Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So I have been wondering what they exactly indicate.
Me and a friend of mine have been searching around but didn't really find a lot about it in the codexes or the net. The only thing he found was something about Istvaan V and that surviving loyalist Marines scribbled names of fallen comerades onto their armor as a memoriam.
I just wanted to know if this was right or had even more meanings.

I think it varies from chapter to chapter and even marine to marine. For the more zealous chapter like BT, I imagine they are litanies of the imperial creed and the like, for those who have suffered heavy losses in the company/chapter/squad it could be the names of dead comrades. For some, it could be the names of campaigns or warzones. It really is pretty open-ended to be honest.

Could be anything.
Names of the fallen.
Oaths for vengeance.
Battle honours.
Prayers to the Emperor.
Anything...

Litanies and prayers.

Or stories of great deeds, tales of victories, or of great losses.

Could be almost anything, I think we'd need more obvious examples, which provide the concept of Chapter and events, to know, specifically, what a given scribble is supposed to be.

Well I was thinking of adding some to Crimson Fists. But it seems rare for marines to have these marks on their armor. At least not a lot of artwork or fluff shows it. So I was curious about it.

So for them it would probably be the names of their fallen... seeing their background.

Yeah that would work.
Some of them could have Templar crosses on their kneepads since they fought side-by-side with the Black Templars during a crusade and the Templars painted one hand red to show respect for the Fists while the Fists painted a Templar cross on their kneepad.

I'd say the list of the fallen for the Crimson Fists would make perfect sense. As much as anything else, it's a great way to break up the expanses of armour like leg plates and shoulder pads. I can't see anyone having a problem with it, as you have a better excuse than most other chapters.

Shopping lists... Initials in heart-shapes... Memo's to put the bins out...

All kinds of things!

Instructions on how to get the armor on and off.
I Spy list for the trip back home.
Recipes for boiled tyranid meat.

inb4 Lorem Ipsum...

UM put battle histories and mantras from the Codex and common battle oaths/ Phronesis. The purity seals are both Chaplain oaths and personal oaths to the Emperor, Primarch, Chapter, and squad.

While a BT would put prayers and oaths more in line with the Imperial Creed (in thought, not in origin) and a SW would have runes of warding and past deeds ( of the armour).

Exorcist Marines have Hexagramatic wards on their armor for example. You can see it in FW's artwork of them (it's even on the vehicles!) but not many people put those tiny squiggles on there.

Dark Apostle beat me to it.

"Milk
Eggs
Bread
Beer"

"For Sale- suit of Power Armour.

Slightly worn, any existing damage is due to previous owner. Resistant to flames, bolter rounds, Tyranids, choppas, shootas, shurikens, lasguns, bayonets and most other forms of attack. Some assembly required, Servitors, Chainswords and spare Power Cells sold separately. Shipping to be arranged.

Disclaimer: This armour will not protect against plasma, lascannons, demolisher shells, Greater Daemons or Kharn the Betrayer. Use at your own risk. The Immortal Emperor is not liable for any harm caused in battle to the owner of this product. No refunds given."

You can only write "KIL KIL KIL" So many times before it becomes repetitive. You have to be a RT era player to get this.

 Andrew1975 wrote:
You can only write "KIL KIL KIL" So many times before it becomes repetitive. You have to be a RT era player to get this.

I almost made that joke, but never got around to flipping through my old book for the page reference for when someone asked WTF I was talking about.

 Andrew1975 wrote:
You can only write "KIL KIL KIL" So many times before it becomes repetitive. You have to be a RT era player to get this.

Beat me to it.

You may also write 'Have a nice day' on your bolter.

How to find your way back to where you parked the Thunderhawk

 Daba wrote:

 Andrew1975 wrote:
You can only write "KIL KIL KIL" So many times before it becomes repetitive. You have to be a RT era player to get this.

Beat me to it.

You may also write 'Have a nice day' on your bolter.

Or a peace sign on your helmet.

 Andrew1975 wrote:
You can only write "KIL KIL KIL" So many times before it becomes repetitive. You have to be a RT era player to get this.

Lies.

 Veteran Sergeant wrote:

 Andrew1975 wrote:
You can only write "KIL KIL KIL" So many times before it becomes repetitive. You have to be a RT era player to get this.

Lies.

Did you just update your avatar, or am I just noticing the Kil's? Either way,

 Nevelon wrote:

 Andrew1975 wrote:
You can only write "KIL KIL KIL" So many times before it becomes repetitive. You have to be a RT era player to get this.

I almost made that joke, but never got around to flipping through my old book for the page reference for when someone asked WTF I was talking about.

Page reference? I'm not sure you can go a page without seeing it. That and "Ignis et Ferrum" or "Burn"

 Nevelon wrote:

 Veteran Sergeant wrote:

 Andrew1975 wrote:
You can only write "KIL KIL KIL" So many times before it becomes repetitive. You have to be a RT era player to get this.

Lies.

Did you just update your avatar, or am I just noticing the Kil's? Either way,

Nah, it's "always" been that way (for as long as I've had that avatar).

 purplefood wrote:
Could be anything.
Names of the fallen.
Oaths for vengeance.
Battle honours.
Prayers to the Emperor.
Anything...

chicks they banged before they were enhanced

 Exergy wrote:

 purplefood wrote:
Could be anything.
Names of the fallen.
Oaths for vengeance.
Battle honours.
Prayers to the Emperor.
Anything...

chicks they banged before they were enhanced

Only Space Wolves get to cheat the rules for being a Space Marine and bang chicks. Everybody else needs to have their implants started before Age 12, lol.

 Andrew1975 wrote:
You can only write "KIL KIL KIL" So many times before it becomes repetitive. You have to be a RT era player to get this.

Or "KIL RATIO".