+ Legion Cultural Influences +

[depthcharge12]

The Luna Wolves could be based on the spartacus rebellion or any slave uprising a gang of criminals who bested the roman empire.

Other then the body modifaction that is in vogue now I can't think of anything for the Iron Hands.

Didn't um Spartacus and his merry band of slaves get crucified along the road to Rome as a momento?

[Fire Golem]

I've always got an African tribal feel from the Salamanders with the scale/bone fetishes and the like. It might just be superficial though, I don't know about African tribal history to draw any parallels past how they look.

 

Oh and I know it's already been decided but I concur with the Yakuza type gangs for the Night Lords, mobsters seem too 'civilised' for the Night Lords.

[Brother Heinrich]

For the Salamanders I feel like strong familial ties as well as ritual scarring/branding will be the key points to look for when it comes to influences.

[Daemon2027]

The Luna Wolves could be based on the spartacus rebellion or any slave uprising a gang of criminals who bested the roman empire.

Other then the body modifaction that is in vogue now I can't think of anything for the Iron Hands.

I would say the World Eaters are 'Spartacus' as they have the Roman gladiator look. (Also Spartacus managed to best civilian drawn auxiliaries and made good advantage of the weakness of Rome but when the Legions were turned against them they had no chance!)

 

Luna Wolves I would say are just a standard Roman inspired Legion.

 

Sons Of Horus have always struck me as late Western Roman army though, where the influences of the Germanic and other 'Barbarian' tribes were replacing the classical Roman style leading to a more brutal look and a change in attitude. I've always though the SoH upgrade kit heads have a Germanic style to them.

[Marshal Rohr]

My traitors always draw heavily from the barbarian migrations that brought down the Empire.

[Leif Bearclaw]

Is it just me, or does the Alpha Legion operating in self contained cells remind anyone of a French Resistance theme? 

Nah, the French Resistance style isn't cynical enough for the AL imo. That's more of a guerilla/freedom fighter idea, which is closer to the RG.

 

I feel that the dark angels are not really the crusading knight type at all I feel that's the the Imp Fists the DA are the more secret order of knights that have in there shadowy castle way up on the mist shrouded mountain. they are very Arthurian knights and fantasy knight order to me defending bridges and killing ogres the Imperial Fists are the crusading knight archetype the zealous aggressive warriors on the attack or defending there castles buts that just me

I'm always reluctant to add Arthurian stuff to 40k, as the tone and themes are almost antithetical to 40k's grimdark shades of grey style. With the DA Legion it's always tricky to separate the pre-Heresy Legion (which we still need more info on really) with the dramatic changes Caliban caused. However the Templars are probably the closest fit for the DAs. With the I Legion being analogous to their origins and activities in the Levant, while post-Caliban the Unforgiven become a Templar conspiracy theory.

[Kol Saresk]

The Alpha Legion are obviously the CIA: operates in cells, still maintains an organization, has logistical support out the wazoo and still manages to have a lack of internal communication.

[Olis]

 

Is it just me, or does the Alpha Legion operating in self contained cells remind anyone of a French Resistance theme? 

Nah, the French Resistance style isn't cynical enough for the AL imo. That's more of a guerilla/freedom fighter idea, which is closer to the RG. 

 

Fair point.

[Marshal Loss]

 

Sons Of Horus have always struck me as late Western Roman army though, where the influences of the Germanic and other 'Barbarian' tribes were replacing the classical Roman style leading to a more brutal look and a change in attitude. I've always though the SoH upgrade kit heads have a Germanic style to them.

 

 

I love this explanation!

[Xin Ceithan]

The Alpha Legion are obviously the CIA: operates in cells, still maintains an organization, has logistical support out the wazoo and still manages to have a lack of internal communication.

I was thinking the same thing but was stuck on the " cultural" thingy. But I guess corporate culture counts, too!

[Vesper]

Dark Angels clearly have a Native-American vide :

 

 

http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/photopost/data/503/535fbb613126fd0873098e5d96c936c2_6.jpg

 

 

 

Sons of Horus always made me think of Germanic tribes such as the Franks, the Ostrogoths, the Vandals and such.

 

The Alpha Legion is based on terrorist cells that fly under the radar until the time to strike has come. Plus they are mined with conflicting currents and internal power struggles.

[LordBlades]

I feel there might be some inspiration for the Word Bearers in the Ottoman Jannisaries, at least as far as early formation (as Imperial Heralds) go. Both drew from the sons of defeated enemies who were grown and trained to be fanatical supporters of the new order.

[Fire Golem]

Dark Angels clearly have a Native-American vide :

 

 

http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/photopost/data/503/535fbb613126fd0873098e5d96c936c2_6.jpg

 

 

 

Sons of Horus always made me think of Germanic tribes such as the Franks, the Ostrogoths, the Vandals and such.

 

The Alpha Legion is based on terrorist cells that fly under the radar until the time to strike has come. Plus they are mined with conflicting currents and internal power struggles.

There's no Native American flavour to the Dark Angels pre heresy (or at least none so far) and there isn't really much in 40k either these days.

[Brother Heinrich]

 

Dark Angels clearly have a Native-American vide :

 

 

http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/photopost/data/503/535fbb613126fd0873098e5d96c936c2_6.jpg

 

 

 

Sons of Horus always made me think of Germanic tribes such as the Franks, the Ostrogoths, the Vandals and such.

 

The Alpha Legion is based on terrorist cells that fly under the radar until the time to strike has come. Plus they are mined with conflicting currents and internal power struggles.

There's no Native American flavour to the Dark Angels pre heresy (or at least none so far) and there isn't really much in 40k either these days.

 

Yeah they've moved away from that quite a bit, last I recall the only time Native American influence existed was in that story in "Let the Galaxy Burn" where all the Deathwing Terminators go back to their home planet and find it taken over by genestealers. Haven't heard a whiff of that fluff since then.

[b1soul]

Don't see much Japanese inspiration behind the WS...I guess they do a lot of bowing, but all traditional East Asian cultures incorporate bowing as a sign of respect.

 

To me, WS are predominantly Mongol with other influences...

The facial scarring is based on the Huns for example

Shiban's "guan dao" is a Chinese weapon (the Palatine Empire is an analogue to either Song China or the Jurchen empire)

The Khum Karta Mountains, atop which the WS fortress monastery is located are analogue to the Himalayas...the White Scars' mountain temple reminds me of Tibetan or Bhutanese monasteries

[Emperor's Furor]

Perhaps the Dark Angels origin on Terra is native american influenced, but swiftly moved away from it once the Lion took over?

[Brother Heinrich]

So after looking into styles of dress and culture, I can definitely get on board with the Visigoth/Ostrogoth/Burgundian vibe for the Sons of Horus. The topknots definitely sold me:

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/GeneralSpielsdorf/bar219nuBurgundians4c.jpg

[Brother Heinrich]

Don't see much Japanese inspiration behind the WS...I guess they do a lot of bowing, but all traditional East Asian cultures incorporate bowing as a sign of respect.

 

To me, WS are predominantly Mongol with other influences...

The facial scarring is based on the Huns for example

Shiban's "guan dao" is a Chinese weapon (the Palatine Empire is an analogue to either Song China or the Jurchen empire)

The Khum Karta Mountains, atop which the WS fortress monastery is located are analogue to the Himalayas...the White Scars' mountain temple reminds me of Tibetan or Bhutanese monasteries

Yeah for sure, honestly the White Scars are primarily influenced by Steppe culture, with a crap ton of other East Asian cultural items thrown in.

 

Perhaps the Dark Angels origin on Terra is native american influenced, but swiftly moved away from it once the Lion took over?

Maybe, but since they are already a minority in modern day America thanks to our genocide, I doubt their culture and traditions would survive 27,000 years to the time when the Emperor is unifying Terra and making the Legions.

[b1soul]

I'm not seeing the Japanese influence other than "Sojutsu" pattern void bikes and "Hibou" sounding Japanese.

 

That said...it would be easy to throw in some Japanese influence. Chogoris is basically Medieval East and Central Asia in space.

 

Terran WS are mostly from Asiatic hives...so you could go pretty crazy with the Asian influences

[Slips]

Hibou = Owl in french so IDK.

[b1soul]

Hibou = Owl in french so IDK.

Was thinking of "Hibu": http://jlearn.net/Dictionary/Browse/2150810-hibu-ひぶ-秘部

 

...but maybe Hibou Khan, a terran, is a frenchman lol

 

It's a toss up between "owl" and "naughy bits"

[Slips]

 

Hibou = Owl in french so IDK.

Was thinking of "Hibu": http://jlearn.net/Dictionary/Browse/2150810-hibu-ひぶ-秘部

 

...but maybe Hibou Khan, a terran, is a frenchman lol

 

It would be an interesting Twist LOL

 

But, hey, lots of languages have similar words that mean COMPLETELY different things so /shurg

 

Might also be a play on the French = Owl angle?

[Kol Saresk]

On the Dark Angels, the old concept of the Native American influence strikes me as more of the empire-building Aztecs, Incas and Mayans rather than the tribal Native Americans. It's very regal in appearance and is more fitting of a culture that takes in outsiders and makes them change to its culture rather than nomadic groups that hold onto their cultures even when involved in confederations with other tribes, such as the tribes of the Iroquois League.

 

Of course, that influence would be even harder to explain in the 31st Millennium since the Incas and Mayans are dead and the only things left of the Aztecs being their ruins and memories with their descendants being so heavily intermixed with the Spanish that there is no distinction nowadays. But it's all probably moot at any rate.

[Brother Heinrich]

On the Dark Angels, the old concept of the Native American influence strikes me as more of the empire-building Aztecs, Incas and Mayans rather than the tribal Native Americans. It's very regal in appearance and is more fitting of a culture that takes in outsiders and makes them change to its culture rather than nomadic groups that hold onto their cultures even when involved in confederations with other tribes, such as the tribes of the Iroquois League.

 

Of course, that influence would be even harder to explain in the 31st Millennium since the Incas and Mayans are dead and the only things left of the Aztecs being their ruins and memories with their descendants being so heavily intermixed with the Spanish that there is no distinction nowadays. But it's all probably moot at any rate.

Honestly the only thing that ever looked "Native American" was the inclusion of feathers, especially with the Ravenwing, however as soon as you pull up pictures of Hussar Cavalrymen, you realize where the actual inspiration came from, Europe.

 

http://media.moddb.com/images/mods/1/20/19873/file.jpg

[Kol Saresk]

Ooh yes, definitely a more direct parallel.

 

EDIT: I don't know if this has been hit upon, but much of the Thousand Sons command structure takes notes directly from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.