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So against my better financial judgment, I'm thinking of doing a small CSM force, but instead of my usual way of making an army, where I build a tactical and strong list and then fluff it up, I'd like to do the opposite where I create a backstory and history for such a band, and build it from there. I have a few list-related things I want to have, but I'd really like the help of the forum population who know more about the CSM lore than I do to help push me in the right direction and keep me from avoiding any pitfalls in the fluff.

That said, the idea I'd like to build on is pretty simple and kinda borrows from WFB's Archaeon, a Lord and core of his best and most loyal followers slowly amassing power and Chaos goodness. To that end, I'm thinking a Lord with a Chosen retinue, all character-ed out. But where I am running into questions are how such a band would come into being?

I know I want to avoid what I kinda see as the "RAGBHAGLE DEMON" kind of turn to Chaos, like the ones where some Marines fight some cult guy who just Chaos-es the heck out of them. I am much more interested in the stories of the Astral Claws and the Ultramarine guy who finally had had enough of doing the dirty work and thought he could do better. They are a little more of a logical fall from grace, in my eyes and more compelling. Since I want this to be a force driven by fluff, that's the main concern. I've considered something like a Deathwatch team gone rogue, but I know next to nothing about the Deathwatch, would something like this even exist in the realm of possibility?

Maybe. The Deathwatch operate in small teams from fortresses placed all over the galaxy, I could see a team stationed at a Watch Fortress that has to deal with a lot of pointless fights giving in to frustration and despair and falling to Chaos. Beyond that we'd need more detail about what you're trying to achieve to help further.

Rogue Deathwatch could be pretty awesome, especially if the whole army was themed around that!

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Maybe. The Deathwatch operate in small teams from fortresses placed all over the galaxy, I could see a team stationed at a Watch Fortress that has to deal with a lot of pointless fights giving in to frustration and despair and falling to Chaos. Beyond that we'd need more detail about what you're trying to achieve to help further.

I've had a day to put some more thought into it, and basically you have the right idea.

The concept that is coming together in my mind is that the Chosen and Lord would all be members of a Deathwatch team that went rogue.

The Lord and Chosen Champion would be Space Wolves, with a melee focus. I'm considering a Tzeentch mark for the Lord, but for the army as a whole I will be avoiding anything overtly daemonic.

Another member of the Chosen squad, most likely the guy toting the heavy weapon would be an Imperial Fist?

Powerfist guy a Crimson Fist naturally.

Lightning Claw Chosen as a Raven Guard.

Melta/Flamer Chosen as a Salamander.

And so on.

As far as the background and fluff details, would such an arrangement work out like that? Lexicanum does not give a lot of information about how squads are made up and put together, but would Space Wolves be put in the position as leaders? Or are members from more focused chapters like the Ultramarines usually placed into leadership roles as a matter of course?

Also, along the same lines for the Wolves is how a mark of Tzeentch would occur to a Space Wolf? I know Khorne is a pretty natural fit, but eh, I am not a fan of the usual portrayal of Khorne-marked marines as "WAARGHBARGLH" crazy that I do not want. How would a mark of Tzeentch fit in with a force who has been build around the idea of a band of heroic marines who are fed up with the Imperial doctrines not allowing them to use what they have learned to make significant gains for good? What I'd like their fall to look like is along the lines of "we can do so much good with what we find, and they just lock it up and send us back for more? What do we need THEM for?" into the thrall of Chaos.

Finally, what units from CSM would fit along those lines? I'm not overly concerned with the toothiest competitive style list here, but I'd like something that fits with that theme. Obviously, the Chosen form the core and I imagine that most of the other units would consist of Marines of various stripes. Perhaps toss in a Helldrake to represent the tech-dabbling of Deathwatch (and hey, I like Helldrakes!).