Welcome to Flashback Fridays, where I dig deep for something cool that I have from back in the day. Which according to the comic Dane Cook was a Wednesday.
You always hear the question: “How did you get into the hobby?”, and for me it was getting bored with assembling fighter jet models.
I could never afford the good jet kits either. Plus those things had a ton of components, we’re spoiled by Games Workshop when it comes to piece count, believe me.
Editors Note- This is a repost of an article I wrote almost two years ago. Funny how history tends to repeat itself…
Today I raided my book shelf and found the four tomes of knowledge all penned The Index Astartes.
Games Workshop back in the early to mid 2000’s put out articles in the White Dwarf that covered the fluff behind the various named Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, aka the Space Marines. Some chapters (like the Iron hands) even got a free set of rules as well.
They were collected and re-printed in the late 2000’s over four codex sized books, that have become increasingly rare to find. Many people I’ve talked to didn’t even know there was a fourth book, and that seems to be the most expensive of the set these days.
The fluff contained in these books is pretty much what we have to go on for the chapters besides of course what created/ re-mentioned in the last two Space Marine codices, the older rougher second edition books, and of course the Horus Hersey novels.
Now the Index Astartes is not to be confused with the Codex Astartes, which is as explained below is what the chapters base their operations on.
Of the one thousand or more Chapters spread across the Imperium, the vast majority are proponents of the Codex Astartes, the strict code of order and organisation that governs every aspect of a Space Marine Chapter’s organisation. Detailing subjects such as the structure of a Chapter and the most effective method to wage war in any given situation, the Codex Astartes is the greatest treatise of its kind in existence, penned by the mighty Roboute Guilliman – Primarch of the Ultramarines Chapter. It stands as holy canon for the overwhelming majority of the Space Marine Chapters in existence and governs almost every aspect of their structure and operation.
It’s a very neat set of books, and are definitely worth trying to get if you can. I’ve borrowed mine out several times as well because lets face it- we all love fluff!
Have a great weekend guys, and remember to get your hobby on if you can!
So where do you get your fluff from, books or internets? -MBG
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
