Rules and Livery of the Sons of Antaeus?

[Dumah]

I've recently been on a Greek-themed chapter kick (Minotaurs, Iron Snakes) and I recalled the Sons of Antaeus. I've got two questions as regards this little-known chapter:

 

1. The wikis variously state there is no known color scheme, or that it's gray and black. There's no citation to support the gray and black; does anyone know where this came from? I've a different scheme in mind and want to make sure I'm not contradicting something established.

 

2. Keeping in mind their reputation for being abnormally large and resilient even for Astartes (and ignoring their rumored progenitor being Ultramarines...after all, it's just rumor), which chapter tactics and which supplement would best support extra-hardy marines with an inclination for ground-based warfare?

 

All thoughts are welcome!

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Have them use Imperial Fists and/or Iron Hands Chapter Tactics? "The Flesh Is Weak" adds +1 to infantry units' Feel No Pain rolls, and a 6+ Feel No Pain bonus if the unit had no preexisting bonus.

[Ryltar Thamior]

I, too, had wondered just where the grey/black scheme had emerged from - it's pretty prominent whenever one does a google; however I'm not able to trace it back further than the 'thousand chapters' compilation that seems to be a fan-compiled one. 

What I *would* suggest, though, is that some colour-schemes, particularly it appears for Cursed Founding chapters, do not quite seem to be set in stone. The Minotaurs, Fire Hawks, and others have had their schemes significantly altered not just since Rogue Trader era , but also in more recent times - with whatever fluff explanation gets appended to such an effort. The Raptors, although not Cursed Founding, have also undergone quite a dramatic shift.

As applies the chapter tactics ... I can't comment too much about the rules-wise side of things, but even if the XIIIth *were* a lead contributor to their geneseed, they've evidently been so significantly altered via whatever went into the Cursed Founding's "enhancements" that a doctrinal comparison with the Ultramarines is a bit iffy, to say the least. On a smaller scale, you could probably just base the (suitably larger) ordinary Marines off Primaris ruleswise to simulate the enhanced durability and such? 

There may be something of use in the short appearance they have (well, one of them) in the Shadowbreaker novel. 
 

[Brother Tyler]

The Sons of Antaeus first appeared (as far as I know) in the Chapter Approved article on the Cursed Founding in a 3rd edition era issue of White Dwarf magazine. That article was re-printed in Chapter Approved: Warhammer 40,000 Annual 2004.

 

THE SONS OF ANTAEUS

The Sons of Antaeus are only officially recorded in one source; the chronicles of the Third Inter-Guild War of the Inca Sector of 850.M41 to 901.M41. The chapter is listed as having answered the pleas of the Guild Fathers for aid against pirate forces sponsored by business rivals, and according to the records acquitted themselves courageously before departing.

 

Since that time, a force matching their grey and black livery has been sighted by a number of chapters in the Ultima Segmentum, and these accounts have always made specific mention of the size and apparent hardiness of these mysterious Adeptus Astartes. They are reportedly capable of surviving hits from weapons that would slaughter another Space Marine.

 

One such eyewitness account, submitted by Captain Rakman of the Subjugators Chapter, records an incident in which his force found itself under attack by the Eldar of the Void Dragons pirate fleet. Surrounded and under heavy fire by the pirates' ultra-rapid anti-grav vehicles, Rakman states that a force bearing the livery of the Sons of Antaeus appeared unexpectedly and attacked the enemy vehicles from behind. Forced to redeploy, the Eldar suddenly found themselves faced with the prospect of having to make a breakout. The Eldar Falcons and Wave Serpents made straight for the Sons of Antaeus, judging them the lesser of the two Space Marine forces. The incredulous Captain Rakman gives an amazing account of the Sons of Antaeus' stand in the face of a storm of Eldar firepower, against which the mysterious Space Marines stood seemingly impervious. The Subjugators were able to press their attack on the enemy rear as the Sons of Antaeus held the Eldar in place, and the pirates were destroyed in short order, caught between the immovable anvil of the Sons, and the irresistible hammer of the Subjugators.

 

Augmented Skeleton: During the inception of the Sons of Antaeus Chapter, its creators extensively modified the gene-seed in order to create Space Marines of exceptional durability and toughness. How they achieved this is unknown, whether their skeletal structure was enhanced with some artificial substance, or whether a more esoteric procedure was used. Less sympathetic observers point out that the chapter appears every bit as resilient as the Death Guard Traitor Legion.

No further description is given regarding their livery, and the only image I can recall was that of an Abomination from the Chapter (someone whose gene-seed differences caused a mutation in; an aspect of the Cursed Founding rules). That model wasn't painted - it was shown as bare plastic with green stuff to demonstrate the method of converting the abomination mutation. Barring any official depictions that I've forgotten/missed, all of the images you see on the Internet are probably player interpretations based on the mention of "their grey and black livery" in the lore.

 

As far as rules go, I suggest finding a set that has a way for you to make them tougher than normal and which you can further augment (via stratagems, tactics, relics, etc.) to suit your desires.

[Dumah]

Good points all around! I have considered the Iron Hands but hadn't thought of the Fists. Too bad they've both just been "nerfed", though I'm more of a fluff guy than not. Salamanders also spring to mind with a decent mix of defensive and strength buffs.

 

Any thoughts on Successor Tactics? Stalwart always struck me as being very appropriate, though it's usefulness on the table is questionable. Warded too, though it's even more niche than Stalwart. Perhaps Stealthy could be justified to represent their extra hardiness until you can shoot them point blank.

 

As far as color scheme goes, I was thinking mostly white or light gray with elements of red ocher.

 

Edit: Thank you Brother Tyler, that's very helpful! I may have to find a way to work with gray and black after all (I'm a stickler for fluff accuracy).

Edited March 15, 2020 by Dumah