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I am building a Primaris only, (for the most part actually) army and need advice on which Chapter to pick for them to be a successor:

I have narrowed it to Ultramarines and Raven Guard.

Can someone break down the theme differences of them so I can decide how my playstyle matches etc?

Do you want to play generic blueberries led by the least awesomely named Primarch Girlyman, in neat little rows? Think the bluest soldieriest soldiers. They do not rack diciprine.

Or are you really into Goth Commandos? Strike from the Darkness that claims your immortal soul and let the mascara run!!! Think sneaky goth metalheads.

_____

On a more serious note, I'm kind of torn when it comes to Primaris in Raven Guard. According to the lore the process was basically made with Chapters like them in mind. But big bulky marines kinda ruins my image of the fast and lightly armored scout force they are supposed to be.

Do you like a mix of everything and nice Roman/Greek mothifs for your troops? Ultramarines. They aren't the best at anything but are the most flexible ones.

Do you like a mix of sniper and long range with fast strikes at meele range with assault troops, etc...? Then Ravenguard.

If you want to use Boutecall and be called a waac jerk by everyone, play UM

If you want to use stupid good chapter tactics without the special characters, and be called a waac jerk by everyone, play Ravenguard.

Obviously play Orks.

do you actually want to be able to get transfers without spending money? then ultramarines

Play the army you will enjoy painting the most, and will be most proud of when you deploy them on the table top.

Ultramarines will probably be beter in the long run. But even better is doing a chapter of your own paint scheme, and not be bound by anything. Then you can experiment with playstyle more, and weather edition change better.

I would suggest looking into the fact that there are now Primaris only Chapters and going from there.

Paint them whatever you feel looks coolest or is easier for you. Pick whatever chapter tactics you want on the fly because paintjob does not affect rules. You can paint them as Ultrasmurfs and take Raven Guard Chapter Tactics with zero issue other than your opponent possibly sperging out about it not being "fair". As long as you're not literally picking the CT after knowing what your opponent's army is (That's a dick move, have it pre-written on the army list), you're 110% watertight.

Perhaps you could read up on their lore to make up your mind?

Ultramarines are pompous faux-romans who like organized combined arms attacks, making use of a variety of units and weapons to their best effect and generally being the best generalists there are. Raven Guard are angsty... kinda native American-ish? stealthy mobile fighters who prefer to entice enemies in to close range by first attakcing with something like scouts, devastators, and tacticals, then ambushing them when they're too close with assault marines.

-1 to hit outside 12" is super tasty, too.

 Melissia wrote:
Perhaps you could read up on their lore to make up your mind?

Ultramarines are pompous faux-romans who like organized combined arms attacks, making use of a variety of units and weapons to their best effect and generally being the best generalists there are. Raven Guard are angsty... kinda native American-ish? stealthy mobile fighters who prefer to entice enemies in to close range by first attakcing with something like scouts, devastators, and tacticals, then ambushing them when they're too close with assault marines.

Wheren't Dark Angels the Native Americans ones?

 Galas wrote:

 Melissia wrote:
Perhaps you could read up on their lore to make up your mind?

Ultramarines are pompous faux-romans who like organized combined arms attacks, making use of a variety of units and weapons to their best effect and generally being the best generalists there are. Raven Guard are angsty... kinda native American-ish? stealthy mobile fighters who prefer to entice enemies in to close range by first attakcing with something like scouts, devastators, and tacticals, then ambushing them when they're too close with assault marines.

Wheren't Dark Angels the Native Americans ones?

Hell if I know, GW's not very consistent in its characterization.

 Galas wrote:

 Melissia wrote:
Perhaps you could read up on their lore to make up your mind?

Ultramarines are pompous faux-romans who like organized combined arms attacks, making use of a variety of units and weapons to their best effect and generally being the best generalists there are. Raven Guard are angsty... kinda native American-ish? stealthy mobile fighters who prefer to entice enemies in to close range by first attakcing with something like scouts, devastators, and tacticals, then ambushing them when they're too close with assault marines.

Wheren't Dark Angels the Native Americans ones?

way back in like 2nd edition IIRC

I'd say make a custom chapter, and switch between the Chapter Tactics before the game. That way, you get your own characterisation, get to pick which colours you want, and have tactical flexibility (at the cost of not being able to pick special characters).

I would make my own chapter if you don't already see one that you just love and want to play for what it already is. DIY chapters can play any chapter ractics without anyone being able to give you crap about it.

Personally my own Raven Guard will never have Primaris anything, but thats me.

I always thought of the Raven Guard as more like Norse visions of Ravens, carrion death harbingers rather than native American indians.

You want epic Marines roflstomping over opposing forces? Then choose Rainbow Warriors.

Ultrammarines and Raven Guard are strictly for noobs and beginners. Rainbow Warriors on the other hand are for true 40K aficionados. These brave souls employ tactics unheard of in the vast IoM and even Roboute has difficulties understanding them.
Stand back for a second and think again: Do you really want to use midget smurfs on the field of honour? You will be ridiculed without end. Do you want to be a stalking coward, hiding in bushes and jumping innocent grots? No, you don´t. Don´t be TFG.

Join now the Rainbow Warriors and live the life of endless adventure as you cruise through the warp hunting heretics, witches, traitors and alien scum. Praise to the Emperor, brother.

Ask yourself if you hate yourself and want others to abuse you, if so pick ultrasmerfs.

Otherwise pick ravenguard.

Hmmm......with all the Ultra hate I am leaning towards them more because if there's one thing that makes me laugh inside is "Crowd Mentality".

I have already stasrted painting them and will write a background that explains this successor chapter as an unknown one that may be Ultra Marines or Raven Guard.

Color Scheme is one side, (including helmet), Blue and one side Black.

I hope other players won't be too upset if I switch between the two Chapters.

If you choose either chapter you're going to get lots of hate from the herd.

People hate Ultras because of a codex from like 4 editions ago, and because they appear on the box art. Their theme and storyline are fething awesome though, despite the haters.

Raven Guard are sneaky beaky, and pull off the black look without being all emo about it. They are a cool chapter who are about to drown in a sea of hate and memery over their chapter tactic.

In either case, be sure to wear your Imperial issue Haterblockas.

verticalgain wrote:
If you choose either chapter you're going to get lots of hate from the herd.

People hate Ultras because of a codex from like 4 editions ago, and because they appear on the box art. Their theme and storyline are fething awesome though, despite the haters.

Raven Guard are sneaky beaky, and pull off the black look without being all emo about it. They are a cool chapter who are about to drown in a sea of hate and memery over their chapter tactic.

In either case, be sure to wear your Imperial issue Haterblockas.

this, on the other hand the people who screamed the loudest are proably the ones busily repainting their 7th edition Iron Hands into raven guard

Paining them as a successor chapter would probably negate most of the UM hate, especially if you make make them distinctive (and not overload on special characters). Fluff wise there are many more successor chapter from the Ultramarines than the Raven Guard and with that there's more potential for divergence from their parent chapter.

 Aben Zin wrote:
Paining them as a successor chapter would probably negate most of the UM hate, especially if you make make them distinctive (and not overload on special characters). Fluff wise there are many more successor chapter from the Ultramarines than the Raven Guard and with that there's more potential for divergence from their parent chapter.

honestly most of the hate is from the online community I can find. and most of it comes from fans of other legions upset that their primarch and legion aren't held up as the exemplar.

Concerning Chapter Tactics:
I am intrigued by the Iron Hands, Raven Guard, Ultramarines and White Scars.

I worry about the Raven Guard Tactics the most as my friends Ork are already at a disadvantage shooting.

I run almost all Primaris models, so I am trying to get a feel for how I want to run them. Currently only playing at 40 power / 800 points and I have all infantry and one Redemptor Dread. (we have 4 players and 3 hours after work to play).

 Tarrasq wrote:

Or are you really into Goth Commandos? Strike from the Darkness that claims your immortal soul and let the mascara run!!! Think sneaky goth metalheads.

_____

On a more serious note, I'm kind of torn when it comes to Primaris in Raven Guard. According to the lore the process was basically made with Chapters like them in mind. But big bulky marines kinda ruins my image of the fast and lightly armored scout force they are supposed to be.

1) You forgot to mention the linkin park they listen to.

2) Reivers.

hobojebus wrote:
Ask yourself if you hate yourself and want others to abuse you, if so pick ultrasmerfs.

Otherwise pick ravenguard.

lol

Just make you're own chapter. Make a paint scheme using one of those online generator things, then play a bit and choose your chapter tactics according to play style