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my cousin has got me into the game, but we both know little about playing. He's read countless books and knows the lore. I have not.

I am a traditional artist by trade. Painting / sculpting and I have some custom work I'm already planning.

Anywho..

What is the difference between say mark II armour and mark IV aside from aesthetics? I under stand mk II is a little closer to heresy days, no?

Would competitive players have an issue with using some gear from 30k if it were derelict and rusted all to hell? It would use 40k stats but would just appear as if it's a relic, is that taboo? (weapons)

If I sculpted and reworked the shoulders and legs, to something a little more dark angelish, while running blood angel flags and rules, would there be an issue?

If I make a homegrown blood angel descendent chapter or successor, I would use the blood angel codex, right? Or since it's technically my own chapter, can I do what I want?

I read somewhere that trees should be moveable on a table since units may charge through...what if I don't want tanks to be able to get through? The map would be more...terrain / tactically orientated, is that a bad thing? As in your bigger units might have to go the long way.

Can normal space marines, use shields? I've only found storm shields (on terms) and the breach squad shields. Also, I have been unable to find any information with regard to point cost or stats.

I was searching about on forge world and there were many different types of bolters, the style doesn't matter correct? The bayonet is aesthetic and doesn't have point cost?

I apologize if the questions seem ridiculous.

1. Mk IV is just the more modern version. It has some differences in the fluff. Nothing in the game as far as I know.

2. If it's purely an aesthetic change nobody will complain (probably) but if you have things like "this melta gun is actually a flamer" some people would probably object.

3. I don't see why.

4. You can use whatever marine codex you like. Space Wolves, vanilla, either of the Angels. I'd just clarify with your opponent which it is.

5. You could just say with whoever you play with "Trees are impassable to vehicles."

6. Depends on your codex. I think some Vanilla SM's can take combat shields but generally your only shields are on Terminators and HQ's.

7. Nope. As long as its clear what it is nobody should mind.

Mk2 is ancient. Old even during the Heresy. Mk4 is good for the Heresy, Mk7 is the most common 40k armor. Mk3 is the most common 'hardened' armor and there is a special rule on some units called 'Void Hardened Armor' which lets you reroll failed Armor Saves when hit by Blast weapons. There's a few more special rules in with it too. Now, you don't HAVE to keep with that style. You can have a unit with that rule in Mk7 or Mk2 or whatever else you want. Mk8 is also commonly used for a 2+ save style troop like Honour Guard and Sanguinary Guard, but that's just what it comes with in the box and again isn't forced on you and anyone can wear Mk8.

There are rules about using 30k units in 40k games. Like tanks. It's literally called Relics of the Armoury. Because the rules are there, you are expected to use them if you try to bring the unit to 40k. Not every Heresy era unit is allowed and not every one allowed has the Relic restrictions. Things like a 30k Tactical Squad with Tigurius Pattern Bolters, that's not even a blip on the radar. A dude is a dude as long as the weapons match up reasonably.

You can make your models look like anything you want in any color you want and people that say differently can stuff it. I personally prefer to see fluff accurate things in 30k games because I play it for that aesthetic, but that is my personal feelings and I will not force someone to comply to it or criticize them for having fun differently. In 40k, I couldn't care less. It is first and foremost your hobby so have fun with it in whatever way you like.

There are rules for Tank Traps that make them impassable to vehicles but Walkers. But a major rule in 40k is to talk with your opponent beforehand about stuff and asking to have terrain restrictions like that is usually the sort of thing most players in my experience go for without a problem.

The bayonet could count as an additional CCW for squads that made that upgrade. I don't think most players would care if they had the blade or not because it's such a frivolous thing, but who knows. They were intended to be the optional CCW though in a Heresy list.

Normal Space Marines can not use shields. You have to have a unit that is equipped with them unless you're going for some big conversion project theme in which case your entire army might look different than what is usually used. But take a look at the link below. It is an alternative army list where you can give your Tacticals and other models shields that have an impact on the game. It's an unusual list with some weighty restrictions on what you can do because you can't take certain units that are very good at the minute. But, with how army building works now, you can bring multiple detachments to go around those rules and still get what you wanted out of these units AND include those competitive units.

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/resources/fw_site/fw_pdfs/Warhammer_40000/Siege_Assault_Vanguard_Army_List_Update.pdf

Rookbishop wrote:

What is the difference between say mark II armour and mark IV aside from aesthetics? I under stand mk II is a little closer to heresy days, no?

Mechanically? Nothing. Mk II is pre-heresy, I think.

Would competitive players have an issue with using some gear from 30k if it were derelict and rusted all to hell? It would use 40k stats but would just appear as if it's a relic, is that taboo? (weapons)

Nope. No matter the version, it's all Space Marine power armor. No one will care.

If I sculpted and reworked the shoulders and legs, to something a little more dark angelish, while running blood angel flags and rules, would there be an issue?

Nope. That's just decoration. The only issue might be if you had units of Dark Angels AND Blood Angels on the field, via allies. Then it might be confusing.

If I make a homegrown blood angel descendent chapter or successor, I would use the blood angel codex, right? Or since it's technically my own chapter, can I do what I want?

You can field your power armor guys using any one of the power armor guy codexes, provided you use ONE rules set per detachment. So Blood Angels would be fine, as would Dark Angels, Space Wolves, generic Space Marines, or Grey Knights (hell, throw Chaos Marines in there too). Just so long as it is apparent what everything is, no one cares.

I read somewhere that trees should be moveable on a table since units may charge through...what if I don't want tanks to be able to get through? The map would be more...terrain / tactically orientated, is that a bad thing? As in your bigger units might have to go the long way.

Rules wise, the tanks can still go through the trees. The reason you make the trees removable is so you don't have to balance the tank on top of the trees, potentially damaging both. If you want to have special forests that only certain units can move through, you'd have to agree to some sort of house rule before your game starts.

Can normal space marines, use shields? I've only found storm shields (on terms) and the breach squad shields. Also, I have been unable to find any information with regard to point cost or stats.

For the most part, no. Combat shields aren't used by many units. Unless the weapons options list them, they can't.

I was searching about on forge world and there were many different types of bolters, the style doesn't matter correct? The bayonet is aesthetic and doesn't have point cost?

In 40k, that's correct. (Telion is the only person who's bolter pattern is different rules wise.) 30k, I'm not so sure. For 40k, though, they are just aesthetic differences. And yes, the bayonet is just for show.

No difference between armour marks on tabletop, only if you get into some of the RPG's.

95% of players won't have any issue at all with whatever you use, as long as it roughly looks like the thing it's meant to look like. As long as it looks roughly like a bolter (and not a lasgun/pulse rifle/lascannon/powerklaw/etc), it's fine. Again, there's no difference in stats between different marks or models of bolters.

I doubt any but the most hardcore would care if you modified your BA to look a bit more like DA, as long as you specify which codex you're using and/or which unit comes from which codex if you're using allies.

Yes, you would probably use the BA codex for a BA successor chapter, though if you find that the rules don't support the vision for your army, you're totally free to use whichever marine codex you choose, though you can't just pick and choose different rules from each marine book. Again, no-one will care if you paint your dudes up in a non-founding legion colour scheme, or even if you like a DA scheme but chose to use BA rules because it fits your army better.

Generally speaking, the "map" isn't meant to be the same every single game, so having terrain be movable is handy for rules, movement, transport and storage. But yeah, as mentioned above, discuss with your opponent about the region being impassable (and even then, it still won't stop skimmers).

Some characters, all assault terminators and certain squads like a command squad have the option for stormshields that provide a 3++ all the time, some characters have the option for a combat shield that provides a 6++ in combat only. Points for specific upgrades are generally not mentioned since GW has a habit of shutting down websites that allow individual points costs to be posted. It hasn't happened in ages, but it's still a thing. Some forgeworld models/units like breacher squads have a shield by default. Forgeworld is a bit of a weird one, it's not quite GW, more of a subsidary, though it's allowed some places, tolerated others and outright banned in places too. I'd probably stay away from forgeworld for the moment until you've got a better handle on the basics (it's also really expensive, even compared to "normal" 40k).

Don't apologise for asking questions mate, helping out is one of the main purposes of the forum (and to bitch and whine about how OP stuff is and complain that your codex is too good/not good enough/gets updated too frequently/doesn't get updated frequently enough, but you'll find out all about that in a few months once you've got some games under your belt).

Rookbishop wrote:
If I make a homegrown blood angel descendent chapter or successor, I would use the blood angel codex, right? Or since it's technically my own chapter, can I do what I want?

Theoretically, it is yours and you can do what you want with it. Having said that, you may encounter certain people that believe having a game is an experience that revolves around them, in which case woe-betide you if you have your guys modelled and painted as blood angels while using iron hand rules. You have been warned.

Rookbishop wrote:
my cousin has got me into the game, but we both know little about playing. He's read countless books and knows the lore. I have not.

I am a traditional artist by trade. Painting / sculpting and I have some custom work I'm already planning.

Anywho..

What is the difference between say mark II armour and mark IV aside from aesthetics? I under stand mk II is a little closer to heresy days, no?

What? MK II is the oldest mark of power used by the Space Marines, invented at the finale of the Unification Wars ended by the First Legion and used during the early Great Crusade. It was later supplemented by MK III with stronger frontal armor for boarding actions, and finally replaced by MK IV, which had a superior armor (outside of the MK III mod) and a vastly superior sensor suite.

MK II however is more flexible than MK IV due to the nature of how the plates are connected (whatever nonsense that is), but has a worse armor than MK IV.

Would competitive players have an issue with using some gear from 30k if it were derelict and rusted all to hell?

Nobody should have an issue with 30k gear so long as it's legal in 40k. For example you can have Sicaran Battle Tanks so long as you have a Chaplain to take relic items, but you won't be running around with volkites.

It would use 40k stats but would just appear as if it's a relic, is that taboo? (weapons)

Weapons have the same stats unless they're completely unique to 30k, like volkites or rotar cannons.

If I sculpted and reworked the shoulders and legs, to something a little more dark angelish, while running blood angel flags and rules, would there be an issue?

Only a massive @#^%$#@# would raise a problem with that, and they'd be such a @#@#%#$ they wouldn't be worth playing with in the first place. Armor changes hands all the time in 40k, and custom made armor by artificers is a thing. Hell it's not unlikely for the Chapters or later founding Successors to exchange relic armor out of respect.

If I make a homegrown blood angel descendent chapter or successor, I would use the blood angel codex, right? Or since it's technically my own chapter, can I do what I want?

They'd use the Blood Angel codex considering they'd have the Gene Flaws of the Blood Angels, which includes the rage and bloodlust which is only represented by the Blood Angel rules. Basically Blood Angels, Space Wolves, and Dark Angels stick to their own codices either due to legion culture or mutations.

Can normal space marines, use shields? I've only found storm shields (on terms) and the breach squad shields. Also, I have been unable to find any information with regard to point cost or stats.

Off the top of my head in 40k Vanguard Veterans, and IIRC Assault Marines can get them, although I probably am wrong on that. Not sure on blood angels, never really looked into them.

I was searching about on forge world and there were many different types of bolters, the style doesn't matter correct? The bayonet is aesthetic and doesn't have point cost?

Their differences are so minor they only change if they're special stalker bolters. Otherwise the differences can only be represented by Fantasy Flight's d20, same with the stat differences of space marine power armor marks.

Wow thanks for the replies.

That confirms everything I was leaning towards. Awesome. Great help. Thank you.