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I have the marines from the assualt on black reach left over after building my ork army. I'd like to use them for something other than sitting in a box. My friends already play BA so I wanted to use another chapter but after looking into the different chapters they all seem to limit you on what you can take. Except the custom chapters of course and from what I can tell the ultramarines.

I prefer to have the most options possible because I like to change up what I want to play based on what I feel like playing. I could just make a chapter but since Im new I'd rather have something that I can know what it should look like until I get more experience under my belt. Fortunately nobody in my location seems to play ultramarines so it should offer some verity.

So is there any other chapters that allow you to use all the models?

I am curious if I should wait to pick up the codex space marine or not. It's my understanding that 6th editions will be out later this year and that they redew the space marine codex for each edition. I've seen the rumors for BT and chaos but nothing about the regular dex. Is that because it always comes out and thus is not interesting or are they going to leave it as is. Am I safe to purchase the current Codex or will I be replacing it shortly if I do.

"Vanilla" marines are still viable but many of the chapter specific codices allow you to better focus on one particular aspect, rather than be more well rounded. Choosing which chapter to play largely is decided by 3 main factors:

1.) Fluff
2.) Rules
3.) Appearance

None of the Space Marine codices are particularly uncompetitive, but the three most common (and arguably most powerful) are definitely GK, SW, and BA. I'd suggest that you read a little fluff and check out some chapter specific models and see what jumps out at you. Marines can be tooled to fit into almost any play style.

Well, Codex: Space Marines lets you build an army from a huge number of chapters (including custom ones) and is packed with options. There's a ton of special characters that completely change the focus of your army, which let you have a lot of different flavor to your army. For instance, you could field an army with 6 dreadnoughts, or scoring Sternguard, elite Space Marine infantry. You could even have an all-biker army, an all-outflanking army, an army with master crafted flamers, meltas, and Thunder Hammers, or any number of other options. Honestly, I think Codex: Space Marines is one of the best codices in the game considering how many fluffy options you have. You could just play a completely vanilla Space Marine army too, which is still plenty of fun.

Honestly, the stuff in Black Reach will work for any Marine army. Even Black Templars use dudes with bolters, and Terminators and dreadnoughts are welcome anywhere. A captain with a big sword is just as universal. Rumor is that the Space Marine codex will get a new book after 6th edition this Summer. When 5th ed dropped in July of 2008, Space Marines got a codex in October. I remember because it came out for my birthday that year. You'd be safe enough, and even then old codices are fun to page through for their fluff and paint schemes and such.

More than 60% of the 1000 or so Chapters in 40K follow the Codex Astartes in a manner similar to the Ultramarines. You have a ton of Chapters you could pick without worrying about whether or not you can use all of the models.

I'd go through Codex: Space Marines or perhaps the Lexicanum's pictoral list and see if there is a paint scheme that strikes your fancy. http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Pictorial_List_of_Space_Marine_Chapters_A-L#.TuI0TdWHiSo

Just look for one that doesn't say "Angels" of something and you're probably safe that it's a Codex chapter, lol. But you can always read their individual Lexicanum entries to be sure.

I have read some of the fluff and I like the ultra's and DA but there somewhat outdated and ultras sound like I can't do much with them. I love space wolf but I don't want to get into an army were some of the key models are not represented by GW.

wowsmash wrote:I have read some of the fluff and I like the ultra's and DA but there somewhat outdated and ultras sound like I can't do much with them. I love space wolf but I don't want to get into an army were some of the key models are not represented by GW.

What can't you do with Ultramarines? Just because you're using Codex: Space Marines doesn't mean you have to play them as Ultramarines. The special characters give a LOT of options in that codex. As for Space Wolves, they're cool I guess. The only models not represented by GW are Thunderwolf Cavalry, but unless you're building a list around them it's kind of a non-issue.

Ultras would be my first choice I think but people make them sound useless compared to all the updated ones.

wowsmash wrote:Ultras would be my first choice I think but people make them sound useless compared to all the updated ones.

Some people are idiots.

If you want to play Ultramarines, play Ultramarines!

No bad codex only bad dice rolls.. Doesnt matter how super awesome badass of an army you play.. you will lose if the other player rolls better.

most of this game is fluff oriented and I don't want to play with a necron army or even grey nights because I do not like the fluff of those armies. I like nilla marines because of the fluff, i love super humans fighting against alien hordes with a god like attitude. I also play IG and nids because i love a real like military force and aliens that love to nom. plus all of the UC in the codex: sm can be given a different name and fluff but use the same rules, i know plenty of people who use lysander in their non imperial fist armies but give him a different name and back story because they like the bolter drill so you can mix and match all of the characters to which ever chapter you choose or make your own so dont feel like you have to play ultramarines to have calgar or sgt. telion you can be what ever you want

so if you like the fluff of a space marine chapter or you like the many options at your disposal for warfare i say why not play them