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Got an idea for a DIY chapter. I'm just not sure what gene-seed would make the most sense. They're called the Star Cats.

Behaviorally, they're like the Salamanders (humane), Iron Hands (tech-savvy), and the Raven Guard (tactically flexible). While they do acknowledge and even appreciate the advantage of using cybernetic enhancements, they're not obsessed with replacing their entire fleshy bodies with them.

Like the ancient Terran felines they're named after, they first attempt the element of surprise, stalking their prey before moving in for the kill. If such tactics are not feasible, then the Star Cats will deploy more forceful means (ie Repulsors, Vindicators, etc - the heavy stuff). Like the Raven Guard and their successor chapter, the Raptors, they view the Codex Astartes as something to learn from, not something to dogmatically adhere to.

Genetically, they have more in common with the Salamanders. Their skin is dark, but not true-black like the Salamanders. Their eyes also glow a shiny green like emeralds.

When it comes to Chaos, the Star Cats loathe them, and will gladly destroy them given the chance. When it comes to Xenos, the chapter is a bit more lenient (emphasis on "bit", and depending on the species). Although they will consider working with them if the situation demands it, the chapter is under no allusions of "friendship", and always keeps an eye open for signs of treachery.

Given all of this background information, which gene-seed would sound the most appropriate for my Star Cats chapter? Also, is keeping their progenitor unknown an option?

They sound pretty non-committal on everything, so as far as gene-seed goes, any works, and unknown progenitor is always fine.

Really geneseed doesn't matter that much. Black Templars and Crimson Fists are the same 'stock,' but are pretty wildly different.

Ultramarines are theoretically rationalists, but several of their successors are weirdly crazy cultists (Doom Eagles, who are obsessed with death) and ancestor worshippers (Silver Skulls)

Keeping the progenitor unknown is absolutely an option for lore purposes. However, when bringing them to the tabletop you will need to declare what Chapter's rules, keywords etc they're using - and officially, you should really be doing that before you turn up, rather than saying "oh I'm against Orks am I? Right, they're Salamanders today then."

In terms of how it affects the game, it sounds like Raven Guard would be the best fit for the rules, because of the sneaky tactics. The Salamanders' humanity doesn't come through in their Chapter Tactics at all - and it sounds like your Chapter isn't cybernetic enough to warrant everyone getting the Iron Hands Chapter Tactic.

Lore-wise, I would forget thinking of the Iron Hands specifically - they're far from the only tech-savvy Chapter, it's the cybernetics and attitude towards flesh that really makes them unique.
The Aurora Chapter are a good example for an alternative - they're much more into their tanks than their cybernetics, meaning they favour armoured assaults and have a few more Techmarines than average, but they're actually an Ultramarine successor (Second Founding, no less).

Chapter Tactics wise, I looked into the Successor Tactics. The ones I came up with were Hungry for Battle and Stealthy.

Iron within, iron without! I’d suggest Iron Warriors.

 Big Mac wrote:
Iron within, iron without! I’d suggest Iron Warriors.

No offence, but the Star Cats are neither traitors nor down in the dumps.

The way I see it, genetic quirks and defects depend on a chapter's geneseed, while chapter tactics and traditions don't. There are plenty of examples of descendants that don't behave at all like their ancestors. This makes sense, since some chapters can spend millenia without interacting with their ancestors, while the gene-seed is kept as stable as possible.

So I'd say pick Salamanders for the black skin but with custom rules instead of the default package.

generally I'm of the opinion that "if it doesn't matter go with ultramarines"

I'm leaning towards Raven Guard for the gene-seed origin. As many here have said, just because the Raven Guard are albino with dark hair doesn't mean my chapter has to be. I'm also aware of the Mortifactors chapter, whom descend from the Ultramarines but have some death-/blood-related ritual thing going on within their ranks.

In any case, the Star Cats will have dark skin (like almost everyone from the Black Panther film; Okoye and M'baku come to mind) and green eyes (luminescent like the Salamanders, but a different colour).

Wildcard here, but Space Wolves.

You have a strong theme on stalking and hunting, and an animal theme. Plus, with the new lore, Space Wolves now officially have canon successors.

As said above though, culture and even appearance don't really have anything to do with what your Chapter could end up being, so do feel free to literally pick anything. I'm just saying Wolves because you have a nice hunting theme going on, and anything that break away from the "BUT SONS OF RUSS NEED TO BE VIKINGS AND WOLFY" trope is good in my books.

(Also, side note because I think some people above in the thread might have missed the finer points - Salamanders aren't ethnically black. They've got literal black skin, but that's not the same as what OP is describing!)

Dogs and Cats sharing a gene-seed. Mass Hysteria!

Actually, Space Wolves is a pretty good idea. Their rules will lend nicely to a hunting chapter during the combat side of the equation.

Otherwise, Raven Guard are good for the sneaky side.

 alextroy wrote:
Dogs and Cats sharing a gene-seed. Mass Hysteria!

I understood that reference.

 alextroy wrote:
Actually, Space Wolves is a pretty good idea. Their rules will lend nicely to a hunting chapter during the combat side of the equation.

Otherwise, Raven Guard are good for the sneaky side.

Space Wolf gene-seed could work from a thematic stand point. Now that I think about it, so could Salamanders gene-seed. With the latter, the homeworld's environment could lighten the skin and change the eye colour. I am thinking that the homeworld could do this to the native human population, like how Cadian natives had purple eyes.

Gene-seed doesn't need to matter at all. Chapters aren't necessarily going to be anything like their genetic primogenitors.