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I'll go first, blood angels and their successors because the death company look and are absolutely awesome.

I've been playing Blood Angels off and on for over 20 years. Originally, in First Edition, they didn't have any special rules that set them apart from any other chapter, but I had several bottles of Testor's red flat enamel paint handy, so I painted my RTB-01 beekees red. There was no deeper meaning to the selection than that.

Over the years I've come to really appreciate the Blood Angels aesthetic (those Space Hulk Terminators are the sweetest, aren't they?), even through all of its changes, but I do also like the deep green of the Salamanders and shiny blue of the Ultramarines.

OK, here goes:

1. Crimson Fists. First and best, because they were on the cover of Rogue Trader. Striking colour scheme; last stand; tragic and tough. Everything you want out of a Space Marine.

2. Raven Guard. Black. Beakies.

3. Dark Angels. Robes, mysterious, Interrogator Chaplains.

4. Flesh Tearers. All the highlights of Blood Angels; none of the emo whingeing.

Honourable mentions:

World Eaters. They EAT WORLDS.

Night Lords. Terror is scary. Lightning armour.

I must say I love the lamenters too, the proud title holders of unluckiest chapter since the soul drinkers

FURIOSO wrote:I must say I love the lamenters too, the proud title holders of unluckiest chapter since the soul drinkers

That's what you get for having CHECKERS as an integral part of your paint scheme. And a Valentine's Day card for a chapter symbol.

Also--they were BEFORE the Soul Drinkers.

And is anyone unluckier than the Firehawks?

I'd say the unluckiest ones are as yet un-named. They would be the two stricken from the records.I love them all to be honest as each has their own theme. If I had to choose though, I'd say the space wolves or the blood angels for their "aberrant" stories.

My Space Marine chapter (many years ago when I played 40k) was Iron Hands. What little fluff exists for these guys is fantastic. Love the emphasis on the dreadnoughts and the idea of the Iron Father priest/techmarine.

My top 5 Space Marine chapters:

1. Dark Angels. Love the Deathwing Company, robes over their power armour, and Plasma. Plasma everywhere.

2. Black Templars. They're Angry Marines, and I like their medieval style. Also their scouts fight along side the Space Marines, which is cool.

3. Blood Ravens. Mostly because of them being in video games, and their characters in DoW II are funny. Commander Boreale is my favorite out of the rest in the chapter.

4. Crimson Fists. Love the novel Ryan's World where the chapter gets over run by Orks. A cool chapter that managed to survive!

5. Sisters of Battle. I know they don't count as Space Marines, but come on, they are close to female Space Marines as we can get!

I'm going to jump in with the Blood Angel love. I've always liked the fluff behind them

White Scars too, just because I ride myself I have to love a mounted army!

The Maelstrom/Badab chapters have some serious favorites: Astral Claws, Lamenters, Minotaurs (well, just how they look), Mantis Warriors, Carcharadons.

From the classic 9 and their big successors, Dark Angels have a special place in my heart from my youth, as do Iron Hands.

Night Lords, Death Guard, and Sons of Horus get honorable mentions.

If I had to pick just one, Astral Claws, largely because of a different take on their fall, toned-down gothic look, and a really nice color scheme. Also, they and the Carcharadons got saved from embarrassing obscurity, which I appreciate.

There is no chapter better than the Iron Griffons.

Eric

Don't actually know anything about them.

Deathwatch because they are awesome and allow me to paint a bunch of different chapters.

spiralingcadaver wrote:Don't actually know anything about them.

That's because they're my home-brew.

Eric

Ultramarines - Gotta love the dedication and the fact Horus would only strike with them off in a far away sector.

And the Imperial Fists - sacred Object- Hand of Dorn. Amazing fluff and lore right there.