Having read Deathwatch: Rites of Battle I thought I'd translate its extensive Chapter Creator into a simplified version for Heresy, it's a fantastic aid for establishing the basic structure of your Chapter.
It Covers all the bases from Origins to Current Status and everything in between. I wont go into detail with what each choice is, though I'll attempt to provide at least some explanation, you'll have to buy the book fora full description (something I recommend as it's chock-a-block with info) or things which I won't mention like Aspirant Trials for example.
Note: my explanations are likely going to be generalisations, for example in the case of a Chapter created as a Counter- I put that it's on the express order of the High Lords of Terra but that's not always the case, simply the most common.
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You can choose anything from the following tables, or roll from them it's entirely up to you- here's the Online Dice Roller I use.
-This is a guide not something set in stone, so use which ever parts you want in whatever way you want.
Why was the Chapter Founded?
Table 1.1
|
D10 Roll | Reason
1-4|Strategic Prognostication
5-6|Counter
7-8|Standing Force
9-10|Crusade
When was the Chapter Founded?
Table 1.2
|
D100 Roll | Period New Chapter Founded
1|31st Millennium
2-5|32nd Millennium
6-10|33rd Millennium
11-20|34th Millennium
21-30|35th Millennium
31-40|36th Millennium
41-50|37th Millennium
51-60|38th Millennium
61-70|39th Millennium
71-80|40th Millennium
81-95|41st Millennium
96-100|Unknown
Progenitor
Table 1.3
|
D100 Roll | Result
1-50|Ultramarines
51-65|Blood Angels
66-80|Dark Angels
81-85|Imperial Fists
86-90|White Scars
91-94|Raven Guard
95-98|Iron Hands
99|Space Wolves
100|Salamanders
Gene-Stock Purity
While some Chapters are created using the "pure" gene-seed of the Progenitors, others are created using later generation Successors of the same Legion.
Table 1.4
|
D10 Roll | Result
1-5|Pure
6-7|A New Generation
8-9|Altered Stock
10|Flawed
Progenitor Demeanours
Codex Demeanours (Pure Chapters don't need to roll in this section)
Table 1.5
|
D10 Roll | Result
1|Swift As The Wind
2|Cleanse And Purify
3|No Mercy, No Respite
4|Purity Above All
5|Scions of Mars
6|See, But Don't Be Seen
7|Suffer Not The Alien To Live
8|Suffer Not The Works Of Heretics
9|Brothers In Battle
10|Uphold The Honour Of The Emperor
Gene-Seed Deficiencies (Optional if not an Altered Stock Chapter)
Gene-Seed deficiencies normally only arise after rolling on Table 1.4, but Table 1.6: Chance of Gene-Seed Mutation exists to add further depth to your background if you so wish it- even a "pure" source such as the Ultramarines could exhibit deficiencies due to external factors such as damage caused by mutating environments, failed genetic manipulation, or even xenos influence.
Table 1.6
|
Progenitor | % chance of Deficiency
Ultramarines|10%
Blood Angels|50%
Dark Angels|10%
Imperial Fists|10%
White Scars|20%
Raven Guard|20%
Iron Hands|20%
Space Wolves|75%
Salamanders|90%
(Table 1.6 should only be used if you rolled anything other than Altered Stock on Table 1.4)
If by using the above Table it's determined a mutation exists- by rolling a D100 and checking to see if you rolled within the Progenitor's chances [i.e because Iron Hands are 20% only Pure/A New Generation/Flawed successor Chapters rolling 1-20 would result in a mutation for an Iron Hands successor whereas 21-100 wouldn't]- then there is a 90% chance that the mutation will be exactly the same as the Progenitor's.
So for an Ultramarine Successor to have a mutation that wasn't present in the Progenitor they would have to Roll 1-10 on a D100 (because they only have a mutation rate of 10%) and then a further 1-10 (or 91-100) on a D100 to be eligible to roll on Table 1.7: Gene-Seed Deficiencies. (again because there's a 90% chance the mutation will be exactly the same as the Progenitor's)
Table 1.7
|
D10 Roll | Result
1|Hyper-stimulated Omophagea
2|Oversensitive Occulobe
3|Mutated Catalepsean Node
4|Oolitic Secretions
5|Disturbing voice
6-8|Lost Zygote
9|Doomed
10|Multiple Instabilities
Chapter Flaws (Only Flawed chapters need to roll here)
Some Chapters are afflicted by a flaw that transcends mere zygote mutation and comes to totally define them. sometimes the flaw is linked to a nigh-catastrophic genetic malfunction, but just as often it is tied to the Progenitor's Primarch, the stock from which they recruit, or some other inexplicable factor.
The flaws presented in Table 1.8: Chapter Flaws are a general foundation not the be all and end all list.
Table 1.8
|
D10 Roll | Result
1-2|We Stand Alone
3-4|Pride In Colours
5-6|Faith In Suspicion
7-8|Eye To Eye
9-10|Chapter Cult
Limited or Missing Zygotes
If Lost Zygote is rolled on Table 1.7, or Altered Stock is rolled on Table 1.4 then there is the option to roll on Table 1.9: Missing or Inactive Zygotes to determine which organs are not functioning or are absent entirely.
Table 1.9
|
Roll D100 | Result
1-8|Catalepsean Node
9-17|Preomnor
18-26|Omophagea
27-35|Occulobe
36-44|Lyman's Ear
45-53|Sus-an Membrane
54-62|Oolitic Kidney
63-71|Neuroglottis
72-80|Mucranoid
81-89|Betcher's Gland
90-98|Melanchromic Organ
99-100|Roll Twice On This Table
It Covers all the bases from Origins to Current Status and everything in between. I wont go into detail with what each choice is, though I'll attempt to provide at least some explanation, you'll have to buy the book fora full description (something I recommend as it's chock-a-block with info) or things which I won't mention like Aspirant Trials for example.
Note: my explanations are likely going to be generalisations, for example in the case of a Chapter created as a Counter- I put that it's on the express order of the High Lords of Terra but that's not always the case, simply the most common.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can choose anything from the following tables, or roll from them it's entirely up to you- here's the Online Dice Roller I use.
-This is a guide not something set in stone, so use which ever parts you want in whatever way you want.
Origins
Why was the Chapter Founded?
- Strategic Prognostication (created in order to oppose some future prophesised/anticipated event)
- Counter (created at the express order of the High Lords of Terra to counter a specific threat/race)
- Standing Force (created to operate in a specific region)
- Crusade (created to crusade and expand the Imperium's borders or defeat a certain foe)
D10 Roll | Reason
1-4|Strategic Prognostication
5-6|Counter
7-8|Standing Force
9-10|Crusade
When was the Chapter Founded?
D100 Roll | Period New Chapter Founded
1|31st Millennium
2-5|32nd Millennium
6-10|33rd Millennium
11-20|34th Millennium
21-30|35th Millennium
31-40|36th Millennium
41-50|37th Millennium
51-60|38th Millennium
61-70|39th Millennium
71-80|40th Millennium
81-95|41st Millennium
96-100|Unknown
Gene-Seed
Progenitor
D100 Roll | Result
1-50|Ultramarines
51-65|Blood Angels
66-80|Dark Angels
81-85|Imperial Fists
86-90|White Scars
91-94|Raven Guard
95-98|Iron Hands
99|Space Wolves
100|Salamanders
Gene-Stock Purity
While some Chapters are created using the "pure" gene-seed of the Progenitors, others are created using later generation Successors of the same Legion.
- Pure (a direct descendant of it's Progenitor. The Chapter is likely to maintain close ties with it's Progenitor and many brother Successors, as well as follow the traditions of it's peers closely. They follow the same Chapter Demeanour as their Progenitor)
- A New Generation (attempts have been made to "breed out" real or perceived flaws in the Progenitor's gene-stock, introducing some divergence. Some links maybe maintained with it's Progenitor but it's just as likely to strike out on it's own. Instead of using the Progenitor's Chapter Demeanour, choose or roll on Table 1.5 to select one of the Codex Demeanours)
- Altered Stock (For whatever reason, the Chapter's gene-seed has subtly altered, causing some zygotes to become deficient. While some links are maintained with the Progenitor, the Battle-Brothers of the Chapter maybe shunned. Follow the same Chapter Demeanour as their Progenitor but roll on Table 1.7: Gene-Seed Deficiencies)
- Flawed (A major flaw has been introduced, marking the Chapter apart from it's brother Successors. Chapters suffering some kind of flaw are often forced to forge their own destiny, either embracing their fate or raging against it. Have a 50/50 chance of their Progenitor's Chapter Demeanour or a Codex Demeanour from Table 1.5. In additon they must roll on Table 1.8: Chapter Flaws)
D10 Roll | Result
1-5|Pure
6-7|A New Generation
8-9|Altered Stock
10|Flawed
Progenitor Demeanours
- Ultramarines: Honour The Codex
(In all of their duties, from battle to study, the Ultramarines are thorough, analytical, and attentive to every detail. They are slow to anger and rarely make a rash decision.
An Ultramarine is likely to turn to the vast tracts of the Codex Astartes that he has memorised for the solution to a problem.)
- Blood Angels: The Red Thirst
(Deep within the psyche of every Blood Angel is a destructive yearning, a battle fury and blood hunger that must be held in abeyance every waking moment. The Red Thirst, though, brings with it a humility and understanding of their own failings which make the most noble of the Adeptus Astartes.)
- Dark Angels: Sons Of The Lion
(The Dark Angels are notoriously aloof, uncommunicative, even to Brother Astartes, and intolerant of abhuman warriors or alien races. They are highly suspicious of outsiders.
Their taciturn nature and stubborn refusal to accept anything other than total victory over their foes has served the Imperium well.)
- Imperial Fists: Sons Of Dorn
(In temperament the Imperial Fists are driven and focussed. They study the tenets of the Codex Astartes with almost as much dedication as the Ultramarines, yet there are certain passages their very nature makes it hard for them to fully comprehend. Whereas the Codex teaches the wisdom of a tactical re-deployment, the Imperial Fists will fight on, all but blind to the consequences. They quite literally prefer death to the perceived dishonour of admitting the remotest possibility of defeat.)
- White Scars: Sons Of The Steppes
(The combat doctrines of the White Scars Chapter reflect those of the Chogorian nomads, though expanded to encompass every type of warfare, but it is in the field of manoeuvre warfare and fast assault that they truly excel. Evoking the nomad cavalry, the White Scars conduct lightning attacks, vehicle-borne infantry squads preceded by a wave of bike squadrons. Just like the bow-armed light cavalry of Chogoris, they bear down upon their foe and unleash a fearsome torrent of close range fire before rapidly re-deploying to attack again from a different quarter.)
- Raven Guard: Sons Of Night
(The Raven Guard are masters of stealth, infiltration and sabotage, they are extremely patient, biding their time and never acting rashly. They appear to be motivated by some inner darkness and to shun the light, metaphorically and often literally. While they do fight alongside other Space Marine Chapters they have often been accused of failing to share the full extent of their plans with their allies, leading to disagreement and overt conflict on numerous occasions.When fighting in the same theatre of operations as conventional forces such as Imperial Guard and local militia units, the Raven Guard have been known to use their allies as bait in elaborate traps, launching ambushes against common foes, but not always before the unknowing bait has been taken.)
- Iron Hands: Iron And Hate
(Iron Hand brethren abhor any trace of weakness, even more so than other Chapters. They are extremely puritanical in their drive to identify and purge weakness, and they are damning when they perceive it in others. In battle, the Battle-Brothers of the Iron Hands are at once ferocious and terrifyingly controlled. They advance relentlesslyand fight fuelled by 10,000 years of anger, hatred, and bitterness. Yet, they never lose control or become slaves to their emotions. Every blow they strike is made stronger by the anger behind it. Though the same could be said of many Chapters, the Iron Hands are utterly without mercy, slaying the enemies of the Imperium with a cold, mechanical resolve entirely divorced of any sort of doubt or weakness.)
- Space Wolves: The Sons Of Russ
(The Battle-Brothers of the Space Wolves are ferocious and aggressive warriors. Though far from mindless berserkers they are certainly possessed of a feral exuberance for battle. They have an overriding sense of duty and honour, and are driven ever onwards by a desire to right the many wrongs that have befallen the Imperium of Man.
They abhor pretension and despise politicking, they are honest to a fault, and demand the same quality in those those they fight alongside.)
- Salamanders: Promethean Cult
(While all Space Marines are stubborn and resolute in pursuing their objectives, the Salamanders display this trait to the point of obstinacy. They are stubborn in defence and relentless in attack, though this sometimes leads to them taking disproportionate casualties when others would have withdrawn to pursue alternative tactics. In addition to these essential qualities of the Promethean Warrior, the Salamanders are extremely sturdy, and their favoured fighting styles promote toughness and the ability to stand in the face of overwhelming odds over those of speed or manoeuvrability. They train their bodies relentlessly, building constitution and muscle density in favour of reaction time.)
Codex Demeanours (Pure Chapters don't need to roll in this section)
- Brothers In Battle (There is nothing a Battle-Brother from this Chapter would not do for a fellow Astartes, including dying so that his companion may live. The downside of such a trait is that they make look down upon those outside the Astartes)
- Cleanse And Purify (Chapters who display this trait believe that no trace of the enemy should be left behind to stain the ground on which he was slain. Going so far as to destroy worlds in order to cleanse them of taint, Chapters such as these often favour weaponry that immolates, incinerates, or atomises their foes)
- No Mercy, No Respite (Some Chapters can become so embroiled in ther missions that all else becomes secondary, stubborn and courageous in the face of adversity but also to the detriment of the larger strategic situation at times)
- Purity Above All (The Chapter has no patience whatsoever for any hint of genetic deviation. They regard allied Abhumans as monsters and refuse to fight alongside them, and sometimes even extend this notion to brother Chapters with unusual genetic traits)
- Scions of Mars (Some Chapters maintain unusually close links to the Adeptus Mechanicus giving them access to more complex and/or rarer materials)
- See, But Don't Be Seen (The Chapter understands well the value of maintaining a silent, unseen vigil on the foe, striking only when his target is at its weakest and most vulnerable)
- Swift As The Wind (The Chapters excels at rapid strikes and lightning raids, but the trait extends to every facet of the Chapter. Battle-Brothers are as quick to anger as they are to jest. They can be impatient but show remarkable initiative)
- Suffer Not The Alien To Live (Some Chapters have suffered at the hands of ravening aliens, and harbour a special hatred for a particular xenos strain, or all aliens)
- Suffer Not The Works Of Heretics (The teaching of the Chapter's Cult focus on the many crimes committed against humanity by heretics and rebels. And so the Chapter has developed a special hatred for those who would turn from the light of the Emperor. Furthermore the Chapter is often intolerant of the more unusual expressions of the Imperial Creed or fellow Astartes cults and wage a war of persecution on them)
- Uphold The Honour Of The Emperor (The Chapter trusts that the Emperor will guide them in all things and eschew the use of stealthy tactics, preferring to make bold, frontal assaults so that the enemy knows the Emperor's Angels of Death approach)
D10 Roll | Result
1|Swift As The Wind
2|Cleanse And Purify
3|No Mercy, No Respite
4|Purity Above All
5|Scions of Mars
6|See, But Don't Be Seen
7|Suffer Not The Alien To Live
8|Suffer Not The Works Of Heretics
9|Brothers In Battle
10|Uphold The Honour Of The Emperor
Gene-Seed Deficiencies (Optional if not an Altered Stock Chapter)
Gene-Seed deficiencies normally only arise after rolling on Table 1.4, but Table 1.6: Chance of Gene-Seed Mutation exists to add further depth to your background if you so wish it- even a "pure" source such as the Ultramarines could exhibit deficiencies due to external factors such as damage caused by mutating environments, failed genetic manipulation, or even xenos influence.
Progenitor | % chance of Deficiency
Ultramarines|10%
Blood Angels|50%
Dark Angels|10%
Imperial Fists|10%
White Scars|20%
Raven Guard|20%
Iron Hands|20%
Space Wolves|75%
Salamanders|90%
If by using the above Table it's determined a mutation exists- by rolling a D100 and checking to see if you rolled within the Progenitor's chances [i.e because Iron Hands are 20% only Pure/A New Generation/Flawed successor Chapters rolling 1-20 would result in a mutation for an Iron Hands successor whereas 21-100 wouldn't]- then there is a 90% chance that the mutation will be exactly the same as the Progenitor's.
So for an Ultramarine Successor to have a mutation that wasn't present in the Progenitor they would have to Roll 1-10 on a D100 (because they only have a mutation rate of 10%) and then a further 1-10 (or 91-100) on a D100 to be eligible to roll on Table 1.7: Gene-Seed Deficiencies. (again because there's a 90% chance the mutation will be exactly the same as the Progenitor's)
- Hyper-stimulated Omophagea (Having tasted the flesh of the foe once, the Chapter's Battle-Brothers develop an addiction to the processes allowed by the Omophagea)
- Oversensitive Occulobe (The organ that allows Space Marines to see in low light conditions has become overly sensitised, working exceptionally well in the dark but suffering in full light conditions)
- Mutated Catalepsean Node (The implant that allows the Battle-Brother to enter a half-sleep in which he can remain alert for danger has become dangerously mutated.The Space Marine is unable to sleep normally and stays awake for days, even weeks without effect. However, when sleep does come it is wont to last for days on end)
- Oolitic Secretions (The Chapter's Oolitic Kidney function is imbalanced in such a way that the Battle-Brother's skin is turned an unusual colour due to it's secretions)
- Disturbing voice (Due to a malfunction in or related to the function of the Betcher's gland, the Chapter's brethren exhibit unusual vocal characteristics. The inability to speak above a sibilant whisper for example)
- Lost Zygote (One of the Chapter's zygotes has ceased to function entirely. Choose one or roll on Table 1.9)
- Doomed (The Chapters has lost the ability to replicate either the Black Carapace or Progenoids, without the former future generations of Space Marines will be unable to interface with their power armour and without the latter there will be no future generations)
- Multiple Instabilities (Roll D3 times on Table 1.7, re-rolling any duplicate results including this one)
D10 Roll | Result
1|Hyper-stimulated Omophagea
2|Oversensitive Occulobe
3|Mutated Catalepsean Node
4|Oolitic Secretions
5|Disturbing voice
6-8|Lost Zygote
9|Doomed
10|Multiple Instabilities
Chapter Flaws (Only Flawed chapters need to roll here)
Some Chapters are afflicted by a flaw that transcends mere zygote mutation and comes to totally define them. sometimes the flaw is linked to a nigh-catastrophic genetic malfunction, but just as often it is tied to the Progenitor's Primarch, the stock from which they recruit, or some other inexplicable factor.
The flaws presented in Table 1.8: Chapter Flaws are a general foundation not the be all and end all list.
- We Stand Alone (For a variety of potential reasons, the Chapter's Battle-Brothers are either distrusted by other Imperial forces, or they themselves shun contact)
- Pride In Colours (While all Chapters take great pride in their badge and livery, some take this pride to such an extreme they regard anything that hides them as a form of cowardice)
- Faith In Suspicion (There are some Chapters that hold many other arms of the Imperium in great contempt, whether sanctioned psykers, bureaucrats, the Ecclesiarchy, or even the Inquisiton. Perhaps there has been strife between the groups or the Chapter simply considers itself so superior as to hold others in contempt)
- Eye To Eye (The Chapter sees no honour in in any other form of combat than man to man, eye to eye. It eschews many other aspects of war, and always seeks to deliver the killing blow in person, at the very speartip of battle)
- Chapter Cult (Every Chapter venerates the Emperor, it's Progenitor Primarch and it's own heroes according to it's own traditions. This Chapter has developed rituals so exotic or extreme that even fellow Space Marines baulk at the sight of them)
D10 Roll | Result
1-2|We Stand Alone
3-4|Pride In Colours
5-6|Faith In Suspicion
7-8|Eye To Eye
9-10|Chapter Cult
Limited or Missing Zygotes
If Lost Zygote is rolled on Table 1.7, or Altered Stock is rolled on Table 1.4 then there is the option to roll on Table 1.9: Missing or Inactive Zygotes to determine which organs are not functioning or are absent entirely.
Roll D100 | Result
1-8|Catalepsean Node
9-17|Preomnor
18-26|Omophagea
27-35|Occulobe
36-44|Lyman's Ear
45-53|Sus-an Membrane
54-62|Oolitic Kidney
63-71|Neuroglottis
72-80|Mucranoid
81-89|Betcher's Gland
90-98|Melanchromic Organ
99-100|Roll Twice On This Table
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