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Hey guys,

I'm trying to figure a few things out about yet another attempt to write a half-decent Space Marine Chapter (so far, this is what I've got and I'm editing it as I write this). One of my problems is that one of the sentences (quoted below) may contain an error.

The Dark Talons and most of their fellow Astartes tend to avoid each other and, more often than not, will outright refuse to fight alongside each other. However, on the rare occasions that the Iron Hands make it as far as the Eastern Fringe, the Dark Talons and the Iron Hands will work together.

Now, given that the Iron Hands are based on the other side of the galaxy, the chances of the two Chapters ever working together is minuscule at best (since my custom Chapter will operate predominantly along the Eastern Fringe). So here's much question:

How far is a Space Marine Chapter likely to go from their Homeworld?

Are they likely to be limited to the Segmentum their Homeworld is in? Well they stray beyond the border of their Segmentum? Or do they travel across the length and breath of the galaxy?

Because at this point, I think they would stick to their Segmentum and/or "Local Region" of space since they're usually created for a purpose (which means that my assertion that the Iron Hands would be found in the Eastern Fringe is very, very wrong).

Cheers guys

Under particular circumstances I would guess they would go as far as they needed.

But in general I would guess they logistically would only be able to cover a certain area around there homeworld effectively. Or around an appropriate outpost of the chapter.

Obviously some chapters are "crusading" so would travel far more.

I suppose its really one of those where to suit the whimsy of a writer they can justifiably be anywhere but really? logistics and effiectiveness would limit them.

an interesting ark would be a dark talon astartes in the deathwatch. like, he refuses to speak with anyone except the iron hands techmerine or something. this way you could show the chapter thinking and how they relate to other astartes by connecting them through the deathwatch service.

A whole chapter? Wherever it is ordered to go, even to the Eye itself. They'd leave a small contingent on their world, just in case, but sometimes it can be a few centuries, before a chapter or it's elements return to their planet.

Consider them working with other Iron hands successors too.
Although they need to keep the bulk of their men near the eye in case those traitors start something, I'd say they can travel across the galaxy as needed. Say a chapter relic was rumoured to have surfaced on the eastern fringe?

If you look at Heresy Era galaxy maps, Isstvan is way way north, closer to the Ultima Segmentum than Medusa. If some Massacre Survivors plied their way back by way of the Eastern fringe to avoid further casualties/keep traitorous worlds far from the Emperor loyal(Ultramar)/ or just saw Girlyman's beacon, they may have left something important behind.

Perhaps the Chapter routinely sends small contingents of brothers there to pilgrimage old legion sites of interest or holdings.

There could be a forge world out there with oaths going back 10 millennia to provide weapons/tech that require a son of Manus to show up and collect?

There may be a world that Manus swore to always defend and there is a rota of successor chapters cycling in and out of the orbital space station.

The Raven guard are going on crusade and they're calling in a favour?

Sgt Cronus was hosting the Astartes Centennial symposium on Tank Maintenance and the Iron Hands gave a PowerPoint presentation on Predator Annihilator turret motivator arrays.

An Emperor's Children warband lead by a particularly decorated villan of the Heresy has broken free from the eye- heading straight for the crone worlds on the fringe. The Iron hands are in hot pursuit and request aid from any successors nearby (Ultrajerks need not apply)

Interesting. I have three Custom Chapters working near the eastern fringe as well.

Bloodmoon Hunters (Iron Hands Successor)
Iron Brotherhood (Iron Warriors Loyalist)
Sanguine Templars ( Blood Angels Successor)

I have their information in various places.

I think it was the 5E Blood Angels codex that mentioned most chapters generally stay within a relatively small area of their home, while the Blood Angels dispatch forces all across the Imperium. Not sure if it is still in the 7E codex though.

The Space Wolves, who are based on Fenris on the border between Segmentum Obscurus and Segmentum Solar, have deployed units to combat the Tyranid threat right on the Eastern Fringe so I'd say they are pretty willing to basically go wherever the action is.

Space Marine Companies (it is quite rare for an entire Chapter to be together) travel from warzone to warzone, so their travels naturally take them far away from their homeworlds. Space Marines might be away for centuries before returning to their homeworld (if they ever do, of course most will die in battle before ever seeing their homeworld again). While I imagine it is quite rare for Space Marines to end up on the complete other side of the galaxy, they probably won't hesistate at all to travel there if the threat is big enough and their aid is required.

And marines can pull resupply off well any forgeworld long as your not enemies with admech or other suplies from other places. Not everything but basic stuff like ammo etc any forgeworld can make

A fleet could easily keep itself armed and fed.

Chapters with a homeworld/fortress monastary tend to not stray super far from it- usually the homeworld is where it is because the chapter was created to guard that region of space, or they operated so long or impressively in that area of space that they were granted homeworld rites. There is no limit in going further abroad, but it is less likely.

Fleet based chapters are far more likely to travel around because, well Fleet based.
First Founding and older chapters as well, due to longstanding oaths, treaties, and obligations.
Major operations will see chapters going far out of their way- major Crusades, huge battles like Armageddon or Cadia, ect.

On the resupply situation, minor repairs and refits to equipment and weapons can be done on most ships, larger ships like strike cruisers and battle barges can maintain and probably repair most vehicles, but the more high end pieces of tech, like Terminator armor, Land Raiders, aircraft, are usually limited to the Chapter's Forge, wherever that is based.

Supplies can probably be requisitioned as needed, and may operate similarly to the Titan Legions- petitions for assistance are usually coupled with offers of supplies and support in exchange.