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.

I have had an idea for a while now if making a Vanilla space marine army that is comprised of a few different chapters. Right now I am thinking the main core of the army to be comprised from Ultramarine's, Imperial Fists and a spattering of Black Templar's and Crimson Fists. I have been reading some fluff and the idea is not totally out of the realm of possibility, I was thinking of putting a symbol or crusade badge on all the marines to unify them together a bit. The other idea was to take a Deathwatch approach and have the armor all be the same color with respective shoulders being from the original chapter.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Sounds like a good idea to me. If you are playing competitively, you will need to be careful regarding the rules for those chapters. If you're using vanilla marine rules, and just modelling the different chapters, then there's definitely no problem (although that means this should probably be in the painting and modelling forum)! I like your idea for a separate symbol for the crusade. What about each unit having a small banner with the chapter insignia and some crusade insignia or text? Vehicles could have the same thing painting on the hull. If you struggle with freehand, you can buy some waterslide decal paper and print your own transfers.

 Redfinger wrote:
I have had an idea for a while now if making a Vanilla space marine army that is comprised of a few different chapters. Right now I am thinking the main core of the army to be comprised from Ultramarine's, Imperial Fists and a spattering of Black Templar's and Crimson Fists. I have been reading some fluff and the idea is not totally out of the realm of possibility, I was thinking of putting a symbol or crusade badge on all the marines to unify them together a bit. The other idea was to take a Deathwatch approach and have the armor all be the same color with respective shoulders being from the original chapter.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Why not just go straight Fist Successors?

Lexicanum wrote:Astral Knights, Black Templars, Celestial Lions, Crimson Axes,[23] Crimson Fists, Crusaders of Dorn, Death Strike, Doom Fists, Emperor's Warbringers, Excoriators,[5] Executioners,[23] Fire Lords, Fists Exemplar, Fists of Wrath , Hammers of Dorn, Invaders, Iron Champions,[23] Iron Knights, Knights of Dorn, Night Swords, Sons of Dorn,[24] Soul Drinkers, Subjugators, Venom Thorns, White Templars,[32b] Red Templars

There's enough variety there for a different colour scheme for each demi squad.

You can fluff it as a Feast of blades, where each chapter sent a champion with witnesses (sergeant/demisquad leader+ 4 marines) and after the competition, a distress call was received. The assembled brothers put down their sparring blades and shanks of grox and picked up their bolters, boarded their ships and vowed to not return to their chapters until the threat was vanquished.
The threat is a full scale invasion of all your local opponents.

I'd recommend Imperial fists rules with Black Templar allies, to get a few crusader squads in there, and of course the Emperor's champion.