Sorry, I was bored, and a bit tired, so I posted this before I went to sleep. It is a legitimate question I have, and can even apply to DW, if I want it to, but there will certainly be some fanboy-antics, and wtf in here, so apologies, beforehand.
Why do the Ultramarines get so much negative guff from fans? I thought, for a bit, that it was mostly just 1d4chan being themselves, and while I love reading their stuff, taking into account the sarcasm, it often seems, to me, that they are yet another "Space Wolves and Blood Angels are AWESOME; Ultrasmurfs SUCK!!!", but it doesn't seem like they are unique in this satire, and a lot of the other places are much more serious, for the most part.
"Mary Sue" seems to be the most frequent term, and while I admit, over his tenure, Matt Ward did some terrible things, and HE, at least, seemed like the only Ultrasmurfs fanboy, at the time, we're comparing them to the Blood Angels, who have to have their own unique versions of everything:
- unique bolter pattern
- unique swords (encarmine blades?)
- unique armor, at least two different kinds
- unique jetpacks
- a penchant for stopping to gnaw on the dead, occasionally (and maybe sparkling in daylight)
- a Chapter Master whose lasted longer than some Perpetuals, but he's basically the most celebrated hero in the Imperium, so it's allowed to slide
- their own Librarian Dreadnoughts (don't think most other Chapters have access to Furioso Dreads)
- Might've had, at least at once, their own pattern of Land Raider
- special access to drop pods
- chalices and goblets everywhere
The list might go on. They seem to have their own everything, possibly better than the other Chapters' stuff. The Space Wolves are little better, with their half-lycan features (surprised there's no feud between them, even now), beards, beards, everywhere, total disregard for rules, weird "magic ice" weapons, wolves they can ride, while wearing Power Armor, their own special Librarians, their own special Techmarines, another Chapter Master whose led longer than most Space Marines LIVE, despite being one of the most combat-dominated Chapters, and a penchant for murdering Inquisitors who are trying to make sure they aren't slipping into heresy.
Where in this do the Ultramarines start to look so bad? They got their Tyrannic War Vets, but I don't think they are still supported, anymore (depending on who one asks, the Nids really aren't, either). Papa Smurf can seem rather cheesy, but Marneus Calgar doesn't feel really so bad when held up to the likes of Dante, and Logan Grimnar, and since they are the ultimate "vanilla marines", otherwise, the Ultramarines needed some character added to them, especially when compared to the other Chapters so silly they needed their own codex, just to fit in all their "we're not average Astartes" bells and whistles.
As I said, Ward did some weird things to the Astartes, the Grey Knights, and several other codices he ate, instead, but I find it hard to understand all the negatives against the Smurfs, when compared to the Space Lycans, the Space Vampires, or even the Dark Angels, with their hooded cloaks, and their never ending quest to save their gi...kill those traitors they are still hiding from everyone else, 10,000 years later.
Now, to be fair, I know this isn't really a DW game question, per say, but I'm talking with a number of people who like, and who know about, Space Marines, so I'll risk it, anyway. Were I to play a game, I'd probably build a Salamander, anyway, making the point moot, but they, the Smurfs, and the Grey Knights no one can usually play, are my favorite three Chapters, so I'd consider the Ultramarines, before choosing the Salamanders Techmarine, or Librarian, if the GM was allowing psykers. Also, none of the important characters in the Deathwatch seem to be Ultramarines, so even being the most prevalent, they used a bunch of other Chapters, just to be different. For people who have an opinion, what do you think? Do you like the Ultramarines? Think they suck? Why?
Thanks much for getting this far, and for any opinions you choose to share. Have a good one!!!