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Like the title says I was just wondering why the Ultramarines receive so much publicity?

In the background/universe, it's because according to Matt Ward every Space Marine secretly wants to be them. More rationally, they are probably the most recognizable face of the Astartes in the Imperium as they are the chapter of the famous Roboute Guilliman and also rule over their own successful mini-Empire

In terms of IRL, it's because GW chose to make them the vanilla Marines.

Indeed. I suppose I suspected that.

To bore sensible people to death?

They're just SO plain and they're EVERYWHERE. It gets old.

Because their Primarch written codex Astartes?
Because they have their own mini-empire?
Because they stopped two major Tyranid invasions ( other was stooped by Eldar but who cares )?

I'd argue that, if they weren't the poster boys (but otherwise identical), there wouldn't be nearly the problem with them.

They've got decent backstory, a neat greek feel, a good enough color scheme, enough background to run with. Nothing amazing, but hardly worth the derision (and adoration) they get as the poster boys.

spiralingcadaver wrote:I'd argue that, if they weren't the poster boys (but otherwise identical), there wouldn't be nearly the problem with them.

They've got decent backstory, a neat greek feel, a good enough color scheme, enough background to run with. Nothing amazing, but hardly worth the derision (and adoration) they get as the poster boys.

Sorry to nit pick, but they are more roman than greek.
But other than that, all good.

Huh, I thought the Blangles had a more Roman feel to them...

mrwhoop wrote:Huh, I thought the Blangles had a more Roman feel to them...

They do, but I think with them its more renaissance, what with all the gold and the angel iconography.

That said, the ultramarines do have some greek influence, such as the omega symbol, but it is primarily roman. For example the names - "Titus", "Marneus Calgar", Captain "Sicarius", are all clearly derived from Roman names, not to mention Sicarius's helmet



Compare that to a Roman Centurion's helmet



See the similarity?

Still feels more Greek. I suppose it's that their Primarch wrote the Codex Astartes like Plato or Socretes would philosphy. When I think Greek I remember the debates and theatre of 'what is right' or 'what is a soul'. The culture and city state/ everyone has a vote mentality. With Rome (and including their own absorbtion of Greek culture) it's more of the conquering/influencing empire. Which I admit thinking on it now has the "All roads lead to Rome/Ultramar" . In that I mean Ultra marine is the best marine and other marines want to emulate them.

Horrbile blender of Sci Fi is horrible blender...

It's best to think of the Ultramarines as a blend of the Greeks and Romans.

SMC wrote:Like the title says I was just wondering why the Ultramarines receive so much publicity?

It's actually very simple.

Back in the early-mid 90s, there were a "Big Four" of in-house Space Marine chapters. Blood Angels, Dark Angels, Space Wolves, and UItramarines. The Ultramarines were the only one that needed no additional explanation. If you know what a Marine is in real life, then you can imagine one 38000 years in the future and the Ultramarines look kinda like what you'd expect. Big Guys in Big Armor with Big Guns. No need to explain why they have long hair and fangs, no need to explain why they wear hoodie bathrobe, no need to explain why they have fangs and drink blood. GW needed a flagship chapter, and the Ultramarines fit the bill as easily marketable.

CthuluIsSpy wrote:

spiralingcadaver wrote:I'd argue that, if they weren't the poster boys (but otherwise identical), there wouldn't be nearly the problem with them.

They've got decent backstory, a neat greek feel, a good enough color scheme, enough background to run with. Nothing amazing, but hardly worth the derision (and adoration) they get as the poster boys.

Sorry to nit pick, but they are more roman than greek.
But other than that, all good.

Not at all. I actually appreciate when I'm corrected (as long as it's my facts and not my opinion).Thanks for the nitpick

"I know what you do, 'cause I do it to"

Harriticus wrote:In the background/universe, it's because according to Matt Ward every Space Marine secretly wants to be them.

Why would you just make up lies? The Ultramarines were around for 20 years before he had anything to do with them, and they were just as ubiquitous.

In universe: They control a quarter of the Imperium.
Out of universe: Something has to be the mascot.

Kanluwen wrote:It's best to think of the Ultramarines as a blend of the Greeks and Romans.

So, romans?

I completely get it. The other big three have what I can only describe as being touched by chaos. While the Ultra are free from it and did lay down the frame work for all sane, loyalist by writing the codex.

DarknessEternal wrote:

Harriticus wrote:In the background/universe, it's because according to Matt Ward every Space Marine secretly wants to be them.

Why would you just make up lies? The Ultramarines were around for 20 years before he had anything to do with them, and they were just as ubiquitous.

In universe: They control a quarter of the Imperium.
Out of universe: Something has to be the mascot.

They control eight systems, that' not a quarter of the Imperium.

They were the largest force of Space Marines left over from the Horus Heresy for starters. Roboute went on to write and institute the codex Astartes. They are still considered the most powerful SM Chapter (arguably the strongest Chapter Master and Librarian in all of the Imperium) and certainly seem the most well put together with no major flaws or links to heresy.

Gree wrote:
They control eight systems, that' not a quarter of the Imperium.

Well, they do in today's background. So it turns out that Ultramarines have even less influence now than they used to.

DarknessEternal wrote:

Gree wrote:
They control eight systems, that' not a quarter of the Imperium.

Well, they do in today's background. So it turns out that Ultramarines have even less influence now than they used to.

No they don’t. Not even in today’s background and not ever. Can you cite a statement from the flufft that the Ultramarines control a quarter of the Imperium? 250,000 worlds?

Veteran Sergeant wrote:

SMC wrote:Like the title says I was just wondering why the Ultramarines receive so much publicity?

It's actually very simple.

Back in the early-mid 90s, there were a "Big Four" of in-house Space Marine chapters. Blood Angels, Dark Angels, Space Wolves, and UItramarines. The Ultramarines were the only one that needed no additional explanation. If you know what a Marine is in real life, then you can imagine one 38000 years in the future and the Ultramarines look kinda like what you'd expect. Big Guys in Big Armor with Big Guns. No need to explain why they have long hair and fangs, no need to explain why they wear hoodie bathrobe, no need to explain why they have fangs and drink blood. GW needed a flagship chapter, and the Ultramarines fit the bill as easily marketable.

This is pretty thoughtful insight.

If you look at a map of the Imperium, you will note that the Segmentum Ultima, which is under the control of the Ultramarines Chapter, their Successor Chapters, and their non-Astartes vassals, is the entire eastern half of the Imperium.

Psienesis wrote:If you look at a map of the Imperium, you will note that the Segmentum Ultima, which is under the control of the Ultramarines Chapter, their Successor Chapters, and their non-Astartes vassals, is the entire eastern half of the Imperium.

Except the Segmentum Ultima is not under the control of the Ultramarines or their sucessors. They share in unfortunately similar name. But it is not under the control of the Ultramarines.

Because they were Loyal, an organized mini empire, one of the largest legions and generally kicked a lot of tail aside from writing the vaunted Codex Astartes.

Gree wrote:

DarknessEternal wrote:

Gree wrote:
They control eight systems, that' not a quarter of the Imperium.

Well, they do in today's background. So it turns out that Ultramarines have even less influence now than they used to.

No they don’t. Not even in today’s background and not ever. Can you cite a statement from the flufft that the Ultramarines control a quarter of the Imperium? 250,000 worlds?

Learn to read maybe? I was agreeing that they no longer do. The Ultramarines absolutely used to be in control of the entire Ultima Segmentum.

They are "Ultra"marines which makes them far more superior to those normal marines.

DarknessEternal wrote:

Gree wrote:

DarknessEternal wrote:

Gree wrote:
They control eight systems, that' not a quarter of the Imperium.

Well, they do in today's background. So it turns out that Ultramarines have even less influence now than they used to.

No they don’t. Not even in today’s background and not ever. Can you cite a statement from the flufft that the Ultramarines control a quarter of the Imperium? 250,000 worlds?

Learn to read maybe? I was agreeing that they no longer do. The Ultramarines absolutely used to be in control of the entire Ultima Segmentum.

No they never have. Can you cite an instance where they controlled the entire Ultima Segmentum at any point? Because no bit of fluff to my knowledge says they ever controlled the entire Ultimate Segmentum at any point in history