6 Months into the BOTL Project Poll

[Slips]

So, we've been at this for a bit now and we (Simison, really) was curious as to how y'all felt about all 'dis?

 

Edit: you can vote on more than one thing, by the way :p

Edited February 29, 2016 by Slipstreams

[Skalpynock]

Six months already? These sure passed fast. I must have spent easily 75% of my phone's mobile data refreshing this subforum since we started. Time for an inevitable and completely cliched speech. As far as I'm concerned, the Void Eagles and Warbringers are the IV^th and IX^th of this universe, not the expunged II^nd and XI^th of the Horus one. In many ways, the Brotherhood of the Lost has helped forging them into what they are now. When we begun, I had only vague ideas of them as "Caribbean void-master" and "Napoleonic Russians with a genetically minded primarch".

 

Somewhat, the BotL-verse feels better than the Horus Heresy. Likely because building something with our own hands is in itself a greater experience than reading the work of someone else, but there is more. First, and obvious, is that our 18 legions began as something that originally had to be expunged and forgotten from history. Our "bad guys" are true monsters, who don't even bother to hide. But our loyalists don't shy away from it either. Yes, the Iron Hands were only loyalists because we're told so, but Ferrus wanted them not to go too far. But here there are the Crimson Lions and Void Eagles, who are actively encouraged to conquer in a maximally destructive manner, and whose legion are already shattered before the Insurrection even begins. Canonverse has Guilliman's Imperium Secundus, destined as a contingency plan and meant to remain unremembered. Here, we have a full-blown Revolutionary Empire that possibly remains well into the Scouring. Speaking of Guilliman, we don't have him to rebuild the Imperium after the war. We don't have anyone sensible in matters of politics left alive, only warriors. We are out-grimdarking Warhammer 40k.

 

And why? Because we can. Because while the Horus Heresy is a very interesting setting, it is still a prequel to Warhammer 40,000. A setting whose major lines have been established in the 80's. Istvaan 3, Prospero, Istvaan 5, Terra, with then not-yet-set numbers of legionaries, and only 7 years from the first moves to the Emperor dying on the deck of the Vengeful Spirit. Here, we have hindsight to work with. When working from the ground up, we can implement more recent developments far more easily. The Webway, the impact of the Unification Wars, the Mechanicum's independence, the idea that loyalties are not absolute, all these things have been only retroactively implanted into the Heresy (not blaming them at all, just saying it wasn't there in the first descriptions of the Heresy because they hadn't developed it at all). We work with knowledge of all these new things, from the get-go. And likewise we don't have to take the outdated stuff like "Traitors forgot how to build most of their armoury". We're not fleshing out the past of chapters and warbands, but writing the present and future of legions. We don't even know if they will end up being broken into chapters. We also have more modern inspirations and obscure references,

 

(That was stupidly long, but deserved.)

So, my friends, I think we did a pretty good job. And I wish the best for the continuation of this project.

 

For the Emperor and the Warmaster.

For the Stormborn and his Harbingers.

For the Prince and the General.

 

 

[As an aside, I haven't put my blood in paint yet, but I may have done the opposite. Copper paint ain't good for health, let me tell you.]

Edited February 29, 2016 by Skalpynock

[MikhalLeNoir]

Yau!!!

[simison]

Ironically, despite being the one who unwittingly started this project, I am caught somewhere in between canon-verse and BotL-verse. The weirder part is that it's not just a straight divide between the two 'verses, but it's more wiggly than that. I'll explain from one end of the spectrum to the other. 

 

First off, the Jade General and the Warriors of Peace I see very much as a BotL legion. Half of that is because they had such little impact on the canon-verse. As their thread title says, they are the failed legion. They are the only legion that utterly fails to make it past the Alpha-stage, a state worse than what befalls the Thousand Sons. Jade is found, but is executed only a few years later when he rebels against the Emperor before he can stabilize the legion. So, their fate is pretty atrocious and ends with little fanfare. What makes the whole thing stranger is that they belong to a third timeline. Because in the 'canon' timeline that features Alexandros and the Halcyon Wardens, the Eleventh legion is filled by Raktra and the Berzerkers. So, it's in a different, tertiary continuity. 

 

The other half, of course, is because they have a real presence in the BotL-verse. I'm especially excited to expand upon their role as part of the Revolutionary Empire. 

 

Alex and the Wardens are still shifting between canon & BotL in my head. Alex, while I can easily recall his canon fate, is slowly becoming more Warmaster than Shield-Lord to me for obvious reasons. Yet, I still think of the Wardens more as the lost IInd as opposed to the stalwart Vth. It wouldn't surprise me that as I write more of the legion surviving the Insurrection, the shift will occur, but it's interesting place to occupy, mentally-speaking.

[Chief Captain Redd]

I'm full in Iron Bears 100% BotLverse and loving it. We have so many opportunities to write and continue a new story in a universe I've loved for twenty years. And now I get new heroes, new stories, new clashes, new wars. It's the excitement I had as an eleven year old all over again, I love it.

[Big Bad Squig]

I too am in full BotL mode with both my Legions. While they have their roots in the canonverse, I think our universe gives us as writers so much more creative freedom. We can give our characters closure, rather than: 'and then they all died', and through that we become far more attached to our story. I think that just makes the narrative we create far more compelling.

[Athrawes]

The BotL Universe has been very cool, and its been fun watching the project develop but to me, the Lightning Bearers Will always be the Lost II Legion. 

 

It's not meant to knock the BotL but my passion for the II has seen me pour a lot of time and effort into crafting them with the cannon universe in line. 

 

That's honestly a big part of the reason why I decided to rename the BotL Lightning Bearers; 'Harbingers' once the Insurrection gets under way. It's a way to help me compartmentalize the Legions Alter egos.

[MikhalLeNoir]

I know what you mean. As canonverse and broverse Wardens have different traits it is sometimes complicated for me too to not mix them up. But I habe both universes in my mind trying to split my efforts evenly because in broverse we have a lot if guys with passion and so much creative skill( yes i look at you sigismund ). So I for my part don't want it only as little sideproject. That the wardens are mainly ignored in the canonverse helps a bit to even things out ;)

 

Just viewing it as two projects which steals my free time and letting me grow fat cause i skipped sports is my way of the hobby :)

[Sigismund229]

Seeing as I've developed the CL's incarnation of the III far more than their XI varient(although a lot of the stuff still comes from notes on the XI), these days I think of them as the III rather than XI(althiugh their XI incarnation will always have a place in my heart and notebook)

[simison]

The BotL Universe has been very cool, and its been fun watching the project develop but to me, the Lightning Bearers Will always be the Lost II Legion. 

 

It's not meant to knock the BotL but my passion for the II has seen me pour a lot of time and effort into crafting them with the cannon universe in line. 

 

That's honestly a big part of the reason why I decided to rename the BotL Lightning Bearers; 'Harbingers' once the Insurrection gets under way. It's a way to help me compartmentalize the Legions Alter egos.

 

 

I understand, and was curious & half-expected if that's where your stance was. Your Lost Legion project was the most advanced when BotL started, so it makes sense that's where you fall on the spectrum. Out of the three 'seniors', I'm caught in the middle, which makes me wonder where Raktra falls since I count him as the third senior. 

[Sigismund229]

The Lions were also started prior to the BotL project, although I wasn't on B&C then and my early work on them was up on Warseer, although there wasn't a good reaction them there so they were pretty much shelved until AO persuaded me to start them again for this project(althiugh they too were started because of my seeing Athrawes thread over on Warseer) Edited March 1, 2016 by Sigismund229

[Kelborn]

*looking at the poll*

*reading*

*more canon legion or botl legion...*

*got no legion....do the Knights count?*

*naahhh....don't think so*

*6 months?....nah, about 4 for me*

*do I have the right to participate in the poll?*

*oh look*

NUMBER NINE! NUMBER NINE! NUMBER NINE!

*would be funny to choose that*

*but seriously...it's a supplementary experience...I'm not fully diving in the botl...got my blackshield project...will definitely return to work on the Knights as I really enjoy being part of the team...*

*agreed! choose that*

*click*

[simison]

Kelborn, I read that all in Deadpool's voice.

[Kelborn]

Well, if that's the case, I did it right. :P

*shut up*

*why?*

*don't confirm his suspicion!*

*oooohhhh... got it, sry*

*facepalm*

[Doctor Perils]

Hum... now let's see who has been pouring blood for the paint god.

My guess is either Raktra (whenever there's blood, you'll find the 'zerkers), AlphariusOmegon108, or Sigismund229

 

Seeing how much work has gone into this project, I'm really not surprised some of you have been thinking of their legions more as a BoTL legion than "canonverse". I'm also not surprised Athrawes still sees the Lightning Bearers as the second (after all, they really have become the icon of the lost legions in canonverse).

 

I think this has been a great experience for everyone involved for the past six months, and I really hope it will carry on the way it is. I've only got one month left at school, so I might be able to revisit the Paternova soon (as long as my potential internship doesn't take too long)

[Sigismund229]

Hum... now let's see who has been pouring blood for the paint god.

My guess is either Raktra (whenever there's blood, you'll find the 'zerkers), AlphariusOmegon108, or Sigismund229

 

Seeing how much work has gone into this project, I'm really not surprised some of you have been thinking of their legions more as a BoTL legion than "canonverse". I'm also not surprised Athrawes still sees the Lightning Bearers as the second (after all, they really have become the icon of the lost legions in canonverse).

 

I think this has been a great experience for everyone involved for the past six months, and I really hope it will carry on the way it is. I've only got one month left at school, so I might be able to revisit the Paternova soon (as long as my potential internship doesn't take too long)

It's not me who bleeds into their paint pot, as a devotee of the fluff god and one of the slowest painters in existence, I bleed on my keyboard

 

FLUFF FOR THE FLUFF GOD!

[Skalpynock]

Hum... now let's see who has been pouring blood for the paint god.

My guess is either Raktra (whenever there's blood, you'll find the 'zerkers), AlphariusOmegon108, or Sigismund229

Actually that was me. As long as blood and paint mix, does it really matter if it's on the figure or in the painter?

[simison]

 

It's not me who bleeds into their paint pot, as a devotee of the fluff god and one of the slowest painters in existence, I bleed on my keyboard

 

FLUFF FOR THE FLUFF GOD!

 

 

Same here. I'm a much more accomplished writer than I am a painter, for better or for worse. I could honestly say I've written the most on this project before Sig's March Madness surge. Now, I"m not so sure who's written the most.

[AlphariusOmegon108]

I guess Ill be painting a tad more in the future actually.., Edited March 9, 2016 by AlphariusOmegon108

[Sigismund229]

 

 

 

It's not me who bleeds into their paint pot, as a devotee of the fluff god and one of the slowest painters in existence, I bleed on my keyboard

 

FLUFF FOR THE FLUFF GOD!

 

Same here. I'm a much more accomplished writer than I am a painter, for better or for worse. I could honestly say I've written the most on this project before Sig's March Madness surge. Now, I"m not so sure who's written the most.

The fluff god cares not from whence thr fluff flows so long as it flows!

 

In all seriousness, I'd say you've probay still written more sim. Also, I'll be able to write a lot for a while yet so if anyone needs any help, the offer's on the table.

Edited March 9, 2016 by Sigismund229

[bluntblade]

FLUFF FOR THE FLUFF GOD!

-Ink Spillers Legion catchetism

[Sigismund229]

This project has pretty much taken over my view of the Crimson Lions. It's just been so intresting how it all turns out with different personalities that I'm beginning to wish I'd signed up my 2nd lost legion too but hey ho.

[Raktra]

BotL has really made the Berserkers into what I envisioned, so I'm with this 100% now. The canon-verse version had me too afraid to do or say a lot of the ideas I had due to it either A- clashing with Angron's whole schtick, or B- potential Mary Sue-ing.

[Kelborn]

And now we got tiny Mary Sues with daddy Khorne and mummy Raktra.

Long live the BotLverse!

[simison]

Well, my schizophrenic legion views came to a head tonight. A friend is offering to detail work on a squad for me as a birthday present, the kind of quality that is hopelessly out of my reach without a couple years' worth of practice. 

 

So, one of the questions was what does he put on the pauldrons? I tell him the Warden battle emblem and the legion numeral. He says he'll put on the Vth on there, and I reply 'awesome'. 

 

Ten seconds pass, and I panic because I'm not sure which numeral is supposed to go on, II or V. In fact, I still don't know, actually, I don't even know if he's already painted it on. My funds are so low that I don't know when I can buy another legion unit (which is moot really since AO108 has dibs on it to make Alex). So, I'm just really confused which legion I want this unit to be. I'm more active in BotL, but only one person at my FLGS even knows about the project. I have the rules for Lost Legion Wardens, and it fits better in the local meta, kinda.

 

My brain feels angry at me.