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The most intriguing aspects (to me, anyway...) about the
Black Templars and Space Marines in general are all the
strange icons and symbols that they display on their armour,
weaponry, and standards. What's it all mean? Are they just
"flair," or are there stories behind each and
every mark that covers their power armour? This heraldry
has got to mean something, right?
I believe that these symbols are a gateway to a whole
new level of detail that one can lavish upon the basic
Space
Marine model. They provide a great way to add some background
and story to your rank-and-file Astartes. Thinking of ways
to convey
and create honour badges, awards for bravery, and other
such heroic trappings is a great exercise in creativity.
It'll
certainly set your Space Marines apart from the crowd
and give you a better sense of attachment to your army.
Now, during your games,
instead of saying, "Darn, another Space Marine casualty;"
you might find yourself saying, "That was Brother
Loutrecht, decorated veteran of the Geonide Crusade!"
The Black Templars in particular have a predisposition
toward customized armour details as a byproduct of their
various Crusades. What you'll find in this article is some
background concerning four Crusades I made up for my Black
Templars. More importantly, you'll find and all the markings,
awards, badges, insignia, and banners that go along with
each particular campaign. These ideas can easily be carried
over to any Space Marine Chapter — this isn't Black
Templar-exclusive content, folks — everyone can pick
up a trick or two from this article. Click a Crusade from
the list below and get to creating your own heraldry and
honour badges. There's more to a Space Marine than just Chapter
icons, you know!
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