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Help me out guys, I have done lots of research, fluff wise, but I want some input from experience on how the armies play, customization with armies and viability of said armies. also, which color scheme do you like better?

Plays both.

I'm a DA nut. I love the fluff and the army....the secrets and the hunt.

For the most part, you can field a Company from the DA's and from the Ultra's without there being any difference....but it is the differences that count!

The think the DA's miss most is anti-air. You could easily bring along an allied force to compensate for this and bring along some more of the new shiney too if you want....but the big selling point for me is the Deathwing and the Ravenwing...
DWKs = S10 initiative attacks? Yes please!
DWTs = deep striking with re-rolls and splitfire? YUP!
RWBKs = one of the most versatile units in our 'dex

Downside? No sternguard or vanguard, mediocre anti-air (not including Mortis-pattern dreads) and those new grav weapons look SWEET

I have about 3K of DA and about 10K of Ultras.

To me, the ultras are more fun/flexible and usually have better rules 80% of the time (brief moments when the DA updates are better before the next SM codex hits).

Greenwing and UM are both pretty easy to paint and I like both schemes. Ravenwing is crazy easy to paint, but DW can be tricky.

I'm working on 3 companies of dark angels troops. I play dark anges with sm allies

The problem with getting a good read is a new SM codex just came out, so and Codex:Space Marine armies are going to start playing differently.

I say go DA. They have specific pieces in the new starter set which should give a taste of everything. Plus there's the reasons Moogy listed. I have thought about using allies in the same way myself.

The like of sternguard and vanguard sadden me though, thats like, the only reason way :/ plus I like blue a lil better than green


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also the fact that DA CM is on the weaker side when it comes to fighting

Play a generic painted chapter with both. My minotaurs chapter will have a Full bike wing, a fully specialized assault wing, etc...

It will be able to play any codex I please at any time as long as I buy the models. Therefore I paint one scheme.

If you want to win, ultramarines...

I hate to say it, since I LOVE my Dark Angels, but you probably want to play Space Marines and paint them in a color that could be a DA successor chapter letting you play your army as either/or. It's pretty easy with the Tactical Marines, bikes are also decently easy as having all the wings are just pretty and they're still playable as SM bikes (plus they're cheaper to get your hands on). There are obviously exclusive units that you'll want to use, but if you're playing with friends then you can fudge it a little bit to make those models dual purpose.

spamthulhu wrote:
Play a generic painted chapter with both. My minotaurs chapter will have a Full bike wing, a fully specialized assault wing, etc...

It will be able to play any codex I please at any time as long as I buy the models. Therefore I paint one scheme.

If you have the means, this is a good way to go.

I think UM is the way to go for competitive play. But I am working on a custom DA successor chapter because of the fluff and models (the robed veterans) are sweet. I am building PA and TDA guys, and am going to substitute ravenwing out for Death Company (long story) because I just dont like bikes.

go DA
They have good fluff and are much less generic than ultramarines

I vote C:SM but not ultras, a number of other chapters have blue successors

DA- if you like to have fun and love the fluff. Take into account that you are not going to be the most competative chapter on the table. There are tons of options in the dex. Most people only play one part of the codex, RW,DW,GW. If you play Multi-Wing you might have a better chance. They are alos the *Under Dogs*.. I feel that from this point on any new Marine dex that drops, is going to blow DA out of the water.

UM- Power gamer chapter, Pretty much the best of the best. Still very fun, have tons of tricks and will be able to hold its own in tournys.

I love both a little more DA then UM because of the fluff, and that DA where the first Marine army i ever played back in 2000. I like everything about them.

UM's are cool i love the colors and there fluff is ok. People know once you drop them on the table that you came to play !

I'd go ultramarines as you have a more flexible list of units to choose from and their fluff is actually pretty decent.

get both becuase they work really well with each other.

 gossipmeng wrote:
their fluff is actually pretty decent.

This is a joke, right?

I enjoy the ultramarine fluff, people need to get thier knickers out of a twist and enjoy it for what it is, the smurfs are badass, but not much more so than others in the fluff. (the only part I find funny is marneus hunting down and killing the swarmlord with his barehands after the BfM)

As the others have stated and I hate to say it if you want an easy ride, play ultramarines, but if you want to play a challenging game play dark angels. The fluff for both are equally good

Perfectly blue Ultramarine Space Marine wrote:Play Ultramarines all the other SM players will be jealous of your pure superior gene seed and superior chapter master and armor color.

Or you could play Dark Angels who are not OP and hated by other chapters.

I actually do not like marneus... he feels... eh, will prob bring a CM with shield eternal and possibly a BB instead. same goes for azreal, who gets his pants handed to him in just about any duel the librarians are the real badasses of both chapters.

raiden wrote:
I actually do not like marneus... he feels... eh, will prob bring a CM with shield eternal and possibly a BB instead. same goes for azreal, who gets his pants handed to him in just about any duel the librarians are the real badasses of both chapters.

Can you please give me some fluff examples of Azrael "getting his pants handed to him" in a duel, because I've never read anything like that.

Niexist wrote:

raiden wrote:
I actually do not like marneus... he feels... eh, will prob bring a CM with shield eternal and possibly a BB instead. same goes for azreal, who gets his pants handed to him in just about any duel the librarians are the real badasses of both chapters.

Can you please give me some fluff examples of Azrael "getting his pants handed to him" in a duel, because I've never read anything like that.

It sounds to me like he means "in game", not "in the fluff".

yeah not in fluff, I havent read much of azreal even dueling anyone tbh. he is a brains over brawn CM I think, just I prefer the stronger CMs for TT :3