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I have a modest force of mostly non-primaris marines. A healthy mix of sub-optimal units including dreads, termies, tacs, and assault marines. Plus a couple of rhinos and drop pods. For a while, the plan was to have a jump pack centric force of Blood Angels successors dedicated to finding a way of dealing with the black rage and a less jumpy force of sneaky marines (I used to use Raptor chapter tactics).

But now that most of the Blood Angels have been eaten and their successor largely reabsorbed, I find it tricky to justify the fluff of my BA successors. They were supposed to be few in number because (reasons) and focusing on rebuilding their strength while seeking the cure to the Black Rage. It feels like they should really have been reabsorbed into the BA proper or else handed a bunch of primaris.

My sneaky marines just don't feel very sneaky these days. Sure, I can still deepstrike some tactical marines with Lias Issodon, it's just not the same now that I can't go all in on outflanking and reserves like I could in prior editions. Plus, I've started working on a primaris Alpha Legion army that kind of fills the sneaky marine niche.

So with that in mind, I'm kind of struggling to figure out what to do with my non-primaris marine collection. Their fluff doesn't really ring as true as it used to, and the "sneaky tactical marine" thing might be more at home in Kill Team or Zone Mortalis games than in 40k proper. I could add primaris marines to my existing forces to transition them into the new age or lean into the BA fluff, but my primaris money is going towards the aforementioned Alpha Legion project.Add to that the fact that I'm kind of interested in a bunch of different chapters but not in love with any particular one.

Can anyone offer some advice on finding inspiration for the future of my marines? I'm torn over whether or not I want to redo their (not great) paint jobs. Part of me wants to find an excuse to field a hodgepodge of different chapters working in tandem. Part of me wants to get inspired by a single chapter and unit my army under a single paint scheme. I'm just very conflicted on what to do with my poor, suboptimal little transhumans. Maybe I should just leave them on the shelf until they get rules that fit my style, but that seems unlikely as GW transitions towards an all primaris line.

I wouldn't put any time or effort into fixing old marines. Strip and repaint any metal stuff you have since those will always be cool and have some value but I would leave it there. Regardless of what you think about primaris fluff they look way better and are the future of marines.

As you have pointed out the Primaris train is not stopping. If you don't want to add new primaris units at the moment but also want your army to be relevant Im not sure how you do that


You have new SM codex coming soon along with options for custom chapter tactics, rosters and points which could allow you to maybe make your units work in a way suiting your background as well as maybe inspire you to come up with some new fluff/tweak your fluff ?


A plot device you could use to include new units on the premise that your boys have linked up with a company though to be lost after a grim battle but in fact were stranded somewhere and eventually linked up with the imperium and reaped the benfits of primaris and now you can welcome them back proudly swelling your ranks with their veteran brothers.

Sounds to me like you're really into your Alpha Legion project so why not just keep at it? In time there will be a bunch of new units and rules for marines. These might offer some new kits to include in your force.

Essentially it boils down to weather or not you want to keep the old marines and are attached to them enough to put in the work. Only you can answer that. Might be a cool project to start a new army and strip and re-work to make old marine core and then add the new shiny kits in as you save up. Maybe just go full primaris and cut the old marines if you don't feel they add any value to your hobby/collection.

I play 'oldmarines' with a custom chapter paintjob, and I am REALLY looking forward to seeing what the new codex has in store for us in terms of custom chapter abilities.

I'd say hold off on any decisions until you have a good look at the new book. My guess is you'll find some inspiration there.

If you had liked old marines I dont think you would need to ask this question. Sell them or give them away.

I have an oldmarine Salamanders army, and as far as that army is concerned I don't care about the existence of Primaris. I still like the oldmarines for many reasons, mainly that their designs are iconic in a way that the primaris (despite being better sized and proportioned) just can't match. I'm not keen on oldmarines and primaris mixing, they just don't look too good I feel. So, while the salamanders are clearly shown in the official material using a lot of the new boys, I just say that my army is from pre-M42. After all, there's no reason that your army has to come from whatever the current codexes consider to be the 'present day' of the setting.

Then if I get around to building and painting the primaris I have, I'll pick a different chapter and do full primaris for them.

Only one way to go, pal:


Rainbow Warriors.