Index Astartes: Tome Keepers

[Doghouse]

Having read through the article now I have to say this is an excellent addition to the Space Marines. I was expecting something cheesy but it is extremely well written and thought out detailing the mythos of their culture really well. It's nothing over the top or in the style of wolfy mcwolferson or Tomby McTomberson chapters. It's subtle and very nicely presented and refelects the culture of their homeworld well. It also touches a little on the relationships with other organisations within the Imperium ever so slightly and the return of the Primarch. Given that it was a White Dwarf project I went in preparing to eyeroll but what I found was an extremely enjoyable read, probably more so than most Codex books of late.

 

The characters are a nice addition and come with power level and matched play points with no mention of them not being able to be used in matched play games that I could see.

 

If you are interested in how a Chapter is formed it is well worth a look.

 

If they ever did decals for this Chapter I'd be extremely tempted to make a force of them.

[Brother Tyler]

On the subject of the Chapter Tactics they chose for the Chapter, I think it was the right move. Part of the purpose with this Chapter was to demonstrate to hobbyists how they could create their own Chapter. The rules for Chapter Tactics in Codex: Space Marines are meant to provide the menu of options to players. The whole point is that the range of options available should be sufficient for the diverse range of typical Chapters. If GW/WD had instead created some unique new rules for the Tome Keepers, they would have undermined the whole effort, basically telling hobbyists that the menu of Chapter Tactics isn't sufficient.

 

If they were developing a Chapter that had been presented before and which had established lore that was distinctive and not supported by the official rules (e.g., the Exorcists), creating unique bespoke rules would have been appropriate. Of course, that would have been completely inconsistent with the example that they were trying to set in developing their mascot Chapter.

 

Having read this one thing I did see that I found interesting is that it specifically says how a chapter is formed. I've only ever seen hints and specualtion in the past as to the exactly how a Chapter is formed but this details the process which is a nice touch as I've never seen it specifically mention taking officers from a parent chapter in a codex beyond the Second Founding Horus Heresy material.

 

"As with most newly created Chapters, officers and specialists were requisitioned from the parent Chapter. Captain Caelus Viator, formerly of the Ultramarines 2nd Company, was elevated to the rank of Chapter Master, and he over saw the creation and training of four hundred battle-brothers over the following two decades. Their training ground would be that of Dornak IV, a barren death world in the Segmentum Solar.The new aspirants were subjected to years of harsh physical training, psycho-indoctrination, genetic alteration and painful surgical enhancements before they were ready to become warriors of the Adeptus Astartes. Several hundred passed the gruelling tests. Many thousands did not."

This leads to another topic on how Space Marine Chapters are created, for which we have a current ongoing discussion here. I've quoted you in that post and replied therein.

 

For the purpose of the Tome Keepers, I wish that they had chosen some Chapter other than the Ultramarines. We already know that lineage ultimately leads back to the Primarch/Legion. We also know from the Forge World Badab War books that predecessors aren't limited to the Second Founding Chapters named for the Legions (the "First Founding Chapters"). Statistically, an "Ultramarines [Legion] Successor" doesn't need to have the Ultramarines Chapter as its direct predecessor. It would have been very easy to use one of the many other Successors as the predecessor of the Ultramarines. It's not "bad" that they chose to make it the Ultramarines, but I think it would have been better if they had chosen some other Chapter such as the Howling Griffons, Silver Eagles, Genesis Chapter, etc. Just my personal axe to grind, so nothing really serious, I suppose.

 

I read the development articles with much interest, and I'll admit to being very interested in reading the Index Astartes article. Since the Chapter was created to be White Dwarf's mascot Chapter (much as we use the Legio as our mascot Chapter for B&C things), I wonder how much more we'll see of this Chapter, and if they'll be mostly focused in White Dwarf issues or if they'll cross over into other rulebooks and official fiction.

 

If they ever did decals for this Chapter I'd be extremely tempted to make a force of them.

I wouldn't be surprised if unofficial decals become available via our downloads. I'm not promising to make them, mind you, but we have a number of members that are adept at such a thing, so it's within the realm of the possible for decals to become available at some point in the future. If that happens, I'll hold you to your word (and look forward to seeing actual Tome Keeper models).

[Doghouse]

Well it definitely looks like studio army had used decals because they were identical and the sergeants had a skull in the center of the chapter icon in place of the star. To be honest I could get a printer and learn to make them myself but I'm going to wait and see if they do a sheet first. It's tricky enough staying on track with projects as it is, I'd be a complete nightmare if I could make my own decals from scratch! :D

 

I don't want to go into too much detail so as not to spoil it for others who have not read the article but ALL of the two hundred surviving original Astartes stepped up to cross the Rubricon when the torch bearer fleet found them. It says they thought it was too risky to lose any of the original veterans but kind of gives the impression that crossing the rubricon can be done on quite a large scale.

 

It'd be nice if they used them for battle reports moving forwards but seeing how the Silver Templars made it into the mainstream lore I'd be extremely surprised if these guys didn't.

[Halandaar]

On the subject of the Chapter Tactics they chose for the Chapter, I think it was the right move. Part of the purpose with this Chapter was to demonstrate to hobbyists how they could create their own Chapter. The rules for Chapter Tactics in Codex: Space Marines are meant to provide the menu of options to players. The whole point is that the range of options available should be sufficient for the diverse range of typical Chapters. If GW/WD had instead created some unique new rules for the Tome Keepers, they would have undermined the whole effort, basically telling hobbyists that the menu of Chapter Tactics isn't sufficient.

 

Definitely agree with that, although I think by giving their characters wargear the Codex rules don't permit them to have, they are setting the opposite example at the same time.

[Gamiel]

I find it interesting that Tome Keepers was originally classified as "Chapter 281", I take this as meaning that as of the 4th Founding (which the Tome Keepers were part of) have there been at least 281 Chapters established.

 

 

 

Kinda hoping they have an article about how they converted/kitbashed the characters. Would love to know which bits were used on certain models

I know that there's a guide for the Captain in issue #455 from August... as for the rest, we'll have to wait and see.

 

They explain in text (no pictures) what parts were used to created the rest of the characters in #458
 

[Gederas]

I find it interesting that Tome Keepers was originally classified as "Chapter 281", I take this as meaning that as of the 4th Founding (which the Tome Keepers were part of) have there been at least 281 Chapters established.

I genuinely think the Chapter numbers don't mean much, as the Grey Knights (founded during the Heresy) are Chapter 666, and the Mentor Legion (founded during the

26th Founding (738.M41)) is Chapter 888, which was the number of the Star Scorpions who were made during the 25th "Bastion" Founding during the latter half of the 40th Millennium.

 

[Sword Brother Adelard]

 

 

I find it interesting that Tome Keepers was originally classified as "Chapter 281", I take this as meaning that as of the 4th Founding (which the Tome Keepers were part of) have there been at least 281 Chapters established.

I genuinely think the Chapter numbers don't mean much, as the Grey Knights (founded during the Heresy) are Chapter 666, and the Mentor Legion (founded during the

26th Founding (738.M41)) is Chapter 888, which was the number of the Star Scorpions who were made during the 25th "Bastion" Founding during the latter half of the 40th Millennium.

Seconded, I recall somewhere towards the end of TBA, when Thane takes over and invites the high lords to Phalanx he states how many chapters were in existence at that time, and how it was nowhere near enough to do the job. That number was nowhere near 666, and considering this was like 3rd founding onwards or so, and the Grey Knights would have been founded just after the second, it doesn't follow.

[Brother Tyler]

You're assuming that the numbers are assigned in sequential order. It may be that they are not assigned sequentially and that some other system is used, or that some arbitrary method is used (roll a d1000, re-roll duplications). I wouldn't read too much into the numbers (until GW gives us something more concrete).

[Oxydo]

You're assuming that the numbers are assigned in sequential order. It may be that they are not assigned sequentially and that some other system is used, or that some arbitrary method is used (roll a d1000, re-roll duplications). I wouldn't read too much into the numbers (until GW gives us something more concrete).

 

From what I remember numbers, colours and in some cases even heraldry and names can get reused for a new chapter if the old one has been deemed lost.

For instance, Mentors and Star Scorpions share the same colours and numbers (888 as Gederas pointed out).

[Sword Brother Adelard]

I think I'm coming at it from the opposite angle, the numbers clearly are arbitrary, as there's no logical explanation for it looking at the evidence we have thus far.

 

There's also a massive lack of evidence about well known chapters, I don't recall ever seeing a chapter number for the Templars or Crimson Fists for example.

[Doghouse]

I think that given the Second founding was about 50 chapters give or take fourth founding is plausible to be around 281. I think the way modern chapters are done it's probably a case of all 1k are established but as the old chapters are wiped out or turn traitor their numbers are assigned to later founding chapters. I know this has been used in the past to explain two chapters with the same name before.

[Mandragola]

It’s interesting that they’ve gone for this approach of special-ish characters, armed with standard equipment and a built in standard relic. It means the relic slot is still available for other models. Since the tactics are only recommendations, these guys are effectively available to ultramarine successors, if you call yourselves Tomb Keepers.

 

I think the ancient is pretty awesome, thanks to coming with a power fist. The Seal of Oath is great too. I don’t like how they’ve made him with a too-small fist from a firstborn but you wouldn’t have to do that.

 

The Chaplain with the Benediction of Fury is cool. That’s often what you’d want a Chaplain to have. Now you get to keep your CP.

 

I don’t particularly rate the staff for a librarian. S5 on the sword is generally enough so I’d rather have the AP. That said, it doesn’t really matter what weapon a librarian has, and the relic of Gathalmor is great. It’s a cool thing to have in your army for the occasional time it matters, but probably not worth a relic slot. Nice to get it this way.

 

I’m afraid I think the Captain is pretty bad. The sunwrath pistol feels like a waste of his stats to me and the axe is generally worse than the sword. Overall I think he’s worse than if you took a normal Primaris captain without a relic, and definitely worse than one with a proper relic. He still does the job you need a captain to do and he’s a bit better against T3, 5 and 6 of course.

[Ishagu]

The captain is cool, he doesn't need to be the most competitive option. And nothing stops you from making your own.

 

Just a nice, thematic character. I appreciate seeing some Primaris heroes with unique wargear that isn't normally available.

 

I've not seen the article myself. What are the unit point costs, and do they have a unique chapter tactic?

Edited November 27, 2020 by Ishagu

[Sword Brother Adelard]

No unique tactic, just two suggested successor ones. Think it's covered somewhere above.

[Gederas]

The captain is cool, he doesn't need to be the most competitive option. And nothing stops you from making your own.

 

Just a nice, thematic character. I appreciate seeing some Primaris heroes with unique wargear that isn't normally available.

 

I've not seen the article myself. What are the unit point costs, and do they have a unique chapter tactic?

The recommended Successor Tactics are Bolter Fusilades and Indomitable, and they're canon Ultramarines successors.

 

Captain Nasiem and Epistolary Lykandos 100 points, Orator Sephas (Chaplain) is 90 Points and Ancient Kai is 95

[Felix Antipodes]

Having now read the article I'm much impressed with what they did and their reasons for doing so. They have already been brought into canon by being used in this months Flashpoint Pariah Nexus instalment (working alongside the unfortunate Obsidian Jaguars).