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Hey guys, I'm new to the hobby and I picked up a SM strikeforce box to start me off with. I was originally going to with ultramarines but after a while I started looking at the salamanders. Is there a reason to pick one over the other? I've heard that Ultra's are well rounded but I also was looking through the codex and it seems that the salamanders get free master crafted weapons?

So could you helpful folks on dakka give me some advice???

If it is only a matter of which rules you prefer I would recommend going for a chapter of your own creation.

That way you can pick your color scheme and personalized conversion themes. When it comes time to make your army just pick which traits to use and make it clear to your opponent what you are using.

I am not a SM player, so others correct me on this. But, I think you are better off creating your own chapter, that doesn't look like any particular SM chapter. This will allow you to use any chapter tactics that you want. If you choose a particular SM Chapter, you are gonna be stuck with their own particular chapter tactics forever. Build a neutral, custom chapter and play it however you want.

Pick whatever paintjob tickles your fancy and pick whatever rules tickle your fancy. How you paint your minis has no bearing on the rules. It's really all about the wargear.

So I can make my own chapter and say "oh these get free mastercrafted weapons like the salamanders" ? that just doesn't seem right lol

MitchellTyner wrote:
So I can make my own chapter and say "oh these get free mastercrafted weapons like the salamanders" ? that just doesn't seem right lol

Usually you use the rules that compliment your chapter's background...
So you wouldn't choose the Salamander's rules if the Raven Guard stuff fitted better...

Man this stuff sure is complicated. I went into this thinking you just picked the one you liked the best then started modeling but all this is making my head spin.

So from what I gather is I take the rules from the main chapters correct? Then I pick one, then make the army as a sub chapter of that main chapter similar to the ultramarines or Salamanders.

Are the traits pickable or what? I'm completely a noob so sorry for all you folks that have a working knowledge of how it works because I know this is tedious so I'm sorry.

It all depends on who you ask. Some people think it's bad form to use Ultramarine CT for a force painted as Salamanders while others couldn't care less. I personally pick whatever CT suits whatever my list is trying to accomplish best. I wholeheartedly advocate this approach since it doesn't pidgeonhole people into having to take rules that do not suit the force they are looking to build.

No, you had it right the first time. Just pick what you want.
Try to make it make sense. Like you have an assault jumpy army, you wouldn't use Iron Hands because Raven Guard fit better thematically and rule wise.

You can have bright pink guys and say they use IF chapter tactics for all it matter. Paint them how you want.

Okay well answer this then guys, what is the pigeon hole for the Ultramarines and what is the pigeon hole for the Salamanders?

Personally would prefer to paint them generic green as it works for salamanders
smurfs. (aurora chapter)
Imp fist (invaders)
Iron hands (sons of medusa)

And im sure im missing a BUNCH more

Point is Marines are marines. generally there markings are the same
besides special characters.

What are pigeon holes?

 Desubot wrote:
Personally would prefer to paint them generic green as it works for salamanders
smurfs. (aurora chapter)
Imp fist (invaders)
Iron hands (sons of medusa)

And im sure im missing a BUNCH more

Point is Marines are marines. generally there markings are the same
besides special characters.

What are pigeon holes?

The pigeon hole is the role those are intended to play. Such as Tau being pigeon holed as a shooter race and not good at close range stuff. That is what I mean.

Marines are versitile, make them whatever you want.
(Just don't expect to outshoot Tau...well, maybe if you had a lot of Thunderfire Cannons.)

Ultramarines are generalists, generally. Their chapter tactics can be quite nice if used correctly but you may find them underwhelming at first. Salamanders are more close ranged shock troops. Their flamers reroll to hit and you can make opponents reroll the wounds they cause with their own flamers. Can offer a little bit of protection against Helldrakes. Vulkan makes Melta twin linked which is just gravy.

So salamanders are like ultramarines but with better equipment and use lots of flamers and stuff?

You can build Ultramarines in several ways and still get some good use out of the tactics. Tactical marine heavy builds benefit from the twin-linking.

You can do some powerful things with combat squaded Devastators.
Put 5 with 2 heavies in a rhino and 5 with 2 heavies in reserve. on the turn you use the doctrine your 2 heavies in the rhino can shoot at full effect from the hatch and your squads in reserve can pick the perfect spot to walk on and fire at full effect.

With the heavy focus on short ranged weaponry Salamanders are the go to choice for drop pod heavy armies.

 Eldarain wrote:
You can build Ultramarines in several ways and still get some good use out of the tactics. Tactical marine heavy builds benefit from the twin-linking.

You can do some powerful things with combat squaded Devastators.
Put 5 with 2 heavies in a rhino and 5 with 2 heavies in reserve. on the turn you use the doctrine your 2 heavies in the rhino can shoot at full effect from the hatch and your squads in reserve can pick the perfect spot to walk on and fire at full effect.

With the heavy focus on short ranged weaponry Salamanders are the go to choice for drop pod heavy armies.

You sir just sold me. Honestly I'm in love with drop pods for some reason. So I think you just sold me on the thing I want to build now lol