The Purgators

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**4oursword**

A Chapter from the 42nd Founding originally descended from the Salamanders, The Purgators are based on the civilized world of Chronium, situated at the Eastern Fringe of Ultima Segmentum. Unlike most Chapters, they totally reject the Codex Astartes in every way, due to a single climatic battle with the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Deoxys upon their very home world in M40. At this time, the Chapter specialized in boarding actions but followed the Codex to the letter. The battle dragged on unrelenting for three years, causing the once-prosperous planet to be emptied of all non-military personnel. By the blood of the noble Astartes, not a single civilian fell to the Xenos onslaught, as warriors clad in precious suits of Terminator armour blocked entrance ports with their armoured bulk and the bodies of countless fallen Tyranids, and mighty warriors deployed in perfection to cut the unclean Xenos down with hails of precision bolter fire.

However, the Tyranids adapted.

Roughly a year after the beginning of the conflict, the Tyranids shifted their focus from using Gaunts to mightier and far larger beasts such as Carnifex and Harpies. The warriors found their bolters useless against the chitin of their unstoppable foes, and the Purgators began to lose the battle. The Chapter Master, Trainor Kal asked the Lord Of The Ultramarines, Marneus Calgar, for aid and advice during a brief respite in the fighting, and was met a month later by the Ultramarines 1st and 2nd companies, led by Captain Agemann and Captain Sicarius. These veteran warriors began to turn the tide, but when the Chapter Master fell after smiting a brood of loathsome Hive Tyrants in close combat, all seemed lost. Then salvation appeared. The Purgators' 4th Captain, Hastelan, took command, but was at first unable to stem the tide. After a bloody battle, however, Hastelan noticed the relative ease with which some of the Imperial Guard reinforcements seemed to beat back the unholy tide- specifically an armoured regiment hailing from Myrmidion. When the Tyranids used Trygons to shatter the Chimeras which the men hid in, Hastelan led his veterans to the battle and tore the Multi-Lasers from the vehicle's turrets. Pausing only to calm the weapon's raging Machine Spirits, the squad turned their weapons upon the horde.

More to follow.

**4oursword**

Sorry folks, accidental new post. I'll edit this out with juicy new fluff later!

**Blacksails**

Okay, so here are my thoughts/corrections on your fluff.

As for the founding, the latest founding was the 26th founding, so you'd just have to pick a different founding number before then.

As for the codex astartes thing; many people have a deep understanding of what the codex is and isn't. The codex is not a pamphlet given out to new chapters stating how they are to organize a chapter. It is not simply a book going into the details of how to strip and assemble a bolter. The codex astartes is a compilation of the thoughts and teachings of every great military leader since the heresy. It is a chronicle of every major campaign and battle every to be recorded by someone, and a tactical, operational, and strategic analysis thereof.

Chapters that are codex divergent still revere the codex as a great source of military teachings, and simply pick and choose what suits their particular style, as well as how to organize a chapter. To completely abandon the codex, particularly so young in a chapter's life is very far-fetched. Losing a battle against the Tyranids would not call for a complete abandonment of the teaching of the codex. The chapter would adapt, and seek to add their own knowledge to it for other chapters in the future.

In short, it comes across as you wanting your chapter to be different for the sake of being different. Frankly, there are more custom chapters that I've seen that either ignore the codex or diverge from it, than those that adhere to it. Ironically, making a custom chapter that adheres to the codex is in a way, more unique than a lot of other people. Just have them form some sort of Tyranid vets group like the ultrasmurfs.

Which brings me to my next point. The Bolter and Chainsword wrote a very good guide on DIY chapters, and one of the better points they make is to not 'piggy-back' on existing GW chapters, particularly the big name ones. All this does is sound lazy and look like a poor attempt at name dropping to make your chapter look cooler than everyone because Calgar or Dante or Grimnar are drinking buddies with your chapter master. Frankly, calling up the UM and getting their aid is far-fetched to begin with as the UM are likely too busy to send their entire 1st and 2nd companies to aid some fledgling chapter no one has ever heard of.

To improve it, drop out the UMs entirely, and make your own chapter the martyred heroes, as they deserve to be. You don't need the UMs, make your own chapter different and unique without the help of a pre-done chapter.

Last, and certainly not least, the first Tyranids weren't sighted until late M41. That and stating that the Tyranids adapted in such a dramatic way is unnecessary; Tyranids are always adapting to their threats. Its what they do.

**4oursword**

You are probably right everywhere.
I picked 42nd for obvious reasons if anyone has read the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, so that was a random pick.
The name-drop thing is likely going to be expanded on later, but here's a spoiler- Sicarius legs it and reports Halestan to the Inquisition for giving up the holy weapons of the Adeptus Astartes, and Agemann saves them. The Chapter then loathes the UM except for Agemann and the 1st company, who will figure in a later chapter of the story.
By abandoning the codex, I mean that the chapter's commanders kept the tactical passages, then fed the sections on wargear to the nearest grox.
I may need to change the dating system here, though- forgot about the nids, what with Genestealers being well-known for so much longer.

This bit of fluff here, which I wrote abut a year ago, sums them up pretty well. A few bits have changed, but it's pretty close.

Their homeworld was attacked by tyranids when they were a regular codex chapter. The Codex astartes could not help them, and they were almost defeated, when a Devastator Sergeant of the 4th company named Halestan inspired the squads around him to cast off the prescriptive shackles of the codex and fight with whatever weapons they could. The chapter saw the effectiveness of the multilasers taken from chimeras and adopted Halestan's doctrines. They now detest the ultramarines and all of their successors, with the exeption of the Mentors, and many believe them to be a Salamanders successor chapter. Unusually, any psykers in the ranks of their chapter or from their homeworld are removed from their positions and entombed in one of the Chapter's own titans. Regulum Mortis, Halestan's Victory, and Storm of Purgation are all mighty constructs shielded with the souls of thousands of psykers, and firing huge torrents of flame and lightning from their titanic hands. So mighty are these warlord-sized titans, that they are capable of warp travel and flight without aid, all due to the powerful psykers giving their lives to the Emperor.

They also get pariahs.

**Blacksails**

Okay, now take the next bits of what I'm going to say however you like, but I'm a firm believer that we all share this universe and for us to create custom stuff in it we have to obey some basic fluff rules and established facts.

Space Marines do not have titans. Titans are the sole property of the Adeptus Mechanicus and their respective titan legions. Titans are parceled out to deal with particularly extreme threats and promptly returned to await their next battle.

Space Marines do not use multi-lasers. Its not so much because of any established rule, but more so because they don't need them. What does a multi-laser do that an assault cannon can't? Or a heavy bolter? Or any other weapon the Astartes have access to? Quite simply, Space Marines already have a weapon for any purpose. Multi-lasers exist because of their ease of manufacture and simplicity; much like a lasgun. That's why the IG use them and the Space Marines get EVERY other weapon known to the Imperium of Man. I read a quote somewhere form a forum user on another 40k forum, and I think it fits here. The quote goes something like this: The Codex Astartes; pigeon-holing the space marines into supreme tactical and strategic flexibility since M31. Basically, the codex astartes wants space marines to be flexible and adapt as need be. It explains that there is a weapon available to each marine for each situation.

Multi-lasers are not the answer. Ultramarines are not the answer. Captain Agemann is not the answer. Using multi-lasers is not heresy because they simply would never use or need them. I still don't think you need to even mention the Ultramarines. It still sounds like you're trying to make them (or the first company anyways) your chapter's drinking buddies.

Your chapter can hate psykers all you want, which is fine and a good way to build character, but you should have a reason why they hate them, and have them do something with them other than interring them in titans that your chapter doesn't have.

**4oursword**

Blacksails wrote:Okay, now take the next bits of what I'm going to say however you like, but I'm a firm believer that we all share this universe and for us to create custom stuff in it we have to obey some basic fluff rules and established facts.

Space Marines do not have titans. Titans are the sole property of the Adeptus Mechanicus and their respective titan legions. Titans are parceled out to deal with particularly extreme threats and promptly returned to await their next battle.The titans was an idea from after I read A Thousand Sons, a relic that was scavenged as a trophy and then re-powered up, similar to Canis Vertex

Space Marines do not use multi-lasers. Its not so much because of any established rule, but more so because they don't need them. What does a multi-laser do that an assault cannon can't? Or a heavy bolter? Or any other weapon the Astartes have access to? Quite simply, Space Marines already have a weapon for any purpose. Multi-lasers exist because of their ease of manufacture and simplicity; much like a lasgun. That's why the IG use them and the Space Marines get EVERY other weapon known to the Imperium of Man. I read a quote somewhere form a forum user on another 40k forum, and I think it fits here. The quote goes something like this: The Codex Astartes; pigeon-holing the space marines into supreme tactical and strategic flexibility since M31. Basically, the codex astartes wants space marines to be flexible and adapt as need be. It explains that there is a weapon available to each marine for each situation. Which, in this case, is a powerful, long-ranged weapon which is easy to manufacture.

Multi-lasers are not the answer. Ultramarines are not the answer. Captain Agemann is not the answer. Using multi-lasers is not heresy because they simply would never use or need them. I still don't think you need to even mention the Ultramarines. It still sounds like you're trying to make them (or the first company anyways) your chapter's drinking buddies.

Your chapter can hate psykers all you want, which is fine and a good way to build character, but you should have a reason why they hate them, and have them do something with them other than interring them in titans that your chapter doesn't have.

**Blacksails**

Why multi-lasers? You're basing your entire chapter's rejection of the codex on one dude who wanted to use a multi-laser. Space Marines don't care about how easy it is to manufacture a weapon because they get the best stuff anyways. If you're basing the power of a multi-laser off of in-game stats (a flawed method, I might add) then the assault cannon has a higher rate of fire and more punch and only slightly less range, and the heavy bolter is less powerful but packs a more powerful punch against armoured enemies. I don't see a marine ever turning to use a multi-laser because its a better choice and magically turns the tide of a battle nearly lost.

Honestly, it just doesn't make any sense about the whole multi-laser thing. Unless you have some kind of multi-laser obsession, I'd drop that whole idea entirely. Its not needed for your chapter and you can create a lot of character with this climactic battle against the Tyranids without mutli-lasers and Ultramarines. Your chapter will sound infinitely better if you focus on developing the chapter itself without name-dropping other chapters and using typically non-astartes weaponry for no real reason. Focus on how the battle changed the chapter and their tactics.

Do they have some sort of Tyrannic vets? Did the death of their Chapter Master affect them? In what ways? What about their fleet? Did they change their structure, and why? How did their fighting style change?

Answer those questions to help get a feel for what your marines are like after the battle.

**4oursword**

I must admit, you've picked my ideas apart so much that it's actually quite demoralizing. However, you are correct. Again.
Forget the whole thing.

**1+1_2x2_3^3**

Dont give up some people are very critical of what a space marine chapter should be like. I cant wait to see their faces when GW gives Black Templar Successor Chapters in their new codex.

There is nothing wrong with requesting and getting aid from other chapters, there is nothing wrong with saying your chapter does not use the codex. (pg 9 of the space wolf codex) In fact I believe the Space wolfs and Black Templar use it for toliet paper any ways do not give up if anything make it less specific.

Most of the critics want specific of how and whys but in reality the only way to deal with 40k fluff is to make it cloudy or surrounded in mystery where those type of questions remain a question.

So do not give in because of critics you will not get anywhere in life like that however he is just a critic and trying to help out and he has alot of valid points. His intentions were not to make you give in but to steer you in the right direction.

**Blacksails**

The last thing I wanted was to for you to give up hope and abandon this idea. I come across harsh, and I'm aware of that, but I also hate when people beat around the issue with me, so I get straight to the point. I do, however, apologize if I was too harsh in my critique. You can always ignore me and carry on.

I'm a firm believer that in our shared universe, if someone creates a custom 'X', I have to picture my custom 'Y' fighting with or against your custom stuff, and if I can't because of blatant fluff errors, I will comment to adjust it to a common ground that everyone can agree with.

I am by no means some sort of fluff expert. I\ve been playing 40k for a little over a year, but I've gone through every codex many many times and read through the lexicanum regularly. I make mistakes and there are still many fluff holes I need to fill.

I am also writing my own fluff for a custom chapter. The critique I've received has been harsh, to the point, and brutally honest; nearly to the point of insulting my writing abilities. Its rough, but its probably the best advice I've ever received on any piece of writing I've ever written, including my final 30 page paper in university. My chapter still has a long way to go, but I honestly feel when its done, it will be infinitely better than what I ever hoped it'd be.

Anyways, I can only hope you take away the constructive bits of what I've said, and make your chapter greater than you could have imagined it could be. I suggest you take a look around the Bolter and Chainsword on the Liber Astartes board for your DIY needs.

**1+1_2x2_3^3**

I would love to read your writing Blacksails mind providing a link?

I dislike Bolter and Chainsword liber astartes section there are literally a handful of writers who believe that they can dictate how it should be done, and some seem to get pleasure by being harsh to people. I think that their ways is unnecessary but yeah give me a link.

**Blacksails**

Personally, I like B&C, and they know their stuff. They spend a lot of time pouring over all the sources and trying to reconcile seemingly contradictory claims into a cohesive thought. Granted, they are rough, but for people like me who has received nothing but "oh that's nice", "I like it", and "looks good" comments my whole life its refreshing to hear people's brutally honest opinions and thoughts. I am perfectly free to ignore people in some claims, but for the most part, I've taken most thoughts and opinions into consideration.

Here's the link: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?showtopic=241426

Its still very much so a work in progress and its in transition. The only thing I'm firmly settled on is the homeworld and the combat doctrine, but the rest is still up in the air.

The point is, while you're free to do as you wish in the 40k universe, its challenging, fun, and brings more reward to ensure the chapter conforms to certain fluff facts and in-universe logic. A lot of people agree, because claims of making a Grey Knight successor chapter that turns to chaos and kills an entire sector is just silly. I tend to lean on the stricter side of fluff adherence, but hey, someone's gotta do it.

To the OP, seriously, don't give up. Give it a good look, and make them the heroes they deserve to be. Forge them in the heart of battle and let them emerge their own chapter, independent of outside help and stronger because of it.

**4oursword**

Thanks for clearing that up, I'm converting the first Purgator next week- with Multi-Laser.

The basic idea was that I wanted a chapter that personified me- so disliking smurfs and not armed with bolters- Iconic as they are, I find it hard it hard to believe that Marines can't fire and assault. By arming them with heavy laser weapons, I address the issue in my own way. I've been writing rules for them for a long time, too.

Your stuff's good, though.