Guest TheoryCraft Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Good morning everyone, So I have a bit of an odd request for feedback. Long story short, I don't like the appearance of Tacticals - to me, they just look pretty "blah," especially when you are playing Speez Muhreen wars (i.e. SpaM v. SpaM armies). I was wondering what kind of advice or feedback people have to spruce up the appearance of Dark Angels tacticals. I'm thinking more than just painting schemes - I'm referring to adding/changing customized bits, using different models, etc. For me personally, I started painting Veteran squads since I use them in my SoD gunline list and came to realize that I am completely in love with their appearance. To me, the long flowing robes with recessed power armor is the quintessential look for Dark Angels. The reason I bring this up is because I am considering using Veterans as my Tactical Squads, and then perhaps performing additional customization to make my Veterans. Has anyone ever heard of this strategy? Do you think there would be any problem in tournaments running a full army of robed models as Tacticals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roninmodern Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Purchase a few of the Dark Angels upgrade sprues - they've got all kinds of cool things on them to spruce up your RAF marines - censers, spruced up backpacks, and a lot more that will give your units some nice variety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[TA]Typher Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 If I had the disposable cash and skill I would have a Mark IV power armor army. http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Images/Product/AlternativeFW/xlarge/mkIVass2.jpg AND/OR add different veteran markings on each of them. Like Worthy Painting did. It won't let me post a youtube link, so you'll have to look for them yourselves, but trust me.. they look awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grotsmasha Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 To answer your question, no, there is no reason you cannot do a completely robed army. Robes do not denote rank or veteran status (fluff-wise at least). A simple way to then denote Vets would be to put the DA banner toppers and such on their back packs, or Gold trim on their shoulder pads, or a specific moulded shouldrr pad (I use the unwinged sword from the upgrade pack. Cheers Jono Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TheoryCraft Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Thanks for the responses, everyone. I did in fact buy an upgrade sprue from GW originally, which is how I got started on my robe kick. $19.75 for 5 Veterans and a whole assortment of bits and pieces is a steal in my book. (Just don't tell GW how good of a deal it is or they will jack the price of the sprues!) I will probably just buy a bunch more upgrade sprues and go from there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain sox Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Hello! I once tried to make an all robed army, but I found one problem. There are really only 3 (maybe 4) variations of the robes and I found it made my marines look even more like clones than without. At first it looked kinda cool, than it was like "blah, they all look the same, but with robes now". Just a word of advice :) Only my HQ and Vets have robes now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roninmodern Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Thanks for the responses, everyone. I did in fact buy an upgrade sprue from GW originally, which is how I got started on my robe kick. $19.75 for 5 Veterans and a whole assortment of bits and pieces is a steal in my book. (Just don't tell GW how good of a deal it is or they will jack the price of the sprues!) I will probably just buy a bunch more upgrade sprues and go from there They used to be 20 dollars for ten of them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deathwing70 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 no reason at all not to use a full robed army no... If you do have to justify it for 'Veterans only' then think about this: in a way you every power armor wearing space marine IS a Veteran. They have already seen more battles than most Imperial Guard as teenagers in the Scout company and have proven their worth to wear the Power Armor. A 'Veteran' Space Marine is just even more hardcore/much older/more experienced. They can be easily identified by the use of power weapons or other 'special' weapons (build some custom stuff), or even just the use of different marks of armor to show they have been given chapter artifacts as an honor. Easiest with for example beaky helmets/studded shoulder pads or if you can get them... the Mk4 armor's/helmets (there are tutorials on how to sculpt them out of mk7 helmets). Mk4 used to be/is the most technogically advanced power armor. But as Grotsmasha says, there are only 3-4 different poses for the robed plastic marines which will make an entire army look kinda... boring. You can ofcourse learn to sculpt your own robes and/or tabards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[TA]Typher Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 You could always go with something like this.... http://www.anvilindustry.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=77_95&product_id=256 Sure it isn't GW. but it's unique and it fits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grotsmasha Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Check out Elmo's Anvil robed DA's here, @ post 209 http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/260687-elmos-seemingly-constant-wip-2nd-company-next/page-9 Cheers, Jono Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Immolator Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Hello! I once tried to make an all robed army, but I found one problem. There are really only 3 (maybe 4) variations of the robes and I found it made my marines look even more like clones than without. At first it looked kinda cool, than it was like "blah, they all look the same, but with robes now". Just a word of advice Only my HQ and Vets have robes now Well, name a 40k not composed of clones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonaides Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 there are also the BT robed models you can use with a little bit of iconography tidying... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Immolator Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 there are also the BT robed models you can use with a little bit of iconography tidying... Tabards really :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain sox Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Hello! I once tried to make an all robed army, but I found one problem. There are really only 3 (maybe 4) variations of the robes and I found it made my marines look even more like clones than without. At first it looked kinda cool, than it was like "blah, they all look the same, but with robes now". Just a word of advice Only my HQ and Vets have robes now Well, name a 40k not composed of clones. Very true point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onisuzume Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Well, helmet stripes based on rank (see Rogue Trader era), shoulder pad symbols based on what weapon they carry (also RT-era), Campaign Markings, etc. can add quite a bit to each individual model. Downside, that needs a bit more painting skills to do nicely. http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/Onisuzume/Dark%20Angels/CrimsonFists01c.jpg Other than that, I guess that mixing the various power armour marks from FW would be an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cod Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Wow, that is an old (but classic) pic! Also notice how these days things are not as detailed as they were long ago ;-) To create some interest and difference between my tacticals I've mixed a few armour types through the squads, armed some with bolters, some holding bolt pistols and throwing grenades in the opposite hand too, and a few knife blades added as bayonets. Maybe also will have grenades/pouches added to belts etc. Oh and there is nothing wrong with an all robed force. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Immolator Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Field police :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elphilo Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Wow, that is an old (but classic) pic! Also notice how these days things are not as detailed as they were long ago ;-)I beg to differ. The Insignium Astartes has a lot of different badge variants for Space Marines. Granted this is more aimed towards codex adherent chapters, but its still got a lot of great information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cod Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Hmm sorry, I should of explained myself better, I meant in relation to codexes these days, while the DA codex is extremely impressive, it doesnt have the detail that the old pic from the book above does, like the weapon symbols and helmet markings. Anyway, that Insignum Astartes is one beautiful looking book. Do you know how many pages it has? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Immolator Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 It was the age of beakies, where power armor was awesome as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elphilo Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Hmm sorry, I should of explained myself better, I meant in relation to codexes these days, while the DA codex is extremely impressive, it doesnt have the detail that the old pic from the book above does, like the weapon symbols and helmet markings. Anyway, that Insignum Astartes is one beautiful looking book. Do you know how many pages it has? Ah well then you're right on that point And it has 63 pages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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