Warhammer 40K: The Original Chaos Traitor Legions Need Rules
The Chaos Space Marines are made of the original Traitor Legions. It’s time to revisit them and give them some rules!
Chaos Space Marines are getting a new codex and I’m hoping we see them get some new rules for the Original Traitor Legions. I’m not talking about the ones that have their own Indexes already — those Legions have effectively broken off and become their own things now. No, I’m talking about the four OG’s that have gone editions without rules and the one Legion that forms the core for the CSM.
If you need a refresher I’m talking about these Legions:
- Word Bearers
- Iron Warriors
- Alpha Legion
- Night Lords
- Black Legion
Most of these legions are considered “Chaos Undivided” Legions. They along with their other offshoots typically make up the “core” of the Chaos Space Marine. The Black Legion, led by Abaddon, is kind of like the Chaos version of the Ultramarines in many ways. The other Legions sort of take a similar role to what the ones that the Imperial Fists, Salamanders, Raven Guard, and White Scars fill in the Space Marine book.
Chaos Marks to play a part in making the armies of the Chaos Space Marines different as well — but those can be applied to pretty much all these Traitor Legions anyhow. Those aren’t the rules I’m looking for. I’m talking about Detachments.
What better way to give these Legions back some of their flavor? This is literally the exact same thing Games Workshop did for the Space Marine Detachments. So it can be applied to the Chaos Space Marine book, too. Besides, how else were they going to fill out those Detachment options anyhow? But that’s not the only thing they could do…
I’ve already talked about how each of the Traitor Legions should get Legion-specific upgrade packs — a la the Night Lords Kill Team. But aside from these upgrade packs, why not add in a character for each Traitor Legion to act as their “Commander” as well. There’s lots of great options to choose from the Lore of the Chaos Marines for each of these Legions.
It would be a big step up for the Chaos Space Marines in the options department. I know that the epitome of Chaos Space Marines being OP is the 3.5 edition codex. I’m not looking to go back to that in particular. But I do love how each Legion could be played and represented.
Lately, with the Chaos Daemon Prince Primarchs getting models and their own Codexes, it feels like the CSM book is getting things taken away. And sure, they are getting new miniatures and units added. But a lot of those are Daemon Engines (which is cool) or variants of existing units. But new Detachment Rules that reflect these Traitor Legions along with specific characters for those Legions would go a long way in adding in some of that “Chaos flavor” we all know and love.
One final note though: I don’t just want a copy+paste of the Space Marine Detachments. I am hoping that GW takes the concept and feel of the Space Marine Detachments and creates new rules for the Chaos versions. If we just see “Lightning Assault” renamed “Thunderous Advance” I’m going to be very disappointed.
Who wants to see some OG Traitor Legion Detachments and Characters in the new Chaos Space Marine Codex?
