Picking a Legion

[Unknown Chronicler]

Hello B&C brothers & sisters, I've been a long time visitor of the Horus Heresy section and always looking for ways to pick a Legion. The problem with picking one is that I want to use one best for my character yet also one that is not used too often (Like the Ultramarines for example). Since looking at my perspective is not always the best option I have finally resorted to asking you guys, this was the last scenario....to narrow it down I have a few Legions I might like to make: Imperial Fists, Iron Warriors, Ultramarines (I know even though I just mentioned it above), or even Space Wolves.

Now I'm willing to do any Legion but those are the ones that I have liked the most, my personal character would be (if this even helps at all) : unrelenting, mid-close combat specialist, cold and methodical during combat situations, creative/adaptable to any problems arising and sometimes short tempred (but mostly in control of emotions and thinking logical if need be). So most of these are a good indicator that I play Necrons and mostly enjoy it, anyhow I would like to know what your input would be on this and if you guys have any questions to ask em on what things I prefer or such then I would be glad to answer, cheers!

[Grotsmasha]

Currently reading Angel Exterminatus, and your description matches Perturabo's in regard to his own Legion, the Iron Warriors sound like a good fit. And if you cant wait for FW, Hi-Tech have a very suitable stand-in, Archfather Proturbo. As an additional bonus, IW are very quick to paint while looking quite good.

 

Cheers,

Jono

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

I'd say IW, but I'm biased. Also you say mid-close combat, feels more like the Ultra's to me, especially with the other considerations

[Phalanx Warder]

Now I'm willing to do any Legion but those are the ones that I have liked the most, my personal character would be (if this even helps at all:confused:) : unrelenting, mid-close combat specialist, cold and methodical during combat situations, creative/adaptable to any problems arising and sometimes short tempred (but mostly in control of emotions and thinking logical if need be). So most of these are a good indicator that I play Necrons :ph34r: and mostly enjoy it, anyhow I would like to know what your input would be on this and if you guys have any questions to ask em on what things I prefer or such then I would be glad to answer, cheers!

 

Iron hands! They have the unrelenting, mid-close combat, cold and methodical and short tempered down pat. Though not on your list I think they fit the bill better than the Iron Warriors IMOH.

[Kol Saresk]

Now I'm willing to do any Legion but those are the ones that I have liked the most, my personal character would be (if this even helps at all:confused:) : unrelenting, mid-close combat specialist, cold and methodical during combat situations, creative/adaptable to any problems arising and sometimes short tempred (but mostly in control of emotions and thinking logical if need be). So most of these are a good indicator that I play Necrons and mostly enjoy it, anyhow I would like to know what your input would be on this and if you guys have any questions to ask em on what things I prefer or such then I would be glad to answer, cheers!

Iron hands! They have the unrelenting, mid-close combat, cold and methodical and short tempered down pat. Though not on your list I think they fit the bill better than the Iron Warriors IMOH.

I think Battle8rother has the right of it.

[depthcharge12]

To me it sounds almost like emperors children. They are portrayed as having multi faceted commanders who are close combat oriented but calm and reserved when facing their opponent. They used combined arms tactics to fight, and are prone to a focussed anger against foes that prove worthy to fight (EC see themselves as superior and anyone to challenge that gains their respectful ire).

 

I would suggest a pre Isstvan EC army as they reflect what it seems you like before they finish their spiral to madness. Not many players are willing to paint the EC's purple/pink too so no worries of a too common legion. Failing that go as IWs, though I haven't read a whole lot of their stories, I don't remember them having commanders with a flare for cc but they are very adaptable.

[Vardus]

To me it sounds almost like emperors children. They are portrayed as having multi faceted commanders who are close combat oriented but calm and reserved when facing their opponent. They used combined arms tactics to fight, and are prone to a focussed anger against foes that prove worthy to fight (EC see themselves as superior and anyone to challenge that gains their respectful ire).

I would suggest a pre Isstvan EC army as they reflect what it seems you like before they finish their spiral to madness. Not many players are willing to paint the EC's purple/pink too so no worries of a too common legion. Failing that go as IWs, though I haven't read a whole lot of their stories, I don't remember them having commanders with a flare for cc but they are very adaptable.

Whilst the EC do fit with some of these aspects, I agree more with .........

Now I'm willing to do any Legion but those are the ones that I have liked the most, my personal character would be (if this even helps at all:confused:) : unrelenting, mid-close combat specialist, cold and methodical during combat situations, creative/adaptable to any problems arising and sometimes short tempred (but mostly in control of emotions and thinking logical if need be). So most of these are a good indicator that I play Necrons and mostly enjoy it, anyhow I would like to know what your input would be on this and if you guys have any questions to ask em on what things I prefer or such then I would be glad to answer, cheers!

Iron hands! They have the unrelenting, mid-close combat, cold and methodical and short tempered down pat. Though not on your list I think they fit the bill better than the Iron Warriors IMOH.

I think Battle8rother has the right of it.

Especially with the OP's affinity to Necrons.

[Unknown Chronicler]

One question, by the Iron Hands since they do require alot of bionics, and aren't very easy to obtain must the Iron Hands Legionnaries have bionics implants? If so then it would be difficult to make them at the most, and Iron Warriors would be the second choice. Though EC sound nice I have to agree that some of my aspects do not fit their bill, so either Iron Hands or Iron Warriors would be the option, ordering parts for the Iron Hands are saddly not possible so anything that can be bought in a GW store would have to do. thanks so far for the comments!

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

I was gonna suggest necron arms and legs, but they're probably a little thin.

 

Anvil industries do a great selection of bionic parts very cheap, but really you could just say they have bionics under their armour. Afterall, why forgo an extra layer of protection just because you have a metal arm etc?

[AllHailTheMachine]

Well I'm a necron player too, and for my heresy for I plumped for space wolves. The choices had originally been iron hands, word bearers or wolves.

 

Reasons are a) they are in an era where other legions are in the lime light, they aren't as popular as in 40k, b) in favouring combat they play quite different to my steadily advancing phalanx of necron warrior, c) they are one of the 'good' guys which is a novelty for me, d) the heroic aesthetic to them means there is loads of room for conversion and painting projects, e) in there self appointed role as the emperor's executioners/enforcers there is reason for them to clash with anyone, f) its going to be a long time till they get the full forge world treatment so noone can complain about their rules in the heresy completely robbing me of the fun I get out of a game (I get this too much with necrons), g) my best friends play dark angels and thousand sons, so wolves make for some good rivalry.

 

I know that's not answering your question directly, but i hope it gives you an idea of some things you may want to consider.

[Balthamal]

You could possibly stick to one or two more obvious bionics. This being 30k it's safe to say that the technological abilities of everyone but especially the astartes are far beyond 40k, wouldn't be totally unfluffy for the bionics to be subtle whilst the more clunky versions could represent hasty battlefield treatment

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

You could possibly stick to one or two more obvious bionics. This being 30k it's safe to say that the technological abilities of everyone but especially the astartes are far beyond 40k, wouldn't be totally unfluffy for the bionics to be subtle whilst the more clunky versions could represent hasty battlefield treatment

 

True, Garro has a bionic leg but he wears normal plate over it?

[Balthamal]

He probably does, although it's never explicitly stated one way or the other. IMO the replacement limb would have to be of amazing quality to provide the same protection as power armour. 

[Grotsmasha]

Anvil does some very good bionic pieces, in both PA and TDA scale.

 

Cheers,

Jono

[Kol Saresk]

One question, by the Iron Hands since they do require alot of bionics, and aren't very easy to obtain must the Iron Hands Legionnaries have bionics implants? If so then it would be difficult to make them at the most, and Iron Warriors would be the second choice. Though EC sound nice I have to agree that some of my aspects do not fit their bill, so either Iron Hands or Iron Warriors would be the option, ordering parts for the Iron Hands are saddly not possible so anything that can be bought in a GW store would have to do. thanks so far for the comments!

I think the better question is: must the bionics be seen?[/i] ;)

 

But seriously, nothing says that the bionics cannot be covered by the power armor. It's just that most authors and modelers find it more attractive/dramatic to have the bionics outside the armor. Right up until they need a void seal and can't make it.

 

Also, the Heresy era Iron Hands weren't as driven as their 40k counterparts to have bionics. Yes, they did still have them and they still taught the virtues of machine over flesh, but there wasn't this driving need to have them until after Manus choked and even then it is unknown if the entire Legion went that way.

 

And I agree with Balthamal that the bionic would have to be pretty sturdy to go with no armor protection but that would seem to be the rarity rather than the norm.

[Unknown Chronicler]

@ AllHailTheMachine Well it is true I like the Space Wolves and I would be willing to do them, I am more of the siegcraft expert and not executioner. But otherwise then that SW are very nice to make and I see what you were saying, just change up the mood and play style which is why I have 4 different armies for 40k . But for 30k I wanted an army that really reflected me so I can personalize them better.

@Balthamal & Kol_Saresk Yes after looking at some pictures and reading it seems that the ones that DO have bionics open without protection are more like basic ground infantry units but otherwise are protected. By one picture which I believe was Legion of One the left and right leg were both incased in armour so this does indicate that there was some good old ceramite in place even though it never mentions if it was or wasn't in writing. Reading the stories of the Iron Hands during 30k shows lots of signs of head implants and arms implants, possibly alot of mechanical organs that are in place instead of the fleshy ones but all in all they were mostly protected with armour except for the right hand which was open to the void and was bionic.

Now the choice remains the Sons of Perturabo or Ferrus Manus's clans? Perturabo's Sons were all siegecraft and very few bionics unless needed, also very cold and methodical in killing their foes plus they used alot of artillery and heavy units also they were bitter most of them and used it as a weapon but also made the less seasoned warriors reckless. Iron Hands in the other hand were mostly Heavy infantry and Infantry all very strong and many tanks, they relied too much on machines though which made them weak to some battles including in a short story where they fight the Eldar and would have lost were it not for Gabriel Santars tactical genius. So anything I'm missing? These too are a hard choice and I'm making an army for only one army, if I had test minis I would have tried both out but sadly I do not and this leaves me with only thoughts and using my imagination to picture the army in general. cheers!

[Phalanx Warder]

You know ColdWinter,

I was reading through the whole post (again) and it dawned on me that we are talking about an entire LEGION of Space Marines, and at the end of the day the army is going to play the way you build it, with any list it will have strengths and weaknesses, but it will play the way you build it. as a hobbyist in our hobby there are things that make it worthwhile, so i say paint the Legion that looks like the most fun or that drives you to commit time to them, lets face fact's the Legions had things that made them renowned/famous but they were not one trick ponies and i am sure had all manner of leaders that imparted their style/demeanor upon their Astates.

 

In this manner i am struggling with my Legion color scheme. I want to paint Imperial Fists but what i have seen of the World Eaters i almost cant resist! I don't envision the Fists at the imperial palace in dogged defense, i envision a hardcore force in a planetary assault somewhere. I personalty want a force that will chew through my advesary in CC but hey that's me

[Captain Semper]

Umm... I never thought I'd say this, but how about Ultramarines?

 

You say everybody plays them, but personally I find this not to be the case. I can see people choosing the C:SM to build their 40k army but generally avoid the "default" UMs in an attempt to show individuality. Also in the 30k context everybody is generic (so far at least) as we only have the 'Betrayal' list that applies to all Legions.

 

Oh, and cold methodical killing? Damn right! :devil:

[depthcharge12]

@battle8rother

You can do sigusmunds 1st company with veterans (later black Templars), they spent a lot of time with the WEs IIRC, which is why they chain their weapons to themselves and learned a trick or two in CC ;)

 

I would wholeheartedly agree with you on the whole non one trick pony thing (IWs were incensed that they were only thought of as base sitters)

 

@coldwinter

I would say failing EC, go with Iron hands as they share much in common with them (ref. Fulgrim)

 

If you want to make a bad@ss siege breaker then IWs it is ;)

[Unknown Chronicler]

Thank you everyone for your help I can't say how grateful I am! I love Siege soldiers since I personally design fortresses and fortified buildings, and I love to take them out in equal measure so I would have to say...Iron Warriors it is! I will post in a new thread when the first shipment of reinforcements of Olympia arrive at my doorstep . Ultramarines are an options but like said everyone (or at least in my hobby center) pick Ultramarines for the Heresy campaign coming up in a few months.

@Battle8rother you are right it does matter which army is the funnest to paint and build up, but for me I usually over think things and I want an army that I will stick with for a long time since I usually change my mind often that is the reason I had to ask. But don't worry my army list is full proof to fight almost in any situation , like you said it only matters how it turns out in the end of the battle and I will be looking forward to my minis entering the battlefield and following my orders. Cheers mates, your all great!

[Durfast Spiritwolf]

Good call - it's always good to follow the froth ;)