastics with 3e. Or again later when they updated the Marine squad boxes. But they chose not to. Now with 8e, sadly they took the path of least resistance to keep the backlash to a minimum. 

Going forward? I doubt we'll see any new normal Marine releases, and in 2-3 years, only Primaris will remain. At which point, we'll probably see an increase in the CSM marine size as well. 

[Wargamer]

I have the exact same view. If Primaris were simply normal Marines made in a new scale I could completely get behind that. Thing is, that would have had a major knock-on effect elsewhere... Forgeworld's Heresy range, for example. Can you imagine having to redesign and rescale all the Heresy kits to fit with the Primaris range?

[Gratan]

I have the exact same view. If Primaris were simply normal Marines made in a new scale I could completely get behind that. Thing is, that would have had a major knock-on effect elsewhere... Forgeworld's Heresy range, for example. Can you imagine having to redesign and rescale all the Heresy kits to fit with the Primaris range?

Forgeworld, Traitor Legions, Chaos Renegades... IT would be a massive undertaking. 

 

Forgeworld could get away with "Its 30k, so its a smaller scale". The rest of the ranges would have to be done though. 

 

I think this way, it can be done slowly over time and then old marines just quietly fade away via unsupported.

[Guest uk_crow]

Got to say I like them, they're how I imagined space marines should be in terms of scale and rules. I'm also of the opinion that GW should of just said, this is Space Marines scale going forward and replaced them and all other power armoured armies in time. People's existing armies would still be usable but support for them would cease. I think GW is pretty much doing this but in a slightly gentler manner.

 

Regarding the lore it's ok, not perfect but it beats the whole humanity dying, losing more technology etc being repeated ad nauseum. Some people love the whole grimdark vibe, but when it's repeated over and over I find it quite stale. But I guess it's the only way GW could get them into the setting. I'm interested to get more information on primaris only chapters.

[Lucerne]

Good infantry models and scale, terrible lore and some dodgy design choices.

[Wargamer]

I think on the issue of overdoing Grimdark, GW got way out of hand around 4th-5th Edition.

 

The hopelessness of 3rd was a different kind of hopelessness. It was hopelessness of scale; every day a thousand worlds were being conquered by the Imperium, and every day a thousand were lost. A trillion souls die in battle every second, only to be instantly replaced as the next trillion soldiers are levied for the Guard. There are worlds that have been in a state of non-stop war for ten thousand years and yet nobody else has noticed; there are worlds that are still waiting for the summons to join the Great Crusade, oblivious the galaxy has left them behind; there are worlds that never left the Age of Strife, unremarked and unremembered.

 

3rd Edition, to me, was dark because it kept hammering home the same phrase over and over: "you will not be missed."

 

The later versions of Grimdark were, in fact, Grimderp.

 

"Teh Imperiums is ruineded! The Golden Throne is totes exploding and stuff! The Astronomicon's bulb is broked and nobodies remembering how to change it! The Chaos is EVERYONE!"

 

That is a very different, and far less engaging way to tell a story. It is one thing to tell someone they are a single grain of sand upon a beach; it is another to inform them they have already lost before they started playing.

[Doghouse]

I have the exact same view. If Primaris were simply normal Marines made in a new scale I could completely get behind that. Thing is, that would have had a major knock-on effect elsewhere... Forgeworld's Heresy range, for example. Can you imagine having to redesign and rescale all the Heresy kits to fit with the Primaris range?

 

That's pretty much how I see it. It would have been fantastic to get a redesigned and rescaled regular kit with all the original armour mark parts but for GW it'd be a bit of a nightmare and they had no idea what the backlash could be.

If they had snuck in a Mk9 for a bit of variety it might have worked better for me.

[Heru]

Hamfisted effort to sell new models. The fluff is dire, one old rust head hiding in his basement apparently manages to do what everyone else couldn't on multiple fronts - new marines (21st Cursed Founding, Fabius Bile, etc) - better armour & weapons (what happened to if it's not STC it is heresy?) - brings a Primarch back. Heck Cawl apparently had his Super-Marines figured out and in stasis for the better part of 10,000 years (hell if it took 10,000 years to figure out it might have been slightly more palatable).

 

What I would have liked to have seen fluffwise instead is Guilliman gets brought back (sure by Cawl why-not) and Cawl provides Guilliman with new weapons, armour and vehicles. Then Guilliman updates the Codex, bringing all the new units. Did we really need the Primaris too?

 

I don't mind that GW wanted to create new unit types, or upscale I don't like the fact they half-arsed it. They should have replaced the standard space marine range with the new scale instead of these Super-Space Marine shenanigans. Fact is we aren't likely to see anything that isn't Forge World released in the standard Space Marine scale now.

 

And then there is Chaos, essentially a whole range of small guys (minus the upscaled Death Guard). If they upscale the whole Chaos range they are going to have to explain it, or are they done with new Chaos units altogether. I mean do you think they are still going to release models in the smaller scale for Chaos when they aren't doing it for the loyalists?

Edited August 2, 2017 by Heru