The Lost and Forgotten: Building the II Legion

[deathspectersgt7]

The Pads look Ace !!. Fulcran Naga.

[AlphariusOmegon108]

the pads are looking great mate!!! I love the way your fluff is written! I think with only some minor tweaks in the existing HH fluf, you might be able to incorperate the 2nd legion in the tale as a whole! Lovely work here man!

[Athrawes]

I have the first portion of my assault squad nearly done. I need to do a bit of cleaning and gap filling but once thats done and the Mk IV head arrives for the sergeant, I should be ready to prime them.

 

http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/22862159-3B11-4EE7-AAC3-2004C7127642.jpg?t=1399739590http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/5A7E6D3F-953D-43D6-B2DC-0E979D76A273.jpg?t=1399739552http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/3419BD50-D94C-410C-A1E1-C39ED492AEA1.jpg?t=1399739521http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/B7EFC56C-4BE2-4CAE-B008-F63C25D5C1A1.jpg?t=1399738933

http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/4A44AE60-F627-4891-A119-0A37E5916AA9.jpg?t=1399738875

 

I have to say, I'm really in love with the Raptor jump packs. To my eyes, they look so much more ascetically pleasing. Compact and high tech like the Mk IV jumpacks, but retaining the pre heresy flavor of the twin turbine engines. They also are big, but not comically bulky, here is a size comparison to show what I mean. 

 

http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/96DA5F17-3D29-4B0B-B594-93E9F6B153B0.jpg?t=1399653389

 

Let me know what you think.

[marine7312000]

Love the new assault squad. Definitely a squad I can't wait to see painted.

[Son of Carnelian]

How long did it take to "purify" them from the Chaos attachments?

[Athrawes]

Haha, I actually did try to use the plastic raptor jump packs at first but the "purifying" always ended up too messy. In the end, I settled for buying the Forgeworld NIght Lords Raptors and keeping the packs while selling the rest for bits. 

[Terimus]

Haha, I actually did try to use the plastic raptor jump packs at first but the "purifying" always ended up too messy. In the end, I settled for buying the Forgeworld NIght Lords Raptors and keeping the packs while selling the rest for bits. 

Yeah I know what you mean, it is freaking difficult to clean up the spikes and chaosy crap off the turbines, I did it for my pre-heresy raptors I made from the plastic set, and I agree, it is way hard haha

[Athrawes]

The Primarch sculpt is looking sweet, but the pad looks a little skewed. From the art, it looks like the horns should go more forward and less out to the side, also it's missing the decoration on the skull, and the little flaps behind the horns. Other than those things, the detail on it looks good.

[jeremy1391]

This project makes me happy...

[Kor'Vesh]

Your assault marines look excellent, and I like that you are mixing in the odd katana. Love the piece of background on the unification wars too, so it was great to read it again. Do you have any more background pieces on the way?

[Marcelle]

Imrikdragonlord - pad isn't Skewed and the horns are in good position - trust me. For other things who aren't sculpted yet: as I wrote over the picture: w.i.p. :)

[depthcharge12]

I like the power katanananananas :D

 

 

When will we get another family photo?

[Athrawes]

I like the power katanananananas

When will we get another family photo?

Do you want one of the whole family? Or just a newborn? Here is our youngest family member, a test model of the assault Squad.

Legionary Amura Tengi, 3rd Assault Squad, 9th Company

http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/F57AF442-2BC8-407B-B9F7-5554DED113B1.jpg?t=1399850311http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/D8AEF827-6C9D-40BD-881B-3E027185BD78.jpg?t=1399764072http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/BBE7B6E6-B3D1-48FF-AA73-3F3BA29AB89A.jpg?t=1399764116http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/28ABB568-5856-4C64-8E5D-32C9E5011E45.jpg?t=1399850566http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i327/nickfayette1/6F2C46A6-D587-43A4-81FC-4D260715645E.jpg?t=1399764216

I'm pretty happy with how this legionary turned out. I just really love paint mark II armor. Waiting on transfers for squad, company and devision markings. Do you guys think this is a passable level of quality for the army as a whole?

Let me know what you guys think, as always critiques are welcome.

Edit: adjusted Images

[Pyromancer]

Looks awesome as usual brother!

[Barabbas Sogalon]

Looks great!

[Athrawes]

I had a thought about how to reconcile the shootiness inherent with just giving all units with the rule: Legiones Astartes (Thunder Legion) prefered enemy (all) for shooting attacks. 

 

What if the rule worked this way instead.

 

+++

 

Battle-Scrying: Icarion's psychic gifts manifest most frequently among his Legion as precognitive visions. With focus, these gifts can be used in combat to predict the movements and actions of enemy combatants. At the beginning of each turn, any unit with the Legiones Astartes (Thunder Legion) special rule can opt to use Battle-Scrying(Assault) or Battle-Scrying(Shooting). The controlling player must declare which version of Battle-Scrying is being attempted for each unit at the Turns start. Units wishing to do so must take a leadership test. If failed, the Unit behaves as normal for the duration of the turn (insert additional Punishments here). If passed the unit may choose to benefit from Preferred Enemy (All) for one of the following: Either all Close Combat attacks or Shooting attacks carried out with (Assault, Pistol or Rapid-fire weapons) depending on which version of Battle-Scrying was declared. This Benefit to attacks lasts for the Duration of the Turn.

 

+++

 

Thoughts? I added the leadership test to try and act as a gatekeeper for using this special rule. However, it might still be overpowered. What might be a other reasonable punishments for failing the Battle-Scrying Leadership test?

 

Do you think this fits the fluff better than just giving them a flat (No leadership test) Preferred enemy (all) for shooting attacks using a bolter?

[Whohitjohn]

As always brother the 2nd are looking brilliant, and yes defiantly a great standard of painting. Still working out the fault with the 11th that resulted in their purging but as soon as I have I'll be posting.

 

In regards to the Battle-Scrying rule, I think you need a draw back to the failing of the LD test, it seems a little overpowered if they act as normal, I wouldnt say a big drawback but prohaps something along the lines of reducing their movement or shooting ranges but a factor, let's say while they regain their psychic composer.

 

That would be my thoughts as I'm assuming they would use some form of psychicness to be able to have the knowledge if successful in the Ld test?

 

Ether way keep bringing the amazing work

 

WHJ

[Kor'Vesh]

I love the empty pistol holster, and obviously the Katana is great. I think you paint to a really nice standard Athrawes, and the whole force will look fantastic together.

 

I like your rule, particularly the name - Battle-scrying sounds awesome. I'd initially thought of a similar Ld mechanic, but I decided against it, as I thought it might be a bit annoying taking all the Ld test all the time. I do think that a CHOICE of a combat or shooting buff is a potentially quite strong though. For example, your normal tactical marines could potentially fury of the legion in one turn, with PE on their guns, and then charge in the next with PE in combat. This could be a little annoying to the person you are playing, but maybe not.

 

If you decide to go your way (which is fluffy, flexible, and I think a very good option) you should probably just use brotherhood of psykers on your units. This gives you built in adamantium will, and a draw back due to perils of the warp. Of course you'll want to wait to see how the new psychic phase works before you decide on that one.

 

Another option could be to either a) make each unit chose their type of battle scrying before battle, or b ) determine the type of scrying each unit can use on an army list basis, e.g. assault marines - combat, volta - shooting, tact squad - shooting. You wouldn't NEED the perils of the warp draw back in this case, but might want to keep the Ld test.

 

Thirdly, use my more passive idea, but ammend it slightly. E.g.

 

+++

 

Battle-Scrying: Any unit with the Legiones Astartes (Thunder Legion) special rule benefits from Preferred Enemy (All) for shooting attacks carried out with bolt guns, twin-linked boltguns, combi-weapons, volkite chargers and all Pistols. Any model with the unit type Character also benefits from Preferred Enemy (All) in close combat.

 

Note - the Oni would have a special rule to benefit from PE in close combat with this suggestion.

 

+++

 

There are pleny of options, and all would work nicely. Its very exciting! To decide which way to go, I think you should decide what the other legions know about the pyschic gifts of the Thunder Legion - do your legion hide it? Is it well known? The perception of their powers by others in universe might help you to decide how you want the rules to play out. If it is a hidden gift, then the passive benefit might reflect it nicely - other legions are surprised by their skill and un-nerving accuracy, but don't know of their true psychic gifts. Where as if it is more open, then Brotherhood of psykers all the way! :)

 

A quick note on the Katanas, if I may. I know a couple of people have suggested that you go AP2 on them - obviously this wold be cool, but I think you should avoid it. The only AP2 combat weapon that strikes at initiative in the Legion list is the Paragon blade, and I don't think you should violate this - it makes it too good of a weaopn. You COULD try AP3 with rending, but you'd need a points increase for that compared to my original suggestion.

 

If you want to minimize the rules chat on your lovely project log, you could consider opening a thread in the rules development forum. You'll get some comments from far better people than me on the balance of the rules I'd guess.

 

Kor'Vesh

[Heru]

I would do -1 to WS or BS when Battle Scrying fails, as if they look into the wrong version of the future or are distracted by what they attempted to do.

[Dragonkin Arenis]

Perhaps a -1 Initiative debuff for the duration of the turn if they fail the Leadership test?

 

Legionary Tengi looks awesome, but when will we see the rest of his squad? ;)

[GrandMagnus]

Im loving your army and projects, its brilliantly done. 

[Uvenla]

Simply amazing, so much detail put into this project. I feel so inspired by looking through all this!

[marine7312000]

Heru Talon's idea for the failed Leadership test is probably your best bet. Combine it with Kor'Vesh's idea of choosing which version of Battle-Scrying is used by each unit before game and you'd have a solid Legion rule.

[Kor'Vesh]

I like heru talons idea too, it's really evocative. Marine7312 could be onto something!

[b1soul]

Some alternative names for the legion: 

 

Thunder Lords 
Lightning Bearers (in honour of Arik Taranis' "sacrifice")
Sky Lords 
Sky Hawks
Cloud Serpents 
Cloud Dragons 
Storm Heralds
Storm Riders 
Empyrean Sons

Sons of the Firmament