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As a tribute to the movie the 13th warrior that I'm find of, I'd like to add an arabic type marine to my Space Wolves army, coming from his own chapter.
So I was wondering, is tjere an occurence of an arabic themed chapter ? Canon or semi-canon ?
I've done a quick search but outside if the 1d4chan's Dune Walkers I found nothing.
Any ideas?

There is none I would know of.

But at some point in time I was considering creating one using Tallarn and Red Scorpion parts. The name was to be, Desert Scorptions; with a ligth-brow, green and turquoise palette.

Perhaps you could look up the organizational names, tactics, and practices of the Rashidun and other such historical Arab armies?

 Darkseid wrote:
There is none I would know of.

But at some point in time I was considering creating one using Tallarn and Red Scorpion parts. The name was to be, Desert Scorptions; with a ligth-brow, green and turquoise palette.

A Chapter founded using decorated guardsfolk from Tallarn would be a perfect way to do it.

If you're just going to have one guy representing Ahmad ibn Fadlan, you might as well base the chapter loosely around his character. In real life he was an expert on Islamic law and religious practice who was sent as a diplomat to what is now Western Russia. His writings on the journey mainly concern the religious practices of the people he met (including vikings) and the practice of Islam in the foreign nations. He was kind of snooty and critical, truth be told, so you could make that part of the chapter's culture if you wish.

The chapter could be kind of an order of legal scholars who send envoys to other Imperial organizations and chapters in order to take account of their differing views on Imperial law and faith, and promote what they see as the "correct" practices. Sort of roving warrior missionaries.

I love the 13th Warrior and greatly lament how unsuccessful it was at the box office. By all means make your own chapter! I think Luciferian's idea is brilliant!

A classically Arabic aesthetic could be cool as hell. So much you could do with mirror armour, chainmail coats or seroual trouser shapes.

If you want it to match typical Arab tactics of the medieval era, I'd go for a small core of mobile, well armoured troops surrounded by a lot of mobile lightly-armoured units of various kinds. Especially Land speeders and scout bikers, they would match the kind of light cavalry used in large numbers to supplement the core Arab forces. If you wanted to, you could make the Chapter non-Codex compliant, and replace some reserve companies with scout-armoured battle brothers to justify the heavy use of lightly-armoured units.

So probably something fairly mechanised, all in all. White Scars could be a fitting parent Chapter tactic.

"When you die, can I give that to my Neophyte?" better be something one of the Marines says about the Power Scimitar.

Love the idea - it would be cool

Maybe Sons of Jaghatai? They might be Turkic and not Arab, but I don't think there is all that much information about them.

I second the name "Desert Scorpions" or alternatively, "Sons of Saladin"... I actually really liked the 13th warrior movie, and think the idea is really cool. Definitely use browns, khakis, dark greens, and black on his armor and weapons.

Love the idea, and echo the comments on having a well armed core of elite warriors likely on bikes supported by speeders and scout bikes (and scouts on foot for ambush type trickery). You could bring the Islamic religious element into the army by having an emphasis on Chaplains and even Librarians rather than Chapter Masters. Perhaps the "Chapter Master" position is filled by a high ranking Librarian or Chaplain as some other chapters do it?

A lot of great ideas. But in my case, it is just a single space marine (most likely a hero or a sargent) to add to my Space Wolves (who I really model as Space Vikings, toning down the wolf theme), kind of like Ahmad ibn Fadlan.

So I was thinking giving him the same color scheme than the rest of the army, to have him blend in, but with details who separate him : skin tone, power scimitar of course, arab caligraphy in place of runes and his own pauldron marking. The later item is why I was interested in an existant chapter, as to add a in-universe tribute to my out of universe one.

But I love that you guys are already building a whole chapter and its doctrine !

I also like very much Luciferian idée and think I'm gonna go with a scholar-type "arabic golden age" chapter. Could be an Ultramarine descendant task with monitoring primaris marines, as my force is build around their models.

I think I'm gonna look into the Abbasid Caliphate for inspiration.

Ultramarine descendant task with monitoring primaris marines, as my force is build around their models.

"Codex complaiant, non codex complaiant....

Excuse me Wolflord, but it seems i have to make a complaint about the size of your Primaris companies, they seem overlylarge, which leads to inflexible tactics....

What do you mean if i don't be silent i'd end up as fish food?"

In that case, why not make him a librarian? He is literally going around curating records and monitoring others, then a librarian would make a lot of sense.

I'd maybe go for a complementary colour scheme, to show he is from a different Chapter. Maybe you could use gifted furs to tie the model in to the Wolves?

I used the head and Khopesh from Thousand Sons Scarab Occult Termies to make an arabian themed marine for my deathwatch army. I just invented a chapter for him.

the_scotsman wrote:
I used the head and Khopesh from Thousand Sons Scarab Occult Termies to make an arabian themed marine for my deathwatch army. I just invented a chapter for him.

Khopeshes are not at all typical for an Arab from the Arab Golden age though- they are an ancient weapon. Ancient Arabs and other Semitic peoples of the area probably used them (the northern "red" Egyptians were probably a Semitic people if I remember correctly, so closely related to Arabs), but wrong time period.

Arabs from this era typically used straight blades very similar to those used in Europe at the time, although often with a smaller crossguard. The OP is specifically modeling a character inspired from the Golden age.

Scimitars are a later weapon from the end of the medieval period in the Middle East (14th century onwards). Of course, it all depends on how authentic you want to be.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
http://www.tameshigiri.ca/2014/08/13/a-look-at-early-medieval-islamic-swords/

More info on early Arabic swords.

Just take the Thousand Sons and be happy in heretic ways.