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I may do an imperial marine chapter but I want something kind of unusual. None of the main chapters!

I like a chapter that values intelligence and reason over screaming "FOR DA EMPRAH! " and running in with bolters blazing.

I was thinking maybe blood ravens but getting their decals and shoulder pads cost extra.

Maybe the raven guard as ravens are ihighiy ntelligent creatures and their chapter might follow their model.

The old mentor legion, I really don't like their paintjob.

Any ideas?

Always make up your own chapter and scheme. It's genuinely the safest way forward. You can weather the changes from edition to edition, rules to rules, and you aren't stuck with other peoples impression of your chapter. Plus you get to paint them the way you want!

Then, if you want to use the rules for a 'primary' chapter, you still can. But you are free to experiment and suffer less 'buyers remorse'.

yeah make up a custom chapter.

BrianDavion wrote:
yeah make up a custom chapter.

Yep. In this edition Space Marines have set the precedent that paint scheme = locked rules apparently. (Still don't agree with it IMO)

You'll have way more freedom to do a custom scheme and either say they are successor to a named chapter or use the successor traits from the main book to make your own.

independant rules for chapter tactics dates back to 6th edition. a sucessor chapter though allows him to fluff the chapter as he wants without worrying about canon conflict.

If BTW the OP wants a canon chapter that values intelligence and reason over blind fanticism, and is concerned abut decals being hard to get. How about Ultramarines?

I agree with the idea of creating your own chapter and just detailing their lore yourself. However, since you asked for a off the beaten path chapter of marines that are say...a little more reasonable I would suggest the Raptors chapter. They are a 2nd founding successor of the Raven Guard. I almost made my marine army this chapter but decided against it when I went Primaris only and created my own chapter.

 Sobekta wrote:
Maybe the raven guard as ravens are ihighiy ntelligent creatures and their chapter might follow their model.

Yep, the Raven Guard are well known for using stealth and gathering intelligence before attacking. Fluff-wise, they are one of my favorite chapters. If I were to start a new Marine army, I would likely pick them.

The most challenging thing about them is that their color scheme is black. Black can be tough.


Edit: You might also be interested in the Salamanders, who are known as one of the "nicest" chapters and who, unlike most factions in 40k, actually value the preservation of civilian lives.

.

Pick the one you like the most.

The nice thing about Astartes is that no matter what someone's preconceived notion of how the chapter operates.
YOU CAN ALWAYS ADAPT.
Thats the best part of playing Marines.
Adaptability!

Want White Scars that sit back & shoot, done. Want fast moving Salamanders, done.

Custom is always cool, but you really need to flesh out how your Astartes. I dont know how many times people make a custom chapter, but don't have at minimum an interesting fortress monastery/homeworld or even one at all.
Even if it's just the name of the street you grew up on plus a couple alphanumerics tacked on or your first dog/pets name, that's better than, ummmmmmmmmmmm...............

There's something nice about painting an uncommon 'canonical' chapter. There's tons of them, with the new codex you can pick and choose your legion traits, and many are dead easy paint schemes for beginners, but there's plenty of challenges for experienced painters. Here's some links to pictoral lists of chapters!

https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Pictorial_List_of_Space_Marine_Chapters_(A-L)

https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Pictorial_List_of_Space_Marine_Chapters_(M-Z)

 Insectum7 wrote:
Always make up your own chapter and scheme. It's genuinely the safest way forward. You can weather the changes from edition to edition, rules to rules, and you aren't stuck with other peoples impression of your chapter. Plus you get to paint them the way you want!

Then, if you want to use the rules for a 'primary' chapter, you still can. But you are free to experiment and suffer less 'buyers remorse'.

100% agree with this. It's what I've done!

 Sobekta wrote:

I like a chapter that values intelligence and reason over screaming "FOR DA EMPRAH! " and running in with bolters blazing.
Maybe the raven guard as ravens are highly intelligent creatures and their chapter might follow their model.

Raptors. You want Raptors.

https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Raptors_(Chapter)
https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Raptors_(Chapter)

Racerguy180 wrote:
Pick the one you like the most.

The nice thing about Astartes is that no matter what someone's preconceived notion of how the chapter operates.
YOU CAN ALWAYS ADAPT.
Thats the best part of playing Marines.
Adaptability!

Want White Scars that sit back & shoot, done. Want fast moving Salamanders, done.

Custom is always cool, but you really need to flesh out how your Astartes. I dont know how many times people make a custom chapter, but don't have at minimum an interesting fortress monastery/homeworld or even one at all.
Even if it's just the name of the street you grew up on plus a couple alphanumerics tacked on or your first dog/pets name, that's better than, ummmmmmmmmmmm...............

In fairness not even all canon marine chapters have a fortress monestary. and those that do Aren't always that intreasting. I mean I swear 90% of em are all "Uber awesome fortress that is uber defensive, built atop the highest mountain on the planet!"

BrianDavion wrote:

Racerguy180 wrote:
Pick the one you like the most.

The nice thing about Astartes is that no matter what someone's preconceived notion of how the chapter operates.
YOU CAN ALWAYS ADAPT.
Thats the best part of playing Marines.
Adaptability!

Want White Scars that sit back & shoot, done. Want fast moving Salamanders, done.

Custom is always cool, but you really need to flesh out how your Astartes. I dont know how many times people make a custom chapter, but don't have at minimum an interesting fortress monastery/homeworld or even one at all.
Even if it's just the name of the street you grew up on plus a couple alphanumerics tacked on or your first dog/pets name, that's better than, ummmmmmmmmmmm...............

In fairness not even all canon marine chapters have a fortress monestary. and those that do Aren't always that intreasting. I mean I swear 90% of em are all "Uber awesome fortress that is uber defensive, built atop the highest mountain on the planet!"

It does exercise and condition the lungs, however.

I like a chapter that values intelligence and reason over screaming "FOR DA EMPRAH! " and running in with bolters blazing.

Is that even possible in the w40k universe? intelligance is the enemy of faith, and reason goes against everything adeptus mechanicus think on how tech works. A chapters that would try to use both of those in their daily life would be called heretics.

Karol wrote:

I like a chapter that values intelligence and reason over screaming "FOR DA EMPRAH! " and running in with bolters blazing.

Is that even possible in the w40k universe? intelligance is the enemy of faith, and reason goes against everything adeptus mechanicus think on how tech works. A chapters that would try to use both of those in their daily life would be called heretics.

Not all Space Marines act the way they do in the Dawn Of War video games.

#NotAllSpaceMarines

even in dawn of war it's worth noting the Blood Ravens DO prize intelligence and thought, it's just when you're shooting at a hoard of orks, there may not be much time for polite rational discourse. Limiting our discussion to 1st founding chapters and notable sucessors however let's look at each of them.

Dark Angels: The Dark Angels are secretive to the point of parinoia. these guys will happily abandon or even kill their allies in a attempt to keep a millenia old secret that I'm not sure anyone would care about if it got out.

Blood Angels: Artisans extraordinate, powerful charismatic etc. however they're haunted by their connection to Sanguinius and they tend to go insane. proably not it

Space Wolves: .........yeah these guys aren't rational. they're fun, and proably would be top of my list of "Space Marines you'd like to party with" but they're superstitious, tend to be prideful etc. Not ideal for a rational army, although if you're really just looking for space marines whom aren't overly grimdark and can be seen as good guys they're worth a look. Although please understand there are no good guys in 40k, not really.

Ultramarines: Ok now we're getting somewhere. the Ultramarines have a long proud tradtion of philophesy, one enchouraged by their Primarch Robute Gulliman. This has somewhat waned over the Millenia, replaced by a dogmatic following of the codex Astartes, but it's far from dead. and these Philophosical tradtions have been strengthened once more with the return of Primarch Gulliman. The Ultramarines are notable for ruling the intersteller mini-empire of Ultramar, which is often seen as a near ideal example of peace order and good governace within the Imperium.

Iron Hands: The ULTIMATE chapter of rational logic. to a point it's take to the extreme. These guys would make Spock look at them and say "DUUUUUUUUUUDE! YOU TAKE COLD LOGIC TOO FAR!" In addition to their focus on near machine levels of logic, supressing their emotions etc. the Iron Hands tend to hate the weakness of flesh.

Raven Guard TBH the Raven Guard are mostly rational in that they relay on stealth tactics etc as much as possiable to winnow down an enemy force.. they're not partiuclarly reknowed as philophsers among the Astartes however.

Salamanders The salamanders are the nice guys of the Space Marines. If you'd want to party with a space wolf, you'll want to FIGHT beside salamanders. Approuching a space marine and saying "I'm down and could use a hug" is proably a stupid idea, but if ONE Space Marine would give you one? it'd be a Salamander.

Imperial Fists nah these guys are just too bloody stubbron.

White Scars Imagine Ghenghas Khan in power armor on massive bikes.

Racerguy180 wrote:

Custom is always cool, but you really need to flesh out how your Astartes. I dont know how many times people make a custom chapter, but don't have at minimum an interesting fortress monastery/homeworld or even one at all.
Even if it's just the name of the street you grew up on plus a couple alphanumerics tacked on or your first dog/pets name, that's better than, ummmmmmmmmmmm...............

I don't think this is remotely necessary. Few people are willing to sit and listen to the fluff about your custom chapter's homeworld, and fewer of those polite enough to sit through it actually care.

And if you have backstory that you're going to inflict upon your opponent, make it about things like the past tabletop exploits of your characters that are funny and brief or something.

Well, this edition is ''shooty''.
Therefore, I'd recommend a chapter like UM or IH.

 Insectum7 wrote:

Karol wrote:

I like a chapter that values intelligence and reason over screaming "FOR DA EMPRAH! " and running in with bolters blazing.

Is that even possible in the w40k universe? intelligance is the enemy of faith, and reason goes against everything adeptus mechanicus think on how tech works. A chapters that would try to use both of those in their daily life would be called heretics.

Not all Space Marines act the way they do in the Dawn Of War video games.

#NotAllSpaceMarines

I don't know the game, so I can't tell. Buy the empire does not work on the concept of reason or being intelligence. It works on hatred of everything non human, determination and following of rules to maximal degree. And on top of that marines are all psychi conditioned with a changed brain chemistry, and as the real world shows us people with changed brain chemistry do not see reason the same way as the rest of the population does.

Karol wrote:

 Insectum7 wrote:

Karol wrote:

I like a chapter that values intelligence and reason over screaming "FOR DA EMPRAH! " and running in with bolters blazing.

Is that even possible in the w40k universe? intelligance is the enemy of faith, and reason goes against everything adeptus mechanicus think on how tech works. A chapters that would try to use both of those in their daily life would be called heretics.

Not all Space Marines act the way they do in the Dawn Of War video games.

#NotAllSpaceMarines

I don't know the game, so I can't tell. Buy the empire does not work on the concept of reason or being intelligence. It works on hatred of everything non human, determination and following of rules to maximal degree. And on top of that marines are all psychi conditioned with a changed brain chemistry, and as the real world shows us people with changed brain chemistry do not see reason the same way as the rest of the population does.

Well, there's the Raptors, and they're not the only ones.

For each chapter like the Imperial Fists that maximizes stupidity in the name of tradition and honor, there are chapters like the Raptors that strive to be more precise, intelligent, and fight to the strengths of Space Marines.