Most Divergent Legion?

[Emperor's Furor]

What would you say is the most divergent legion in comparison to what you can traditionally put on the table for a 40k chapter? I want a legion that isn't anything like my normal 40k army which current has two dreads, 20 marines, a land raider crusader, a 5 man shooty terminator squad, a vindicator and some scouts. I don't want an heresy army that will inevitably end up just being the same, so I figure if I go for the most divergent legion, I'll feel ok with going with them as they won't simply be my 40k army in 30k.

[Legatus]

Every Legion uses Space Marine squads, Terminators, Bikes, Dreadnoughts, etc. They just use them in various unit formations and may favour one unit type over another. 

 

I would say the Word Bearers and the Alpha Legion are probably the oddest one's out of all the Legions, being much less organised according to military principles like the others. The Word Bearers have a tendency to just march towards the enemy positions in large mobs, banners held high, all chanting hymns. The Alpha Legion spreads multiple smaller cells of Marines of differing types around the warzone and let them all operate more or less independently towards a pre-planned goal. 

 

Out of the others, Legions such as the World Eaters, Iron Warriors, Raven Guard or White Scars are very focused on a particular way of fighting, but they at least use somewhat normal command structures and unit formations. 

 

But even the Word Bearers and Alpha Legion, different as they may be, use squads of Space Marines with the usual armour, weapons, wargear and vehicles. 

[AekoldHelbrass]

Most of them i'd say. When you have 100 000+ marines it is quite simple to find all possible variations in them. 1000 sons and volves probably the least divergent, but alpha for example will use any tools necessary, ultra has numbers so can allow diversity, EC must be perfect against any opponent, and so on.

[Cerbero666]

Well, most of Heresy legions are divergent enough from the usual 40k style space marines, except maybe for the most structural legions like the Ultramarines, Imperial Fists or Emperor's Children, and even them got their unique units and options so...

 

In this decision I would find more important the kind of game style you want to go with (close-combat, siege warfare, infiltrations, etc...).

 

Personally I've chosen an Imperial Fist core for my army, and then I'm planning to go with a bunch of different legions as allies (the minimum required to the allied detachment, small squads), and some Mechanicum detachment, so I could prove different styles of game, rules,  painting, etc... Just choose a core legion and go from there, at the end of the Heresy series of rulebooks you'll get your legion customized enough to be totally different from 40k for sure. 

[Hfran Morkai]

Most of them i'd say. When you have 100 000+ marines it is quite simple to find all possible variations in them. 1000 sons and volves probably the least divergent, but alpha for example will use any tools necessary, ultra has numbers so can allow diversity, EC must be perfect against any opponent, and so on.

Out of curiosity? Why Wolves and Sons as least divergent?

 

Those entrusted with recruiting new Wolves and maintaining their spiritual health are also the ones who tend to their physical wounds. There isn't some regimented structure to the Wolves, they are more a warband. The Wolves don't have Sergeants, instead the Wolf Lord's most trusted brothers lead packs as well as provide bodyguards/hard hitting units. Wolf Guard don't care for the conventions of a single "squad" doing one thing almost to the exclusion of the others, they wield what they want. The fresh recruits are cocky and overconfident, and used as a sledgehammer to break the foe be it on foot, bike or jump pack. The Wolf Scouts are grim veterans, silent and efficient killers, not those still learning the ways of advanced warfare.

 

Of course, in the Heresy setting at the minute, it is pretty much only the fluff that shows, however Grey Hunters can somewhat be reflected.

 

I almost expect a completely different army list for the Wolves when released, just because how different the infantry are (though FW will likely reference Betrayal for vehicles which I won't mind as it wouldn't be fair on the others).

[SteelPaladin]

I would say that the White Scars will be the rather different than your average 40k Space Marine army. I am curious to see how they are organized as a Legion compared to Chapter. From what little bits I have read, it seems mostly the same, but then again FW could make changes.

[Kol Saresk]

Divergent is kind of..................... Iffy. The average Chapter is a somewhat versatile Chapter. Usually it's a matter of preferred tactics. Essentially, you're looking for something that is different from a primarily footslogging army, I imagine. We can go with pretty much everyone but the Dark Angels, Death Guard, the Emperor's Children, the Imperial Fists, the Salamanders, the Sons of Horus*, the Thousand Sons, the Ultramarines and the Word Bearers* on that point. Maybe even the Alpha Legion**. I list these because they are primarily standard infantry in tactic, it's just how they use the footsloggers.

 

If you want an armored regiment, we can get the Iron Hands and Iron Warriors easy.

 

This can be done by organizing defense-oriented troops supported by armor. Or a rapid moving armored force that carries melee/cc troops into battle. Or some combination of the two. Maybe attacking armor with supporting troops. Basically, superior firepower.

 

Then there's assault armies. Primarily these are the Blood Angels, Night Lords, Raven Guard, Space Wolves, White Scars and World Eaters.

 

We get drop pod lists(although these can just become a rapid delivery system of footslogging troops), jump pack lists and bike lists(which will probably have Rhino Troops and/or Jump pack Troops). Essentially, racing into combat is the goal.

 

Now, here's where we run into the problems.

 

*The SoH and WB are primarily considered as a footslogging force. The SoH are highly adaptable. Everyone was in a Tactical Squad because at a moments notice, they could be changing their weapon loadout or even strapping on a jump pack. Noctus is planning a Catulan Reaver list. The mention of one such force in Betrayal gives support to the idea. In The First Heretic, we saw a WB Assault Company that had Assault Troops and Bikers.

 

**Also in The First Heretic, we see that the Alpha Legion is setting up war machines. They are essentially functioning as some sort of armored regiment.

 

What this basically means is that the Legions are remarkably different from their 40K Successors. Where the Chapters are either limite in versatility or focuse on a preferred style of conflict to the point they couldn't fight any other kind of warfare, the Legions are fully versatile. The World Eaters couldn't always wait on the Iron Warriors Expedition that was three months travel to break open a fortress. The Word Bearers couldn't always wait for a Raven Guard scouting force. The Space Wolves couldn't always count on falling back on the Imperial Fists.

 

The Legions had to be versatile where the Chapters aren't allowed to be. They(the Legions) didn't have binding combat doctrines. They had preferred methods of fighting.

 

If the Salamanders found themselves in a city of floating towers filled with bat-like flying xenos who were protected by a shield dome that even the Mechanicus can't figure out and has withstood several bombardments already.

 

As a result, they have to conquer the whole city one tower at a time. And they aren't exactly able to walk from tower to tower. Their choices are rely on Thunderhawk/Storm Eagle transports which will constantly be evading AA-flak in order to stay alive, or Jump Packs. I'm willing to bet the Salamanders will take the Jump Packs, wipe the dust off and slap them on. The Great Crusade isn't going to wait on them to build bridges or wear the shield down after all.

 

Basically, pick a Legion you like. Look at its culture. And then figure out how you want to represent that. Me and Brother Heinrich want to show the Night Lords in an armored manner. Heathens wants to show the Iron Warriors in a type of armored cavalry rather than the typical artillery list. Vazzy is doing something similar with his Ultramarines. Itonically, all four of us are looking at pretty much the same idea, but from three(maybe four) different angles. Why?

 

Because of the Legions we've chosen. Those differences might not be dramatic changes. It might just be how we throwdown on the table top. It might be Heinrich relies on Rhinos while I rely on Land Raiders supported by a Predator Squadron.

 

Just food for thought. Pick a Legion. Pick a list. Find a way to represent that list within that Legion.

[GhostMalone]

Hey man I'm doing an armoured heavy support company of world eaters :D be creative

[Kol Saresk]

-___- Great. Another one. -___-

 

EDIT: I meant this as a joke, not an offense.

[GhostMalone]

Well kol you my good sir can go flip yourself :P

[Conn Eremon]

It is nice to know everyone on this board can be so creative and unique with their armies.

[GhostMalone]

Fine then screw you all we are now the long range gunners we use ariel supremacy and long range barrages then drop from the sky amongst the craters finishing everyone off.

[Kol Saresk]

O_o?

[GhostMalone]

If everyone is armoured ill do something different

[Kol Saresk]

Well not everyone is doing armor. It's just that a few of us, me, you, Vazzy, Heinrich and Heathens are hitting the same thing from several different angles. I was just making a bad joke was all. Apologies, I didn't mean to start anything.

[AekoldHelbrass]

Out of curiosity? Why Wolves and Sons as least divergent?

I've read "divergent" as maximum number of play styles single legion can field. That's why i put wolves and 1000Sons to the bottom - they are both smallest legions and stuck to their own type of warfare. Plus guard doesn't like volves a lot, so I would not expect to see wolves artillery squadrons and stuff like that. Still doable tho.

[GhostMalone]

Well not everyone is doing armor. It's just that a few of us, me, you, Vazzy, Heinrich and Heathens are hitting the same thing from several different angles. I was just making a bad joke was all. Apologies, I didn't mean to start anything.

 

Brother come on a know its a joke ;) I just though some storm eagles would be sweet

[Kol Saresk]

 

 

Well not everyone is doing armor. It's just that a few of us, me, you, Vazzy, Heinrich and Heathens are hitting the same thing from several different angles. I was just making a bad joke was all. Apologies, I didn't mean to start anything.

Brother come on a know its a joke ;) I just though some storm eagles would be sweet

Okay, I was just making sure.

 

But yeah, especially if they can use those missile launchers just right... They do come with missile launchers right? Or are the models Rule of Cool?

[GhostMalone]

Rule of cool I think ;) I may just change some load outs for more strafing runs.

 

And once the fire raptor comes out ill try have aerial supremacy WE dogfights anyone :D

[depthcharge12]

Do angels of wrath rite of war. Do it pledge. DO IT!!!!

 

:P

 

Dude take assault marines, destroyers, jetbikes, and land speeders. They're all pretty awesome and there are some pretty hard hitting combos out there.

 

You will definitely diverge from the local version I have been seeing everywhere with 2 20 man tacs with apothecaries.

 

Get some power weaponed asm and go stomp some face. Oh, and plasma cannons on the flying shtuff.

 

 

I played Tau before it was cool and still shot everyone to bits especially marines. I switched over to Flesh tearers and started curb stomping pansy dark elves and crons. Never have I enjoyed playing 40k more.

 

The absolute dumb look on your opponents face when you bring an assault army to this whole gai meta thing where everyone shoots is pure joy.

 

 

This way you cant have any of the above mentioned units in your army since no armor is allowed and tacs and termies cant be used unless transported in storm eagles.

 

Wusses shoot. Real men hack and slash. 'Nough said

[Kol Saresk]

I want those Terror Squads..... Hmmmm....

[depthcharge12]

I want those Terror Squads..... Hmmmm....

 

Do you ever get that feeling when you pass by the neon signs declaring how much the lotto is worth now and think to yourself, "hey I wonder how many FW models I could get with $X...hmm maybe y and z and and and....."

 

One day forgeworld. One day.

[Kol Saresk]

 

 

I want those Terror Squads..... Hmmmm....

 

Do you ever get that feeling when you pass by the neon signs declaring how much the lotto is worth now and think to yourself, "hey I wonder how many FW models I could get with $X...hmm maybe y and z and and and....."

 

One day forgeworld. One day.

 

 

Nope. Think bigger my brother.

[Hfran Morkai]

Out of curiosity? Why Wolves and Sons as least divergent?

I've read "divergent" as maximum number of play styles single legion can field. That's why i put wolves and 1000Sons to the bottom - they are both smallest legions and stuck to their own type of warfare. Plus guard doesn't like volves a lot, so I would not expect to see wolves artillery squadrons and stuff like that. Still doable tho.

Ah, fair enough, that makes sense. As an aside my Wolf Company is based around infiltration and reconnaissance (to the point of even guiding in other Companies) haha.

Perhaps diverse would be a better fitting word?