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Do you know that feeling of not being able to decide between the whopping 9 or rather 18 Space Marine chapters we get to choose from?

The backstory of 40K has been what really got me into the game, and I miss the days when there were so awesome short stories in our rule books and codices that I would read them again and again! Whst I want to get at is that fluff and aestetic has always played a big role when I'd pick a new army, and right now I'm in a bit of a bind. I'm not in a rush but I like having things 'settled' but I can't decide on which Space Marine chapter I like best - loyalists and heretics.

I used to play Dark Angels as my first army, but the brooding and hostile nature doesn't appeal to me anymore. Right now I've got a handful of Space Wolves, but after reading Prospero Burns and Thousand Sons I find them too barbaric and too easily manipulated.

Ultramarines are kinda bland and too aloof. Salamanders and Imperial Fists I only know very little about, but at least the yellow armor isn't all that hot imo. Blood Angels are pretty cool, and Sanguinus seemed like a good guy, but the whole blood drinking stuff - not sure about that.

White Scars I don't like for their mongolian flavour, but Raven Guard could be interesting with their stealth background.

Same with heretics. For example Iron Warriors are super cool, but Perturabo having them kill off every tenth legionnaire as his first order? What the...?

Anyway, I could ramble on and on but yeah, tell me what YOU love about your chosen chapter/legion fluff wise!

Having a similar thought process myself - my 40k SM army is Dark Angels, but that's mostly a combination of my favourite colour being green, and that when I started my gaming group already had UM, SW and BA (back when these four were the only chapters that got much attention).

That said, I still like them. Yes, the flagelistic nature of The Hunt and the allied forces they put to the bullet to protect it's secret is stupid, but this is 40k, every faction has something stupid about it - it's the grim-dark end of the world (/galaxy)!

With the release of the Betrayal at Calth box set, I'm considering picking up 30k, but not sure what chapter to go with. None of the HH black library books paint the Lion as the sort of Primarch I'd want to follow (manipulated, blinkered, stuck chasing Curze's tail instead of doing something about the Heresy). That may change with more background, and we haven't seen their Legion rules yet.

At the moment though, I'm thinking a Shattered Legions army (Iron Hands, Raven Guard and Salamanders) if I'm able to do that (I think that's what's rumoured in the upcoming part 6?), but maybe I'm just indecisive!

I love me some Dark Angels and Iron Hands.

Dark Angels because their backstory is great, and anything to do with the fallen is awesome (Cypher is the man!)

Iron Hands I love mainly because I do love me some big stompy robots and anything mech-related, plus they're one of the few chapters who are on good terms with the AdMech (Bionic Bros!)

Saying that, I'm currently reading A Thousand Sons by Graham McNeil, awesome book, love the 1K Sons because their story is one of trying to do the right thing, but failing horribly by no fault of their own (imo).

I love my Ultramarines. First off I just like the color blue. When I first got into the 40k universe (not the game mind you, just the universe) the very first novel I got was the Ultramarine's omnibus. That's where I fell in love. I liked them even more when I began to look at the models for them, the whole space roman angle was something that I liked, and still like to this day. I also like how the Ultramarines have spent the many years since their Primarch was put into stasis doing their best to live up to his ideals. They do their best to stay true to his teachings. I like that, and while I do enjoy those chapters who like to bend the rules a little bit, Ultramarines are still my favorite.

I like me some Black Templars. Sci Fi Knights Templar, with a penchant for stabbing donkey-caves in the face while shouting "BURN THE WITCH"? Helz yea. It also helps that they have a stock of badass characters, and actively spurn the Codex Astartes (a thing that appeals to me as an avid hater of Ultramarines).

Nice to see my army is appreciated eh Selym?

The art, background and fan adaptations of the more notable characters.

I had ages deciding on which SM legion I wanted to do. I knew I wanted it to be fast, so I whittled it down to BA and WS.

Mongols or spess vampires...ooh. I went with BA after realising they spoke to me more but to be honest, the mongols are highly cultured in their own right, poetry is highly valued in their culture.

Never cared for Ultramarines. We are the best of the best (I'd give that to the Salamanders, they care more about non-SM humanity).

One thing I did like about the Exterminatus fluff after reading through is the last BA to leave the system came across a lone guardsmen cowering in fear as the planet was about to be destroyed and they locked eyes. Without hesitation, the BA carried him to the evacuation point.

There is yet hope for the Black Rage.

 War Kitten wrote:
Nice to see my army is appreciated eh Selym?

It's nothing personal

...Well, not against you anyhow...

I have played Dark Angels, Red Scorpions and Grey Knights. In the case of the Grey Knights and the Red Scorpions, I enjoy their focus on purity, lots of purging the unclean and such. The fact that they manage to be such incredible donkey caves at the same time is just icing on the cake. These guys will destroy the enemy as well as allied forces if they believe it necessary. The galaxy is not a nice place, and these chapters make it even nastier for the enemies of man (and man)!

As for the dark angels, I do enjoy being a force that is trying to redeem itself from past failures, it lends a sense of nobility to their cause. I also just love interrogator-chaplains. Obviously for the angry monk aesthetic, but also for some of the crap they come out with.

"Repent before you die!"

"It is my sacred duty to save your soul from the Dark Gods of Chaos, and I will save your soul. Even if you die in the process."

They're also donkey-caves.

I'm sensing a theme here...

World Eaters in 30k are decent. Their color scheme differs significantly from the 40k Bezerker "bloody" scheme.

I've always had trouble sticking with a certain space marine legion. Blood Angels will always be one of my top favorites. The clash between being noble and sucumbing to the black rage is intriguing. The angelic blood thirsty vampires draped in robes with the red and black armor is awesome.
Space wolves is one I haven't seen mentioned yet. I love the space Viking werewolves! Lol. TWC are definitely out there, but it's 40k. I paint mine in the traditional baby blue scheme and I really like the way it looks.
Lastly Dark Angels. I think DW knights are my favorite unit of the loyalist marines. Although i don't have much dark angel stuff, I'll eventually have some.

That's it for the loyalist side for me.

Blood Angels are my favourite post heresy legion.
They survived Horus' ambush and managed to get to Terra to defend it unlike most loyal legions.
Horus himself said Sanguinius was the best of the primarchs.
Sanguinius was and is the most loved of the primarchs despite the fact he should be hated as a mutant.
Sanguinius gave the ultimate sacrifice by both giving his life and cursing his legion.
My favourite colour is red.
Dante is one of, if not the, most respected marines in the galaxy with Calgar and Tu'shun putting their forces under his command at the 2nd war for Armageddon.
Blood Angels care about the little guy.

My favourite pre-heresy legion would be Luna Wolves because the didn't fanny around and got sh*t done. Also Horus was a pretty cool guy before Erebus showed up.

9 or 18? There's roughly 1000 chapters.

I've been playing forever, always liked the whole create your own chapter since it really opens things up. Mine are a successor chapter to Imperial Fists, so I'd go with them if I had to choose. I love sieges and urban settings for games, the up and close fighting is always intense. IF excel there in the back story. I like their new chapter tactcs since I love heavy bolters.

I like Salamanders because they're all warrior-smiths, and the self-sufficiency taught by the Promethean Cult. The other characteristics are certainly appealing as well, but that first part is really what stands out for me.

Alpha Legion. It's a well-kept secret that every single space marine is actually a member of the alpha legion

The only SM army I ever was interested in are the Space Wolves. I originally was told that they were Vikings in Space, and that is how I have always seen them regardless of what the haters have tried to say, or what ridiculous direction that GW has written on some of the more recent fluff.

I love the space wolf pack box with all of its iconography, pelts, runes, etc. Some of the best bits GW has ever put into the basic troop box.

My chapter is called Shounen Ninjas. It is led by the Khorne-marked Chaos Lord Naruto who dual wields a Lightning Claw and Power Fist while possessing a Daemonheart and jump pack. Some of the things I like about my chapter include the color scheme (everything is Orange with black and blue trim and red highlights), the fluffy army list (raptors, more raptors, even more raptors, warp talons, and raptor psyker sorcerers with daemon summoning no jutsu) and the playstyle (close combat blob units with high speed and tons of attacks).

I like that my newer Chaos marines don't look like the ones I painted [sic] in 2008

Definitely Black Templars because Teutonic Knights in SPHESS - and because I am a fanboy of Sigismund; he really captured my appreciation for him with his only war bit of dialogue.

Other than BT, I'd have to say that I dig the Iron Hands and the Grey Knights. Iron Hands for the good fluff and being allied to my favorite faction (AdMech), and Grey knights because of The Emperor's Gift by Aaron-Demski Bowden.

Although I field an army of ultramarines, I'm changing to salamanders after I read several articles(can't remember where :(.) where salamanders would charge through someplace in Armageddon to save a few mere hummies as one of the other chapters said "oh hell naw, we ain't risking our lives for umies, just bomb it or something"
What appeals to me is the fact that not many chapters (exluding space wolves, raven guard, blood angels etc) would outright disobey orders, but risk their entire chapter investigation by the ordo maleus. Again, it was most likely a fanfic, but still, fire appeals to me very much also.

I love the Crimson Fists because they are trying to rebuild after being nearly destroyed. They are an underdog. My favorite color is blue, but I didn't want to play Ultramarines. The fact that most of the Chapter has an asymmetrical color scheme was interesting to me as well. But, the part I liked most is that because they are rebuilding from almost nothing, it mirrors how I started them from nothing. Now I have an entire Battle Battle Company and then some. I really like Pedro Kantor's rules and his model as well. Making Sternguard ObSec is really cool. I run two squads as a result.

I like the Blood Angels for their dichotomy. On one hand, they are some of the most noble Space Marines and fight to protect the little guy. On the other hand, they can fly into a Berzerker rage and accidentally harm innocents. They want to be good and noble, but that means conquering their dark side. I also really like Jump Packs, so much of what I own comes equipped with them (except my Tactical Squad, and that is fine). It is a pity the rules really make Jump Packs suck. Of they somehow became better at Jump Assault, I would actually use my Blood Angels. And that is a pity, since Blood Angels were almost my first army due to reading their fluff YEARS before I started the game.

 Quanar wrote:
Having a similar thought process myself - my 40k SM army is Dark Angels, but that's mostly a combination of my favourite colour being green, and that when I started my gaming group already had UM, SW and BA (back when these four were the only chapters that got much attention).

That said, I still like them. Yes, the flagelistic nature of The Hunt and the allied forces they put to the bullet to protect it's secret is stupid, but this is 40k, every faction has something stupid about it - it's the grim-dark end of the world (/galaxy)!

With the release of the Betrayal at Calth box set, I'm considering picking up 30k, but not sure what chapter to go with. None of the HH black library books paint the Lion as the sort of Primarch I'd want to follow (manipulated, blinkered, stuck chasing Curze's tail instead of doing something about the Heresy). That may change with more background, and we haven't seen their Legion rules yet.

At the moment though, I'm thinking a Shattered Legions army (Iron Hands, Raven Guard and Salamanders) if I'm able to do that (I think that's what's rumoured in the upcoming part 6?), but maybe I'm just indecisive!

Exalted this is why I love the DA. They're flawed, and I think that makes for much more interesting stories than some of the MarySue Legions.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Jayden63 wrote:
The only SM army I ever was interested in are the Space Wolves. I originally was told that they were Vikings in Space, and that is how I have always seen them regardless of what the haters have tried to say, or what ridiculous direction that GW has written on some of the more recent fluff.

I love the space wolf pack box with all of its iconography, pelts, runes, etc. Some of the best bits GW has ever put into the basic troop box.

I would actually love the Space Wolves if they were more Vikings and less Furries


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Arkaine wrote:
My chapter is called Shounen Ninjas. It is led by the Khorne-marked Chaos Lord Naruto who dual wields a Lightning Claw and Power Fist while possessing a Daemonheart and jump pack. Some of the things I like about my chapter include the color scheme (everything is Orange with black and blue trim and red highlights), the fluffy army list (raptors, more raptors, even more raptors, warp talons, and raptor psyker sorcerers with daemon summoning no jutsu) and the playstyle (close combat blob units with high speed and tons of attacks).

This actually sounds hilarious and must be a joy to play against

Main chapter I'm starting up is lamenters. Wanted to up my game as a painter and lord knows the Lamenter scheme is tailor made to cause suffering.

Not to mention I love their background. These guys singlehandedly invded a planet called SLAUGHTERHOUSE III just to save enslaved civilian s when no one else would. They constantly fighr for what they feel is right, no matter how many times destiny or fate ses to stab them in the back. That persistence they have, refusing to give up on their mission no matter the odds to save their fellow man, really drew them to me.

I also collect black templars as an ally, because they're so different and have a ton of awesome characters and lore. Not to mention it gives me a break from yellow and lets me have stuff Lamenters typically wouldn't have, like scouts or dreads

I like the fluff for my own Chapter because I made everything up myself. I chose a Blood Angel background for them because I like the way they look. Hard to figure out what it exactly is about their look that I like though.

Space Wolves I like because their beards make them look awesome. Who doesn't love space vikings with epic beards?

I loved Word Bearers because I love the scripting on their armour, and their colour contrasts well with my other armies (purple - Dark Eldar and black - Eldar) making them a blast to paint. Because of their devotion to all four gods I can take whatever I want from whichever major cult - and because of this the opportunities for conversions are endless!

So, the lists are fun to make and flexible. They're a blast to paint, and amazing for conversions. I love their lore. Yup, best legion.

Also, please go to Forge World and look at the Gal Vorbak. Take a good few minutes to actually look at them properly.

Case made. I love the buggers.

Space Wolves are my favourite. Because they are furry.

Taffy17 wrote:
Blood Angels are my favourite post heresy legion.
They survived Horus' ambush and managed to get to Terra to defend it unlike most loyal legions.
Horus himself said Sanguinius was the best of the primarchs.
Sanguinius was and is the most loved of the primarchs despite the fact he should be hated as a mutant.
Sanguinius gave the ultimate sacrifice by both giving his life and cursing his legion.
My favourite colour is red.
Dante is one of, if not the, most respected marines in the galaxy with Calgar and Tu'shun putting their forces under his command at the 2nd war for Armageddon.
Blood Angels care about the little guy.

My favourite pre-heresy legion would be Luna Wolves because the didn't fanny around and got sh*t done. Also Horus was a pretty cool guy before Erebus showed up.

Pretty much this. There's a short story where Dante fights a chaos sorcerer that throws some kind of "be haunted by your memories" spell that should work exceptionally well on him given his age. The sorcerer boasts that the spell should've drained decades off his life. So Dante takes off his mask, shows his face and asks if he looks like he cares before axeing him.

I liked mephiston, but he was really just thrown into the sidelines in exterminatus. Literally one combat in and he was shipped off to the medics for the rest of the story.

The Sanguinor would be neater if his omgwtf performance in storyline were actually possible on the table.

I like having so many special characters fleshed out.

Most of the 'main' chapters are shown to care for humans (Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Salamanders, Space Wolves Raven Guard). The Ultramarines run a well ordered system, where the majority of the population lives comfortably as they perform their duties. Guilliman's feud with Alpharius was over Alpharius wasting lives, resources, and time when they could have forced compliance with a lot less bloodshed, and left a relatively stable government instead of the riots the Alpha Legion left.

Of course, every chapter looks like saints compared to the Cacharadons, Iron Hands and Minotaurs...

My favourite legion is the Ultramarines Legion. Guilliman being the relatively sane one of the group of Primarchs, the loyalist son who didn't look up to the Emperor like a father, led the Imperium out of the Heresy and gave it up after he did what was necessary.

The second favourite is Dorn and the Fists.

It's funny, my brothers favorite colour is blue, and mine red, but I ended up playing the blue army...

 TheManWithNoPlan wrote:
I loved Word Bearers because I love the scripting on their armour, and their colour contrasts well with my other armies (purple - Dark Eldar and black - Eldar) making them a blast to paint. Because of their devotion to all four gods I can take whatever I want from whichever major cult - and because of this the opportunities for conversions are endless!

So, the lists are fun to make and flexible. They're a blast to paint, and amazing for conversions. I love their lore. Yup, best legion.

Also, please go to Forge World and look at the Gal Vorbak. Take a good few minutes to actually look at them properly.

Case made. I love the buggers.

Thanks for so many cool replies! Traitor Legiones are welcome, too btw!

I used to really like the Word Bearers, exactly for the reasons you list. Then I read The First Heretic. And I was like ... no, I can't get behind that. I mean, you have to be shocked at how the Emperor handled the Word Bearers what with Monarchia, but still - turning to Chaos willingly and with open eyes? Slaughtering your brothers in cold blood (Istvaan)? I don't want to play them anymore.