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I recently started playing the game but have a good understanding of the history of the universe it's set in. With that in mind I consider it two ways with the idea behind a background. Fluff is not super important especially when you are playing. I run an Imperial Fist army so all my "fluff" remarks are pointed in their direction, and they are known as "Siege Warriors" in the Codex and that they often use "Multi-Meltas and Lascannons" over heavy bolters in their tactical squads and devastator squads but other than that their isn't much written and when designing a group for a battle you can design them carbon copy to a dozen styles of meta marine squads and they work just fine without resorting or trying to force them to be the "Siege Warriors" after all I have yet to find in the Codex Marines a cost reduction or some kind of chapter specific bonus for IF to run that style of army that would really separate them from any other chapter.

On the other hand I tried to create something squad specific for more units and while not super creative it works for me as much as an visual cue as to whats mine on the table, not that I see a lot of IF around, but it works.

Considering that after the Horus Heresy the IF chapter was divided and sub-sected off to reduce it's power level, after that not much is noted about them, and with the movie we see a bit of them as well. So I with something to go on and with the Codex in mind I devised just a few things for my group. I noted that lots of people do 3rd and 5th company of the IF, probably because the red and the black look the best, so I designated mine as a part of a group called the 3-5-2, or just the 5-2s for short. They have the 3rd companies red shoulder markings, I did that more for the fact that I really like the red and thats what I saw demo'd and displayed all over. And then I just broke the chapters number 7 up by offsetting the Roman Numerals just a little on the models. Figure they're from the 3rd companies 5th battalion and the 2nd assault force out of the 5th battalion. I suppose that from what I've read about the Astarte's companies not being fully censused "ever" that it would be possible for such a battalion to exist. Also considering the way that the IF can recruit from vast worlds in the Imperium it could also be possible. I also have it set in a way that I can designated different units easily for me to recognize and who are the cross-over characters.

I don't have a written history of my group or it's accomplishment or it's losses, with the exception of the names for my two dreadnoughts, for within them are the remains of Battle Brother Lenny and Battle Brother Carl and when and if I decide to build a Venerable or an Ironclad it shall house Battle Brother Wiggium or Battle Brother Barney.

So do you have a back ground or is it just more of a "I build to the meta," or "I just build what I like."

As a new poster here I found many old discussions on this but felt best to open a new thread since I am sure their are some new players other than myself that are wondering if it is worth their time and effort to develop a history for their army.

Yeah i have a background for my army.
It makes it more fun.

dalsiandon wrote:Figure they're from the 3rd companies 5th battalion and the 2nd assault force out of the 5th battalion.

This is not how space marines are organised, the IF as with nearly all other chapters are made up of 1000 marines, seperated into 10 companies (1st being veterans, 10th being scouts). most people use marines from their chapter's 2nd-5th company as these represent the battle companies with support from the 1st and 10th. designations like 3-5-2 is more fitting for IG.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Chapter

most people have fluff armies, as even choosing the colour scheme for your marines leads to a choice in fluff.

BluntmanDC wrote:

dalsiandon wrote:Figure they're from the 3rd companies 5th battalion and the 2nd assault force out of the 5th battalion.

This is not how space marines are organised, the IF as with nearly all other chapters are made up of 1000 maries, seperated into 10 companies (1st being veterans, 10th being scouts). most people use marines from their chapter's 2nd-5th company as these represent the battle companies with support from the 1st and 10th. designations like 3-5-2 is more fitting for IG.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Chapter

most people have fluff armies, as even choosing the colour scheme for your marines leads to a choice in fluff.

I'll ignore the Marie joke from your misspell. This time.

I have read all that before, and with that in mind what about all those symbols on the shoulder pads that show squad affiliation and such. So maybe then it should read more like this is from the third company,(the 3) the red is a give away of course on the model yet, on paper you cant see the model. And then it's the 5th combat squad 2nd devastator team, hence it shows that when they break from 10 units to five units how they would divide. And then with support units who supplements who either regularly or maybe in the case of a dreadnought his machine is marked in such a way showing that he was a member of that squad at one point in his service.

This way it gets away from the IG quality.

Alright as novice I have a further question near this matter, with Terminators, they are said to always be in the first company because they are the True Veterans or something like that, so if I wanted there to be Terminators in the 3rd company would that ruffle feathers among Codex purists? Here's my reasoning, the IF is a "Siege" style force and the terminators can bring some seriously heavy weapons to bear could the IF not be organized a hair different than the Ultramarines who are not Siege specialists and allow some of thier most powerful and venerated soldiers to fight through the chapters many combat companies to bolster this mentality?

I can understand why they wouldn't be in the reserve groups for the same reason, they are too powerful not to be on the frontlines nor would they be used in the same role as a scout.

Maybe you mean 2nd combat squad fr0m the 5th squad (Which happen to be devestators)?

Absolutely. I'm working on an DiY Eldar craftworld and SM renegade (not chaotic, renegade, like the Soul Drinkers) chapter.

I try to give my armies themes as well, shooty, close quarters, melee, etc.

However, I don't make "fluffy" lists in the sense that the list cannot preform at least decently in the current 40k meta.

I like to make lists that don't work to a hilarious degree.

purplefood wrote:Maybe you mean 2nd combat squad fr0m the 5th squad (Which happen to be devestators)?

I can see that as workable.

Good luck.

All my armies have custom background. I have an IA on a future SM army, an IT on my Chaos, a background on a future Eldar army, a background on my Tau, background on my WHFB Lizardmen and a small background for my WoC.

All my armies bar WoC also have names:
Marines - Phantom Paladins
Chaos - Warp Hawks
Eldar - Craftworld Shoi-Vaar
Tau - Daw'Nenvaa
Lizardmen - Glitterspines
Woc - ???

Also have a small background and colour scheme for any future IG army in the form of the Kryvver Wyverns.

I have backgrounds on my Space Marine Crimson Lions Chapter and on my 15th Carpathian Rangers IG, but not really one on my Orks or Tyranids as it seems to work a little better to me with the armies of the Imperium than it does with most others.

I play tyranids, so other then name, origin and notable differences, there's not much I can do with it.

Yah, I have a background.

I've got a full battle company of Chaos Marines, a Black Crusade Force led by Abaddon. The 13th Black Crusade was fluff enough. I've got a traitor IG auxiliary, no fluff yet.

I got background for my IG (see sig. for regiment's name)

featuring I'm writing an entire codex for my marines, yes, I have an ungodly amount of fluff for them, mostly due to the loads of ideas that I have thrown in the garbage. But the cool thing about writing my own codex is that I get to determine how my forces will behave on the table. Not to say that I seek to make them OP but that they have a definite feel to the army.

cheers-
ThatIrishGuy

dalsiandon wrote:Alright as novice I have a further question near this matter, with Terminators, they are said to always be in the first company because they are the True Veterans or something like that, so if I wanted there to be Terminators in the 3rd company would that ruffle feathers among Codex purists? Here's my reasoning, the IF is a "Siege" style force and the terminators can bring some seriously heavy weapons to bear could the IF not be organized a hair different than the Ultramarines who are not Siege specialists and allow some of thier most powerful and venerated soldiers to fight through the chapters many combat companies to bolster this mentality?

As i said before a persons list is usually made of a battle company with support from the 1st (veterans and veterans in terminator armour) and the 10th company (scouts).

Official fluff says that as terminator armour is rare only the 1st company of a chapter and its HQ (captains of the battle companies have all been part of the 1st company at some time) are trained in the use of terminator armour, so any terminator squads in an army are 1st company veterans.


As for my army fluff, i have a pre-excommunication relictors force (still deciding how to move they on time wise).

I have full length backgrounds for my Tau, Space Marines, Orks, Chaos Marines, Eldar and Space Wolves.

My Tau opperate on a volcanic world used for mining and as a research station by the Earth Caste and so have environment specific gear and adaptations (this includes adaptations to vehicles, battlesuits and kroot). They have dark brown undersuits like a blacksmiths apron, dark red armor and reflective yellow sept markins like a fire mans suit.

My Space Marines are the Angels Requiem. They're a successor chapter of the Blood Angels (I don't use the BA codex) who believe that the visions they recieve are punishment for past sins (namely the death of Sanguinious) and so are highly pious believing that they may only absolve themselves through death in combat. They carry censors into battle and have white marble like armor.

My Orks are lead by Warboss Imbad Ironskull, his Waaagh invaded a Forge World and he became obsessed with bioniks after repeatidly trying to kill a mostly mechanical techpriest. He's now a cybork as is most of his force. They're called the Scrappa Waaagh because they're obsessed with scraping everything to use for bioniks. They wear clothing that's covered on soot and grease and rusted worn out gear.

My Chaos Marines are the Blood Forged. They are led by a Iron Hands captain whose bionics where possessed by a daemonic virus of Khorne. He turned or killed the rest of his company and led them into the Eye of Terror. His followers sacrifice their own body parts to khorne and replace them with bionics. The Captain eventually fought his way to the Forge of Souls where he was made into a daemonic killing machine. They have red armor

My Eldar have a Norse theme and their craftworld symbol is the Yggdrasil. Their craftworld crash landed on a winter locked exodite world that for some reason was abandoned but the worlds infinity circiut was very strong with the main hub being located underneath a underneath huge wraithbone tree. Their colors are an icey steel blue.

My Space Wolves are led by a Wolf Lord named Hrafn The Grim and are cursed by a prophesy that they will never join Russ at the Wolf Time and are constantly seeking a way to find the source of the curse and remove the curse it allowing themselves and those of the company who have already fallen to join Russ.

Warboss Imbad Ironskull wrote:I have full length backgrounds for my Tau, Space Marines, Orks, Chaos Marines, Eldar and Space Wolves.

My Tau opperate on a volcanic world used for mining and as a research station by the Earth Caste and so have environment specific gear and adaptations (this includes adaptations to vehicles, battlesuits and kroot). They have dark brown undersuits like a blacksmiths apron, dark red armor and reflective yellow sept markins like a fire mans suit.

My Space Marines are the Angels Requiem. They're a successor chapter of the Blood Angels (I don't use the BA codex) who believe that the visions they recieve are punishment for past sins (namely the death of Sanguinious) and so are highly pious believing that they may only absolve themselves through death in combat. They carry censors into battle and have white marble like armor.

My Orks are lead by Warboss Imbad Ironskull, his Waaagh invaded a Forge World and he became obsessed with bioniks after repeatidly trying to kill a mostly mechanical techpriest. He's now a cybork as is most of his force. They're called the Scrappa Waaagh because they're obsessed with scraping everything to use for bioniks. They wear clothing that's covered on soot and grease and rusted worn out gear.

My Chaos Marines are the Blood Forged. They are led by a Iron Hands captain whose bionics where possessed by a daemonic virus of Khorne. He turned or killed the rest of his company and led them into the Eye of Terror. His followers sacrifice their own body parts to khorne and replace them with bionics. The Captain eventually fought his way to the Forge of Souls where he was made into a daemonic killing machine. They have red armor

My Eldar have a Norse theme and their craftworld symbol is the Yggdrasil. Their craftworld crash landed on a winter locked exodite world that for some reason was abandoned but the worlds infinity circiut was very strong with the main hub being located underneath a underneath huge wraithbone tree. Their colors are an icey steel blue.

My Space Wolves are led by a Wolf Lord named Hrafn The Grim and are cursed by a prophesy that they will never join Russ at the Wolf Time and are constantly seeking a way to find the source of the curse and remove the curse it allowing themselves and those of the company who have already fallen to join Russ.

Thats cool. You have this well thought out I see. Very nice

Cryonicleech wrote:Absolutely. I'm working on an DiY Eldar craftworld and SM renegade (not chaotic, renegade, like the Soul Drinkers) chapter.

I try to give my armies themes as well, shooty, close quarters, melee, etc.

However, I don't make "fluffy" lists in the sense that the list cannot preform at least decently in the current 40k meta.

Sould Drinkers FTFW. I have three chapters: Soul Drinkers, Iron Knights, and The Crimson War Spears (who were once members of the Crimson Fists but left them to fight with the Soul Drinkers) The Iron Knights don't really fit into my background but they're fun to paint.

Yep. I do its called the Wanderers Chapter, The Dusk guard and the Storm Crusaders
they are good.

I would not write a background for my army any more then I would for my toothbrush.

The great toothbrushes, allies of the listerines!

Mr Nobody wrote:The great toothbrushes, allies of the listerines!

Lolz OK I just wrote some fluff for my toothbrush (Mr brushy) Mr Brushy comes from a heavily populated hive word in the secondus sector. The population of this hive world are renowned for there outstanding levels of oral hygiene and use of brush a floss tactics.

Jubear wrote:

Mr Nobody wrote:The great toothbrushes, allies of the listerines!

Lolz OK I just wrote some fluff for my toothbrush (Mr brushy) Mr Brushy comes from a heavily populated hive word in the secondus sector. The population of this hive world are renowned for there outstanding levels of oral hygiene and use of brush a floss tactics.

THATS BETTER THEN SOME BLACK LIBRARY STUFF!

Happygrunt wrote:

Jubear wrote:

Mr Nobody wrote:The great toothbrushes, allies of the listerines!

Lolz OK I just wrote some fluff for my toothbrush (Mr brushy) Mr Brushy comes from a heavily populated hive word in the secondus sector. The population of this hive world are renowned for there outstanding levels of oral hygiene and use of brush a floss tactics.

THATS BETTER THEN SOME BLACK LIBRARY STUFF!

lol yeah black library is a bit hit or miss but when they get it right its pure win

Mr Nobody wrote:The great toothbrushes, allies of the listerines!

I bet that chapter is in rainbow bright colors with their servitors and support all in teal blue.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Jubear wrote:I would not write a background for my army any more then I would for my toothbrush.

Thats fair, but it would appear others would have begun one for you if you hadn't stepped in.

For me, it's not that I'm only slightly interested in fluff, but that only certain aspects of the application of fluff appeal to me. I like painting and modeling within fluffily justifiable bounds. I'm more concerned with having a cool and functional, if not overly powerful army, so I build within the scope of fluff and aesthetics as much as I do for playability. What I don't care about is detailed background. I don't need to write some hackneyed just to feel like my armies are special and I lack the breadth of knowledge (and desire) necessary to flesh out a cohesive fluff entry like one might find in a codex.

It's rather difficult, therefore, to say whether my armies have a background or not. I picked a named but barely mentioned chapter for my marines (Angels Porphyr), simply because I liked the color scheme and could run them however I liked without conflicting with extant fluff (as opposed to the nearly identical looking but far better known Eagle Warriors). My orks are being painted in various clan schemes, as appropriate to their unit type, to represent a diverse force united under one warboss in a grand WAAAGH! The boss (and his WAAAGH!) are unnamed, as of yet, because the details are less important to me than maintaining the ability to fall seamlessly into the 40K universe.

dalsiandon wrote:

Warboss Imbad Ironskull wrote:I have full length backgrounds for my Tau, Space Marines, Orks, Chaos Marines, Eldar and Space Wolves.

My Tau opperate on a volcanic world used for mining and as a research station by the Earth Caste and so have environment specific gear and adaptations (this includes adaptations to vehicles, battlesuits and kroot). They have dark brown undersuits like a blacksmiths apron, dark red armor and reflective yellow sept markins like a fire mans suit.

My Space Marines are the Angels Requiem. They're a successor chapter of the Blood Angels (I don't use the BA codex) who believe that the visions they recieve are punishment for past sins (namely the death of Sanguinious) and so are highly pious believing that they may only absolve themselves through death in combat. They carry censors into battle and have white marble like armor.

My Orks are lead by Warboss Imbad Ironskull, his Waaagh invaded a Forge World and he became obsessed with bioniks after repeatidly trying to kill a mostly mechanical techpriest. He's now a cybork as is most of his force. They're called the Scrappa Waaagh because they're obsessed with scraping everything to use for bioniks. They wear clothing that's covered on soot and grease and rusted worn out gear.

My Chaos Marines are the Blood Forged. They are led by a Iron Hands captain whose bionics where possessed by a daemonic virus of Khorne. He turned or killed the rest of his company and led them into the Eye of Terror. His followers sacrifice their own body parts to khorne and replace them with bionics. The Captain eventually fought his way to the Forge of Souls where he was made into a daemonic killing machine. They have red armor

My Eldar have a Norse theme and their craftworld symbol is the Yggdrasil. Their craftworld crash landed on a winter locked exodite world that for some reason was abandoned but the worlds infinity circiut was very strong with the main hub being located underneath a underneath huge wraithbone tree. Their colors are an icey steel blue.

My Space Wolves are led by a Wolf Lord named Hrafn The Grim and are cursed by a prophesy that they will never join Russ at the Wolf Time and are constantly seeking a way to find the source of the curse and remove the curse it allowing themselves and those of the company who have already fallen to join Russ.

Thats cool. You have this well thought out I see. Very nice

Fluff and modeling are my main reasons for playing the game. And these are only brief details of armies that I currently own as I've had most of these in differant reincarnations or other armies I don't currently own but have owned before. I usually include things such as famous battles, enemies, character bios, locations and histories that fit within the established fluff in my armies.

My Tyranids don't really have any custom background, their bugs.

although my Kroot do, and once I overhaul them they will be playable again.

Kindred of the Shadowed Veil.

The were contracted out to the Dark Eldar during one of their campaigns in real space. Dark Eldar being who they are had no intentions of keeping their contract enslaved the kindred and forced them into their slave pits for their arena combat. after a period of time the kroot became a popular opponent due to the gruesome way the finished their opponents, (eating them alive). after a span of time they managed to win the favor of a up and coming lordling who recruited them as a Elite Guard for himself.

that is the bare basics of my background for them. I have it all written out neatly somewhere I just need to find it again. its been a few years.




Automatically Appended Next Post:

Warboss Imbad Ironskull wrote:

My Eldar have a Norse theme and their craftworld symbol is the Yggdrasil. Their craftworld crash landed on a winter locked exodite world that for some reason was abandoned but the worlds infinity circiut was very strong with the main hub being located underneath a underneath huge wraithbone tree. Their colors are an icey steel blue.

in case you weren't aware, Most craftworlds are the size of small moons. I only mention this because some Fluffdick will probably try and give you hell for it.