Advice on Building a WB Army

[Brother Scorpirus]

Hail Brothers,

 

I'm in the process of building and painting my space marine army, but have always loved the Word Bearers for some reason. The first group to turn traitor is just a fascinating prospect, and I want to play them on the tabletop eventually. I'm curious as to what you heretics think would be a good way to start this army, and where I should go with it. I'm not looking to play in tournaments, but I want something with a good bit of fluff (I know it's hard to make a WB army without fluff, but regardless haha) that can win some good games. I'm not one who enjoys soup armies, so I would like to primarily stick to WB if possible (Except for demons, since I know it's their schtick). I'll also play them as my killteam going forward, so advice on that front would be cool too!

 

Thanks so much, you beautiful heretics!

Edited March 7, 2020 by Brother Scorpirus

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

Daemonkin. Bring Daemons, bring Possessed and Greater Possessed, bring Daemon Engines, bring an Master of Possession, and absolutely, absolutely bring along a Dark Apostle, and maybe a Daemon Prince - recommend using the old metal Juan Diaz Prince, with some converting work to give him wings (tiny can of Red Bull buried on the base optional). Recommend avoiding Cult Marines if you can, but it isn't mandatory by any means - my Word Bearers army, while it has been set aside in favor of loyalist projects, had a ton of Cult Marines, primarily Plague Marines, with a squad of 'Zerkers as well, and I used a converted plastic guitar-wielding old-school Noise Marine (the updated sculpt they came out with a while ago) as my Dark Apostle.

[Brother Scorpirus]

Daemonkin. Bring Daemons, bring Possessed and Greater Possessed, bring Daemon Engines, bring an Master of Possession, and absolutely, absolutely bring along a Dark Apostle, and maybe a Daemon Prince - recommend using the old metal Juan Diaz Prince, with some converting work to give him wings (tiny can of Red Bull buried on the base optional). Recommend avoiding Cult Marines if you can, but it isn't mandatory by any means - my Word Bearers army, while it has been set aside in favor of loyalist projects, had a ton of Cult Marines, primarily Plague Marines, with a squad of 'Zerkers as well, and I used a converted plastic guitar-wielding old-school Noise Marine (the updated sculpt they came out with a while ago) as my Dark Apostle.

Thanks so much for a great response! Sincerely like that insight.

 

As for a roadmap of sorts, how would you suggest I go about building the army over time? By that, I mean what would I need to start with at 500 points, then add to get to 1000? I'm a huge fan of chaos space marine models, so I think I will always have at least a few (My love for 30k always shows). I have a start collecting box of the older CSM models with a sorc at the moment as well.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Brother Scorpirus

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

The new Start Collecting set's a good start if you want Daemonkin. Maybe pick up a box of Possessed, or even the Gal Vorbak box off of Forge World if you can afford it. When you move up to 1k, throw in a Prince and whatever Daemon Engines catch your eye - I recommend the Maulerfiend, myself, but there's others, like the Defiler, which are arguably more worth it.

[Dark Apostle Gal'loth]

I would say start with the chaos get started, a dark apostle, possessed and cultist. That is the hear of any Word Bearers army. The good thing is that from there you can pretty much take what ever you want. Mass bodies of cultist, buffed possessed and supporting HQs are always the core of my army and they have served me well. I have also had decent luck with terminators and adding in demons. I don't play in tourneys either. I just try to stick to the fluff on my army and have fun with it.