[XVII] Reprobation and Dispraise: Support Squads

[okonomiyakimarine]

[XVII] Reprobation and Dispraise.

The Word Bearers after Monarchia. Iconoclasts pale against the Ashes of their own imago dei.

 

 

Taught to burn down / we learned to build.

Rebuild the sites / of shrines destroyed.

The perfect city / emerged on Khur / in Lorgar’s name / and father’s praise.

Raised for the glory / the empire / as golden image / of a god’s word.

Our creation / brought to all men / for imperial / truth to be seen.

Conceptions of / his creations / destroyed to show / idea of truth.

All we had made / meant to vanish.

Our believes / to be unlearned.

 

Notation of Chaplain Nos Karelum’s speech at Khur by Remembrancer Florence Maleh, reconstructed text fragment of an extensive transcription entitled 'Children of Colchis‘.

 

 

What have the Imperial Heralds become, one might ask. How could the Iconoclasts of old be caught by surprise, when their creation had to be understood as idolism? Before I can look into this, I have to question my own position first. What have I become? Not yet a real horder, but somebody with too many army projects started, with some squads built and some more still on sprue and even a units here and there that have paintjobs started, but are unfinished for too long. And we are not talking a kind of fancy paint scheme here.

 

Three appartments, two Countries, two jobs and one baby in a timespan of less then three years can be an issue really, but cannot be blamed in this case. Noone had forced me into starting collecting, building and painting five armies in two game systems. So back to the starting line, back to my first real project: The dark-grey Word Bearers, Orbital Assault, geared more towards narrative than competitive play (if ever). The army is 2000 pts with Lorgar, Diabolist, Chaplain, Heavy Flamer Support, Melta Support, two Tacticals and one Veteran Plasma/Combi Squad in five drop pods.

 

Unpacking boxes after the last move a few weeks ago I had to realize a few things: broken bits and un-unboxed pieces. And lots of badly painted details. So not only do I want to fix some minis and finish the project, but I want to make it a successful project and polish the painting already done to a certain state. There is no timeline, but this one condition: No more buying of any kinds of bits (except things that go OOP) for the many other projects.

 

‚Finished' and in need to be fixed:

 

MkII (fix) 4x

MkIII (fix) 2x

MkIII Flamer (fix) 3x

MkIV (fix) 14x

MkIV Sergeant (fix) 3x

MkIV Missile (fix) 1x

MkIV Plasma (fix) 1x

MkIV Heavy Bolter (fix) 1x

 

To do:

 

Diabolist (build, paint)

Lorgar (build, paint)

MKII (build, paint) 1x

MkIII, Flamer (buy, build, paint) 3x

MkIV, Plasma (buy, build, paint) 1x

MkIV, Combi-Plasma (buy, build, paint) 7x

Mod Flamer to Heavy-F. (build, paint) 6x

Mod Combi-M. to -P. (build, paint) 1x

Drop Pod  (buy, build, paint) 5x

 

WIP

 

Diabolist (see http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/346027-xvii-reprobation-and-dispraise-wip-diabolist/?p=5051013 &  http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/346027-xvii-reprobation-and-dispraise-wip-diabolist/?p=5054220)

 

Done

 

(…)

[okonomiyakimarine]

WIP: Diabolist

 

So here's the terribly fiddly Dark Apostle finecast miniature I'd like to use as a Diabolist. First the smallish head had to go. i think the sculpt is messed up, because it is tiny and has noisy details. replacing it with a standard BaC head seems appropriate and helps to tie it in with other the other miniatures. The original model just stares into the skies, but i prefer the Diabolist to focus on the weapon instead, we are early in the Heresy here.

Also I consider to replace the backpack and the wobbly parchments with a regular backpack to help with the consistency with minis from BaC. Feel like it could even make the post more dynamic because of less clutter.

Questions: Head – yes/no? Backpack – yes/no?

 

I consider using the weapon as it is modeled and declare it a Tainted Weapon, it just fits the pose. I could also modify it into a chainglaive/double-chainaxe or something similar. 

Question: What do you consider a proper 'tainted weapon'?

 

[Soldier of Dorn]

The head seems a bit off to me. Looking at the crozius is alright, but the way the head kinda looks a bit tilted... I'm not sure about that.

 

The backpack is a good idea, but might possibly be serviced better with a MkII/MkIII pack? I do feel that the model needs something to age it back into the Heresy, but the MkIV pack seems a bit small.

[okonomiyakimarine]

The head seems a bit off to me. Looking at the crozius is alright, but the way the head kinda looks a bit tilted... I'm not sure about that.

 

The backpack is a good idea, but might possibly be serviced better with a MkII/MkIII pack? I do feel that the model needs something to age it back into the Heresy, but the MkIV pack seems a bit small.

If i replace the backpack I could recycle the parchments/backpack for a Consul-herald (omg, fluff!)

You have a very good point with the suggested swap to an older mark. atm i think MkII/III is best. here is some optional bits i have at hand.

 

the head is not yet glued, i need to decide on the weapon and backpack first and then adjust accordingly.

 

the pictures are proof that the miniature is posed in a very strange way. it looks dynamic from the front, but from behind you realize how small the actual body frame is and how odd the backpack would sit there. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

feedback is very much appreciated

[Apostle of the 30th Host]

Head seems off, but that might be because it is being tacked on. What about a MKIII helmet? You can even paint a scary daemon face of the faceplate.

 

Of the backpack choices, I would say the last one (MKIII) is the best. The others don't quite look right.

 

Finally, you asked about a tainted weapon. What you have is a Power Maul/Crozius and you should keep that - I.e. Don't replace it for a Tainted Weapon.

A small knife or something, worn at the hip suits just fine, as long as it looks suitably twisted or Daemonic. Maybe something from the Dark Elf or Daemon range?

 

Final point from a list building perspective, re tainted weapons.

I would avoid a tainted weapon on a Diabolist. Stick to a power weapon (maybe an axe) instead. You could chop the Crozius head off and swap it with a power axe easily. However...

DO take a tainted weapon on your Chaplain. The way his wargear works this can be really beneficial.

- Consul starts with pistol and close combat weapon

- Chaplain give him power weapon too (does not replace a weapon so he now has pistol, CCW and power weapon)

- Swap the CCW for a tainted weapon and give him Burning Lore (Biomancy)

- Power Weapon is used as your standard Melee weapon plus pistol for extra attack

- tainted weapon is back up for enemies with poor armour

- Tainted Weapons are great paired with Biomancy as if you get Iron Arm, it makes them AP2 and very high strength, combined with innate instant death. Obviously you have to roll the right powers but for the cost of the tainted weapon, it's worth it just in case and it doesn't cost you a pistols extra attack or having a power weapon to use it.

[okonomiyakimarine]

@Apostle: Most helpful. I have to source a few bits and modify my Chaplain to make these changes. I guess I won't be able to update the mini before next week.

 

In the meantime I took another look into a possible list for 2000pts Orbital Assault using the things I have at hand/in boxes. Figured I could throw in an Apothecary to join Lorgar and the Diabolist with the Heavy Flamers. This is what I hope to build/paint:

 

Drop Pod 1

Legion Tactical Support Squad [252pts]: Take: Additional Combat Blade; 5x Melta Gun; Sergeant with Meltagun.

 

Drop Pod 2

Chaplain [140pts]: Artificer Armour, Bolt Pistol, Burning Lore, Tainted Weapon (modified Lightning Claw).

Legion Veteran Tactical Squad [353pts]: Take: Dark Channelling, Melta Bombs; 7x Combi-Plasma, 1x Plasma; Sergeant with Artificer Armour, Bolt Pistol, Combi-Plasma, Power Fist).

 

Drop Pod 3

Lorgar [450pts]: Lorgar Transfigured (Levitation!)

Diabolist [125pts]: Artificer Armour, Boarding Shield, Bolt Pistol, Melta Bombs, Power Sword

Apothecary [55pts]: Artificer Armour.

Legion Heavy Support Squad [210pts]: 5x Heavy Flamer (modified Flamer); Sergeant with Artificer Armour, Augury Scanner, Melta Bombs, Heavy Flamer.

 

Drop Pod 4

Legion Tactical Squad [210pts]: Take: Additional Combat Blade; 9x Bolter; Sergeant with Artificer Armour, Chainsword, Melta Bombs, Plasma Pistol.

 

Drop Pod 5

Legion Tactical Squad [205pts]: Take Additional Combat Blade; 9x Bolter; Sergeant with Artificer Armour, Power Sword, Melta Bombs, Bolter.

 

(edit: font size)

[okonomiyakimarine]

 

Chopped off Chaos Crozius and found a helmet that screams true believer without going all the way down the daemon road, Post-Monarchia is somewhat very early Heresy. Better than bold head?

[Brofist]

Yeah, for sure. That's a nice head swap.

[Brother Pheidias]

BATTLEPOPE!

Also, please Mk. III Backpack :P

[okonomiyakimarine]

 

Yeah, for sure. That's a nice head swap.

 

 

BATTLEPOPE!

 

Also, please Mk. III Backpack 

 

Thanks! So the question on head swap and backpack is settled. That brings me Diabolist aka Battlepope update.

 

It is super difficult to find a blade that fits. Regular combat blades are too small, all the big chaos swords are just huge. It is between a Power-Flamberge and Power Glaive. This one might be a bit to big, but I made this montage to take a picture. It always helps to see minis photographed and also i can just leave it here to see what you think.

 

[Brofist]

I agree that it's too big. Maybe a mace head? Like form the Dark Angels plastic terminator kit? Or you could put a chaos star on it

[okonomiyakimarine]

I agree that it's too big. Maybe a mace head? Like form the Dark Angels plastic terminator kit? Or you could put a chaos star on it

Crozius is what I had cut off and a mace is a bit too top heavy. I'd like something pointy.

Found this renegade militia energy blade. scale is good, unsure if too tame.

 

[Elzender]

Maybe using the demon head from the previous blade, and substituting the blade with this one to make a kind of trident?

[Brofist]

I'm a fan of the pointy blade. Goes well with the pointy head.

[Brother Lunkhead]

Lookin' good ...... Just one suggestion..... I would angle the glaive forward slightly at the wrist to give it a more dynamic look..... but that's just my opinion Absolutely love the pointy pope helm 

[okonomiyakimarine]

Maybe using the demon head from the previous blade, and substituting the blade with this one to make a kind of trident?

Good idea in order to make it a bit more brutal. The chaos blade is very wide and thick though. I am afraid that cutting, filing and fitting would be the same work as making a green stuff copy of the part.

 

I'm a fan of the pointy blade. Goes well with the pointy head.

cheers! It looks a bit stupid though, doesn't it? A bit over the top, but not in the GW 40k way, but in a makeshift heresy-way. I like it, but probably I just have to add some bling somewhere else to balance it out.

 

Lookin' good ...... Just one suggestion..... I would angle the glaive forward slightly at the wrist to give it a more dynamic look..... but that's just my opinion Absolutely love the pointy pope helm

True. Unsure if I am up for the challenge. The finecast has some very small details and the glove goes way over the wrist, so unsure how to cut. Smells like lots of green stuff work that I shy away from at the moment.

[Elzender]

Does finecast get soft when heat is applied? If so, you could try to slightly bend the arm and/or the wrist to change the angle of the glaive.

[okonomiyakimarine]

ok, so i got my hands on a few more bits over the weekend and quickly threw them on the Diabolist. Unsure how far I want to to push it with spikey daemon bits. Do the additional elements addd something or is this too much? Shots for comparison in my last posts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boarding shield does make sense from a crunch point of view, if i run the Diabolist with Lorgar and the Heavy Flamers in a drop pod or with the Gal Vorbak in the future...but I wonder if he should hold it. Alternatively I put it on the base and make him plant his foot on books and shield.

[Apostle of the 30th Host]

To be honest, I think the boarding shield is too much, and doesn't quite look right.

 

In game terms, it's also pointless - Diabolist is a Daemon (5+ Inv) already, so he gains no benefit from the shield other than defensive grenades.

[The Nephilim]

I like the idea of where this is going. Personally, I'm not a fan of the Pope hat. As to your spikey bits, I would add them sparingly. While they are the architects of the fall to Chaos, depending on when you're targeting your force to be built around, the amount of corruption would be minimal. Even the Gal Vorbak aren't as rampantly mutated as a box set of possessed CSMs. I would add touches of Chaos flair, as opposed to Chaos everywhere. Remember, depending on when you're building your army, tye Word Bearers were still infiltrating the various Lodges and spreading the Word.

 

A diabolist, in my opinion, is still fundamentally a chaplain. I'd stick with the best skull helmet you can find and rock a crozius/badass mace.

[okonomiyakimarine]

No idea where these guys left the drop pods after falling out of the sky, but their support is most welcome! 

okay, okay. for some odd reason a person from the internets sold me shrink-wrapped BaC and BoP for not much more than the price of one boxed game...good moment to reorganize the force and bolster up the ranks, right?

 

True Believers of the Flame 

 

Some gunners to melta your hearts and tanks

 

Specialists for the Veteran Squads