different mark armoured marines using different weapons

[AnDyzZzoRe]

Hey guys, I'm looking for advice and opinions here, I'm going to be building a pre-heresy Thousand Sons army led by Ahriman, with the different cults represented. I'm also looking online for the awesome model of Magnus.

 

The army will not be for playing, but for display, so im not worrying about optimum builds or anything like that. I was just going to have 2 10 man tactical squads with a heavy and special, and a 10 man dev squad with 4 heavy's. and a 10 man assault squad supported by Dreadnoughts.

 

This is what I've ordered -

 

25 Mk.IV marines

10 Mk.III marines

10 Mk. 5 Assault Marines

a few phobos bolter packs, heavy weapon and special weapon packs

Mk.IV ironclad dread

contemptor dread

 

 

My first idea was to have the 20 Mk.IV's as tactical marines and the Mk.III's as Devestators, but today I was wondering whether I should use the Mk.III's as my special and heavy weapon bearers and the Mk.IV's as my standard bolter marines and sergeants.

 

For TLDR -

 

Option A - Mk.IV armour = tactical marines and Mk.III armour = devestator marines

 

Option B - Mk.IV armour = Sergeants and bolter marines and Mk.III armour = special and heavy weapon marines

 

Looking forward to hearing from you all!

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

[Captain Semper]

The real question is: single or mixed armour types in a squad?

 

To me, in the 40k context, the mixed armour is kind of "Chaosy" especially after reading the two NL stories by ADB about how the several armour components were mixed in order to make a single functioning panoply. This implies that the visually anarchic result relates to the lack of proper supplies and support - something to be expected from renegades but not loyalists. Obviously if the integrity of each individual armour is upheld (i.e. no Mk5 helmet on a Mk3 body) the above argument is somewhat lessened.

 

But, in any case, this is a pre-Heresy army, which means that there is not the same level of reverance for the battle armour as is the case for 40k. And everything comes in abundance. So mixed armour types convey a different message in the 30k context. It means that the older types are being replaced by newer versions because of attrition and subject to availability. So I'd go for a mixed squad and give your bolter marines all kinds of armour types -this is how it would probably look back then anyway :D. Do not seperate it to the special/heavy weapons guys - why should they stand out like that? Also mix the Mk5 in there too. Make it a truly mixed armour force!

 

As an aside, since Mk4 is considered the pinnacle of power armour technology I'd say that the leaders would be the first to get it - so sergeants would probably qualify. On the other hand you could work on the reasoning that veterans are used to their older types and won't change willingly.

 

Whatever you decide, post pictures!!! :)

 

 

EDIT: I can't recall if M5 assault marines have a jump-pack harness showing (they probably have). In this case you'd probably have to stick with them being your assault squad. Mk5 is my favorite btw...

[Vodunius]

So mixed armour types convey a different message in the 30k context. It means that the older types are being replaced by newer versions because of attrition and subject to availability. So I'd go for a mixed squad and give your bolter marines all kinds of armour types -this is how it will probably look back then anyway. Do not seperate it to the special/heavy weapons guys - why should they stand out like that?

 

I agree with that in general but not when it comes to MkIII armour: MkIII was never intended nor adopted for general issue due to its specialised nature, that nature makes it very suitable for specials (who are likely to draw extra fire at close range) and devastators (more likely to set up at long range, and therefor more likely to receive large calibre fire).

 

The MkV Assault Marines look frickin awesome, but if anything they make possibly less sense for assault than MkIII do (which FW have said they aren't going to do assault variants of): all those exposed cables the enemy can cut or tear off, coupled with major downside of having to operate at either reduced power or else barely tolerable heat buildup - personally I think MkV is best suited to Devastators as well: full power when moving (not often) then reduced power when in a firing position.

[Lord_Caerolion]

Also, if you're having it Pre-Heresy, then there's no MkV. It was called Heresy armour for a reason, it was developed during the Horus Heresy as a stop-gap due to the lack of replacement parts for the hard-to-repair MkIV.

[Captain Semper]

I agree with that in general but not when it comes to MkIII armour: MkIII was never intended nor adopted for general issue due to its specialised nature, that nature makes it very suitable for specials (who are likely to draw extra fire at close range) and devastators (more likely to set up at long range, and therefor more likely to receive large calibre fire).

 

Well, in IA10 it does say MkIII has augmented frontal defense and additional ablative plates but compared to what? It is not clear. I assume compared to MkII that was its predecessor. I agree it could mean vs. all later types as well, but to me it makes sense that MkII, MkIII and MkIV were an evolutionary line. What I mean is that they were not meant to be used all at the same time depending on the wearer's specialty but rather that eventually older types would be phased out in favor of the more advanced later types. Also Marines are not in the habit of wearing each others armour. If a guy has a functioning MkIII he'll keep it until a MkIV replacement arrives. So it is perfectly possible and (in my case) pleasing to the eye, that a pre-Heresy squad would be an amalgamation of armour types in a fairly random manner. I can't imagine Brother Gaius saying: Yo Brother Absodalom, you wear a MkIII but I carry the plasma gun! Get underessed, put on my shiny new MkIV (lucky git) and gimme the augmented frontal defence one because I need to be better proteced than you! And no, I'm not afraid because I know no fear!!! Now give it to me! :lol:

 

Interstingly IA10 doesn't say that MkIII was never intended to be used for general issue. It just says it was intended foremost for use in boarding actions, tunnel assaults and void warfare. Wait a minute! IDEA FOR OP: since this is a dispaly army why not max out on the image of the MkIII and add the boarding assault kit by FW? this would be awesome. I know 18 quid is hefty but think about it -awesomeness incarnate!!!

 

The MkV Assault Marines look frickin awesome, but if anything they make possibly less sense for assault than MkIII do (which FW have said they aren't going to do assault variants of): all those exposed cables the enemy can cut or tear off, coupled with major downside of having to operate at either reduced power or else barely tolerable heat buildup - personally I think MkV is best suited to Devastators as well: full power when moving (not often) then reduced power when in a firing position.

 

I agree that a MkIII is better suited for assault than a MkV for the reasons you mention. I do not agree Marines change armour with each other... If you happen to have a MkV and you are ordered to assault you do not create an issue saying "but Sergeant, Brother Whathisname has a MkIII - why can't he be the one to assault?". Just don't see it happening.

 

Also, if you're having it Pre-Heresy, then there's no MkV. It was called Heresy armour for a reason, it was developed during the Horus Heresy as a stop-gap due to the lack of replacement parts for the hard-to-repair MkIV.

 

Good point actually .

 

To OP : Maybe do a Heresy army then? BTW I checked the MkV Assault Marines and no jump pack harness - so you can freely mix them with the others! Assuming it is a Heresy era army!

[AnDyzZzoRe]

Cheers for all your thoughts guys. I think then I'll have to make a heresy-era force , which is ok I'm not too fussed.

The mixing and matching of armour sounds good, Ill have to greenstuff the jump pack harnesses on my assault guys but that should be ok.

 

@Captain Sempar - The boarding action kit from Forgeworld is actually the one kit they have that I'm not particularly interested in. I'm not sure why but I'm just not a fan of the guns , shields etc... but if i plan to expand the army I might get it and make a Mk.III squad with the boarding gear or something.

 

MY order is on its way so once it arrives ill start a WIP thread, Ive got DragonForge bases on the way as well, as well as some Maxmini Steam Knight helemts, for use on my Sergeants and higher up troops. Ive got a bunch to the Tomb Kings Tomb Guard weapons as well.

 

Once again, Cheers everyone!