The Return of the Index Astartes
The back of December’s White Dwarf was spotted online recently, and it appears that the return of the Index Astartes is right around the corner.
If you don’t know what that is, it’s from back in the day where GW would publish (in the White Dwarf) a mostly fluff article featuring certain Legions of Space Marines that helped cement the background for them heading into the release of the Horus Hersey Novels starting in 2006.
Some chapters (like the Iron hands) even got a free set of rules as well.
They were collected and re-printed in the late 2000s 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 several Space Marine codices, the older rougher second edition books, and of course the Horus Hersey novels post 2006
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 let’s face it- we all love fluff!
What do you think will be featured in the new Index Astartes features? New or Retconned fluff on the current chapters/legions or everything you ever wanted to know about the Primaris foundings, and perhaps new chapters?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group!
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 is a panelist on the weekly 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.
