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Several of my gaming buddies have CSM armies that have been shelved since the last CSM codex came out. This is my attempt to make some House Rules that will get them off the shelves and back onto the table top. I realize it's not perfect but combined with the new open Force Org rules and unfettered access to Imperial Armor stuff for 40k, I feel like this goes most of the way and should make both Traitor Legion players and Renegades happy. Comments and criticism is appreciated.

Special Rules

Psychic Disciplines – The call of Chaos to mortal Psykers is strong. In addition to the promise of
unbridled power from a greater connection to the warp, Psykers who have given themselves over to
Chaos have no restrictions placed upon them on which disciplines they pursue or how they use their
gifts. Psykers chosen from Codex:CSM may select powers from any discipline in the WH40K rulebook.
Psykers with Marks may take powers from the god specific disciplines in the codex but are not required
to. Models with the Mark of Khorne are not allowed to generate psychic powers.

Callous – All units in the codex, except Cultists and those units that are Fearless or are vehicles gain this
special rule.
Chaos Space Marines have renounced their oaths as defenders of humanity but have not forgotten their
training. Chaos Marines are callous, hard bitten warriors who have survived countless battles and have
peered into the abyss and did not flinch. Models with the Callous rule may not be wiped out by a
Sweeping Advance. If a unit would otherwise sweep them, they instead stay locked in combat.

Champion of Chaos
The chosen champions of Chaos are among the deadliest warriors in the galaxy. Their superhuman
physique has been honed by millennia of near constant war and augmented by the powers of the warp.
To be a champion of the Dark Gods is to be a consistent victor. Champions of Chaos are not required to
issue or accept challenges in assault. A model with the Champion of Chaos rule may re-roll one die per assault phase that they are engaged in
a challenge. If they are not involved in a challenge then they will fight normally.

Master of Traitors
A powerful Champion of Chaos draws warriors to himself like moths to a flame. Champions of a
particular god draw to them warriors devoted to that god, but only if they are deemed truly worthy of
such powerful underlings. In a detachment lead by a Chaos Lord or Chaos Lieutenant that is a:
Plague Champion – Plague Marines are troops.
Skull Champion – Khorne Berzerkers are troops.
Fated Champion – Thousand Sons are troops.
Champion of Excess – Noise Marines are troops.

Chaos Boon Table
The Boon Table is no longer used.

Chaos Icons
In addition to the rules stated in the codex, friendly units that Deep Strike within 6” of a model with an
Icon of Chaos do not scatter.

Marks of Chaos

Mark of Chaos Undivided - Confers the Crusader USR. 1pt per model. 5pts for HQ units.

Plague Champion - Champions of Chaos with the Mark of Nurgle may be upgraded to a Plague
Champion. Plague Champions have -1 to Initiative, Blight Grenades, replace their close combat weapon
with a Plague Knife and have Feel No Pain. 12pts per model.

Skull Champion - Champions of Chaos with the Mark of Khorne may be upgraded to a Skull Champion.
Skull Champions gain +1 WS, Furious Charge and Rampage. 8pts per model

Fated Champion - Champions of Chaos with the Mark of Tzeentch may be upgraded to a Fated
Champion. Fated Champions gain a Sigil of Corruption and Inferno Bolts if they have a bolt weapon.
13pts per model. A Fated Champion may be further upgraded to an Aspiring Sorceror with Mastery 1
and a Force weapon for an additional 25pts per model.

Champion of Excess - Champions of Chaos with the Mark of Slaanesh may be upgraded to a Champion
of Excess. Champions of Excess have Preferred Enemy. 7pts per model

Chaos Rewards
Warp Essence - Confers the Daemon USR. 15pts
Tyrant - The character has +1 wound. 20pts
Terrifying - Confers the Fear USR on the character and the unit he has joined.. 5pts
Insidious - Confers the Infiltrate USR on the character and the unit he has joined. 10pts
Tainted Signum - Confers Tank Hunters on the character and the unit he has joined. 10pts
Gift of Mutation - The Dark Gods gift their champion with a mutation. Roll a D6 on the following table.
10pts. Once per model unless stated otherwise.
1 - Useless Mutation - no effect
2 - +1 to Initiative
3 - +1 to Weapon Skill
4 - +1 to Ballistic Skill
5 - +1 to Strength
6 - +1 to Toughness

Special Issue Wargear
Chaos Icon – 10pts

Army List
Chaos Lieutenants
Chaos Sorcerors are replaced by Chaos Lieutenants at 35pts. Chaos Leuitenants have the same stats
and options as a Sorceror but are not psykers. They may be upgraded to a Sorceror with a Force
Weapon and Psychic Mastery Level 1 for 25pts and take additional Mastery Levels for 25pts each up to
a maximum of 3. Chaos Lieutenants have the Master of Traitors rule.

Chaos Lords
Chaos Lords may be upgraded to a Sorceror Lord for 25pts at Mastery 1 and may take additional
Mastery Levels for 25pts each up to a maximum of 3. If they do, any power weapon they take will be
a Force Weapon. Chaos Lieutenants have the Master of Traitors rule.

Dark Apostles
A Dark Apostle may be upgraded to a Psyker for 25pts per Mastery Level and now has the Daemon
USR and Mark of Chaos Undivided.

Chosen
Chosen are now units of 3-10. Each chosen model is now a Character, are Champions of Chaos and
may take Wargear and Chaos Rewards from the armory or select gear from their unit entry. Chosen
may be fielded together as a unit or may be split off to join other units before the game. As they are
not Independent they may not leave a unit that they are attached to.
Chosen fielded together as a unit must all bear the same Mark if any are Marked. Likewise a Chosen
who is attached to another unit must bear the same Mark as the unit they are attached to.
Chosen who join units of Bikers must have a bike. Chosen who join Raptors or Warp Talons must have
a jump pack.
Chosen that aren't riding a bike or wearing a jump pack may wear suits of Terminator Armor for 15pts. They may take options from the Chaos
Terminators section of the Codex. Heavy Flamers and Reaper Autocannons may only be taken if the
Chosen Terminator squad will be deployed with at least 5 models in the unit

I hope you won't mind if I steal some of your ideas for my own efforts to re-write the Chaos Space Marime codex.

I don't mind one bit. Just credit me for what you use.

Still looking over the list and I liking most of what I see so far, though I curious why Chaos Marines need protection from Sweeping Advance?

 Archon_Zarbyrn wrote:
Still looking over the list and I liking most of what I see so far, though I curious why Chaos Marines need protection from Sweeping Advance?

Two reasons. First, CSMs shouldn't be fleeing in a panic and getting run down by their foe. CSM are battle hardened professional warriors who live in a realm of nightmares made flesh. If they're falling back, they are doing so in an ordered manner in order to save their own skins. If their foe catches up to them they will continue to defend themselves. Second, CSM represent a significant point investment. Its a safe one for loyalist marines to make because of ATSKNF, but it's very risky for CSM because one bad round in assault and a 200pt (or more) unit simply vanishes. Imagine CSM vs SM in assault. SM have to be wiped oit to the man but CSM can lose one round and get swept, but CSM and SM are roughly the same cost. Protecting them from being swept does a lot to protect the investment while allowing CSM to be effected by other psychology and avoiding giving CSM ATSKNF.

In short, I feel it makes armies with CSM units more viable and characterful.

 Warmaster Phthisis wrote:

 Archon_Zarbyrn wrote:
Still looking over the list and I liking most of what I see so far, though I curious why Chaos Marines need protection from Sweeping Advance?

Two reasons. First, CSMs shouldn't be fleeing in a panic and getting run down by their foe. CSM are battle hardened professional warriors who live in a realm of nightmares made flesh. If they're falling back, they are doing so in an ordered manner in order to save their own skins. If their foe catches up to them they will continue to defend themselves. Second, CSM represent a significant point investment. Its a safe one for loyalist marines to make because of ATSKNF, but it's very risky for CSM because one bad round in assault and a 200pt (or more) unit simply vanishes. Imagine CSM vs SM in assault. SM have to be wiped oit to the man but CSM can lose one round and get swept, but CSM and SM are roughly the same cost. Protecting them from being swept does a lot to protect the investment while allowing CSM to be effected by other psychology and avoiding giving CSM ATSKNF.

In short, I feel it makes armies with CSM units more viable and characterful.

I don't see why GW failed to add it in the first place, honestly.

Defiantly gonna use these

 tundrafrog1124 wrote:
Defiantly gonna use these

I think we all are pretty defiant when we use them.

(?)

I think it's a bit unfortunate and GW obviously needs to give CSM more thought. It seems to me what they're trying to represent is a Chaos Marine's less willingness to risk his life when there isn't much to gain; the notion of running away to fight another day. Unfortunately the way their rules are written they tend to just run and/or get killed. Maybe they should break easily, but they shouldn't necessarily get rundown or run off the board.

To represent their lack of self-sacrifice while keeping their Astartes origins intact, I would have it so that Chaos Marines must pass a morale test or fall back as normal, however they are immune to being swept. Instead of the two sides rolling for sweeping advance, the Chaos Marines simply roll for their fallback distance, while the victories side rolls for their consolidation move.

I like the idea of Chaos Marine running off the board- I think it fits the fluff. Them shaking in their Chaos boots and crying in the fetal position while their enemies route and annihilate them to a man however, does not.