HH Skitarii - collection of ideas

[Atia]

Howdy Brothers and Sisters!

As many of you know, i want to do a Legio Fureans Titan army - with everything - Skitarii, Legio Cybernetica, Thallax, Titans and Knights ...

The new Skitarii release is awesome and they are basically another "plastic entry army" for the Age of Darkness. But wait! They don't have rules yet for 30k, FW has said that their actual 40k rules aren't meant to be used for 30k, and some of their units (Ironstriders) aren't usable because they were developed ~M.33.

Well,

....

this shall be an ideas brainstorming thread about how 30k Skitarii should be - with the usage of the plastic models as a base. I want to use the Vanguard, Rangers and Sicarians aswell as the Onager, but for me, 30k Skitarii are more than this - big bad Praetorians, Rapiers, super heavy tanks, Land Raiders!

i'll collect your ideas here, discuss about how a 30k Skitarii army could work, which rules should be used ... and wait for May. HH Book 5: Tempest has new Mechanicum stuff in it, so i still HOPE that the Skitarii will find their way into this book ... if not, we as a community could write our own "Homebrew 30k Skitarii list" for the usage of them in our most loved setting.

let the discussion start! all hail mars, for the crusade!

greetings,

Atia

Update:

tentative list until May and HH: Tempest

HQ:

- Magos Explorator

may take one of the following Order of High Techno-Arcana:

- Malagra (enforcing the doctrine of the Omnissiah and the execution of the heretek and the transgressor), basically a HQ type of Sicarian

- Ordinator (lords of the Ordinatus and Reductor), support officer, non-compulsatory HQ, allows you to take one unit of unaugmented Thallax as a non compulsatory troop choice

- Lachrimallus (enforcers of the Adsecularis), support officer, non-compulsatory HQ, you need to take an additional unit of Adsecularis as troop choice

- (Magos) Fulgurite, support officer, non-compulsatory HQ, allows you to take one unit of Fulgurite Electro Priests as Elite choice

- (Magos) Corpuscarii, support officer, non-compulsatory HQ, allows you to take one unit of Corpuscarii Electro Priests as Elite choice

- Magos Dominus, support officer, non-compulsatory HQ, allows you to take one unit of Castellax as non compulsatory troop choice

- Skitarii Alpha Prime

ELITES:

- Tech Priest Auxilia, see Taghmata list

- 0-1 unit of Myrmidon Secutors, see Taghmata list

- Skitarii Rapier Balistarii (thudd gun, laser destroyer, heavy conversion beamer, graviton cannon)

- Skitarii Praetorians (some heavier type of CC skitarii with phosphex weapons?)

TROOPS:

- Skitarii Vanguard

- Skitarii Rangers

- Skitarii Breachers (with shields and volkite chargers)

- Sagitarii support units (rotor cannons, plasma calivers, volkite calivers, arc rifles, some kind of phosphex caliver?)

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS:

- Skitarii Rhino

- Skitarii Land Raider

- Triaros, see Taghmata list

- Mars Universal Land Engine (or M.U.L.E. )

- Termite

FAST ATTACK:

- Avanger Strike Fighter

- Sicarian Infiltrators

- Sicarian Ruststalkers

- Ferrovore guardian beasts (Dark Mechanicum only)

- some kind of spider-legged Skitarii?

HEAVY SUPPORT:

- Krios Battle Tank Squadron

- 0-1 unit of Myrmidon Destructors

- Skitarii Land Raider

- Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer

- Valdor Tank Hunter

- Onager Dunecrawler

- Mole

LORDS OF WAR:

- Mechanicum Questoris Knight Paladin/Errant

- Knight Megaera/Styrix

- Cerastus Knight Lancer/Acheron/Castigator

- Warhound Scout Titan

- Reaver Battle Titan

- Warlord Battle Titan

- Fellblade/Falchion/Glaive Super-Heavy Tank

- Skitarii Baneblade

- Skitarii Stormblade

- Ordinatii

- Hellbore

additional Mechanicum units:

- Kastelan Automata Maniple

- Crusader Automata Maniple

- Conquerer Automata Maniple

just want to share it here too

http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz184/Lamenterkyle/Mobile%20Uploads/FB_IMG_1436982091770_zpsgpjqbejx.jpg

[Iron Hands Fanatic]

Hmmmm: here's my suggestions from existing FW units from their variety of armies:

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Images/ProductCategories/HQ.jpgHQ;

*Magos Prime

*Magos Dominus

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Images/ProductCategories/Elites2.jpgELITES:

*Tech-Priest Auxilia

*Myrmidon Secutors

*Techmarine Covenant

*Charonite Ogryns

*Solar Auxilia Rapier Battery (suitably converted)

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Images/ProductCategories/Troops.jpgTROOPS:

*Adsecularis Covenant

*Thallax Cohort

[both support troops]

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Images/ProductCategories/Troops.jpg  DEDICATED TRANSPORTS:

*Triaros Armoured Carrier

*Mechanicum Land Raider

*Rhino

*Arvus Lighter Orbital Shuttle

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Images/ProductCategories/FastAttack.jpgFAST ATTACK:

*Crusade Fleet Support Wing

*Tarantula Sentry Gun Battery

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Images/ProductCategories/HeavySupport.jpgHEAVY SUPPORT:

*Krios Battle Tank Squadron

*Myrmidon Destructors

*Mechanicum Land Raider

*Achilles-Alpha Land Raider

*Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer

*Typhon Heavy Siege Tank

*Valdor Tank Hunter

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Images/ProductCategories/LordsofWar.jpgLORDS OF WAR:

*Mechanicum Questoris Knights

*Cerastus Knight Lancer/Acheron/Castigator

*Warhound Scout Titan

*Reaver Battle Titan

*Fellblade/Falchion/Glaive Super-Heavy Tank

[Atia]

Thanks IHF

HQ;

*Magos Prime

*Magos Dominus

I definitly want to have a Magos Prime for the Skitarii, basically the one from the Taghmata army list! For the Magos Dominus, this one is a Legio Cybernetica commander, i think a Skitarii Alpha-Primus would suit a more focused Skitarii army better.

ELITES:

*Tech-Priest Auxilia

*Myrmidon Secutors

*Techmarine Covenant

*Charonite Ogryns

*Solar Auxilia Rapier Battery (suitably converted)

Tech Priests, Myrmidons and Rapiers (maybe with experimental weapons? conversion beamers or lightning guns?) would be awesome, and some kind of heavy Ogryn-kind Skitarii would be cool. Maybe change the Techmarine Covenant with Praetorians?

TROOPS:

*Adsecularis Covenant

*Thallax Cohort

[both support troops]

hmm, not sure on the Adsecularis, but i would keep the Thallax seperate from the Skitarii (as its mentioned that these are a different kind of shock-troop, and usualy given out by the Ordo Reductor). Maybe some kind of Breacher Skitarii with Volkites? We need some marsian railguns! :P

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS:

*Triaros Armoured Carrier

*Mechanicum Land Raider

*Rhino

*Arvus Lighter Orbital Shuttle

yep! that sounds great

FAST ATTACK:

*Crusade Fleet Support Wing

*Tarantula Sentry Gun Battery

these and both types of Sicarians (as these guys are more like Legiones Astartes Seekers imo)

*Krios Battle Tank Squadron

*Myrmidon Destructors

*Mechanicum Land Raider

*Achilles-Alpha Land Raider

*Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer

*Typhon Heavy Siege Tank

*Valdor Tank Hunter

i would keep the Achilles-Alpha Space Marine and Ordo Reductor only, but the other stuff sounds good =) these and the Onager Dunecrawler (1-3)

LORDS OF WAR:

*Mechanicum Questoris Knights

*Cerastus Knight Lancer/Acheron/Castigator

*Warhound Scout Titan

*Reaver Battle Titan

*Fellblade/Falchion/Glaive Super-Heavy Tank

these and maybe the Baneblade/Stormblade?

all in all, i want to focuse on some kind of "Mars pattern Skitarii", as support units for Titans/Ordinatii, and allies for the Taghmata (and keep Legio Cybernetica, Ordo Reductor and Cult Mechanicus aka Electro-priests seperate from this list)

[MindOfMetal]

I did imagine them being used as Solar Auxilia.

 

Vanguard with their radium carbines as Solar Veletaris.  Rangers with galvanic rifles as standard Lasrifle section.  Use the rust stalkers as the Solar Ogryns.

 

That way you could convert up a tech priest as the Lord Marshall/Legate commander-have some magos biologis as the medics etc

Tanks would be as they are normally, you'd take techpriest enginseers to gain Castellax and Thallax, take knights as Lords of War.

[GhostMalone]

I feel like rotor cannons need to enter this list maybe a 5 man squad with special issue ammo just for suppressive fire

[Atia]

I did imagine them being used as Solar Auxilia.

Vanguard with their radium carbines as Solar Veletaris. Rangers with galvanic rifles as standard Lasrifle section. Use the rust stalkers as the Solar Ogryns.

That way you could convert up a tech priest as the Lord Marshall/Legate commander-have some magos biologis as the medics etc

Tanks would be as they are normally, you'd take techpriest enginseers to gain Castellax and Thallax, take knights as Lords of War.

yeah, that would be OK for tournaments or something, but a "real" skitarii list would fit the whole thing better imo (o.c. for friendly games only ... but tbh, HH is for friendly games and about the lore )

I feel like rotor cannons need to enter this list maybe a 5 man squad with special issue ammo just for suppressive fire

what do you think about a Skitarii support unit? something like that:

Sagitarii (or Sagitarian?) Supporters:

5 man, basically Vanguards, all equipped with rotor cannons, the whole unit may exchange them for plasma calivers/ volkite calivers / arc rifles

also, while i think this list should be more focused on the Skitarii regiments, what about a "support consul" who can't be your warlord and allows you to take units from other mechanicum branches as non compulsatory troops?

(f. e.: Magos Dominus > one unit of Castellax, Magos Reductor > one unit of Thallax, etc)

[GhostMalone]

Brilliant thinking 99

 

I'd almost suggest using a titan techpriest that can bring in thallax bodyguards

[Battybattybats]

What do we know from the lore?

I don't have my codex yet so just going off the White Dwarf:

* Onagers were developed from ancient pre-imperial machines used by Techpriests in great caravans to travel the rad-deserts filled with dangerous mutants and rogue servitors.

So there should be some form of Onager still, perhaps with lesser weapons and a small transport capacity.

* The main guns of the 40k Skitarii are also ancient, they should still have those however phosphor weapons are a pale shadow version of their ancient originals Phosphex weapons. Some few Phosphex weapons might remain.

*Noospherics was invented just prior to the Heresy and was only in limited use during the Heresy often on a forgeworld by forgeworld basis. Even if your force had upgraded to Noospherics it wouldn't be used the way it is in 40k. So i'd say no Doctrina Imperatives or at most only the weakest at a points cost. Data-tethers etc would still give their LD bonuses to represent the basic noospheric upgrade.

Which means definitely 30k should have an HQ on the field rather than being controlled remotely.

[Atia]

What do we know from the lore?

 

I don't have my codex yet so just going off the White Dwarf:

 

* Onagers were developed from ancient pre-imperial machines used by Techpriests in great caravans to travel the rad-deserts filled with dangerous mutants and rogue servitors.

 

So there should be some form of Onager still, perhaps with lesser weapons and a small transport capacity.

 

* The main guns of the 40k Skitarii are also ancient, they should still have those however phosphor weapons are a pale shadow version of their ancient originals Phosphex weapons. Some few Phosphex weapons might remain.

 

*Noospherics was invented just prior to the Heresy and was only in limited use during the Heresy often on a forgeworld by forgeworld basis. Even if your force had upgraded to Noospherics it wouldn't be used the way it is in 40k. So i'd say no Doctrina Imperatives or at most only the weakest at a points cost. Data-tethers etc would still give their LD bonuses to represent the basic noospheric upgrade.

 

Which means definitely 30k should have an HQ on the field rather than being controlled remotely.

 

yep, from what i get from the Codex:

 

- Rangers were the first kind of Skitarii (the first Skitarii were entirely equipped with galvanic rifles)

- M.U.L.E transporter first, shortly after that they make the Onager

- no Ironstriders ...

- Sicarians: first issued to hunt down wild Servitors and mad Tech Priests, i guess this was pre-Unification / great crusade era (see Horus Heresy: Mechanicum)

- the Skitarii have fought alongside the mighty Primarchs (*suprise suprise*)

- both AdMec and Skitarii Legions were "reborn" after the Heresy (i guess the same way the Space Marines and Guard were "reborn")

- first regiment of the Skitarii Legions usualy fight alongside Titans and/or Ordinatii

 

what we know from the FW HH books:

- Skitarii: Ancient standing armies of elite cybernetically and genetically engineered troops, originating on Mars and principally loyal to the office of the Fabricator-General. The Skitarii, also known as the Mechanicum Protectors, are not members of the priesthood, but follow their own unique martial traditions and sub-cult of the Omnissiah. Skitarii regiments maintain entirely separate structures of organisation and tactical deployment outside of the Taghmata and are assigned at the behest of the Lords of Mars.

 

Legio Gryphonicus Skitarii:

The War Griffons Auxillia was also noted for its size and power, comprising six dedicated Legio Cybernetica cohorts and four battalions of specialised Skitarii support regiments. These regiments were noted for the use of standard formation STC pattern armour and vehicles rather than the more specialised and unique war machines commonly favoured by tech-guard militia forces -- this unusual feature of panoply being accounted for by direct supply of these battalions from Gryphonne IV's mass-manufactora, and also by the traditions of the Gryphonne Octad's defence forces.

 

Legio Atarus Skitarii:

It was also known to possess a highly respected armoured support battalion and Skitarii Auxillia Legion as part of its retainer forces (known collectively as the "Brotherhood of Axxos.")

 

Legio Mortis Skitarii:

Conservative estimates place their disposition at or around 200 Titans in active service, as well as having 2 battalions of specialised support armour, 5 Skitarii Auxilia Legions and a close air-support phalanx of 9 squadrons bound to their service

 

via ForgeWorld Homepage:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/The_Horus_Heresy/Mechanicum

MECHANICUM TROOPS

Every forge world maintains a standing force of tech-guard, unaugmented on the whole and drawn from their labour force. The Legio Titanicus deploy cohorts of Skitarii alongside their great battle-engines; heavy modified shock troops with a high degree of bionic implants, while the Ordo Reductor favour the inhuman Thallaxii; whatever the nature of their troops, the Mechanicum blends machine with man according to the tenets of their faith, and many technological marvels are borne into battle by these cybernetic warriors.

 

what we know from "know no fear":

there were Skitarii at Calth

[Reyner]

I think I am going to build my Skitarii as Rangers and paint them as Legio Gryphonicus :) 

[Battybattybats]

So now we have a bit of an idea of what they gained post-heresy.

But what was lost?

What ancient technological marvels? What rare and irreplaceable relics?

I'd like to know more about the M.U.L.E. for one. And the phosphex weapons that the phosphor ones are diluted replacements of are described as ones which set the target on fire in a flame that's not going to go out. So we'll need new stats and new points costs for those, they should be very expensive and exceedingly deadly.

[AlphariusOmegon108]

Did my eyes see that right? BREACHER LIKE SKITARII WITH RAILGUNS? Where is my pencil and paper! Now I need to write rules :D

[Daemon2027]

I really like the hunt down and kill rogue priests or machines. There's an upgrade option for the Magos in the Tahgmatta list. Imagine then backed up skittari from Mars.

[Atia]

What do you guys think about that tentative list:

HQ:

- Magos Explorator

may take one of the following Order of High Techno-Arcana:

- Malagra (enforcing the doctrine of the Omnissiah and the execution of the heretek and the transgressor), basically a HQ type of Sicarian

- Ordinator (lords of the Ordinatus and Reductor), support officer, non-compulsatory HQ, allows you to take one unit of unaugmented Thallax as a non compulsatory troop choice

- Lachrimallus (enforcers of the Adsecularis), support officer, non-compulsatory HQ, you need to take an additional unit of Adsecularis as troop choice

- Vulpa (lord of the Electro-priests), support officer, non-compulsatory HQ, allows you to take one unit of Fulgurite Electro Priests as Elite choice

- Magos Dominus, support officer, non-compulsatory HQ, allows you to take one unit of Castellax as non compulsatory troop choice

- Skitarii Alpha Prime

ELITES:

- Tech Priest Auxilia, see Taghmata list

- 0-1 unit of Myrmidon Secutors, see Taghmata list

- Skitarii Rapier Balistarii (thudd gun, laser destroyer, heavy conversion beamer, graviton cannon)

- Skitarii Praetorians (some heavier type of CC skitarii with phosphex weapons?)

TROOPS:

- Skitarii Vanguard

- Skitarii Rangers

- Skitarii Breachers (with shields and volkite chargers)

- Sagitarii support units (rotor cannons, plasma calivers, volkite calivers, arc rifles, some kind of phosphex caliver?)

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS:

- Skitarii Rhino

- Skitarii Land Raider

- Triaros, see Taghmata list

- Mars Universal Land Engine (or M.U.L.E. )

- Termite

FAST ATTACK:

- Avanger Strike Fighter

- Sicarian Infiltrators

- Sicarian Ruststalkers

- some kind of spider-legged Skitarii?

HEAVY SUPPORT:

- Krios Battle Tank Squadron

- 0-1 unit of Myrmidon Destructors

- Skitarii Land Raider

- Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer

- Valdor Tank Hunter

- Onager Dunecrawler

- Mole

LORDS OF WAR:

- Mechanicum Questoris Knight Paladin/Errant

- Knight Megaera/Styrix

- Cerastus Knight Lancer/Acheron/Castigator

- Warhound Scout Titan

- Reaver Battle Titan

- Fellblade/Falchion/Glaive Super-Heavy Tank

- Skitarii Baneblade

- Skitarii Stormblade

- Ordinatii

- Hellbore

any thoughts?

[Daemon2027]

Malagra that's it. Sounds like a Spanish Island.

[Battybattybats]

Needs Termites in the transport option i think. There were two size classes of Imperial tunneling Transport in Epic but i don't recall the other name.
Mole Mortars.
Ordinatus in the lords of war.
Weaponised Servo Skulls as character wargear.


 

[GhostMalone]

Please add this to the HHH I love your work Atia

[spu00sed]

Needs Termites in the transport option i think. There were two size classes of Imperial tunneling Transport in Epic but i don't recall the other name.

Mole Mortars.

Ordinatus in the lords of war.

Weaponised Servo Skulls as character wargear.

 

There were three sizes of imperial tunnellers

 

Smallest termite carries a squad

Then the mole carries a platoon

Finally the hellebore carries a company

[Atia]

Needs Termites in the transport option i think. There were two size classes of Imperial tunneling Transport in Epic but i don't recall the other name.

Mole Mortars.

Ordinatus in the lords of war.

Weaponised Servo Skulls as character wargear.

added the Termite / Mole / Hellbore to the list, aswell as Ordinatii (but keep in mind, we WILL get Ordinatii rules from FW!)

Please add this to the HHH I love your work Atia

as you wish

also, i think we may need a specific Forge Organisation chart to represent the Titan Legions and/or Ordinatii regiments

[GhostMalone]

I completely agree hopefully we get a skitarrii surprise in book 5 but for now we will have to work it out

 

Edit: maybe a leviathan type list but with extra choices

[Battybattybats]

We also need the Cydonian Sisterhood Assassins. Which i note still exist in 40k as one shows up in

Zero Day Exploit

 

[Atia]

We also need the Cydonian Sisterhood Assassins. Which i note still exist in 40k as one shows up in

Zero Day Exploit

yep, you're right, but i want to do both the Cydonian Sisters and the Electro Priests as part of the Taghmata / or another seperate "Cult Mechanicus" army list

Edit: but she may find her way into the list, like the other "support consuls" and there units

I completely agree hopefully we get a skitarrii surprise in book 5 but for now we will have to work it out

yep :/ at the end of the day, GW's plastic kits would make a perfect HH starter army (like the Knights or the rumoured plastic HH set)

Edit: maybe a leviathan type list but with extra choices

exactly my though - the three LoW choices are great, but the other choicers are rather limited :/

[GhostMalone]

Well tweak it to something like the titans go to war;

 

When a warhound or reaver titan is selected for your list you gain an extra say 4 troop spaces 2 elites 1 FA 1 HS to add to your existing FoC so you can over run the ground around the feet with say 10 squads of skitarrii.

 

Maybe add the legion storm eagle to FA and make malcadore an option for HS or mech LR

[Nakuth]

I really like that list, Atia.

 

As for me, well, I picked up the Skitarii book yesterday, and am thinking of just using the Ranger models to represent SA Veletaris troops in an allied detachment. The primary detatchment will be from the Questoris Knights list, with Draykavac as the warlord. It will represent Draykavac and knights of House Atrax alongside Skitarii/tech guard from Cyclothrathe.

 

Now I just have to decide whether to get the Volkite charger pack from FW to convert the ranger models, or use the arc rifles as counts-as....

[Battybattybats]

Hmm termites can easily borrow drop-pod rules.

We need some stats for the M.U.L.E. (i'm picturing a techpriest transport version with 2 mechanical arms and battlesmith with a +2 roll)

We might want the Ferrovore from the short story Kryptos for Dark Mechanicus Skitarii.

We need a Feral Skitarii gene-bulked close assault unit.