Guide:Things to avoid in YOUR Space Marine Chapter!

Space Marine chapters are the most common article on this wikia, and on various forums, image boards, etc. that host 40k content. Thus, due to the number of Chapters, the general quality is lacking. People often have their chapters fall into a variety of basic cringe worthy tropes or themes, which this guide will attempt to identify. Furthermore, it will look into other common issues.

The Inquisition, High Lords of Terra, and a big fuck you to the audience
Space Marine chapters on the wikia often fall into the incredibly common trope of "hating" or "disliking" the Inquisition or High Lords of Terra based upon the idea that such organisations are corrupt, evil, etc, and often defy their authority or position.

This is one of the few tropes that can possibly work with good explanation. The High Lords of Terra are nearly as incompetent as some would like to depict them, and the Space Marines would need a incredibly good reason to have opposition for those second only to the Emperor of Mankind. [http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Badab_War Attempts to disobey or oppose the High Lords of Terra often end badly, even with the best intentions. ]

The Inquisition likewise is not nearly as incompetent as some would like to depict them, and is a vast, complex group. It is not a formal organisation, and individual personalities and beliefs influence their choices and decisions. Thus, having a Space Marine chapter "hate or dislike" the Inquisition as a whole makes very little sense, though rivalries with Inquisitors and certain factors of the organisation does make sense given reason. Inquisitors have a limited power over Space Marine chapters unless granted it.

Grey Knights are also featured here. The Grey Knights (effectively Space Marine Special-Operations) are part of the Ordo Malleus (one of the three Ordo's of the Inquisition) and are specialized in the role of Daemon hunting. Your Space Marine chapter, unless it is summoning Daemons or fighting alongside them, will doubtfully be having issues with the Grey Knights, while Space Marines are subject to mind wipes after encounters with the Grey Knights and Daemons. Chapters investigated for Daemonic taint would be receiving visits from the Ordo Hereticus whom deal with internal threats of Heresy.

[http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Months_of_Shame A special note on Warhammer 40,000's Gary Stu Space Marine Chapter the Space Wolves on this troupe. The Space Wolves had a spat with segments of the Inquisition and the Grey Knights over Imperial Guardsmen and Citizens after the War of Armageddon. Since exposure to Daemons is almost certainly a pathway to corruption for normal humans as well as all manner of unpleasant things, the Inquisition agents there moved to exterminate them (or sterilize them). Being the nice people that they are, the Space Wolves decided to defend the brave Imperial Guardsmen (who would almost certainly become future servants of Chaos), fighting both the Grey Knights and Inquisition. As well as only causing more people to die, the Space Wolves risked being declared renegades and had their homeworld besieged. Eventually, some sort of deal was made.]

The Codex Astartes and Original Codex do not steel
Space Marine Chapters generally follow the Codex Astartes, a set of guidelines and rules which was implemented by Roboute Guillman after the Horus Heresy. They limit Space Marine forces to a thousand men (including reserves) and pushed the Space Marines from general armies to special operations forces and shock troops. It is a rare occasion when an entire Space Marine chapter deploys, and they often act as small forces. Some Chapters, like the Black Templars and the Space Wolves, do not follow this and have their own organisation.

Chapters over a 1000 men must have admin permission (and, of course an accompanying reason). Chapters with large numbers often come into conflict with the Inquisition and High Lords, and they are limited for a reason. If another heresy broke out, the divided Space Marine chapters would not be able to be so easily drawn into one side, though their lineage would almost certainly have an influence. You will never have a Legion. Ever. The resources simply don't exist.

Some Chapters on the wikia have adopted their own codex, often with their own special ranks and names. Of course, this will cause conflict with codex adherent Chapters. It's not cool any more to do this to just stick it to the Ultramarines, and Chapters actually have to have a good reason fro their own codex.