Ok lets see this on one on one basis.First of all remember what i said.Paint them whomever you like them.
Second remember this,its a conclusion weve reached after debating on a lot of forums and there is some small indication in the codex itself:
Inner circle # Deathwing.Though some members are in both they are not one and the same.
So lets go
So, the command squad I created for Azreal in which each member is a veteran from a different company, with their company marking visible on their knee/greave (including bone white kneepad with the winged broken sword icon) would be unfluffy, since he is still a member of the deathwing/1st company, but has been seconded into the command squad?
Though the majority of his armor is green... I have debated having it all done in bone white, instead of just the knee.
Not entirely true.You see there is no indication in the fluff or in the codex from where those guys come from.They could be from the old company az served.They could be deathwing members serving as his command squad.They could be the best warriors of each company pooled together.We just dont know.However bone white in PA is still a no i believe.Fluffwise though you have free reign in this since there is nothing to suggest anything.
I'm not going to argue what the Black Library creates as far as fluff goes. They have a stable of authors, and I am certain things get tripped up in the continuity department. But, if somone uses a book as a reference to create something, I think it is perfectly legitimate. I wouldn't be so dismissive.
Even if they had survived that encounter... the recipients of the "Battlefield Promotion" would have been brought before the Inner Circle and judged. Those found wanting would be ... dealt with. (And Battlefield promotions happen all the time. though, admittedly, such promotions don't usually come with "Secret Knowledge" since rank can be taken away. Knowledge cannot.
We are on agreement here on both occasions,but remember this:They both have been elected to be in the deathwing but not the inner circle.So as you say if they survived they would be judged afterwards by Ezekiel.Also consider this:Nestor the apothecary was deathwing.The chaplain was too.The apothecary knew that the chaplain was an interrogator but the interrogator did not that apothecary was.So...who is the most senior here and who has the authority to make battlefield promotions?The circles within circles thing is complicated.Furthermore deathwing and inner circle status is not on par with a military rank in the DA chapter.It has to do with knowledge and the mental fortitude of keeping true to the chapter.
So a mind scrab or servitorisation can be a good outcome to someone who under duress discovers the secret and afterwards is judged unworthy.
Though, to be fair, all of the Companies other than the Deathwing/Ravenwing follow the Codex Astartes. Even though it is typically the robes that mark veterans and sergeants and such, I didn't want that to be the only identifying factor. Plus... having only sergeants and veterans wear the robes would get kind of monotonous after a while (Even though my tac marines seem to be falling into that trope thus far). Also, thanks for the kind words on the paintjob. I wanted something visually distinctive, and I think this fits the bill. Also, I've planned on making all of the subsequent 1st squad in each company as the company vets. So these guys can help "fill out" the company vet squads in the future when I am trying to add bodies, but not necessarily expensive wargear options.
Nothing definitive on what the robes signify.The codex says that it has something to do with rank but nothing special.Perhaps it is something to do with those members who know the of the secret,found worthy but have not elevated to deathwing status.General census is that they have been found worthy enough to hold the secret but,either they are not good/proven enough to be given terminator honors or they are need in their place due to their skills or even act as the eyes and ears of the circles within the rest of the chapter.
Bottom line
o whatever you want with the robes.
I want to disagree on this one. Sure you claim that instances before have been Retconned, but I still don't think that you just "are that good" at being a biker to just jump straight into the Ravenwing. You have to hone your skills somewhere. So service in a bike squad in one of the Reserve companies does not seem out of the realm of possibility. "All Ravewing are bikers, but not all bikers are Ravenwing" Since, nominally, the Dark Angels are a codex chapter (except for 1st and 2nd company) they would have similar organization structure to their brother Chapters. Since their 6th and 7th companies have bikes and speeders, respectively. I could make the argument for their legitimacy. And, I know that the previous codex allowed for it.
The codex casts in stone at the organization diagram that all bikes and speeders are part of the second company period.Your answer here as to where the scout hones his skills is the scout company.It would be logical to assume that any brats that have an affinity for the saddle after the completion of their training are handed to the second by the master of the recruits.Remember that the ravenwing unlike their master and the deathwing do not know their objective.Sometimes they hunt the fallen and they dont know about it.
I will stress that again.The DA are not a codex chapter.They mirror the codex in order to maintain a facade that they disbanded the legion.
Hence what appears to be a codex organization in fact is not.Its very similar but its not.
You are absolutely right. I could paint all of my Dark Angels in floral print... But, I dont want to be purposfully antagonistic. And since I am forced to join and leave gaming groups on a regular basis since I am in the Military, I try to create as little of a disturbance as possible in my army composition. I want to be fluffy...but not constrained by it.
I dont like the green trim on the shoulder pads.Dont they have enough green on them already?So to signify fallen knowledge/inner circle membership i paint the lower part of the backpack exhausts and the trim of the shoulder pads of said members in gold.There is nothing like that said in the codex.I am a deviant?Maybe but i am not a fluff nazi either.I totaly feel you.So again do what you want.
Thank you for your time inputs. I'm stil working out some of the kinks as I go.
Very Respectfully,
--Forsaken
There is nothing to thank me about
.I am glad to be able to share some knowledge and debate with fellow unforgiven members!
Remember that most holes in our fluff are there on purpose.It adds to the mystery.So fill em however you like.
If you want to be as true to the fluff as you can i suggest you re-read the codex though.And if possible grab the old ones too.DA fluff is complicated to the point were all of our unforgiven brothers are deciphering things a bit different.Nothing straightforward as the other chapters.Which is as it should be IMHO.Thats why we are DA.We are paranoid secret keepers.