Not sure about having each squad from a different chapter. Personally I think that the fluff for that would be a little far-fetched (at least the one I could come up with). However, I think it would be definitely interesting to mix two different chapters. I started with Ultramarines and had my moments of regret, looking at DA and BA armies, but when you stick to painting one chapter for a couple of squads, it starts to look great having a uniform force growing. After the first couple of thousand points, I could consider a squad or two from another chapter. I think the impulse of starting all the possible armies there are at once is pretty common.

 

I've never in 17 years of collecting warhammer heard of the phrase Rainbow marines being used to describe a mishmashed space marine force.
I'll be honest i think it sounds like an abominable idea. i can understand not wanting to get bored of painting all one colour but actually building a force organisation around what will be essentially completely different looking squads and then using another completely different codex for the rules just seems messy.

if you really want to build a combined force then simply stick to small 500-1000 point armies and build them as independant forces. Then if you play apocalypse games you can combine your several armies into a single force.

PS: Are you sure these people who are talking about rainbow marines aren't actually talking about the Rainbow Warriors chapter. http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Rainbow_Warriors#.Tv4HA_LW6BA

 

I'll be honest i think it sounds like an abominable idea. i can understand not wanting to get bored of painting all one colour but actually building a force organisation around what will be essentially completely different looking squads and then using another completely different codex for the rules just seems messy.

Abonimable is a bit strong. What if they're all codex chapters? There are such things as crusader forces that encompass many chapters, and I think it's a great idea if you want to avoid getting bored painting the same chapter colours.

Once you're using the one codex who cares if you have a squad of BA for you assault squad, or paint your land speeders as raven wing?

 

@ GrimzagGorwazza - I'm sure I've seen it online somewhere (bad memory I know), and They were painted pretty well, so it just looked like a chapter line-up and wasn't too over the top.

@ wide_ocean - I think you're onto something. I've been trying to push Kill Team at my lgs, so I could just pause, paint up a kill team, then work on the rest of the army.

 

I'm sorry if I was confusing, I would actually be running them all as Sisters of Battle. It was my thought that each chapter kept a pet SOB squad incase they need to slaughter them and bathe in their blood. (or perhaps thats just the grey knights). Then having all the Sisters from each chapter band together and form a solid army, while still keeping true to their root chapters.

Just a thought really, still working out all the kinks.

 

Ok... So basically you're using Sisters of Battle painted up like space marines from different chapters for different squads? Sounds like a fine idea to me! When it comes to space marines, they often fight beside other chapters in crusades (and as mentioned ages ago in a WD, such armies would use the basic codex, no chapter-specific ones :biggrin. The only difference here is that we have SoBs painted up in colors other than their specific orders.

Personally, I'd stick each marine-equivilent chapter squad with what they're best at. For your standard sister squads, Ultramarines, Imperial/Crimson Fists, pretty much any bog standard Codex-thumping chapter usually seed-spawned from the proverbial loins of the all-mighty Guilliman :biggrin:. For something like the celestines, I'd go for a more visually pleasing chapter like the White Scars. For the Retributors, depending on armament, I think Salamanders would do a fine job. Another wickedly evil choice that would go well with flamey-type weapons would be Legion of the Damned. I think that the seraphim and the dominions would look great with the chapters you've chosen. That's my two cents worth! :biggrin:

Oh, and beyond Matt Ward's heretical Grey Knight fluff, no, 'normal' space marines have little to nothing to do with any member, either directly or indirectly part, of the Eccliesiarchy (spelling? probably wrong...but it's close enough :biggrin beyond what is abosolutely necessary.

Good luck and good gaming,

Nate

 

if you were doing a fluff/competitive list i dont think a "rainbow marines" list would be too hard to pull off. You would just need a central theme. Using the vanilla marines codex, you could have say Cpt. Lysander of the Imperial Fists or Shrike of the Raven Guard, and fill in your Troops, Elites, Fast Attacks and Heavy supports accordingly. However, I really dont know much about Sisters of battle so id go with what Shogun Nate is saying with the chapter/ troops relations there, but if you do use normal space marines there is the following list.

For example (Again this is using the Vanilla Marines codex):

HQ

Cpt Shrike

Librarian w/ Termie Armour (goes with Termies) (Dark Angels)

Elites

Assualt Terminators w/ Land Raider (Dark Angels)

Sterngaurd Veterans w/ Rhino (Imperial Fists)

Troops

Tactical Squad (Space Wolves)

Tactical Squad (Space Wolves)

Tactical Squad (Ultramarines)

Scouts w/ sergeant Telion (Ultramarines)

Fast Attack

Vanguard Veterans (Raven Guard)

Assualt Marines (Blood Angels)

Assualt Marines (Blood Angels)

Heavy Support

Whirlwind (Salamanders)

Whirlwind (Salamanders)

When it comes to painting marines in the colors of the Blood Angles, Dark Angels and Space Wolves you would have to tell your opponent that the tactical squads assualt squads and terminators use normal space marine rules and not the special rules from there specific codices. Overall making lists like this could be fun and competitive as long as you tell who your playing whats what.

 

So here is an example:

A sister of lament. I painted this up quick to give ya'll an example of my idea.

 

Looks like a good start bud! Can't wait to see how this army comes out!

Good luck and good gaming,

Nate

 

Interesting idea! I found painting the sisters models a little painful as unfortunately my skills at the time didn't perhaps do the models justice.

However, I think if you can pull it off, it could look terrific!