What this will be
This is a pet project i have been thinking about since 2014.
I want to design and build a very thematic, “concept” army of lore-strict(ish), codex-compliant Primaris Space Marines specialist Xenos killers.
the lore of the Ultramarines 3rd Company fit the theme perfectly, and will constitute the core of the army:
- described in lore as “Scourge of the Xenos”
- achieved great glory in the bloody Tyrannic Wars fought on Ultramar
- its members are regularly inducted into the Deathwatch.
Elements of 1st Company and Chapter Command such as Bladeguard Veterans and Victrix Guard will complement the 3rd to form:
Strikeforce Advenarum Venatores
The army will technically operate as a Strikeforce (literally “Alien Hunters”), however the focus will be put on the 3rd company and its “personality”. The 1st Company / Chapter Command elements will functionally be seconded to the 3rd and, where it fits with established heraldry, they will sport 3rd company trim.
Using a codex-compliant chapter/battle-company means i don’t have to figure out chapter markings, battlefield roles, leadership hierarchy etc. and employ my limited creativity elsewhere.
More details on the circumstances around the previously existing 3rd Company can be found in Premises in the Lore but suffice to say they are absent from the setting during the Indomitus Crusade. This gives me some freedom in writing their background and justify why the 3rd is Primaris-only.
That said, i will try to adhere to established lore to the best of my ability, avoiding actively going against written prescriptions of the Codex Astartes.
Example: Bladeguard Veterans are described in the 9th Edition Space Marine Codex as belonging to the 1st Company. While there is no reference to them belonging only to 1st Company, i will err on the side of caution and not paint them as part of 3rd Company.
Aesthetics
Ultramarines are known for their martial rigor and discipline in maintaining their armor, which is often translated in very clean, unweathered miniatures with tidy, smooth paintjobs.
The army will lean heavily into the company’s hatred of Xenos with trophies, scars and other testimonies of their efforts against all that is alien and a treat to the Imperium.
WYSIWYG
The army will be quintessentially WYSIWYG.
- I will not kitbash onto a model a weapon that cannot be used by its profile.
- I will make a concessions that different patterns of the same weapons will be allowed (I.E.: A Volkite weapon in place of Neo-Volkite, a horus heresy-era melta weapon in place of a more modern melta pattern etc.)
- If i will ever play with the army, i will choose an appropriate trait in the rules that represents the weapon or armor pattern change (such as paying for a “Master-crafted Weapon” when swapping a common M42 weapon for an ancient pattern that is most likely intended to be a relic).
If rules for a given model change in the future and equipment gets removed from its profile and there is no paid option to support it, i will either modify the model or retire it from play.
Themes
At the same time, i will dial the roman inspiration for the Chapter up a notch, chosing character names from Latin literature and history and structuring the army in sub-groups/divisions with clear thematic identities and names.
Game mechanics
No attention will be given to the current (mid-9th edition at time of writing) meta. This is primarily a fluffy, narrative force intended to represent a specific idea in-universe.
The 3rd is described in the codices as employing flame weapons and devastators, so the Venatores will feature flamestorm aggressors, eradicators, hellblasters etc. even though Ultramarines rules seems to be particularly effective with bolter weapons only.
Why
My relationship with the hobby has been difficult. I have been collecting miniatures, reading books and lore for almost 10 years by now, however it’s been predominantly a solitary endeavour.
I struggle quite a lot with commitment (and available space/time) to pursue building and painting miniatures and i can only claim 15 painted models to my name so far.
Engaging in the more practical / social aspects of the hobby has also been very hard.
I hope this will offer me some escapism and some satisfaction in building a small world for myself and hopefully provide the push i require to actually participate in the hobby with other people, if i manage to get a small force built and painted according to the terms set here.
G.C.