CCCP IV: Poll Thread and Initial Discussion (The Taurans)

[Zhiv]

Is there a reason we have 11 companies? I get that Taurans are crusading, but they also have likely less than good recruit rate and lack a reliable access to resources.  However I like dedicated reserve companies, this makes sense to me.  Not all marines are in active service.  Then for the company composition. I have no idea how primaris is deployed, that's way too modern for my ancient relic rear.   We have like 120 marines per company, ish?  This feels alright if we don't have 11 companies. I mean, RG might be pushing marines past codex but I think that Taurans should be tad depleted.  

 

Other than that as far as the composition goes I kinda like it.  Next to sort out would be bikes and land speeders? You know, how these assets are divided between companies? 

  

 

 

Also, we might want to discuss the size of the Tauran fleet!  Because the fleet will limit what kind of force they can deploy and how widespread they can be.  I am going to toss this.

 

1 Battle Barge 

3 Strike Cruisers

9-12 Escort vessels 

 

This would let them deploy as 3-4 independent forces, each composed of 2-4 companies. 

[Brother Cambrius]

As Zhiv has said, we've snuck an extra company in there to make it 11, might be a typo as the Bullguard weren't included numerically.

The structure itself looks solid, very Codex compliant however with the Assault and Heavy Companies. If the Taurans are crusading it's unlikely they'd be pooled into one group, more likely split amongst the Companies/Brotherhoods/Tribes equally. In keeping with them being split and with the Primaris addition, we could have it cut down to just 8 Companies, filled with ~120 brothers/neophytes each in the Battle Company format. The Bullguard itself is a separate entity and splits itself between the Brotherhoods on where they are needed the most, same applying for the Chapter Master etc.

The Demi Company/Satellite company style of the Primaris I do like and would certainly bolster the Clan structure well. The Aerie of New Brothers is an interesting placeholder name, if a little long winded.

 

In terms of the name for the Chapter Master and other titles, a few ideas:

Chapter Master - High Chieftain/Arch-Chieftain, Tauran Superior
Master of Sanctity - Lord of Bones

Chaplaincy - Bonekeeper (this could hint to relic keeping of heroes' ossified items)

Librarians - Spirit Maven (Maven = guide)

 

Thanks for the input again Brother Lunkhead. We thank you for your peerless efforts as always. :tu:

 

Cambrius

[Brother Lunkhead]

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

 

Zhiv, Brother Cambrius, Emperor bless you for your quick response and kind words...… at times I feel like the last man standing on this project, so thanks for hanging in.

On to the subject at hand...…

 

CHAPTER STRUCTURE

 

Eleven companies..... hmmm...….OKAY, I'm busted on that   I was not counting the chapter master's veteran company at the time, but I concede that I should have. In keeping with a semi tribal theme I think it is proper for the chapter master to have a company strength veteran contingent. As the Tauran companies spend such a great deal of time on autonomous operations, the chapter master too will have his own independent missions. As a personal guard detachment in the traditional sense, the Veteran Company not only acts as the Chapter Master's honor guard, but his agents for military, intelligence, and diplomatic missions. Each battle company will have it's own contingency of veterans (keeping with the tribal theme), but the Chapter Master's Veteran Company (The Bull Guard) are the best of the best.

 

I'd like to see six battle companies and take out one of the reserve tactical companies. That will leave one Tactical Reserve Company (8th), one Fast Attack Company (9th), and one Heavy Support Company (10th). As we will set the current Tauran operations well past the time of the Penitent Crusade, the Taurans will have had time to build up it's fleet and troop strengths by building practical alliances with frontier forge worlds and recruitment worlds (Few alliances, but those they have will be strong and mutually beneficial). I don't see them as quite the reclusive scavengers like the Carcharodon Astra. Although, I can see them scavenging when the opportunity arises (claiming ships and treasure as victory prizes after battle would be appropriate).

 

For practical purposes reserve companies are necessary for large operations, whether chapter wide or supporting individual battle companies. These reserve companies are not made up of less experienced troops like a traditional chapter, but tribes in their own right made up of Marines that choose the tactical, fast attack, or heavy weapons expertise as their chosen martial tradition. They will only rarely operate as full companies. Mostly you will find individual squads supporting operations of the battle companies. 

 

The 8th Tactical Reserve Company is sort of the Ranger company (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Rangers) of the Taurans, specializing in taking heavily defended objective. The 9th Fast Attack Reserve Company specializes not only in assault tactics ( jump packs, bikes, attack bikes, but flight operations as well (Stormtalons and Stormhawks). They are death from above. The 10th Heavy Support Company specializes in devastator and tank operations. They are the chapter's steel hammer.

 

 CHAPTER BATTLE FLEET

 

In designing a battle fleet for my own DIY chapter I see the fleet not simply the chapter fleet but it's home world and chapter fortress as well. The Taurans, being a fleet based chapter must have a fairly large self supporting fleet, or it simply won't survive in hostile space. For practical purposes at this time we'll examine the organizational structure of the battle fleet alone (support fleet is a whole other can of worms).  Keep in mind that a Space Marine Battle Barge can support 3 Space Marine companies, support equipment, and repair forges. A Space Marine Strike Cruiser can support 1 company plus support equipment.

 

Since we don't really have a clear picture of a fleet chapter from GW or BL (game mechanics and story fluff are their strong suites and not military logistics and force structure) I'm using the force structure  of the U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group and Expeditionary Strike Group for my templates.

 

Carrier Strike Group / Equivalent Space Marine Strike Group

• 1 Super Carrier / 1 Battle Barge
• 1-2 Aegis Missile Cruisers / 1-2 Gladius Frigate Squadron(s)
• 1 Destroyer Squadron / 1 Hunter Destroyer Squadron
• 1-2 Attack Submarines / 1-2 Nova Frigates

Expeditionary Strike Group / Equivalent Space Marine Expeditionary Strike Group

• 1 Amphibious Assault Ship, 1 Deck Landing Ship, 1 Amphibious Transport Dock / 1 Strike Cruiser
• 1 Marine Expeditionary Unit / 1 Space Marine Battle Company
• 1 Cruiser / 1 Gladius Frigate Squadron
• 1-2 Destroyers/Frigates / 1-2 Hunter Destroyer Squadron(s)
• 1 Attack Submarine / 1 Nova Frigate

Tauran Battle Fleet Assets

• 2-3 Battle Barges
• 6+ Strike Cruisers
• 2+ Vanguard Cruisers (long range fleet reconnaissance and autonomous missions)
• 8+ Gladius Frigate Squadrons (2-3 frigates per squadron)
• 8+ Hunter Destroyer Squadrons (2-6 destroyers per squadron)
• 8+ Nova Frigates

I'm out of time for now, but will continue tomorrow. Thanks for your feedback and support

 

Ave Imperator 

[Zhiv]

But we do have marine fleet organization!  Where is your 3rd edition codex space marines?  

See here.  Ultramarines have 3 battle barges and 8 strike cruisers and 12 rapid strike vessels.   And they are one of the best supplied marine fleets in existence.  This makes kinda sense as it leaves a company per ship. 

 

So I think that your fleet is tad too comprehensive (and large!).  Remember that 40k fleets are modeled after WWI fleets and not modern blue navy fleets.  So we basically get battleships, ships of the line and destroyers aaaand that's it.   

 

You are giving Taurans 20+ frigates and 30+ destroyers when ultramarines have.. uh  12?    

EDIT: Just to be clear, I agree that the GW numbers make little sense but I still think that we should play with them - or else we end up with a poorly supplied marine chapter with fleet that is 3-5 times bigger than the Ultramarine navy.    

Which is my point kinda. Marine fleet should be more or less size of small US Navy Task Force. 

[Servant of Dante]

I like the idea of having 8 or so relatively similar Brotherhoods that have a bit of everything, and the Bullguard being dispersed among them as needed.

 

Additionally, if they have Fast and Heavy reserve companies, I would say those should be similarly doled out to Brotherhoods as needed, since for a crusading chapter that spends time seperated from itself (spread out) it doesn’t make a ton of sense to have an entire Heavy support company always concentrated in one place, in my opinion.

 

If you wanted to go a bit further you could structure it as having 6-8 Brotherhoods each with a good number of tactical marines, and some Fast Attack, Heavy Support and Scouts, and probably Brotherhood Veterans and what not. Then, the Bullguard would be a bulk reserve force, basically an oversized Beotherhood saturated with specialaists like terminators, devestators, bikes and so on, let by the Chapter Master and probably residing on the Fortress Monestary ship. They would send groups of squads out to reinforce Brotherhoods as needed, at the request of the leader of that Brotherhood and the Chapter Master’s Discression. For this kind of structure I’d agree it’s best to just distribute the Primaris among Brotherhoods as if they were Tactical squads.

 

This would allow the Bullguard to still act as the Chapter’s “Hammer” if necessary, but since that probably isn’t needed often it makes more sense for them to divide their resources. And it keeps valuable heavy weapons from being tied up in Brotherhoods that might not need them for their current mission.

[Brother Lunkhead]

Greetings all

 

The Fleet Command chart in 3rd Ed. Codex Space Marines is an asset list and not a organizational chart and I've been looking at it and loathing it for years.  It makes no sense whatsoever...… this is why I like my sci fi space fleets designed by writers with a engineering and/or military background (i.e. E. E. "Doc" Smith, Robert A. Heinlein)……. le sigh I'm not pounding on you Zhiv, just ranting …… your input is quite valid and much valued

 

So, I'm ok with the WW I fleet model (with a few tweaks). I'll have a revised fleet chart along with a more detailed and slightly revised chapter organizational chart tomorrow.

 

Thanks for the input Brother Servant I'll incorporate your ideas in my revised chapter organizational chart.

[Zhiv]

It's fine, I am well aware how wonky they are.  However marines are marines are not part of the Imperial Navy for archaic reasons (cough heresy, cough) so they are not supposed to have a capability to act as black space fleet.  They are supposed to have landing craft and to what serves as support artillery (think the hybrid monsters they force on US navy for the 'purpose' of supporting marine landings. ) So that's your space marine flotilla.  I use the word flotilla because marine flotilla strength is on purpose weaker than battle fleets (and subsector fleets). 

So basically by having a stupid composition we adhere to fluff.  

[Brother Cambrius]

Servant of Dante really summed up my force organisation from earlier nicely in the sharing of resources and war materiel.

 

The idea of the Bullguard containing the Assault/Reserve Company element alongside the veteran cadre of Taurans is a brilliant one too, to allow us to marry the 2 philosophies discussed and provide a root into where the organisation changed after the penance crusades from the Nova Terra Interregnum. The idea of the Bullguard being unleashed full force would be one of a dire circumstance and would literally shake their sector with the ferocity of an attack, especially combined with one or two Tribes. I could see it being referred to as a Stampede Crusade if we wanted to run along that style again. It's befit dealing with a serious Ork Empire or a Daemonic/Chaos incursion upon a valuable world.

 

In terms of the Company/Brotherhood structure, one thing we could do is have each Company/Clan called a Brotherhood as suggested, and the squads are referred to as Tribes.

 

Cambrius

[Brother Lunkhead]

Greetings all

 

Before I post detailed force structure lists for the Taurans' chapter and battle fleet I'd like to clear up some points and ask a few questions.....

 

Battle Fleet

 

 

 

It's fine, I am well aware how wonky they are.  However marines are marines are not part of the Imperial Navy for archaic reasons (cough heresy, cough) so they are not supposed to have a capability to act as black space fleet.  They are supposed to have landing craft and to what serves as support artillery (think the hybrid monsters they force on US navy for the 'purpose' of supporting marine landings. ) So that's your space marine flotilla.  I use the word flotilla because marine flotilla strength is on purpose weaker than battle fleets (and subsector fleets). 

So basically by having a stupid composition we adhere to fluff.  

 

Yeah, wonkiness abounds in the 40Kverse But, It's quite proper, given the setting that the Astartes (they really hate being called Space Marines) should be separate from the Imperial Navy...… Imagine the cluster an integrated Imperial Navy/Space Marines force would be like. The Astartes really aren't marines at all and the Imperial Navy is rightly concerned  that the Astartes don't have comparable battle fleets.

 

As I see it, Astartes Battle Fleets are woefully inadequate for offensive fleet to fleet operations (just as the Lords of Terra and the Imperial Navy like it). Astartes fleet formations are designed mainly to protect and get the primary weapons delivery systems (Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers) safely to a target to deliver the weapon (Astartes). If my initial fleet structure looked large, it's simply because the escorts were organized in squadrons to create proper coverage of defense zones. U.S.Navy Strike Groups are similarly designed around a primary weapons delivery system (Aircraft Carrier or Amphibious Assault Group). That's not to say that the escort ships don't have offensive capability, it's just that the emphasis is on "limited". According to lore, the only ship within the Astartes fleet inventory that the Imperial Navy has a problem with is the Nova Frigate as it is a purpose built "ship killer".

 

All that being said, I feel that that my original fleet formation design still works best. I'll simply reduce the ship numbers. A flotilla formation is generally a homogenous small ships formation (all frigates, all destroyers, etc.) and won't work..... a naval task force is as the name suggests, designed around a specific task or mission, for example, a WW II task force might consist of a large force (1 carrier, 2 cruisers, 6 destroyers) or a small force (1 cruiser, 2 destroyers) or even a very small force (6 PT Boats). The numbers I suggest are as follows:

 

• 2 Battle Barges
• 5 Strike Cruisers
• 1 Vanguard Cruiser
• 9 Gladius Frigates*
• 9 Hunter Destroyers*
• 2 Nova Frigates*                                                                                                               * or any other similarly purpose built ship

For a total of 28 ships...…. Yes, this IS larger than the vaunted Ultramarine Fleet. But keep in mind that the Taurans are a fleet based chapter with no home system support structure. How many ships do the Dark Angels or Imperial Fists have?  I'll bet it's more than the Ultramarines...… I won't even talk about the Black Templars Fleet This will still be a very modest sized fleet and should still work...… sort of.

 

Chapter Organization

 

 

 

Servant of Dante really summed up my force organisation from earlier nicely in the sharing of resources and war materiel.

 

The idea of the Bullguard containing the Assault/Reserve Company element alongside the veteran cadre of Taurans is a brilliant one too, to allow us to marry the 2 philosophies discussed and provide a root into where the organisation changed after the penance crusades from the Nova Terra Interregnum. The idea of the Bullguard being unleashed full force would be one of a dire circumstance and would literally shake their sector with the ferocity of an attack, especially combined with one or two Tribes. I could see it being referred to as a Stampede Crusade if we wanted to run along that style again. It's befit dealing with a serious Ork Empire or a Daemonic/Chaos incursion upon a valuable world.

 

In terms of the Company/Brotherhood structure, one thing we could do is have each Company/Clan called a Brotherhood as suggested, and the squads are referred to as Tribes.

 

Cambrius

 

Okay, I can dig it But we are talking about the Bullguard  not as a company, but a battalion made up of at least 3 companies. It's a very cool idea and workable, but very non-codexy The Bullguard battalion along with 8 Brotherhood Battle Clans could definitely be supported by the fleet I'm suggesting. 

 

Talk amongst yourselves and get back to me...… I'll be waiting with Courage and Honour

 

Brother Lunkhead

[Zhiv]

Yeah, that's way more reasonable.  That would give us 2-4 independent formations with ~each capital ship having a brotherhood on it. 

Yeah, I don't think that astartes navy cares about defensive zones - they ride to the orbit and drop their load on the surface while bombing the hell out of the surface. They are not ever operating as independent navy. Fluff actually often represents this pretty well. It is the marines who come to save the day (see 2nd Armageddon, Vraks) when the Imperial Navy has already established the control of 'relevant part of the space'.

 

Not fond of battalion level marine structures, but that being said there is no reason why it could not work. Though maybe more as a task force structure rather than anything cultural?

[Brother Lunkhead]

Hail Brothers and Sisters of the Liber,

 

Thanks for the input Zhiv. I think I'll give anyone who's interested in commenting through the weekend to do so before posting Chapter and Fleet organization charts.

 

I'll structure the Fleet Organization chart using the latest numbers. This will allow the Taurans to field 5 independent  company size forces as well as 1 to 2 Battalion size forces with enough fire power to get strike fleets in and out of the operational zones relatively intact. One thing to keep in mind is that the Taurans are a 'lone wolf' chapter and will only rarely operate in 'safe' areas where the Imperial Fleet controls the area of operations or can be called on for assistance...…. and that's the way the Taurans like it The Taurans will generally be saving Imperial Bacon and Delivering the Emperor's Gift of Death to the foe out in the hinterlands of the Empire.

 

For the chapter organization structure unless there is a huge outcry we'll go with the Chapter Master's Honour Battalion consisting of the Veteran Company (Bullguard), Fast Attack Reserve Company (Steel Claw?) and Heavy Support Company (Steel Hammer?) and 8 Brotherhood Companies with their Primaris Detachments (Aeries?). I chose the term Aerie as it is what a flock of eagles is called (yes, eagles do flock). The name represents the Aquila, symbol of the Emperor. The Taurans see the Primaris as a gift from the Emperor (by way of Big Bobby G) and as such they honor the gift with the name 'Aerie' even if they don't quite know what to make of them

 

Note that I'm deleting the Tactical Reserve Company altogether. I feel that the Brotherhoods are large enough and the Primaris can act as tactical reserve along with their own veteran squads giving an added punch. So that still gives us 11 companies (1 Battalion with 3 companies and the 1st thru 8th Brothethood(s). The Battalion is quartered along with the Chapter Master on the Fortress Monastery Barge, 3 Brotherhoods on the second Battle Barge, and 5 Brotherhoods on the Strike Cruisers. Note that the Honour Battalion is more of an administrative organization rather than an actual force structure (although it can be used as such). Squads of all of these companies will generally be on special detachment duties as needed and only rarely fight as a cohesive unit.

 

Back to 11 companies...…. Roboute Guilliman himself added an 11th company (Primaris) to the Ultramarines, so it's not without precedence...…. and the Taurans are a fairly independent lot with  tribal structure and only modest tribute payed to the Codex. But I can delete the 8th Brotherhood if it causes a rumpus.

 

Also in keeping with the tribal structure of the chapter I'd like some more ideas for unit names (i.e. Brotherhood instead of Company, Tribe instead of Squad, Arie, etc...). Also in keeping with the quasi- Iberian, Maasai/Zulu culture of the Taurans, how about some character names? Just to get started here are a few Maasai and Zulu names: Bheka, Shaka, Lwazi, Olamayiani, Mingati……. and some Iberian names going back to the era of the Reconquista: Estevan, Alfonso, Salbador, Ahmad, Amat, Musa, Barak, Guerson, Semuel, Micael.

 

Lots of good stuff to chew on

 

PEACE

[Servant of Dante]

I like the way this sounds, and the name Aerie sounds good for the Primaris detachments, though I’d consider them part of the Brotherhoods they’re attached to.

 

As for the “honor guard” Batallion I’d just call the whole thing the Bullguard. Yes, it’s nominally 3 Companies, but functionally the Taurans operate as 8 oversized companies with a large pool of specialists in reserve (the Bullguard).

 

So on paper they’re a mostly codex chapter but they have their scouts spread throughout and they have an 11th Company (and primaris hangers on) but in practice the 1st, 10th and 11th companies don’t function as groups really.

 

Something I find interesting is that this means that the 1st, 10th and 11th captains will work closely with the Chapter Master in administrative work, and will be free to join other companies to provide assistance and guidance. This could be the positions for the senior captains, but I think it might be more interesting if the 10th and 11th captains were the most junior, and would join other Brotherhoods in order to observe and gain experience, although perhaps this goes against the idea of each brotherhood being a bit insular if their prospective captains are shipped off to the Bullguard to observe then probably end up leading a different Brotherhood entirely. The 1st captain I imagine would be the second in command and probably the chapter master’s successor in a lot of cases.

[Zhiv]

Hmm, I don't like the steel in the names of the companies too much.

Veteran Company (Bullguard)  This is ace, I think we can lock it down.

For the other two I am tossing some ideas.

Fast Attack Reserve Company (Steel Claw?)   <- I dislike claw here, it's not very... bullsy?

- Brotherhood of the Moon (for the curved horns)
- Gnarlhorn (for the gnarled horns cutting into flesh)

- Steelhooves (cheesy as   so maybe not)
- Skyherd

- Horns of the Khan
- Sunchasers

Heavy Support Company (Steel Hammer?)   We can probably do better?
- Brotherhood of the Sun (for the destruction the company brings)
- Worldbreaker (as Ox as destructive force)
- Ironhorn (for iron studs fashioned on fighting bulls)
- Loins of the Khan

- Oxwrath
 

 

I also dig Aerie, so I have nothing to add to that.  I assume we only have one such formation. <.< Man, primaris makes everything awkward.

 

[Brother Lunkhead]

Greetings Chapter Founders,

 

Thanks for the timely and helpful feedback Brother Servant and Zhiv. A few questions and comments to follow...….

 

I like the way this sounds, and the name Aerie sounds good for the Primaris detachments, though I’d consider them part of the Brotherhoods they’re attached to.

As for the “honor guard” Batallion I’d just call the whole thing the Bullguard. Yes, it’s nominally 3 Companies, but functionally the Taurans operate as 8 oversized companies with a large pool of specialists in reserve (the Bullguard).

So on paper they’re a mostly codex chapter but they have their scouts spread throughout and they have an 11th Company (and primaris hangers on) but in practice the 1st, 10th and 11th companies don’t function as groups really.

Something I find interesting is that this means that the 1st, 10th and 11th captains will work closely with the Chapter Master in administrative work, and will be free to join other companies to provide assistance and guidance. This could be the positions for the senior captains, but I think it might be more interesting if the 10th and 11th captains were the most junior, and would join other Brotherhoods in order to observe and gain experience, although perhaps this goes against the idea of each brotherhood being a bit insular if their prospective captains are shipped off to the Bullguard to observe then probably end up leading a different Brotherhood entirely. The 1st captain I imagine would be the second in command and probably the chapter master’s successor in a lot of cases.

 

The Aerie is definitely part of the Brotherhood and not just an attached squad. The Taurans embrace them as brothers and recognize their worth, but like most Astartes chapters, don't quite know what to do with them

 

So we name the whole battalion "The Bullguard"..... I'm cool with that. As they are directly under the command of the Chapter Master rather than numbering them (1st "Veteran" Company, 10th Fast Attack Reserve Company, 11th Heavy Support Reserve Company) I think they should each be a named company to mark them out. Zhiv has some good names...… I like Brotherhood of the Moon for the Fast Attack Company and Brotherhood of the Sun for the Heavy Support Company. What about the Veteran Company?...….. Brotherhood of the Old Ox...…… sounds great...right?

 

I think the Bullguard Captains should all be senior captains and key advisors to the Chapter Master. The Veteran Company Captain is obviously second-in-command, a seasoned veteran who has seen and done it all. The Captain of the Fast Attack Company is expert in assault, fast attack, and air support operations..... very aggressive by nature. The Heavy Support Company Captain is master of artillery and armor tactics..... very methodical and detail oriented. These three captains are the Chapter Master's most trusted advisors, almost like Horus' Mournival.

 

 

Hmm, I don't like the steel in the names of the companies too much.

Veteran Company (Bullguard)  This is ace, I think we can lock it down.

For the other two I am tossing some ideas.

Fast Attack Reserve Company (Steel Claw?)   <- I dislike claw here, it's not very... bullsy?

- Brotherhood of the Moon (for the curved horns)
- Gnarlhorn (for the gnarled horns cutting into flesh)

- Steelhooves (cheesy as   so maybe not)
- Skyherd

- Horns of the Khan
- Sunchasers

Heavy Support Company (Steel Hammer?)   We can probably do better?
- Brotherhood of the Sun (for the destruction the company brings)
- Worldbreaker (as Ox as destructive force)
- Ironhorn (for iron studs fashioned on fighting bulls)
- Loins of the Khan

- Oxwrath
 

 

I also dig Aerie, so I have nothing to add to that.  I assume we only have one such formation. <.< Man, primaris makes everything awkward.

 

 

Zhiv, you don't like steel?..... why not?...… it's such a versatile metal  Actually, they were just place holder names. I didn't think they fit well at all. 

 

As I said above, I like Brotherhood of the Sun and Brotherhood of the Moon...…. lots of symbolism there too that fits well with the two companies. I liked some of the other names too and may use some elsewhere in the Chapter.... except maybe "Loins of the Khan"..... Oh that just sounds very wrong

 

Yeah that will be the only formation for the Aeries...…. Primaris Although, they can fight as a single formation or individual squads in support of other units.

 

Speaking of squads, I'd like to find another name other than "tribe"...… "tribe" brings to mind a much larger formation. I was thinking "sept" or "firqa".

 

That's all I have time for now. Let's here form more of you...… all ideas and comments are valued. Don't make me come after you .

 

PEACE

[Brother Lunkhead]

HELLOOOOOO...……. is anyone there?

 

I'm going to go ahead and submit a rough draft for the Taurans Chapter structure and hope it generates some feedback.

 

TAURANS CHAPTER ORGANIZATION

 

CHAPTER COMMAND

 

HEADQUARTERS

- Master of the Chapter

- Honor Guard

  - Chapter Ancient Standard Bearer

  - Chapter Champion

  - Guard Squad*

- 3 Land Raiders

- Senior Officers

- Administrative Staff

- Equerries and Servitors

 

CHAPLAINCY

- Master of Sanctity

- Chaplains**

- Initiates

 

LIBRARIUM

- Chief Librarian

- Epistolaries

- Codiciers**

- Lexiconiums**

- Acolytes

 

APOTHECARION

- Master of the Apothecarion

- Apothecaries**

- Initiates

- Non-Astartes Medicaes

- Servo-Meds

 

ARMORY

- Master of the Forge

- Techmarine Suprema

- Techmarines**

- Techserfs

- Servvitors

- Technomats

- Venerable Dreadnoughts

- Castraferrum Pattern Dreadnoughts

- Ironclad Dreadnoughts

- Primaris Redemptor Dreadnoughts

- Land Raiders (all variants)

- Predators (Annihilators and Destructors)

- Vindicators

- Whirlwinds

- Hunter/Stalkers

- Razorbacks

- Rhinos (all variants)

- Primaris Repulsors

- Thunderfire Cannons

- Land Speeders (all variants)

- Assault/Attack Bikes

- Tactical Dreadnought Armor

- Centurion Warsuits

 

*Drawn from the Veteran Company

**Assigned to line companies as needed

 

FLEET COMMAND

- Master of the Fleet

- Command Crews, Pilots, Gunnery Officers, Fleet Security, Servitors

- Navigators

- 2 Battle Barges

- 5 Strike Cruisers

- 1 Vanguard Cruiser

- 9 Gladius Frigates

- 9 Hunter Destroyers

- 2 Nova Frigates

- Rudence Class Rapid Insertion Vessel (Primaris)

- Primaris Overlord Gunship

- Thunderhawk Gunship

- Thunderhawk Transport

- Boarding Torpedoes

- Drop Pods

- Stormraven Gunships

- Stormtalon Gunships

- Stormhawk Interceptors

 

THE BULLGUARD

 

VETERAN COMPANY

-Veteran Captain

- 2 Veteran Lieutenants

- Company Ancient Standard Bearer

- Company Veteran Champion

- 10 Veteran Squads (Terminator/Sternguard/Vanguard)

  - 10 Veteran Sergeants

  - 90 Veteran Astartes

- 21 Tactical Dreadnought Armor Warsuits

- Dreadnoughts

- Land Raiders (Standard/Crusader/Redeemer)

- Razorbacks

 

FAST ATTACK RESERVE COMPANY

- Captain

- 2 Lieutenants

- Company Standard Bearer

- Company Champion

- 10 Assault Astartes Squads

  - 2 Veteran Sergeants

  - 8 Sergeants

  - 90 Astartes

- Land Speeders (all variants)

- Assault/Attack Bikes

- Stormraven Gunships

- Stormtalon Gunships

- Stormtalon Interceptors

 

FIRE SUPPORT RESERVE COMPANY

- Captain

- 2 Lieutenants

- Company Standard Bearer

- Company Champion

- 10 Devastators Squads

  - 2 Veteran Sergeants

  - 8 Sergeants

  -90 Astartes

- Dreadnoughts

- Razorbacks

 

BATTLE COMPANIES

 

1ST-8TH BROTHERHOODS

- Captain

- 2 Lieutenants

- Chaplain

- 2 Apothecaries

- Forge

  - 3 Techmarines

- Librarius

  - Codicier

  - 2 Lexicaniums

- Rhinos

- Razorbacks

 

- Veteran Squad

  - Veteran Sergeant

  - 9 Veteran Astartes

  - Land Raiders

  - Razorbacks

 

- 5 Tactical Squads

  - Sergeant (each)

  - 9 Astartes (each)

  - Razorbacks

 

- 2 Assault Squads

  - Sergeant (each)

  - 9 Astartes (each)

  - Land Speeders (all Variants)

  - Assault Bikes/Attack Bikes

 

- 2 Devastator Squads

  - Sergeant (each)

  - 9 Astartes (each)

  - Razorbacks

  - Predators

  - Vindicators

  - Whirlwinds

  - Hunter/Stalkers

 

- Scout Squad

  - Scout Sergeant

  - 9 Astartes Scouts

  - Land Speeder Storms

  - Scout Bikes

 

- Dreadnoughts

 

1ST-8TH  AERIES (Primaris Demi-Company)

- Primaris Lieutenant

 

- 4 Intercessor Squads

  - Primaris Sergeant (each)

  - 4 Primaris Intercessors (each)

 

- Inceptor Squad

  - Primaris Inceptor Sergeant

  - 4 Primaris Inceptors

 

- Helblaster Squad

  - Primaris Helblaster Sergeant

  - 4 Primaris Helblasters

 

- Aggressor Squad

  - Primaris Aggressor Sergeant

  - 4 Primaris Aggressors

 

- Reiver Squad

  -Primaris Reiver Sergeant

  - 4 Primaris Reivers

 

- Repulsors

- Redemptor Dreadnought(s)

- Overlord Gunship(s)

 

There you have it Note that Dreadnoughts, Flyers, and Tanks are drawn exclusively from GW lists and none from FW. This is a relatively young chapter with no relics in those categories. The chapter also has relatively few Tactical Dreadnought Warsuits for the same reason. Other chapter relics can be desided upon later. I've also assigned no numbers for Dreadnoughts, Flyers, and Tanks, and Dedicated Transports.

 

Comments please..... as Commissar Molotov stated, this is a community project. It's not his chapter, and it's certainly not mine, but it is the community's chapter. So let's hear from you Community...…. 

 

PAX 

[Brother Lunkhead]

++++AUTO-TRANSMITION++++

++++TEXT FOLLOWS++++

++++Hello?...Hello?... Is anyone out there?...++++

++++AUTO-REPEAT++++

 

If I don't get any feedback I'm going to play the optomist and assume everything looks good and proceed from there. I've been busy of late, so I'll try to have something NLT late April.

 

Feel the Burn Bull 

[Brother Cambrius]

You seem to know just when I always return from the Warp Storms of "real life", Brother Lunkhead. I'll weigh in further once I've re-reviewed what is above.

 

Cambrius

[Brother Lunkhead]

Well met Brother Cambrius

 

I was getting lonely here in the Fortress of Rememberance….. hmmmm…… How does that sound for what remains of the Taurans' old fortress monastery

 

As always, looking forward to your feedback and ideas.

[Brother Cambrius]

Okay so a few things. Structure looks very solid so I think we can lock that down.

 

In terms of adding further independence to their character, I did suggest altering names of some ranks to reflect their nature and war style. I've listed them again below with some additions.

 

Chapter Master - High Chieftain/Arch-Chieftain, Tauran Superior

Captains - Chieftain

Lieutenants - Not sure. Possibly First and Second Shield to protect the Chieftain?

Master of Sanctity - Lord of Bones

Chaplaincy - Bonekeeper (this could hint to relic keeping of heroes' ossified items)

Librarians - Soul/Spirit Maven (Maven = guide)

Chapter Champion - Blade Master

Company Champions - First Blade

 

Fortress of Remembrance is an interesting name, would it imply pride or dhame to the Taurans?

 

Cambrius

[Brother Lunkhead]

Thanks for the input Brother Cambrius. Here's what I have...…...

 

Chapter Master - High Sword …….. Chieftain does reflect the tribal feel better, but seems a wee bit stereotyped (my opinion is more than a little influenced by a childhood filled with old Cowboy and Indian movies and a plethora of Tarzan flicks with more than a few cringeworthy cultural stereotypes)…. perhaps another word reflecting the same rank.

 

Captain - 1st Sword, 2nd Sword, etc...….. same comment as above …… I don't actually think my idea is any better

 

Lieutenants - I like this

 

Master of Sanctity - Guardian of the Law...…. Chaplaincy is the keeper and enforcer of the chapter orthodoxy, thus the title.

 

Chaplaincy - Law Givers (bit of a Planet of the Apes feel though )

 

Librarians - Bonekeepers..... as they are bone readers and librarians are after all keepers of chapter knowledge. I think this title was a great idea on your part, but feel it is best applied to the Librarians.... thoughts?

 

Chapter Champion - 

 

Company Champion - 

 

Fortress of Rememberence.... as in a place to return to (elephant grave yard ritual) in order to remember past glory and past folly in equal measure.

 

As usual, all are just my ramblings and opinions ....... thanks for the feedback Brother.

[Brother Lunkhead]

If Lions come, we will fight until the end

If Tigers come, we will fight and battle

If Elephants come, we will fight in rage

If Humans come, we will fight and obliterate

 

......... to be continued 

[Brother Lunkhead]

If you come as Snakes, we will become Garuda birds and fly over you

If you come as Tigers, we will face you as Lions with blue manes

If you come with Evil Intent, we will give you a fight!

 

…….. to be continued

[Brother Lunkhead]

Ten of us will strike you as thunder

Hundreds of us will shatter your hearts

Thousands of us will destroy and obliterate

Ten Thousand of us will hand you the wrath of heaven

 

……… to be continued 

[Brother Lunkhead]

If you come as flood, we will fight unto death

If you come swarming, we will scatter you around

If you come flying, we will shoot you down with our arrows

If you come charging, we will slice you with our swords

 

……… to be continued 

[Brother Lunkhead]

Let's cut through them with the speed of flying Falcons

Let's burn them with the hearts of Wolves

Let's stampede them with our horses

Let's defeat them with the wisdom of our Great Khaan, Chinggis

 

- The HU, Wolf Totem

 

 

What does this all have to do with the Taurans?...……. Stay tuned...…. All will be revealed