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So, let's say that the Chaos Gods finally figure out that Abaddon isnj't worth the armor he wears as a leader and frag him.

How do you think would take up the mantle of Warmaster?

Huron has the best credentials for it. Good question though.

Kharn if he stops killing all his followers for a second. But he won't.

What the hell is Eliphas doing on that list? He can't even win a single battle, let alone a campaign. Hell Chaos even HAS fragged him for being a failure.

Honestly looking at this list makes me appreciate Abaddon's background. He is one of few that can muster the traitor legions (what's left), stays undivided, and has been in it to win it since the beginning. I think Honsou is awesome but warmaster might be a bit of a stretch. Huron is probably a decent choice but I don't think the legion warbands would listen to him. If Eliphas was made warmaster I'm sure chaos would cease to be a threat immediately, as Wyzilla said he is very incompetent.

I don't think there would be another, I don't think any of those quite rival Abaddon in many ways. Sure they are all competent in what they do but they are all to caught up in their own agendas to be a good leader. Abaddons goal is one that all of the traitors and renegades can relate to and unite under.

If Abaddon snuffed it the barely contained hatred amongst the legions and warbands would finally come to a point and the allegiances would break. Abaddon is the lynchpin, him having the favour of all the Gods is a big deal.

I couldn't imagine any other Astartes being able to control all Chaos Powers in one Legion like he does. The Word Bearers might, since their fluff changed in the Codex and don't seem to be Undivided, but they don't have characters like Abaddon.

I say Abaddon's last failure draws Lorgar out of retirement. He'd be the one to actually get s%#t done.

Erebus would never become Warmaster. He doesn't want to nor would he even if given the offer. It would put him in the spotlight, and make him a target for everyone with an agenda. He knows that. Plus he doesn't have the charisma to win over loyalty. You can have the most evil and powerful of forces, but you still won't get far with it if your allies aren't devoted to your cause. Abaddon has the loyalty of a large portion of the traitor legions. Erebus doesn't have the ability to command that amount of loyalty. He's a good preacher, he can convert people to the cause, but it means nothing if he doesn't have bait i.e Lorgar, Horus Lupercal, Chaos Undivided, or Abaddon.

That said, I don't believe any of the characters listed above can become Warmaster without some sort of massive game changing asset.

I voted Typhus but instantly regretted it, as he is a mono-god followerer, so wouldn't make a viable choice.
To be honest it is a tough one. It would have to be someone who is undivided, and has a bit of influence.

I went with Erebus because he was involved in the Horus Heresy from the very beginning. Most of the others on the list are too specific to one Chaos god (Ahriman, Kharn, Typhus) or too busy doing their own thing (Fabius Bile... not that the others would follow him). I like Huron's background but he's had zero involvement in the Black Crusades so far. It'd be really random for him to become the leader of the cause now. Plus he's only a recent convert to Chaos so it wouldn't be as personal for him (no 10,000 year grudge). Also, I actually like Eliphas but he should probably stick to the Dawn of War series.

And yea, Erebus in his current form probably isn't all that impressive but I imagine with the backing of all four gods he could become something altogether different, in the same way that Luther was able to fight the Lion.

The problem with Erebus is he is more a behind the scenes guy. He seems to do his best work when using another, more prominent figure-head as his little puppet. Stepping out and explicitly leading an entire movement does not fit his modus operandi.

The Alpha Legion tried to put Azariah Kyras into power during Dawn of War Retribution, but Abaddon swiftly put Eliphas on the case to stop that.

My money's on the big red Pirate, Huron Blackheart.

Huron Blackheart is probably the #1 candidate for the job. However, I'd love to see someon like Honsou get the job... on the other hand, Shon'tu would be pretty legit as if I remember correctly, he has been apart of/planned 3 attempts at attacking Terra. Round 1: Horus Heresy siege of Terra which he was a part of; Round 2: By far the most clever attempt, Shon'tu either hijacked a space Hulk filled with genestealers or a Nid bioship which he then configured... either way, using an Navigator, he attempted to reach Terra via warp jump and it was only because of Navigator's last act of defiance by taking the ship off course that he didn't make it - but he still got to kill the Imperial Fist's Chapter Master; Round 3: currently trying to commandeer the Phalanx - with which to bombard Terra, ongoing battle as of the 13th Black Crusade. Also allied with Be'lakor.

Lorgar seems like he would be the best choice, since he has had loads of experience leading armies against the Imperium and corrupting his fellows, and is also given the natural gifts of charisma, strength, etc. that being a Primarch gives him. On top of that, he is also a follower of Chaos Undivided, not any particular Chaos God.

Lorgar. Always and forever.

None. The idea of Chaos having a (relatively) permanent Warmaster is silly.

Part of the initial appeal of Chaos is anyone can use it to achieve great power, only to have it stripped away at first failure, be stabbed in the back by that underling they kicked in the face last week who wants the job, or just be mutated into a gibbering monstrosity on the whim of a capricious Chaos god.

It should be a position that's in constant flux.

graywater wrote:
The problem with Erebus is he is more a behind the scenes guy. He seems to do his best work when using another, more prominent figure-head as his little puppet. Stepping out and explicitly leading an entire movement does not fit his modus operandi.

Yea, I agree. I was just choosing from the list. He would make more sense than Huron though. That guy has no connection to the Eye of Terror.

 Coldstream wrote:
None. The idea of Chaos having a (relatively) permanent Warmaster is silly.

Part of the initial appeal of Chaos is anyone can use it to achieve great power, only to have it stripped away at first failure, be stabbed in the back by that underling they kicked in the face last week who wants the job, or just be mutated into a gibbering monstrosity on the whim of a capricious Chaos god.

It should be a position that's in constant flux.

I'd prefer it like that as well but then they wouldn't have any Abaddon figures to sell. The 10,000 year grudge thing is kinda cool though.

 Coldstream wrote:
None. The idea of Chaos having a (relatively) permanent Warmaster is silly.

Part of the initial appeal of Chaos is anyone can use it to achieve great power, only to have it stripped away at first failure, be stabbed in the back by that underling they kicked in the face last week who wants the job, or just be mutated into a gibbering monstrosity on the whim of a capricious Chaos god.

It should be a position that's in constant flux.

While I agree to a point, I like that it is mostly like this, but those who have earned the most favour and respect can rally more to their cause. Anyone can achieve it, and Abaddon has.. If that makes sense.

I don't see any options on this list with the ability to demand respect from all the different factions and warbands.

I think it would end up being someone like Marneus Calgar, fallen to Chaos but with the will to lead. Or Cypher, bent on leading the Chaos forces to an ultimate conclusion of the Great War.

Although clearly the best choice, I just don't see Ahriman being interested in being warmaster. He has his own agenda. Bringing about the destruction of the IoM is not his top priority.

The answer is without a doubt M'kar! With his ascension to head of the Chaos Warband, the status quo will finally be at rest with Chaos as moustache twirling simpletons akin to Pinky and the Brain in success rate and approach, and allow the Imperium to focus on ACTUAL threats like Tyranids or Necrons.

I feel Huron and Typhus would be the most capable Warmasters. Most of the others lack either the achievements, leadership abilities or ambition to overthrow the Imperium that the position requires.
Of the two, Huron would probably be the better choice because he can represent Chaos Undivided better than Typhus, who serves Nurgle. The only problem with Huron is that his only real accomplishment so far has been his defeat in the Badab War and his raids on Imperial shipping. Typhus is undoubtedly more capable (as well as more powerful in combat), but he may lack the ambition Huron has.

There is no Chaos Space Marine, Heretic, or Renegade more fitting for the title and position of Warmaster than the one currently holding the position. Abaddon has over 10,000 years of experience fighting and leading troops (if you count his pre-heresy days), has launched 12 successful Black Crusades (each one being designed for a specific task and NOT simply to overrun the Imperium), has an active goal in mind, the loyalty of countless followers, the blessings of all four chaos gods, and the skills to back it up. Every other choice is either too bent on their own goals, lacks the blessings of the gods, not experienced enough, or would simply fall the moment the Big D swings his sword. No singular figure has put more fear into the hearts of the Imperium at large than Abaddon, and for good reason. Yes he hasn't destroyed the entire Imperium, but considering how much damage those under him have done in the past ten thousand years, he doesn't need to. IF he were to be removed as Warmaster, the Chaos Legions would crumble and on the whole, while still posing small isolated threats, they would lack the driving force to make the Imperium quiver in its boots.

Lol at the guys thinking any self respecting Veteran of the Long War would follow a half-breed or a newborn like Huron, I'm referring to leaders of course.

There are probably hundreds of warlords who swear to Abaddon who would be ahead in the line than the 200 year renegade, overglorified pirate that is Huron Blackheart.

Yeah I honestly don't know why so many think Huron would be followed. The next war master would probably some Daemon Prince trying to further his cause somehow. Be'lakor would be a cool choice even though he was never a Space Marine.

There are those out there that won't follow Daemons/Princes either. Abaddon, corrupted as he is, is still Astartes.

 Iron_Captain wrote:
I feel Huron and Typhus would be the most capable Warmasters. Most of the others lack either the achievements, leadership abilities or ambition to overthrow the Imperium that the position requires.
Of the two, Huron would probably be the better choice because he can represent Chaos Undivided better than Typhus, who serves Nurgle. The only problem with Huron is that his only real accomplishment so far has been his defeat in the Badab War and his raids on Imperial shipping. Typhus is undoubtedly more capable (as well as more powerful in combat), but he may lack the ambition Huron has.

Typhus is a Nurgle followerer though, he undoubtably would be able to rally the forces of Nurgle, though rallying the rest wouldn't work.
Another solution would be a war council, rather than a master. Such as Typbus rallies Nurgle, Kharn/Kranon rallies Khorne, Ahriman rallies Tzeench and the Slanesh followers continue partying and doing cocaine.

 Rippy wrote:

 Iron_Captain wrote:
I feel Huron and Typhus would be the most capable Warmasters. Most of the others lack either the achievements, leadership abilities or ambition to overthrow the Imperium that the position requires.
Of the two, Huron would probably be the better choice because he can represent Chaos Undivided better than Typhus, who serves Nurgle. The only problem with Huron is that his only real accomplishment so far has been his defeat in the Badab War and his raids on Imperial shipping. Typhus is undoubtedly more capable (as well as more powerful in combat), but he may lack the ambition Huron has.

Typhus is a Nurgle followerer though, he undoubtably would be able to rally the forces of Nurgle, though rallying the rest wouldn't work.
Another solution would be a war council, rather than a master. Such as Typbus rallies Nurgle, Kharn/Kranon rallies Khorne, Ahriman rallies Tzeench and the Slanesh followers continue partying and doing cocaine.

So thats where the afterparty is...

The war council is a cool idea, and probably the most realistic because of the lack of any single figurehead that could unify all the forces of Chaos.