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Just a couple of quick queries:

How many Chaplains serve with each SM Company?

What 'ranks' exist within the Chaplaincy?

Not really much info on either, to be honest. Chaplains aren't part of the Company structure though they can be attached to a particular Company at any one time - I think the Codex puts it at one Chaplain per Company, but don't quote me on that. But organisationally they are apart, like Librarians - they're considered part of the Reclusiam instead.

As for ranks, we know of "normal" Chaplains, and their next step up, Reclusiarchs (which were a Blood Angel thing but do get a brief mention in the new Marine Codex, although there's no explicit rules for them). Then you have the... what's the term? High Chaplain? Cassius, anyway, whatever his rank is. That's the default highest rank as per the Codex Astartes.

Cheers for the info Super Ready. I was hoping to include 3 Chaplains into my SM collection along the lines of one 'Chaplain' and 3 Acolytes, but I wasn't sure if it was strictly right, and what the ranks would be.

It is one chaplain per company, plus the master of sanctity. In the past, they were an integral part of the companies, but I think these days they are attached.

In old fluff, the chaplains groomed their replacements from within their company. Finding marines with the right mix of merit and devotion. Upon the chaplain's death, one of these would step up and take his place.

@Nevelon - Yup that's what I assumed myself. My concept was going along the same lines as GW's Librarian Bundle, but with converted/kit-bashed Chaplains instead. However, as my collection is focused on one Company, I was hoping that they would be 'fluffy' - serving in the same company. Thanks for the info.

Most balanced forces have elements from 3 companies: A battle company, with support from the 1st and 10th. If a detachment of assault terminators is assisting your company, they might just bring their own chaplain with them. The scout company's chaplain might be taking a squad out to test their devotion on the battlefield.

For what it's worth, according to the RT fluff, novices/intitates paint their helmets and right shoulder pads and arms black. Now that any HQ can take command squads, it might be a fun modeling project to put together a reclusium command squad. Drape them with purity seals, drag out some ornate relics, and purge the heretics!

Also understand that Chaplains are usually the second in command if anything immediate happens that requires him to take that role, followed by any veterans that have been nominated previously by the Captain in charge. Following that, librarians typically follow these in terms of rank structure and chain of command.

So chaplains are very well regarded and are usually the commands go to guy for all things pertaining to morale and unit strength/cohesion.

Hmmm, well I have got Assault Terminators in my Company, and I plan to add Scouts at a later date, so I can probably get Chaplains out of them. It's probably worth mentioning that I don't game, it's purely a lore/modelling aspect that I enjoy with 40K - hence I can expand my collection in any which way. That said, I am trying to have a force that can be used in a gaming situation and is pretty much spot on regarding Salamanders fluff. I'd be interested to know if the Novice/Initiate fluff still stands regarding the half black armour. Also, am I to take it that each Chaplain can take a command squad, or could I simply group the chaplains into a single, all chaplain, command squad? (As I said, my knowledge of the game mechanics is virtually non-existent )

 WarlordRob117 wrote:
Also understand that Chaplains are usually the second in command if anything immediate happens that requires him to take that role, followed by any veterans that have been nominated previously by the Captain in charge. Following that, librarians typically follow these in terms of rank structure and chain of command.

So chaplains are very well regarded and are usually the commands go to guy for all things pertaining to morale and unit strength/cohesion.

This isn't a very strict rule at all. It would depend largely on the chaplain/librarian/veteran in question, on an individual level. For instance with the Blood Angels, it wouldn't matter if even the High Chaplain Astorath was present if Mephiston was there, Mephiston would have command. Just as I'm sure that there are some specific veterans in other chapters that would warrant more respect than a chaplain and would take overall command.

 Orblivion wrote:

 WarlordRob117 wrote:
Also understand that Chaplains are usually the second in command if anything immediate happens that requires him to take that role, followed by any veterans that have been nominated previously by the Captain in charge. Following that, librarians typically follow these in terms of rank structure and chain of command.

So chaplains are very well regarded and are usually the commands go to guy for all things pertaining to morale and unit strength/cohesion.

This isn't a very strict rule at all. It would depend largely on the chaplain/librarian/veteran in question, on an individual level. For instance with the Blood Angels, it wouldn't matter if even the High Chaplain Astorath was present if Mephiston was there, Mephiston would have command. Just as I'm sure that there are some specific veterans in other chapters that would warrant more respect than a chaplain and would take overall command.

Should have made it more clear that the example given is in compliance with the codex astartes, which the BA do not follow.

 WarlordRob117 wrote:

 Orblivion wrote:

 WarlordRob117 wrote:
Also understand that Chaplains are usually the second in command if anything immediate happens that requires him to take that role, followed by any veterans that have been nominated previously by the Captain in charge. Following that, librarians typically follow these in terms of rank structure and chain of command.

So chaplains are very well regarded and are usually the commands go to guy for all things pertaining to morale and unit strength/cohesion.

This isn't a very strict rule at all. It would depend largely on the chaplain/librarian/veteran in question, on an individual level. For instance with the Blood Angels, it wouldn't matter if even the High Chaplain Astorath was present if Mephiston was there, Mephiston would have command. Just as I'm sure that there are some specific veterans in other chapters that would warrant more respect than a chaplain and would take overall command.

Should have made it more clear that the example given is in compliance with the codex astartes, which the BA do not follow.

Blood Angels do follow the codex though. They have more exceptions than most codex chapters, but they do adhere to the codex. Mephiston is the chief librarian and Astorath is the high chaplain, it just so happens that on an individual level Mephiston demands more respect than Astorath so Mephiston would have command.

They follows the codex for size reasons as to broken down into a chapter but thats it. Due to the Specialized companies, hefty number of reclusiarchs and the black rage gene-seed flaw, they are incapable of operating as a normal chapter, since anyone in the command is just as susceptible to the black rage as a scout marine. And I also feel that Astorath would command more respect out of fear as he is responsible for dispensing the emporer's blessing on so many BAs by behinding them, such that he is feared by all, including Dante.

IIRC the rank system is

Chaplain<Reclusiarch><Master of Sanctity


Also, Captains><Chaplains and Librarians

If a Captain is not present, a Librarian or Chaplain(if present) will take command. With the most senior member having priority because Chaplains and Librarians are of equal rank as far as command goes.

So for example, if there was a choice between Chaplain Cassius and Tigerius for command, the command would go to Cassius as he is the more senior of the two.>>

@Grey Templar - that would make more sense. Obviously this is 40K, but if the ranks of the Imperium have any root in the real military branches (and dare I say the British Military as 40K was originally a British concept), then seniority takes precedent. Within the British Forces, the officer that was commissioned into the force (Any force I may add) first, regardless of experience and the fact that he has the same rank, always takes command unless there are orders to the contrary. Hence, if 40K follows this in any way then seniority takes precedent.

The Codex route is actually for command to pass from the Captain to the most senior Sergeant present. The Librarians, Chaplains etc aren't figured into this chain officially because they're part of supporting organisations - but frequently they will be deferred to because of their experience.

For example, let's say you have a Captain, Scout Sergeant Telion, Chronus and a normal Sergeant on the field of battle. They'd assume command in that order - Chronus is a celebrated hero and would probably be respected enough to be more senior than the "ordinary" Sergeant. But Telion is far more respected and also a Sergeant to boot - there's no doubt he'd be the most senior Sergeant around.

No, this is wrong. You can't just pay attention to one individual who is wrong.

Every company has one chaplain, and that chaplain wears the company insignia. He is part of the company, just like the standard bearer, apothecary, and captain outside of the Codex's 100 or Salamanders' 120 marines per company.

A "reclusiarch" is a senior chaplain that cares for the reclusiam, and is not a company chaplain.

The Master of Sanctity is in charge of all the chaplains.

Chaplain Xavier is a famous Salamander chaplain.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/549095.page#top

They are not like librarians.


A company chaplain is a company officer, and can command his company's troops. A librarian is not a company officer.



So what you can do is make one actual chaplain from your specific company. You can have one chaplain from the first company, and one from any other company like the reserves or scouts. You can have a Reclusiarch without company colors, or a Master of Sanctity, also without company colors.

As for other marines associated with the chaplain, they are normal battle brothers in tactical, assault, devastator or veteran/terminator squads, and they might wear black helmets.

pelicaniforce wrote:
No, this is wrong. You can't just pay attention to one individual who is wrong.

I quite agree.

Every company has one chaplain, and that chaplain wears the company insignia. He is part of the company, just like the standard bearer, apothecary, and captain outside of the Codex's 100 or Salamanders' 120 marines per company.

Here's the bit with one individual that's wrong. Have you seen the Chapter Organisation in the new Codex? ...and the 5th ed one for that matter? The diagram and text both clearly show that Chaplains are considered outside the Company structure and are only attached to Companies on an ad-hoc basis, unless it's done for longer campaigns. It's been that way for as long as I can remember, which would be 2nd ed.

 Super Ready wrote:

Here's the bit with one individual that's wrong. Have you seen the Chapter Organisation in the new Codex? ...and the 5th ed one for that matter? The diagram and text both clearly show that Chaplains are considered outside the Company structure and are only attached to Companies on an ad-hoc basis, unless it's done for longer campaigns.It's been that way for as long as I can remember, which would be 2nd ed.

No offence but apparently your memory isn't that great:
1. The organisation chart in Codex Ultramarines (and Angels of Death) blatantly did list Chaplains in the company organisation between Captain and Apothecary.
2. Insignium Astartes which was published during 3rd edition and advertised in the 4th edition codex as the place to go for in-depth information also listed them in the same location in the organisational chart.
3. The 5th edition vanilla codex chart actually omitted Chaplains entirely, they weren't listed under the companies but nor were they listed under a separate column unlike Librarians and Apothecaries. Note Company Apothecaries also aren't listed, there is a Apothecarion box but the numbers are almost identical (11 vs 12) to that in the 3rd edition codex Apothecarion box which was in addition to the Company Apothecaries.