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To Bare head or not to Bare head?


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I'm tempted to post video clips from all the movies and miniseries where somebody had a bad day from not having a helmet on.

The one that sticks in my head is from starship troopers, where Rico is adjusting the one guys helmet during a live fire exercise...with predictable results.

Palladium Games RPG on the Robotech Anime gave the first character to needlessly / heroically take off his helmet a small amount of extra XP for being in line with the cinematic feel tongue.png

Personally, pro helmet. Unless it's rule of cool. Also, easier to paint....

Since we are on the subject, I can't wait for ADB to explain why Astartes bionics are outside their armor in Master of Mankind smile.png

Same thing in Deathwatch too, you gain more renown by going sans helmet.

Personally I like the helmetless look, I really like the sort of character you can get from it. Though as said previously the right choice of helmet can really make a model too. One of the things I've been considering with my new Blood Angels force it to make sure that everyone without a helmet has one either damaged on the base of maglocked to the belt. (Apart from perhaps some death company...) I cant see many "normal" astartes going into battle without one especially as it would sacrifice the many benefits of the autosenses and the data from the HUD.

Not that that really matters, go with whichever you think will look better.

Just do what ever you like the look of. Helmets are cool, bare heads are cool.

Personally, I first started in the hobby with Warhammer Fantasy, so I've been painting faces for ages and they're pretty much my favourite part of painting a mini. They're also the most challenging part of any paint job and are easy to get wrong. That's one of the reasons I love painting them.

Bare heads are perfect for adding some character and personality to a mini. Of course many people prefer helmets because they're easier to paint and they like their sci-fi-fantasy spacemen to be 'realistic.' Having said that, in my Emperor's Children army I only have four out 65 marines with bare heads. This is primarily because I don't feel that there are many heads available that suit the Emperor's Children. If I was collecting Sons of Horus or World Eaters, I'd probably use a few more bare heads, although the majority would remain helmeted.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l522/kizzdougs/DSCN4464_zpsxocvs0bh.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l522/kizzdougs/DSCN4465_zpsekfjafnh.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l522/kizzdougs/DSCN4466_zps8zm5twjn.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l522/kizzdougs/DSCN4467_zpswjtzbnpg.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l522/kizzdougs/DSCN4468_zpsbemqtcfk.jpg

Unfortunately most of my better bare heads aren't B&C appropriate (WHFB and Eldar) so I can't share them cry.gif

Since we are all posting helmed/unhelmed, let me jump in here!

There are extremes of emotion you simply cannot express with a helm:

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But there is definitely a time for both. I have found a good balance of unhelmed figures can really add identity to a force:

gallery_84811_11476_465774.jpg" class="ipsImage" src="http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/uploads/gallery/album_11476/gallery_84811_11476_465774.jpg" />" />

There is fluff supporting both sides of the conversation, so in the end it comes down to preference!

I agree with Kizz, rule of cool should always prevail. In my case it depends on which force I build. My loyalist EC have 9 out of 10 figures with helmet because they´re a "professional" army who doesn´t care so much about intimidation as about precision and perfection.

 

That said I can think of many reasons why an Astartes would go bare headed, some of them already mentioned:

 

- Battle damage to the helmet

- Generate transhuman dread: A huge face covered in blood screaming at a human and charging while speaking with a voice described as "thunderous" in the novels is certainly more impressive than an impersonal helmet. This reason specially could apply to "berserkery" legions (Vlka Fenryka, World Eaters, Sons of Horus)

- 'Just because': Either the Astartes relies more on it´s own senses (Vlka Fenryka) or he just wants the freedom of the wind in his face while riding his bike (white scars)

- Challenges: Surely when the champions of each army fight and no one else intervenes it comes from some kind of martial/honor consensus, a frame in which removing the helmet to make it more personal only makes sense.

- Inspire your men: As seen throughout history in so many occasions, specially applicable for army leaders

- Weapons used by the enemies to interfere with the vox systems or the other aids in helmets

I must admit I'm pro helmet; but I see it purely from a practical stance. I'd rather not get picked off by a shot to the head that a helmet would probably have saved me from.

 

With that in mind, I can't stand capes or robes. Pteruges, short tabards, scrolls, etc are fine so long as they don't impede movement.

Sometimes, helmets get damaged during battle. Rendered useless. What about this.

 

Beside this argument.. ecen in the military.. some guys feel better while not wearing the full protection, like knee protectors or something like this.. they wear the stuff they feel is necessary and the stuff they feel comfortable with. So a veteran marine upwards without a helmet might not be as unusual as you think.

 

What about the crazy guys who do not care about death or risk. Or like the blood on their faces.

 

What about the guys who care for their hair more than getting gunned down.

 

What about calculated risk.. not every task needs a helmet. What about surgery which made the eyes better than the helmet.

 

What about putting it on a belt or backpack.

 

Stop overcaring.. logic and 40k/30k is different. :D

Warhammer isn't realistic. 

It is over the top, exaggerate, and the rule of cool dominates everything else.

A simple look to any illustration of the setting made in the last 30 years makes this evident.

So, bare head or not? Whatever looks cool on the model is good.

40k to me has a very 80's Action Movie feel (or at least it used to).  You don't see Arnie or Stallone or Willis running around with helmets on those movies.  Ergo, helmet-less just indicates how much of a bad-ass that guy is.  I mean this is a game where vehicles like Leman Russ' exist (ie the suspension on that thing simply doesn't work as modelled) and Boltguns fire mini-rockets and Sisters of Battles have an organ-piano tank.  Saying "bare heads are unrealistic" somewhat misses the point imo.  All power to you if thats how you like to model your dudes of course, but its far from the only or even perhaps canonical depiction of the setting.

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