repurposing legion-specific dreadnought?

[Zuvassin]

Hello,

 

Apologies if this is actually more of a PCA question, but I wanted to get some feedback that was 30k-specific.

 

I was originally going to start an Alpha Legion army for 30k, and purchased their Contemptor Dread as it's one of my all-time favorite kits. However, I ended up deciding to do Iron Warriors.

 

I have an IW contemptor on the way from FW, but I also would love to still find a way to use the AL dread as well. The issue, of course, is that lore-wise, the IW and AL are not on the best terms, so it doesn't seem fitting to try and field it as some sort of "allied" AL force (even if they're bought as IW and just happen to be painted as AL). I was thinking about just painting it as an Iron Warriors dread, maybe portraying it either as an AL dread that's joined the Iron Warriors, or as a captured/recovered AL dread that's being re-used by my IW grand battalion.

 

But would either of those scenarios seem fluffy within the context of the lore?

 

It'd be painted in IW colors, including IW icons, and fielded in an all-Iron Warriors army using Iron Warriors rules. It would just retain the sculpted AL detail (or at least the serpents on the torso, I might try to cover up the XX icon on the knee). Just not sure if anyone would find it unbelievable or lore-breaking, given that a lot of 30k players seem to treat such things they way historical gamers treat uniform/tank colors in Flames of War or such.

[Brother Styphus]

That's a non-issue. If you paint it like an IW, only give it wargear for IW, and use rules to act like an IW, who cares if the gray dread has scales. If you're worried about it, start each game by clearly stating "this is an Iron Warrior Contemptor. Ignore the Aplha Legion stuff."

 

If you want lore support, say that it's an Alpha Legion dread deep under cover, and that the IWs still haven't figured it out somehow.

[bluntblade]

"They used us as bolt sponges, we will use their sarcophagus."

[Michaelum]

Short answer:no

 

Long answer: It could worked better if it was an AL painted as AL, than decicded to join the IW for whatever the reason (just like it happens in the books sometimes (take the Pharos as examaple)

[Zuvassin]

Haha, the idea of a deep undercover AL dread does seem a bit enticing.

 

 

Short answer:no

 

Long answer: It could worked better if it was an AL painted as AL, than decicded to join the IW for whatever the reason (just like it happens in the books sometimes (take the Pharos as examaple)

 

"No" as in it wouldn't be a problem, or no as in it wouldn't be acceptable? Also, not sure I know the Pharos reference, but I haven't read much of the Unremembered Empire storyline if that's it.
 

[rendingon1+]

If you really want a fluff justification, it's entirely possible for IW to capture partially immobilized/wreckef AL contemptor, have their techmarines repair it + hardwire so it can be remotely controlled (pilot of course is helpless) and use it for most dangerous assaults, as a bait or somthing like to have a laugh. Totally IW be it loyalists or traitors.

[Elzender]

I don't think it is implausible that a IW battalion has recovered an AL contemptor shell and reused it for a fallen brother.

A mid/late heresy army (even more the ever-pragmatic IW) would probably try to scavenge as many equipment as possible from any battlefield, and considering the lore on cortus contemptors, any dreadnought shell would probably be a prized possession for an army. I don't see IW caring too much about it being from another legion other than re-painting it to avoid friendly fire, or scrapping/defiling original legion symbols to spite their enemies.

 

So if you really want to use your AL dread for your IW (although it is a pity having to scrape details from a FW model), I would say to go for it.

[lokkorex]

You could as others said, both sides of the heresy get more and more desperate for gear as the heresy goes on, no doubt the IW would jump on the chance to score another contemptor chassis for themselves, even if it's from their "allies".

A great IW might have fallen as early as the Isstvaan massacre, with his loyal troops interring him in a recovered AL chassis.

Or the IW might have stumbled upon som AL from the opposite side of the conflict, made short work of them and retrieved their wargear.

Or they could have modified the "aquired" dreadnought, making it remote controlled. If a lone warsmith can manage to subdue and control a freaking titan on Tallarn, i think it's not that far fetched a company of IW can do the same to a Contemptor.

Or, looking at the contemptor, you could cut away two of three heads of each Hydra on the chassis, as well as the Alphas and other AL stuff, and say it's a gift from the Warmaster himself, since his own armour is called the serpents scales.

[NemoVonUtopia]

I have an alpha dreadnaught that I got because it looks cool and painted it in Alpha Legion colors.. I have used it in my Thousand Sons army several times without issue. I don't see why it would be an issue since they are mechanically ifentical.

[Sandlemad]

Or, looking at the contemptor, you could cut away two of three heads of each Hydra on the chassis, as well as the Alphas and other AL stuff, and say it's a gift from the Warmaster himself, since his own armour is called the serpents scales.

 

This is really rather good.

 

Aside from the recovered chassis option, you could say it's a pre-Perturabo IVth legion relic of an early commander, before the true mechanical approach to war set in. An unusually ornate ironform made by Terran artificers, covered with scales and serpents/beasts from ancient Grekan mythology. Perhaps the old commander inside was considered unusually crafty or a bit of a scholar. Maybe the Sek Amrak tech-clan he was recruited from had the serpent as their clan totem/heraldry.

 

Or maybe you could stick with the multi-headed hydra and say that the contemptor was forged upon the rediscovery of Olympia, basing the decoration of the mythological Olympian hydra; they're pretty Greek. Forged in that narrow window of time between rediscovery of the primarch - the Terran legion artisans wanted to celebrate Perturabo and his culture - and the decimation. Before the utilitarian aesthetics became standard. The dreadnought is a sad reminder of what the legion might have been like, besides being a walking tomb.

 

It would be a good idea to lose the giant alpha on the chest, maybe replace it with a skull, as well as the XXs but it could just about work. There's plenty of 30k models based on Minotaur bits out there called things like 'Captain Taurus' or 'The Old Bull'; it can work in a characterful way.

[Hesh Kadesh]

Alpha Legion have Coils of the Hydra which allow for use of a single Legion specific elite. Paint those like IW and support with IW painted dudes, but make it clear that they are all IW.