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

[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.