+Storm Riders+ Shock and Awe. Hopefully.

Grey Hunter Ydalir · December 10, 2019

So in the spirit of my inspiration, Ace, I've decided to post up the rough point overview of the last chapter I envisioned before I left. They're not quite as close to my heart as the Blazing Sons but I like the idea I had for them, so let's see if anyone else does.

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Storm Riders

Ultramarines Geneseed.

Ultra-no-nonsense, military minded.

Efficiency is striven for, however victory with the best possible outcome is prized above all else.

Extreme reliance on shock and awe assaults, close quarter battle tactics and coordinated maneuver to hit operational objectives before rapid redeployment.

This isn't raven guard infiltration, this is true shock and awe. Drop Pod assault, operational air-dominance and surgical use of artillery and heavy weapons.

Fleet Based.

Hold no grudges, they aren't useful, but they will remember your actions and factor them into future decisions.

Burning hatred for traitors and the dispensing of His Golden age of Enlightenment (requires founding by original legion member).

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Organisation.

The chapters home fleet is one defensive in nature, the Storm Surge and the fleet anchor at the most strategically viable point within a sector, typically the chapter operates as a whole within one larger sphere of operations, but the companies themselves split off to pursue any crisis or calls for aid within the area. The leadership of the Storm Riders has always attempted to be stabilizers. They tackle any and all problems that are laid before them that they have the capacity to handle before the calls for aid from other sectors become too pressing to ignore.

Each company is self contained, is assigned it's own ships, serfs, arms-men or servitors that are needed to carry out whatever is under their remit in the region from what is available. Each company commander is responsible for their own cadre as well as the men of the company under their command. They are also given the right to draw from the specialized divisions of the chapter that call the fleet home, such as the Reclusiam, Librarium and Apothacarian, and so forth.

Vehicles, ships and equipment is drawn and rescinded depending on the tasks they see before them. Only the Chapter Master has the right to veto any request they may have, all other assets are to be shared as needed. It is common for a vehicle or even line weaponry to pass between several companies, each time gaining a mark or name to represent each campaign they have served in, the same as the Astartes that wield them.

The Fleet.

The Storm Riders don't just view the fleet as their home, but the Storm Surge itself takes the place in their collective psyche that a homeworld would in a more traditional chapter. This ship, a direct link to their founder and his legion from the Great Crusade. The fleet itself is made up of two Battle-Barge class capital ships, ten Strike Cruisers and approximately twenty escorts depending on potential combat losses.

Known simply as 'The Fleet' within the chapter, it is their home and hearth, the heart of the chapter. In the Storm Surge they learn about their founder and first chapter master, his tenets and the will and mission he passed on to his brothers. The fleet itself houses a community made up of the armsmen and serfs who tend to the ships and wargear of the chapter, as well as crew and defend them. The Storm Surge has been given remit to house and maintain such a population under the Storm Riders, the ship itself being regarded as the chapters homeworld under Imperial records. Despite this designation, the ship doesn't produce anywhere near enough recruits for the chapter to be self-sustaining, though it does provide enough for the chapter to prevent being crippled after a disaster and slowly replenish some of their number, even while on the move.

The serfs that crew the ships and call them home are very much generational, their families are raised upon the Storm Surge and all they will ever know is service in the fleet, dedicating their entire lives to supporting it. Whether they are agri-harvesters in the food-bays, line-smiths for the forge or pilots and armsmen, for all intent and purpose this is their home. The Astartes are the lords and avenging angels that live beyond them, their minds eternally turned to the will of the Emperor.

While the Storm Riders themselves highly value their serfs and workers and are grateful for their service, they do not live nor mix with the people. Theirs is a life of constant training and study of war and the philosophies and strategies related to them. While this is not true of every brother of the chapter, the leaders of the companies and even some Sergeants and Lieutenants will build a rapport with those they interact with, they are far from the disposition of the Salamanders, and won't hesitate to sacrifice their serfs as well as themselves if the situation calls for it.

At the end of the day, the Fleet is their home and one they'll fight for as viciously as any terrestrially-bound chapter.

The Storm Surge.

The chapters home is a now ancient battle barge, handed down to them by their gene-brothers after the passing of the last soul of their training cadre, Ancient Vexillus. The Storm Riders returned the last son of Macragge and, moved by their cousins honour and loyalty, the Ultramarines gifted the chapter the Storm Surge in return, a time worn ship is a battle barge on the same template as the Nemesis class. A ship built for the legions, but left at the wayside after the Heresy, now given a second lease of life and purpose. The enormous space given over for hangar bays as been a boon for the chapter, many have been converted to training grounds from city mock-ups to slalom courses for vehicle drivers. The ship can house the entire chapter if needed and has become a much-adored home for the battle-brothers of the Storm Riders, and they fight for it as fiercely as other chapters would a homeworld or people.

Recruitment

"A true warrior fights not only because he hates what is before him, but because he loves what is behind him."

Given the Storm Riders lack of any one world or system to draw from, their recruitment practices have been adapted to their nature and draw recruits from whatever region in which they are currently operating. In any other circumstance, drawing recruits in this manner wouldn't be unusual for a fleet-based chapter, however the Storm Riders do not search for feral worlds, nor do they demand tithe or raid under-hives. In the pursuit of stability, the chapter draws recruits from the worlds they fight for.

Imperial worlds under threat are the chapters best source of potential recruits for the chapter. The psychological sway the Storm Riders hold over a population that has now seen the fabled Astartes of legend fight for them, spill their own angelic blood to save them, the honour of becoming one of them and punishing those that made them and theirs suffer is a heady cocktail for your average imperial citizen. The orphans of the conflict, the numbers of which on Imperial worlds are usually far higher than many of a softer soul would like to countenance. Only in times of desperation or extreme loss does the chapter entreat the families that remain.

Worlds being brought into compliance are similar in many ways, except instead of the Astartes being their saviors, they are truly seen as the avenging angels of a mythical Emperor on Terra. Great pains are taken to reinforce the shock and awe of the Astartes actions on the world, with set piece objectives being pursued that hold only a value to the native population, with the aim of fear, awe and submission in mind.

Regardless of the world in question, the Storm Riders will not countenance taking what they need without consent. The recruits are the lifeblood of their chapter and they must be driven to make the sacrifice that ascendance requires. Not least though are the ramifications on the quality of recruits themselves, as a willing applicant is far easier to train and more receptive to the surgeries and psycho-conditioning used in an Astartes creation.

The Chapter does not completely wipe away all traces of the initiates home and culture. While some clarity is lost due to the trauma of an applicant's ascension, the Storm Riders want their warriors to remember why they are fighting, and how His Astartes can change the galaxy. The beliefs of their founder heavily influence this process, a warrior who's borderline obsession with what humanity had lost with the decline of His Imperium.

With the end of a campaign comes an influx of recruits. From the moment they arrive they're broken out of whatever cultural or social groups they may have formed and are assigned a new group or 'section', made up of other inductees selected specifically by their new masters to build commonality as well as friction between the individuals as their sections are taken through the process of becoming a Space Marine. Over time they are encouraged to let their pain, their trauma be transformed and build them into better warriors. As the sections mature physically and emotionally, they find common ground and are also at this crucial juncture given over to study on the tenets of the Storm Riders, their philosophies and the teachings of the chapters founder.

As they begin to emotionally invest in each other, if nothing else than for their survival and success, they begin to take in and assimilate the cultural bedrock of the chapter, and are encouraged to use it practically in their training.

Once they cross the threshold into becoming a 'true' Astartes, they have been distanced from their origins yet without forgetting them. Viewed as if from another life, they are taught to draw an understanding and knowledge from their past. Those drawn from worlds forced into compliance often find an affinity for the main battle-line and assault roles, while those drawn from the population of the Storm Surge tend to follow their natural traits towards the Forge and Devestator companies. Finally, those from Imperial worlds being defended or rescued tend to find themselves drawn to the Reclusiam and the Apothacarian.

Even in their creation, the Storm Riders undercurrent of maximizing the strengths of their warriors and their chapter are evident above all else

Edited December 28, 2019 by Grey Hunter Ydalir

gripschi · December 10, 2019

Good Start.

Maybe you choose Dark Angels as Chapter where yours hail from.

They hunt the fallen. So burning hate is there.

Brother Cambrius · December 10, 2019

A nice basic start to build on, gripschi suggests a good point on maybe having them originate from the Dark Angels, the idea of a no-nonsense hyper-martial descendant is a fun one to consider. Are these boys pre or post Primaris?

With their shock and awe tactics, are their companies still oriented in a relatively codex fashion, or is there an increased level of Close and Fire Support (aka Assault and Heavy Support in the old tongue) squads in the Battle Companies or any preference to their wargear?

Looking forwards to seeing some more, Ydalir. :)

Cambrius

Ace Debonair · December 10, 2019

So in the spirit of my inspiration, Ace, I've decided to post up the rough point overview of the last chapter I envisioned before I left.

I am a horrible role model.

...You already know that, right? :ermm:

Burning hatred for traitors and the dispensing of His Golden age of Enlightenment (requires founding by original legion member).

Hmmm.

I'd like to know what exactly you mean by "His Golden Age of Enlightenment".

If you mean your Chapter somehow has genuine, 100% accurate insight on how The Emperor wanted the Imperium to run, then that feels... iffy.

How do I put it?

You know how you advised Cambrius not to state his marines were outright better shots than other marines, over in the Vanquishers thread?

It's like that, but substitute marksmanship with "actually knows the Emperor's mind better than other Chapters".

If I've got it wrong, and your Chapter is just acting according to what they think The Emperor's Enlightened Age was like, without actually having any of the details, then I'm cautiously for it as an idea. Especially if they've got it entirely wrong, but I doubt you were planning on going that route. :laugh.:

Brother Lunkhead · December 10, 2019

Ooooohh MY TURN MY TURN :wink: :biggrin.:

I like the heraldry and livery lots :thumbsup:

gripschi

Posted Today, 07:18 AM

Maybe you choose Dark Angels as Chapter where yours hail from.

Unless you want to avoid the hunt for the fallen intrigue.

I think:

Ultra-no-nonsense, military minded.

Efficiency is striven for, however victory with the best possible outcome is prized above all else.

….fits well with Ultramarine gene-seed :wub:

(not that I'm biased).

Burning hatred for traitors and the dispensing of His Golden age of Enlightenment (requires founding by original legion member).

Ultramarines can have burning hatred too yaknow ...... and as far as "dispensing of His Golden age of Enlightenment" goes, I think it doesn't have to be stated that each chapter has it's own vision of this, and of course they are EACH 100% right..... just ask those chapter members.

This isn't raven guard infiltration, this is true shock and awe. Drop Pod assault, operational air-dominance and surgical use of artillery and heavy weapons.

That's an interesting statement. Are you saying indirectly that the Storm Riders make extensive use of Vanguards and Scouts to soften up the enemy before the main assault or other Raven Guard tactics? Otherwise why even mention them?

Looks like a good start. I'm curious to see more..... and remember, Ultramarine successors have burning hatred too :yes:

Edited December 10, 2019 by Brother Lunkhead

Grey Hunter Ydalir · December 10, 2019

Good Start.

Maybe you choose Dark Angels as Chapter where yours hail from.

They hunt the fallen. So burning hate is there.

I've never been a fan of the Dark Angels or the entire fallen intrigue, however, it could be interesting to work it in. To clarify, I like their aesthetic and cultural draw, but I don't like the entire side to the Fallen and it's features, such as the Inner Circle.

Other than the Blue boys, I hadn't considered anyone else. I'm not sure about this chapter but the idea of making an Unforgiven chapter is growing on me.

A nice basic start to build on, gripschi suggests a good point on maybe having them originate from the Dark Angels, the idea of a no-nonsense hyper-martial descendant is a fun one to consider. Are these boys pre or post Primaris?

With their shock and awe tactics, are their companies still oriented in a relatively codex fashion, or is there an increased level of Close and Fire Support (aka Assault and Heavy Support in the old tongue) squads in the Battle Companies or any preference to their wargear?

Looking forwards to seeing some more, Ydalir.

Cambrius

As a rule I like my chapters to all be pre-primaris. Mainly due to there being far too little history or bulk-lore about the Primaris, as well as the fact of them being basically Space Marines 2.0, so they are cut from the same cloth.

I'm one of the few who actually doesn't mind the Primaris at all. The up scale on the models is way, way better. The tech is great and the battlefield tactics are a bit more modern. The lore introduction was problematic, I'll handily admit. However, unless they ran the entire thing through the Liber, and I'd prefer the old liber for that kind of work, they were always going to run into problems. It's a damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don't decision, they had to come up with something and it was always going to be a little bit clunky, especially from GW. I'm not their biggest fan, but I'm far from hating on them like a lot of people do these days. It's also very 'in' to do, which is an attitude that holds no sway with me.

So the organisation has always been to my mind been more integrated. The companies would operate mostly independently of the home-fleet, which would simply serve as a mobile fortress/recruitment/forge/warehouse/etc. The Fleet as a whole moves into an area, finds the most defensible/hidden position to anchor the fleet, then the companies move off and perform their own operations. As such each company must be able to field it's own vehicles and specialists.

Wargear? Anything which offers precision and versatility. A Lascannon for example can hit a pinpoint target, but can also slag a tank, so it'd be a favoured heavy weapon. Almost any of the SM weapons can be used surgically given the inherent skill of most Astartes, but anything that increases that is preferred. Area of effect weapons would be less prevalent unless the foe dictated it's use, such as Orks or Tyranids, and everyone loves to set them on fire.

So in the spirit of my inspiration, Ace, I've decided to post up the rough point overview of the last chapter I envisioned before I left.

I am a horrible role model.

...You already know that, right?

Burning hatred for traitors and the dispensing of His Golden age of Enlightenment (requires founding by original legion member).

Hmmm.

I'd like to know what exactly you mean by "His Golden Age of Enlightenment".

If you mean your Chapter somehow has genuine, 100% accurate insight on how The Emperor wanted the Imperium to run, then that feels... iffy.

How do I put it?

You know how you advised Cambrius not to state his marines were outright better shots than other marines, over in the Vanquishers thread?

It's like that, but substitute marksmanship with "actually knows the Emperor's mind better than other Chapters".

If I've got it wrong, and your Chapter is just acting according to what they think The Emperor's Enlightened Age was like, without actually having any of the details, then I'm cautiously for it as an idea. Especially if they've got it entirely wrong, but I doubt you were planning on going that route.

I know exactly what you're saying and I would have agreed if I didn't already have an answer in my head for you. As I was reading your reply I had already formulated what I was going to say, and kicked myself for not including it to begin with.

They believe they know what His Imperium would be without the Heresy, because they have been told a version of it by their founder. Even if their original founding scripture is not accurate, it doesn't matter to them as the Traitors stuffed it all up anyway, if you get me. To boil it down, to them it's not the actual whole-cloth knowledge of the Great Crusade, it's the concept and the fact that the Emperors work was sabotaged so bitterly by his own Sons and worse, by their erstwhile cousins. While you can say this is true of all loyalists, I wanted to double down on the idea given the concept of having an original legionarre basically espouse (through his own bitterness and experience) how truly low the Imperium was brought by this act, not just the assumption of the fall.

Originally I had in mind a survivor of, I think it's Calth(?) from the Ultramarines. They got laid low, they got misled and weren't there to defend the Emperor when he needed them most. This also brings in another aspect, having these guys be mostly secular (as secular as they can be in the 42nd millennium) and with the biggest axe to grind against the Word Bearers, the religious nut traitors, just like their potential gene-sires. Pit cold hatred and logic against blind faith and fanatacism. However that's a bit down the rabbit hole from here.

I wasn't going to say explicitly that they've got it wrong per-se, just that perhaps chinese-whispers over the years have exaggerated what they think to be true. Though in general as an idea that's exactly where I was going! :yes:

Ooooohh MY TURN MY TURN

I like the heraldry and livery lots

gripschi

Posted Today, 07:18 AM

Maybe you choose Dark Angels as Chapter where yours hail from.

Unless you want to avoid the hunt for the fallen intrigue.

I think:

Ultra-no-nonsense, military minded.

Efficiency is striven for, however victory with the best possible outcome is prized above all else.

….fits well with Ultramarine gene-seed (not that I'm biased).

Burning hatred for traitors and the dispensing of His Golden age of Enlightenment (requires founding by original legion member).

Ultramarines can have burning hatred too yaknow ...... and as far as "dispensing of His Golden age of Enlightenment" goes, I think it doesn't have to be stated that each chapter has it's own vision of this, and of course they are EACH 100% right..... just ask those chapter members.

This isn't raven guard infiltration, this is true shock and awe. Drop Pod assault, operational air-dominance and surgical use of artillery and heavy weapons.

That's an interesting statement. Are you saying indirectly that the Storm Riders make extensive use of Vanguards and Scouts to soften up the enemy before the main assault or other Raven Guard tactics? Otherwise why even mention them?

Looks like a good start. I'm curious to see more..... and remember, Ultramarine successors have burning hatred too

Yes, Lunkhead, the Ultramarines were my first pick here, for once! :sweat:

The reason I mention the Raven Guard is that to a lot of the 40k user-base, any kind of close-quarter or mildly-infiltration esque anything that isn't just a straight up melee for space marines is straight Raven Guard territory. Infiltration in a lot of modern military contexts is simply the positioning of forces or operators to gain the best advantage for the 'sharp' part of the operation. These guys are my vision, operationally, for how SM should fight. They are walking tanks with enhanced speed, firepower, aggression, intellect and awareness. Their main firearm is essentially a short-barreled weapon taken off of an AFV. Their strongest aspect is their overwhelming presence when they get on top of you and/or break through your lines.

Astartes may be able to fight absolutely effectively at long range and on open battlefields, but I feel this is where they wouldn't ever choose to fight, as it's their weakest operational deployment, the least amount of cover, the most amount of fire that can be levied against them individually and limiting casualties would be high in any Astartes commanders mind, given how valuable a single marine and his wargear is and how relatively hard they are to replace. Open warfare, doesn't matter how heavily armoured you are, if you're not in cover you're dead. Same is true here.

I'm not writing the reference to the RG as something to put in the final IA, not mentioning them at all would be best, but just for the sake of this dot-point work I've done here, I wanted to clearly separate the two.

Brother Lunkhead · December 11, 2019

Grey Hunter Ydalir

Posted Today, 04:36 PM

Yes, Lunkhead, the Ultramarines were my first pick here, for once! :sweat:

:wub:

…...Infiltration in a lot of modern military contexts is simply the positioning of forces or operators to gain the best advantage for the 'sharp' part of the operation. These guys are my vision, operationally, for how SM should fight. They are walking tanks with enhanced speed, firepower, aggression, intellect and awareness. Their main firearm is essentially a short-barreled weapon taken off of an AFV. Their strongest aspect is their overwhelming presence when they get on top of you and/or break through your lines.

Astartes may be able to fight absolutely effectively at long range and on open battlefields, but I feel this is where they wouldn't ever choose to fight, as it's their weakest operational deployment, the least amount of cover, the most amount of fire that can be levied against them individually and limiting casualties would be high in any Astartes commanders mind, given how valuable a single marine and his wargear is and how relatively hard they are to replace. Open warfare, doesn't matter how heavily armoured you are, if you're not in cover you're dead. Same is true here.

I love you :laugh.: :woot:

That is absolutely how it should be :woot: :woot:

Edited December 11, 2019 by Brother Lunkhead

Grey Hunter Ydalir · December 11, 2019

I'm flattered Lunkhead, but the Emperor gives me all the sustenance I need. :wink:

I'm just glad someone agrees with me!

Organisation.

The chapters home fleet is one defensive in nature, the Storm Surge and the fleet anchor at the most strategically viable point within a sector, typically the chapter operates as a whole within one larger sphere of operations, but the companies themselves split off to pursue any crisis or calls for aid within the area. The leadership of the Storm Riders has always attempted to be stabilizers. They tackle any and all problems that are laid before them that they have the capacity to handle before the calls for aid from other sectors become too pressing to ignore.

Each company is self contained, is assigned it's own ships, serfs, arms-men or servitors that are needed to carry out whatever is under their remit in the region from what is available. Each company commander is responsible for their own cadre as well as the men of the company under their command. They are also given the right to draw from the specialized divisions of the chapter that call the fleet home, such as the Reclusiam, Librarium and Apothacarian, and so forth.

Vehicles, ships and equipment is drawn and rescinded depending on the tasks they see before them. Only the Chapter Master has the right to veto any request they may have, all other assets are to be shared as needed. It is common for a vehicle or even line weaponry to pass between several companies, each time gaining a mark or name to represent each campaign they have served in, the same as the Astartes that wield them.

[below is meant to be a boxout, well it will be later anyway].

The Storm Surge

The chapters home is a now ancient Battle Barge, handed down to them by their gene-brothers after the death of the last soul of their training cadre, Ancient Vexillus. The Storm Riders returned the last son of Macragge and, moved by the chapters honour and loyalty, they were gifted with the Storm Surge as thanks. This relic of a bygone era has served the chapter well over the millennia and now serves as home and hearth for the Storm Riders. It is from here operations are planned, companies are assigned their resources and the captains view the current crisis in whatever sector in which they currently anchor.

Edited December 11, 2019 by Grey Hunter Ydalir

Brother Lunkhead · December 11, 2019

I think your view on Astartes operational philosophy is spot on. One of the biggest frustrations I've had with the 40K-verse is the way Space Marines are generally depicted in combat :dry.: (ok, it's really my biggest frustration). Many may find it more dramatic (including most of the writers apparently) facing hordes of enemies in open battlefields or in prolonged and grueling slugfests with high body counts :facepalm: I've always found this rather silly. Very rarely do I see them play to their strengths. Well coordinated quick and violent surgical strikes where the only high body counts come on the side Astartes are pointing their bolters at :woot: should be the rule and not the exception.

You have an excellent grasp of how Space Marines can be optimally used to the greatest effect.

Grey Hunter Ydalir

Posted Today, 03:30 AM

Organisation.

The chapters home fleet is one defensive in nature, the Storm Surge and the fleet anchor at the most strategically viable point within a sector, typically the chapter operates as a whole within one larger sphere of operations, but the companies themselves split off to pursue any crisis or calls for aid within the area. The leadership of the Storm Riders has always attempted to be stabilizers. They tackle any and all problems that are laid before them that they have the capacity to handle before the calls for aid from other sectors become too pressing to ignore.

Each company is self contained, is assigned it's own ships, serfs, arms-men or servitors that are needed to carry out whatever is under their remit in the region from what is available. Each company commander is responsible for their own cadre as well as the men of the company under their command. They are also given the right to draw from the specialized divisions of the chapter that call the fleet home, such as the Reclusiam, Librarium and Apothacarian, and so forth.

Vehicles, ships and equipment is drawn and rescinded depending on the tasks they see before them. Only the Chapter Master has the right to veto any request they may have, all other assets are to be shared as needed. It is common for a vehicle or even line weaponry to pass between several companies, each time gaining a mark or name to represent each campaign they have served in, the same as the Astartes that wield them.

This is well thought out too. In fact it creeped me out a bit, as it is so close to how I envision deployment of my own chapter, the Praetorian Sword, as well as combat doctrine :eek: Fortunately, we have more than enough differences to distinguish them. I'd better get with it and post more so I don't get accused of copying your ideas :ph34r.: :tongue.:

The Storm Surge

The chapters home is a now ancient Battle Barge, handed down to them by their gene-brothers after the death of the last soul of their training cadre, Ancient Vexillus. The Storm Riders returned the last son of Macragge and, moved by the chapters honour and loyalty, they were gifted with the Storm Surge as thanks. This relic of a bygone era has served the chapter well over the millennia and now serves as home and hearth for the Storm Riders. It is from here operations are planned, companies are assigned their resources and the captains view the current crisis in whatever sector in which they currently anchor.

This is a nice touch too. Do the Storm Riders just have the one battle barge? My chapter has three. The primary battle barge, the Fury of Terra acting as HHQ and central C2. The other two can deploy separately and act as theatre C2 as well as supply and refit hubs for two battle companies each and any support units.

Going back to the beginning for a moment:

….dispensing of His Golden age of Enlightenment

That's a tall order. How do the Storm Riders plan on doing this?

I'm looking forward to seeing more :yes: ..... and remember......

Burning hatred isn't just for the other guy :biggrin.:

Edited December 11, 2019 by Brother Lunkhead

Grey Hunter Ydalir · December 12, 2019

*snip*

The Storm Surge

The chapters home is a now ancient Battle Barge, handed down to them by their gene-brothers after the death of the last soul of their training cadre, Ancient Vexillus. The Storm Riders returned the last son of Macragge and, moved by the chapters honour and loyalty, they were gifted with the Storm Surge as thanks. This relic of a bygone era has served the chapter well over the millennia and now serves as home and hearth for the Storm Riders. It is from here operations are planned, companies are assigned their resources and the captains view the current crisis in whatever sector in which they currently anchor.

This is a nice touch too. Do the Storm Riders just have the one battle barge? My chapter has three. The primary battle barge, the Fury of Terra acting as HHQ and central C2. The other two can deploy separately and act as theatre C2 as well as supply and refit hubs for two battle companies each and any support units.

Going back to the beginning for a moment:

….dispensing of His Golden age of Enlightenment

That's a tall order. How do the Storm Riders plan on doing this?

I'm looking forward to seeing more ..... and remember......

Burning hatred isn't just for the other guy

In terms of the Astartes and how they're written, I agree wholeheartedly. I prefer any story involving Astartes where they're operating solely as a five man unit, or small task force, as they're forced even by the author to limit their weaknesses and rely on their strengths to win the day, rather than just having a 'rule of cool' battle.

Even though my Blazing Sons are a more traditional (in GW narrative terms) chapter than the Storm Riders, I still have them operate in very small units, far flung from home. They don't have anyone to reinforce them, so they must by necessity work to their strengths, so the use of effective tactics is meant to be heavily implied, especially as ultra-survivalist-pragmatists.

I'm glad I've found someone to fight my corner finally!

Now for the Storm Surge, I haven't done a balancing of the Storm Riders fleet assets, but I'd say given how long the chapter has been around, I'd imagine they have more than one, I had Storm Surge +2, mainly because the Surge itself doesn't usually engage in combat operations unless a truly monumental task is ahead of the chapter, or they're attacked directly and are unable to disengage. Any more than that and it becomes a bit OP, but any less given how they operate would perhaps prove detrimental. I'd also imagine they would work together when needed in Void or Orbital engagements, so the necessity to have any more heavy mobile heavy hitters just isn't there.

A lot of people also tend to forget the strain a large ship will place on the chapters resources just to maintain and operate it. Battle Barges are massive ships and the crew and material needed to keep them running is immense. This is a very old chapter, therefore I can justify their reputation and the support contracts needed to operate effectively, but too much for only a thousand warriors isn't justified. I'd probably bump it up to three if it seemed like they needed it as I develop them, but that's as far as I'd go, Strike Cruisers themselves being perfectly capable, varied and able to be coordinated with escorts in the same way as the Astartes themselves.

And finally, the dispensing of His Imperium, I may have mis-worded that, it was a run on sentence.

"A blind hatred for those who dispensed with the Emperors vision for the Imperium and cast humanity aside so callously." - would be a better, more narrative version of what I intended to say. Sure they'd like to rebuild it, who wouldn't? But that's not necessarily the objective, nor is it logically achievable. Though perhaps an unspoken goal, which is why they're so driven to stabilize the regions they show up in.

Brother Lunkhead · December 12, 2019

Grey Hunter Ydalir

Posted Yesterday, 10:27 PM

I'm glad I've found someone to fight my corner finally!

Happy to be there :thumbsup: Even though the 40Kverse really is pretty gonzo, I try to inject some practical realism in it when I can.

Now for the Storm Surge, I haven't done a balancing of the Storm Riders fleet assets, but I'd say given how long the chapter has been around, I'd imagine they have more than one, I had Storm Surge +2, mainly because the Surge itself doesn't usually engage in combat operations unless a truly monumental task is ahead of the chapter, or they're attacked directly and are unable to disengage. Any more than that and it becomes a bit OP, but any less given how they operate would perhaps prove detrimental. I'd also imagine they would work together when needed in Void or Orbital engagements, so the necessity to have any more heavy mobile heavy hitters just isn't there.

As you pointed out in my thread, it probably isn't necessary to go into too much detail on fleet order of battle and disposition. However it's always good to have more detailed background in your head than on the page. That way you know all of the how's and why's.

A lot of people also tend to forget the strain a large ship will place on the chapters resources just to maintain and operate it. Battle Barges are massive ships and the crew and material needed to keep them running is immense. This is a very old chapter, therefore I can justify their reputation and the support contracts needed to operate effectively, but too much for only a thousand warriors isn't justified. I'd probably bump it up to three if it seemed like they needed it as I develop them, but that's as far as I'd go, Strike Cruisers themselves being perfectly capable, varied and able to be coordinated with escorts in the same way as the Astartes themselves.

Very true :yes: It's nice to have all of the coolest bling for my chapter, but I have to justify it and be able to support it. If I can't, then it's...…… Requisition: DENIED :sad.: :tongue.:

And finally, the dispensing of His Imperium, I may have mis-worded that, it was a run on sentence.

"A blind hatred for those who dispensed with the Emperors vision for the Imperium and cast humanity aside so callously." - would be a better, more narrative version of what I intended to say. Sure they'd like to rebuild it, who wouldn't? But that's not necessarily the objective, nor is it logically achievable. Though perhaps an unspoken goal, which is why they're so driven to stabilize the regions they show up in.

That makes more sense. However, instead of "blind hatred" you might want to say that the Storm Riders have a "burning" or "smoldering hatred" instead. This may seem like a bit of minor nitpickery, but being the practical minded and level headed chaps that they are, the adjective sort of conflicts with that trait.

….and here I thought I was done with "burning hatred" jokes. But for the last time (we hope) even level headed Ultramarine successors feel burning hatred :biggrin.:

Edited December 14, 2019 by Brother Lunkhead

Grey Hunter Ydalir · December 21, 2019

I just drafted a new section.

It feels a bit rough and choppy, I'll see if I can do a second draft soonish, but I wanted to get this out and keep the progress rolling, even if it is a bit bumpy.