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So, I was thinking of trying to create my own space marine chapter when the new codex comes out but.. I realy realy realy suck at thinking of color schemes and fluff and names and stuff.. So I was curious of how other people manage to do it? What makes a good home made chapter?

Go To http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Space_Marine_Forces_(List)#.UgktOJIsldJ

Pick a father chapter, or a chapter you like.

1) Decide whether it's Codex-adherent or not.

2) If yes, look to the Codices of other Codex-adherent Chapters to get a feel for their unit-size, force organization, etc.

3) If you really, really like one of these Codex-adherent Chapters, decide whether or not you want your home-brew Chapter to be a Successor Chapter of your favorite amongst these.

3a) If so, you can use the parent chapter's colors and insignia as an inspiration for your own.
3b) If not, make it up.

4) Decide on the backstory of your Chapter. Decide what kinds of foes they most commonly face in their part of the galaxy. Don't go overboard. Don't have them being the "sole surviving Chapter" from something like the 13th Black Crusade where it is noted in fluff that, in that part of space, anyone who went there died. Better to have them "involved" in other aspects of major events without going into too much detail, supporting the "named" Chapters in places like Armageddon, Thracia Primaris, Krieg, whatever. You want to establish them as competent, but not show-stealing Mary Sues.

5) If you decided to make your Chapter a non-Codex-adherent Chapter, look at the other non-Codex-adherent Chapters and repeat the above steps for determining their force organization, colors, insignia, tactics, whether or not they are a Successor to someone, etc.

6) Have fun.

Choose your favorite time period on Earth.

Then read all about it. Note down names and locations of things.

Find a symbol or something from the time period that has something to do with what you enjoy.

Use the names and location for your names and locations.

Use the symbolic object as your chapter symbol.

Example: Let's say you like the movie 300. So you would look at the colors, names, symbols ect.

Bronze, Red, Capes, Spears, Gladius, Red Crests, Helmets, Round Shields, the Red upsidedown "V" on the shields.

So now you go out and get a bunch of Saguinary Guard, use their torsos. Get beastman spears, simple buttons or something for shields. Order some Spartan like helmets from Chapterhouse.

Then name you leader Leo and call it a day.

Most people will accept home brews so long as

A) has a well hashed out background that isnt just coping an established codex.

B) is not a bunch of female space marines.

For color though it should depend on your back ground. (or just make it something easy to paint )

Sometimes coming up with a name first is a good juming off point. Like say I wanted to play a chapter named The Griffons Exemplar. What does that name conjure up in you mind? Why are they called the Griffons Exemplar? What colors would a Griffon be? Do they keep to the Codex Astartes or are they more lenient? What founding chapter do they take after?

Once you have answered those questions your army will really start to take shape.

 DeffDred wrote:
Choose your favorite time period on Earth.

Then read all about it. Note down names and locations of things.

Find a symbol or something from the time period that has something to do with what you enjoy.

Use the names and location for your names and locations.

Use the symbolic object as your chapter symbol.

Example: Let's say you like the movie 300. So you would look at the colors, names, symbols ect.

Bronze, Red, Capes, Spears, Gladius, Red Crests, Helmets, Round Shields, the Red upsidedown "V" on the shields.

So now you go out and get a bunch of Saguinary Guard, use their torsos. Get beastman spears, simple buttons or something for shields. Order some Spartan like helmets from Chapterhouse.

Then name you leader Leo and call it a day.

This is great advice. It doesn't even have to be a historical period. If you have a favorite sport team, use them as inspiration for famous figures and "battles". Having a specific tactic in battle can be helpful, if you like drop-pods then your chapter will value speed, if you want to stay back in a gun line then your chapter values stamina. Also I have heard playing games can help with your background/history, marking famous battles and enemies specific to your chapter. I personally fill my army with units I like to build and look at. Very simple minded I know but I enjoy making Sternguard and terminators so my chapter has a larger than normal 1st company that fight in almost every battle.

A guy I know plays his SM as the "lone star" chapter, they are painted like the texas flag, it actually looks pretty cool.