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So I've seen many pictures of Salamanders' Librarian, Chaplain, Apothocary, etc where rather than painting all of their armor in the special color of those positions it was still the Chapter green, with only their helmet and right arm/shoulder painted the different color. Is this practice codified somewhere or any details on it I can read up on?

 AduroT wrote:
So I've seen many pictures of Salamanders' Librarian, Chaplain, Apothocary, etc where rather than painting all of their armor in the special color of those positions it was still the Chapter green, with only their helmet and right arm/shoulder painted the different color. Is this practice codified somewhere or any details on it I can read up on?

There is no hard and fast rule in the Codex (either C:SM or the Codex Astartes). From what I recall, its up to the individual member of the chapter which colours he will give preference to. These of course being his Chapter, Company, and Organisation colours. I only recall a few instances where the Org colour wasn't the main. Those being the example paintjob for the metal/resin Techmarine and Servitor kit, who wears mostly Ultramarine bluee with Mechanicus Red helmet and Techmarine shoulder pad. The other being in Codex Space Marine 7th Ed, where an Apothecary is in blue with white shoulder pad and green trim who specifically "gives preference to his company and chapter."


For Chaplains, I've only ever seen them wear black, but this is more to do with their image as Bringers of Death, to go with the skull helmet and skeleton chestplates then usually wear.

For Librarians, heavy amounts of blue is common, as the reason of this is to specifically mark them out as being different, being dangerous psykers and witches.

For Techmarines, their loyalty is split between the Chapter and Mars, so it'd be up to the individual if his loyalties lay more with his brothers or his creed.

Apothecaries are the most flexible in this regard, as they are not "segregated" from their brothers like Libbies, not command staff or invoking an image like Chappies, and not loyal to an external organisation like Techies. Apothecaries are just field medics when deployed in battle, so they are more open to choose. Especially as wearing all white armour is like putting a target on your back, as it immediately marks you as a medical operative, and unless the enemy has strong morals (ie, Tau) then the enemy will know to target them.

Of course, it also helps where the main colour is also a Org colour. For example, White Scars Apothecaries don't have to choose. Black Templar Chaplains just look like extra METAL Templars. Blood Angel Techmarines don't have to choose between the Chapter and Mars, and Ultramarine Librarians don't really need to be marked.

 AduroT wrote:
So I've seen many pictures of Salamanders' Librarian, Chaplain, Apothocary, etc where rather than painting all of their armor in the special color of those positions it was still the Chapter green, with only their helmet and right arm/shoulder painted the different color. Is this practice codified somewhere or any details on it I can read up on?

Basically, it just looks better. (Though not as good as leaving out the random primary colours altogether- techies and librarians are distinctive enough not to require the '2nd edition' treatment).

The index astartes books have examples ranging from entirely specialist color except for chapter pad and entirely chapter color except for the specialist pad.