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As a relative newcomer to 40k, I thought I'd ask for some thoughts on the different Space Marine chapters. I've been more of a painter than a gamer, but the Black Reach box set looks exciting enough to get me to start actually playing the game. As an ork fan, I have plenty of use for those particular models, but I thought I may as well make good use for the Space Marine models by starting an army with them too. I'm guessing that a few people will be in this position too, so perhaps a thread about the different chapters might help others to choose which flavour to go for.

What I'd like, if possible, is your thoughts on what the different chapters are like to play. Tactics, unit choices and so on, especially for a beginner, would be helpful. I'm not opposed to any of them, including the Ultramarines, it's just that they seem to be all that we see at the moment. I'd like something with enough interest in the fluff, painting and gaming, but don't know enough about the different chapters to make the decision yet, especially before the new codex comes out. Also, I don't know if this discussion has been held here before, but I couldn't find it. Apologies if I'm duplicating.

Thank you all in advance.

Also, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, so if it belongs somewhere else, please feel free to move it there.

In the new book there are no chapters, you can combine any special characters from any chapter and they are the one bringing the special rules, not chosing any chapters. So nowdays there are no chapters except for the name.

But surely there are different troop choices? Like the rune priests and 13th company wulfen for the Space Wolves, or the Raven Wing for the Dark Angels?

Maybe I'm wrong though...

There is absolutely no difference between Space Marine Chapters in terms of rules.

The exceptions to this are Black Templars, Blood Angels, Dark Angels, and Space Wolves - they have their own, different Codices.

Ok, that makes sense. Any thoughts on those then?

Black templars are good. Large squads that want to assualt and have special rules that help them do it. Some of the things are dated, so are overpriced compared to the new costs in the soon to be released SM codex.

Blood Angels are good, assault squads as troops is nice. And they get death company, which is a really tough elite assault squad that you get for kinda free (you pay the cost for them in the costs for the regular units.). And their unique HQ's are top notch. A real in your face army that doesn't sacrafice as much firepower as black templars does.

Space Wolves need some new codex love. They CAN be good vs the right opponent, but vs top builds they have a rough time winning. I've mostly seen drop pod lists from people who play with them.

Dark angels is a weird army. They have Deathwing, which is a nasty list that is all termies (or nearly all, for you non-purists) and Raven wing, an all bike list which is very different conceptually from deathwing. The whole codex doesn't seem to click together very well, and as a result they are very hard to win with. They aren't quite as hard to play right as grey knights are, but they are darned close.

The funny thing is I don't really play Marines, but I've played vs all of the above. I play DE, Orks, and Sisters of Battle. As a result i fear Black Templars the most. They negate many of the advantages these lists normally have vs Space marines.

As for chapters that don't have a codex, my favorite is the white scars. I like the bikes on the field, and i don't like the fluff of Dark Angels. Salamanders in the new codex are supposed to be really good, but i can't stand the color scheme.

First off, get Space Wolves out of your head. They are running a 3rd edition codex in the 5th edition game. You don't want the headache of trying to sort out rules that are 2 editions old.

After that, I highly recommend just making up your own chapter. It means you can paint an original and intersting paint scheme rather than just doing what everyone else does. After that, you can just use whatever codex you decided you like the best.

Thanks notabot187. Exactly the sort of information I was after! It's very difficult trying to decide which chapter to go for, without having all of the knowledge of years of messing around with the marines.
I agree about the colour scheme for the salamanders and also it wouldn't contrast the orks I'm painting...

Anybody else got any helpful thoughts about the different chapters?

Thanks Phoenix. I do like the idea of making my own chapter, but it's a case of not wanting to miss out on any of the pros of the existing codexes that have cool rules - and I can't afford to buy them all and sift through them. I didn't realise that the Space Wolves codex was that out of date! So I possibly won't be going for them, which is a shame as they look cool!

Just wait for the new Space Marine codex. The spearhead is due out next month. Some shops have preview copies of the new codex to review. Very good codex with a ton of options.

Yes, but reading a codex doesn't help with what they're like to play with.... I will be getting it, of course, which will help with the fluff side of things.

InyokaMadoda wrote:Thanks Phoenix. I do like the idea of making my own chapter, but it's a case of not wanting to miss out on any of the pros of the existing codexes that have cool rules - and I can't afford to buy them all and sift through them. I didn't realise that the Space Wolves codex was that out of date! So I possibly won't be going for them, which is a shame as they look cool!

Again, you don't have to miss out on anything from other codexes. There's no rule that says your blood angles have to be red or your black templars have to be black. So paint how you want to paint and use whatever rules suit you best. That aside, blood angles work well if you want to load up on assault marines or do rhino rush. Black templars can do a hord approach rather well and have a good handle on land raider spam if that's your thing. Dark Angles are good if you want to make a ravenwing bike based army. The rest of their codex is rather sub par though so unless you are married to their fluff or something, its probably better to skip the codex. After that, the basic marine codex is the way to go for just about every other build.

Oh yah, and if you like the space wolf models, use them.

Phoenix wrote:
Again, you don't have to miss out on anything from other codexes. There's no rule that says your blood angles have to be red or your black templars have to be black.

There is one caveat here; At the GT's (and hence, at most RTT's, and hence at a good majority of pick up games) the rule about 'counts as' paintschemes is that your army can NOT be 'misleading' in it's paintjob and markings. I.E. You can't paint up your marines exaclty like Dark Angels, AND use Dark Angels Insignia, and then use Space Wolves Rules. You CAN However use the DA color scheme, and Raven Guard insignia, and Sapce Wolf rules just fine. Or vice-versa-versa (is vice-versa-versa even possible in latin? I dunno).

So what about the custom chapter traits?

My entire army is based on specialist skills, does that mean I'll have to entirely remake (and in some cases remodel) my army?

If so... could someone direct me to the closest GW designer so I can shoot someone?

What about the templar dex?

Space wolves are coming out soon however so I would look into them if you like the background a lot.

InyokaMadoda wrote:Yes, but reading a codex doesn't help with what they're like to play with.... I will be getting it, of course, which will help with the fluff side of things.

But you will have an idea of what style you would want to play. After reading the codex, you can develope an army around your concept. The new codex is so flexible you can really tailor an army to your taste, which was not nearly as easy with the current Space Marine codex, nor the other subchapter codexes. Plus, it will be brand new and you can be confident your army won't have to get overhauled by a rule change any time in the near future.

There are a couple of extremes in the other codexes: Deathwing and an all Jump Pack Marine army (Blood Angels) which you can't do with the new codex.

Sarigar wrote:

InyokaMadoda wrote:Yes, but reading a codex doesn't help with what they're like to play with.... I will be getting it, of course, which will help with the fluff side of things.

But you will have an idea of what style you would want to play. After reading the codex, you can develope an army around your concept. The new codex is so flexible you can really tailor an army to your taste, which was not nearly as easy with the current Space Marine codex, nor the other subchapter codexes. Plus, it will be brand new and you can be confident your army won't have to get overhauled by a rule change any time in the near future.

There are a couple of extremes in the other codexes: Deathwing and an all Jump Pack Marine army (Blood Angels) which you can't do with the new codex.

Well they new codex has something like deathwing if I remember correctly. Instead of the Deathwing assault you have drop pods. Pretty extreme in my book. Drop your entire army on a flank, try out those new assault dreds with the improved armor, and wrap up that flank.

The Terminators in the SM Codex will not be able to be Troop choices, like the Deathwing. DW can have nothing but Terminators for an army, which was my point as a unique army.

there isnt much difference anymore, if your just starting iwould reccomend making your own chapter, then you get to paint them as you wish.

i went for iron hands, and now regret it due to having to paint them in such colours, and getting hold of the iron hands tac squads is a nightmare.

Shrike78 wrote:So what about the custom chapter traits?

My entire army is based on specialist skills, does that mean I'll have to entirely remake (and in some cases remodel) my army?

Yes, depending on what chapter/special characters you want to use.

JD21290 wrote:there isnt much difference anymore, if your just starting iwould reccomend making your own chapter, then you get to paint them as you wish.

i went for iron hands, and now regret it due to having to paint them in such colours, and getting hold of the iron hands tac squads is a nightmare.

I think I'll probably go for my own chapter then. This seems to be the best idea, and if there is as much flexibility as people are saying for the new codex, I can then always just add troop types that I want to play with.

Can I just clarify though, that there isn't anything that I would be 'missing out on' by having my own chapter? Such as being able to play certain special characters, or particular beneficial rules that only apply to one chapter?

just go with a colour scheme you like, you dont have to make loads of fluff, you can paint them whatever colours you lie the most.
making your own special characters and themed units is alot of fun.

your missing nothing, you can ony gain from this.
just make your own chapter, dont look back and dont have any second thoughs.

Fair enough. I think I'm decided then!
Thanks to all, for their help!