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Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/24 18:38:48


Post by: BrotherOfBone


 ZebioLizard2 wrote:
 Ashiraya wrote:
 StarTrotter wrote:
 Inky wrote:
I'm just laughing at the fanboyism of all you guys
(note, I don't even play Blood Ravens, I just love this image)
The reasons for and against SMs and CMSs being equal/not equal have been rehashed so many times in this thread, but no one (on either side really) is listening to anything anyone else has to say.

Just like every other army-peen measuring contest really.

I largely like to stick the the idea that CSM often have less reliable weapons, or use them in a more hazardous way leading to increased deterioration often giving the advantage of tech to SM whilst CSM have a slight edge in battle experience thus making the two relatively equal.


Depends. The Warsmiths are numerous enough and have sufficient means to supply the Chaos Space Marine warbands well. Plus, if we are talking the not-negligible amount of VotlW left, then the edge in battle experience is not so slight.


Plus the warp does funny things to weapons, like weapons that have gone years without repair still firing because 'because', or your weapon mutates along with yourself and now fires pus filled bolts that inflict the plague.

Also self-loading Bolters, a la Dark Vengeance


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/24 21:08:31


Post by: ZebioLizard2



Somehow Huron, a chapter master got, downgraded to a captain and picked up VotlW when he turned to chaos.


Admittedly, this one makes sense because more then half of his body got crushed in a horrific way, it took the skills of three of his top apothecaries to put him together and as a result ended up with a ton of bionics.

Even if it is annoying that his claw got far worse cause of it being crushed. It's still just an odd downgrade.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/24 21:44:26


Post by: Ashiraya


 ZebioLizard2 wrote:

Somehow Huron, a chapter master got, downgraded to a captain and picked up VotlW when he turned to chaos.


Admittedly, this one makes sense because more then half of his body got crushed in a horrific way, it took the skills of three of his top apothecaries to put him together and as a result ended up with a ton of bionics.

Even if it is annoying that his claw got far worse cause of it being crushed. It's still just an odd downgrade.


Straken and Cassius have lots of bionics too, why do they get stats like S6, T6, armourbane, AP2, feel no pain etc from those?


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/24 22:01:49


Post by: Bobthehero


Bionics give the SM toughness to humans, so Straken T4 is explained.

His arm was essencially replaced by a chainfist, so S3x2= S6 and Armourbane and AP 2. Why does he strike at Initiative is anyone's guess, but SM still strike first.

Finally, Straken fought on with his arm and part of his body missing (lolwut? Yeah yeah, Catachan power, GO!) I guess he didn't feel the pain.

It also gives him a 3+ armor save, even tho most of his body is no bionic *shrugs*


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/24 23:00:28


Post by: ZebioLizard2


 Ashiraya wrote:
 ZebioLizard2 wrote:

Somehow Huron, a chapter master got, downgraded to a captain and picked up VotlW when he turned to chaos.


Admittedly, this one makes sense because more then half of his body got crushed in a horrific way, it took the skills of three of his top apothecaries to put him together and as a result ended up with a ton of bionics.

Even if it is annoying that his claw got far worse cause of it being crushed. It's still just an odd downgrade.


Straken and Cassius have lots of bionics too, why do they get stats like S6, T6, armourbane, AP2, feel no pain etc from those?


Strakens S6 is more akin to his clawfist arm..Which is akin to Hurons badass claw.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/24 23:20:28


Post by: Ashiraya


 Bobthehero wrote:
Bionics give the SM toughness to humans, so Straken T4 is explained.

His arm was essencially replaced by a chainfist, so S3x2= S6 and Armourbane and AP 2. Why does he strike at Initiative is anyone's guess, but SM still strike first.

Finally, Straken fought on with his arm and part of his body missing (lolwut? Yeah yeah, Catachan power, GO!) I guess he didn't feel the pain.

It also gives him a 3+ armor save, even tho most of his body is no bionic *shrugs*


Still very lulzy.

Plus, Cassius is left unexplained.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/25 04:48:41


Post by: StarTrotter


 Ashiraya wrote:
 Bobthehero wrote:
Bionics give the SM toughness to humans, so Straken T4 is explained.

His arm was essencially replaced by a chainfist, so S3x2= S6 and Armourbane and AP 2. Why does he strike at Initiative is anyone's guess, but SM still strike first.

Finally, Straken fought on with his arm and part of his body missing (lolwut? Yeah yeah, Catachan power, GO!) I guess he didn't feel the pain.

It also gives him a 3+ armor save, even tho most of his body is no bionic *shrugs*


Still very lulzy.

Plus, Cassius is left unexplained.


Brother Heraldus! I didn't even realize it was you
Cassius.... huh.... The only things I can think of are his injuries were so horrendous he suffered the same way Horus did to some extent or that it just isn't made for strength as much as endurance. Kinda jinky but rules are odd anyways in this game.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/25 16:21:56


Post by: Lord Tarkin


Cassius was mauled by a Carnifex, got his arse torn the hell up. He's toughness 6 through both augmentations and shear willpower. This man went a round with a Carnifex I'm pretty sure he's one of the toughest marines alive.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/25 16:35:56


Post by: CthuluIsSpy


 Bobthehero wrote:
Bionics give the SM toughness to humans, so Straken T4 is explained.

His arm was essencially replaced by a chainfist, so S3x2= S6 and Armourbane and AP 2. Why does he strike at Initiative is anyone's guess, but SM still strike first.

Finally, Straken fought on with his arm and part of his body missing (lolwut? Yeah yeah, Catachan power, GO!) I guess he didn't feel the pain.

It also gives him a 3+ armor save, even tho most of his body is no bionic *shrugs*


Clearly, Straken is so manly that bullets lose their potency.
Whenever a bullet is about to hit Straken, it thinks "Awww man, I can never be as badass as this guy" and gets really depressed, thereby losing a part of it's momentum.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/25 16:37:14


Post by: Kain


 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
 Bobthehero wrote:
Bionics give the SM toughness to humans, so Straken T4 is explained.

His arm was essencially replaced by a chainfist, so S3x2= S6 and Armourbane and AP 2. Why does he strike at Initiative is anyone's guess, but SM still strike first.

Finally, Straken fought on with his arm and part of his body missing (lolwut? Yeah yeah, Catachan power, GO!) I guess he didn't feel the pain.

It also gives him a 3+ armor save, even tho most of his body is no bionic *shrugs*


Clearly, Straken is so manly that bullets lose their potency.
Whenever a bullet is about to hit Straken, it thinks "Awww man, I can never be as badass as this guy" and gets really depressed, thereby losing a part of it's momentum.

Exalted, just...exalted.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/25 18:44:13


Post by: herpguy


Somehow Huron, a chapter master got, downgraded to a captain and picked up VotlW when he turned to chaos.


If he was a SM who went through the same situation he would have 5 wounds and toughness 5.


There really is no explanation for why Draigo is S/T 5.

Apparently Kranon stopped working out too and forget to swing in combat an extra time because he got downgraded as well.

But hey, apparently there are 1000 chapter masters out there that are as hard to kill as Typhus or Abaddon.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/25 19:01:23


Post by: easysauce


if your book as a pic of a loyalist marine on it, CSM will be weak.

If it has a picture of a CSM on it, the normal marines will be even matches, but the CSM heroes will walk right through them


personally, in terms of epic fun ness, I liked the chaos books much better, like the word bearers omnibus, just because the fighting seems much much more believable and balanced.

in "real" 40k terms, if such a thing could exist, they are basically equal, both have mechanicum allies providing logistical support, the IOM seems to have the edge on raw #'s, but chaos has the edge on power per dude.

Id think that no matter how powerfull a SM got, chaos would make him more so,

I think the only reason reg SM's "win" in books is because they are more popular... and they are the good guys.


but personally, I am more entertained when they lose.


also, orks should be kicking both their butts.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/25 19:27:00


Post by: Exergy


 herpguy wrote:
Somehow Huron, a chapter master got, downgraded to a captain and picked up VotlW when he turned to chaos.

If he was a SM who went through the same situation he would have 5 wounds and toughness 5.
There really is no explanation for why Draigo is S/T 5.


Well Draigo apparently flies through the warp himself all alone, without even a ship, battling around in the eye of terror. Obviously he is a Daemon prince. Daemon princes have S/T 5, so it is consistent for him to have a similar statline.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/25 20:59:26


Post by: Veteran of The Long War


 Exergy wrote:
 herpguy wrote:
Somehow Huron, a chapter master got, downgraded to a captain and picked up VotlW when he turned to chaos.

If he was a SM who went through the same situation he would have 5 wounds and toughness 5.
There really is no explanation for why Draigo is S/T 5.


Well Draigo apparently flies through the warp himself all alone, without even a ship, battling around in the eye of terror. Obviously he is a Daemon prince. Daemon princes have S/T 5, so it is consistent for him to have a similar statline.

Nah man, his warp dust just gives him a strength and toughness boost.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 01:24:31


Post by: herpguy


easysauce wrote:if your book as a pic of a loyalist marine on it, CSM will be weak.

If it has a picture of a CSM on it, the normal marines will be even matches, but the CSM heroes will walk right through them


personally, in terms of epic fun ness, I liked the chaos books much better, like the word bearers omnibus, just because the fighting seems much much more believable and balanced.

in "real" 40k terms, if such a thing could exist, they are basically equal, both have mechanicum allies providing logistical support, the IOM seems to have the edge on raw #'s, but chaos has the edge on power per dude.

Id think that no matter how powerfull a SM got, chaos would make him more so,

I think the only reason reg SM's "win" in books is because they are more popular... and they are the good guys.


but personally, I am more entertained when they lose.


also, orks should be kicking both their butts.


This is pretty much it right here. In all the chaos books I've read CSM aren't wading through SM, which is how it should be, but in SM books one SM usually kills 10+ CSM. There's short story where in a 1 on 1 on Iron Warriors Warsmith is actually beating the crap out of Lysander, but Lysander outmaneuvers them and gets away.

Exergy wrote:
 herpguy wrote:
Somehow Huron, a chapter master got, downgraded to a captain and picked up VotlW when he turned to chaos.

If he was a SM who went through the same situation he would have 5 wounds and toughness 5.
There really is no explanation for why Draigo is S/T 5.


Well Draigo apparently flies through the warp himself all alone, without even a ship, battling around in the eye of terror. Obviously he is a Daemon prince. Daemon princes have S/T 5, so it is consistent for him to have a similar statline.


I really wish so hard that they would make Draigo corrupted in future books, but I know that will never happen. In the daemons book it's pretty clear that Slaanesh killed him, though loyalist players will never admit it.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 13:04:40


Post by: ZebioLizard2




I really wish so hard that they would make Draigo corrupted in future books, but I know that will never happen. In the daemons book it's pretty clear that Slaanesh killed him, though loyalist players will never admit it.


Even as a Slaaneshi player I don't believe it, she didn't even kill him, he fell under his embrace, She enjoys playing with his toys after-all.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 15:39:37


Post by: Kain


Draigo is sooooo 5th ed's problem.

Unless the new Grey Knights book has him beating Angron to death with his own arms or something.

Which wouldn't particularly surprise me as it's right up his alley but eh, it'll happen when it happens.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 15:56:22


Post by: herpguy


 ZebioLizard2 wrote:


I really wish so hard that they would make Draigo corrupted in future books, but I know that will never happen. In the daemons book it's pretty clear that Slaanesh killed him, though loyalist players will never admit it.


Even as a Slaaneshi player I don't believe it, she didn't even kill him, he fell under his embrace, She enjoys playing with his toys after-all.


It says his "fire was extinguished." I take that as him dying. I would rather him come back as a Slaanesh champion than dead though lol. Also Slaanesh is always referred to as a "he".


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 16:00:40


Post by: Kain


 herpguy wrote:
 ZebioLizard2 wrote:


I really wish so hard that they would make Draigo corrupted in future books, but I know that will never happen. In the daemons book it's pretty clear that Slaanesh killed him, though loyalist players will never admit it.


Even as a Slaaneshi player I don't believe it, she didn't even kill him, he fell under his embrace, She enjoys playing with his toys after-all.


It says his "fire was extinguished." I take that as him dying. I would rather him come back as a Slaanesh champion than dead though lol. Also Slaanesh is always referred to as a "he".

The Eldar primarily call Slaanesh a "she" and 40k already has a big enough dearth of female characters, so I nearly always refer to Slaanesh as a she.

Of course my headcanon includes (non-sexualized) female space marines and genderflips half the primarchs so I'm weird.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 16:06:13


Post by: ZebioLizard2


 herpguy wrote:
 ZebioLizard2 wrote:


I really wish so hard that they would make Draigo corrupted in future books, but I know that will never happen. In the daemons book it's pretty clear that Slaanesh killed him, though loyalist players will never admit it.


Even as a Slaaneshi player I don't believe it, she didn't even kill him, he fell under his embrace, She enjoys playing with his toys after-all.


It says his "fire was extinguished." I take that as him dying. I would rather him come back as a Slaanesh champion than dead though lol. Also Slaanesh is always referred to as a "he".


Uh.. Did you actually read that part, or just what other people say about it. Here's the sentence word for word from the Chaos Daemon Codex.

"Even the purest flame can be extinguished by the tide. In that single moment of doubt the wanderer was lost. He knelt, bowing his head at last, and a single touch of the being's glowing scepter on each shoulder sealed his fate for eternity"

Also, one of his titles is SHE WHO THIRSTS, he can be anything she wants to be, in between, neither, everything, and something. It's how she rolls when he feels like it.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 16:59:35


Post by: herpguy


I read it a while ago when the codex first came out. Looks like you're right, seems he actually fell to Slaanesh.

Lol I know a Chaos God doesn't actually have a gender. I think its funny it's called She Who Thirsts but every time Slaanesh is referred to in the codex it's as "he".


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 17:39:21


Post by: A Town Called Malus


 herpguy wrote:
I read it a while ago when the codex first came out. Looks like you're right, seems he actually fell to Slaanesh.

Lol I know a Chaos God doesn't actually have a gender. I think its funny it's called She Who Thirsts but every time Slaanesh is referred to in the codex it's as "he".


It's basically like the Daedric Princes in the Elder Scrolls universe. They have no defined gender but some of them (Mephala, Azura, Nocturnal) are more often depicted as female. Because reasons


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 17:54:06


Post by: Kain


 A Town Called Malus wrote:
 herpguy wrote:
I read it a while ago when the codex first came out. Looks like you're right, seems he actually fell to Slaanesh.

Lol I know a Chaos God doesn't actually have a gender. I think its funny it's called She Who Thirsts but every time Slaanesh is referred to in the codex it's as "he".


It's basically like the Daedric Princes in the Elder Scrolls universe. They have no defined gender but some of them (Mephala, Azura, Nocturnal) are more often depicted as female. Because reasons

Likely the god's personal preference.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 19:41:26


Post by: SomeRandomEvilGuy


 ZebioLizard2 wrote:

Uh.. Did you actually read that part, or just what other people say about it. Here's the sentence word for word from the Chaos Daemon Codex.

"Even the purest flame can be extinguished by the tide. In that single moment of doubt the wanderer was lost. He knelt, bowing his head at last, and a single touch of the being's glowing scepter on each shoulder sealed his fate for eternity"

herpguy wrote: Looks like you're right, seems he actually fell to Slaanesh.

The same Codex also states that no Grey Knight has ever fallen to Chaos. Either it's contradicting itself, the wanderer was not a Grey Knight or he was corrupted but killed.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 21:56:32


Post by: TiamatRoar


I think it's far from "obvious" that that was Draigo. As pointed above, the same codex says no Grey Knight has ever fallen, and if it was such a big deal to the changeling, you'd think Slaanesh's story would have brought up that it was a Grey Knight. Instead, Slaanesh is mostly impressed with the fact that the Astartes made it to Slaanesh at all, with no mention of a Grey Knight finally falling, anywhere. He's always only been referred to as an Astartes and his armour is silver, which while similar to grey, is far from the same thing, and there are tons of non-Grey Knight Space Marine chapters that wear silver armour)

Draigo's still getting short stories, audio books, and novel appearances long after that Daemon codex came out anyways. If they really want to kill him off, I'm sure they'll find a more explicit means to do so but right now it seems they're rolling with him.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 22:53:57


Post by: herpguy


TiamatRoar wrote:
I think it's far from "obvious" that that was Draigo. As pointed above, the same codex says no Grey Knight has ever fallen, and if it was such a big deal to the changeling, you'd think Slaanesh's story would have brought up that it was a Grey Knight. Instead, Slaanesh is mostly impressed with the fact that the Astartes made it to Slaanesh at all, with no mention of a Grey Knight finally falling, anywhere. He's always only been referred to as an Astartes and his armour is silver, which while similar to grey, is far from the same thing, and there are tons of non-Grey Knight Space Marine chapters that wear silver armour)

Draigo's still getting short stories, audio books, and novel appearances long after that Daemon codex came out anyways. If they really want to kill him off, I'm sure they'll find a more explicit means to do so but right now it seems they're rolling with him.


It makes it a far worse piece of 40K canon if it was some random SM instead of grey superman.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 23:50:56


Post by: SomeRandomEvilGuy


 herpguy wrote:

It makes it a far worse piece of 40K canon if it was some random SM instead of grey superman.

Yet one of the big points about the Grey Knights is that none of them have ever fallen to Chaos. To change that changes the character of the army. Plus, a non-Grey Knight can be a silver superman. Part of the power of the Grey Knights comes from the fact that they're all Psykers and have training and knowledge to combat the ruinous powers. All of those things can apply to a Librarian (or even a non-detected Psyker Astartes) from a different Chapter. Either way it's deliberately left ambiguous so that you can't definitively state who it was.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/26 23:58:33


Post by: ZebioLizard2


 herpguy wrote:
TiamatRoar wrote:
I think it's far from "obvious" that that was Draigo. As pointed above, the same codex says no Grey Knight has ever fallen, and if it was such a big deal to the changeling, you'd think Slaanesh's story would have brought up that it was a Grey Knight. Instead, Slaanesh is mostly impressed with the fact that the Astartes made it to Slaanesh at all, with no mention of a Grey Knight finally falling, anywhere. He's always only been referred to as an Astartes and his armour is silver, which while similar to grey, is far from the same thing, and there are tons of non-Grey Knight Space Marine chapters that wear silver armour)

Draigo's still getting short stories, audio books, and novel appearances long after that Daemon codex came out anyways. If they really want to kill him off, I'm sure they'll find a more explicit means to do so but right now it seems they're rolling with him.


It makes it a far worse piece of 40K canon if it was some random SM instead of grey superman.


At the same time, the thing that makes him seem like a grey knight was the vanity pools, where it showed him mowing down constant ranks of Blood-letters rather then something more akin to duty as a standard astartes,
All of those things can apply to a Librarian (or even a non-detected Psyker Astartes) from a different Chapter. Either way it's deliberately left ambiguous so that you can't definitively state who it was.

He is constantly referred to as 'knight', rather then any of the more common Astarte titles especially for a librarian as he simply cut things down simply, he had a 'rune-etched' sword. Of which nemesis force swords in the GK codex are mentioned to be. His will is noted to be 'silvered Adamantium'. The constant theme of silvered is far beyond what it should be for a normal Adeptas Astartes
The blade is tempered iron, flecked with shards of silver and inset with ancient runes of daemon-slaying


It is said that no GK has fallen to chaos...But how many have actually gotten to Slaanesh himself? How many have heard back from those who have managed to get close enough?

Remember that 40k 'Canon' is often told through the scrolls of Imperial Scholars, and there's bias when it comes to humanities thoughts on their warriors. 40k canon is flexible, things change and is often told through reports, not simply that everything is 100% truth.

Plus I'd love to see the GK spirit broken, as they'd find that something can still break them, as they see a GK dedicated to Slaanesh fighting against their ranks.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/28 14:27:03


Post by: SomeRandomEvilGuy


 ZebioLizard2 wrote:

He is constantly referred to as 'knight', rather then any of the more common Astarte titles especially for a librarian as he simply cut things down simply, he had a 'rune-etched' sword. Of which nemesis force swords in the GK codex are mentioned to be. His will is noted to be 'silvered Adamantium'. The constant theme of silvered is far beyond what it should be for a normal Adeptas Astartes

Knights are archetypal slayers of evil. The Daemons that he cut down weren't even fighting him; they were trying to tempt him. I would imagine that many force swords would have runes. That the runes actually held power is not stated. It could merely have been decoration or writing. Silver is traditionally effective against evil and is also symbolic for purity. It all emphasises the willpower and strength of purpose of the wanderer. He presumably viewed himself as a hero hence why he could not strike down the "innocence" of Slaanesh.

To be honest, as it's written it doesn't actually seem that tempting without large amounts of supernatural influence (which is hard to get across).

It is said that no GK has fallen to chaos...But how many have actually gotten to Slaanesh himself? How many have heard back from those who have managed to get close enough?

Remember that 40k 'Canon' is often told through the scrolls of Imperial Scholars, and there's bias when it comes to humanities thoughts on their warriors. 40k canon is flexible, things change and is often told through reports, not simply that everything is 100% truth.

That doesn't really matter. It's stated in the very Codex we're discussing that the Grey Knights are incorruptible.

And a lot of the time it is not. Imperials would not write information on Daemons (or Grey Knights for that matter) in such way. Unless it is completely up to the reader to decide what is Imperial perspective and what isn't I don't think it really applies here. 40K has no real canon so fans can interpret (or even ignore) things as they wish. That doesn't change what is said about the Grey Knights and the wanderer. The fact is it's deliberately left ambiguous as to what Chapter they're from. From that passage alone one cannot state that he was a Grey Knight. Other passages in the Codex state that no Grey Knight has yet fallen to Chaos.



Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/28 14:34:36


Post by: ZebioLizard2



That doesn't really matter. It's stated in the very Codex we're discussing that the Grey Knights are incorruptible.


However at the same time, we have Matt Wards purifiers from GK who are.

"Whose souls are considered to be utterly incorruptible and resistant to the temptations of the warp"


Which implies that there's a degree of incorruptibility, not to mention the Bloodtide...

Turning their blades upon the surviving Battle-Sisters, the Grey Knights sated their blades in their innocent blood, effectively turning their weapons and armour into talismans of purity. The Grey Knights were then shielded from spiritual infection by the goreflood of the Bloodtide and were able to make their way into the heart of the cursed basilica


Which implies that the GK aren't exactly as pure anymore.

..And then we have Kelly's constant rehashing of old fluff, even when it directly contradicts with current "canon"

So to put it very simply, this is one of those cases of fluff clash.

Thus, it can go either way honestly.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/28 14:57:53


Post by: TiamatRoar


 ZebioLizard2 wrote:

Thus, it can go either way honestly.


IE, it is NOT "obvious".


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/28 15:04:36


Post by: SomeRandomEvilGuy


 ZebioLizard2 wrote:


However at the same time, we have Matt Wards purifiers from GK who are.

"Whose souls are considered to be utterly incorruptible and resistant to the temptations of the warp"

That quote is stated to be from an in-universe perspective. The Grey Knights wouldn't consider every last one of them to be completely incorruptible. Actually I don't think any of them would think it of themself since that opens the path to complacency.

Which implies that there's a degree of incorruptibility, not to mention the Bloodtide...

Turning their blades upon the surviving Battle-Sisters, the Grey Knights sated their blades in their innocent blood, effectively turning their weapons and armour into talismans of purity. The Grey Knights were then shielded from spiritual infection by the goreflood of the Bloodtide and were able to make their way into the heart of the cursed basilica


Which implies that the GK aren't exactly as pure anymore.

Where did you get that information from? I'm pretty sure it's not a quote from the Codex and it seems to distort the information we have.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/28 16:43:12


Post by: ZebioLizard2


Where did you get that information from? I'm pretty sure it's not a quote from the Codex and it seems to distort the information we have.


I used a more summed up version, it's on page 15: The Bloodtide returns.

Here's a main snippet from it.

"Needing a talisman of purity to protect against the Bloodtide's taint, the Grey Knights' first act is to turn their blades upon the Sisters of Battle. The innocent blood thus spilled is then mixed with blessed oils and used to anoint the Grey Knights' armour and weapons. So shielded, the Grey Knights are able to stride through the goreflood without risk of corruption."


Which oddly enough the story also depicts a few sisters of battle falling to the corruption as well..Despite the fact there's only been one known sister to fall to chaos corruption.

So...yeah. Ambiguous is the stories.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/28 17:02:17


Post by: TiamatRoar


For the most part, most fans assume that a Grey Knight or Sister never falling to Chaos means voluntarily. Involuntary things like the Blood Tide or the Hitler parody with the compelling voice in that Cain book are considered by fans to not count because they weren't voluntary.

I can't think of any other official examples that would imply as such besides those two, though (one of which comes from the Cain series).

EDIT: Well, the wording does say their souls are resistant to the TEMPTATIONS of the warp. Unfortunately, the exact specifics of what an unncorruptible soul is are undefined. For example, they do not answer the question, "Does being forced into a mad rage by the blood tide count as a corrupted soul?"


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/28 20:16:08


Post by: Psienesis


Correct. It's the willingness that doesn't happen with Sisters or GK. While they might get swamped and surrounded by Chaos Magics, even as their flesh sprouts tentacles and wings and collapses under the strain of the sudden mutations, the Sister or GK will die with a curse on their lips, singing the praises of the Emperor.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/28 20:36:49


Post by: Sephyr


 herpguy wrote:


I really wish so hard that they would make Draigo corrupted in future books, but I know that will never happen. In the daemons book it's pretty clear that Slaanesh killed him, though loyalist players will never admit it.



This. I like Corvus Beli because they had no qualms in having a famous named character switch sides to keep up with the storyline (and get a bitching new model). It was a bit of a bummer for people that played the model, though, so it's not a 100% great thing. Mephiston is another who really should get a corrupted version sooner rather than later.

As for the whole "Well, good guys are just better organized and supplied and die for each other, so they are stronger" idea, it has holes you can sail the Trysagium through.

First, Chaos is not a single entity. You have Iron Warriors who are obsessed with logistics and will play out an invasion with scientific precision. You have Word Bearers who will gladly lay down their lives in the service of the pantheon and to protect their brothers and holy leaders. There's an entire Legion whose entire schtick is being so cunning and professional you hardly ever know they are in the fight. You have a bunch of forge worlds in the Eye of Terror and in the Maelstrom; nothing compared to the war machine that is the Imperium, but given that they don't have to protect the same territory, it's still a viable military force.

Also, the Imperium s far from 'good'. And not just in the truth and justice manner, but in ways that hamper it greatly. Entire Guard regiments and their ships are destroyed because they -might- have seen a daemon. Same thing goes for planetary populations. Even amid the loyal astartes there are divisions, rivalries and splits between chapters and even companies due to philosophy, origins and whatnot.

Basically, there are a lot of ways to write the 40k balance. The fact that they choose to write it with marines stomping the opposition and looking good doing it is just a consequence of them being the flag product.



Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 00:12:51


Post by: SomeRandomEvilGuy


 ZebioLizard2 wrote:

I used a more summed up version, it's on page 15: The Bloodtide returns.

Here's a main snippet from it.

"Needing a talisman of purity to protect against the Bloodtide's taint, the Grey Knights' first act is to turn their blades upon the Sisters of Battle. The innocent blood thus spilled is then mixed with blessed oils and used to anoint the Grey Knights' armour and weapons. So shielded, the Grey Knights are able to stride through the goreflood without risk of corruption."

Fair enough. When characters are said to be incorruptible in means that they won't willing turn to Chaos (as others have said). Outright mind control and possession don't count in my opinion. As for the Bloodtide, that was not only turning people berserk but also causing others to exploded; a risk the Grey Knights could ill afford considering their scant numbers.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 02:57:09


Post by: ZebioLizard2


SomeRandomEvilGuy wrote:
 ZebioLizard2 wrote:

I used a more summed up version, it's on page 15: The Bloodtide returns.

Here's a main snippet from it.

"Needing a talisman of purity to protect against the Bloodtide's taint, the Grey Knights' first act is to turn their blades upon the Sisters of Battle. The innocent blood thus spilled is then mixed with blessed oils and used to anoint the Grey Knights' armour and weapons. So shielded, the Grey Knights are able to stride through the goreflood without risk of corruption."

Fair enough. When characters are said to be incorruptible in means that they won't willing turn to Chaos (as others have said). Outright mind control and possession don't count in my opinion. As for the Bloodtide, that was not only turning people berserk but also causing others to exploded; a risk the Grey Knights could ill afford considering their scant numbers.


Considering that the Sisters of Battle survived through purity alone, the fact that the GK, who already adorn their armor with sigils to protect against daemonic influence and trickery, what with the whole point of the Aegis, and needed to bathe in the blood of martyr's to become more 'pure' when they should be incorruptibly pure..

Unless they aren't exactly pure enough and that Sisters beat them there. I don't know what else that says besides that they could be turned.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 17:22:43


Post by: Exergy


 herpguy wrote:
 ZebioLizard2 wrote:


I really wish so hard that they would make Draigo corrupted in future books, but I know that will never happen. In the daemons book it's pretty clear that Slaanesh killed him, though loyalist players will never admit it.


Even as a Slaaneshi player I don't believe it, she didn't even kill him, he fell under his embrace, She enjoys playing with his toys after-all.


It says his "fire was extinguished." I take that as him dying. I would rather him come back as a Slaanesh champion than dead though lol. Also Slaanesh is always referred to as a "he".


his rightousness was extinguished. He is a Daemon Prince of Slanesh now.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
 Psienesis wrote:
Correct. It's the willingness that doesn't happen with Sisters or GK. While they might get swamped and surrounded by Chaos Magics, even as their flesh sprouts tentacles and wings and collapses under the strain of the sudden mutations, the Sister or GK will die with a curse on their lips, singing the praises of the Emperor.


no human incorruptible, and anything corruptible will be corrupted just to prove it can be. GK and Sisters are probably incredibly difficult to corrupt. There arent Chao GK or Chaos Sister warbands, but a champion or two, definitley.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 18:24:34


Post by: Ashiraya


 Exergy wrote:
Chaos Sister


Be careful, some people end up finding horse-heads in their beds for saying things like that here.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 18:38:18


Post by: Bobthehero


Eh, eh eh eh eh

Horse heads or find their 40k army/ies crushed in place of the horse head.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 21:22:31


Post by: Ashiraya


 Bobthehero wrote:


Horse heads or find their 40k army/ies crushed in place of the horse head.


Whoah, man. Too far.

You could give some people heart attacks.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 21:34:19


Post by: Psienesis


Exergy wrote:no human incorruptible, and anything corruptible will be corrupted just to prove it can be. GK and Sisters are probably incredibly difficult to corrupt. There arent Chao GK or Chaos Sister warbands, but a champion or two, definitley.


Except there aren't, unless and until you start bringing 3rd-party sources and fan-fiction into the mix.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 22:40:41


Post by: Ashiraya


 Psienesis wrote:
Exergy wrote:no human incorruptible, and anything corruptible will be corrupted just to prove it can be. GK and Sisters are probably incredibly difficult to corrupt. There arent Chao GK or Chaos Sister warbands, but a champion or two, definitley.


Except there aren't, unless and until you start bringing 3rd-party sources and fan-fiction into the mix.


At least the former is just as canon as anything else, actually.

Or non-canon rather, since nothing is.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 23:29:46


Post by: Psienesis


"3rd Party" is simply fan-fiction with a budget.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 23:30:54


Post by: A Town Called Malus


 Psienesis wrote:
"3rd Party" is simply fan-fiction with a budget.


So is "1st party", or at least it seems that way quality-wise sometimes


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 23:39:35


Post by: StarTrotter


 A Town Called Malus wrote:
 Psienesis wrote:
"3rd Party" is simply fan-fiction with a budget.


So is "1st party", or at least it seems that way quality-wise sometimes


Considering what they did to GK and the creation of Draigo I can't really disagree


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/29 23:45:19


Post by: Psienesis


Draigo is terrible, yes.

GK have always been... weird.

The Bloodtide thing isn't even that out-of-character for them, it's just badly written. The GK have always maintained their purity through the practice of the vilest sorceries and the blackest of magics, so using the blood of the pure as a protective talisman is not particularly unusual for them.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/30 13:41:53


Post by: da001


 A Town Called Malus wrote:
 Psienesis wrote:
"3rd Party" is simply fan-fiction with a budget.


So is "1st party", or at least it seems that way quality-wise sometimes

^This. And I am not sure the budget is well spent.
 Psienesis wrote:
Draigo is terrible, yes.

GK have always been... weird.

The Bloodtide thing isn't even that out-of-character for them, it's just badly written. The GK have always maintained their purity through the practice of the vilest sorceries and the blackest of magics, so using the blood of the pure as a protective talisman is not particularly unusual for them.

Yeah.

Blood magic, black sorcery, human sacrifices and the like is business as usual for GK. The more you learn about the GK the darker they become, and I think the Bloodtide fits their background, even if it is awfully written.



Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/30 16:52:30


Post by: SomeRandomEvilGuy


 ZebioLizard2 wrote:


Considering that the Sisters of Battle survived through purity alone, the fact that the GK, who already adorn their armor with sigils to protect against daemonic influence and trickery, what with the whole point of the Aegis, and needed to bathe in the blood of martyr's to become more 'pure' when they should be incorruptibly pure..

We have no idea why those Sisters of Battle survived the Bloodtide. It's possible that they simply weren't touched by the Bloodtide or that they were far enough away that they could resist the milder effects. The Grey Knights were using sorcery (blood holds power) not simply applying blood to themselves. They also had to use psychic powers to protect themselves; suggesting that it wasn't simply a spiritual corruption. The Bloodtide was also capable of exploding people which could have been what the Grey Knights were protecting themselves from rather than their minds being dominated. Personally, I don't think the Bloodtide was supposed to be a corrupting force in terms of willingly turning people to Chaos. It was essentially mind controlling\possessing people or killing them. I don't feel that that's the same as falling to Chaos.


Why do Chaos Marines seem so weak compared to their loyalists kin? @ 2014/04/30 19:32:18


Post by: Psienesis


A lot of people seem to think that because the Grey Knights use terms like "Paladins" and "Purifiers" that they represent the highest of knightly virtues and are, one and all, one step from being canonized as Saints.

They're not.

The Grey Knights are the 40K equivalent of the Knights Templar... including all the rumors, lies, accusations and charges leveled at them. Only, in the case of the GK, they're all true. The GK *do* practice sorcery and witchcraft, they *do* bind daemons and daemonic artifacts, they *do* employ the weapons of the Warp and Chaos in their purgation of the Daemon and the Heretic.

It is through various sorcerous rites, and the unique strength of their wills, that none have ever fallen to Chaos... which means that, while Chaos is certainly capable of killing them, or of using its various magics to corrupt their flesh and destroy their bodies... Chaos has never, ever managed to get one to say "Yes, you're right, feth the God-Emperor, I'm putting some spikes and more skulls on my armor and playing for Team Chaos!"

That's what the GK have never, ever done. Sisters, too. None of them have willingly joined forces with Chaos.