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A general question eh?

Is there a distilled Codex Astartes anywhere? My questions are concerning Space Marine tactics, and they seem to vary given what chapter is being discussed at the time.

How is the name of a chapter decided?

Frankenberry wrote:A general question eh?

Is there a distilled Codex Astartes anywhere? My questions are concerning Space Marine tactics, and they seem to vary given what chapter is being discussed at the time.

How is the name of a chapter decided?

The space marine chapter name genarator.
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/liber/CantinaChapterCreator.html

Awesome tool Stormlord. Thanks for posting that up.

So, odd question, do Devestators get to pick their weapons, or are they assigned?

Assigned. Only veterans pick weaponry.

Are you basing that statement on something you've read, or just reasoned judgement? I don't see anything in the current codex which says one way or another. It says that each member of the squad is expected to know how to use all of them, but indicates that squads will have 'favored loadouts' which seems to indicate that they have some choice in the matter.

This is a quote from the blood angels codex.
"unlike other troops, veterans are permitted to select there own weaponry, rather than have it thrust upon them by tradition or doctrine."
It might be different for other chapters.

In the Salamanders books I have read the choice of weapons for Devastators is very personal, given that they usually make and enhance their own.

Might just be that way for BA then.

They likely choose their load-out based on mission, although in the very early versions, heavy weapons marines had a symbol for the weapon they carried painted in the front corner of their pauldron.

AegisGrimm wrote:They likely choose their load-out based on mission, although in the very early versions, heavy weapons marines had a symbol for the weapon they carried painted in the front corner of their pauldron.

Yeah, I think it is on a per mission basis, with vets having accept to rarer weapons (like plasma cannons).

nurgl wrote:I still giggle when i hear Space Sharks...
But that makes me wonder, what other funny sounding chapters are there?

I'll be sure to let your Deathwatch Watch Fortess Commander, Master Mako of the Space Sharks, know you find his glorious chapter's name funny, Erik Firemaw

The Mad Tanker wrote:
I'll be sure to let your Deathwatch Watch Fortess Commander, Master Mako of the Space Sharks, know you find his glorious chapter's name funny, Erik Firemaw

But as GM you can't interact with your own characters.

How much inter-organization beef exists in the Deathwatch? Do they go out of their way to keep from pairing up Marines with rivalry issues? Or is it just one of those things that kind of gets glossed over?

Well, they don't put Black Templars with Librarians, other than that I don't think they worry too much.

Okay, so here's a question: if and when Space Marines return to their Chapter of origin from service with the Deathwatch, do they wear any kind of marking to show that they did a "tour with the Inquisition" so to speak? I know I got an Inquisitorial shoulderpad with my Space Marine Commander box, but I didn't exactly know what it was for.

I remember reading somewhere that after returning from a tour in the Deathwatch, said Marine does get some sort of modification done to his armor to reflect his time in the unit.

Shoulder pad does sound right, but it could be something like a Crux Terminatus or purity seal.

I don't have the quote in front of me but I think the Ultramarine omnibus referenced Uriel having spent time in the deathwatch, and it might have a line about whether or not he still wore the deathwatch shoulder guard. Since they keep one shoulder in Chapter colors, it would make sense that they could keep the Inquisitorial guard on the other side after they return to their Chapter.

Uriel Ventris and Pasanius did temporarily join the Deathwatch to attack the last Norn Queen of the portion of Hive Fleet Leviathan that was attacking Tarsis Ultra, leaving the planet in defiance of their orders, which leads to their exile and Death Oath quest. I haven't read the latest Ultramarine book, but since his Deathwatch service dishonored him, I doubt he wears a shoulder pad bearing the Deathwatch symbol.

When a marine joins the Deathwatch they paint their armor entirely black EXCEPT for one shoulder pad, which is what you all might be remembering. Of course, upon exiting service they might do the reverse, but I haven't read anything that says they do that.

Obrek wrote:Uriel Ventris and Pasanius did temporarily join the Deathwatch to attack the last Norn Queen of the portion of Hive Fleet Leviathan that was attacking Tarsis Ultra, leaving the planet in defiance of their orders, which leads to their exile and Death Oath quest. I haven't read the latest Ultramarine book, but since his Deathwatch service dishonored him, I doubt he wears a shoulder pad bearing the Deathwatch symbol.

When a marine joins the Deathwatch they paint their armor entirely black EXCEPT for one shoulder pad, which is what you all might be remembering. Of course, upon exiting service they might do the reverse, but I haven't read anything that says they do that.

It wasn't their service in the Deathwatch it was that they abandoned the rest of the Company...
Incidentally Pasanius didn't technically join the Deathwatch, only Uriel did...

"Leaving the planet in defiance of their orders..." was the important part of my text.

And the second part is just nitpicking

Is there any switching between "paths" so to speak. Could say, a person recruited to the Apothecarium be taken in by the Chaplaincy instead?

Obrek wrote:"Leaving the planet in defiance of their orders..." was the important part of my text.

And the second part is just nitpicking

Nitpicking is my thing
That and a beautiful rainbow of curse words...
Caonsidering Uriel was simply given the order to protect Tarsis Ultra and no further one i don't think it is in defiance of his orders.
Now if Calgar had said 'Captain Uriel, go to Tarsis Ultra and defend it but at not point are you to leave your company whatsoever even if you can save the planet, your company and the lives of several regiments of Imperial Guard'
Yeah, that would have been breaking his orders...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

TheAngrySquig wrote:Is there any switching between "paths" so to speak. Could say, a person recruited to the Apothecarium be taken in by the Chaplaincy instead?

I don't think so...
Unless it's under exceptional circumstances...

My guess would be "barring the sudden manifestation of psychic powers, no," Angrysquig. I think that all psykers have to go be Librarians, regardless of what they were doing beforehand.