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Squad numbers - sequential or random?

1K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  Magikan 
#1 ·
I'm currently painting my smurf (ultra) marines, and i'm looking for opinions on how to do the squad number markings.
Originally i was going to make them sequential, however some of my friends have said that this will make the army too boring and uniform - they think that i should have a number for each squad, but not sequential.
(Sorry about the next part, i couldn't think of a good way of wording it) Also, if i'm doing sequential markings, should I have a different stream of markings for different troop type - eg: squads 1, 2, 3.. for troops, then squads 1, 2, 3 for fast attack
or should the squads be numbered as a whole army - eg: 1, 2, 3... for troops then 4, 5, 6 for fast attack.
 
#2 ·
IMO it looks alot better if you have every marine with a random number and go higher in numbers as you go through the more elite troops
 
#4 ·
I'd actually have thought you'd go the other way (scouts=high numbers, elites=low numbers) because the more elite the trooper, the longer they've been around. It's more likely that a Chapter Master will have a lower (recruit ID) number than a new recruit.
 
#3 ·
Well I think that each squad should have the same number markings on it, i reckon randomised numbers for each marine would look a bit weird. But whatever way you decide to do it roman numerals are the way to go. I, II, III, IV, V is so much better than 1, 2 ,3 ,4 ,5.
 
#5 ·
Well thats true, but we're talking about the squad markings rather than ID numbers. I guess in the case of crusades (gotta love BT's) squad numbers would be exchanged a lot as the squads are broken up by promotions, deaths etc. But i think for most other chapters a random number for each squad is the best. However i do think that the command squad should be marked as I (roman numerals ftw)
 
#7 ·
If you're talking about a regular SM chapter (which you are: Ultramarines), and assuming all your squads are from one company (as designated by shoulder pad rim colour), then your tactical squads will be numbered 1-6, assault squads 7 or 8, and devastator squads 9-10.

Scout squads (generally) do not have squad numbers, and veterans/termies have any nuber between 1 and 10 (as they are part of a different company (the first), and just attach to other companies for battles etc.).

-t.
 
#8 ·
it depends how uniform you want to be. If youve ever seen Saving private ryan, and saw how badly the paratrooprs were scrambled, i could see the same with drop pods. If its a prolonged campaign for fluff purposes, then i would have units with different numbers, because soldiers get wounded/killed and rements of destroyed squads would get recycled in the missing spots. If you want a "pretty" Army, who doesnt get mud on the shoes, and loves to pose for the metaphoric camera, then yes paint them with the same numbers and marking, it makes them look uniform and organized. (the exact opposite after my imperial guard are done with them:tongue: )
 
#9 ·
Roman numerals are definantly the way to go, thats what i was planning on, probably should have mentioned that from the offset.
about tac sqauds 1-6, assault 7 & 8 and dev 9 & 10, while this is what i should really have according to the 'organisation of a chapter' section in the codex, when you have sqauds of less than 10 (as i do), those numberings would be different anyway, or you would have squads with diferent numbers on each member.
Also, it gets very annoying to paint 'VIII' on ten assault marines on the small area of the shoulder pad. (though there is a larger area on the top of the jump pack... hmmm)
Thanks for the input though, i probably will go with the 1-6 for tac, 7 & 8 for assault then 9 & 10 for dev.
It also occured to me that this probably should have gone in the SM forum rather than painting, but oh well.
 
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