Chapter badges

[ironloki]

I was thinking the other day about how important a chapters banner/insignia is in relation to a chapter, particularly a DIY one.

 

So I thought it would be good to get some views and opinions on creating a badge and perhaps any pointers for others especially as some people have problems deciding upon an insignia.

 

It is my opinion that the badge is almost as important as the fluff of a chapter especially as its supposed to sum up your chapter and may be the first thing an opponent sees (apart from the barrel of a bolter ;) )

 

Although my own chapter badge isn't the most artistic ever (Understatement) ^_^ It was the initial spark that got me into doing a DIY chapter and despite the fact that my chapter has changed a lot the original badge has stuck.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v63/illnino/Westernlion.jpg

 

For me it shows that the chapter is in touch and respects its heritage (but then again which chapters dont?), hence the same artistic style as its earlier ancestors. The little 'Creature' also alludes to the fact that something is not right within the chapter and that things are being conducted in an unorthodox manner *Cough "farming" Daemons Cough* ;)

 

Hopefully this will not be like the recent "lets see your X" posts ;) however I think it would be good if people perhaps submitted their chapter banner/badge design and gave a short bio of what it means to them. Some advice for others trying to design their own badges would be a good thing.

[Ferrata]

Loki, where do you keep coming up with these questions, your making me think ^_^

 

Well, I happiply stole the Angels of Redemption's badge ;)

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/Vulkans-Guard/mp_aor.gif

 

I chose this because it has Wings, and a skull which represents Death...The Wings of Death ;)

 

Im not sure where people stand on stealing badges, but many chapters have fists and similar badges. I think the badge should represent the name as this is when it is given, along with the colour scheme.

 

What should a badge mean?

 

I would go for not a lot, just an exstention of their name really.

 

"farming" Daemons

 

I'm sure I used that first to describe your chapter ;)

 

Ferrata

[Tubal]

Well, there's not really a logical explanation for my symbol... I first thought up the colour scheme (scaly green since I've never used it and had a bottle) and then I came up with the name Warp Jackals as if that would fit the colours... Then I thought: How do you draw and imperial jackal symbol? Give it wings as ears of course! ^_^

And thus were the Warp Jackals born:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v483/Tubal/WJpauldron.gif

I had some egyptian-style conversions in mind for them so they got some vaguely egyptian fluff. It's still under development though so mum's the word...

[schoon]

In more general terms, I like to use the chapter badge to represent the current chapter name, but to also integrate at least some small element of their parent chapter.

 

For example, when I did my idea up for the Crimson Lions (though this might not be the best example):

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/schoon9953/CrimsonLions3.jpg

I tried to do something that looked nice, but also included some element from the Crimson Fists, even if in this case it was only the color ^_^

[AnimeFreak40K]

for my Chapter Badge (when i put it on my marines) i use the Dark Angels sword/wing combination. if they werent so expensive, though id actually outfit my entire army with the Master of the Ravenwing shoulder pads and use those

 

but really what i try to stay with are wings and/or swords in general

[Rogue Trader]

I agree on the importance of the chapter symbol, and while I don't think it always has to tie perfectly into the name, I think a clear, distinctive symbol looks good on the batttlefield, and often when it comes down to DIYs, that's what's important. After all, the first time you play someone, they're most likely not going to read your 306 pages of hand written fluff before the game are they? ^_^ They're going to be looking at the banners, vehicles and shoulderpads for ID markings.

 

For my DIY, the Grief Bringers, I chose to have a crying eye, for the simple reason that I couldn't think of anything else that could symbolise the name and would be relatively simple at the same time...

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/rogue_trader/grief_bringers/symbol_small_plain.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/rogue_trader/avatars/avatar.jpg

 

I've since seen a couple of other DIYs be created that use a crying eye as well, so maybe there aren't any original ideas left... Personally, I would avoid the use of an easily recognisable symbol like the BT cross or the IF fist, simply because they are so recognisable... Using transfers, it's simplicity itself to cut, alter or combine transfers to create a new symbol - in fact that's what I did for my first Grief Bringers (I've since had Griffon Games make me a custom sheet of decals/transfers up). My dread below uses three transfers to create the eye - a white circle, an eye from an Eldar sheet and a blue tear drop from an old epic sheet:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/rogue_trader/grief_bringers/argus_fl.jpg

 

When combining transfers like this, your imagination is the only limit, but I would recommend sealing each transfer before applying the next - otherwise you may find the lower layers move about as you apply transfers over the top, which is more than a little frustrating ;)

 

RT

[Azmodan]

This is my Emperor's Celebrants chapter bagde. Yes it is orginated from the original:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v300/Azmod/Cel.gif

 

And it shows many things to me.

First of all its the pride. Broad wings and a star, which tell "We are the Emperor's finest!" or "We are the stars here on this gamingtable, we are going to rock you! " ;) j/k.

Secondly, its the colours. All will be used on my marines and they show them being Fierce CC fighters, with an aggressive attitude. Sort of. ;)

Thirdly, I havent seen many stars in chapter bagdes, that symbol is kinda original I'd say. Wings are popular, stars no. A friend of mine told me I should add a hammer and sickle and paint them red! ^_^ ;)

Fourthly, I am currently thinking of making them some Raven Guard descendants, hence the wings. I am also thinking of Imperial Fist, but I dunno, nothing really fits them as I'd like them to be. I guess I'll have to use the 'children often differ from parents trick'...

 

Thats basicly it. Having the above things in mind I think I'll have to self-imply the 'Have pride in your colours' disadvantage. But on the other han I would like to have some scouts in my 100 marine 3000pts army to show a whole company! ;)

[Jokersminis]

http://jokersminiatures.com/StrikeEagles/SEcolorsmall.jpg

 

The Strike Eagles

 

Blue Background- The Sky

4 Point Star- The Talons of the Eagle

Cog- Strong Ties to the Adeptus Mechanicus

Red Bolt- Symbolizes a "Strike Fast, Strike Hard" Mentality and The Chapter's Progenitors- The White Scars.

[Akranadas]

Mine must be the most boring one out there.

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/Akranadas/c38e9566.jpg

 

Oh well it relates to my chapters fluff well, basically the bolt through the middle is that of a strom and the 2 dots are the twin moons that orbit their icy homeworld

[Grand Master Ezikiel]

I am just starting my chapter The Brazen Crusaders and i have written some fluff.ect including their chapter badge.

They pretty much live under the surface of a mobile moon, with the huge funaces of their forges extend miles above the surface. The main feature is it's huge fusion drive engine, allowing it to move.

 

My chapter symbol is A black hammer on a red background.

 

Simplicity: Purity

Hammer: Strength

(Black: Death / Demise)

Red: Fierceness

 

(my only problem is thta it often looks like a 'T') :D

[juckto]

I just saw this topic and I've been thinking about adding a Chapter Badge to my dudes so I threw this together to get your guys opinions.

Basically, they are a White Scars successor named 'The Firebrands'. They went Chaos and renamed themselves 'The Pyre'. So I got a flame symbol, and a bit of background similar to the WS's badge.

Which one do you think would be better?

I wanted something simple because I haven't done much freehand. Pity that the WS badge is red and yellow, which wouldn't stand out much against my armour.

[Brother Sergeant Alasseo]

(still not quite au fait with BBCode, so no pics as yet)

 

My Knights of Kudra have as their chapter badge a barred gate purpure et argent on a field gules (purple gateposts with a silver gate, on a red background). The charge (emblem) signifies that they wil stop and defend against (something). The field represents a sea of bloodshed and chaos, and by putting the gate in front, they are saying that they will protect humanity from the rising tide of mayhem, heresy and recidivism.

 

+EDIT+Not got the hang of posting pics, but I can certainly put up a link+EDIT+

[ironloki]

To add pics simply click the IMG button and paste the link (Just make sure the pics not too large)

 

So it should look like this for an image - note im using the ( brackets and not squad ones [ to show you how it works

 

(img)http://www.mypic.com/yadda.gif(/img)

 

Hope that helped :devil:

[TheDeinonychus]

Well, the badge for my DIY chapter, the Sons of Dagda, is the image of a stag. Being scottish in theme it fit, and a stag is seen often as the noble side of nature, graceful yet fierce and strong.