Space Marine “Advantages” Shouldn’t be Boring 
by Michael Lietzke, Duncan Hargreaves, and Ken Lacy

Recently, Kenton wrote a good-sized rant about 40K. One of his topics was about how boring Marines are, even though there's this new Chapter Trait description. He thought it was particularly poor that so many gamers choose Traits for the Advantages, instead of reflecting the background of their chapter.

After reading through the Traits section, we think problem is that there's some decent “fluff” explaining all the Drawbacks, but there's virtually nothing describing the Advantages. To inspire Marine players into choosing Advantages based on more than their tabletop benefits, we have written a “fluffy” description for each. 

Be Swift as the Wind (Courageous)
Many Chapters recruit from feral or medieval worlds, where beasts of burden are bred to carry their riders to war. Sometimes these cultures treat them as sacred creatures, for they are central to everything they do. When these people are indoctrinated into the chapter, these skills and beliefs can be used as the foundation for training and faith. Such chapters often ride their mechanical war beasts with the same daring and fearlessness as they would their old living mounts.

Blessed be the Warriors (Zealous, Fierce)
While the Codex Astartes holds all Marine squads to be tactically useful on the battlefield, some chapters have a special reverence for those who would don jump packs to fly as avenging angels, seeking to cover themselves with glory in close combat. In these cases, there is often a special process to determine who is worthy to be an Assault Marine. Those that are chosen are given special training by the Chaplains to carry the Emperor’s light to their foes.

Cleanse and Purify (Somber, Stern)
Due to circumstance or long-standing tradition, certain chapters focus on the use of close-range firepower in heavy terrain. Units from such chapters tend to be particularly well-suited for combat in deathworlds and cityfights, and often eschew the use of heavy and supporting weapons entirely, instead devoting more resources to the acquisition and maintenance of the basic Space Marine bolter and their specialist weapons armory.

Heed the Wisdom of the Ancients (Wise)
All Marines honor their immortal heroes entombed within their few Dreadnoughts, who often lay dormant within the Chapter Reclusium, dreaming of past glories. Some chapters venerate them as Saints, and encourage them to stay active with constant prayers, unguents, and holy oils. Often, the Neophytes pray to them for guidance and strength… and sometime these prayers are answered.

Honor Your Wargear (Dutiful, Wise)
Some chapters value highly the artful ways of ranged warfare compared to brutal combat. Many simply prefer to preserve their own warriors so they can bring death to the Emperor’s foes again and again. Chapters with either of these beliefs are often seen fielding a larger amount of Devastators than other chapters.

Never Despair (Dutiful, Somber)
Many chapters, most notably the Imperial Fists, are stubborn, determined warriors who will never accept defeat, no matter what the odds mounted against them. Sometimes refusing to lose like this is futile, but occasionally by holding on past the point other Marines would have given up, they can ensure another victory for the Emperor’s finest.

No Mercy, No Respite (Dutiful, Stern, Fierce)
Many chapters recruit those who are raised on feral worlds, fighting each other with sword, spear, tooth and nail. These warriors have the natural fighting spirit that the Marines value. Some chapters believe that the passion in these warriors is something that should be nurtured in their training, and enhanced through their beliefs. There is many a foe that quails at the thought of being charged by the Adeptus Astartes; this fear is increased tenfold when the Marines are screaming their hatred of the enemy and their devotion to the Emperor.

Purity Above All (Pious)
There are chapters whose geneseed has mutated over time, Blood Angels and Space Wolves to name but a couple. There are some who believe that these mutations help them carry out their work for the Emperor with greater ability than was otherwise possible. Conversely, there are those who see this as the insidious taint of corruption, and they battle against it in their own ranks. Such chapters are often seen with a much larger Apothecarial cadre than normal, the medics being essential to the keeping chapter’s geneseed pure and free of taint.

Scions of Mars (Wise)
Space Marine chapters send a select few of their members to the Tech-priests on Mars to study the ways of the Machine God. Sometimes, the chapter will embrace the tenants of the Machine Cult so strongly that they worship the Machine God as a second aspect of the Emperor. In these cases, Techmarines and Chaplains often work together to lead their flock in prayer, if not in battle, and they give considerable attention to the machine spirits.

See, But Don’t be Seen (Courageous, Somber)
The Codex Astartes devotes many pages to raiding and guerilla warfare, emphasizing that hit-and-run tactics are sometimes appropriate, and if well-executed, can deliver a crippling blow without exposing Marines to unnecessary risk. Some chapters have fully embraced these teachings, and initiate covert operations before starting a traditional campaign. One favored tactic is for Thunderhawks to conduct a full HALO drop from 50 miles high, using the local sun to mask their approach. The inserted Marines often spend the next few weeks gathering intelligence, conducting raids and sabotage, and especially hunting down key enemy leaders before calling in the full force of their company.

Suffer Not the Alien to Live (Pious, Stern)
All Marines abhor the various aliens that dare oppose the Imperium, but some chapters have developed a raw hatred for xenos, often due to a severe affront to the chapter’s honor. These Marines study their hated foes religiously, learning everything they can to defeat them in battle.

Suffer Not the Works of Heretics (Pious)
Loyalist Marines have a special contempt for their Traitorous brethren that turned from the Emperor’s holy light. Occasionally, some chapters devote an extraordinary amount of time learning the methods of Chaos and their many maniacal constructions. In addition, their Techmarines produce many specialized weapons designed to destroy these false works of the Machine God. Incidentally, these weapons are also quite useful in other situations.

Take the Fight to Them (Zealous, Fierce)
While there are those chapters who prefer the art, and relative safety, of ranged warfare, there are many who believe that they can better show their devotion to the Emperor in the heat and brutality of combat. Such chapters place a greater emphasis on close-quarters training than other chapters, and there are a few who actually shun heavy weapons altogether, placing their trust in their warriors’ strength, passion and ability.

Trust Your Battle Brothers (Courageous)
The basic training of all Marines is intended to instill a strong sense of camaraderie and identity in new recruits, but certain chapters take this bond to whole new levels. In some cases, Marines spend their entire careers in the same unit with their fellows, forming such a tight-knit bond that the members of a squad can operate almost as one mind on the battlefield.

Uphold the Honor of the Emperor (Zealous)
Many Marines are taught that the Emperor protects; some, who live through the countless campaigns their chapter partakes in, begin to believe that this is more than a simple euphemism. These warriors believe that the Emperor’s light is all the protection they need, and to show their faith in his protection, they shun skulking in cover. Many times this is proven ineffective, like much cover can prove, but there are those whose faith is rewarded...
 

Related Pages
5 Things I've Been Thinking About Lately...(August, 2005)
 

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