French Foreign Legion DIY?

[ZombyWoof]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone here had ever painted up a DIY chapter based on the French Foreign Legion. I proudly represent Raven Guard myself since that’s what I already committed to painting, but I always thought it would be cool to do a FFL style chapter. After I finish my RG project, I’m going to see what I have as far as leftover bits etc and paint some test models. Like most people, time and money constraints keep me from going all in with another army for now, but if anyone else has done this I’d like to see how you painted your models and hear what style game play you run for them.

Thanks!

[Bannus]

I think the idea would translate better to Imperial Guard (the kepi and all that), but this might get a better response in Liber.

 

Moving it over now......

[ZombyWoof]

I think the idea would translate better to Imperial Guard (the kepi and all that), but this might get a better response in Liber.

 

Moving it over now......

Thanks for correcting my topic placement (duh I totally overlooked the DIY section!)

I thought that since the FFL are considered a small, elite force with many archaic military traditions and rituals, they would mix well with the SM genre.

[Octavulg]

There's some similarities, and I could see it working. Might be better to emphasize the Foreign Legion bit, rather than the French bit (since those are the more Space Mariney aspects), but it sounds interesting.

[The Normish]

There's some similarities, and I could see it working. Might be better to emphasize the Foreign Legion bit, rather than the French bit (since those are the more Space Mariney aspects), but it sounds interesting.

Yeah, Space Marines aren't terribly French. You know what we call Space Marines in French? "Space Marines". Yeah.

I have an Imperial Guard army based off Napoleonic French armies, so I don't see why this couldn't work. although I do think it would be more suited as a Guard army, since the myths surrounding the Foreign Legion aren't exactly suitable for the methods sued in joining and training as a Space Marine. Like the whole "joining to forget" thing...

[Ecritter]

You do remember that the FFL was not made up of Frenchmen ... and was not even allowed on French soil until the 20th century?

[The Shiny One]

How about a renegade warband, so extinged and fallen Space Marines can join them?

They could still be fighting for the Imperium. And not fall to chaos. Or they get help from some radical Inquisitors, but the official statement is they don't existe...

[Grey Hunter Ydalir]

Building on The Shiny One's suggestion how about a small group of exiled marines?

 

Some chapters punish extreme transgressions within the chapter with exile. Where these marines go is a mystery and their fate is usually suspected to either fall to chaos, die alone fighting to regain his stature or joining an Inquisitors retinue as some of the most likely endings.

 

However, what if a small number of them managed to band together? Their numbers would be small because the Imperium is not only vast, but the ratio of chapters to worlds is not in their favour, and not all of them practice the exile of their brothers.

 

I'd hesitate to give too much inquisitorial support, because that can detract from the character of the group, but also add far too much grey territory for people to pick on, like unknown Inquisition power groups, of which there are far too many already.

 

The group itself would be like a small support network for those who still fight for the Emperor, along with a place for them to find purpose.

[ZombyWoof]

Thanks for the replies, there are some great ideas here. This is what I was thinking:

 

The chapter wouldn’t be so much about being French, or take the romanticized visions of the French Foreign Legion being a bastion for criminals and lost souls looking for a new lease on life. It would be more about what the FFL are really known for historically, which a small, tough organization sent out to various hellholes to do dirty jobs. I enjoy the fluff behind the Imperial Fists, especially Vladimir Pugh, and could see a FFL themed chapter being a descendent of them, sharing the same kind of organization and training. They would have no homeworld, and draw recruits from the orphans and escaped slaves of the war torn areas of the universe where they are sent for duty. Whatever their background, chapter members would be proud to serve together in their new “home” and be wholly faithful to the Emperor.

 

In the spirit of “March or die” the companies would be foot soldier heavy. 10 man devastator squads for anti-armor. Assault squads would go forward without jump packs favoring Rhinos/ drop pods to act as speed bumps, or be used to shield a Vindicator or two. Tacs would come from the rear in Rhinos or pods to take objectives. Not a lot of “big money” would be spent points wise to keep unit costs down. Squads would draw the cheapest special/heavy weapons available. At least two tac Sgt’s would definitely get power fists though.

 

I imagine a chapter styled after the FFL as being more Space Marine than Imperial Guard, because like the SM’s, the FFL are fewer in number and to be one you have to WANT to be one.