I know exactly what you mean. The whole fuss about them caused by the fans that see them like that which in its turn is caused by authors like Matt Ward, has made a lot of fans dislike the Ultramarines and it affected even myself to a point. As i began reading the Horus Heresy novels i thought the Ultras were the Legion i liked the most at the time (i've changed my opinion many times since then) cause well they seemed to have their shit figured out. Not pompous like the Emp's Children, not zealots like the Word Bearers etc.. They did seem pretty stiff and strict about everything but i found that a bit humorous so i didn't mind. Then i found out about the whole anti-Ultrasmurf movement cause of authors like Ward and i was like "oh come on.. i liked those guys" but i figured i'd keep liking them as the normal issues-free Legion they were in the HH novels instead so yeah. that after dakka's post was pretty funny. Thanks for ruining it man
I don't find strictness funny (to each their own), but I find it funny to may fun of it. I really came in on the franchise at a wrong/awkward time, and I was given the fanboy perspective for years. Which is probably why I have a counterpoint for most anything a an Ultramarines fan could say. I honestly came into this thread to find out WHY people love --hoping to hear something new and different. I'm glad I did, but you all haven't converted me into into a Smurf-Lover--you hear me?! [^_-] ...HAHAHAHAH! And 1 minute apart! No real harm done. I think it goes very well; given my GW Poster Boy comment. This thread needed some lightening up anyways.
Well... I was a Sergeant in the USMC. My Gunny said, "If you're not here 15 minutes prior, you're late." And all Marines try and be there 15 minutes prior. So that requirement to be there 15 minutes prior caused us to try and be 15 minutes prior to being 15 minutes prior.... As a sergeant, I would expect my Marines to be there before I got there, so I could make sure they were there before my Gunny got there. Strict adherence and all that.... So we had marines showing up 35-40 minutes prior to a Gunny formation. Insanity... I feel that the Ultramarines pretty much sum up how military life really is. The Marine Corps Handbook. 11 general orders. Rifleman's Creed. Semper Fi. 10 November 1775. Captain Samuel Nicholas. Smedley Butler. Archibald Henderson. Then there's the inspections. I mean... if you don't know how to starch and iron skivvies, you're doomed to failure! It's the realism about the Ultramarines that draws me to them. The striving to be the best, to live up to expectations (One more for Chesty!), to push beyond their limits simply because they bear the title of Ultramarine. It reminds me of the Corps. Well, that's stateside anyway. In the field, you enter a new domain, and I think the Ultramarines show that as well. When it comes time to put rounds down range, destroy your target, and do whatever it takes to get it done.... Though you're reigned in by ROE (Rules of Engagement aka. Codex Astartes) you do what you have to to see that your enemy is destroyed.
Ultramarines rigid adherence to Codex Astartes, thier greatest flaw, is completely understandable. As sole bearers of Ultramarine name and history, as protectors of Macragge, Ultramar, work and body of Guilliman, thier "zeal" (if you would permit me to say) is foreseeable. Besides there are plenty if instances where intuition and improvisation are tools of warriors of Macragge, especially within The Troublesome 4th. My favoritism originates more from Guilliman then Ultramarine deeds. But I will admit that plenty of Guilliman's traits that makes him my favorite originate from the way he was raised on Macragge. I wonder how would other (traitors in particular) primarchs end up to be if they lived in/through similar environment. Even, what if they weren't scattered at all and/or what if in that case The Emperor was more revealing about the warp. Perhaps those questions would make a interesting forum discussion. In any case... The Unremembered Empire goes a long way to depict both Guilliman and Ultramarines, I recommend it wholeheartedly. Five primarchs on Macragge, well written by Abnett, brilliant read...
I agree, since "Know no Fear" and "Unremembered Empire" I fall in Love with them. And "Betrayer" , Gladius & Storm Shield Phalanx vs Hordes of World Eaters, simply stunning Imagination. As others has already said, they fight really for Mankind's Future in Military and Civil way. And they have no psychotic illnes like many other Legions.
I'll admit to loving the early parts of Ultramarines being stomped. An~d the Word Bearer trolling them through most of the begining. Teasing aside; I'm not finished with the book yet. I'll probably give a gander at Unremembered Empire next--the page count on those Ultramarine Omnibi is kind of daunting for one who isn't the biggest fan yet. [ ] Current Favorite Moment (thus far) in Know No Fear {Spoilers} I laughed out loud when Lorgar left the demonic Holo-Image "present" upon Guilliman's bridge. Guilliman (*looking away from the abhorent viasage that Lorgar's image became*): "I'm in no mood for these illusory tricks--cut off communications!" Comms Officer: "Um... they have ~been~ off sir..." Guilliman (*turns back around and sees the demonic monstrosity grinning back at him*): "Oh Shi--" *BOOM*
At what point do the "Emperor's Angels of Death" ever become girly? Ultramarine haters need to get over themselves. Structure does not equal weakness, it is something to build from a foundation on up. Because the Ultramarines strive for order, this makes them weak? I can only stock this up to having absolutely no idea how the military works. Zulu time. It exists for a reason. Study it and get back to me. Take your time and have some ice cream while you read, brony.
It seems to me that you're trying really hard to troll mate but i'll reply anyway. Like i've said before, they're not perfect. They're as generic as it gets. They just don't have the serious issues that many other Chaos chapters seem to have and apparently that's why they've fallen to Chaos. Also most of the review of the Unremembered Empire i've seen (i haven't read it yet), seem to dislike how Guilliman is portrayed compared to other books, so you're wrong. And no, he doesn't seem like the good guy in all books. If you read The First Heretic he looks like a complete douche and Lorgar is the good guy. You could say the same thing about being perfect and all about the IF too which are pretty much like the Ultramarines. But no, apparently you only like to bash the Ultramarines cause i suppose you don't like them being the poster boys.
