Creating Fluff: Space Marine Hierarchy Chart

Its that time again. In a recent post, I wrote about creating fluff and matching the right type of fluff with the right army (or character or whatever). At least I think I did, I'm not sure what actually made it to the page through the haze of insomnia.To perhaps illustrate what I was trying to cover, I thought I'd use this recent piece of fluff documentation (I create plenty of it so hopefully no one realises I'm behind on my painting schedule, and by doing so end up further behind... the irony).
 


Anyhoo, I often cite the fluff of Colonel Scipio as what he has written, and his approach to fluff very much works for the Guard, similarly I don't think it would work well for many other armies including even Marines. Detailing rations and ammunition, amongst many other elements, is bloody brilliant and Scipio's work never fails to impress me. But it wouldn't suit the Marines too well I don't think. Regardless of that, I highly recommened checking his posts, particularly the one about his Palladian Guard book.

You could try and treat the Marines as Super Army Soldiers of the future, which essentially they are, but they're doused in a medieval imagery (in written fluff and in literal visuals), they're "pre-gunpowder" - and to get the best out of Marine fluff I think you need to get the balance of the archaic right. I could be completely wrong, but that's how it seems to me. So I've been looking at illuminated manuscripts and similar medieval documents to get ideas of how to present my fluff. I then temper that with trying to keep the imagery Arthurian/Dark Ages, if I was doing Black Templars for example, I would go much more 14th century. The below is a little rushed, and not quite how I wanted it, but good enough to illustrate the point hopefully. I wanted to make it look a little like an archaic family tree, but to present all the information I was trying to I had to tweak it all slightly. The test of course is if it makes sense to anyone that's not me....
Naturally, I don't think this level of fluff is necessary to enjoy the game, I just enjoy making it and it's an extra part of the hobby to indulge in when I don't feel like painitng (lighting hasn't been great recently :P)

Comments

  1. Nicely done :-) To blow my own trumpet somewhat, I wrote a random Chapter generator for the Deathwatch RGP supplement 'Rites of Battle' which provides some fun in the area.

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    1. Thanks Andy, would love to see that, do you have a link at all?

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    2. Not to the actual rules, but here's the FFG product page http://store.fantasyflightgames.com/productdetails.cfm?SKU=DW04

      I had a lot of fun with it, as I'm a big fan of just rolling up loads of stuff and seeing what the dice gods give you, just like rolling up squads of Imperial Army troopers in Rogue Trader or champions in Realms of Chaos :-)

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    3. Excellent stuff, I think that's a great approach too, I suppose I should have called my post "fleshing out fluff" lol, doesn't sound quite right somehow. I'll check out the supplement ASAP!

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  2. Ooooh, I like it! What's the font? Love the archaic use of 'the' before every entry. Thanks for the shout as well!

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    1. Ta muchly, tis well deserved. I can't recall exactly but I shall dig the names out for you. I've just noticed that Uchelwr and Uchelwyr could look like a typo but the first is singular and second is plural. Still need a better name for Squad and Combat Teams lol.

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  3. That's nicely done sir, really like the love put into this.

    Looking forward to actually seeing painted minis! (?)

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    1. Thanks Dai, painting as I type. Well not literally..

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