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Taking fluff, models/appearance, and their abilities on the table-top into consideration, which do you prefer? Explanations to your choices would be appreciated.

Ultramarines have the better Chapter Tactics since being able to pop a Doctrine that fits your list is awesome. I feel that the Imperial Fists Chapter Tactics are good only if you plan to use Devastator Squads and Centurion Devastator Squads a lot. Being a fan of running lists such as a Skyhammer Annihilation Force with a CAD that has a Centurion Devastator Squad inside a Drop Pod in it, Imperial Fists Chapter Tactics would do nicely.

I would honestly prefer Imperial Fists and try to run (Centurion) Devastators with Tactical Marines for Obj Sec. If you can also run at least one Battle Demi-Company in a high points game, then an Imperial Fists army that is Dev-Heavy will work rather well.

In terms of models, I honestly don't know if there's much difference apart from the paint jobs since I've never heard of upgrade sprues specific to either. As for the paint jobs, I still prefer Imperial Fists.

As for fluff - Imperial Fists all the way. It's why I collect Black Templars and part of why I collect Iron Warriors. To me, their fluff always sounded more interesting and cooler.

If I was going to start one or the other of theses two, I would go with Ultramarines. I can't say I like the look of yellow armor enough to want to paint them. In addition, I am not a fan of siege style warfare. Although, I do like urban fighting... However, you open it up to Imperial Fists or any of their successor chapters, and I would go the other direction. I just don't know which one I would settle on without looking into it further.

As another player, I think I would rather see the Imperial Fists as I suspect they are much rarer than Ultramarines actually being played. I am noting even talking about rules, I just don't think there are all that many Imperial Fists players.

Imperial Fists! They are the defenders of Terra, the Emperor's Praetorians, his most loyal sons. They speak no lies, show no weakness, and give not an inch to the enemies of man. They did not just liberate the Imperium, they built it from blood and stone.

In terms of rules, everyone knows that Sternguard are the coolest Space Marines, and no one does Sternguard better than the Imperial Fists. Rerolling all bolter shots in the Sternhammer detachment? Yes, please!

I would go for the tyrannic war veterans those are bad ass and non standard enough to be interesting to me. Imperial fists have impressive fluff and all, and look stunning on the battle field but I just don't enjoy painting yellow ( most yellow paints are of abysmal quality ) nor do I like the idea of painting the same guy over and over again.
Don't use the GW official tyrannic war models but just model them out of marines + tyranid bits for decoration.
There rules aren't that spectacular really but still not bad at all especially if you like infiltrating flyers and ignore cover on your 2+ poison rounds, rules can be found here -> http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/Tyrannic-War-Veterans.html

THE DEFENDERS OF TERRA ARE SECOND TO NONE!! EVEN WITH THE RETURN OF GULLIMAN WE HOLD OUT AGAINST THE FORCES OF DARKNESS (and I personally hold hope that Dorn shall unmask himself as the Centurion that guards the Emperor's chamber).

FOR THE EMPEROR!! FOR TERRA!!

Fists every time. They just look cooler.

I prefer Ultramarines, I enjoy the lore (I like the roman motiff, and to be brutally honest, while a lotta people love people who aren't by the book, Ive always found the guiys who wrote the book intreasting) I find the models easier to paint (making yellow look good is my bane) and thhink the blue and gold is just more impressive looking. then the yellow. Also I much prefer the rules, IF chapter tactics are alright, whereas ultramarines are arguably some of the best, well we've not seen all the UM relics, I also suspect they're gonna be better then the IF ones, which are just plan dissappointing

Smurfs are easier to paint so I'd pick them, feth painting all that yellow.

Depends. Are we talking pre-Ward cool Ultramarines or post-Ward obnoxious-Mary-Sue Ultramarines?

smerfs were never cool, they've always been the cyclops of the 40k universe.

hobojebus wrote:
smerfs were never cool, they've always been the cyclops of the 40k universe.

You know what though? **** Wolverine.

 Insectum7 wrote:

hobojebus wrote:
smerfs were never cool, they've always been the cyclops of the 40k universe.

You know what though? **** Wolverine.

Cyclops is a punk. Cool abilities, but he has the personality of Wonder Bread, and the morality of a wet blanket. He marries Jean Grey and immediately cheats on her with Emma Frost.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/mccarricksean/x-reasons-why-cyclops-is-everyones-least-favo-fjmu?utm_term=.mxZe4NVeL#.nyk0xz508

Ultramarines. I love the narrative and the colour palate.

 jreilly89 wrote:

 Insectum7 wrote:

hobojebus wrote:
smerfs were never cool, they've always been the cyclops of the 40k universe.

You know what though? **** Wolverine.

Cyclops is a punk. Cool abilities, but he has the personality of Wonder Bread, and the morality of a wet blanket. He marries Jean Grey and immediately cheats on her with Emma Frost.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/mccarricksean/x-reasons-why-cyclops-is-everyones-least-favo-fjmu?utm_term=.mxZe4NVeL#.nyk0xz508

Hehe, fair enough. But to be honest I hardly know a thing about most comic book characters. All I know is that there have been far too many wolverine movies.