Myrmidon

Finally got the starter! And looks like The defence of Ryza couldn't be closer, so it is almost like a perfect timing! Luckily I just have two Reavers (at least for now), so I still some room until I get so fed up with their legs like Fajita Fan. Next purchase on my plan is another Reaver and a Sunfury Warlord (botrh the helmet is cool as hell and plasma and Crucius are BFFs forever). Still waiting for the updated rules for Crucius, but I'm starting to make a plan. Turbolaser, plasma and volcano will be my main friends. I think they are quite versatile, but most of all, fluffy as hell. For dropping shields, AML for Reavers and Warlords, megabolters for Warhounds. Last but not least, I have a question. The starter comes with two nice Cerastus Knight Lancers (my favourite model of knight too. This box is so amazing, maybe I'll purchase a second one ). On the fluf I haven't found many info about Knight houses allied to the Warmongers or vassals of Ryza. Still waiting for the suplement to give some light on this area but... do you have some info in regards to this? I've been thinking about the House of the Order of Hermetika; though they are vassals to Mezoa, they have a nice scheme based on red with black and white decorations which I think perfectly matches and compliments the Warmongers scheme, like an inversion of it. Also, not so clear, but from the leaked front cover of The Defence of Ryza, looks like Hermetika were also part of the battle.

This would prove most useful. Both time saving and helpful for terrible painters like myself. Also, it has been dificult for me to find a tone of light gold dull enough for the trim of Legio Crucius, and Sharpie gold is just exactly what I was looking for.

Haven't tried contrast paints yet, but maybe a very thin coat of Skeleton Horde. Anyways, yours still is such an impressive work that doesn't matter some tonal discrepancy with the "official".

Woah woah woah... I am feeling so happy. Some for Ryza. Cannot wait to have the suplement and maybe some transfers for Crucius! BTW, Legio Magna scheme is so rad. Definetely if I ever had to betray the Throne, I will go with them. And I like how Legio Vulturum colors match those of house Malinax, their pals from Xana II.

Interesting trend... with a really complex answer. The true function, position, composition and "prestige" of the destroyer cadres in the legions is pretty confusing, due to the few sources of information we have, the huge discrepancies between them (both in-universe and between lore writers) and the idiosyncratic way of the legions. Are legion destroyer cadres an elite unit, a penal unit, a necessary evil, or just a useful tactical/strategical tool? Long answer short, all of them at once I think. To put it plainly, the destroyer cadres are the NBC specialists. The Emperor was conquering the galaxy and reuniting Humanity, and thus destroyers are a last resorce military asset. It is vrey bad for propaganda to nuke with radioactive isotopes and cover in Phosphex your future subjects. But in some cases (deviants, xenos) it is needed. Hence, the reputation for belonging to a destroyer cadre. The astartes are the embodiment of the high ideals of the Crusade; the destroyer is a dark reflection of them, the reminder that sometimes, some measures need to be taken. Going to the origins, let's go to the first template of what would become the Legiones Astartes: the Hexagramation of the First Legion. In their Six Wings we can see the first iteration of the tactics and battle doctrines of the legions. The Dreadwing are the core of what would become the destroyer - but not only that. The function of the Dreadwing was total annihilation of the enemy and the use of esoteric weaponry from the Old Night. When the situation was required, those weapons were used, as simple as that. Being part of the Dreadwing has no further connotation but and affinity for those weapons and tactics further improved through specialization, in the same way the Stormwing was with close quarters assault or Ironwing for mechanized warfare. The First is first and foremost a pragmatist legion; each asset has its use. Phosphex and radiological weaponry is not less "honorable" than close quarters fighting or aerial assault. But it must be used cautiosly and whenever the situation demands for that. This approach fits with most of the legions we know. The Ultramarines for example (the 22nd Chapter, "the Nemesis") maintain their destroyer cadre. They are a little outsaider to the legion due to both being mostly Terran and their core doctrine of total annihilation which is conflicting with Guilliman's usual approach to warfare. But, first and foremost a pragmatist, Guilliman and the command of the XIIIth are not going to throw away experienced and seasoned troops on a form of warfare that sometimes is necessary or unavoidable. Hence, this dark reputation among their ranks. However, reputation and sanction have nothing in common. On the other hand, an astartes does not "volunteer"; they are tools created for warfare, and they have no free will. If their officers consider them suitable for the destroyer corps, they will join. Same as the marksmen go for the tactical and heavy support squads, and the swordmen go to the assault cadres. This standard approach has some twists worth mentioning. The most notorious case is the Death Guard, in which one could consider a whole legion of destroyer marines. One can see again the perception on the "honorability" of these weapons and units. For Mortarion, there is nothing wrong with them. The XIVth officer corps doesn-t even consider them to be a "necessary evil", but a very useful tool and their standart modus operandi (one can say they are even too ready to use them). Are destroyers a penal units in some legions? Well, first of all, there are no "penal units" in the legions. The lore is consistent. First, an astartes, even in the times of the Crusade, gopes through a process of psycho-indoctrination that makes them less inclined to incur in those behaviours worthy of penal sanction: disobidience of orders, desertion, pillaging... scarce and rare even among those legion framed for their ill-discipline like the Night Lords, World Eaters or the VIth pre-Russ. The most common unruly behaviour was that of too much collateral damage, but this was dealt through sumary execution by the Opsequari corps and its descendants (Chaplains, Wardens, Ophalim...) our was included into the core of the legion approach to warfare. A whole different thing is this idea of "fall of grace". This though is not a penal but a personal sanction based on an officer or (usually) a primarch criterion. As such, we can see the case of Morturg (and I agree, it is a case of terrible character writting) or the Raven Guard (the old Terran way was too much for Corax freedom-fighter past). It is not so disimilar in concept to units like the Vth Sagyar Mazian, the "red-handed" Night Lords or the Medusan Immortals. They are frowned due to some "moral" standards running on the legion core of beliefs, but not what we could consider a penal unit. I agree that the high lethality of the destroyers is suited for those "fallen from grace" individuals, but still, not their only destiny (more on that to the last point). An especial approach goes for the Blood Angels and the White Scars. Their primarchs and legion tactics frown their use a step further from the "necessary evil" territory, but they understand sometimes these measures are needed. So, we have the Angel Tears on one side, who, due to the idiosyncratic psychology of the IXth, have developed a way to use the destroyer corps to avoid the astartes to fall too deep into this brutal warfare (a risk too high for the sons of Sanguinius). The White Scars Karaoghlanlar are also full of ritualisctic practices for their use; being under the Stormseers (librarians) control meant that their use would come from a consensus and deep thought and never used lightly. As we can see in these examples, for these legions destroyers units were feared and ill-omened, but not considered as "penal" or "disposable". Just a dark path to walk that in the most dire circumstances was needed. The Salamanders are interesting too in their Pyroclast units. The use of destroyers was heavily disliked by Vulkan, hence the transformation of this unit into something suiting the Promethean Cult. Why bathing whole planets in burning promethium is acceptable while doing the same with radioactive isotopes it's not is beyound my understanding, but here we have a legion which doesn't frown destroyers but instead shapes them into their own style. Similar, we can see the Word Bearers adapting their destroyer cadres to a specific task in the form of the Ashen Circle. Again, the destroyers suffer a new iteration to reflect the legion's ideals. Finally, as some have mentioned, it makes little sense for the destroyers to be a penal unit made by unruly, PTSD or untrustworthy marines. First and foremost, its plain stupid to give such a powerful weaponry to that kind of astartes. Secondly, I highly doubt that in the strict disciplinarian Legiones Astartes there are enough individuals fullfilling this to conform a sizable destroyer corps, and those individuals would by dealt in more direct ways. Third, a destroyer is not a berzerker. On the contrary, they are highly specialized marines. They require special and rare armament and proper training in their use and tactics. They are short range combat specialists (not melee though), who use highly dangerous arcane weaponry which can become a double-edged sword with ease. The resource investment for each destroyer astartes is really not worth of a penal troop. To sumarize, I would say destroyers were originally as intended another unit of the legiones astartes (as we can see in the Dark Angels). Unlike other troops, there was a lot of discussion and controversy on their existence (i.e., the XIVth vs the XVIIIth), but not on their efectiveness. What is clear is that even in the case they were set appart from their fellow legionaires due to their brutal ways, they were not penal troops: they required specialized training and weaponry and fullfilled a very specific niche in the battlefield, and thus should be considered a highly specialized elite force.

Rule of cool says the Glaive. Cannot say no to this nice Volkite Carronade.

I don't care about what GW has in mind in further releases regarding Legio Ignatum. THIS is the official heraldry and art for the Fire Wasps on my mind from now on. My congratulations for hiving such a distinct and idiosyncratic colour scheme for this legendary legion. There are a lot of Loyalist legions baed on red (Ignatum, Invicta, Honorum, Metallica), but you really have set Ignatum appart from the rest. Amazing job.

Gorgeous piece of terrain. It reminds me, don't know why, of Mass Effect 1 environments. And this is indeed a good sign. + 1. Precise application and strong bond. A must have for a hobbist.

Hi everyone! Been out a little, real life goes on despite quarantine. I finally settles for Crucius. While normality is slowly going back, I started working on some concepts for my titans. My main goal is to build a Corsair maniple; two main reasons: Reavers and mobility. The versatility of Reavers (and coolness too) plus the mobility of Corsair's maniple trait is really interesting. Plus the chance for Crucius of punishing the reactors a further step. Also waiting for more info on The Defense of Ryza, updated rules for Crucius and some more lore, and maybe those sweet, sweet transfers for the Warmongers. So, the first brainstorming of concepts, Corsair Battle Maniple Hekanthokeires. Long story short, it is and ad-hoc maniple formed during the first phases of the Traitors' assault on Ryza. Hekanthokeires [The Guardian of Tartaros] Princeps Senioris Rae Sydhe Named after the one-hundred giants of the Grekan myths form Old Terra, Hekanthokeires is a venerable and old god-engine dating from previous times to the Great Crusade. Its name came from its role as guardian of the Ryzan forges during the dark times of the Age of Strife. The Titan was on Ryza in the late states of repair during the early stages of the traitor assault. Sydhe’s experience led him to commanding the ad-hoc Corsair maniple from the early survivors from the initial traitor onslaught. Hidalgo [The Prodigal Son] Princeps Asylla Pheon Second in seniority to Princeps Sydhe, Asylla Pheon was a seasoned veteran from the Great Crusade by the start of the Heresy. Faithful to the creed of the Ryzan Mechanicum and the Legio Crucius code, princeps Pheon was known for her mathematical approach to warfare. Whereas more hot-headed princeps are consumed by the fury of their god-engines in the cradle of battle, Pheon remains always in control of her god-engine lust for battle. Thus, it provides an anchoring point for the maniple: Sydhe can always be sure the Hidalgo will be whenever is needed, doing whatever it has been ordered to do. Aries Iracundus [The Furious Ram] Princeps Tomyris Ursa Princeps Tomyris Ursa and her god-engine Aries Iracundus are young, barely experienced in Titan warfare. Like her twin sibling, Aries Iracundus was barely commissioned when the traitors attacked Ryza. Ursa and her machine managed to escape from the rubble that once was their forge-fane, and the scars of the trauma run deeply in both woman and machine: despite the methodical approach to warfare favored by the Warmongers, it is easy for Aries Iracundus to enter a state of savage fury when facing the traitors, focusing more on their utter annihilation than any other concern. This disposition to charging and breaking the enemy line has been the reason for the god-engine name. It says a lot about the skill of princeps Ursa as a pilot, and princeps senioris Sydhe as a maniple leader, that she is still alive and in fighting condition. Aurea Flamma [The Burning Heart] Princeps Geoffre Fromix Like her twin god-engine, the paint of Aurea Flamma was still fresh when the traitors hit their forge-fane. The activation sacrament for princeps Fromix and his Titan were not the binary chants and the sacred oils, but the roar of battle and the burns of laser and plasma. Unlike her sibling, the fury of Aurea Flamma and princeps Fromix for the traitors runs deep. Princeps Fromix knows the limits of his machine reactor, when to remain calm, and when to push them to obliterate the traitors from existence in a salvo of high-energy pulses as bright as a new sun risen from the battlefield. Morgul [The Ebon Tower] Princeps Doricar Laedes Morgul is an ancient name of obscure origins, dating back to Albyon in Old Terra. Few fragments remain about a black sinister tower watching over the land to bear that name. The god-engine also carries a dark reputation. Princeps Doricar Laedes’ Venator light maniple was obliterated facing Legio Mortis and Magna assault on his forge. Man and machine joined princeps Sydhe to reap their grim vengeance on the traitor forces. He is a veteran like Pheon and Sydhe himself, but he and his god-engine are obsessed with the total obliteration of the enemy. Sometimes they will ignore a more sound tactical retreat for the chance of inflicting as much damage as possible to the traitors. The plan for the maniple is simple. Hekanthokeires , Hidalgo and Aries Iracundus will for m the mandatory compon ent, and Aurea Flamma and Morgul will be the additional components, due to my intention on their roles. Hekanthokeires will be my Princeps Senioris of choice, and usually suited for long range combat (The Black Banner trait). Hidalgo will be the jack-of-all-trades, most probably with the standard, cheap and useful suport equipment of turbolaser, gatling blaster and AMP. Aries Iracundus will be the heavy hitter: if some chainfist, powerfist or melta is needed, Aries Iracundus will fullfill this role. Aurea Flamma will be my second jack-of-all-trades, whereas Morgul will be my second long-range support choice if needed. For a little bit of roleplay, when playing with Warhounds, maybe a Venator, Morgul will be the chosen one, to represent its former and now lost maniple. I've tried to represent their backstory with their heraldry. Hekanthokeires and Hidalgo were part of the same maniple before the assault, and their heradlry is based on halved pieces: if you look closely, both caparce, head and left knee pad are halved in with and black. Aries Iracundus and Aurea Flamma were forged in the same fane, thus being "siblings". They share the quartered left knee pad. Morgul is and ousider and this is reflected in their heraldry, which is nothing comparable to the rest. I will paint my Warhounds maintaining this heraldry: mainly black with a lone white stripe. So, first fase of planning done and on its way. Now I just only need to work on some concepts for my Warhounds. Does anyone know of a nice blank picture of a Warhound for playing with heraldry?

Some of the old artwork from Jes Goodwin is quite distinctive, being at the same time enough technological for a sci-fi setting but "gothic" enough for the special snowflake of WH40k (something I agree, the actual available range is quite lacking): http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFRjrQiYqgs/UMs5sioQdMI/AAAAAAAAPR4/59WGErf8ld0/s1600/jes2173ck2.jpg

Sir, this is a gorgeous psy-titan to look at. You are indeed an artist.

I love the contrast of colors in these titans. Great Job. cannot wait to see the bases finished! What's your planned color palette for them?

That's a whole, beautiful bunch of Knights!

Thank you all for your feedback! So I've decided I'll go for Crucius. I think I'll build a Reaver heavy force: the Corsair maniple is great. However, I'll take at some point a Warlord, just in case some great mean guy is needed... Well, I'm not going to lie: Fureans is appealing...

Thank you all for this warming welcome! My Imperial Guard force is a mix of old metal Steel Legion and Vostroyan miniatures. I amb planning to run them as a combined force from the Terran Household, so they can be used too as an Imperial Army/Solar Auxilia (inspired this last one by Dave Taylor's Vostroyan Solar Auxilia) for Age of Darkness. Regarding my Chaos Space Marines, I used to run Word Bearers. The rebulding of both forces is a slow plan in the making.