Another New Chapter...

[Jabeno]

Well I'm in the process of making my own Space Marine Chapter, and I've decided I want it based on Scorpions. Now I had decided this about 3 or 4 months ago and had made some test models. I know of only one chapter with Scorpions in the name and thats the Red Scorpions(I think they were in the Badab War or something I've seen a little mention of them lately though, any idea why?)

 

Anyways the reason I chose scorpions in the name is because my fluff is that before joining the Chapter an aspiring scout must fight and defeat a large scropion like creature(name still working)with only his skills, cunning and a combat knife.

 

Now I haven't worked out all the details yet but thats where I need help. Right now I'm favouring the War Scorpions. They will be a 26th Founding based on Salamanders Gene Seed. Because of this I will be using the chapter traits Cleanse and Purify(For both the Salamander Feel, and because I much prefer Special Weapons or Heavy)and See but don't be seen(this one is for fluf as the Scropions can attack from a hidden location and slay their prey before they can react before disappearing again)

 

Now I know some of this must seem corny but I'm thinking the Iniation into the Veteran Company involves the opening of a cut on the shoulder(Where their chapter bagde pad goes)and a small amount of Scorpion Poison being put into the wound. The poison makes the marine weak for several days but eventually wears off and makes their normal skin tougher(Not sure about the last part though)

 

So any thoughts on the chapter would be welcome as well as anything I should drop because of being overused or corny.

[Commissar Molotov]

The reason you've heard of Scorpions recently is that Forgeworld's recently released their Fourth hardback book, The Anphelion Project. The campaign is based around the Red Scorpions against the Tyranids. Forgeworld's released a lot of Red Scorpion pieces, including terminator shoulder pads and a power armour upgrade kit.

 

The idea of a scorpion-based army is an interesting one. Perhaps you could utilise poisoned weaponry? A 'power weapon' could easily be a 'blade coated in scorpion venom' or the like.

 

Scorpions on your home world could suggest quite an arid environment, perhaps with deserts or the like? Give your homeworld some thought, as it will probably contribute quite a lot to your chapter's fluff.

 

Nothing in what you've written is corny or over-used. Initiation rites involving combat against wild beasts are common - but necessary. Most Space Marine chapters given the opportunity would carry out such tests to ensure their marines are capable fighters.

 

You've got most of the basic foundation for your chapter down pat, just look to expanding it in more detail, and you'll have an interesting and characterful chapter.

[ironloki]

The poison makes the marine weak for several days but eventually wears off and makes their normal skin tougher(Not sure about the last part though)

 

I wouldn't perhaps say it makes their skin tougher but perhaps this poison can kill you and so those that survive are shown to be the best of the best. You could even say that they have hallucinations during this process and perhaps see images of the Emperor or something spiritual like that.

 

You thought of a colour scheme yet?

 

But nice start :ph34r:

[aretziel]

regarding the poison and skin...

 

maybe you could say that the poison kills the skin ...

 

not in the way that it fall off but it looses the human look and turn pail/grey and turns more like leather then smooth skin.

 

maybe even takes teh color of the scorpions exo-skeleton.

there are, for example, both black and white scorpions in our world.

 

so that the marines look upon themselfs as part of the scorpions, maybe even that they, after this, may walk freely upon the surface and the scorpions recognise them as brethren and don

[Commissar Molotov]

I was considering it might be a good idea to switch the two around - perhaps new aspirants about to join the scout company are injected with the scorpion venom. Alternatively, have them injected with the scorpion venom after they've completed their tenure in the scout company and are about to be assigned to a company.

 

At the same time, make it a rite of passage to gain entry into the veteran company to defeat the scorpion. It seems to make more sense to me that way, though of course it's up to you.

[Jabeno]

Hmm sounds good. I'm thinking that the killing of the Scorpion is better for the veteran company and I will be changing it as such.

 

So far I've got

 

Venom into shoulder of new Scouts

Killing of Scorpion to join Veteran Company

Surface I was considering much like a Rain Forst world but that dosen't suit Scorpions at all as such I might go desert wise as I've never based anyone on a Desert World

Colour Scheme is really bugging me, I don't know whgat I want. I'd like to avoid green as I have like 5000+ points of IG painted Green and Tin Bitz. Suggestions here would be greatful.

 

General info about scorpions and things that I could use in my chapter is good to I'm slowly making my own Index Astartes to fully compile the info and will post it for your review when done.

 

Thanks for all the help thus far.

[aretziel]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpions

 

the wiki got your general anwser for scorpions ... if you care to read it ...

 

as well for the colorscheme you could go with the look of a scorpion.

 

paint them in black/redish color ... and maybe convert the armour to look more segmented ...

[ironloki]

You could go for a mixed world with half forest/half desert if you wanted to mix things up. Plus not all scorpions come from a desert. The scene form Flash Gordon comes to mind where the guy sticks his hand into a stump thing where there is a scorpion style'd creature that stabs you if you choose the wrong hole.

 

Colour wise I think you have great variety. Insects are some of the most colourful things you will come across. Black and Blue comes to mind as something sexy :P . You also have some nice modelling opportunites (i.e. scorpion claws as a lightning claw etc)

 

Do a google or wikipedia for more info on scorpions.

 

I think that you should bash together some more things and then we can help you from there as you seem to have the basics pinned down.

[Dasleah]

How about the Scorpion's venom being one of the most potent nerve toxins known to the Imperium? By injecting it into the recruits, they start to hallucinate whilst it slowly destroys their nervous systems. Those that surivive are invariably left with extremely limited capacity to feel pain, as the toxins destroyed the nerve endings that make them feel it, and this makes them ideal recruits of the Marines.

And I see alot of Khremi (WHFB) bits used here. Lots of Scorpion Swarms, a few of the big tunneling ones.

[st.germaine]

Colorwise you have very few restrictions. As well as the black and blue that were mentioned, brown, grey, white, yellow, red, and orange are all colors that I've seen on scorpions on various documentaries and I have personal experience with black, yellow, and brown ones. And remember, you don't need to go with a color from nature. The Red Scorpions only have red on their chapter symbol. You can use whatever color floats your boat. :wacko:

[Tubal]

Gloss armour would make them look more insektoid, contrast it with a matte base :wacko:

 

Also, why inject poison when scorpions have perfectly good stingers themselves?