okay is this do able ? I was thinking of all the chaos marines who may return to the fold alpha legion are the most possible due to the lack of mutation

are their rules in rites of battle which would help?

Yup. The Black Shield advance replaces the chapter advance and you get to pick your other abilities from other chapters, but you must rename them.

So an Alpha Legion marine returned to the fold is possible. This was the first thing that ran through my head as I was reading the Black Shield advance.

If your GM thinks it's appropriate you might be able to get the Alpha Legion ability out of TEP as an option.

i have TEP which ability are you thinking of? what do people think would be the best specialism for alpha legion some how i dont think libby would be a good idea

"brother was that a bolt of change i saw you cast?"

"erm....... no it was avenger , honestly "

I would think that the DW chaplains would judge the Black Shield for their purity/corruption. So are you thinking this would be a PC or an NPC? I could totally see the Alpha Legion infiltrating the Deathwatch this way.

Also of note is that unless they "acquired" some armor and weapons elsewhere, they would be unable to present themselves armed. Their heresy-era armour would be too corrupted, even if they have no mutation. That much exposure to the warp would be hard to hide.

But yea, I could totally see the Alpha Legion perhaps defeating a marine in the Reach and using his armor/weapons to plant one of their own into Erioch.

In fact, I may steal this idea...

-But Brother i think i caught a glimpse of Alpharius on those wrathful flames

-No, it was actually Omeg.....ah, sod it....now you know too much...Burn!!!

I'd already thought of this as well, and plan to use it as soon as possible

Hardrainfalling said:

Books not at hand, but the bonus to manipulate people ability. Not super powerful, but very useful.

Kenshin:

Alpha Legion is know to dress up as other Chapters/Legions to further their own agenda and cause confusion. I don't think it's out of the question for them to have access to "uncorrupted" wargear. In fact, I could see Alpha Legion pretending to be from a specific Chapter without using the Black Shield advance.

ItsUncertainWho said:

This much I know (they do it in TEP). However I wasn't sure if he was wanting to play this as a PC who had decided to return to the fold. Just some background items that would need to be covered to make it feel "right".

I also think its 100% silly that the DW doesn't have Apothecaries verify the gene-seed purity of Black Shields.

kenshin138 said:

What are you saying?

Alpha Legion is the MOST loyal and pure of ALL legions.

Alpha might have been loyal and pure at the time of the heresy since then large portions of it fell to chaos, instead of following their original goal, and there is no way to cheat warp spawned corruption

tkis said:

^ This.

Plus, if the gene seed was ever tested, "Alpha Legion = traitor". Period. The Imperium knows nothing of the "truth" behind the Alpha Legion, only that they sided with Horus.

kenshin138 said:

The Alpha Legion would have planned ahead for the testing, so the Gene Seed would come back spotless and pure.

Alpha Legion would have planned ahead and the testers would be Alpha legion plants!

Of course once that black shield turned up for duty he would find out Creed had managed to sneak a baneblade into his bedroom!

it was for a pc an alpha who returned to the loyalist fold , of course even as a black shield being trusted might be an issue

For those that haven't looked, the Black Shield Advances (the ones that replace your Chapter Advances) are TERRIBLE. There's really nothing on there that you can't get for cheaper from the General Space Marine Advances. You get to benefit from anyone's use of a Chapter Pattern, and you get a few fancy ways to use Fate Points, but this certainly isn't a mechanically strong option IMO.

HappyDaze said:

I don't think the point of the Black Shield was for a mechanical advantage. It allows you to have a very interesting roleplaying opportunity.

It doesn't matter if the advances are cheaper later in the general advance scheme. The Black Shield advances are all available from the get go.

ItsUncertainWho said:

You misunderstand. Here's the list:

Awareness 800 (free starting skill)

Carouse 200 (same as General 1)

Climb 400 (free starting skill)

Concealment 800 (free starting skill)

Concealment +10 800 (OK, here's a good one - not normally available until General 3)

Drive (Any) 800 (worse than General 1 which gives it for 600)

Intimidate 400 (free starting skill)

Literacy 200 (free starting skill)

Lore: Common (Adeptus Astartes) 400 (free starting skill)

Lore: Common (Imperium) 400 (free starting skill)

Lore: Common (War) 400 (free starting skill)

Search 400 (same as General 1)

Silent Move 800 (free starting skill)

Silent Move +10 (OK, another good one - not normally available until General 3)

Speak Language (Any) 200 (same as General 1)

Survival 800 (General 1 gives it for 300)

Swim 200 (same as General 1)

Trade (Any) 400 (better than General 1, where it costs 600)

Ambidextrous 1000 (free starting talent)

Astartes Weapon Specialization 1500 (same as General 1)

Sound Constitution (x3) 1000 (OK, an expensive and unexciting option, but since you really don't have much else here to write home about...)

So, with the exception of Concealment +10, Silent Move +10, Trade (Any), and Sound Constitution, the rest of the list is pretty much trash.