Forge World Pre Heresy

[Tycho6]

With the new Forge World models of old SM armour I am planning to do a sort of before and after set of minitures - one model in the colours of each legion pre-heresy and the one post-heresy as a comparison.

 

So, my question is: what makes/combinations of makes should I use for each legion? I'm assuming that the Sons of Horus would have the state of the art stuff. Where are the other legions in the pecking order (or preference for certain makes)?

[Doghouse]

To be honest you could probably get away with all Mk II or Mk IV. I'd personally go mostly Mk II with a couple of the other two thrown, Iron Warriors in Mk III for example.

[Tycho6]

Cool, cheers.

 

Would Alpha Legion, as the 'youngest', have new IV, or did they get the older models?

 

Also, at that time, did the Legions have any distinguishing features about them - like the Space Wolves wearing pelts etc, or were they all more uniform and less individual/stylised?

[Iron Father Ferrum]

"Alpharius" on the cover of Legion is wearing Mark IV armor, and Grammaticus in the book stated that he was wearing one of the new, baleen-snouted power armors, so there's two references to Mk.IV for the Alphas (20th Legion).

 

The Iron Hands IA artwork includes a "pre-heresy" Hand, but the armor appears to be a mishmash of Mk.VI legs, a flat-fronted, cable-less torso piece that I have to assume is Mk.III, and the helmet looks like a bionically-modified Mk.IV. So, uh, have fun figuring that one out. But they did already do a lot of augmetic work, as evidenced by the pre-Heresy Hand's bionic left hand and half-bionic head.

[Skirax]

Space Wolves always wore pelts, except for the very few from Terra, and even they were quick to embrace Russ' way.

[Dragonkin Arenis]

I seem to remember something in either 'Horus Rising' or 'False Gods' about the Blood Angels mainly having Mk.III armour, whilst on Murder...

 

With that in mind, you could model the main portion of Blood Angels with Mk.III stuff, with the occasional Mk.II and Mk.IV pieces in there.

[Durfast Spiritwolf]

Space Wolves always wore pelts, except for the very few from Terra, and even they were quick to embrace Russ' way.

 

They may have also worn pelts as they were one Legion that did not change name after meeting their Primarch and may have been originally recruited from Skania

[Jarl Kjaran Coldheart]

Space Wolves always wore pelts, except for the very few from Terra, and even they were quick to embrace Russ' way.

 

They may have also worn pelts as they were one Legion that did not change name after meeting their Primarch and may have been originally recruited from Skania

 

well duh...once your a legion of BAMFs how much more awesome can you get??

 

WLK

[Durfast Spiritwolf]

Space Wolves always wore pelts, except for the very few from Terra, and even they were quick to embrace Russ' way.

 

They may have also worn pelts as they were one Legion that did not change name after meeting their Primarch and may have been originally recruited from Skania

 

well duh...once your a legion of BAMFs how much more awesome can you get??

 

WLK

 

send key setting, over!

[SCC]

I seem to remember something in either 'Horus Rising' or 'False Gods' about the Blood Angels mainly having Mk.III armour, whilst on Murder...

 

With that in mind, you could model the main portion of Blood Angels with Mk.III stuff, with the occasional Mk.II and Mk.IV pieces in there.

Actually Mk.III was a specialist, 'heavy' version of Mk.II that was essentially filled the role of Terminator armour before Tactical Dreadnought Armour came along. Mk.II was being replaced in general issue by Mk.IV amongst all the Legions, so much so that it's described as the 'mainstay' of armour during the Heresy. Obviously Mk.V 'Heresy' armour also plays an important role during the Heresy but if I were modelling a pre-Heresy force I'd go 70-30 Mk.IV to Mk.II or even 80-20 for my 'main force' and I'd save Mk.III for assault/close combat units where the extra frontal protection would be most valuable.

 

If I was doing a Heresy-era force (as distinct from pre-Heresy) I'd mostly go with 50-50 Mk.IV/V, a lot of the Mk.II/IV in circulation would be damaged and Mk.V would be replacing it (easier to manufacture/repair during the nightmare of the Heresy). Towards the end of the Heresy, or for those forces engaged in the Siege of Terra in particular, you could begin to mix in Mk.VI. Most early suits of Mk.VI were manufactured on Terra & Mars and went to the Loyalists (BA, IF, WS all of whom are closely identified with the armour due to their roles on Terra) defending Terra and then, after the fall of Mars, to the Traitors assaulting the Sol system.

 

Mk.VII also went into production during the Siege of Terra but what little of it would have been produced mostly stayed in Loyalist hands.

 

Long story, short ('Too late!' the audience cries) Mk.II/IV for pre-Heresy, Mk.III for assault/CC troops if you model any and Mk IV/V/VI would all be equally viable immediately post-Heresy. I'd reserve Mk.VII for loyalist forces only at this time however.

Index Astartes: Power Armour (B&C Librarium)