The Renascibilitas Crusade [Redemptor WIP]

[Marshal Mattias]

Na-na Na-na Na-na Na-na BAT-REP!

 

Facing off against two dakka-flyrants, two big mobs of shooty warriors, a couple of 'thropes and 20-gribbly-strong squads of stabby gaunts and shooty gaunts, the new broodlord and his stealthy genestealers, a carnifex and a lictor/9 ravager deep strikers.

 

Mission: Relic

 

I took deployment, placed a landraider in the centre of my deployment.

Enemy spread across his deployment with a mix of ruins and shrouding 'thropes.

My servitors (skulls) prevented the enemy from infiltrating his lictor or 'stealers. I held the initiative, and passed the leadership to scout my landraider forwards just shy of the relic.

The LRC opened fire at range, putting a couple of wounds on the Carnifex and picking off some gaunts.

The ironclad and tacticals dropped in deep on the opposite flank, between them killing off six (!) stealers and some gaunts and putting a couple of wounds on the mid-size 'nids. I played it too cautiously again and ended up juuust outside of 'devastating' range and merely in 'satisfactory' range.

The deathwinds added to the tally, proving their worth again.

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/16D86914-F0F4-4B32-B50D-64F66BBF770B_zpsekfhgsic.jpg

 

The enemy flyrants swooped in on my LRC and glanced twice with their haywire templates. Everything else pushed forward and in cover where possible. The genestealers charged upstairs into the 4 tacticals who had survived the warriors shooting. Overwatch killed off all except the broodlord, who killed two more Templars with rending attacks.

 

Neither side had claimed first blood, and I felt it was essential to do so now.

 

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/16D86914-F0F4-4B32-B50D-64F66BBF770B_zpsekfhgsic.jpg

 

The ironclad moved up to the edge of the large ruined building hiding the large termagaunts. His heavy flamers killed something daft like 15, plus the thrope, but two survived.

My fliers didnt show up, but my 5-man assault squad did, and dropped into the enemies deployment and deployed out between the two gaunt squads. The storm bolter failed to polish of the unit so I had to waste my 5 men and two flamers to score the VP :( However, my drop pod was also scoring linebreaker for me too.

 

Enemy gaunts suffered only a smattering of wounds from the LRC, while the assault cannons didnt break through the flyrant's aerobatics.

 

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/0874E4B7-AEA7-459E-9490-AC954A1C7E1D_zpstopycaao.jpg

 

Tyranid turn, and gaunts grab the relic. Carnifex positions for charge.

Flyrants manage to manifest a power gaining FNP on the warlord and carnifex. They use their haywire templates and luckily only put one more glance on the LRC.

The combined shooting of two units of warriors is enough to drop the 5 courageous assault marines, who sadly never even fired their flamers :'(

The broodlord continues to duel with the remaining Templars, who are too stubborn to merely die.

The carnifex charges into the vehicle, pummelling it with a series of strength 9 attacks. He manages a single penetration which renders the transport useless, and the unit escapes out the opposite side only to find themselves face-to-face with a huge swarm of ravagers!

 

Templar turn 3, and **** gets real.

The Raven zooms in accompanied by the Talon, both unleash a barrage of shooting at the warlord flyrant, only to watch as the creature somehow twirls away from every shot (seriously, jinked 6 wounds...)

 

Honoured Brother Ludovic charges headlong through one side of the nearby building and out the other, laying waste to the stabby-gaunts bearing the relic; he scores no less than 17 wounds with his heavy flamers, and incinerates all 15 of the gaunts. Truly, the emperor shed a tear of joy that day. The relic is dropped in the open, and Ludovic consolidates onto it to claim it.

 

The Templars from the LRC roar with joy to see a foe they can crush, and charge towards their foe! The initiate with a melta-gun manages to catch a ravager with a head-shot, earning shouts of praise from his brethren. The peppering of pistol fire severs a few limbs and claws, as the forces clash under a blast of fire from the automated launchers aboard the still-functioning drop pods; thankfully no Templars fall to this 'friendly' fire.

 

Acting-Marshal Robért proves his wiles as a strategic commander now, as his 'specialist' unleashes a slew of virulent bio-grenades upon the enemy, slowing them to a crawl just as the Knights hit their ranks. The weakened creatures seem unable to defend themselves, save for one unfortunate neophyte crushed beneath the falling form of one of the beasts. Every Templar blow finds its mark, and the air is filled with chitinous shrapnel and a thick alien paste as power fists and thunder-hammers explode their suddenly fragile forms; such is the Templars' ferocity. The enemy unit is slaughtered to a Xenos, and the Knights regroup around their liege to weather the coming retaliation.

(It was probably this assault phase that saw the Tacticals finally succumb to the broodlord, their sacrifice was not in vain).

 

The Tyranids are furious, the Carnifex jostling for position to try and reach the Crusaders. The gaunts and thropes are gone, only the surviving warriors hold the rear and one swarm fires on Ironclad Ludovic, managing a single glance. The others try to swat the Black Talon from the sky, but the pilot simply ignores the paltry shooting.

The tyrants swoop in towards the crusaders and unleash a barrage of fire, but the warlord is exhausted from his exertions last turn and fails to find his mark. The other manages to fell a couple of neophytes and initiates, much to the chagrin of their brothers.

 

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/4213DD50-E2AA-431C-BC2D-8B93BBBA81A9_zpsboz4cehi.jpg

 

The Templars strike back, the Talon continuing its trajectory and blasting apart some warriors among the enemy's rearguard. The Raven beers left and zooms up behind the enemy hive-creature, firing its tank-busting armaments. The foul monster is wounded, and plummets to the ground! The impact cripples it, leaving it half the threat it once was. Ludovic spots the Carnifex heading towards his brothers and launches a heroic charge into the foe. His furious Zeal tears the Xenos limb from limb, the ground awash with acidic blood.

The Crusaders are thrilled to finally seek the demise of their hated foe, and the meltagun finds it's mark once more, crippling the tyrant beast again. Robért pushes his way to the front of the charge, gesturing to his brothers to hold back. The beast turns on him, screeching hate, and strikes with lightning speed... But wherever its blows land, the Marshal is ready, his Bulwark of Terra deflecting every blow in a graceful charge, turning them aside as he brings his hammer round in a twirling arc that obliterates the creatures screaming head even as the Marshal turns back to his brothers, commanding them to regroup behind the smouldering Land Raider 'Consecrare.'

 

At that, the remaining Xenos flee, their master's control broken and their purpose lost. The Templars struck the first blow, hold the strange artefact while claiming ground once held by their foe, as well as eliminating the enemy synapse creature that commanded the incursion. A crushing victory and a mark of honour for Acting-Marshal Guillaume Robért, who may yet earn his command over the growing Templar forces.

 

Man-of-the-match?

 

The inquitor's expertise was critical, and Ludovic brought cleansing flame to many hated foes. The Marshal took the head of his foe in single combat, but perhaps the greatest achievement was the consistent marksmanship of a lowly initiate and his meltagun.

Edited December 10, 2014 by Marshall Mattias

[Brother Christopher]

Not only it was a pleasure to read this, but pictures are also included!

[Marshal Mattias]

Been tinkering while watching TV, making some objective markers.

 

Arm the device! / Disarm the bomb!

 

Recover the Black Sword!

 

Secure the munitions cache!

 

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/F675AEC5-314D-4EBB-BFFA-3CE8014F7C19_zpsym73kmge.jpg

 

Find a missing relic-bearer...

 

Investigate the stasis-locked tome...

 

Reclaim the lost standard!

 

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/2758DB4E-70D7-4768-A5E9-A9B97657C4C8_zpsgtsyevsu.jpg

[Mandolore511]

Some of those look rather easy to make... hrm... more interesting than "No the blue dice are objectives"

[Marshal Mattias]

Oh yeah, it's dead simple, just grab some old bases and rummage in your bits-box. I used some DA sprue bits with a little trimming/filing and replaced some hilts with more Templar designs, extended a backpack-banner with some brass rod, that's about it. Once they have some coats of paint, they'll be fit-for-purpose. Except maybe the book on the pedestal - I think I'll try again with that. I basically wanted it to feel like some rare and valuable text, maybe a lost written copy of the exploits of an ancient crusade, mounted in a stasis field on a pedestal.

[Firepower]

You gave a relic of the Chapter to a Jawa?  Paddlin'

[Marshal Mattias]

You gave a relic of the Chapter to a Jawa? Paddlin'

But... We do that all the time! Lesser mortals carry stuff until we need them for purgin', slayin' or burnin'.

 

Observe:

 

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/E6AACE57-7C54-41ED-98A7-4AE5FFA5EB4A_zpsadqqwwgg.jpg

 

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/C80280C5-0B50-4141-BEED-CB803C2F61CC_zpsw1t3t7h1.jpg

 

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/376161E8-B04A-4F80-876A-0C8AF0B07CB5_zpseitrrjyt.jpg

 

Anyway, he's a nice wee guy. His name is Shorty, the other tech adepts and servitors used to laugh and tease him until one fateful day, when his short stature allowed him to crawl into a tight space in the engine of a relic vehicle and appease the angry machine spirit within. Since then, they let him join in all their Mechanicus games. Plus his head is just the right height for resting a coffee mug in-between challenging the foul champions of the enemy.

[Firepower]

I'd recommend jamming some guitar string and wires into him all the same, if Rudolph there doesn't want to get mistaken for one of those damned robed imps and turned into pink mist.

[Marshal Mattias]

Ooh, that's a good idea... I should definitely have some knocking around spare. I shall experiment at the earliest juncture...

[Marshal Mattias]

Good tidings from the Renascibilitas Crusade; a brother has been blessed with visions from the Emperor and even now takes up the Black Sword in two hands!

 

I stumbled across a poorly-labelled auction online which had garnered little interest. I was able to snag the classic metal EC with his two-handed 'come at me bro' pose :)

Roll on January ;)

 

EDIT: Zealous Double-Post

Edited December 23, 2014 by Marshall Mattias

[Duke Danse Macabre]

Good tidings from the Renascibilitas Crusade; a brother has been blessed with visions from the Emperor and even now takes up the Black Sword in two hands!

 

I stumbled across a poorly-labelled auction online which had garnered little interest. I was able to snag the classic metal EC with his two-handed 'come at me bro' pose

Roll on January

 

EDIT: Zealous Double-Post

 

Just got one myself, a steal at £6 if I do say so myself. ;)

 

Great Battle report by the way dude, I normally don't have much interest in them but the effort you put into them really gives them life. :)

[Sete]

Read the bat rep. Kudos very enjoyable!

[Marshal Mattias]

Further work has improved the wing mounts:

 

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/FEA89940-CC3C-44D4-A4A7-7FF0B25482DD_zpsf8ibxx6r.jpg

 

I cut away part of the original and unused darktalon wing mounts and the additional plasticard should provide a stronger look, once a little greenstuff is in place to smooth out a few gaps. The robed warriors present on the reliefs seem appropriate, however their swords were filed down to a proper crusader's point, rather than the wide-tipped look the 1st legion favour. I'm yet to decide on a colour for this; should I go for the aged metallic vibe of the majority of my vehicular metalwork, or perhaps bling it out in gold? Maybe it shouldn't be metal at all, and I should paint them up as actual carved masonry recovered from some reliquary? In which case - grey stone or the dark green of the pillar carried by Grimaldus' Servitor?

Decisions decisions...

 

Also thanks for the feedback on the recent batreps, I'll try and find the time to tidy up the next one a little and get a bit more story into it again :)

Edited December 31, 2014 by Marshal Mattias

[Marshal Mattias]

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/F2A44473-F18F-490A-BE38-21F7E2CEC0BC_zpszfpz1ico.jpg

 

Shorty gets an upgrade to give him more of a Reclusiam Servitor feel; creepy robo-tentacles and lantern, all the better to freak people out with.

The book/lectern is replaced with a better design; a rare and valuable 'Holy Orb of Antioch' housed on a stasis pedestal.

[Psykic_scribe]

The Holy Orbs are definitely getting rarer - I keep raiding mine for the very small cross to upgrade BT armour. 

[Marshal Mattias]

The 'Chaplain on Bike' project finally sees some progress, with a rough mock-up to check the look. I want him super bling, so he is getting the full 'Angel of Death' treatment, minus any DA symbols or flanged swords.

My first attempt at a custom Crozius (using stormraven wing-decals from Blood Angels cut and glued back-to back) didn't come out quite right and was a tad too hammer-like. Thinking of doing some greenstuff molds instead, we'll see. Posing inspired by Ace and his lovely conversion, if I can manage even some of that dynamism to the model, I'll be pleased. Still need to source a head without buying a whole kit though :/

I really liked the 'robed' legs and wanted to use them, so I have trimmed a templar tabard chest down to fit, he should end up looking as if he simply has a two-sided tabard blowing in the wind.

 

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/F0A6F99B-B324-4C17-A993-18896B19CC38_zps2tjcdbn8.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/0C2A272A-6658-46E5-8610-EBCA0836E93C_zpsljwo63m0.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/AEE2F628-4ABD-4357-8CD7-7F04C2015976_zpsfoqexkjj.jpg

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a628/matzeke/99AC71AF-66AF-4F13-ADA9-83D050FA3F08_zps2yqd0ucs.jpg

[Psykic_scribe]

Love the bling, but to be a sourpus - there is not much that shouts Templar about this Chaplain's bike?  

Is there any space for some big Maltese crosses on the mudguard or around the wings?

[Brother Christopher]

I kind of back Psykic-scribe on this one. The pose, selection of bits (The chest piece blends perfectly with the rest! The maul even as it is now looks great, The grooved "sabatons" is also a nice touch.) and ornate bike looks great. But for now, there he isn't templar enough. Surely, you'll fix that. Even if not, that is going to be an awesome model. Thanks for sharing!

[Marshal Mattias]

Oh yeah, have no fear there. He'll have a great big Crozius with a cross on it, plus I hope some smaller crosses on the front. Maybe a templar shield of some sort? Then I intend to mold the cross on top of a holy orb for smaller detailing. He has no purity seals yet either, but the reliquary on the back (holding up his iron-halo style rosarius) will have a nice crusade badge painted on the shield. :)

[Firepower]

Too much Angel still lingers, I think.  The two big honking Angels on the back don't help there.  They should either be smothered by Templar bits, or replaced by something more Templary, or just more generic.  They may not be broken swords or Ravenwing claws, but they're still rather iconic DA symbols.  Fitting, seeing as they're DA icons...

 

Anyway, I think it'd be easier to find substitutes than to turn the Angels into Templars.  The Chaplain himself is well on his way to being a proper Templar, but the bike is still rather clearly borrowed from another Chapter's armory.  At least to my eyes.

 

I wonder if you could cut the wings off the Angels.  That'd probably solve most of the issue in itself, after throwing on some Templar gubs to cover the amputation scars.  I'm not familiar with the bit from every angle though, so I'm uncertain as to whether it's a feasible fix or not.

[Andhil]

I don't agree that he doesn't look Templar enough. A lot of the Templar look comes from the color scheme. I painted the DV Bikers in the Templar color scheme (after removing the DA symbols, offcourse!), and they look like real Templars. Just wait, with some black & white slapped on him, he'll be a true Templar.

 

(Also, DA and Templars are both Western Knight inspired, so many of their specific bits can be easily exchanged without looking odd.)

 

Tl;DR: Looking forward to this Chaplain. 

[Firepower]

I don't agree that he doesn't look Templar enough. A lot of the Templar look comes from the color scheme. I painted the DV Bikers in the Templar color scheme (after removing the DA symbols, offcourse!), and they look like real Templars. Just wait, with some black & white slapped on him, he'll be a true Templar.

 

(Also, DA and Templars are both Western Knight inspired, so many of their specific bits can be easily exchanged without looking odd.)

 

Tl;DR: Looking forward to this Chaplain. 

 

Ugh.  Let's not bring up the knight-knight conversation.  It's been beaten into the dirt in recent months.  In short, yes, a lot of the bits are interchangeable.  I stole many myself.  But a robed angel holding a sword is pretty damned definitive compared to, say, a robe or a sword on their own.  Even without the sword, a robed and hooded angel is a hard image to adopt, even less so when they're so prominent.

 

Even the winged front bugs me to be frank, but M&M (or is it M&M&M now?) has adopted enough of the more shall we say 'decorative' vanilla pieces which I personally eschew (abundant aquilas, wings and curtain cords) that such an ornament won't stand out.

 

As for paint, Ravenwing and Templars are close enough together that I'd say bitz are still important.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Firepower

[Marshal_Roujakis]

With Templars and DA bitz, I find that if I could transform the DA parts into something more 'robust' and 'grim dark' it turns into something more Templary...

 

for example:

http://www.games-workshop.com/resources/catalog/product/600x620/99800101056_DAAsmodai01.jpg

 

If you look at Asmodai he has more smooth curves, has some sort of 'glamorous' look about him... a few studs here and there and a smoke stack for a backpack... but in overall look, he looks more like a fashionable knight or a more subtle and elegant fellow, without much skulls and only a face mask denoting his 'Chaplaincy'...

 

http://www.games-workshop.com/resources/catalog/product/600x620/99810101061_GrimaldusRetinueNEW_01.jpg

This is Grimaldus, who looks more 'robust', skulls hanging everywhere, blade sticking from his backpack with candles and chains hanging from nearly everywhere and he has a severe look about him such that when he approaches... you start wetting yourself a little... more 'LOUD' instead of the more subtle Asmodai

 

DA has a more 'subtle appearance and more of a fashionable iconography about them compared to Black Templars... who to me in images just scream 'GRIM DARK'.

 

The same applies to BT Sword Brethren and DA Deathwing Knights... and Azrael and Helbrecht...

 

Add chains, more skulls, more seals... express more 'grim dark' to it and you got yourself a Templar.

[Firepower]

Chains!  God how could I forget chains?!

 

Yes, add those.  Now.

[FortesMastery]

Chains!  God how could I forget chains?!

 

Yes, add those.  Now.

CHAINS from the WING tips of the Angels to the WING tips on the hood.

(Edit because all caps is bad)

Edited January 15, 2015 by FortesMastery