Coming over to HH

[Relic of Dorn]

Good Day Brothers (and selected Sisters),

 

I'm am planning on starting up a Imperial Fists HH army, but I have no idea on where to begin.  Does anyone have any suggestions on what kind of force I should look into compiling?  I was thinking that I wanted to look into building one of the 4 companies that were on the Mission to Mars.

 

Here are a couple of starter questions...

 

1.  Where pre-heresy Imperial Fists the same yellow that they are today, or did they have more of a gold in their armor?

 

2.  Would this force be more siege orientated do to the nature of that specific mission?

 

3.  What are some of the key differences I should look into regarding the differences between 40k and 30k gaming rules?

 

Looking forward to reading you're responses.

 

R.o.D

[securitas]

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Imperial_Fists try this it might have some info for ya

[Relic of Dorn]

Only a paragraphs worth.  Here is what I know so far...

 

- Commanded my 1st Captain Sigismund, Legion Champion

- Comprised of 4 companies

- 2 of the companies of Imperial Fists under the command of the Imperial Fists' Captain Camba-Diaz made planet fall in the Mondus Gamma forge complex.

- Sigismund secured vast quantities of munitions for transport back to Terra, including nearly 12,000 suits of Mark IV Power Armour and twice as many Astartes weapons

[Brother Captain Lucian]

.. Cant get the quote system to work.

1) Pretty much the same armour. There is a thread on this Subforum front page with a killer IF marine if you need inspiration

2) I'd guess so, Breachers and heavy support squads look awesome in yellow ^^

3) 30k games are made for higher points really, 2.5k is where it starts shining with big marine squads etc. Also 30k is made with 30k in balance, not 40k. That's not to say you cant play against a 40k army with your 30k.

Forgot the important bit:

Welcome!

Also,

Part of the ship, part of the crew.

[securitas]

 

When Horus showed his true colors at Istvaan III, it was Captain Nathaniel Garro of the Death Guard who carried word of the treachery to the Emperor. Garro escaped Horus’ fleet aboard a frigate named the Eisenstein, but the Captain and his command squad numbering roughly 70 marines total found themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere, their ship crippled and the navigator dead. Garro was determined to warn the Emperor however and took drastic action, detonating the warp cores of the ruined frigate. This action had an unforeseen consequence for at the time Rogal Dorn and the Crusade Fleet of the Imperial Fists was trapped in the warp en-route to Terra. The detonating warp cores blasted a path through the warp, scattering the storms and allowing the Imperial Fists to locate the damaged frigate and escape the encircling storms. Destroying the shattered wreck of the Eisenstein Dorn took the loyalist survivors aboard the Phalanx and made best time for the Sol system, while the rest of the Imperial Fists fleet went to investigate the Istvaan system.

 

Prior to the arrival of Horus’ forces, the Sol system was already rife with violence. Mars itself was wracked with warfare and the red planet was literally falling apart. A scrapcode virus ripping apart the infrastructure of the Forges of Mars with brutal effectiveness. Captain Sigismund led a force of four companies of Imperial Fists to capture as many suits of armor, weapons and as much munitions as possible before fleeing to Terra. The supplies Sigismund’s party captured would be the last the loyalists would get until the forces of Horus were repulsed.

 

By the time Horus invaded Terra Rogal Dorn and the Imperial Fists were manning the defenses of the ruined Imperial Basilica, while Sanguinius and the Blood Angels stood with the Emperor in the Imperial Palace, and Jaghatai Khan and his White Scars sheltered in the labyrinth of habitation structures. When battle was joined the White Scars harried the flanks of Horus’ forces and the Imperial Fists defended the basilica, but despite the entire Blood Angels Legion and three Titan Legions the defenses of the Imperial Palace could not defend against the fury of the combined might of Horus’ forces. Facing the Thousand Sons, World Eaters, Emperor’s Children, Death Guard, Sons of Horus and a force of Word Bearers the Blood Angels and the Imperial Army forces were horribly outnumbered, without even considering the horrific daemonic forces that ripped their way into the material realm to fight beside the traitors.

 

Sanguinius fought as a true angel of death, throwing back the attackers again and again and rallying the defenders against overwhelming odds but numbers began to tell in the end and as Sanguinius held the Ultimate Gate into the Palace itself Dorn and the Imperial Fists took the legendary Sky Fortress and made a daring breakthrough to join the Blood Angels in the defense of the Palace. The Sky Fortress smashed through the traitors lines and unloaded Dorn and his reinforcements but on its way to pick up Jaghatai Khan and his White Scars at the Lion’s Gate Spaceport the Fortress was shot from the sky by the combined weapons of the Deaths Head Titan Legion. The loss of the Imperial Fists Sky Fortress was a devastating blow, as such technology would never be seen in the galaxy again but its death took a toll on the attackers, blasting a kilometers wide crater in the heart of Horus’ forces. Nevertheless the White Scars and the Imperial forces remaining in action across Terra were now completely cut off from the Imperial Palace and the beleaguered defenders were on their own.

 

The defenders had just days left before Horus’ forces would obliterate them but the Sisters of Silence, Arbites, Custodes, Imperial Army, Titans, and the Blood Angels and Imperial Fists Space Marines fought with a desperate fury, forcing the forces of Horus to pay a terrible toll in blood for every inch of ground.

 

Unknown to the defenders however a reinforcement fleet bearing the Space Wolves and Dark Angels Legions was just hours away. Horus managed to block all communications but he had to do something or the Siege of the Emperor’s Palace would be broken, despite the attackers best efforts the defenders would take too long to break.

 

Horus hatched a daring plan and lowered the shields of his flagship, inviting the Emperor to attack him in his sanctum and it was a chance the Emperor could not pass up not knowing that relief was just hours away. Leaving first Captain Sigismund of the Imperial Fists in charge of the defenses, naming him the Emperor's Champion, Sanguinius and Dorn led their finest surviving warriors in a teleport assault on Horus’ flagship alongside the Emperor and his Custodes. Horus was ready for them however and scattered the teleporting forces across the length and breadth of his massive flagship. Sanguinius was the first to reach Horus and in his weakened and wounded state he was no match for the infernally empowered Horus Lupercal. The Emperor came upon Horus shortly thereafter to see the broken body of Sanguinus cast aside. The Emperor and Horus fought a struggle in the flesh and in the warp, their minds and bodies locked in a titanic struggle. In the end Horus was slain, but the Emperor was broken, not truly believing his favored son had truly fallen the Emperor had held back and been grievously wounded until a lone Terminator of the Imperial Fists had stumbled upon the Throne Room. Seeing the Emperor broken on the floor the Terminator charged Horus only to be ripped apart by the Daemon Primarch in a brutal and callous psychic attack. Seeing the remorseless slaughter of the warrior the Emperor finally resolved to destroy Horus and unleashed his full psychic might.

 

It was too late to truly save the Emperor for his body was shattered, but when Dorn found his wounded father the Primarch of the Imperial Fists carried the Emperor back to the Imperial Palace where his body was interred within the Golden Throne. At the death of Horus the surviving traitors fled Terra, raging at coming so close to victory but too weak to withstand the wrath of the imminent reinforcements.

 

Horus may have been slain but the Imperium was in turmoil. The Raven Guard and Salamanders Legions were shattered. Sanguinius and Ferrus Manus were dead and the fires of war and rebellion were raging unchecked. Those who could still fight threw themselves into battle with enthusiasm but the Dark Angels, Space Wolves, Imperial Fists, White Scars and Blood Angels had all taken a beating for one reason or another and it was Roboute Guilliman and his Ultramarines who did the most to stabilize the Imperium and who proved most influential in ordering the Imperium with the Emperor now stuck on the Golden Throne for all eternity.

 

While before Dorn had been ever true and just, with the downfall of the Emperor he became a vengeful son, leading the Imperial Fists dressed in black, ruthlessly leveling fortress after fortress, hunting down the traitors without mercy and slaughtering all those who turned their back on the Emperor. So it was that Dorn was absent from all the highest councils until he was summoned back when Guilliman presented his Codex Astartes and ordained the dissolution of the Legions.

 

Dorn was shaken to the core, shocked that the Imperium no longer trusted him or his Legion and that now after the loss of the Emperor and the failure of the Great Crusade the brotherhood of the Legion would be sundered as well. Without battle to focus them the Imperial Fists hovered on the brink unsure of their future, Dorn despairing that he had not seen the Imperium changing while he hunted down the traitors. Dorn, Leman Russ of the Space Wolves and Vulkan of the Salamanders all refused the dicates of the codex, and the Imperium seemed poised to tear itself apart in civil war again. The Imperial Fists Strike Cruiser the Terrible Angel was even fired upon by the Imperial Navy for the Fists supposed heresies. It was at this time that the Iron Warriors issued a clear challenge that Dorn could not refuse by building an immense fortress and daring the Imperial Fists to attack it.

 

 

 

 

 The origins of the Imperial Fists are back during the Great Crusade, the Emperor sallied forth from Terra with the 20 First Founding Legions at his back, to re-unite the scattered colonies of mankind, locate his missing sons and cleanse the galaxy of the taint of the xenos and the mutant. Most of the Primarchs were discovered on a homeworld, leading the native population into new eras of peace and prosperity. Rogal Dorn however was unique among the Primarchs in that he presented himself to the Emperor, rather than the Emperor seeking him out. As the Crusade forces reached the Ice Hives of Inwit, Rogal Dorn met them aboard the mighty warship known as the Phalanx. The size of a small moon and capable of docking whole squadrons of cruisers and escorts, the Phalanx is reputed to be the largest warp capable vessel in the Imperium rivaling the Rock of the Dark Angels in size. Dorn presented this mighty ship to the Emperor as a gift. In return the Emperor gave command of the 7th Legion of the Adeptus Astartes to Dorn, the gene-sons of the Primarch and returned the Phalanx to serve as the Imperial Fists Fortress Monastery.

 

The Imperial Fists recruited heavily from Inwit and as they moved on over 70% of the Legion’s strength was aspirants from the Ice World where Dorn was reputed to have grown up. The early join of battle brothers and Dorn forged a bond between Primarch and Marine closer than any of the other Legions managed during the Great Crusade.

 

The Imperial Fists recruited from Terra brought the traditions of earth with them, including honor duels fought with swords. To this day the Fists and their successors still practice these duels and even gather every century in a Feast of Blades where Champions duel for right to call themselves supreme.

 

The Imperial Fists won great fame and achieved many successes early in the Great Crusade. The 7th Legion acted as a strategic reserve, quickly bolstering forces where necessary and delivering decisive strikes against the Crusades greatest foes. The Imperial Fists careful planning let them excel at siege warfare and their endurance and stoic determination made them superb city fighters. Throughout the Crusade the Imperial Fists acted as the Emperor’s Praetorians and when he returned to Terra to build a capitol worthy of the Imperium, Dorn and his Fists went with him. The Emperor charged Dorn with fortifying the Imperial Palace, a task that did not go unnoticed by the other Primarchs and was met with open hostility by Perturabo of the Iron Warriors who felt the honor should have been his.

 

Dorn did not seek glory or fame, unlike Horus or the Lion, and while some resented his closeness to the Emperor most of the Primarchs and commanders of the Great Crusade held Dorn in high esteem. Horus sought Dorn’s council on matters of politics and war when he was appointed Warmaster, and when other Legions had to save face the Imperial Fists would step in to get things done. It was the Imperial Fists who made up the honor guard for the burial of the “Emperor” slain by the Luna Wolves during the later actions of the Great Crusade when the Luna Wolves honor dictated they could not perform such a function. On Macragge, the homeworld of the Ultramarines, a statue of Dorn stands aside that of Guilliman along with three others in the Hall of Heroes. Jaghatai Khan gifted Dorn with a dozen of his finest stallions after the defeat of Horus as a sign of eternal brotherhood.

 

A marked exception however is Dorn’s relationship with Perturabo and the Iron Warriors. Oh Schravann the Iron Warriors stormed the final refuge of the Badoon, breaching the defenses and holding them while the other legions cleansed the fortress. During the victory feast Horus claimed Perturabo was the greatest master of siege warfare in the Crusade. Fulgrim asked Dorn if he thought the Imperial Palace could resist the Iron Warriors to which Dorn replied after careful consideration that he felt the Palace was proof against any foe if well manned. At that statement Perturabo flew into a rage and screamed obscenities and accusations at Dorn so baseless that listeners were shocked. After this event Dorn and Perturabo never fought alongside each other, the Imperial Fists ever at the Emperor’s side and the Iron Warriors at the vanguard of Horus’ advance.

 

When the Imperial Fists achieved an impressive victory over the vile Orks in the ash wastes of Necromunda, the grateful Hive Lords gave Dorn permission to recruit from the population of Necromunda in gratitude for the Imperial Fists assistance. A Fortress-Chapel was subsequently built but the Fists remained as guests not masters. Dorn demanded no special rights or privileges. Some Primarchs such as Perturabo took every opportunity to garrison a world and demand its tithes but Dorn is famous for saying “I want recruits not vassals,” and the Imperial Fists were satisfied remaining as a mobile military unit with none of the civil responsibilities that came with an official home world.

 

To this day the Imperial Fists remain a fleet based chapter, and though their listed home world is Terra and the Chapter maintains many fortress outposts scattered across the Imperium they have no dedicated base of power and do not take direct charge over any world or system but draw recruits from many worlds. This allows the Imperial Fists to draw fresh recruits wherever they may be campaigning but means that they do not have to defend a static home world or have the threat of their home being invaded.

 

 

hpe this helps a bit

[SteelPaladin]

I would start with generic stuff, like breacher squads and tactical squads.

The Imperial Fists will feature in the third Heresy book from Forge World, which should be coming out this spring, IIRC. So it might be best to start small and wait a bit, just to see what goodies FW have in store for the VII Legion.

[securitas]

 

First Captain Sigismund, the Emperor's Champion

-Captain Sigismund rose to the rank of First Captain by the outset of the Horus Heresy. Famed for his stern and harsh nature, Sigismund was a warrior almost without peer, what he lacked in tact and political savvy he made up for in sheer grit prowess and determination. A blunt instrument in the repetoir of Dorn, Sigismund was nevertheless the best warrior and leader in the 7th Legion and it was he who led the defences of the Emperor's Palace when Dorn, Sanguinius and the Emperor teleported onto Horus' flagship. Named the first Emperor's Champion on the walls of the Emperor's Palace, Sigismund later became the first Chapter Master of the Black Templars. Angered at the distrust the Imperium placed on the Imperial Fists, Sigismund swore to prove his loyalty and never fail in the prosecution of his duties. To this day all High Marshals of the Black Templars renew that oath and for 10,000 years the Black Templars have been on a never ending crusade against the mutant, the heretic and the alien, following the example set by the mighty Sigismund.

 

 

The tradition of the Emperor's Champion began in the final hours of the first siege of Terra. When the Emperor, Dorn and Sanguinius teleported aboard Horus' flagship, they left First Captain Sigismund in charge of the defences of the Emperor's Palace. In recognition of this trust, Sigismund was named the Emperor's Champion, swearing that he would not allow the Palace to fall and would seek out and slay the champions of the enemy. So it was that Sigismund became the first Emperor's Champion. Following the Horus Heresy the Imperial Fists and their successors continued the tradition of naming an Emperor's Champion on the eve of a monumental battle. However the practice has become less and less common with the Imperial Fists and the Crimson Fists. Rarely does a marine take up the arms and armor of the Emperor's Champion in the Imperial Fists and the Crimson Fists have not done so at all in many years. Only the Black Templars still regularly maintain this practice.

 

__________________

[Kol Saresk]

1.)Same yellow. Seems like Forgeworld is going with a bit more black.

 

2.)Maybe. Ideally, each force would equip itself for the mission at hand, but you can specialize for siege, urban warfare, airmobile cavalry, airborne infantry, armored battery, so on so forth. It's up to you really. The Legions were universal armies, able to deal with any threat or situation individually. There were just certain theaters of warfare that each Legion excelled at depending on their ideologies and more common combat doctrines.

 

3.)Well the biggest differences are there are none. The "30K rules" still use the 40K BRB as a base, and then add to it with Betrayal as a core supplement book. So the "difference" is that there are more rules. Ideally, as a Fists player you will want to have copies of the rules in Betrayal and Extinction, when Extinction comes out as Betrayal will have the core supplement rules and then Extinction will have the Imperial Fists specific Legion Rules and Units.

[chaplain mortis]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/chaplainmortis/blogger-image-879934763.jpeg

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/chaplainmortis/blogger-image-722730885.jpeg

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/chaplainmortis/IF_Astartes_Mk_II.jpeg

 

Hope these pics help show fogeworlds direction with the fists, as with all the legions there seems to be plenty of leeway with how you want to paint your minis while keeping with a main theme.

 

Oh and get tons of breacher marines...they look cool in yellow

[Relic of Dorn]

So, basically, I would ideally want to wait for the next HH supplement to come out then go from there.  

 

I can't remember seeing anything specific on the companies being color coordinated.  Did they use specific armor trims or was it based on the captain's heraldry? (i.e. 1st Company wore the Templar Cross because it was Sigismund personal heraldry)  

 

Basically I'm trying to stick with color schemes based on the fluff.

[Pyromancer]

I like to think that the subtle parts of the colour scheme such as armour trim are personal preference, as they are bound to vary throughout different formations. If you like black trim, then go for it, if you like gold trim then thats your choice.

 

As for extinction, you'll need to wait for it before you can use legion specific rules for your IF, but you can definitely start now with some squads like tactical, breachers and support which are all bound to be in almost any army.

 

Good Luck!

[Daemon2027]

I heard that Sigismund and a templar unit would feature in the next book so you should get a cool model to lead your force this year. The main legion list is in Betrayal and wont be repeated in the next book but you will get all the IF rules and background.

 

Looking forward to seeing your Fists brother, i almost joined the boys in yellow myself.

[Tyrannicide]

This isn't super comprehensive but a quick couple things that may help:

 

- As far as I know, the Imperial Fists color scheme will be the same as it's always been. Yellow armor, black trim, and red helmets for vets/Sergeants. There probably won't be too many changes to the armor color or trim for different Companies or Battalions. The new Mk. III Command is pictured having black insets and silver trim. I suspect it's either an HQ thing, or just some artistic freedom on the painter's behalf.

 

- Those above images from the last HH Weekender (believe that's where they're from) show some slight variances. Red stripe on the "line" Legionary is most likely a mark of veterancy. I hope to God it isn't a Legion-wide marking for every Fist; can't imagine painting it on each and every Marine, plus I'm not a fan. The backpack on the Breacher looks dark iron/black. Myself and M2C are doing black backpacks (personal preference) to break up the overwhelming amount of yellow.

 

- To continue the shameless plugging, if you check out the link in my sig you'll see that M2C is doing a Siege of Terra grenadier themed force; some Legionaries with boarding shields, and all mono-mark in 'iron armor' suits. Meanwhile, my take on the Fists is a little more untraditional. I've been creating an airborne themed army, mostly in Mk. IV, with the bulk being Tactical squads, a squad of Seekers, and some Fire Raptor/Storm Eagle support.

 

- So you can see, the opportunity to make something unique and special is possible. You could try creating a force led by Sigismund, leading the assault on Mars. Perhaps Captain Polux's void breacher specialists from the Battle of Phall. Then again, and what I personally enjoy most, is molding an army specifically to real world historical inspirations and influences. Creating your own no-name commander and tailoring the force to the vision you have in mind.

 

- I believe general consensus is putting book three, Extermination, somewhere around an end of March or beginning of April release. That'll have the bulk of the Fists rules and background. FW has started a trend of putting additional specialty units and snippets of fluff in the book that follows, so we might see a little more in book four. Until then, we'll probably be waiting years until they finally reach the Siege. Again, this is speculation, but chances are it's as close as we can get to a proper release schedule. In the following months FW will probably make their plans and the direction they intend to take clearer, through the information gathered at their public events. 

 

Good luck, man.

[Relic of Dorn]

So as of right now, I'm looking into a Praetor in Artificer Armor w/  Plasma Pistol, Charnabal Sabre, Frag and Krak Grenades, and Volkite Charger that I can use as a Centurion when the new book is released (depending on the characters that are available at that point) with a command squad

 

Elites

1 Legion Contemptor Mortis Dreadnought w/ 2 Twin linked Heavy Bolters

 

Troops

2 Legion Tactical Squads

 

3 Breacher Siege Squads

 

1 Assault or Recon Squad

 

Fast Attack

1 Jetbike Sky Hunter Squadron

 

Heavy Support

1 Legion Heavy Support Squad

 

1 Spartan Assault Squad

 

I'm still reading into the books but I figure this gives me room to play around with the different kits and bring in Legion specific units/characters.

Any ideas?

[Relic of Dorn]

Ok, so I did a little looking trying to find a good model for a Praetor other then FW, and I found this little guy on the web

I figure, Artificer Armor, Master Crafted Thunderhammer, Boarding Shield, Bolt Pistol, and Combi-melta. What do you think?

For the Command Squad I was thinking of the MkIII Command Squad set from FW, 3 out of the 5 MkIII Marines out of the FW kit and Seeker Bolters

The squad would end up being 3 Marines with Bolters, 1 with a Power Sword and Bolt Pistol and the Standard Bearer with Bolt Pistol and Combat blade.

[infyrana]

The boarding marine is definitely a good model, and one that has been used by many people. The new MkIII command set is great, although as with all models faults can be found in pose, I actually like it very much and feel that it would definitely fit the theme when using Breachers and boarding marine. Funnily enough I'll have all these models in my collection too following my next order

[Relic of Dorn]

So, would it be possible to run the 8 Marines that Garro has been collecting he started working for Malcador as my Elite Veteran Space Marine choice?

[infyrana]

Do you have access to the rulebook for HH ?

 

You need to adhere to the unit structures within the book.  A Veteran Tactical Squad would be your best bet, as you can run 8 marines in that squad.  You can also gear them slightly.  You would need to include a Librarian Consul from the Legion Centurion model, and run Garro as a Praetor to better represent his sword.

 

I don't know all of the 8 that he's collected, only the first three, do you have a list of their ranks / armour / gear options that they would need for representation ?

[Relic of Dorn]

I'm pretty sure that when Garro found them they dropped all rank.  As of right now its, 

Garro, Rubio, Varna (sp?), Loken, Iacon, and possibly an IF Psyker.

.  I can't remember if they went into detail about their wargear.