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Made in gb
Neophyte Undergoing Surgeries



Derby UK

Ok first off I have read up a little on the dos and don'ts of making your own chapter and was just wanting some clarification on a few things.

So far I understand that to create a Chapter one must decide on the following:

The founding Father - A hero that has proven himself to be a true leader on the battlefield or defeated a particular foe.

Chapters Heros - Characters whos name/s strike fear into the enemy and fill the chapters army with strength to defeat what they are up against.

Gene-seed - Pure, New gen, Altered stock or flawed.

Fortress Monastery - Has the chapter been given a solar system to look after, what planet is the Fortress situated? Is it on a deserted moon or planet in an Imperial system?

Chapter organisation - Codex - following the Codex Astartes to the letter. Divergent - different company makeups. Unique - a first founding or successor of current chapter, not integrating their own Primarch and those of Guiliman.

Combat style - Close, Long, Armoured, Stealth etc (company makeup to reflect chosen style) could lean towards the Divergent Organisation))

Chapter creation -
When creating an original Space Marine Chapter, one must consider the reasons that it was Founded in the first place. Of course, you can just as easily decide that the Chapter's origins are lost to antiquity and leave this part of its history obscured by the dust of time, lost to its present members.


Battle Cry - Self explanatory

Chapter Appearance - Colour scheme, logos, banner design, Squad logos etc etc

Thee a few more things I have read about that makes up a chapter but the ones above are the main ones to understand first. the rest sort off follow suit as to what I would already decide on.

So, from what I have listed so far what would you suggest to add or amend? How would I go about deciding on who the founding father is. Would I need to read up on something or can I make up my own name and history. Does it have to be canon? Could I use, for example, character from a movie I like or video game and use the back story from those but obviously changed a little to fit in with the Warhammer universe to not be too copy cat. I have a foundness for World of Warcraft and the Godfather movies. I have, in my eyes, a nice idea for a chapter but was wanting some clarification on if it would be frowned upon.

Anything else you could add or need to know please let me know.

Regards C
   
Made in ca
Ancient Venerable Black Templar Dreadnought





Canada

Droolinggimp wrote:
Ok first off I have read up a little on the dos and don'ts of making your own chapter and was just wanting some clarification on a few things.
So far I understand that to create a Chapter one must decide on the following:
Good for you!
Just remember, no "must" just some considerations...
I did not see this in the list BUT if you were tempted to play an established chapter, what would it be?
You could then make some choices that could allow you to do a "counts as" for that group.
Combat style - Close, Long, Armoured, Stealth etc (company makeup to reflect chosen style) could lean towards the Divergent Organisation))
I moved this up.
Because any founding father would be the "exemplar" of this preference or style.
You would then kit him out appropriately.
The founding Father - A hero that has proven himself to be a true leader on the battlefield or defeated a particular foe.
Again you can model this hero after a named one from a chapter you may use for "counts as".
As to the subject of names, many chapters are based on historical nations or armies.
Look at literature you want to base your army on and what would be the naming conventions.
This would apply for the heroes as well.
Gene-seed - Pure, New gen, Altered stock or flawed.
This can be used to reinforce the combat style choice by the "fluff" of why they are the way they are.
Fortress Monastery - Has the chapter been given a solar system to look after, what planet is the Fortress situated? Is it on a deserted moon or planet in an Imperial system?
Same can be said of the combat preference due to the environment they are accustomed to.
Deathworld: Spacehulk visits feel like vacations...
This may be a bit more important: A fleet based chapter?
Close proximity to an anomaly or warp storm?
Close proximity to a forge world, shrine world or a Xenos planet?
Is there something that needs a marine presence to keep in check, protect or both?
Chapter organisation - Codex - following the Codex Astartes to the letter. Divergent - different company makeups. Unique - a first founding or successor of current chapter, not integrating their own Primarch and those of Guiliman.
I have always toyed with the idea of a first founding where the primarch was never found. (The "Lost Watch", "The Lost Sons", "The Seekers", "The Forsaken", "Lost Waise" German for lost parents, "The Orba Chapter" Latin)
For divergent in general, lean toward the established army you emulate or I would stick with models you most enjoy/like.
"SPAM" of given models can be a thing, so you may want to think about it.
Say like with the Steel Legion on Armageddon they are a mechanized force due to the acidic polluted nature of their planet.
It would be a similar kind of thing.
Chapter creation -
When creating an original Space Marine Chapter, one must consider the reasons that it was Founded in the first place. Of course, you can just as easily decide that the Chapter's origins are lost to antiquity and leave this part of its history obscured by the dust of time, lost to its present members.
What do YOUR marines offer the imperium that others cannot?
What if they were "lost" to main-stream, quietly doing their thing in that end of the universe and not included in the various campaigns of earth?
Lack of a Primarch would explain this easily.
Battle Cry - Self explanatory
"Not in the face!?" or "Spoon!"?

He kinda looks like an Ultramarine.
Again, what would be core to their thinking?
Desert environ, nomadic, maybe fleet based? "Ever forward!"
Spiritual? "Kill the unworthy!"
Chapter Appearance - Colour scheme, logos, banner design, Squad logos etc etc
This I think would be key to their "lifestyle" and their focus.
I would lean toward colours to reflect their preferred environs with just a nod of the head to camouflage.
Water worlds: blue-greens.
Desert: mustard-brown-yellow.
Space: black-white
City/Hive world: Grey-rust
Medieval: Quartered colour panels like the Howling Gryphons.
Thee a few more things I have read about that makes up a chapter but the ones above are the main ones to understand first. the rest sort off follow suit as to what I would already decide on.
OK.

So, from what I have listed so far what would you suggest to add or amend? How would I go about deciding on who the founding father is. Would I need to read up on something or can I make up my own name and history. Does it have to be canon?
What would be nice is read some of the Imperium history and fluff and see where your chapter may have fit-in within that story backdrop.
Could I use, for example, character from a movie I like or video game and use the back story from those but obviously changed a little to fit in with the Warhammer universe to not be too copy cat.
This is an excellent way to model after a movie that excites you.
Imagine the Necrons attempted to create space marines of their own to then convert into necrons.
Say something goes terribly wrong as they break free of "The Matrix" they were held in...

I just had a vision of SM's with little jacks all over their armor.
If you can fit in black dusters into the outfit that would be swell...
I have a fondness for World of Warcraft and the Godfather movies.
I just had a vision of marines uttering "Say hello to my little friend!"
I have, in my eyes, a nice idea for a chapter but was wanting some clarification on if it would be frowned upon.
How bad could it be?
As has been demonstrated many times, 40k had a multitude of elements "stolen" from a variety of media.
Anything else you could add or need to know please let me know. Regards C
Yep. I am done.
Good luck!

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2017/09/14 22:08:40


A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
Napoleon Bonaparte 
   
Made in gb
Neophyte Undergoing Surgeries



Derby UK

great help there. Thank you. Love the pictures too. I will add to this thread tomorrow as my little boy has woke up and needs seeing too. thanks for the post.
   
Made in gb
Renegade Kan Killin Orks






Northern Ireland

Ha ha, I do a tonne of Dakka on my phone when my boys wake up at stupid o'clock too. Gaming dads eh?


Liking this Godfather idea. Looking forward to seeing how you pull it off.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/09/16 08:00:18


   
Made in us
Confessor Of Sins




WA, USA

The most important thing when it comes to making a balanced and interesting chapter is your chapter's weaknesses and flaws as characters.

Think of your chapter as a character, the elements of it that are going to draw the most attention, interest and also motivation for storytelling is going to be the places where it is not perfect. These weaknesses do not need to all be "ultimate corruption" or "kryptonite to Superman" level weaknesses, but there needs to be deeper and meaningful character flaws that your chapter can struggle against and grow with. A chapter with a flawless battle record, great heroes, devoted followers, love from all other Imperial factions and a few vaults full of super special relics has nothing to make for an interesting story. Stories of those chapters boil down to "the big bad came out and we had to get get super tough to beat it" and that is just boring. However, a chapter that struggles with more than just the alien or heretic it is fighting is relatable and I want to read more about them.

Perhaps it is flaws in the geneseed that are nibbling away at the chapter from within (Blood Angels), perhaps it is a hidden agenda that makes them perpetually mistrusted (Dark Angels). The flaws are what drive your chapter from being just another fanmade Space Marine chapter to an actual character that is interesting. So put as much attention, love and care into the flaws of your chapter as you do everything else. Don't just do the minimum effort to check off the box.

 Ouze wrote:

Afterward, Curran killed a guy in the parking lot with a trident.
 
   
Made in gb
Neophyte Undergoing Surgeries



Derby UK

Thanks for the help there guys. I have been very busy at work last few days but all being well come Wednesday/Thursday I should be in receipt of my new Dark Imperium box set (and Blood Bowl) so once I see what's in the box and connect with my new found friends I will get a feeling as to what they are are what they were. Rest assured. There will be a little background thread on this chapter I have founded. Then the rest will come naturally.

C
   
 
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