Anyway, I was browsing the internet this evening and found what I consider to be a perfectly plausible explanation for the mysterious disappearance of two whole Space Marine Legions, the 2nd and 11th. Here it is:
http://sonsoftaurus.blogspot.com/2010/11/secrets-of-lost-space-marine-legions.html
The only other explanation I can come up with for two missing Legions is printed on the side of the now-legendary Space Marines box RTB01 (one such box currently resides in my conservatory, storing cardboard scenery pieces for a very old Alternative Armies game, Firefight). I can summarise the reason for the two missing Legions in four short words:
Space Sharks.
Rainbow Warriors.
Really, I know 40k was a fledgling game back in the eighties and not every idea was going to be a winner, but surely they could have come up with something a bit better?! No wonder the modern fluff-writers have gone to such lengths to mask these two less-than-spectacular Legions!
space sharks came back in the IA book.
ReplyDeleteSoT's explanation is great, it's one of my favorite bits of fan-made 40k lore on the net. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't be talkin' bout my Space Sharks now!
ReplyDeleteReally though, they're no more silly than Blood Angels, Space Wolves, or Ultramarines. It's just time and exposure that have made those others acceptable.
I did see that the Space Sharks made a reappearance in one of the IA books, but I never let the facts get in the way of a good story!
ReplyDeleteI was actually in two minds whether to make the joke about the Space Sharks, cos they are actually quite an interesting Legion, obviously drawing inspiration from the WW2 United States' fighter squadrons who had such evocative unit names.
I do notice no-one is defending the Rainbow Warriors though....!!
Rainbow Warriors rule. Rainbow Warriors are NOT a lost legion though. They're mentioned in Space Crusade and a bunch of places.
ReplyDeleteI agree with James - Space Sharks are that much more ridiculous than Space Wolves to be honest. Though I'd love to see a Fast Attack option of Marines riding sharks!
ReplyDeleteAs for the Rainbow Warriors, they're clearly named for Greenpeace. As GW has filled out Space Marine fluff, having "green marines" doesn't really fit I guess.