User blog:BioChimes/Codex Approved Astartes Chapter Heraldry

Hi everyone.

So, I have been reading a lot of Space Marine Chapter fannon pages on here as they are more or less my favorite 40K faction and though I have read some absolutly brilliant fannon, I have also seen quite a few colour schemes that were... poorly thought out. So I just wanted to show people the 'Codex Approved' way that colour schemes are made. The Codex Astartes dictates every element of Space Marine life (well, the non-deviant ones at least) and as such EVERYTHING they do is structured and regimented. Chapter uniform colour is no different. Each Chapter has a uniform colour that is reminiscent of medieval English heraldry (or near abouts) which is chosen at the founding of the Chapter by consulting tracts with in the Codex Astartes.

These are the four basic colour patterns - Full, Halved, Quartered, and Centered.

Each pattern has a different meaning and is only used by Chapters of one bloodline or the other. Though I have no clue what the meanings are, so never mind.



Secondary colour patterns are used by many Chapters for further definition and are placed over top of a basic colour scheme (Pauldren colour variations are the most common, followed by helm and powerpack colours. Leg and arm colours are rarely used). Again, each pattern has a specific meaning, which are again rather obscure... though, the arm patterns are more oft used by Imperial Fist successors, while the led patterns are to donate 'fast' Chapters.



Though this is not always used, and some Chapters create their uniform for some specific reason (Cultural influence and so on) the majority of Astartes Chapters follow these designed.

The fellow on the right is a example of a badly thought out scheme that doesn't really make much sense a look dreadful. I have seen a few like it and it makes me shudder.

I am not criticizing anyone with this blog post, I am merely trying to help other users with their Space Marine Chapters. ^_^

Thankyou