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I'm making an Ultramarine Helmet. Would it be appropriate to add kill markings to the helmet? I'm thinking a simple tally.
Thanks,
David

Considering Space Marines kill dozens of enemies per engagement, and many many more when against things like human, Ork and Tyranid hordes, no. There's just not reason to have tallies that go into that sort of number. Realistically, you wouldn't see any tally given the scale of the model. A Marine would keep it tiny, so it would end up being microscript on the model similar to what we put on the purity seals. Little wiggles to represent text we can't make out. Especially on an Ultramarine where decorum is an important thing.

That said, they're your models and do what you like and I can guarantee you that someone somewhere is going to agree that it's a cool idea. I am just a party pooper.

Well perhaps it's monstrous creature kills. Anyway, it's not a miniature. I'm making full scale helmet, so painting about 12 tallies wouldn't be that big of a deal. Do you think the idea of tallying kills fits with the Ultramarines?

Do it for character kills.


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Doe is fit the Ultra MO? Not really, they're perfectionists, and like to pretend they're not arrogant. It'd work on any overly-competitive chapter, like the Fists or their successors.

 Selym wrote:
Do it for character kills.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Doe is fit the Ultra MO? Not really, they're perfectionists, and like to pretend they're not arrogant. It'd work on any overly-competitive chapter, like the Fists or their successors.

I would kind of like to bring a palette and brush and white paint to a 40k game. Each time one of my characters kills their HQ or IC units, just put a little tick mark on their shoulder pad.

I would think the Ultras would be less likely than most Legions to use kill tallies. Assuming the Ultras carry on with a Greco-Roman cultural approach they would not emphasize individual achievement over unit/group accomplishment. If an award is given for individual actions it is granted by unit leaders in recognition of the contribution. The Roman laurels and civic crown would be typical examples, and those are already worked into Ultramarine heraldry. I would go into a book of Roman military symbols, markings and awards for ideas with the Ultras.

In a Romanesque system kill markings added by the Marine himself would be seen as an unseemly act of hubris (personal pride) at the expense of the group. They would be shameful signs of self promotion, and vaguely perverse.

Trophy-takers like the Wolves or Scars might well go in for kill markings, however. As others have said, a simple kill tally would quickly run so high that it might become impractical. In that case it makes sense that Marines would only keep trophies from particularly notable and/or dangerous foes. This is exactly the behavior we see in trophy-taking chapters.

Some chapters might actually affix the trophies to their gear like fetishes as the Wolves do, or mark themselves with scars/brands like the Scars and Salamanders. More aesthetic chapters could work symbols or emblems of notable victories into their armor (which could get quite baroque on grizzled veterans).

Just some thoughts for your consideration. If you really like the kill tally go for it; with over a thousand chapters someone somewhere probably does it. But if you really want to do Ultramarines you should dig into the fluff a bit more and see if it makes sense to you.

My two cents.

Since Marines take so many lives per engagement, you could go by the rule of cool and say each tick represents a high-ranking enemy, perhaps a captain, a general, a 'named' opponent, etc.

Each tick would 'weigh' more trophy-wise, and one soldier with many ticks would be a certified bod-mon.

Dated fluff is dated, but back in the RT painting guide, the UM dev marine is sporting a number of kill markings on his launcher.

Tbf, as you say, RT was long before much of the current fluff was codified.

1 tick per thousand kills on the back of the gauntlet that fits the hand that squeezes the bolter's trigger.