On conversions, How would you model Shield Maidens?

[incinerator950]

Plague Marine player here, I got a question to SW players.

 

After having an argument for a good couple hours, it has been asked on the topic of Space Wolves Shield Maidens. Since GW has never denied them as non fluff, and they're in a few novels for Space Wolves last I heard. How would they be modeled and how would you put them in a Space Wolves Army? Naturally, since most people are too much involved with Power Gaming, I'm not asking for a competitive army list, but how could or would you put them in a game of Space Wolves without homebrewing a list of rules for them? Maby count them as SoB?

[Vassakov]

As far as I know, Shield Maidens are a fan invention, based on the Valkyrie myths from Nordic legends.

 

You could do a Nordic styled SoB force as an ally to SW's I suppose, but I wouldn't start with the SoB models, I'd probably go for heavily converted Wood Elf stuff and kitbash it with the Fantasy WoC components. Dunno, what does the rest of the Fang say?

[LPetersson]

Personally I wouldn't, but that's just me :(

 

However, have a look at this thread, these are IMO some of the better female marines I've seen and might give you ideas.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...155600&st=0

[lunchb0x]

Female Head/Princess Leia haired, Dark Angel dresses..err power armour bodies. Catchan arms. :cuss :cuss :)

[hve∂rungr]

Female scouts is probably the route I'd go. Lightly armoured troops, and the carapace should offer some options for conversion work. These ladies are still gonna be muscular, so somewhat filed down Catachan arms should do the trick.

[incinerator950]

Arn't Scouts in the Space Wolves...considered elite because they have the patience to do it?

[dragon950]

Since there are no female space marines, they are all based on ideas that individual people have made up. As far as gw goes there is no such thing as sheild maidens for space marines. Though if I had to guess, the best looking ones would have something storm sheilds and a one handed sword. Just take the idea that Lord of the Rigns had for ewoyn(need to check spelling on that).

[Grimfoe]

I tell you, I never thought of the Wood Elf models before, but they would be great for shield maidens.

 

A lot of work, but very good models. How would you field the maidens? If you gave us more of an idea what you would want them to represent on the battlefield, we might have a better idea what models to use. If you're just thinking of making the models for show, I'd use the wood elves.

[lothbrok]

now im not try to destroy your ideas here (i actually think sheild madiens is a really good idea).

but female space marines are a physical impossiblity becuase the various implants and chemicals given to intiates are specifically engineered for the male body and would kill a woman.now like i said i like the sheild maiden idea and if you want to do it go ahead but this is something i read when reasearching the marine making process however i dont know if its sponsored by gw or not so its your call.

[Vash113]

Well I don't think the idea for Shield Maidens has to do with female marines but female serfs that accompany the Space Wolves or some such. However neither is at all substantiated by the fluff and Shield Maidens just don't exist in female fluff. Anyone who says they are in the books is either misinformed or fibbing.

[hve∂rungr]

Arn't Scouts in the Space Wolves...considered elite because they have the patience to do it?

I didn't mean fielding them as scouts. But using the models as a starting point is what I would do to make shield maidens.

[Grey Mage]

I use a squad of five Seraphim from the sisters of battle codex as a FA choice in my SW army sometimes. They are my Valkyries. I throw them down with two flamers, powerweapon and inferno pistol, meltabombs on the veteran sister just in case.

 

It runs around 160pts and I find is more survivable and in many ways more effective than the 5 man BC JP unit that I was fielding before, and cheaper- wich is always nice.

 

Im considering getting a 20strong unit of sisters to bring to large games- like the 2500 area, and use the sheer number of PA bodies to hold a home objective and provide massive marine level fire support for about half the price Id normally required. The added benefit of Faith Points is only gravy, and helps make up for their S/T 3.

 

From a modeling point of veiw I just minimize the painting impact of the =][= symbols, and paint them grey with white and blue highlights/robes. Id love to have been able to field 10 Celestians with stormshields and combi-bolters, but it would be abhorrently expensive and I cant find a use for a 4+ CC only stormshield in my SW army, especially in a firesupport unit.

 

Fluff wise- they are well equiped and trained PDF forces, used primarly as secondairy support or light recon on densely populated worlds where my single Great Company might find that sheer numbers are a problem, or where simply every body will count. My Wolf Lord is pragmatic, and refuses not to use every asset at his disposal simply because a few of them are women.

[incinerator950]

Clarification from what I recollect is they're not female SMs, but either female PDF or females from the SW world. Whether they're Tavern wenches or females brought up in SW termonolgy I don't know, but GW never denounced them as non canonical, and I like the idea of it anyway.

[leonlynch]

You could ally in a Witchunters elite slot inquisitor with Crusader henchmen. Carapace armour, guard stats but marine weapon skill, power weapon and a 4+ invulnerable save from a large shield might look quite good.

[dragon950]

Clarification from what I recollect is they're not female SMs, but either female PDF or females from the SW world. Whether they're Tavern wenches or females brought up in SW termonolgy I don't know, but GW never denounced them as non canonical, and I like the idea of it anyway.

 

Ah, well Fenris has no PDF because it's a undeveloped world because the Space Wolves want it to be that way. If there is anything that the locals cant take care of by themselves the new bloodclaws will take care of it to further their training. Serfs only go into battle if they have no choice, like if theres a boarding action on a space ship or when they had to defend the fang from the 1k sons.

[Grey Mage]

Our Bondsmen, wich doubles as chapter serfs and PDFs are armed and equiped as a militia when needed, as are the ones on our ships.

 

Men and women alike.

[Vash113]

Clarification from what I recollect is they're not female SMs, but either female PDF or females from the SW world. Whether they're Tavern wenches or females brought up in SW termonolgy I don't know, but GW never denounced them as non canonical, and I like the idea of it anyway.

 

Why would GW have to denounce them? They are entirely player made and have never been mentioned in any official fluff what so ever. GW doesn't have anything to do with them, some people just like the whole Valkyrie image and that's fine but it's not part of the official SW fluff.

[hendrik]

she would make a good base for one i think

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/Canoness.gif

[KeithGatchalian]

Stefan Darlan won a Golden Demon with these models: http://demonwinner.free.fr/uk/2003/golden_demon_winner.php?categorie=2#1st

 

From what I remember, he used upside down Space Marine torso's for the bodies, and green stuffed the skirts. Check around the net for better pics and info.

[Valerian]

As far as I know, Shield Maidens are a fan invention, based on the Valkyrie myths from Nordic legends.

 

The only Valkeries that I want for my Space Wolves are the ones that the IG have. A troop transport and support platform that fills the niche between the Land Speder and Thunderhawk perfectly. You can keep your Rhinos, Razorbacks, and Land Raiders; I'll take an armoured transport that can fly a pack of Wolves into battle straight from the Battle Barge or Strike Cruiser.

 

Valerian

[Ryzouken]

Bloody Hell... Why is it that anytime someone even begins to consider a model concept that even approximates a female space marine, someone on the internet flips out and goes into some rant/crusade railing against the "Existance" of female space marines?

 

For arguments and counterarguments see here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/222590.page

 

While "official" fluff does not currently support the existence of female marines, it also does not out and out forbid them and in fact, there exist a number of methods by which they may have been created. GW's stance regarding the proposition is: "If it looks good, then cheers, mate." Which is a healthy stance to take as any female marine models made would be the possession of another person (which took a great deal of time and effort, one would hope) and who are they (or any of us) to tell us what we do with our toys.

 

If you want your shield maidens to be female marines, then go right on ahead. If you want them to be female guard type models (think female cadian/catachan) contact Doc Thunder on Dakka (his is the original post on the link supplied above) and he can get you in contact with a gentleman who has some fine quality cast resin bits to make them. Beyond that, consider looking into the Reaper model range or into Fantasy, though I doubt the former will mesh well with GW's proportions and the latter is fairly difficult to find women in.

[Vash113]

Bloody Hell... Why is it that anytime someone even begins to consider a model concept that even approximates a female space marine, someone on the internet flips out and goes into some rant/crusade railing against the "Existance" of female space marines?

 

That's odd I don't see any particular focus on female marines in this thread, simply Shield Maidens of one nature or another. Whenever someone even hints female marines there's the possibility of someone ranting about it, but as you clearly just demonstrated the opposite is true too, there will be someone who has to blather on about player entitlement and so on and so forth. This thread isn't about female marines, the OP didn't ask about female marines at all, so why is it that anytime someone even talks about females someone on the internet flips out and goes into some rant/crusade railing against any criticism of female Space Marines?

 

That aside the concept of shield maidens just doesn't exist in the fluff in any way, shape, or form. Nadda, nothing, zippo, the entire concept has been brought about by players and mistaken as GW fluff thanks to misinformation and misconception. The only thing even approximating shield maidens would be female bondsman, which actually do exist, but there's nothing special about them at all. The fluff doesn't deny them of course, it doesn't have to, they just don't exist in any canon material.

 

Now as a fun modeling project that's another matter. I've seen a nice simple use of them as servitors for an Iron Priest. Take the SoB model with a Heavy Bolter, minus the power pack and plus some wolf pelts and minus the fleur de lys symbols and you have a decent approximation of a Heavy Bolter Servitor.

 

Alternately another way to model such a concept I've seen is as wargear representations similar to the little robed munchkin carrying Azrael's helmet. I recently made a mail Shield Bearer from a spare IG model to carry a Storm Shield for my Imperial Fists Captain so I could give him a two handed sword holding pose.

 

Other simple representations of such a concept could be allied Inquisitorial Storm Troopers modeled as females, not too difficult a modeling task and entirely rules legal. Allied Battle Sisters, harder to represent fluff wise thanks to the power armor and bolters but still rules legal, and even easier modeling wise.

 

None of those concepts even remotely approaches female marines, nor meant to represent supernatural Valkyrie type things and can merely be ascribed as a special position for female (or male) Bondsman.

 

Then of course Valkyries are also a player made concept similar to Shield Maidens with no basis in the fluff but that's another topic altogether.

[Gyson_Vore]

Just poking my nose in, and Vash, there have been comments about female marines, here...

Since there are no female space marines, they are all based on ideas that individual people have made up. As far as gw goes there is no such thing as sheild maidens for space marines. Though if I had to guess, the best looking ones would have something storm sheilds and a one handed sword. Just take the idea that Lord of the Rigns had for ewoyn(need to check spelling on that).

 

here...

but female space marines are a physical impossiblity becuase the various implants and chemicals given to intiates are specifically engineered for the male body and would kill a woman.now like i said i like the sheild maiden idea and if you want to do it go ahead but this is something i read when reasearching the marine making process however i dont know if its sponsored by gw or not so its your call.

 

And from you...

Well I don't think the idea for Shield Maidens has to do with female marines but female serfs that accompany the Space Wolves or some such. However neither is at all substantiated by the fluff and Shield Maidens just don't exist in female fluff. Anyone who says they are in the books is either misinformed or fibbing.

 

Onto conversion, I would say something from fantasy, such as the amazons from Mordenhiem, although with wolfing and de-jungle-ing, and other bitz to make them appropriate. I would shy away from SOB models, because they are mostly metal and be a pain to work with. Wood elves were another good recommendation from earlier, and again would really only need wolfing up.

[Vash113]

Just poking my nose in, and Vash, there have been comments about female marines, here...

 

Yes because pointing out female marines isn't the topic of the thread is the same as discussing them in depth. :lol:

 

The point is the OP has yet to mention anything about female marines and it's only been brought up by a single person seeing the word Maidens and assuming the meaning is for female marines, but it's not. One misconception and two responses to said misconception does not mean that the thread has anything to do with female marines nor is there a need for a rant about the subject. Comments about, and a discussion about are two very different things.

 

Therefore hijacking the thread to rehash the same old discussion and/or grumble about an unrelated subject is at best just off topic and unnecessary.

 

Anyway back on topic you do have a point about the SoB models being hard to work with somewhat, but heavy modification isn't needed. Some GS fur to cover the fleur-de-lys symbols and cover the port for the backpack would be an easy way to suitably wolf up the models without any need for filing, cutting or other more serious conversion. Where as plastic Wood Elves may be easier to work with, they would also require far more conversion. It's a trade-off really.

 

It also depends how female you want the models to look, as for instance making really noticeable boobs is simply unnecessary. Kaskrin armor wouldn't look different when worn by a female as when worn by a male, in fact the only necessary conversion there would simply be some GS hair coming out the back of the helmet. The model would have to have massive mammary glands to require reshaped armor plates.

 

Also if I recall correctly there is at least one female Tanith model that I thought I saw back on GW's website a while ago, but I don't know how useful that model might be.

[Grey Mage]

Also, putting some female heads onto IG veterans in carapce armor and moding their guns a bit could get you ISTs. You could also give them bolters to represent SOB for mixed M/F units. Acts of faith would simulate one use special items that bondsmen might be given to help them on the battlefield.