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Hey everybody,

I've got some really newbish questions about color schemes.

How strict are the rules regarding color schemes for Space Marine Chapters? I'm a longtime WM/H player, and in that game, you can paint your armies whatever color you like and your opponent will still know what/who they are. But in 40K, it seems like Space Marine chapters are decided by color scheme. Is this correct? Also -- how much can you deviate from your specific chapter's scheme before it might confuse your opponent. For example, some chapters (like Dark Angels and Salamanders) look pretty similar. If I take too many artistic liberties when painting and a model starts to look like something from another chapter, will that upset my opponent or making my model ineligible? Also, do different chapters follow different rules (i.e. do Ultramarines have different rules than Imperial Fists or Blood Angels, or whatever)? Do two or more chapters ever fight together (on the same side)?

Sorry for all these beginner questions. I'm just trying to get these things sorted out before I start slapping paint on these models!

Thanks!
Andrew

This is not where it needs to be.

Ah!! I really meant to put this in the General Discussion! Sorry guys!!!!!

Can a mod move this over there?? thank you!!

Well Ultramarines use a different codex from the blood Angels and their successors. But if you are using the normal marine codex then all of thae Chapters in there, Ultramarines, Salamanders White Scars and the rest like the Imperial Fists use the same rules. Honestly if you want to keep it as that chapter paint it like that but small deviation makes no difference not everyones Ultramarines are the same exact shade of blue. or if you want make your own Chpater and paint it however you want.

You can paint it any way you like. Blood Angels played as Dark Angels might look a bit strange, but there's nothing wrong with it.

AlmightyWalrus wrote:You can paint it any way you like. Blood Angels played as Dark Angels might look a bit strange, but there's nothing wrong with it.

Not everybody thinks there's nothing wrong with using Blood Angels as Dark Angels. I'd be reluctant to play someone doing that.

They're your plastic men, not your opponents. Paint them whatever colour you want to.

While some people might have an issue with you playing the Blood Angels codex with actual Dark Angel models (ie Space Marines with robes and Dark Angles insignia) painted as Dark Angels, it really doesn't matter.

As long as it's easy to tell what is what, paint your dudes whatever colour you want and use the book you want to use. If people have a problem with it and point blank refuse to play you without even asking for any explanations, they're not worth playing against anyway.

Just consider this though; if you really like a chapter that has it's own codex or really belongs in the vanilla codex then stick to that codex.. if you don't you're just picking a different codex because it's probably stronger... But yeah make your own chapter if you like! paint them pink with purple and say they're a successor to the space wolves or something. Stick to a codex chapter and it's codex or go all-out crazy and make up something of your own. A lot of players seem to have problems with anything inbetween

SchnauzerFace wrote:How strict are the rules regarding color schemes for Space Marine Chapters? I'm a longtime WM/H player, and in that game, you can paint your armies whatever color you like and your opponent will still know what/who they are. But in 40K, it seems like Space Marine chapters are decided by color scheme.

To be honest, the vast majority of 40k armies are like this. It's just that Marines all wear very similar power armour so it can get a bit confusing. However, they have other signifier as well. For example, Dark Angels aren't just signified by 'green'. They also have robes, sword Icons, differently coloured terminators, etc. Space Wolves wear pelts, look feral, have animals all over them, etc.

You can, of course, paint your models however you like - the general rule to avoid annoying anyone is 'make it obvious to your opponent what you're playing'. This can be easily done using all these modelling signifiers.

For example, if you want to field regular, normal Marines, and paint them green, then great. Do it. But if you paint them green, dress them in robes, give them Dark Angels symbols etc, then you might confuse your opponent into thinking they were Dark Angels.

If you want to play Dark Angels, but you want to be a blue-painted successor chapter, well that's fine too. But you might want to put some robes or DA symbols or something on them so that you don't make your opponent think they're Ultramarines.

You can do whatever you want, and the fluff is very open ended for that reason, but it's always good to make sure that your models look like what they're meant to represent...