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I've just recently joined Dakka for this exact reason; I need to know more on the organization of the space marine chapters. These question are probably really nooby but they are some things i need to know for making fluff for my chapter. Gotta get the Founding down...

What is a Codex Chapter? Are any other types of chapter permitted? If so then what are they?

Must all chapters consist of 10 Companies or can there be like 1 or 2 more?

Must all chapters have their gene-seed from a primarch or can it be from a highly exalted space marine like the Ultramarine's chapter master?

Can the gene-seed be from more than one primarch or will it risk mutation like a five-armed creature with 3 1/2 eyes.

1. A Codex Chapter is a Chapter that follows the Doctrines laid down in the Codex Astartes, composed by the Primarch of the Ultramarines. Non Codex Chapters are Chapters that do not follow the Codex Astartes (Though some may in part follow the codex, but not entirely, just the bits that work for them)

2. There is sometimes so minor variation in composition and size of Companies, but Codex Chapters tend to stick close to it and it's usually the Non Codex Chapters that vary wildly.

3. In a way, all geneseed is connected to a primarch, and it's usually reffered to as the chapters geneseed rather than the primarchs, so yes, in 3rd Foundings onwards, A veteran of a chapter would depart from the chapter to set up a new Chapter, taking along some geneseed and perhaps some veteran brothers, and possibly requesting the appropriate geneseed from the Mechanicum.

4. Geneseed (aka Progenoid Organs) doesn't work like that, while a *chapter* could contain geneseed from multiple sources (say Ultramarines and Imperial Fists) The Geneseed in a single marine is from a single source, So Marine A could have an Ultramarine Geneseed, and Marine B could have a Imperial Fist Geneseed, Marine C could not have a Ultramarine and Imperial Fist geneseed within him. While there has been attempts as manipulating geneseed (a single one rather than blending one or more together) this usually fails and causes mutation, that's the one thing most loyal marines fear, their geneseed ending up mutating.

1. A codex chapter is a chapter that follows the Codex Astartes eg Ultramarines and yes none codex chapters are aloud.

2. A chapter can follow the Codex Astartes closely (e.g Ultramarines), then can vary slightly (e.g Dark Angels, Ravenwing + Deathwing or Blood Angels, Death Company) or not follow it at all (e.g Space Wolves).

Hope this helps

Please, please, please make a 5 armed 3 1/2 eyed space marine!

Djinni234 wrote:I've just recently joined Dakka for this exact reason; I need to know more on the organization of the space marine chapters. These question are probably really nooby but they are some things i need to know for making fluff for my chapter. Gotta get the Founding down...

welcome.
The structure of a chapter can be found in the codex. ( codex SM = codex, codex :SW/DA/BA/BT = partially using the codex or ignoring it ),
also background material like Insignium astartes would provide that infaormation too.
Online this could help: http://www.lexicanum.com

Djinni234 wrote:
What is a Codex Chapter? Are any other types of chapter permitted? If so then what are they?

Codex chapter: A chapter using codex astartes as a guideline. Some adhere closely , others interprete the codex as a collection of suggestions.
Non-codex are: Space Wolves, Black Templars.

Djinni234 wrote:
Must all chapters consist of 10 Companies or can there be like 1 or 2 more?

Those takeing the codex seriously will consist of 10 companies. Those just accepting it as suggestions may follow the organisational structure of their heritage
( pre secound founding Legion ) , examples would be Dark-Angels, Blood Angels, Salamanders.
Non-codex chapters ( like SW and BT ) completly ignore the breakup into 10 companies.

Djinni234 wrote:
Must all chapters have their gene-seed from a primarch or can it be from a highly exalted space marine like the Ultramarine's chapter master?
Can the gene-seed be from more than one primarch or will it risk mutation like a five-armed creature with 3 1/2 eyes.

Geneseed is always based on the primarchs ( 20 sets ), but there are unknown sources ( Custodes, Grey knights ) too.
A mix of geneseeds may have been attempted by the adeptus biologis in later foundings since the fluff of the 21st founding hints on it.

Thanks for the feedback, it really cleared alot up for me.

And yes...A five armed 3 1/2 eyed space marine would be cool...

Thanks!

1hadhq wrote:

Djinni234 wrote:
Must all chapters have their gene-seed from a primarch or can it be from a highly exalted space marine like the Ultramarine's chapter master?
Can the gene-seed be from more than one primarch or will it risk mutation like a five-armed creature with 3 1/2 eyes.

Geneseed is always based on the primarchs ( 20 sets ), but there are unknown sources ( Custodes, Grey knights ) too.
A mix of geneseeds may have been attempted by the adeptus biologis in later foundings since the fluff of the 21st founding hints on it.

many chapters don't know who was used as their founder and geneseed goes through minor changes over the life of the chapter so a third founding chapter that used ultamarine geneseed will have very slightly different geneseed after a couple of thousand year (hopefully only minor changes) to the ultramarines stock, as geneseed takes on a part of each marine.

there are also examples of the geneseed of non-first founding chapters being used to found new chapters, astral claws was used to found 3 chapters.

also custodes probably don't use geneseed as the super human process is different to space marines.




a chapter could have fewer than 10 companies if battle losses have occured like the crimson fists.