The Salamanders follow most of the guidelines prescribed by the Codex Astartes, although there are some noticeable differences. The most obvious of these are the number and size of their companies, their adherence to the Promethean Cult, and the unique Chapter rank known as the Forgefather. According to their ancient lore, their Primarch Vulkan left behind nine artefacts -- nine technological relics of incredible craftsmanship wrought by his own hand. These he left for his sons to find, and wield if they should prove worthy enough to discover them. The Primarch scattered these wonders across the galaxy, both to prevent Mankind's enemies from winning a great store of matchless artefacts and also because he knew that even the grandest prize is worth nothing if it is seized without challenge equal to its worth. Since Vulkan's mysterious disappearance, thousands of Terran years ago, the Salamanders have appointed one of their number to serve as Forgefather. Objective markers represent objects of tactical or strategic import that both sides are attempting to secure, such as valuable artefacts, vital supplies or communications nodes. If a mission uses objective markers, it will state where they are located on the battlefield. These can be represented using any suitable marker, but we recommend using round markers that are 40mm in diameter.

All these buffs pair well with the stratagem The Fires of Battle, which for a single CP allows you to generate additional mortal wounds when making to-wound rolls of 4+ with flame or melta weapons. While this is capped at three mortal wounds, it’s an incredibly efficient way to guarantee your foes end up extra crispy. Hell, if we count Shrike and Tigurius, they have weapons that Primaris Marines don't have access to, period (Lightning Claws, Force Staff) as of right now.Overview – In reverence of their Primarch, the Salamanders constantly have a single Forgefather that forsakes their original name for that of their sire and pursues his ancient artefacts across the galaxy. Vulkan He’stan is the latest of these most honoured Space Marines, and he is predictably one of the best equipped characters in the army; his mastery of wargear is such that it even extends to those he leads. Name plagiarism aside, He’stan is a great leader for a Salamanders force, even if they – and every other Chapter in the galaxy – no longer need his services to be a competitive army. He has a standard Captain stat-line (how many times must I say this?) which means he is a very well rounded commander even before most wargear options are included. Of course, such characters are very prone to instant death from power fists, smashing monstrous creatures and so on; this is a weakness that you always need to be aware of, so don’t send Vulkan into a fight he cannot win! Trygon Primes, Wraithlords and so on can all single the Forgefather out and slay him in a heartbeat, so always be aware of those enemies and try to avoid them as much as possible. Salamanders aren’t a premier close combatfaction like the Blood Angels or Space Wolves, but they shouldn’t avoid it either – Salamanders melee tactics are perfectly valid.

Since his earliest days as a Scout, He’stan had been a much-noted warrior. He alone of his recruiting class captured a unique beast. For his mantle he slew a mottled tri-horn, amongst the most vicious and cunning of their reptilian breed. Even teams of veteran drake-hunters might struggle to accomplish such a deed. He’stan skills as a smith – working his hammer upon the anvil – were such that the master artificers stopped over his works and admired them. [5] The XVIII th Legion, created from Vulkan's genome and originally known as the Dragon Warriors, was re-named the Salamanders after the great fire-resistant reptiles native to his volcanic homeworld of Nocturne in memory of the legendary contest between the Emperor and Vulkan in 832.M30 that had involved slaying one of those dangerous beasts. The outcome of this contest had revealed the Emperor's identity to Vulkan and restored the primarch to the Imperium.It is believed that Vulkan did not become unified with his own Legion for some years after his rediscovery, but instead stayed alongside the Emperor under His direct tutelage, during which time his presence was kept from the wider Imperium (although not from the other Primarchs who had been discovered to that time). During this period, Vulkan pursued with frightening speed and comprehension learning in the arts of war, history and science, displaying a ferocious intelligence, and also wisdom and compassion that were perhaps at odds with the role he had been destined to play as a general and breaker of worlds as all Primarchs were made to be. He fought at the side of the Emperor in battle -- a colossal, nameless warrior in emerald armour scaled like a dragon of ancient Terran myth -- and studied closely in the weapon-forges of Mars and with his brother-Primarch Ferrus Manus, whose discovery had gone before his own. When the time came, as much dictated by circumstance as by choice, for Vulkan to take charge of the XVIII th Legion he did so well-prepared for the task ahead, and set about reforging them on the anvil of war. The Forgefather: If Vulkan is your Warlord all Meltaguns, Combi-meltaguns, and Multimeltas in his detachment are Master Crafted. As the warring armies close upon one another and vicious firefights erupt, the Codex lays out strategies for swiftly seizing the initiative and combining versatility with firepower.While this combat doctrine is active, improve the Armour Penetration characteristic of every Rapid Fire and Assault weapon that models in this unit are equipped with by 1.

Ancient Remembrancer sketch of Vulkan, primarch of the Salamanders Legion; illustration taken from Carpinus' Speculum HistorialeBut on the other hand, killing off and introducing a Primaris Forgefather would be a pretty substantial development for the Chapter, potentially, and frankly a bit more interesting than what the UM/Scars/RG have had. (I'm curious for the Iron Hands, but also sceptical that they'll redeem the IH mess better than David Guymer's been doing.) Vulkan He'stan serves as the current Forgefather of the Salamanders Space Marine Chapter. The hope of the Salamanders rest upon this one Space Marine. To be honoured as the Forgefather is to be tasked with an epic quest, a journey that has been handed down in turn to the greatest heroes of the Chapter since the mysterious disappearance of their beloved Primarch, Vulkan. The Spear of Vulkan, which can burn ceramite [1]. He'stan often throws the Spear, enabling the strength of the weapon to be used at range. [2a]

Lasting for eight local Nocturnean days, the contest included many tests of strength and endurance. The people of Nocturne were treated to the spectacle of two godlike beings competing against one another, utterly astonishing the mere mortals around them with their superhuman prowess. Many of the contests had to be called a draw between Vulkan and the fair-skinned stranger, for there was simply no way to determine a victor. For instance, the anvil lift, where the contestants were required to hold an anvil aloft above their heads for as long as possible, ended in a tie when the two superhuman competitors both held anvils aloft for half a day with no sign of tiring, while all the other competitors had given up after mere solar minutes. As the close of the 41st Millennium approaches, the current Forgefather of the Salamanders is Vulkan He'stan. Since his earliest days as a Scout Marine, He'stan had been a much-noted warrior. He alone of his recruiting class captured a unique beast. For his mantle he slew a mottled tri-horn, amongst the most vicious and cunning of their reptilian breed. Even teams of veteran drake-hunters might struggle to accomplish such a deed. He'stan's skills as a smith -- working his hammer upon the anvil -- were such that the master artificers stopped over his works and admired them. The sentiment was expressed in a number of ways, but all amounted to the same: truly did the blood of Vulkan himself run in the Novice. The Salamanders Chapter of Space Marines are vaunted warriors, beloved by the average citizens of the Imperium. The tales of their sacrifice for those of lesser stature are known the galaxy over. The Salamanders Promethean Creed speaks of the need to protect those weaker than the mighty members of the Adepts Astartes. Although they may appear soft compared to Chapters like the Space Wolves make no mistake, the Salamanders are also known for the merciless persecution of the enemies of mankind. With bolter, hammer, and flame the Salamanders purge the galaxy of Orks, Eldar, and Chaos among many others; on battle fields of legend like Armageddon. The Salamanders always have one warrior chosen to take up the mantle of Vulkan. This warrior embodies the Promethean Creed as set down by the Salamanders Primarch Vulkan. The warrior chosen to take up the mantle is tasked with finding the lost relics of Vulkan, even being granted the great honor of carrying some of these relics into battle himself. The current Salamander burdened with this solemn task is Vulkan He’Stan; he is a peerless warrior among the lords of Nocturne, the Salamanders home world. Vulkan He’Stan can call upon the Salamanders to aid him in his quest whenever needed and his inspiring presence spurs the already powerful warriors of Nocturne to even greater feats of war. Can Vulkan He’Stan live up to all this hype on the table top? Yet it is in this darkest hour that a fresh clue has revealed itself; an ember burning bright in the dark of the Imperium Nihilus, upon a world named Zero.

Vulkan He’stan: A Fierce Warrior From the Beginning

An ember that hints at the location of the Artefact of Vulkan known only by the name Unbound Flame... Playing Vulkan can seem really straight forward on the surface. His stat line screams tank character at first, until you realize he’s missing Eternal Warrior. At T4 he’s one failed save against Str8 away from coughing up Warlord. He is your Warlord. There’s no reason to take him if he isn’t. Over the years, I’ve played Salamanders on and off since 5th edition, I’ve come to play Vulkan in a fairly specific way. He’s a MEQ (Marine Equivalent) killing machine. Twin-linked heavy flamers put out massive numbers of wounds and his Str6 AP3 Mastercrafted, digital weaponed, staff carves through Marines like Ser Barrister Selmy through cake, or other Kingsguard. Just not chumps from the Sons of the Harpy. Book Barristan > Show Barristan. The Furnace's Heart - A baroquely-styled energy weapon similar to a Plasma Pistol gifted to Vulkan by Ferrus Manus, this unique weapon utilised individual charged shells to produce powerful laser-like blasts capable of cutting swathes through even heavily armoured foes. The weapon, however, was not truly favoured by Vulkan, for reasons that remained the subject of dark rumour, but the Salamanders Primarch carried the weapon into battle at Istvaan V regardless to honour his brother for the gift. I can scarcely imagine what inspired Horus to this madness. In truth, the very fact of it frightens me. For if even the best of us can falter, what does that mean for the rest? Lord Manus will lead us in. Seven Legions against his four. Horus will regret rebellion." As the Salamanders and World Eaters fought in bloody close-quarters, elsewhere on the slope, a much larger force of Firedrakes fought Angron's personal body guard, the Devourers, to a bloody stalemate. For once, the Lord of the Red Sands was close to his Honour Guard. Angron bellowed a challenge to his brother Primarch. Vulkan's name was heard amongst the guttural syllables of the World Eater's native tongue. Anointed in blood, partially obscured by scudding clouds of smoke and shimmering heat haze, Angron continued to bellow his challenge, this time in High Gothic, " Vulkan!" His voice was the like fall of cities, rumbling and booming across the vast battlefield. Angron jabbed down to his brother with one of the motorised Power Axes he carried. Its blade was burring, roaring for blood. " I name you high rider!"