That is something that can happen to every sub-faction out there its not something that will affect only the IF! Do you really think that a RG devastator with (traditional ,like in wow rogue) stealth and a lascannon is balanced?Or an IH tactical that is way tankier than other LSM because of his bionics?Or an IF that get extreme boosts to his stats when standing near a fortification? The only answer to this is to actually test those who make it to the 5th during FA and to be able to pass the info to the devs so during release there is a playable game!
I wrote my idea somewhere earlier:little emissions and marks on the minimap,black armour will do the rest.Such practice you could see in any online game with infiltrators and snipers of different kind,the hint with dark armour is practiced,in the PS2:Vanu camouflage is almost unseen in the night.This hint works and could be easily balanced. We still don`t know what really influences cover parameters.Moreover,imagine:you have an iron block.Space marine covers near him and what`s next?IF under the same iron block as a Blood Angel is receives less damage cause he..what?Master of fortification?Ehm..but he didn`t built anything,he sat near the block.But,probably,not going to argue this idea. That could be too overpowering.Example, PS 2,New Conglomerate,unit - MAX with "Slaughter" gun(triple shotgun in both hands).Frankly speaking, I haven`t seen something more imbalanced versus usual notMAX units.
Agree,any chapter could be imbalanced in this way,but the problem is that on the current level of development we could add even the Emperor`s Chihldren and nothing will change,cause developers are still testing painted poligons of the same stats.
Rogal Dorn agreed to take on the Codex Astartes because he didn't want a second civil war. His ships were fired upon. He capitulated on his stance in order to save the Imperium. Probably the best example in the 40K universe of putting pride aside for a greater good. This doesn't really enforce your point. But let's look at the real issue with what you're saying. Please, direct your attention to the bold part of the quote. I've had to re-read it several times now just to make sure it says what it does. I'm going to have to break it down, because it's simply too... too... dismissive (again, to use a mild word) not just of the Ultramarines, but of everything I've been saying up until now. Let's imagine that all Codex-adhering Chapters have no peculiarities? No Lore? No deviations? Firstly, to state the obvious: Why in all sanity would we even take a second to imagine such a thing? Because it has no relevance, because it is not true. Imagining it is all you would ever be able to do, because it's not representative of the Ultramarines, codex-adhering Chapters OR even the Codex Astartes. Imagining it has no value because the concept doesn't exist in 40K. Are you saying you don't think that the Ultramarines have peculiarities, or lore, or deviations? You're saying they have no character, no culture, no real-world inspirations? Have you never read a single piece of Ultramarines lore in your life? I am sorry to say the sheer audacity of your statement has moved me to considerable disbelief. But let's be completely irrelevant then, and pretend that we all know nothing about 40K and nothing about the Chapters, and let's say, sure, remove the peculiarities of a Chapter and they 'become the Ultramarines.' So... what? If you're saying this can be done to the Imperial Fists, why can't it be done to the Raven Guard? I mean, the Raven Guard are a Codex Chapter. It says as much plainly in White Dwarf Episode 276, pages 6 - 11 and numerous other sources (that I can cite for you also if you like). So what you've basically achieved if you follow that mentality is a really boring outcome. A much less interesting fiction. You need to go and read Know No Fear, you need to read Mark of Calth, you need to read The Unremembered Empire, you need to read McNeill's Ultramarines series, and if you have already, you need to go and read them again with a highlighter because you clearly weren't paying attention. You need to get outside this ridiculous mentality of 'haters' who troll on the Ultramarines because it makes them feel warm and fuzzy inside and you need to educate yourself on the lore-induced possibilities of gameplay before you start making these wild and baseless statements. I won't bother responding to the other two points you're trying to make because they have no foundation for debate. I won't play prophet just to see who is right. That is somewhat immature and insecure. Do people really believe that the Ultramarines are just robots regurgitating words from a book? Do people really take things so blindly at face value like that? It's disheartening.
For me it is the lore in the rulebooks, particularly the stuff by Ward, that has fueled the above belief. Praise the Emperor now that he has moved on to other things. The Ultramarines from Black Library, on the other hand, are awesome!
I just finished Space marine by Ian Watson wich is now considered non canon but gave me a real good view inside the Imperial Fists kitchen and culture! Before that i have read Sons of Dorn by Chris Roberson but personally i liked the one wich was non canon the most, going to read "harlequin" now, also from the hands of Ian watson
Just beacause lore says soemthing about x thing, doesnt mean it will be in/look 100% the same in game for gameplay reasons. Vote Raven Guard
I think allowing Alpha Legion to appear as a different (Loyalist) legion would be an easy mechanic. Make it limited (time limit/cool down) and harder to pull off in close proximity.
