OK, I feel like I'm missing something here, and have for a while. Keep in mind I'm coming into this from the angle of pondering running a game and knowing what players will often do (try to find the best build), but...

Given many of the Successor Chapters get something above and beyond their Primogenitor chapter. why would anyone NOT just take one of the published successors and revel in getting the additional talent or whatever? Some seem reasonably balanced out with drawbacks, but some just flat out get a blanket talent above and beyond the parent chapter (EG, the Genesis Chapter is created as Ultramarines and gets the Peer: Ultramarines Talent. Or the one Dark Angels Chapter that gets a Relic Wargear piece and its only drawback is no newer than Mk 6 armor. Or the Crimson Fists with their Ork Knowledge (Or is it hatred?)) Is that supposed to replace something that I'm just missing? Or what's up?

Not missing anything, it's a straight-up advantage.

Alex

That's what I thought. And yet part of me was thinking "but why!? This makes no sense in games! It doesn't happen!"

Actually, I can start to see a good reason. 40k has its share of fanboy sorts. In a manner of speaking this could be seen as a carrot to try and spread out the love a bit and keep every Deathwatch team from being composed of a bunch of First Founding types, which really doesn't make much sense. Far better to MAYBE have one of them, and that be the super big fanboy who knows the lore like the back of his hand (which means it'll likely be an Ultramarine or a Space Wolf), and the rest be from any number of others...

White Consul, Relictor, Space Shark, etc. That seems a much more likely Deathwatch team.

Don't forget though that the First Foundings have a higher prestige.

Alex

Plus a single Talent, or whatever, generally isn't enough of a bonus to build your whole character around, now is it?

Don't get me wrong, I've seen some pretty munchkiny **** in my time gaming, but most people, won't really try to game the system when the bonus is that minor. And 40K fans tend to really stick with their favourites too, when it comes to Space Marine chapters (custom or canon).

I agree with your observation.

I would gladly play a Dark Angels character for the simple fact that is my favorite chapter even if the successor chapters have an "advantage."

Yet, i think it really falls with the type of player; the power gaming type doesn't care about the "Fluff" anyway and always makes choices based on the advantages presented. The role-playing type player will make there choice based on the background and style. So in the end it would fall to the player types; yet the GM could always try her/his best to influence the choices to make the type of composition that they are seeking and/or feel is correct (to either a unique vision or the 40k background).