I didn't fancy any of the other chapters, so I went Dark Angels. They seem cool with their robes and secrecy, being the first chapter created by His Will, and their unique and secret organization, but apart from that I do not know much about them. As a filthy uninitiated, what should I know about them? Can some kind librarian or chaplain show me the ways of the Dark Angels?
I don't know much about the dark angels, but i would read this page http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Dark_Angels when i want to know the full story of a chapter i'm interested in, i read there
Dark Angels are very interesting ... and no not chapter but Legion. Best way is to read codex Dark Angels 6-th ed (last one) There are also a lot of Horus Heresy Books like "unremembered empire" and etc. But best way brother is back story part of codex.
Pardon me for asking, but how lengthy a response do you want? Something covering the bare basics, or also including the Fallen and many events from their history leading up to the end of M41?
I've read the Lexicanum article but I kinda don't want to read what happened on the Heresy because I will eventually read it and I don't want to get spoilers. What I want to know is, what are their main traits that make them different from the other chapters, and what style of combate do they like most, what kind of "person" was their primarch, that kind of stuff. Sorry for the vague OP.
The only thing you need to know about Dark Angels is-ACCESS DENIED! But seriously, a codex is the best way to learn about an army. If you're willing to spend the money on one. I'd say it's worth it. As for combat preferences they make a heavy use of plasma weaponry. Ranging from pistols to cannons, anything plasma is a common sight. You picked the right choice for a favorite chapter. Green is best, after all.
I would personally agree with the others that Codex: Dark Angels would be your best choice, but there are a few novels that may also work. Pandorax for example gives a very good depiction of the chapter and how its major leaders behave. To put it simply however, what separates them greatly from the rest of the adeptus astartes is how they operate, planning and often moving in secret in order to hunt down the Fallen of their kind. The Fallen in question were a massive group of Dark Angels which joined Horus during the Heresy, and their supposed corruption resulted in the destruction of their homeworld of Caliban. While the Dark Angels keep this knowledge in secret to avoid accusations of heresy and dishonour, and while outwardly they retain their knightly iconography from their days in the Great Crusade, they often behave far more like the KGB. They are desperate to redeem themselves in the Emperor's eyes and hunt down all the Fallen, forcing them to repent for their sins. Despite this, only a few Dark Angels, those leading the chapter in the Inner Circle and the Interrogator Chaplains, know the truth of their history and of this great betrayal. Along with Native American iconography and origins which is sadly ignored these days, there are two distinct elements which make the chapter unique. The first is that their primarch is alive and well, lurking within the very heart of their mobile fortress monastery, The Rock. However, he has not awakened in ten thousand years and the mysterious Watchers in the Dark are supposedly caring for him until he is truly needed in the Imperium's most desperate hour. The second is that despite breaking up into chapters, the Dark Angels still operate in a manner very akin to a legion. An Inner Circle within each chapter assists in coordinating their efforts to hunt down the Fallen throughout the galaxy, answering overall to the Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels. This, as it breaks Guilliman's decree, is naturally also kept in secret. On the battlefield, the Dark Angels frequently favour ranged firepower over their contemporaries. While no strangers to a close range melee, their tactics generally gravitate more towards ranged exchanges of firepower than lightning fast close range assaults. Despite this however, the chapter does maintain two separate fast attack companies, the first being the 6th company and the second being the Ravenwing. As for El'Johnson himself however, the primarch was something of an enigma when it came to his personality. While not nearly as much as Alpharius, he was seemingly secretive when it came to his true nature and more than once it was thought that his outwards personality was a facade. What is known is that he took matters of personal honour seriously and that loyalty was something he considered sacrosanct, viewing the world in a very black and white manner many times. There is more to this but it gets into subjects of psychology and mental conditions which are mostly fan theories built out of details than anything solidly established as of yet.
Fantastic answer, Killbo! I know like this chapter legion chapter even more! Plasma fetish Fuck Guilliam Deathwing&Ravenwing are cool as fuck Alive primarch Honor above all Kicking heretic arse I have a couple of questions, though. What's that Native American iconography you speak about? Why did they change their black color scheme to dark green? And why do they keep their primarch in stasis? I understand it's a hidden card they can use in a dire time, but... aren't they in a dire time already?
