Creating the XI Legion - Lost Legion 30K Project Log

[Mogsam]

This log will be for a 30K lost XI legion. I've been playing HH for a few years and have done a couple of legions (Night Lords and 2K Sons predominantly) but have reached the point that I want to do something different with a bit more flexibility than I've had before. I've done a close combat legion, I've done a psychic heavy legion, now I want to do something that the other legions don't have, a choom based legion.

Background:

A while ago I read (and re-read) Athrawes lost legion blog (http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/285838-the-lost-and-forgotten-building-the-ii-legion/, read it if you haven't!) and it was particularly inspiring. What particularly inspired me (aside from the great models and artwork) was the use of the tarots to define his primarch and the description of the other lost primarch, "Fortune." Link: http://menducia.atspace.com/primarchs/X.html

Once I read the tarot, I had a ton of ideas straight away about the character of the other lost primarch, how he was effectively the "good" primarch, the one who was too idealistic, too reasonable and too 'human' to succeed, and I really wanted to build his legion. So I made a few decisions/rules:

1. The description of the primarch and his history is paramount.

I see the primarch as being the missing link between the other brothers. In 30k, the primarches are heavily polarised from one another, with many hating each other or being generally poor siblings. I wanted him to understand the need for unity and be the bridge between them and that his failure/death means that this chasm of mistrust grows even deeper. He holds genuine affection for the vast majority of his brothers and he's willing to embrace and give them the benefit of the doubt even when it's clear they are wrong. He is the good influence on the worst of them, but they are the worst influence on him. (I have particularly strong ideas about his relationship with Kurze)

He is consistently popular with his brothers and understands the drivers of even the most difficult of them (Kurze, Lorgar etc), but cannot stand those who throw their troops lives away or are withdrawn to the point of suspicion. (Pertarbo)

This is his single greatest character flaw and has to inevitably be his downfall, his over eagerness to trust others must be his demise. Someone has to let him down, under deliver or betray him and leave him vulnerable.

He has to come from a world that was disunited and fractured until he arrived. He is no great general, he is a great uniter of man. He is closer to Lorgar than Angron in ability, but without the requirement for dogma and rules. He can convert worlds by words alone and longs to build a mini, semi-democratic empire like Roboute.

2. They have to be armed differently to the other legions and have a different quirk.

To this end, I bought 40 volkites and a dread with dual volkites. I love volkites ever since my 2K Sons 10 man heavy squad half killed a primarch through weight of fire. This also meant that most of my army would be close up choom marines, which I hadn't used before. Ideally every single unit will have volkites and no unit will have a bolter. Even crews to platforms will have volkite pistols.

In addition, power halberds are their choice of combat weapons.

3. They had to be a colour no other legion has:

This was harder than I thought it would be. The other legions have a pretty good spectrum of colour and this limited the field to only a couple of options. Rather than a boring old brown or a variety/mix of colours, I decided to do orange. But not just a bit of orange, I wanted them to stand out... So I picked up Tamiya Clear Orange.

4. The unit choices have to display a 'great faith in humanity'.

In short, no mechanical 'bots. I have quite a few in my 2K sons so this worked well with the 2nd point as well. I love my bots, but they are exceptionally good.

5. They have to have a unique name and symbol.

I spent a long time trying to find a unique chapter pad before coming across a shapeways store with the manticore symbol that I didn't recognise. This has become the legions symbol. I haven't come up with a name as of yet, but open to ideas!

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So, after coming up with these rules, I went out and picked up a dread with dual volkites, a speeder, 40 volkites, 40 white scar helmets, 60 manticore symbols, some grey knight spares, 4 bottles of tamiya clear and a prospero box and got to work. Below is the first, WIP steps of the terminators and some tactical (support) marines.

For gameplay, my group is unlikely to be bothered that I use tactical support as tactical marines (they are actually probably worse I think!), but if they are then I will use them as Night Lords as only Night Lords and Sons of Horus can use this many volkites.

[Fire Golem]

They’re certainly eye-catching! Good work so far. Also, volkites are an awesome choice.

[Nomus Sardauk]

Very nice! Always good to see another Lost Legion project here on the BnC, on behalf of the Brotherhood of the Lost, I bid thee welcome and good fortune brother Mogsam!

[OakRiver]

While I like the very distinctive color scheme of the XI Legion I have to ask more about their background; specifically if this Legion and their Primarch are so beloved by all (future Traitor and Loyalist alike) then who would betray them, and why would The Emperor forbid the rest of the Astartes from speaking of this lost Legion?

[Mogsam]

Thanks for your feedback! The orange is a right pain to photograph being so incredibly shiny.

Beloved is a strong word. Rather than being Sanguin, he's the try hard. He wants them to like him and he will try hard to make them love him to the point that he gives them the benefit of the doubt or holds faith when he really shouldn't... but he doesn't inspire the same level of loyalty as the truly popular primarchs. He doesn't have angelic wings, he doesn't have monumental psychic powers, but he understands their drivers and plays off them. To some, he is just an affable chap, to others he is a bit condescending or utterly false.

As to how he is betrayed, he is an idealist who trusts people too much. The betrayal doesn't have to be something mustache twirlingly evil, it can be something as simple as betraying a core principal or a core idea and eliciting a strong reaction - Ala when Lorgar has his city destroyed, but with a more vocal reaction.

Or, alternatively I'm leaning towards someone promising support against an tough and overwhelming opponent and never delivering it. He falls as a result of his misplaced faith in others. It's not true betrayal, but a primarch failing in battle and another failing would elicit the Emperor to quiet this event down.

I've been painting more. I am about to move house so am limited to things that I already own, but this speeder has been on the bench.