Helljumpers Chapter

[Gator_of_Bahamut]

I assume the name comes from the orbital Drop Shock Trooper (ODST) "Helljumpers" in Halo 2? Their motto is "Feet first into hell." If you're not doing this as a reference you must be picking up brainwaves from Bunngie.

 

Anyways, the helljupers in the game wear black...I'd go with dark black and/or urban camo, it fits your fluff. As for the logo, though, you MUST have flames on it. Perhaps a few units might have flames painted on as well, somewhat like the shuttle re-entry idea (sans breaking up of course). Maybe their symbol could be a meteor in flames descending?

[Demaroth]

Gator: I'd be lying if I said I wasn't strongly influenced by the ODST troops in Halo2. When thinking up my original idea, I knew I wanted a SpecOps-style force, but couldn't come up with a name. Then I was over at my friend's house, and he was re-playing Halo2 and they showed up. I checked out their info, and was like "They fit perfectly!" So I borrowed the name and motto as an homage... Well, there's that and the fact that I suck at coming up with names for things. :tu:

 

But anyway, as stupid as this sounds, I'm debating on changing the name and motto. Reason being, Molotov and I have pretty-well damn near changed everything about the Chapter's background, so maybe I'll change this as well... if I can come up with something better. I'm gonna head over to the DIY Chapter sticky and see what's there. It will likely stick as Helljumpers just because, well, like I said ... I suck at coming up with names. ^_^

 

- John

[Commissar Molotov]

I was considering that if the chapter was damaged, and then some influential figure said "I'd be the first... blah blah", the chapter likely wouldn't be called the Helljumpers. I didn't say anything because I didn't know how you'd take the suggestion to change the name. Perhaps the first company could be called the Helljumpers, and have the focus around lightning warfare that you wanted. You could consider the trait that gives you veteran assault marines. Like the Blood Angels, perhaps your first company fights as assault marines when not in terminator armour.

[Demaroth]

I was considering that if the chapter was damaged, and then some influential figure said "I'd be the first... blah blah", the chapter likely wouldn't be called the Helljumpers. I didn't say anything because I didn't know how you'd take the suggestion to change the name. Perhaps the first company could be called the Helljumpers, and have the focus around lightning warfare that you wanted. You could consider the trait that gives you veteran assault marines. Like the Blood Angels, perhaps your first company fights as assault marines when not in terminator armour.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yeah, as soon as we started changing the fluff, the thought that not only would their fighting style change, but their name/logo/motto might change as well started to creep into my head. I'm certainly not opposed to changing the name (or anything else) at all - provided that I can find a new one that I like/sounds good. :tu:

 

Which trait are you talking about? I don't have the BA codex, and the closest I could find is the "Blessed Be the Warriors" which allows Assault Squads as FA and Elite.

 

- John

[Brother-Librarian Akritedes]

Blood Angels have "Veteran Assault Squads" instead of the normal Veteran Squads most chapters use. Its one of their idiosyncratic things, like the Black Rage and the Red Thirst.

 

I must say, I think your chapter is coming along great so far, and in such a short time. :tu:

 

How close did you want to stay to your original name? if Helljumpers is going to become the name of the First Company, what else might you have thought of for the Chapter name? I can come up with a string of suggestions, if you wish. ^_^

[Demaroth]

Akritedes, thanks for the comments - as you can see, it's been with the help of people here that it's come so far. I'd welcome any help/suggestions you have.

 

I'm not set on keeping close to "Helljumpers" at all, really. That may stick as the nickname for the Assault Squads (Veteran or not), but even that's not solid. I mean, I like the name, and it's cool but since the entire fluff has been re-written, it's not written in stone or anything. Suggest away. :)

 

I overlooked the DIY sticky and came up with a few mottos which may fit the fluff.

 

Cede Nullis - Yield to None

Ne Obliviscaris - Do Not (Never) Forget

- edit: can also be "Nunquam Dedisco"

Semper Paratus - Always Ready

Memento Mori - Remember the Dead

 

Right now, I'm kind of partial to "Cede Nullis"; I like the second one, but that's tough to spell. :P

 

- John

[Brother-Librarian Akritedes]

Okay then. In keeping with the sneakiness theme, perhaps:

 

Shadowed Blades?

Shadows of Death?

Hands of the Emperor?

Blade Bearers?

Unseen Slayers?

Guardians of the Night?

Guardians of the Shadow?

Sons of the Dark?'

Emperor's Avengers?

Heralds of Valor?

Sons of *insert homeworld name here*?

 

Hrrm...I may have fixiated on the night just a bit there, but I hope its at least a bit useful.

 

Motto wise, I agree with you. Cede Nullis or Ne Obliviscaris sounds best.

[Commissar Molotov]

Blessed be the warriors allows Assault Squads in the elite slot. Those elite Assault Marines take furious assault... they're not as good as the Blood Angels veteran assault squads, but they might give your chapter some character.

 

As to a name... it needn't be something sneaky at all. Your chapter has a long history. Although they've changed some tactics to sneakiness, they wouldn't need a name that says "We are sneaky!" as they weren't sneaky before their homeworld was crushed.

[Demaroth]

Wow, what a day. I updated my e-mail address in my profile, but then never got the validation verification... so I couldn't post until just now. :)

 

Molotov, I do like Blessed Be the Warriors; I used it with the Raven Guard, allowing me to have (3) 1-unit Land Speeders and 2-3 Assault Squads all at once. ;) The only "problem" is, I think the traits See but don't be Seen and Trust Your Battle-Brothers would really work good with the fluff of the chapter. I suppose that I could drop one of those, and pick up Blessed, but then I'd have to be Significant Divergence - and one Major and one Minor drawback. On the other hand, if I keep Flesh over Steel and then take Death before Dishonour, that could also be very fluffy. What to do, what to do?? :P

 

Akritedes, I do like some of your name suggestions; however, I also agree with Molotov ... What are the odds that they would have changed (or been allowed to change by the High Lords) their name after the decimation of their planet and Chapter? Possible, but I don't know what the precedents are for it. (Some chapters have, I know, but what were the circumstances leading to the change?)

 

Some possible name ideas I came up with today:

 

Sons of <Planet>

<Planet> Ghosts - works as stealth and not, I think.

<Chapter Master/Hero>'s Liberators

<?? Animal ??> Guard

 

Still working on it, obviously. I've just been looking around at other chapter names, and seeing what inspires me with ideas. I did like the suggestions of Hands of the Emperor (or Emperor's Hand(s)) as well.

 

- John

[Bramble]

Hellbringers

Widowmakers

Deathdealers

HellDivers

Swords of the Emperor (same founding as the Sycthes perhaps)

 

 

 

 

 

A motto along the lines of 'Give them Hell' or 'let them taste death and hell' would retain your original idea.

[Commissar Molotov]

The High Lords wouldn't have much of a say. If your chapter wanted to change their name, they'd change their name, and the High Lords would have to put up with it. The issue is more that your marines fought tooth-and-nail for their homeworld, and even now they rest among it, desperately clinging to their past. Their name, their history, heraldry and honour are an unbroken chain for millenia. They wouldn't change the name because it would dishonour all those that died for that name.

 

That's my take, anyway.

[Gator_of_Bahamut]

I've got it! I've got it!

 

I like the idea of the first company being the Helljumpers. But instead of the whole chapter bearing that name, they can be the....

 

Hellbenders!

 

Since real hellbenders are a type of Salamander, your chapter can be successors. They could then have Sombre traits like See but Don't Be Seen. Instead of furious charge, though, I say concentrate on making the 1st company and make them drop pod heavy. Then add cleanse and purify so you can drop a tac squad with a bunch of flamers into the middle of your enemy's troops!

[Demaroth]

Good call, Molotov; the way we're re-writing them, with staying on a decimated planet and everything, they would have definitely kept the old name. I just thought if the High Lords were the only ones who could allow the creation of a new Chapter, they had a say in the naming as well.

 

Gator, thanks for the suggestion, but I think I'm going to pass on it; it's just not striking me as right. It sounds wierd, but it's like the saying: I don't know what I want, but I'll know it when I see it. :D Feel free to toss that to anyone wanting a Salamaders successor, though; it sounds like a good base.

 

On that note, I'm still racking my brain to try and come up with names. Unfortunately, I've been distracted today (job interview I have to leave for soon) and I suck at naming things, as was previously mentioned. :) Anyway, the best name I've been able to come up with thus far is "Sons of Oberon", with their homeworld being named Oberon. I thought that since SM Chapters often take their name from homeworlds, that could work easily. But it would also give an enhances sense of identity/honor, based on the fact that they were nearly wiped out and remain to rebuild on Oberon. I could also still keep the Helljumpers as the nick for the 1st company, if it gets there. Heck, I could even keep the original idea I had, where the Sgt. yells his "First into Hell" thing before jumping out to fight the Orks.

 

Thoughts? And then I just need a logo. :P

 

- John

[Commissar Molotov]

Well, firstly, good luck for the interview. :D

 

The High Lords don't choose a chapter's name. According to Insignium Astartes, the first Chapter Master chooses a name and heraldry for the chapter after the chapter is established. So perhaps your chapter, after finding the world, became so enchanted with it that they stayed, and called themselves the Sons of Oberon? They swore to always remain upon Oberon and defend it. (Could be part of the reason why they still stay in its ruins).

 

Sons of Oberon seems to me like a really cool name.

 

As to the chapter symbol... perhaps a planet? (More specifically, Oberon). It's a possibility.

[Gator_of_Bahamut]

Aww, I'm disappointed that you don't like the name Hellbenders. I thuoght it had sort of a flying/fighting Hellfish sort of theme going. Maybe I should have mentioned not only the amphibian, but the Humvee-ish attack truck in Unreal Tournament 2004.

 

Pity...I like it almost as much as my DIY chapter. Already got a sallies successor though!

[Demaroth]

Hey, speaking of off-road vehicles from games, how about "Chupathingy"? I like it ... got a ring to it. :P (+10 points if you can call the reference.)

 

Thanks for the luck - I think the interview went pretty well, but we'll see. :D

 

Yeah, that's my only problem with calling them Sons of Oberon, is what do you do for a logo? I mean, the moon of Uranus, okay - but then it's not the planet they're from. I was actually thinking if I do Sons of Oberon, it could be crossed swords, like for the Sable Swords... (Although, just for discussion's sake, I was actually referring to Oberon (and his many sons) from Roger Zelazny's Amber series more than the moon or a Midsummer Night's Dream.) Maybe I'll brainstorm some other names from historical regions (Ancient Rome, Greece, etc) and see what I come up with overnight.

 

Gator, it's not that I didn't like it - it's just not for me. I actually think that could make a great successor chapter for the Salamanders, but I didn't want to use them for my geneseed. Sorry. :) But thanks for the input, you were at least trying to help and I appreciate it greatly.

 

I'm also working on re-compiling the fluff background you've all helped me flesh out into a postable format. Two questions on detail work: I need a Founding number and an approx. millenium when this Waagh! campaign could have occurred. Any numbers I should use/avoid?

 

Thanks again, all!

 

- John

[Gator_of_Bahamut]

Chupacabras? Somone named a vehicle for that??? Where?!

 

Have you decided anything on your chapter that is final? Pity ya don't like the Sallies. As far as geneseed, pick the one that first your chapter's fluff or traits. As far as foundings, anthing from 3 to 25 is good, except perhaps the cursed founding. (21st)

 

Have you read the Shakespeare play? I believe it features the CHILDREN of Oberon.... a bunch of fay/elf-like kinda critters. Puck might be one. I think sons of Oberon might not create the image you want. Rather than firce Marines, a bunch of tree-hugging hippie elves.

[Brother-Librarian Akritedes]

Ghak!

 

 

You just had to bring Red vs. Blue into this, didn't you? :rolleyes:

 

Interesting name choice, and you seem to have a real theme going. *thumbs up*

[Demaroth]

Akritedes: Thanks; I love how we've worked the fluff out, and I like the name - just not 100% sold on it. (I'm such a dork when it comes to choosing names and logos... These things have to be perfect for me, or else I'm just not happy.) I'm still toying with some ideas, but none of them have me sold either, so I'm still working. :blink:

 

And you get the 10 points. RvB rocks. ;)

 

Gator: Right now, most of the fluff is solid. I like how it's been fleshed out, so I'm working on writing it up into a more readable format and will hopefully start a new thread for the second revision soon. It's not that I don't like the Salamanders - I like their colors just fine. :blush: I just think that using the "vanilla" stock gives me a bit more freedom to customize them.

 

A few other names I've been toying with are from Roman/Greek times...

 

Myrmidons were one idea

 

Sons of <n>, <n> Guard, <n> Fists, <n> Raiders, <n> Marauders

 

where <n> = Tyras, Scythia, Pyretus, Ithaca, Ivernia, Thracia

 

On the other hand, maybe I just need to loosen up a bit and live with Sons of Oberon. Most people seem to like it. :tu:

 

- John

[Commissar Molotov]

'Scythian Guard' sounds good, but you have to beware... it might be better to alter the name slightly so people don't immediately recognise it as a place in an ancient civilisation. Though the Sons of Oberon is a good name, personally.

[xRagex]

Well if I remember right most people tend to shy away from using actual gods but I think the Sons of Hades would be really cool, because Hades had a cloak or helmet that made him invisible and oh yeah, he's the god of death! If you need a bit of help with a greek, etruscan or roman name for a god or anything there's always this little gem Pantheon

[Petrol]

I personally like the name of helljumpers a lot. I gives a very cool, strong impression of the chapter. A nice way to add to the story to do with the hell jumpers would be something along the lines of :

 

The chapter name was changed after a small surgical strike force lead by the chapter master was sent to drop pod into an ork waghhh! over running the home planet of oberon. Before jumping he yelled "I'll be the first into hell before allowing these green skin to take over another imperial world!" And the rest of the marines followed, jumping out of the thunderhawk crying "first into hell!"

 

The mission was originally planned so that small elitest squads would deep strike to key locations such as bridges and distrupt the ork line of defence before the main army arrived. However, ork numbers were greater than expected for the main assault force.

 

Left incharge was a commitee of captains from the company. Upon the brink of mountaining a last stand, an all out attack on the ork front, Aristarchus the captain in charge of the 10th company, the now beleagured scout company, as recruitment had been low due to the war, came up with an idea.

 

"sometimes we can look at the wonders of a youthful mind and bravery and take heed of what they do."

 

The commitee stopped in their discusions. All eyes turned to Aristachus. He suggested plans for transporting- by foot- more of the chapter across the ork front using scout infiltration techniques, to join up with the small teams which had drop poded into ork territory. By then, they would be able to strike fast enough to cripple more ork airfields and strategic locations than the drop pod teams could ever manage to. With the orks in disarray a full assault on the ork front could be made, releiving the reconaissance marines.

 

Thus it was so. The chapter donned an urban camoflauge, befitting the ash wastes upon which they lived, and they got past the ork line, deep into ork territory, in small squad sized groups. Each squad met up with others, both those who drop poded in and other infiltrators. All major ork foundries, training grounds, and supply routes were cut off. Groups of orks sent to investigate were ambushed. Small abandoned buildings from the once flourishing populace were used as secret bases.

 

Orks rumoured of what this strange destructive force was. None who saw the marines lived to tell the tale.

 

By the time a full frontal assault was mounted, ork morale was low and many were lacking supplies.

 

The orks were wiped off the planet in mere days.

 

Since then, the <chapter/first company> who drop poded those initial beacons into the ork territory have been known as the hell jumpers.

 

First into hell.

 

---------------

 

My story writing skills aren't great by am inspired by the d-day landing of WWII where small units of paratroopers struck deep into normandy and took over bridges etc. to slow the German counter attack.

 

I hope I've helped,

 

Petrol.