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So i'm getting back into 40k since leaving back in 4th edition. I'd doing an entire company, a descendant of the Ultramarines. This is the 8th company of the currently unselected Chapter, and was the Chapters 'Omega company', basically screwups, trouble makers, and such. They were 'temporarily' detached to assist an IG group, and never given resupply or orders to detach from the IG. This has lead to several problems: No resupply of expendable equipment such as Las weapons, heavy armor, Jump packs, etc. However, they do have access to supplies the local IG commander can spare, mostly personal arms, carapace armor (for scouts), and some vechicle grade weapons (bot not actual IG vehicles) On occasion the IG will detach some rear position troops to assist (such as mortars). This is one reason I've added Autocannons BACK into my space marine Company. Aside from that, the Company basically follows basic Astartes rules.

So this Company has been making do with a mix of Marine and IG weapons, an scrounging Space Marine parts whenever they can get them. I'll list my idea of what this fluff means in game terms:

No squad may take Las, Melta or Plasma weapons (with the exception of independent Characters)
No Jump packs, terminator squads, airborne vehicles (skimmers or fliers),Drop Pods, or bikes. Dreadnaughts ARE allowed.
The only vehicles allowed are rhinos (as dedicated transports). A razorback may be taken as transport for the captain and command squad, Or Landraider Crusader for Captain and Command squad in Terminator armor.
HQ choices may take Terminator Armor, including Chaplin, Librarian, Honor Guard, and Apothecary. (Command squad in Term. Armor is 250pts, and make take upgrades as both Terminator squads can)
A Tactical Squad of 10 men may take any 2 of the following for free: Heavy Bolter, Missile launcher, or Flamer (even 2 of the same)
A Devastator squad may take an Autocannon for 20 points (Same as Chaos Havocs)
One Command Squad Terminator may take a TL Autocannon (Reaper) for 25 points (Same as Chaos Terminators)
Command Squad Razorback may take TL Autocannon for 25 points
A Scout Squad may be taken for any unused Elite, Fast attack, or Heavy Support slot.

Also, several 'Unique' characters are going to have equivalent entries in my Company, just with new names (currently Shrike and Telion)

As stated earlier, this was the 8th Company, and were called 'Chapter 8' by the local IG after a few decades of the Company getting 'resupplied' by the IG. The commander of 8th Company, Captain Ouroboros, accepted the name, and has used it ever since. For those of you who don't know, 'Chapter 8' in military terms basically means crazy, and in civilian terms means poor. We got both here.

As for modeling, I'm doing models in various colors (currently each squad is basically one color), I have 1 Rhino for each tactical squad, and LR Crusaider for Command squad. Vehicles are painted with damage, and using several models (new and old Rhinos, some with conversions)

current Chapter (models owned)
5 (8 troops each) squads of tactical marines with Rhinos
2 squads (10 men each) of Assault marines with CCW with Rhinos
1 Squad of Sternguard Veterans (8 men) and Rhino
1 Squad (6 men) of Devastators and Rhino
3 squads of Scouts with Sniper Rifles (9 men each)
10 Heavy Flamer Marines, 10 Heavy Bolter Marines, 10 Rocket Launcher Marines (2 of these per above 8 man squads) these guys are all painted same color, not squad colors
3 Scout Heavy Bolters, 3 Scout Rocket launchers (1 per scout Squad)
2 Captain models (1 in Term armor)
2 command squads (1 squad in Term armor)
2 Librarians (1 in Term armor)
1 Chaplin in PA (still need 1 in Term Armor)
1 custom 'Shrike' in PA
1 custom 'Telius' in carapace
3 Dreadnaughts with CCW and AC. Also have 2 AC Arms, 1 RL Arm, 1 seismic hammer, 3x TL bolters arm, and a few others
1 LRC
2 Techmarines
Maybe some i've forgotten about

Of the Above models, over 1/2 are painted. I do fairly well, Inking and drybrushing is my skill level, arms on AFTER chest is painted. I'm getting better. Sand as base flocking, with clearcoat on the sand.Some clever custom conversions I think. I'll post pictures if people are curious. As alot of this was bought as cheap bitz, or used models, i've got maybe $500 tied up in the Chapter, Fairly cheap I think for this many models.


So, thats about all I can think of right now. Please be honest, and any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks in Advance, Melkson

The concept of a "penance crusade" is established in the fluff, so your basic concept works. You could also be from a cursed founding. A chapter is not likely to "forget" about 1/10 of their strength. Could be the rest of the chapter was wiped out?

Self-resticting units and wargear is fine, but changing the build rules for your army is going to raise some issues. You will need to make sure it's OK with your opponent, and probably never be able to play in tournaments. I'm not sure if the new chaos codex has rules for renegade marines, the rules there might fit better. Dark Angels have rules for terminator command squads, you could see if the rest of their army fits.

You should look at the ally rules. You can field SM and IG together in the same army, which should be fitting for you.

Librarians, Techmarines, and LRs are chapter level resources, not company based. Sternguard and scouts are also form their own companies. Now, they may have been attached to the companey when they screwed up and got shipped off, but it is something to consider. Rare and powerful relics (like terminator armor) are another thing that a chapter is not going to let go lightly.

The Sternguard might be normal members of the 8th that have grown skilled enough to get veteran status, but I find it hard to believe they would have access to special ammo when the whole company is reduced to scrounging.

The scouts might be normal marines, just "screwups, trouble makers, and such" that they have BS/WS of 3 and can't maintain their own power armor and have to beg/borrow/steal from the IG. It seems unlikely that a chapter would generate that many, but that brings us back to a cursed founding...

Your weapon restrictions are a little harsh. The IG can field LC/melta/plasma, so getting ammo should not be a problem. If this is just a fluff excuse to field more heavy weapons, make sure your opponent is fine with that. Trading all of that away might make your list unplayable against certain foes.

Your concept can work, I'm just wary of people monkeying around with the rules. Rather then homebrewing all sorts of stuff, I'd just work within the codex to build your force. That way your opponent knows what's going on and everything is as balanced as it can be.

Thanks for the fast reply. I'm not really into tourney play, and the store I play at allows custom chapters if your opponent is ok with it. All the ones I have talked to seem this is good idea, and support me so far. We have some REALLY cheese players who do custom stuff that is overpowered, i'm going for nothing too big.

Regarding terminator armor, My concept is much like you said, it's rare, which is why only command level models can have it. Same with the LRC, only if the top brass come out to play, and I'm leaning for the LRC, Captain, and Command squad (all in term armor) as 1 HQ choice, and only all together, making it an expensive choice. Fluff wise, the LRC is considered 'salvaged' from several battles, being the LRC has no exotic weapons.

I know the IG have access to melta and plasma weapons, but I doubt their HQ would willingly part with them. I figure my company can get spare Autocannons, bolters and ammo, carapace armor, and similar small weapons. the Chapter has scrounged for their PA, and is represented this with obvious PA suit or 2 with other chapter marking 'painted over' hastily by the Company. I've gotten my hands on the odd BT, BA, and DA, and painted them chapter colors first, and them drybrushed the new squad colors over the old markings.

I do plan on getting some IG for using the new 'Allies' rule, and it fits my Company's fluff to do so. Nothing exotic, probably just fire support roles.

You have a good point on the sternguard ammo situation. One player at the local shop suggested I pich a type of special ammo the first time the squad shoots, and only use that ammo or standard for the remainder of the game. I'm sure the company has a small stash of the ammo, and they dole it out now and again. Or could be they are able to manufacture some?

Might I have more info on this 'cursed founding' you mention? Would that generate a company that believes it's loyal to the Emperor, but is not officially supported by the Marines? Also more info on 'Renegade Marines' please. I'm more that willing to use CSM to generate a company instead, and that would make it more understandable if my opponent is Loyalist Marines. I can't understand why 2 loyalist chapters would fight each other.

Again, thank you for helping flesh this out, I'm really hoping to have something unique and playable. I know that I'll be weak against certain foes, but I'm hoping my chapter will be friendly competitive at least.

I'm currently making objective markers of things like ammo dumps and broken vehicles. Things my Company would really go for. Think of us as the Space Marine version of orcs when it comes to scrounging. One dreadnaught I'm almost done with has colors from 3 chapters. several marines have at least 1 major part from another chapter, and some parts on models may be from other armies.(like necron leg for a Marine bionic leg)

melkson wrote:


5 (8 troops each) squads of tactical marines with Rhinos

I'm really like this list. A penance crusade is very fluffy. There's mention of a few as fall out from the Badab War in IA 9 and 10 from the renegade chapters that surrendered.

I'm highlighting the above because I'm assuming you're using the Codex Space Marines. If you take 8-man tactical squads, you aren't getting the special and heavy weapons. I know you have a theme of 8, but unless your gaming group is allowing you an exception, you really want those special and heavy weapons.

 kronk wrote:

melkson wrote:


5 (8 troops each) squads of tactical marines with Rhinos

I'm really like this list. A penance crusade is very fluffy. There's mention of a few as fall out from the Badab War in IA 9 and 10 from the renegade chapters that surrendered.

I'm highlighting the above because I'm assuming you're using the Codex Space Marines. If you take 8-man tactical squads, you aren't getting the special and heavy weapons. I know you have a theme of 8, but unless your gaming group is allowing you an exception, you really want those special and heavy weapons.

The reason several listings are of 8 marines, is that further down I have 30 models (10 each of HB, RL, and flamers) that go as the last 2 models. This gives my squads alot of flexibility for the heavy weapons. Same with the scouts, I have 3 RL and 3 HB to choose from to be the 10th scout, so I could take 3 HB in my 3 scout squads, or 3 RL. I overstocked on those models for that reason. This gives me alot of models to choose from, HOPEFULLY partially negating the restrictions I have imposed on myself.

I see!

i've added a few pics to my gallery, and am still looking for more input/ideas. I'm getting some good ones so far!

My Gallery: http://www.dakkadakka.com/core/gallery-user.jsp?u=64255

Well, I've done some reading on the Renegade Marines, and I could alter the origin story of my Company to fit this. Maybe the Chapter was declared Excommunicate Traitoris, however the 8th Company's commander took all the Loyalist marines and left. This would account for the mix of supplies and troops that were normally Chapter based. The issue I have is that I want to field things like techmarines, librarians, and chaplains. There seems to be no way for renegades to do this.

Assuming I am not playing in tournaments, do you think using a mix of chaos and normal marines seem fair, if I take nothing chaos based that is 'demonic'? just some of the chaos units that are 'normal' like Havocs and chaos marines? Just because they have been declared Excommunicate Traitoris does not mean these marines are.

Thoughts/ suggestions?