Creating A New Chapter of Space Marines: How Is It Done?

[papa smurf]

Ok so I was just wondering this: I know that space marine chapters send samples of Geneseed to the mechanicum/administratum as like a monitoring thing and tests for purity, but I was wondering what happens when they have enough surplus geneseed to make a new chapter? Such things can happen if a Chapter can send in enough geneseed.

I'm aware The Imperium has the ability to make new marines with this surplus geneseed, but how is the organization of a new chapter carried out? I mean I know recruits would become scouts and then marines and so on, but who monitors the first generation? Who are the leaders and commanders of a 1st generation of a space marine chapter? Is a chapter master designated from the Parent Chapter, maybe captains too, or are these marines somehow cultivated, trained, and commanded by a different governing power until they can organize and govern themselves? This interests me, and if any of you fluffy fans out there can help me out, it would be awesome to know :D !

[Duke]

Great questions! I would love to hear some answers.

Duke

[Kieranator K82]

Maybe it's like with the Guard, where a number of soldiers from the 'parent' regiment are transferred as the first generation of a new regiment. Except that it would barely constitute a single company while the new recruits are raised as full Space Marines. This way the 'parent' Chapter would still be functional whilst the new one could be able to develop and contribute (to a lesser degree) to the wars of the Imperium.

[Grailkeeper]

There is a games workshop bit of fluff on this.Unfortunately I only ha;f read it a long time ago so I can't remember it- it may have been in the the first index astartes.

All I can remember-
1. It takes upwards of a century.
2. It is VERY Grim dark- People are implanted with parts of the new gene seed/ combinations of gene seed and then are monitored for the rest of their lives. They are kept in some tube or possibly a frame and don't and can't move, for their entire life. They are aware the whole time.
3. the reason it happens so rarely is because of the lenght of time it takes and the expense.

Maybe someone with the right index astartes can clarify this?

[Grailkeeper]

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Founding
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Chapter

It takes 55 years, and the test slaves are kept in statis. This is only the biological aspect though.

[miteyheroes]

I think I read somewhere that the initial training and so on is done by a group of veterans chosen from the parent chapter. Can't remember where or when I read this though, sorry!

[ColonelElibas]

The decision to create a new Space Marine Chapter is the responsibility of the High Lords of Terra.

I believe the process of creating a new Space Marines Chapter relies soully on Explorator Fleets. If the exploration finds a planet both the Inquisition and the High Lords of Terra believe to hold a good, pure stock of capable warriors that would accept Geneseeds, thus begins the process of creating an entirely new Chapter.

The New Chapter's Master would probably stem from an existing Chapter closeby, thus also providing a template on how the Chapter is structured and trained based on an already existing codex. Overtime there might be changes to this codex and thus making the Chapter truly unique.

From there the Chapter would have to be recognized by the Administratum and Tech Preists of Mars in order to create a warp-traveling fleet.

It's basically:

1.Exploration fleet find potential Chapter World.
2.High Lords of Terra and Inquisition approves - Imperial culture assimilated into World's culture, despots either killed or kept in power.
3. Neighboring Chapter oversees Chapter Master and potential recruits, adopts their Codex and structure.
4. New Chapter being created. Tech Priests and Administratum recording location, strength, fleet-size, and surrounding systems.
5. Administratum issues Imperial Guard Auxilleries and PDF forces to accomodate Chapter.

[BlackKnight15624]

The decision to create a new Space Marine Chapter is the responsibility of the High Lords of Terra.

I believe the process of creating a new Space Marines Chapter relies soully on Explorator Fleets. If the exploration finds a planet both the Inquisition and the High Lords of Terra believe to hold a good, pure stock of capable warriors that would accept Geneseeds, thus begins the process of creating an entirely new Chapter.

The New Chapter's Master would probably stem from an existing Chapter closeby, thus also providing a template on how the Chapter is structured and trained based on an already existing codex. Overtime there might be changes to this codex and thus making the Chapter truly unique.

From there the Chapter would have to be recognized by the Administratum and Tech Preists of Mars in order to create a warp-traveling fleet.

It's basically:

1.Exploration fleet find potential Chapter World.
2.High Lords of Terra and Inquisition approves - Imperial culture assimilated into World's culture, despots either killed or kept in power.
3. Neighboring Chapter oversees Chapter Master and potential recruits, adopts their Codex and structure.
4. New Chapter being created. Tech Priests and Administratum recording location, strength, fleet-size, and surrounding systems.
5. Administratum issues Imperial Guard Auxilleries and PDF forces to accomodate Chapter.

Can you cite where this information is from? I've been collecting Marines since 96 and don't recall ever reading anything like that.

[ColonelElibas]

Can you cite where this information is from? I've been collecting Marines since 96 and don't recall ever reading anything like that.

Its not information on the net. Its a conglomeration of things that I believe would need to happen in order to create a whole new Space Marine Chapter. Surplus Geneseed is collected via Tithe and then deleivered by explicit order of the High Lords of Terra (from what I gathered from the Badab Wars book).

Plus, I just tried to hypothosize it from how the Imperium explores the universe as a whole and is being assailed from all sides from without and within, decisions as important as another Space Marine chapter would not be taken lightly.

Unlike the Imperial Guard where regiments are created from Planetary Tithes to the Guard as a whole, Space Marines technically originate from Terra and thus, which the governorship of Terra and the Imperium as a whole is the High Lords.

It's not information from the web, just my personal thoughts of creating a new Space Marine Chapter.

That's why there's more Guard Regiments being raised than Marine Chapters; the process and armament and training is radically precise, scrutinized, and extensive, because Marines are the 'Angels of Death'.

[Grailkeeper]

on the training front- what about chapters which are not a clear successor to another? maybe they use a mix of geenseed, or gene seed of uncertain provenance or something other reason entirely?

I've also heard of chapters created to deal with a specific threat- be it a particularly dangeros xeno species or a rift into the warp

[ColonelElibas]

on the training front- what about chapters which are not a clear successor to another? maybe they use a mix of geenseed, or gene seed of uncertain provenance or something other reason entirely?

I've also heard of chapters created to deal with a specific threat- be it a particularly dangeros xeno species or a rift into the warp

They might use geneseed from different chapters, however, the new chapter will (almost) always be influenced by the Codex Astartes written by Gulliman. To this extent, the chapter might pick and choose which characteristics of the Codex is more valuable to them morally or logistically.

Specific chapters designed for sepcific threats reeks with Inquisition involvement, for the eye that sleepeths not, and would certainly boast a low amount of Librarians.

[BlackKnight15624]

Not likely that they'd use mixed geneseed- each chapter has its own particular mutations, making it almost impossible for an apothecary from one chapter to minister to a marine from another. This is only possible in the Deathwatch because they effectively sign nondisclosure agreements about constituent chapters' gene-seed, and each kill-team is comprised of clearly-marked brothers for whom the apothecaries can tailor their ministrations to. For them to use different strains in the same chapter would make it a logistical nightmare for the chemical treatment that the marines undergo.

I agree with ColonelElibas on the Codex, however- the Codex is hugely popular with the High Lords, who are more likely to sanction the creation of a new chapter if it's structured along orthodox lines (Read: like the Ultramarines).

[cobra6]

I had always assumed that a group of Marines from whatever chapter were pulled aside and told, "you ten Marines are now the 'Space Dinosaurs' Chapter. Congratulations. Take this spaceship, report to the planet of Pangea III and the Admech will be by to help you implant a coctail of geneseed into into the local cavemen. Your mission to is to guard the hyper-violent Barghesi" or something similar.

In reality, it is probably done any number of ways, based on location, recruting stock, current emergencies, nearby SM chapters, and a host of other factors. I would say if you want to make your own DIY chapter, they can originate however you want them to, as long as it doesnt obviously fly in the face of existing fluff (like having women give birth to young Space Marines, or something like that..)

[Grailkeeper]

I'd always thought that they could mix gene seed, certain chapters have better gene seed relating to different organs- for example Imperial fists have realtively stable gene seed but lack certain organs ie betchlers gland.

[BlackKnight15624]

I'd always thought that they could mix gene seed, certain chapters have better gene seed relating to different organs- for example Imperial fists have realtively stable gene seed but lack certain organs ie betchlers gland.

That's a mutation particular to the Imperial Fists- they have the Betcher's gland, but it's rendered moot because it doesn't work. They might not implant it, but I don't recall the fluff saying they don't have it, just that it's useless.

The Deathwatch RPG states that "Deathwatch apothecaries occupy a uniquely trusted position. Space marine Chapters do not lightly share the details of their gene-seed, with its associated traits, variations, and even mutations. Deathwatch apothecaries are sworn to maintain the secrets of each of the Chapters from which their fellows are drawn, an oath that carries the harshest of penalties should it ever be broken" (p.68) It can then be surmised that each chapter's gene-seed is particular to it alone; gene-seed's unique nature means that an apothecary must be trained to work differently with different strains. Thus, mixed gene-seed would not work in harmony together, as mutations from one organ would conflict with mutations from others.

Each chapter's mutations manifest differently- can you imagine a marine with implants from the Space Wolves, Raven Guard, and Imperial Fists? He'd be a black-eyed albino werewolf with no ability to spit acid.

[Grailkeeper]

It is posible to have marines created out of more than one chapters gene seed- Honsou is half imperial fist, half Iron warrior. they Used to call him a half breed. The combination of gene seed may result in flaws being over come and new flaws developing.

There are successor chapters which are basically ultramarines or whatever in a new uniform, but that doesn't mean they all have to be. There are many chapters with uncertain provenence, they'd just have to look at their gene seed layout to figure out where they came from- "who founded us, dunno but I keep getting flashbacks to where I'm sanguinius... soooo Iron hands?"

[/QUOTE]
Each chapter's mutations manifest differently- can you imagine a marine with implants from the Space Wolves, Raven Guard, and Imperial Fists? He'd be a black-eyed albino werewolf with no ability to spit acid.[/QUOTE]

Not all of the successor chapters are going to be Identical, look say at the lamenters, they don't have the red thirst, instead they have their own flaws totally different to the Blood angels, and they're blood angel only gene seed

[Baron Spikey]

The decision to create a new Space Marine Chapter is the responsibility of the High Lords of Terra.

I believe the process of creating a new Space Marines Chapter relies soully on Explorator Fleets. If the exploration finds a planet both the Inquisition and the High Lords of Terra believe to hold a good, pure stock of capable warriors that would accept Geneseeds, thus begins the process of creating an entirely new Chapter.

The New Chapter's Master would probably stem from an existing Chapter closeby, thus also providing a template on how the Chapter is structured and trained based on an already existing codex. Overtime there might be changes to this codex and thus making the Chapter truly unique.

From there the Chapter would have to be recognized by the Administratum and Tech Preists of Mars in order to create a warp-traveling fleet.

It's basically:

1.Exploration fleet find potential Chapter World.
2.High Lords of Terra and Inquisition approves - Imperial culture assimilated into World's culture, despots either killed or kept in power.
3. Neighboring Chapter oversees Chapter Master and potential recruits, adopts their Codex and structure.
4. New Chapter being created. Tech Priests and Administratum recording location, strength, fleet-size, and surrounding systems.
5. Administratum issues Imperial Guard Auxilleries and PDF forces to accomodate Chapter.
This is incorrect in a number of ways (though with some truth in certain parts).

The High Lords of Terra are the only ones who can order a Founding, but it's extremely rare that they do (26 foundings in 10,000 years) and even rarer still that a Chapter will be created outside of a Founding.
The biological necessities are assembled as previously stated and a core of veterans from the parent Chapter will form the Officer/Specialist ranks- the Chapter will be requisitioned/built a fleet and outfitted with the tools of war used by the Astartes, for the most part Chapters will be created as if they were to be fleet-based. Some will be granted specific worlds, others will conquer a world of their own volition and a significant minority will remain fleet-based.

A Founding is usually ordered for a specific reason, in response to a Black Crusade, rampant secedism etc (case in point the Astarte Praesus), and will nearly always follow the Codex closely- despite DIY chapters and their usual 'divergence' most Astartes Chapters are adherent followers of Guilliman's tome.

As an aside, roughly 60% of Chapters will be descended from the Ultramarines either directly or more likely from one of the successor chapters- Space Wolves are one of the rarest geneseeds to be used and every other type of geneseed falls somewhere between these 2 extremes in terms of popularity of use.