So since I encountered quite a few different Ultramarines haters directly going "Smurf!" I just wondered.... What makes you guys actually HATE Ultramarines that much? I mean I know that EVERYWHERE, EVERYONE hates Ultramarines for some reason but I really do not understand WHY. I mean do you guys even have a good reason? Or is it just because the Ultramarines are "over-advertised" well guess why. They are the most pure, most loyal to the codex, etc. The Space Marines in general are the poster figures for WH40k, but somehow all the hate goes to the Ultramarines. Is it that Calgar as Chapter Master seems overpowered by killing Greater Demons, punching the Avatar of Khaine to hell, etc.? Well he is a hero almost on the level of the Primarchs, of course he is damn strong! But so do other Chapters have strong individuals. Or is it just their color? Then why is no fun poked at other Chapters? Not even Space Wolves where plenty of dog jokes could be made at aren't made. Or any other of ANY founded chapter. No matter if first or second founding... Only the Ultramarines are somehow poked fun at, so back to the core: Just tell me why? Or do you actually have no reason and just do it because it's "Cool"? I have poll options to it too + you can give multiple answers.... So please enlighten me why the Ultramarines are so horrible. If your option is not above, then just let me know why you hate them.
Over-commercialized, for sure. They crowd out other Space Marine chapters for no reason other than because Matt Ward likes them the most. They're just everywhere. If it's not the Ultramarines, then it's probably Dawn of War with the Blood Ravens, but they're actually kind of interesting and not totally vanilla. If there was more variety then I wouldn't mind, but it's just smurfs as far as the eye can see.
They were once fallible, just as all Astartes are. They were once the blue-collar, working class of the Space Marines. They had great victories and shattering defeats, and they took their licks and came back swinging, wiser and humbler for it. They used to be human and you used to be able to relate to them. The Space Marine Codices used to only have 1 or 2 Ultramarine special characters and the rest were from other Chapters. And then some goddamn fanboy was put in charge of writing Codices and it turned into a shitshow of Guilliman being best pony and the Ultramarines being the best at everything forever omg we're so awesome every other Legion/Chapter wants to be just like us. Unless it's the Grey Knights, which is another heap of ridiculousness I will not discuss here. The Ultramarines are now untouchable and incorruptible, their gene-seed has no flaws whatsoever, they are never questioned by anyone, the Inquisition included, despite controlling a miniature empire because their successor Chapters are merely extensions of the Ultramarines Legion, instead of being their own Chapters with their own identities. Their smug pride would make an Eldar look humble. They have ridiculous special characters that are the absolute best at something within all of the Imperium, even if there are Chapters that actually specialize in that particular skill. That's why I hate the Ultramarines.
I don't hate Ultramarines, or hate on them, I just feel they were over-commercialised for the better part of last decade. And there are quite a few people to blame for that... not going to go into it. But it was kind of a self destructive cycle, due to the overcommericalisation, you ended up with a lot of Ultramarine fans and because of a lot of ultramarine fans (some being game developers) we ended up with Ultramarines being the focus of pretty much every WH40K game from 2011. That year also kind of marked the end of the Ultra Decade that started back in 4th edition and ended with 6th edition. I remember when it was the Crimson Fists who were the "boys in blue" on every hobby store starter table, on the cover of every codex and the focus on the starter box back in the 90s. Once upon a time Ultramarines were just another chapter, noted simply for being A) Generic, B) Having the largest number of successors (apparently) and in charge of a sizable chunk of Imperial Space where not much really happens other than Tau being annoying from time to time and constant Xenos in your face, namely tyranid incursions, it's pretty much the Imperial Zone of space where you fight the alien, rather than fight Chaos on a yearly basis. Full of Tyranids, full of Orks and being watched on keenly by Tau constantly. Truth be told the Ultramarines play little part in the grand crusades against the traitors. So often they got a lot of "meh" from both lore writers and fans alike for a long time. Truth be told, Ultramarines are "generic" which is why they make great "gateway" material for the hobby during that time, unfortunately it sort of devalued the other chapters which in my opinion are far more interesting and colourful, not in paintjobs (although that can be argued too) but in their background and playstyle. Then Matt Ward came along and everything changed... 6th edition did a lot to fix the decade of "ULTRAMARINEZ", So hopefully the "arg smurf!" hate will dispense with that.
Finally I know at least why you ppl hate them, lol. Well I kinda feel the same way when it comes to other chapters. E.G. I would have loved to read and see more about Imperial Fists, Blood Angels, Dark Angels and the Raven Guard. But they just do not pop out so much. But the Successor Chapters of the Ultramarines I think are really a wide variety. Some are more "Ultra-like" while we have also Successors like the Mortifactors.... Which are more like Blood Angels. What I for example did never understood also is why we don't get a game which re-inacts the Horus Heresy *or is there such thing and I am too stupid to know?* Therefore I think Ultramarines are as over-commercialized as the Blood Ravens got thanks of 10 years Dawn of War or how long it already exists? (I think released DoW 2001, Retribution 2012?) Anyway I do not really see that as reason to go all "Ultra-smurfing" especially not against those ppl like me which like the Ultramarines because of their background, and not just because of "hey they are so super-duper" yeah I like Calgar, but he is not my favorite Ultramarine. In fact my favorites are Chief Librarian Tigurius (who is kinda super-psyker lol) and Admiral Tiberius. And the issue between Agemman (1st Company Captain) and Sicarrius (2nd Company Captain) is also interesting to watch. My main interest is also the war with the Tyranids, most chapters do not encounter any Tyranid and especially not in that size. I do not care that Ultramarines like *always* win, but most Chapters win their fights anyway as the Space Marines are considered "the good guys" in the wh40k universe, therefore 90% of battles from the Imperium vs. anyone end up winning for the Imperium ; so even this is kinda wrong to push into the boots of the Ultramarines. Where I agree to, to go "smurfing" is those ppl which love them only because they got Calgar who beats up everyone. There is so much more in the Ultramarines than some might see, mostly also WHY they follow the codex Astartes as close as they can. Ever thought that their Primarch, who resides in stasis on Macragge, has written that thing? They honour their Primarch by following it as good as they can, so if he comes back restored from the poison *what some believe will happen* and when he will lead them once again, that he doesn't see HIS chapter as strangers, but as his sons. That he sees that his very own people followed the Codex which he wrote thousands of years ago and that they can make him proud that way. That is why Tigurius and Calgar hold the Codex so high and make sure everyone of the chapter follows it as close as possible. Guilliman in basic is ALWAYS with them on Macragge, so why should you dishonor your heritage, the reason you are living and fighting for the Imperium by going against what he wrote down so long before and is to a big part the reason you are a Space Marine, an Ultramarine. It would be plain wrong to not follow the Codex as the very sons of Guilliman.
Bob's post covers perfect why I do not like them too. I do not hate them that is far too strong a word I reserve that for the Tau
matt ward and all the other source of "ultramarine are better than the other astarter all astartes want to be ultramarine" the last codex is good, now ultramarine are a flavour of space marine not THE space marine.
