r/40khomebrew

Made with the Lion as a base, my chapter master is coming along nicely, he needs more decor imo, like another shield on his other shoulder to match his right side, and maybe some different things on his belt. He just doesn’t look too experienced yet, like he needs more things he’s acquired along his journey.

Suggestions appreciated for kitbashing ideas.

Lore:

Lord Makarov The Unclean, Chapter Master of the Umbral Claws, named for spending almost a century in the warp and emerging unscathed, he did emerge changed from the warp having gone under some sort or metamorphosis.

Apothecaries have examined him and found that he somehow obtained 2 new organs similar to those of primaris, his own odd version of the Magnificat that is located in his heart rather than the brain, and what is being called coil vessels that attach to said organs, thick and tough blood vessels and arteries that have wrapped around muscles, acting as both the Sinew Coils and Belisarian Furnace. Apothecaries have no idea how this happened, and any attempt at extraction for testing had resulted in the sample disappearing, casing and all, like the test tube literally just disappears.

Makarov stated that a man in glowing gold armor captured him in his time in the warp and performed odd rituals and surgeries on him for 3 years straight before leaving him where he found him. Having been upgraded from his mark 8 plate, and grown into his oversized claws, Makarov returned from the warp in the chapters time of need in M42.

He disappeared a century ago, a malfunctioning gellarfield caused the flagship of the Umbral Claws to be trapped in the warp, Makarov single handedly fended off a greater daemon, allowing the flagship to escape while distracting the threat.

His claws, The Blackstar Gauntlets, are thought to be from the dark age of technology, they are not lighting claws as we know them as they technically don’t work the same. The Blackstar Gauntlets simply cut through space, leaving no trace of what they cut through, as if the slice of material the claws cut never existed in the first place. However they cannot just cut through anything and everything with ease. The Absorption Rate can be modified and changed for the claws to be “stronger”, strengthening their strong, almost gravitational pull, however high levels run the risk of the user themselves being absorbed by the dark claws.

Gifted to him by his mentor after being found on their first crusade. The massive claws were wielded by Makarov since he wore his standard mark 8 armor. Now having grown into them he’s ready to take down the enemies of mankind.

Hello, I was hoping I could get some feedback or assistance regarding my XI legion and primarch as I’m still learning about 40k. My concern is that I might not have created a reason strong enough for the legion turning renegade.

The general outline is that the legion started fine until they were reunited with their Primarch where it was discovered his gene seed was damaged/mutated some time after the scattering. The defective gene seed from the Primarch had a high acceptance rate but also caused the astartes to develop a very short lifespan. While the pure gene seed from the emperor’s lab(?) had the standard acceptance rate.

The Apothecaries were sworn to never disclose who was given the pure gene seed but the legion is aware of the problem. Astartes with defective gene seed are fit for duty for 20-30 years before they begin experiencing biological degradation roughly 5 years before death, during the last 5 years they are considered retired but are to support the legion through other means (coaching,clerical etc).

The legion focus heavily on documentation due to how quickly they lose experienced Astartes and have extensive records, this applies culturally where they are tasked to create their own memorials to be remembered by after death. To prevent word of the gene seed being discovered, the legion tries to avoid joint campaigns or social contact with other legions.

Since the beginning the Primarch has been growing obsessed with finding a solution to the gene seed problem and had been deluded into thinking the answer lies in the megafauna of his homeworld, his obsession eventually takes a religious turn in which only his inner circle is aware of how delusional he had become.

Eventually, Astartes who outlived their batch gravitate to others who outlived their batch too. The Primarch is aware that both kinds of his sons have some resentment towards him, the situation became worse when the legion champion died to the gene seed. The Primarch also developed resentment for the Astartes who did not have his gene seed as he blamed them for the social divide happening in his legion.

After the burning of Monarchia the Primarch knows his legion will face the same fate if he continues this path, but at this point he was more interested in his religion and didn’t care for his sons as much anymore. He barely escapes with whatever loyal sons he still have while the rest are absorbed into other legions.

Thank you for reading!

For my own, I came up with a moth like creature that build dyson sphere worlds around dim burning stars that they'd make from something similar to wraith bone, some would also occupy small moons and planets.

They'd cover a few different star systems with each housing a different sub species with its own design and cultures with one viewing cannibalism as something sacred and consuming loved ones in their culture.

The species would be highly suseptible to Chaos, specifically slaanesh and tzeench. However, wouldn't see it as a threat and would more so see it as just another power system. Their species would be highly backstabbing and removing threats and rulers through deals and assassin's rather than war, tzeentch would love this. However whilst very scheming they tend to be a very peaceful species and even view the tau as a potential alliance. Most of their culture would be centred around indulging in pleasures and luxuries with the goal to make the most out of life that they can trying to experience every possible sensation.

Depending on the sub species their life spans vary drastically, from 100 years to 5000, this effects individual world cultures.

As you've probably guessed their attacks are mostly psycher abilities

So, for the last 4 years I have been working on a massive First Born only Homebrew Chapter of Astartes! I am beyond happy with how they came out, and others thought so, too!
Tom, from the Astartes Anonymous podcast, made a 16 minute video, and then sat me down for an hour to chat about it!

I have plans to adapt the critique of his into my document, but... anyway... Here's the video.
Art was done by Moots, a personal friend, Tim Remin (who I 100% recommend), and myself.

https://youtu.be/kRUeV94AOH8?si=jwLGMbChpu7GeWTM

I’ve already got a company champion for my other space marine chapter so I decided to kitbash my second one. What do you think?

Really unsure with the color scheme yet. I really like the base colors but I'm afraid it reads initially as Raptors.

What y'all think?

I'm trying to make a short story about my chapter, but don't have a solid base to start writing from and could use some help.

For background context, the Blooded Fists are on a crusade to find their chapter master, picking up stray marines along the way, returning them after, if requested. They work in battle groups of two companies, rarely do these companies split. They make great use of transports carrying heavy armour, along with hiring gang members from hive cities.

The first image above is of a small subjugation force, and the second image is of the forces scouting team.

This is part of the fifth battle group known as the bleeding serpents, for its inclusion of alpha legion loyalists and speed of a striking snake, as this group has the most tacticus and phobos armoured marines.

This part introduces a Chapter called...

>Swag Bears, by u/goldietheswagbear

Previous post: Humanity's Wyverns

The sun was slowly rising over Oaks IV. Voidships circled the planet, carefully avoiding the low orbit above enemy-held territories, where Doomsday cannons denied any possibility of landing or bombardment. On the Harvest Guard’s planetside base, bed-ridden Captain Chakfeldt studied the message sent by Chaplain Bornschein of the Bronze Serpents, replaying it in search for more clues. “Theoretical. Practical”, he thought over and over, trying to apply his primarch’s wisdom to the cryptic warnings.

From the ashes

Following the desperate siege broken by the arrival of Humanity’s Wyverns, the campaigning Chapters were able to win back some ground and establish defense lines. However, the forces of the Harvest Guard (Sector 0), the Bronze Serpents (1) and the Bloodied Tears (2) were diminished after the intense fighting. All they could do for now is hold the line and let the fresh arrivals take the brunt of the offensive action.

The Bloodied Tears have adapted their tactics to the new situation. Instead of the versatile and lightweight Phobos armor, the Chapter's warriors now made use of the heavier Gravis pattern. Having taken back their original territory, they launched slower but more powerful retaliatory strikes against the retreating enemy. These attacks won them the most ground out of all the recuperating Chapters, provided initially they had the support of Humanity’s Wyverns. Upon learning about their mixed heritage, however, Marquis Coffyn shut down all communications with them in disgust. Informed by Captain Euric of the Dragon Helms about the strain between various Chapters, the Wyverns decided it best to avoid further tensions and chose an advance vector that didn’t interfere with the Bloodied Tears while still supporting their effort (Sectors A, C).

Meanwhile, with the majority of refugees in the northern hemisphere successfully evacuated, the Scarlet Templars (3) were able to commit both of their Choir’s Platoons to the offensive. They joined the Dragon Helms (4) in the push to match the reclamation efforts of the Bloodied Tears. Indeed, the scale of their acquisitions was prognosticated to surpass that of their Sanguinary brothers quite soon, seeing that the latter had suffered great losses during the siege and were to settle down in the following days.

To guard the realms of men

In the southern hemisphere, the newly arrived Chapter reigned supreme. Humanity’s Wyverns (5) deployed at full strength, their primary objective to shield the civilian centers that were left unattended because of the Harvest Guard’s priorities. Chapter Master Pater Carus has ordered a direct assault on the enemy positions, while the civilians were told to stay where they are. There would be no need for refugee centers, nor should the civilians gather at the Astartes base. The Wyverns screened the southern landmass for threats and declared that it shall remain clear of xenos taint while the Chapter’s bastions stand.

The Wyverns’ forces pushed decisively into the enemy’s territory (Sector F). In addition to shielding the civilians in the south, this attack had several goals. First, it would make the enemy divert forces from the north, making it easier for the Bronze Serpents and the Harvest Guard to hold their positions (Sector A). Up to that point, the situation there was still difficult – so much, in fact, that the Scarlet Templars had to send a quarter of their Platoon to secure a stable defense line for their cousins. Returning to the Wyverns’ push, their second objective was to reach a small hive city located in the eastern part of Sector F. This grain processing center had long been overrun by the enemy, but orbital scans revealed life signs: some of the population were still alive, perhaps hiding from the Necrons. Captain Ferrum Voluntatem was charged with reclaiming this place for the Imperium. However, their advance was not allowed to get far.

Like a crashing wave

Though the Wyverns were making steady progress against the xenos, forth came the news from the north: the Necron Ghost Arks were spotted in Sector 1. Gliding underwater, these transports crossed the sea and deployed Necron Warriors against the Bronze Serpents. This both detracted from the defensive action in Sector A and threatened the refugee center that was thought to be safe for now. It couldn’t have been a coincidence, quickly realized Ferrum Voluntatem. The Necrons were trying to veer the Wyverns off their course. They did have to turn, though: the refugees across the sea were promised the Astartes protection, and to leave them to their fate was to betray that trust. Moreover, the Bronze Serpents needed help. Humanity’s Wyverns turned west, leaving their original goal just beyond reach.

The Ghost Ark array was stationed at the peninsula that jotted into the vast expanse of water, and it was a tough shell to crack. A whole fortress made of blackstone had been unearthed – or risen from the glowing cracks, it was difficult to tell with these xenos. The Wyverns began with an artillery bombardment, while heavy tanks were amassing for a siege. Meanwhile, part of the Chapter made an orbital drop across the sea to help repel the Arks themselves. This left the original advance on the overrun hive city without necessary manpower. Ferrum Voluntatem still followed through: a vanguard force of Infiltrators, Incursors and Reavers approached the city, but they could only do reconnaissance, not siege or evacuation.

Ghost cities

While the battle for the Ark array raged in the west, the hive city met the Wyverns with utter silence. The streets were empty and no lumens shone, except the service and emergency lights here and there. Everywhere were signs of struggle: makeshift barricades, overturned trucks, derailed trains, broken windows. No corpses, though. Just blood. Lost and lots of blood, covering the floors, the walls… And then, with a metallic screech, the flayers came, hunched and clawed abominations stepping out of the shadows, pouring out of dead ends where no one had been just a moment ago. The Wyverns had to retreat. The civilians, if there were any, must have barricaded or hid down in the underhive. To reach them, the city must be taken, but with what army?

The only option was to focus on the Ark array and wait for backup. The campaigning Chapters have received a message saying that another Astartes force, also full strength, was on its way. And so the Wyverns turned their attention to the objective in the west. Cannons roared, chipping away blackstone walls of the fortress. Squads of Inceptors and Suppressors dropped down from darting Thuderhawks, raining death on the ramparts. The Necron base bristled with heat rays and particle whips, and as the battle raged throughout the day and into the night, the ghastly energies created pale glow. The Wyverns fought and died knowing that every ounce of energy that the Necrons poured into this defense meant one less Ghost Ark to be launched across the sea. One more refugee life spared. One more Astartes standing on his feet and fighting on.

The siege has continued for a few days, with only partial success. While the fortress itself couldn’t be taken, its operations were disrupted enough for the Arks to stop departing. Now all the attention was focused on the Wyverns. Not only did they have to press on their siege, but also repel counter attacks from the north and east. The flayers poured from the hive city, attracted by fresh blood, and the main xenos force sought to relieve the Ark array.

Fortunately, reinforcements arrived by the end of the week to turn the tide as much as they could.

Saga of the bear

Goldrum Bearilius, Chapter Master of the Swag Bears, has chosen for his base of operations the neighboring province, the one whose borders vaguely reminisced an animal skull biting up north at the detested Necrons (Sector 6). Just as the Wyverns, his warriors had the advantage of deploying in full strength, and thus were able to cover different directions with enough forces to shatter and conquer the most fearsome opponents. Captain Chakfeldt of the Harvest Guard contacted the arriving Chapter via a hololith.

“My wounds still ached even through the painkillers administered by our Apothecary. I chose to believe this to be the sign of and the price for quicker recovery. While Lieutenant Briggs was busy holding the line together with the Scarlet Templars and the Bronze Serpents, I could attend to tasks that didn’t require a warrior. The hololith in front of my bed came to life, and the beeping of the surrounding medicae equipment was muffled for the duration of the call. Before me was an image of an Astartes in Gravis armor, its sheen almost blinding even as a projection. In the crook of his elbow he held a massive helmet, its features styled after these of a snarling bear.

‘On this field, we greet you golden’, I said to him. ‘Your arrival is most welcome.’

‘Quite a mess you’ve gotten yourselves into!’ he answered with a grim grin, his eyes piercing me through the hololith. ‘Many Chapters, little coordination’, added he. ‘Worry not. We shall maul the foe in the south, and when the time comes, I hope you whelps will be able to put your differences behind you for one decisive push, will you not? We shall lumber now, and woe to the Necrons when we reach them’.

I nodded through the dull pain, IVs releasing medicine into my blood. ‘We’re honored to-’

‘One more thing,’ he interrupted me – not with any ill intent, I felt; it’s just there were more important things than niceties. ‘With such reinforcements arriving, the Necron command will escalate the response quite soon. We must act quickly and break their spine now, when we have the chance. No life shall be wasted, no aid withheld.’

‘Acknowledged,’ I said. And indeed… with such reinforcements, we had the best chance yet.”

- Aluin Chakfeldt, 3rd Captain

Goldrum Bearilius has divided his forces into three battlegroups.

The first made contact with Humanity’s Wyverns. Swag Bears offered their help in taking the overrun hive city. Now the original objective of the Wyverns could be completed, while they sieged the Ghost Ark array. In a few days, an armored column of Vindicators and Repulsors made its way across the southern plains. Swag Bears entered the hive city, the blaze of their weapons and the gleam of their armor scorching away the shadows in which the flayers lurked. Squads of Aggressors with boltstorm gauntlets led the way, with bear-pelted Invictor warsuits stalking the streets for bigger threats. Tanks rumbled along the hive city’s avenues. The search and rescue operation has begun, its ultimate goal to reach the civilians in the underhive and the topmost spires.

The second battlegroup was tasked with advancing to the east (Sector G). The key to winning this war was decisive action, and so the new arrivals set out to threaten the enemy headquarters by pushing for it from the southwest. The advance proved to be difficult, however: the closer to the Necron base, the more vile the xenos technomancery became. Obelisks covered the land like trees in a forest, and the air was thick with data-pulses. Goldrum Bearilius decided to intensify the advance by sending another battlegroup across the bay, to storm the shores in almost the same way that the Ghost Arks harassed Astartes in the north. Thunderhawks flew high, while landspeeders skimmed over the waves, all to send the enemy reeling back from a new direction. With the ferocity of an attacking bear, the Chapter bit into the enemy territory and won’t let go. The Necrons responded in kind, sending their Tomb Blades across the bay, and a vicious back-and-forth has started. For now, though, the winds of war blew in favor of the Bears.

“Gunnar waded through the roiling water, his sabatons sinking deep into the sand that was white as snow and hot as glowing metal. He walked onto the shore just one step behind me, and yet the enemy chose him as the target. With a crackle of torn air, gauss rays struck at my battle-brother, but he raised his storm shield, and the ghostly death broke against it in cascades of green. An attacking Tomb Blade tried to dart past him and into the bay, where our speeders made their battle-weave. Gunnar stepped aside quick enough for his servos to rumble, overloaded. He swung a thunder hammer at the pilot’s faceplate, and the control orb in front of it shattered into a million crystals. The Tomb Blade spiraled up uncontrollably, before being cut in two by a lascannon beam. I roared in approval, gunning the motor of my chainfist. This day was ours!”

- Audun, Swag Bears Terminator

A subtler threat

In the meantime, the investigation conducted by the Bronze Serpents and the Dragon Helms has yielded new results. The data obtained from the agri-world officials that had dealins with a shady rogue trader was compared with the information found by the Dragon Helms. It was revealed that while some of the supplies were given to the trader as a form of bribe, there were other suspicious operations. Something had been delivered planetside. And when the location was revealed, the blood in the investigators’ veins froze.

Some of the supplies and the mysterious cargo from the passing ships was sent way up north. To the very edge of the continent. To a place that for a long time has been part of the Necron-held territory (Sector E). How did the lighters that delivered it not been shot down by Doomsday cannons and obelisks that dotted the landscape? Were the enemy unable or unwilling to shoot? And what were these talks of “rebirth” and “saving the planet”?

Dealing with such things was the job of the Inquisition, not Astartes, nor the Chapter serfs. It has been decided to stop the questioning and place the agri-world officials into custody, to wait for a proper investigation. Meanwhile, the space marines would do what they could, which is to scout out the suspicious location and purge it with fire, if necessary.

A powerful kill team was assembled. Leofric Rothenberg, Librarian Dreadnought of the Bloodied Tears, heeded an intuitive feeling that he as a psyker had experienced, and offered to lead the sally. He was joined by Thorley Qechoft, Apothecary of the Harvest Guard, and a member of the Dragon Helms’ Gedriht who coordinated the investigation. The Scarlet Templars and the Bronze Serpents sent three and four Astartes respectively. Thus, a squad of ten was formed, and set out on two Thunderhawks. The Dragon Helms were pushing their advance in Sector E, and it was a perfect distraction. The flyers delivered the team within twelve miles of the shore. There, the Astartes disembarked to make the rest of the way underwater, making use of their sealed power armor to hide themselves from any potential surveyors.

What waited for them beyond the shore is a story for another time.

Hello peoples! This here is my 11th Legion (renegade) Primarch, Athena! As you can see and tell, she has a very Halo motif going on with the whole of this legion being very UNSC aestheticized. She is the leader of the Valkyries Legion, formerly known as the Iron Maiden’s from Terra.

If anyone has any lore they’d like to know, ask and I can share!

Art by shin_sirhc

Think I chickened out a bit by going with silver and gold metallic paint but I had a strong homebrew vibe for this chapter.

I essentially want them to be petty Pirate lords of Slaanesh who were once a loyalist chapter.

As loyalists they took a vow of poverty and were at the beck and call of an influential (and extremely greedy) order of Imperium priests, ultimately however they were ' liberated ' by a Slaaneshi Sorcerer.

He convinced them to melt down the Priests, with them becoming the paint for ' Lord of Alms ' armour.

All the gold, silver and jewels the Priests wore now decorated the Chaos Space Marines and they took the planet of Alms (there home world) into the embrace of Slaanesh! Now a hive or scum and villainy.