MidHammer 40,000: SM Chapters
his contains a (stupid) outline of MidHammer 40,000 Space Marine Chapters, whether or not they're underneath the command of Legions or independent. This includes their origins, as well as examples of different Chapters.
Chapter Foundings
The foundings should be considered more like "Eras" or common trends. A founding a collective term for a period in which a particular type of space marine chapter foundings occur. Often these founding mirror the historical period of the Imperium's history that they were commissioned in. The foundings should not be thought of as exclusive to the type mentioned. There were plenty of successful and vibrant chapters that came out of the Cursed Founding era, for instance.
The Penitential Founding (M30-32)
Second Founding Chapters:
- "Death Raiders"
- Formed of Death Guard remnants, who while still loyal to the emperor, disagreed with most if not all of the cultural and organizational reforms made by Garro. Filled with Old Guard of Barbarus, these Astartes have been mostly used in Ork and Tyrannid based conflicts.
- "The Charcodons"
- Fmr Night Lords
- "Consumed"
- Fmr World Eaters led by none other than Kharn the Betrayer. Kharn refused to force his legion to part with the Butcher's Nails.
- Scions of Talassar
- Remnant Chapter made from formerly Possessed Ultramarines, unwavering in their hatred and contempt of the forces of Chaos.
- The Sin Bearers
- Former Word Bearers Chapter.
"The Corvidae Founding" (M33)
The Fifth founding came about as a result of a the First Black Crusade, when several legions (the Iron Hands in particular) learned the hard way how painfully ill-equipped they were for war against demonic forces. While orders like The Grey Knights did exist, they were small, and the Inquisition's "Ordo Malleus" was distrusted by most, if not all Space Marine Legions.
Fifth Founding Chapters
- The Corvidae
- One of the few donated by Magnus the Red as one of The First of the new Mystic Chapters
- The Exorcists
- The Pleasure-Seekers
- Chapter and Ironic name provided by Fulgrim, this Chapter excels in fighting against the Servants of Slaanesh
- The Emperor's Path
- White Scars Successor, specializes in fighting against Tzeentch
- The Emperor's Peace
- Focuses on The Servant's of Khorne,
- The Wolf Hounds
- Another Anti-Khorne Chapter, trained by Leman Russ
- The Apothacaries
- Iron Hands Successors, specialize in killing Demons of Nurgle.
- Espandor's Faithful
- General Anti-Demon Ultramarine Successors
"The Dornian Founding" (M34)
Called The Dornian Founding by those not in Proximity to Rogal Dorn, was made up of the deserters of The Imperial Fists Legion. Dorn's Legion, angry that Dorn had abandoned crusading for obsession with fortifications requested that part of the legion break off and serve Horus's plans. Dorn consented on the condition that he would allow them to break off if they agreed to follow The (maligned by Fists) Codex Astartes. Unfortunately they Called his bluff. Chapters
- The Emperor's Champions
- Founded by None other than Rogal's Former Champion, Sigismund, This chapter is unique among the other Imperial Fist Chapters in that it is one of the Few that does not use "Index Praetor," Instead preferring the Rules set out by The Khan enshrined in Index Chorgoris.
- The Crimson Fists
- The Celestial Lions
- The Imperial Fists
- Fists Exemplar
- Excoriators
- Iron Knights
- Astral Knights
- Soul Drinkers
- In this universe a Dorn Successor chapter that follows the Rule of Magnus
The Cursed Founding (m36)
In M36, attempts at restoring the Emperor and Guiltyman's "Secret" project of Primaris was attempted and were deemed successful. Chapters were produced in mass in the hopes of restoring The Emperor's Children and Thousand Sons to Full Strength. It wasn't until centuries later that these "Primaris" marines were found to have been irrevocably corrupted by the Alpha Legion. Rather than eliminating flaws in the geneseed of the primarchs, they mutated or amplified them, or even gave Primaris defects from multiple geneseeds. The process was quickly halted, and the project was transferred to Bellisarius Cawl.
Derp Founding (m37)
Pleasure Seekers
| Pleasure Seekers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Founding | M34 | |
| Successors of | Emperor's Children | |
| Chapter Master | Thomas Dabenebrg | |
| Homeworld | None (migratory) | |
| Strength | Full Strength | |
| Specialty | Slaaneshi Demons | |
| Allegiance | Imperium of Man | |
| Colours | Purple and Gold | |
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| We are seeking pleasure, woe when we find him | |
| Founder | "Johaan VanWeltkrieg" |
| Cult | Imperial Truth |
| Patron Saint | None |
| Index | Phoenecian |
| Regula | Tempestus |
Created by Fulgrim following the first Black Crusade, the Pleasure Seekers are the foremost experts and detecting and uprooting slaaneshi cultists.
Blue Eagles
| Blue Eagles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Founding | M33 | |
| Successors of | White Scars | |
| Chapter Master | Kaxhramon Bek | |
| Homeworld | None (migratory) | |
| Strength | Flucuating | |
| Specialty | Naval Combat | |
| Allegiance | Imperium of Man | |
| Colours | Blue and Orange | |
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| We are the Blue Eagles, Death to your gods! | |
| Founder | "Qaghan of Obscura" |
| Cult | Obsequiani (Antiquitae) |
| School | Qashmpa |
| Patron Saint | None |
| Index | Chorgoris |
| Regula | Tempestus |
| Specialties | Naval Combat, boarding, chaos |
The Blue Eagles patrol the Segmentum Obscura, near the Eye of Terror. They are usually the first to respond to incursions in the warp, and are consequently often the hardest hit.
Organisation and Tactics
The Blue Eagles have additional Blanks, who are often affixed to each company. They recruit from a specific region of the planet Qifa in the Qodiry system. It is here where their particular school of obsequiani comes from, which emphasizes discipline and self control from a very young age.
Examples of the Regula Collegi Chapters
The Will of Guilliman
| The Will of Guiltyman | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Founding | M33 | |
| Successors of | Ultramarines | |
| Chapter Master | Boethius St.Konor | |
| Homeworld | Prandium | |
| Strength | Restricted (College) | |
| Specialty | Administrating the Prandium Seat, Philosophy, Imperial T'au | |
| Allegiance | Imperium of Man | |
| Colours | Copper and Beige | |
The Will of Guiltyman heads the Holy Seat of Prandium, a homeworld of Gardens, farms and universities, with a sizable nobility. Prandium is known for its divination for determining the will of "Spectra Pietas" the "Will of The Divine" which is a pseudo-divinity in its own right.
Militarily, the Prandium Seat has been setting its philosophical minds to warfare, taking its knowledge of the human soul and the T'au mind to developing new tactics and strategems, and dispel T'au propaganda and covert activities.
Cathar Marines
Heralds of Roboute
Examples of "Derp Founding" Chapters
The Infamous "Derp Founding" occurred in the 35th and 37th Millenium.
Sledgehammers
| Sledgehammers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Founding | M36 | |
| Successors of | Imperial Fists | |
| Chapter Master | Colis Solsburry | |
| Homeworld | None (migratory) | |
| Strength | Full Strength | |
| Specialty | Fortification Seige | |
| Allegiance | Imperium of Man | |
| Colours | Yellow and Black | |
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Your death will be our testimony | |
| Founder | "Gabriel Rutherford" |
| Cult | Imperial Truth |
| Patron Saint | None |
| Index | Praetorian |
| Regula | None |
A transfer to the Ultima Segmentum from Dorn's Tempestus Citadel, the Sledgehammers brought their Ruthless experience breaking sieges meant to hold Tyranids and Orks to T'au Space.
Organization and Tactics
History
The Sledgehammers were former members of the Hands of Dorn. Their specialty was "Fortification Research" or, in laymans terms seige expertise. They would work to beseige any designed fortification Dorn and his engineers designed. During the Tau expansion, Lord Guiltyman Justinian Vendee reached out to Rogal Dorn for the creation of a successor chapter to defend against T'au space. Dorn provided him with his most expendable troops.
Religion
The Sledgehammers are one of the few chapters that do not adhere to a Cult.
Swarm of Locusts
| Swarm of Locusts | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Founding | M36 | |
| Successors of | Iron Hands | |
| Chapter Master | Rossum Bokhanavosky | |
| Homeworld | D-503 (Ultima Segmentum) | |
| Strength | Chapter itself is undermanned. | |
| Specialty | Human wave "Auxillaries" | |
| Allegiance | Imperium of Man (later Dark Mechanicum) | |
| Colours | Grey and Green | |
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| If you will not surrender, then Die intact | |
| Founder | "Zaharov" |
| Cult | Omnissiah |
| Index | Phoenecian |
| Regula | None |
Perhaps the most infamous of the Derp Founding Chapters, the Swarm of Locusts blah blah blah.
Organization and Tactics
The Swarm of Locusts have a disproportionate amount of Techmarines, but otherwise operate mostly under standard Chapter divisions.
The Swarm have two additional sub classification Techmarines. The first is called a "Administrator" who is telepathically connected to the Servitor swarm. The second is the "Retriever" who gathers and reassembles new forces from fallen foes.
The Swarm also has an additional apothecary given the unassuming name of "Offensive Apothecary." This Apothecary is well versed in Xenobiology, and is equipped with the necessary poisons, toxins, and medical equipment to quickly subdue and convert opponents.
The Swarm excel in Human wave tactics, using the technologically enhanced soldiers to overwhelm their enemy while the Astartes attack from the rear. The skill of the Administrator enables him to director his swarm in intricate patterns, and command hundreds to act in unison.
Each company will have at least 4 Administrators, who in turn will control anything from tens to hundreds of individual servitors. The favored pattern of the Swarm is to have half of the swarms focus on overwhelming the enemy's defenses, while the other focuses on retrieval. The Retrieval teams will then act to capture as many living soldiers as possible, preferably with their bodies and equipment intact. Should their equipment be unusable or ineffective, the retrievers will have primitive weapons prepared for the newly formed skitarri.
Following their fall from the Imperium, the Skill of the Offensive Apothecary grew only more obscene, to the point where they could force captured entities to develop weaponized mutations that would compensate for their lack of equipment.
Plasma Cutters
| Plasma Cutters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Founding | M36 | |
| Successors of | Blood Angels | |
| Chapter Master | Tobias Baffory | |
| Homeworld | None (migratory) | |
| Strength | Dwindling | |
| Specialty | Close quarters combat, Pacification | |
| Allegiance | Imperium of Man | |
| Colours | White and Cyan (they like to see the blood spatters) | |
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| We will not waste a drop | |
| Founder | "Thronos Salo" |
| Cult | Imperial Truth |
| Index | Phoenecian |
| Regula | None |
Part of the infamous "Derp Founding" of M36.
Organization and Tactics
The Plasma Cutters fused their Legion's history with Jumppacks with their love of Close quarters combat to devastating efficiency. They have modified their jump packs to allow for multiple jumps and will regularly hop around a the battle field. A favored tactic is to Jump into the midst of enemy seize some of the soldiers, and jump again, feasting on the blood of the soldiers while flying before landing to repeat the process.
Fortunate Sons
| Fortunate Sons | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Founding | M37 | |
| Successors of | Salamanders | |
| Chapter Master | Cam Duke Clemons | |
| Homeworld | None (migratory) | |
| Strength | Larger than Vulkan would like | |
| Specialty | Genocide, Meltas, Disappointing their Dad | |
| Allegiance | Imperium of Man | |
| Colours | Olive, Brown, Dark Green | |
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Uncle Bobby will find his own! | |
| Founder | Pete TS Dirksen |
| Cult | Impavidae (fmr Promethean Cult) |
| Holy Seat | Laphis |
| Patron Saint | |
| Index | Phoenecian |
| Regula | none |
| Specialties | Orks, Tyranids, T'au |
You've heard of Dorn's Angry Bois, well here's Vulkan's Crazy bois and why recruiting from Catachan is a terrible idea. Sort of a cross between the Black Templars and the Prodigal Sons. The Heraldry is going to be some variation of US 198th Infantry Brigade.
Chapter Influence and Behavior
The Fortunate Sons are every single Call of Duty protagonist, Vietnam War "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning" movie warrior, Jarhead, Urah! American Military-wank, and joke about Marines eating Crayons rolled into a single suit of power armor. Their connection to Vulkan has given them a love of Protheium bombing opponents. Unlike a chapter like The Swarm of Locusts, who are callous and sinister, the Fortunate Sons are loud, arrogant, and obnoxious but sincere, jovial, and well-meaning. They are also incredibly reckless, and the carelessness in which they carry about their wars has resulted in a civilian death count equaling if not exceeding The Swarm.
Organization and Tactics
The Fortunate Sons have carried the Salamander's love of Fire and Fire weaponry with them into exile. Despite Vulkan's insistence that they have carried none of his ideals. The Fortunate Sons are some of the best companions IG and SG could have. The Fortunate sons believe deeply in the bonds forged in war, and as such treat all of their squadmates and comrades as battle-brothers, and will just as willingly give their lives for a Ratling Private, Ultramar Trilileur, or Kroot soldier as they would their own brothers. Even those few T'au who are part of the Imperium in the Wuni Enclaves have enjoyed the comradeship and protection of the fortunate sons. So long as the planet itself is never fully occupied, and they aren't anywhere near the blast radius, they have found a friend in the Fortunate Sons.
History
Captain Pete "Tyranid Stomper" Dirkson was the Seargent of the 134th Company of The Salamanders Legion in M36. While he and his company were part of "Catachan's First," (or Catachan's Last as the Salamanders now call them) part of three companies that were recruited exclusively from the Planet Catachan, a death world under Vulkan's jurisdiction whose tenacity and survivability impressed him. Catachan's First quickly gained renown for their impressive victories against Orks and Tyrannid incursions. Their fortunes quickly turned when they applied their successful strategies of indiscriminate application of fire against a Tau vassal world, incinerating the T'au, their Guevassa subjects, the flora, and the atmosphere.
Catachan's First likely would have seen their end by Vulkan's Hammer if it hadn't be for the Captain-General of The Adeptus Astartes. The Fortunate Sons were part of what future Imperial historians called The "Tau Founding" alongside of chapters such as The "Sledgehammers," The "Plasma Cutters," The "Swarm of Locusts," and "The Crimson Skulls." The now infamous Captain-General Justinian "The Butcher" Vendee, offered Dirksen and his company a successor chapter. Vulkan, enraged, almost resigned as Segmentarch. After his brothers were able to calm Vulkan, he cut the Fortunate Sons from the Promethean cult, and refuses to coordinate with them. They are guests of Royum Ultramar, where they are given free reign so long as they are fighting on Ultramari worlds.
Religion
The Fortunate Sons are part of the wide collection of Promethean/Syncretic cults called "The Cult of The Dauntless Few" or "Impavidae Cult." Unlike the other Guiltymanders who are usually Ultramarines pretending to act like Salamanders, the Fortunate Sons are Salamanders pretending to be Ultramarines.
Despite being cut off from the Promethean Cult, the Fortunate Sons felt a close tie to their estranged Genefather. They are still not very religious and their specific order is effectively Vulkan's Promethean Cult.
The Fortunate Sons refer to The Emperor of Mankind as "Mister Bossman," and is sometimes given the honorific of their ancient deity Thamhyusden (Lord of Earth). Vulkan is still referred to as "Papa Vulkan," despite him wanting nothing to do with his wayward children.
Relics and Wargear
The Fortunate Sons have kept most of their relics from their days as Salamanders, including a large and impressive variety of meltas, firebombs, and heavy flamers.