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So as I am working on my background story for my CSM it occurs to me that I have no idea how CSM replenish their numbers.

So my question would be, is it plausible for CSM to recruit in a similar fashion to loyalist or are they stuck waiting for loyalist to turn to Chaos before they are back at fighting strength?

Sol Invictus wrote:So as I am working on my background story for my CSM it occurs to me that I have no idea how CSM replenish their numbers.

So my question would be, is it plausible for CSM to recruit in a similar fashion to loyalist or are they stuck waiting for loyalist to turn to Chaos before they are back at fighting strength?

IIRC CSM pull their recruits from slaves they've taken, and from other legions/warbands.

And random loyalist SM that are tempted into the Van by cookies and muffins...though they are not tempted by Megan Fox as much is they used to be....

Sol Invictus wrote:So as I am working on my background story for my CSM it occurs to me that I have no idea how CSM replenish their numbers.

So my question would be, is it plausible for CSM to recruit in a similar fashion to loyalist or are they stuck waiting for loyalist to turn to Chaos before they are back at fighting strength?

CSM cant recrut like loyal marines since their geneseed is too corrupted .

Its either wait for renegades to come or try to use sorcery like the IW did ( BL: dark sky black sun ) but none of both is a safe source and i think it would help greatly if GW finally got to accept we need more traitor guard/ cultists as main force of chaos instead of a dwindling number of old grumpy legionaires.

Additionally , CSM could have unending numbers in summoned demons or cultist meatshields so they dont need
to come in great numbers themselves.

Read Storm of Iron - answers your question, and a really good read...

Presumably they can recruit like loyalist Space Marines, see the background on the Red Corsairs in Codex: Chaos Space Marine where the Chief Apothecary adopts the title of "Corpsemaster", but will run into problems as their new-found critical reasoning skills start experimenting with the previously ritualized parameters of geneseed implantation. Plus the Chapters that are excommunicated for mutation in their geneseed will probably have a hard time of it as well, although sometimes those mutations are promoted or at least tolerated (see the Black Dragons Loyalist Chapter).

I would say a combination of recruiting from renegades, captives taken in raids on Imperial recruiting words (again, see Codex: Chaos Space Marines to see how the Alpha Legion dicked over some generic Chapter for their recruits of several generations), recruiting the services of someone like Fabius Bile, or simply head-hunting similar organizations like the Black Legion does.

Which reminds me, I've had this idea for a story about a Renegade recruiting expedition to a Hive World in mind for a few weeks now. Basically they come in on a civilian transport posing as Astartes dignitaries from a nearby Fortress Monastery, go downhive and discover a genestealer infestation. Do they defend their new recruiting grounds, or do they abandon the Imperial scum to their justly deserved fate? Ah, plotting...

Nurglitch wrote:Which reminds me, I've had this idea for a story about a Renegade recruiting expedition to a Hive World in mind for a few weeks now. Basically they come in on a civilian transport posing as Astartes dignitaries from a nearby Fortress Monastery, go downhive and discover a genestealer infestation. Do they defend their new recruiting grounds, or do they abandon the Imperial scum to their justly deserved fate? Ah, plotting...

Well are they Khorne worshippers? If so....MORE SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!!!!

Thanks for all the info guys. You've given me some good stuff to work with.

Nurglitch wrote:Red Corsairs

Isn't there a story in the BGB where Blackheart went and stole a bunch of fresh geneseed from a loyalist chapter?

But I figure most of their recruits are either turned to chaos from loyalists, recruited from other legions, or are actually cultists, but so hyped up on steroids they forget what they are doing they just shout "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD" all the time, and then they strap them into mean looking power armour (AKA: Khorne berserkers j/k)

Wasnt there a story in the old CSM codex,about some Chaos Choosen was walking or someting and came across two brothers that were fighting... and He choose the winner of the two...

I cant remember how that story went..

It basically comes down to, bar recruits from loyalist chapters that go renegade, Chaos uses loyalist geneseed and suitable cultists to make new marines. They'll capture stocks of it from loyalist frotresses and the Ad Mech, or if they win a fight there Apothacaries will extract it from downed loyalist marines. There's a story about it in one of omnibus books where an Apothacary realizes what they're after and manages to get the bulk of his chapter's lost geneseed off planet, but forgets one last source of it...his own.

Some of their own is probably usable too, if not enough to sustain them alone.