New Project - Alpha Legion Cell

[Euradaeces]

Ok, so I've found myself with a lot more time on my hands than was previously the case, and I've decided to put it to good use by going through my bits box and reclaiming all the 'lost' miniatures therein. Any hobbiest with more than five years under their belt will know what I mean: old 2nd/3rd edition armies that saw primer and one proxy game before the next codex came out; squads of miniatures bought on impulse and then left in the box; old metal mini's that have been so cannibalised that they're just torso's with the occaisional plaintive head; 'test' mini's with so much paint on them you have to really look to see which system they come from, never mind which army. I have two storage boxes that I've lugged around with me the last 5 or so years since leaving home and they're full to the brim with this stuff.

 

Well no more. Starting yesterday I began sorting through everything and I was amazed at just how many usable models there are (with a bit of tlc and alot of paintstripper). And last week I began re-reading the heresy series, I reached legion last night and (just as before) my mind was a whirl with possibilities. The difference this time is that I have the time and resources to have a proper go putting something together. I can't afford to buy a new army, so i'm going to try and make this project entirely from reclaimed mini's (true credit crunch buster)

 

The main idea is to do a complete representation of an Alpha Legion cell, from the legionairres themselves (in modern imperial armour and chaotic counterparts - reasons for this coming up,) to human/xenos advisers, cultists serfs and suppliers. The base I imagine as some kind of warp capable space fortress in orbit around a dead planet in a forgotten system. The cell use this as a place to equip, plan and synchronise before heading out on mission to various targets. Part of the project will be to make some thematic terrain (probably based on some old space hulk models).

 

The idea of the marines using chaotic inspired armour as well as looted imperial technology has been around for a while, but crystalised in my mind when i drew a little doodle of a legionairre (it's a terrible shorthand scribble so I'll describe it instead of humiliating myself). The marine is in his arming chamber stripping off the shoulder guards of some Mk8 'errant' armour in loyalist colours, while at a nearby work bench a human engineseer can been seen welding chaotic looking horns onto a Mk5 helmet. In the background a door to a stasis chamber is open and you can see the rest of a chaos suit of power armour hanging up.

 

The idea is that the legionairres are able to look chaotic and corrupted when the need suits them (when they want the imperials to know they're around), but as they don't reside within warp infected territory, they have to alter their armour themselves. As i wholeheartedly embrace the background presented in 'Legion' I find this a much more prefferable way of representing the chaos side of the legion.

 

Anyway - I plan to be able to field 1500 point tournament armies using both CSM and CCSM in this manner, as well as having detachments from Daemonhunters and Witchhunters representing cultists, serfs, crack troops and agents. It's going to take alot of planning as there are many ideas for how squads and groups should look - Pre-Heresy Alpha, Chaos Alpha, Disguised Loyalist Alpha etc...

 

My question to the forum (if you made it through that ramble). Is whether or not you think my take on the legion is plausable and how you go about representing the sons of alpharius if it's similair to what I've proposed.

 

Many thanks for reading this and I look forward to your comments.

[WarpWhisper]

I'm hooked! :D Congratulations on choosing the best Legion!

 

I've always been a fan of the 'looted imperial' look for instance this and this, but i also keep chaotic elements to my Alpha Legion force aswell. So far I have mostly kept the chaotic and loyalist elements seperated into squads, but having started down that road, I sort of feel obliged to continue (Plus it helps tell the squads apart ;) ).

 

However, I think that it would also be fantastic to mix and match within squads themselves. The closest I can offer is these chosen, who I tried to keep free of iconography, whilst still being chaotic enough.

 

There's a link in my sig that covers a whole wealth of info on the Alpha Legion; if you've time, please check it out.

[Euradaeces]

My thanks :) - I actually found the serpents lair yesterday ;) in my browsing for all things legio alpha, and what a fantastic forum it is. I'm going to link this thread to my blog in the coming days and carry on from there. The best Legion indeed :) - in the finished force there will (hopefully) be representations of both imperial and chaos armour - but there is an awful amount of sorting out to do first... watch this space as they say!

 

(edit - Blog link )

[WarpWhisper]

The Alpha Legion are always watching... :)

(But I really am!)

[BoonKin]

A very good idea. If you have the models, then go for it. My take is that you can play your army according to C:CSM or C:SM whenever you feel like it. I am sure the AL players would say AL is one of the most flexible and adaptable force.

 

Actually I intend to do what you just said too. Just dont have the resources now. Good luck mate :)