AL Fluff from book 3

[HaSY]

You can pm me for those

[Greyall]

Couldn't you spoiler it here, please, mate?

 

I don't really need the rules since I don't play, I'd just like some general traits on their fluff.

[Augustus]

I love the idea that the AL were super sneaky "before" reuniting with their Primarch(s)

 

I have been feeling that the geneseed is psycho-sympathetic. When chaos snatched the primarchs they probably knew of their intended roles through their genetics and the Emperors decision. Thus the great chess match continued. The chaos gods put them on planets that would suit their intended roles but also suitably corrupt them just enough. The Emperor found them. Some came our "clean" via luck/the Emperor's doing/his mistake/ or just good enough and he used them. If he knew the Gene-seed would be pscho-sympathetic and he knew what chaos knew he knew then he would ....do something.

[Kais Klip]

Yes, and I like this way of describing events of the HH but I wonder if we would see some hints on the true goals of the Alpha Legion, perhaps presented to us as pivotal events during the course of a battle. On a side note, anyone wants to speculate from where the first Alpha Legion marines were recruited? Are there any Terran factions that actually possessed some traits beneficial to the Alpha Legion? Also since Alpha Legion set trials for squad and not single aspirants this implies vast recruiting facilities, most of which were mostly employed to fuel the Luna Wolves legion, with only determinate aspirants sent to the other legions when the numbers of the XVIth were topped (Scars). But would not this conflict with the attitude of the AL in recruiting groups...Questions, questions...

This isn't coming from anything hard, seeing as most AL fluff is blurred (hydra dominatus brother) but from the general vibe of the books and Dynat's portrait I'd say a south western middle eastern look is most prominent. Xerxes/Saudi Intelligence in power armour if I had to pin it down.

[Excessus]

Couldn't you spoiler it here, please, mate?

 

I don't really need the rules since I don't play, I'd just like some general traits on their fluff.

They specialize in eliminating key officers, positions and assets. They are always fielded with a direct command from a senior officer in the Alpha Legion, and are chosen from the best assassins and infiltrators the legion has to offer.

[Greyall]

N-ice. Thanks, Excessus.

[Tenebris]

Well on the note of the new and detailed tabards, loincloths and insignia... I forgot one cardinal trait of the Alpha Legion, hubris. When they come out in the open they WANT you to recognize them, they WANT to appear superior and mighty, they WANT to instill fear and doubt in you as enemy trooper, in you as enemy commander so hell yeah to ornate armor and insignia. It is a statement, WE HAVE BEATEN YOU, NOW YOU DIE; LOOK UPON US, THE MASTERMINDS OF YOUR DEFEAT. 

[Kais Klip]

New inductees please note, general operating procedure is to execute gloating protocols after opening the enemy targets's throat. Failing that, Alpharius & Co take no responsibility for instances of logistically excellent counter gloating and catastrophic operational failure.

[Tenebris]

Now it is a good time to be a fan of the Legions of Change. The FFG supplement is superb, the painting guides and the "modern" look of the studio Alpha Legion are awesome and easy to replicate. Forge World is covering the XXth and between Scars and Hunter's Moon it is clear that the Snakes are uncoiling. We have new art, new names, new fluff but above all it seems that after so many years after the awesome Index Astartes and 3,5 the Alpha Legion is rising again. Unfortunately I am not in luck for my beloved Thousand Sons but Change... THE Legions of Change are really something special. 

 

... and you know someone should really pay a lot of credit for Fantasy Flight Games for their laborious reshuffling of the 40k universe as well as to Forge World and Black Library for their work of love that is the Horus Heresy coverage.

 

Slowly but steadily we of team Chaos will have something to be proud of again. 

 

Now I am in a serious predicament for new chaos kits are rumored but the FW HH Alpha Legion is too good of an opportunity to pass on. Now fingers crossed my little snakes for Prospero.

 

BTW: When will this book be released? 

[Excessus]

New inductees please note, general operating procedure is to execute gloating protocols after opening the enemy targets's throat. Failing that, Alpharius & Co take no responsibility for instances of logistically excellent counter gloating and catastrophic operational failure.

Haha, yeah that was a surprise! Goes with the Alpha Legion hubris I'd think...either that or they had been trained to always reveal their entire plan to their quarry just before delivering the final blow...like a true and proper diabolical mastermind would (as taught in the excavated ancient pictoral evidence uncovered on holy terra).

[Tenebris]

Indeed, and it actually sound to be in character with the legion too.

 

Well I wonder how will FW explain that the Alpha Legion space marines were usually taller and more imposing than the marines of other legions, so tall in fact that it was not a problem for the two primarch twins to hide between their rank and file warriors. One explanation can be that by virtue of being the last legion created the gene processing techniques were so far mastered in nigh two centuries of the Great Crusade but I think that there is more to it. Usually there is some space given to a legion geneseed, I hope this will be the case of the Alpha Legion too. I NEED to know it in order to paint properly as per fluff. 

[Excessus]

Indeed, and it actually sound to be in character with the legion too.

 

Well I wonder how will FW explain that the Alpha Legion space marines were usually taller and more imposing than the marines of other legions, so tall in fact that it was not a problem for the two primarch twins to hide between their rank and file warriors. One explanation can be that by virtue of being the last legion created the gene processing techniques were so far mastered in nigh two centuries of the Great Crusade but I think that there is more to it. Usually there is some space given to a legion geneseed, I hope this will be the case of the Alpha Legion too. I NEED to know it in order to paint properly as per fluff. 

The Primarch(s) and their lookalikes could be using the device that Omegon uses in The Serpent Beneath as well though, to appear smaller or larger...

[Tenebris]

I wouldn't mind a Shadowfield lookalike in a future Alpha Legion supplement...

 

A device yes but in fluff (especially the old one) it was said that of all the marines the Alpha Legion marines were the most imposing, taller and broader than their counterparts in the other legions. Also the Alpha Legion marines tend to have either deep green or ice blue eyes and a copper like skin tone. That is all we so far know but in a certain way it seems logical. The Alpha Legion was the last legion made, the mastery of the astartes genotype has been achieved not only by the Emperor but by the legion apothecaries too, by the Imperium. I don't think that we are on levels of Dark Angels and Emperor's Children quality or the Luna Wolves potency but something that makes the Alpha Legion real astartes giants (Pollux like) is indeed impressive. Sure, various stealth and camo fields are only to be expected from the Alpha Legion, but this applies to a selected few, not to the astartes in general and what I am speaking is of the rank and file space marines.

[HaSY]

Couldn't you spoiler it here, please, mate?

 

I don't really need the rules since I don't play, I'd just like some general traits on their fluff.

I will try to transcribe the background of the special characters later.

[Xin Ceithan]

Thanks for sharing .

I am getting more hyped by the minute. any idea when the book is coming out btw?

[Kol Saresk]

Indeed, and it actually sound to be in character with the legion too.

 

Well I wonder how will FW explain that the Alpha Legion space marines were usually taller and more imposing than the marines of other legions, so tall in fact that it was not a problem for the two primarch twins to hide between their rank and file warriors. One explanation can be that by virtue of being the last legion created the gene processing techniques were so far mastered in nigh two centuries of the Great Crusade but I think that there is more to it. Usually there is some space given to a legion geneseed, I hope this will be the case of the Alpha Legion too. I NEED to know it in order to paint properly as per fluff.

Deliverance Lost took care of that by making them smaller than the other Primarchs.

 

But in Legion, they had Legionnaires wearing modified Terminator armor to het the height. Even then, there was one point where Grammaticus notes that there was only a few centimeters difference in height between Alpharius Omegon and their Astartes.

[Kais Klip]

The way I understood it was A&O were a foot or so shorter than the rest, while legionnaries were a foot or so taller then normal marines (Abaddon/Polux size being the norm).

[Perrin]

I thought all of the Alpha Legion marines having the same eye colour, features and skin tone was due to cosmetic surgery designed to make them all look the same, rather than improvements in geneseed.

[Excessus]

I thought all of the Alpha Legion marines having the same eye colour, features and skin tone was due to cosmetic surgery designed to make them all look the same, rather than improvements in geneseed.

It's both I'd reckon. They strived to look as similar as they could to their primarch(s), some even resorted to surgery. Though the old IA article only states that it was the first batch of Alphas that were larger and bulkier than the rest, if I remember correctly...

[HaSY]

War Disposition 

Exact figures for the martial strength of the Alpha Legion at the outset of the wars of the Horus Heresy are impossible to obtain. Sources and estimates vary wildly, some making extravagant claims which may both overestimate or undervalue the Alpha Legion's manpower. Most contemporaneous account around the time of Dropsite Massacre put the Alpha Legion at between 120,000 and 130,000 Legionaries strong, placing it within the middle tier of Legion strengths.Some theorists have pointed the figure as far lower, somewhere in the 90,000 range based upon the largest concentration of Alpha Legion forces ever seen in operation in a single theatre. With hindsight and diligent corroboration however, evidence of multiple simultaneous battle-groups operating in far distant locales suggests a far higher figure than either of these estimates, well into the range of 180,000 Legionnaires which, if accurate, would make it one of the most formidable Legions in sheer size alone, a factor unguessed by both sides of the war that was to follow.

In terms of access to wargear and star-faring vessels, the Alpha Legion were formidably equipped. Again, true estimates are difficult to arrive at, but most pictorial and second party reports show the Alpha Legion as possessing extensive access to the most modern forms of Legiones Astartes equipment, not limited to Maximus and Tartaros pattern armour, the Sicaran battle tanks and their sub-types as well as extensive stocks of plasma and conversion beam weaponry and specialised munitions unknown outside the Legion. In terms of warships, the Alpha Legion was known to possess a very extensive and diverse fleet, although lacking in large numbers of heavy capital ships and planetary siege craft in comparison to most other Legions. The main strength of the Alpha Legion’s fleets then was found in a plethora of different intermediate and escort vessels, with range and speed being their primary focus. The Alpha Legion was also suspected of utilising a number of captured xenos vessels and indeed incorporating xenos technology into their warship designs – a practise strictly forbidden without the sanction of the mechanicum – but given the Legion’s frequent activities far beyond the Imperium’s borders and its hidden strengths and bases of operation, such a suspicion was impossible to prove.

As the war of the Horus Heresy ranged on, the Legion demonstrated an enviable ability to replace its battlefield losses. While the war continued and many Legions saw their strength shorn away, the Alpha Legion appeared to grwo stronger throughout the conflict, despite several seemingly serious defeats. Much like the Hydra of myth, where one head was cut from the Legion’s body, two more appeared to grow in its place."

[Tenebris]

In short words, the Alpha had it planned all. They had the numbers, the ships, the wargear and the capability to be the ultimate long term player. My theory on the standing power of the XXth legion is validated, they can and do play the long game, but not only that, they had a clear goal to outclass the other legions in numbers, ships and wargear. Now consider this, even if a tiny fraction of the above survived to M41, we speak of one of the most formidable traitor legions around, second only to the Word Bearers and the Black Legion, with not only the facilities to act and fight at peak efficiency but with the facilities to always come back for more. No wonder that the Inquisition declared them destroyed three times already. They were lucky to strike at a few facilities of the Alpha Legion while still being blissfully ignorant of the rest of the Hydra.  

[Kol Saresk]

In short words, the Alpha had it planned all. They had the numbers, the ships, the wargear and the capability to be the ultimate long term player. My theory on the standing power of the XXth legion is validated, they can and do play the long game, but not only that, they had a clear goal to outclass the other legions in numbers, ships and wargear. Now consider this, even if a tiny fraction of the above survived to M41, we speak of one of the most formidable traitor legions around, second only to the Word Bearers and the Black Legion, with not only the facilities to act and fight at peak efficiency but with the facilities to always come back for more. No wonder that the Inquisition declared them destroyed three times already. They were lucky to strike at a few facilities of the Alpha Legion while still being blissfully ignorant of the rest of the Hydra.

Assuming the Alpha Legion didn't split and fracture like the Word Bearers, Sons of Horus and everybody else.

[Tenebris]

Indeed, I presume that they did as with all traitor legions fracture, but this still means that while the facilities do not have an overall command from the Legion, they are still used by various chaos lords. Now lets take in consideration, that those facilities can churn out astartes wargear, are vast recruiting centres (requiring vast stockpiles of geneseed) and are mostly located outside the Eye, it is indeed a great boon for every Alpha Legion Lord but also to the traitor legion in general. And I presume that despite the creed every team for itself the basic notion, many heads and one body of the Hydra is indoctrinated still. It might not be so overriding as it was during the HH era but it is there, still present, still impressed in the cortex of every chaos space marine claiming to be Alpha Legion. Also it is that hard to presume Alpha Legion posing for loyalist astartes in the many imperial facilities simply to dock and repair, lets say a cruiser. Do the imperials really question some astartes who are cultured, behave as a loyalist would and even do not don the many chaos fetishes so common in renegades and traitors...

 

In the end what I am saying, is that, even fractured, even forced into hiding (of which the Alpha Legion is master) and even divided in countless warbands some core principles of the XXth legion are still instilled in all aspirants, and while every chaos lord would use his marines to further his goals I still think that one body and many heads is there, proven time and again in fluff, not on legion scale but clearly on warband scale. 

[Yogi]

 

In short words, the Alpha had it planned all. They had the numbers, the ships, the wargear and the capability to be the ultimate long term player. My theory on the standing power of the XXth legion is validated, they can and do play the long game, but not only that, they had a clear goal to outclass the other legions in numbers, ships and wargear. Now consider this, even if a tiny fraction of the above survived to M41, we speak of one of the most formidable traitor legions around, second only to the Word Bearers and the Black Legion, with not only the facilities to act and fight at peak efficiency but with the facilities to always come back for more. No wonder that the Inquisition declared them destroyed three times already. They were lucky to strike at a few facilities of the Alpha Legion while still being blissfully ignorant of the rest of the Hydra.

Assuming the Alpha Legion didn't split and fracture like the Word Bearers, Sons of Horus and everybody else.

 

Assuming also they don't have a massive civil war as BL has hinted towards. 

[Tenebris]

Well in my opinion that will make them all the more awesome. Like the 40k version of the Black Brotherhood and Morag Tong war of assassins. An epic conflict between spies that has been playing in the background of the major events in the 40k universe, both brothers, but one loyalist and the other traitor.