A New Direction - Any Pointers?

[Relict]

Brothers,

 

As some of you are aware, I joined B&C four months ago in order to get more involved in the HH community. I have always been a fluff-over-crunch kind of person (the books were what got me to buy the models, not the other way around), and I try to ensure that my work - be they an individual model, a squad-sized formation, or a full-fledged army - reflect that. 

 

As of now, the tabletop-capable force is entering its final phase of completion. I see myself finishing my 3000-point strong army of World Eaters within the next three months. Progress on that can be tracked by following the link in my signature. 

 

I like to do advanced planning when I am not modeling, painting, or writing. So here I am contemplating what I would do after the World Eaters are done. 

 

I could go off in two different directions, and they are not mutually exclusive:

(1) Another 3000-point tabletop-capable force built along a different doctrine from my current army OR (2) Some noteworthy individual characters or units from any Legion (or Mechanicum) of my choosing. 

 

On the first tangent, I have the following options:

 

(1) The Ultramarines during the Calth/Shadow Crusade era. I quite like the idea of a force of Ultramarines who were lucky enough to survive the initial massacre at Calth, became ruthless enough to survive the Underworld War that followed, and continued to be vengeful enough to engage the Traitors wherever they can instead of holing up comfortably in Ultramar. 

 

(2) The Shattered Legions in the latter half of the Horus Heresy. This would depend on whether they will get their own rules in the upcoming Book IV. If so, I like the variety - a core of Iron Hands veterans augmented by smaller forces of Raven Guard and Salamanders, perhaps even with a Mechanicum ally detachment. 

 

Any thoughts or other suggestions? I am open to both.

 

Thank you.

[Vazzy]

Option 1 brother. Expect a PM tonight...

[Adra'Melek]

I like the idea of 1. For 2 the Strike Force rules in Extermination kind of do the shattered legion but only up to about 500pts. I don't think they'll do them for larger forces in the future (could easily be wrong).

[Iron Hands Fanatic]

The Shattered Legions seem like a good idea for you if you aren't 100% sure in which direction you want to go - after all, you can take units from 3 different Legions, experiment with 3 colour schemes, and create background for 3 armies - and after that, you can always shift the focus of the force towards the particular Legion you find the most enjoyable to paint / model

[Relict]

Thanks for the input guys. 

 

Look like a 3000-point force of UMs as a counterforce to the 3000 points of WEs I already have for now. Then once Book IV is out, I can consider a smaller force (as in no more than 1500 points) of Shattered Legions. I think this just about covers everything I want to model or paint within the Horus Heresy universe. 

[chaplain mortis]

"Cough" more Worldeaters "cough"

But seriously. .would be good to see what you could do with the ultramarines, any plans in mind for composition? I:e vehicle or infantry heavy or mix of the both..

 

Although the shattered legions will give you some good versatility with both modelling and painting, and with some lovely salamanders kits coming out it must be tempting.

 

Both these ideas should keep you busy for quite a while and chances are you will just keep adding to all these forces.

 

Remember to keep us updated with your work as and when

[Relict]

Chances are that the Shattered Legions will become a "display only" army for me, if they become an army at all. I enjoy the gorgeous Legion-specific sculpts that the Iron Hands and Salamanders already have and the Raven Guard will undoubtedly get in the near future, but I would loath to having to paint multiple 20-man tactical squads for each, again. 

 

I like the flexibility that the Ultramarines would afford me. Right now, my take would be twofold. First, a cadre of veterans fresh from the Underworld War on Calth, its ranks consisting of destroyers, breachers, and flamer-armed heavy support Legionaries. The aesthetics would be very weathered - mismatched armor, worn colors, old bloodstains, etc. This force can either stand alone in a Zone Mortalis game or work alongside the second part of the army in a larger game. 

 

The second part I envision as a detachment from Armatura prior to its destruction during the Shadow Crusade. These last sons of Armatura would have the most advanced equipment - Mark IV or even Mark VI armor (the latter undergoing limited field trials) for the rank and file, Volkite weapons galore, etc. The aesthetics would be more refined - clean and fresh above all. The vehicular component would be limited to air support (like the Fire Raptor) and light armor (like the Javelin). Obviously this segment of the army would still have two 20-man tactical squads at its core, but I definitely am planning on a lighter, faster force. 

 

Any suggestions? I have yet to think about putting the actual army list together. For now, this is just brainstorming while I tend to my 1200 points of unbuilt and unpainted World Eaters. :D