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Hey Folks! I'm a newbie to Space Marines although I was coming along nicely in Imperial Guard before the edition changed and I had a case of life for a bit. I am thinking of a Death Guard chapter set up by Nathaniel Gerro from gene-seed retained by remaining Loyalist Death Guard from the Eisenstein (and whatever their medical troops might have harvested). Setting it up like after Mortarion remodelled it but while they were loyal. Anyway, set up with the trinity of flamer, melta and bolter. Support primarily from devastator squads.

Here's what I am asking, since I don't know squat about the new Space Marine codex and it will take me some time to become familiar with it when I can afford to get one:

I see tactical squads advancing, armed with the three weapons above and still being able to assault (even with the bolters). I see those devastator squads being able to fire and move in the same round.

How do I do this? I am thinking of heavy infantryman first and foremost. Almost Death Korps of Krieg Space Marines, if you take my meaning. I am thinking the Relentless rule makes the most sense. Also letting them take the veteran squads (and four nice extra special weapons) as troop choices.
Any other ideas? I am trying to get my handle on the mechanics of how this gets translated into the game in terms of a custom Chapter so I can figure out some points and get this sucker running! And thought about how this style of chapter would have weaknesses, like the White Scars and their lack of heavy weaponry. Mine would probably include lesser mobility compared to vehicles. I like the idea of heavy infantry for sweeping spacecraft and space stations, these guys would ROCK!



I can provide some fluff texts culled from the wiki if it helps:
Other types of ranged weapons were deployed sparingly only as the tactical situation or nature of the enemy demanded. Each Death Guard also carried a close combat blade as well, which included broad trench daggers,Warscythes and the heavy slashing Kukra native to Barbarus... This reliance on simple but effective tools of war was an outward manifestation of the cardinal belief held by the Legion that the Space Marine himself was the greatest of all weapons at the Imperium's disposal, a tireless engine of war before which any enemy would eventually succumb.

The Death Guard continued to rely throughout the Great Crusade almost exclusively on its infantry to provide its strategic strength, with the bulk of tactical support firepower coming from heavily armed support squads, and later from the Legion's considerable numbers of Terminators and Dreadnoughts, which provided reinforcement and assault spearheads where needed. This focus on heavy infantry formations was also one of the reasons the Death Guard Legion developed a particularly admirable record in fighting to clear Space Hulks of alien infestation and for their ability to destroy fortifications and citadels from within.

While the Death Guard did utilise field armour, support vehicles and transports (as Mortarion would not allow his forces to be circumvented, cut-off or left wanting for their lack), these were not given any primacy in the Legion's tactical doctrine. The only exception to this were dedicated siege units such as the Vindicator which was fielded in disproportionately high numbers by the Legion, alongside squadrons of Fellblade super-heavy tanks and Land Raider Spartans in mass warfare. It was notable in hindsight, and would prove to be a telling factor on Istvaan III, that a proportionately high number of the Death Guard Legion's war machine crews were still of Terran blood by the time of the Horus Heresy, while the heaviest infantry strike units, particularly the Legion's sizable core of Terminator Armour-equipped shock troops, were of Barbarus stock.


Unlike some of the Space Marine Legions whose operations were often diffused across separate commands, taskforces and campaigns spread across the galaxy during the Great Crusade, the Death Guard were accustomed to fight as a single, united force.

Fluff wise Garro and the other loyalist Death Guard that survived the dropsite massacre

If your set on having them be a Death Guard successor your best bet fluff wise is to say that the chapter doesn't know it's origins and that the High Lords of Terra used samples of Death Guard gene seed stored on Terra to test if the gene seed itself was corrupted. Probably during the 13th founding, if the other chapters knew they where a DG successor they would probably wipe the chapter out and wage war against the HLoT. If the chapter knew they where descended from traitors it would increase there chances of turning to Chaos as well.

Rules wise I'd say to go with Iron Hands chapter tactics as they seem to represent the Legions stoic/tough nature pretty well.

IH or IF in my opinion, and I like the sound of this.

The Son Of Antaeus might sound right for you.

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Sons_of_Antaeus#.UjQSHhB5mSM

I'd use the IH rules for them.

Ultramarines chapter tactics, it allows your tacs to March up and gun things down and have a relentless dev squad for a turn.

Or just ask to use the horus heresy death guard rules (there traits and wargear) but use 40k points cost. So you still get the chem ammo and stuff, just not the legion units

Rules wise I'd say to go with Iron Hands chapter tactics as they seem to represent the Legions stoic/tough nature pretty well.

The deathguard rules are in the horus heresy book 1, long story short they can get poisoned frag, shed flamers and meltas and are fearless, there's more but you can find it with a quick Google search

I really like the thought of getting devastator squads as troop choices, and getting the relentless rule applied to them.

Any thoughts on how that might be possible?