Chapter / Company travel loadout?

[SCM2755]

Beings travel in the warp to a companies destination could take days, months, or even years depending on the warp. How do chapters know how many units to take into battle. Do they combine companies together? I know they add reserve companies to battle companies but what is the typical load out of a battle force if you will beings they will be on there own most of the time with no back up. I am asking because I am creating my own custom chapter and need to know how mine will be put together, or not put together. Thanks in advance!

Edited March 11, 2018 by SCM2755

[Kinstryfe]

I think a lot of this would depend on a lot of variables, including what the threat they are being sent to is, how long they are expected to be there, if they will be solo or supporting other friendly forces, plus logistics like how many troops are available and what transports are available. I'd imagine there's also a very real but unrepresented on the tabletop logistics and support staff that goes along with most Astartes deployments which likely ranges from serfs, servitors, ship crew, possible lower level artisans or technical support, remembrancers, and who knows what else. Since they operate with independence, political clout and personal reputations also come into play. If the Forgeworld who supplies your chapter with new tech is under attack, they'll likely send overwhelming force if possible. If it's the Forgeworld who "lost" your last shipment of Terminator Armour right before the Obsidian Gryphons got their entire First Company outfitted, a Chapter Master may not want to send more than a token show of support. Just like how if the Imperial Fists call for aid, many chapters would help such a renowned and honorable chapter without a second thought. If the Dark Angels request aid, a lot of chapters may have to think twice due to a history of seemingly erratic behavior.

 

So, If being sent to rendezvous with Astra Militarum forces already on the ground with orders to disrupt the enemy command structure, they may be sent on their way with a Lieutenant and two Tactical Squads, plus a few drop pods, or even a single squad of Assault Marines or Terminators.

 

If they're being sent to combat and slow down an Ork Waaagh while other forces are marshalled, they may send everything which they have available.

 

One thing I would encourage is to decide on what kind of backstory you want, and then tweak it to justify what you want to include. Is your chapter a fleet based chapter, where groups of ships would be traveling together? A world based chapter, where the entire chapter is often present? Something else completely unique and cool? Good luck coming up with something you like the sound of.

[Race Bannon]

SCM2755, have you looked in the Liber forum? It is designed for persons making their own Chapter and there are A LOT of entries that may provide inspiration if not answer the question ^_^

 

Don't get me wrong, you are asking great questions :tu:

[SCM2755]

I think a lot of this would depend on a lot of variables, including what the threat they are being sent to is, how long they are expected to be there, if they will be solo or supporting other friendly forces, plus logistics like how many troops are available and what transports are available. I'd imagine there's also a very real but unrepresented on the tabletop logistics and support staff that goes along with most Astartes deployments which likely ranges from serfs, servitors, ship crew, possible lower level artisans or technical support, remembrancers, and who knows what else. Since they operate with independence, political clout and personal reputations also come into play. If the Forgeworld who supplies your chapter with new tech is under attack, they'll likely send overwhelming force if possible. If it's the Forgeworld who "lost" your last shipment of Terminator Armour right before the Obsidian Gryphons got their entire First Company outfitted, a Chapter Master may not want to send more than a token show of support. Just like how if the Imperial Fists call for aid, many chapters would help such a renowned and honorable chapter without a second thought. If the Dark Angels request aid, a lot of chapters may have to think twice due to a history of seemingly erratic behavior.

 

So, If being sent to rendezvous with Astra Militarum forces already on the ground with orders to disrupt the enemy command structure, they may be sent on their way with a Lieutenant and two Tactical Squads, plus a few drop pods, or even a single squad of Assault Marines or Terminators.

 

If they're being sent to combat and slow down an Ork Waaagh while other forces are marshalled, they may send everything which they have available.

 

One thing I would encourage is to decide on what kind of backstory you want, and then tweak it to justify what you want to include. Is your chapter a fleet based chapter, where groups of ships would be traveling together? A world based chapter, where the entire chapter is often present? Something else completely unique and cool? Good luck coming up with something you like the sound of.

Thank you for the very informative reply. They have a home world so they are a world based chapter. They are heavy in fast heavy attack transport ships like Stormravens and gunships like Stormtalons. Since the Stormravens carry 12 Tactical Marines which my Chapter will be heavy on and the foal point of, the 12 man squads will be slightly differently built from most squads. So if my chapter has a home world how would they usually travel, in the ways that you already mentioned?

Edited March 11, 2018 by SCM2755

[SCM2755]

SCM2755, have you looked in the Liber forum? It is designed for persons making their own Chapter and there are A LOT of entries that may provide inspiration if not answer the question

 

Don't get me wrong, you are asking great questions

Thank you for letting me know I really appreciate it!

[SCM2755]

Also at the moment I am creating lore for my chapter and at the moment not playing any table top,  there isnt any place to do that around where I live anyway.

[Grim Dog Studios]

I think Kinstryfe covered some of it pretty well. I can't comment on how much stuff a full battle company etc would take but it is worth noting that our tabletop games don't represent the fluff written in the books all that well in some regards.

A lot of the times in the BL books and other lore a chapter will only send a few squads to deal with a combat situation (sometimes only a single marine). I like to think that on the tabletop where we are using full marine armies our battles are part of a much larger campaign that required a large force to put down something such as a large WAAAGH or a Tyranid Hivefleet entering a system.

I know it doesn't really answer your question but it is something to consider. 

[Lord_Caerolion]

Depending on the Chapter in question, some could also turn to their Librarians/Emperors Tarot to predict what forces will be required. As for how your Chapter will travel, all Chapters maintain their own fleet, which by the limitations of the Codex is focused on boarding actions and rapid deployment of ground troops, they're basically prohibited from being capable of void warfare on their own (some Chapters may have relic ships, and the boarding actions can certainly allow them victories, but by and large, the Astartes stick clear of ship-killer weapons). Even with their own fleet though, how it's used can vary among the world-based Chapters, as some are more aggressive in seeking out enemies, like the Space Wolves/Raven Guard etc, while other Chapters could see their purpose as guarding a certain area, like the Maelstrom Warden Chapters, or the Adeptus Praeses guarding the Eye of Terror.

 

It sounds like yours is more along the lines of the "crusading" type, given that they'll have a lack of support. It seems to be the case that most "strike forces" will be comprised of a base of one or more Companies, usually led by the Captain of the largest contributor Company, with support elements from the Reserve, Scout and Veteran Companies, and with attached elements from the Armory. The biggest factor though is the behaviour of the Chapter itself. Some Chapters can have the Companies be fiercely independent of each other, like the Iron Hands or Space Wolves, while others like the Blood Angels can be very fluid in their structure, combining the Company forces as required in the moment.

 

What sort of elements are you going to be drawing on for your Chapter? Will they be based on any particular culture? I often find that once you've got the basics of the Chapter set out, everything else can flow from there.

[SCM2755]

 

What sort of elements are you going to be drawing on for your Chapter? Will they be based on any particular culture? I often find that once you've got the basics of the Chapter set out, everything else can flow from there.

They fight almost identically like the Raptors, Raven Guard etc... Maybe a little more emphasis on tactical marines even more so than the two stated above and my chapter will rely heavily on Stormravens and Storm talons as support.

Edited March 11, 2018 by SCM2755

[Macabre Slanneshi Prince]

Don't think about logistics in 40k. GW doesn't. Edited March 12, 2018 by Macabre Slanneshi Prince

[Lord_Caerolion]

No, but Forge World sometimes does. It really depends on the author of the particular story.