[Gidget242]

For my marine army, I'm thinking of making them a successor chapter to the Imperial fists. This would help me explain the fist markings on the Captain Lysander model I'm going to be using (once suitably converted... ie swap the shield for a storm bolter) and their love of terminators. A group of systems that they were based in was cut off from the rest of the empire by warp storms, and the new chapter was forced to defend the systems from chaos and ork incursions. They were forced to change their tactics from a mainly defencive army to a rapid-reaction force, having to use light strike cruisers to move companies from system to system to respond to enemy attacks.

But then I run across the problem that I don't know all that much about the Imperial Fists. I know the basic fluff behind them, but I don't know anything like what culture they take the most influence from. I'm thinking maybe italian or greek, but I don't know.

So any help on stuff like where they get their influences from (especially when it comes to names), etc etc etc.

Thanks.

Eller

[Wargamer]

Imperial Fists are siege specialists. They excel in either offense or defence when sieges are made.

Also, they cannot "spit acid" like normal Marines can, nor can they switch off half their brain. Aside from that, their Gene-Seed is extremely pure.

[Gidget242]

Imperial fists are both offence and defence? I thought they were mainly defencive, hence their rivalry with the Iron Warriors (one tries to build it, the other tries to knock it down).

I knew about not being able to spit acid, but I didn't know that the Catalepsean Node didn't work properly.

Any other traits I should know about? And still need help with the names...

Eller

[Kaliban la Rousse]

Its actually rather easy to get the fist markings off of Captain lysander if you want to use the model for something other than an Imperial Fists succesor chapter.

I've done it myself and he fits pretty well with the new Terminator bits other than the power sword arm which has to have a bit of green stuff put underneath it. Cut of the lightning symbols with a knife and then file down the fist symbol. You can also use an electric drill to get rid of the majority of the fist with little or no damage to the surface of the terminator armour.

[Gidget242]

The fist on his knee isn't a problem, but it's the one under his head. If I filed that off, it'ld look kinda wierd having that thing there with no symbol on it, and my painting or greenstuffing skills aren't up to making a new one.

The only weapon swap I'll be doing to Lysander is changing his storm shield arm for Logan Grimnar's Storm Bolter arm. Apart from that, Lysander is going to be kept pretty much stock (although he might get some Bretonnian accessories in keeping with the Knigth theme I'm going for).

Eller

[KILLAELITE132]

Originally Posted by Herr Oberst-Kommissar Karl Eller

and my painting or greenstuffing skills aren't up to making a new one.

I know this is a bit off topic, but what exactly is the greenstuff used for?

[khanaris]

It is a two-part modeling clay. When mixed, it hardens to a carveable medium. It can be used to fill gaps in models, and some people use it to sculpt various parts of conversions. I have heard it is what GW's sculpters use to design most of their miniatures, as well. I like making hair for bald Tau out of it.

The Imperial Fists never had any specific culture associated with them, as I recall. The successor chapters that we know of are pretty different, so you would have quite a bit of leeway.

[Trillian_1369]

Ya.. didn't the Templar come from the Fists.. there is QUITE a jump..

[khanaris]

The Imperial Fists did not like the idea of splitting up the legion, and resisted more than many of the other loyalists. Since they were (and still are) based on Terra itself, they were probably under quite a bit of pressure to adopt the modifications imposed by the Codex Astartes. I recall that it got pretty tense. The Templar represented a portion of the most zealous brothers, and they took it upon themselves to leave on their crusade. The Crimson Fists are another successor chapter, I believe, although their fluff is not well-known to me.

[Espi0N]

Khanaris is right.

I play Crimson Fists by the way (Vanilla however)

The Crimson Fists were all but wiped out During their Crusade in the Age of Apotasy, which once the Tyrant of the age Goge Vandire was defeated, the Crimson Fists embarked on a CFrusade of Hatred liberating 84 worlds singlehandedly. Their number dwindled, eventually totalling only 128 members but theyand are steadily rebuilding. Although it is estimated that only a few Brothers remain, roughly 250-500 within the next 50 years. It is for this reason that the Crimson Fists 1st Company totals 128 emmbers rather than the orthadox 100. When the Chapter was split up at the end of the Heresy, the most fanatic and zealous of Brother formed the Black Templars, the 'loyal' brethren remained as Imperial Fists, and the predominatly new members formed the Crimson Fists. They are called the Crimson Fists because of the Ritual Dorn initiated on new Masters, slitting their palms and sharing their blood.


On their Crusade they liberated Rynn's World and set up 'camp'. However Rynn's World was near to the ever expanding Ork empire of Charandon and while the Crimson Fists fought hard to repel invader to their system, the battle eventually came to Rynn's World. A freak accident caused a huge missile to destroy the fortress monastery and it's subsequent explosion all but the destroyed the new replenished Crimson Fists. Only a handful escaped Including the current Master, Pedro Kantor.

As a result of their impetuous zeal (the crusade) and numbers (almost wiped out twice) the High Lords of Terra have attempted to disband them multiple times, but we have loyal supporters within the Adeptus Terra anyway! We are fiercely loyal to these 'masters' and have subsequently followed up on 2 orders to perform Exterminatus on 2 Marine chapters. This has led to some Marine cammanders deeming us as 'lap dogs of Terra'.

The Imperial Fists are not based on Holy Terra however. This is not true as they are based in their fortress Monastery, the Phalanx.The Imperial Fists helped to defend the Holy Emperors Palace on Terra during the Horus Heresy ! They defended it's walls with their heavy weapons and as such have a rivalry with the IW, although it's not a case of "One builds, the other knocks it down". They hate defeat and will hold out in the face of insurmountable odds even if a withdrawal is better. Dorn and Perturabo were intense rivals even before the Heresy, once the Heresy was over they still hated each other and both excel in offence and defence in attacks on bastions and in Urban Warfare (FIBUA I believe).

I realise you were after Imperial Fist information now and NOT Crimson Fist, but I'm not deleting all that for nothing.