"Grimdarkish" Berzerkers, and DTTFE

[Prot]

Hey folks,

 

Since the update to the basic DTTFE rules, I have been pulling out squads of Berzkerkers in my Black Legion lists.

 

They haven't been doing stellar stuff as 'fight twice' is a lot harder to pull off in 9th (So I'm hoping they change how this works for WE in December).

 

In doing the above, I found I really, really missed my old Daemonkin. What an incredibly fun codex that was. I don't think we'll ever see anything like that again. Blood Tithe points, etc. 

 

Anyway what I started doing was pulling out my old Zerkers, some going back to that horrible kit, and some as recent as Daemonkin.

 

I decided I did not want to do my super bright, neat paint scheme this time. I want a bit of a darker look, without going over board. I'm hoping to put some examples up of what I'm trying to work through, but in the meantime does anyone have anything they did that has that kind of theme? I'd love to see it.

[Xenith]

I have some zerkers in the 'to do' pile, but they'll be part of my Iron Warriors, so in IW colours, maybe a red helm, and grimy. 

[Tallarn Commander]

My Daemon Prince Azrath has an armguard armor piece that is a fairly dark paint scheme

It's a basecoat of Ironbelcher metal, then I varnished it with matte varnish, then I used AK Interactive chipping solution (although salt and hairspray would work just as well), then a basecoat of Khorne Red, then I chipped off some of the red, then I varnished it again, and then I hit it with a couple of coats of black wash.

My Blood Slaughterers have fewer bright red highlights than most of my other World Eaters models too.

However, I don't think my overall World Eaters army is particularly dark.

Good luck on your effort to make more grimdark World Eaters!

Burn, maim, kill

[Irate Khornate]

I do a brass scorpion base coat, Flesh Tearers red contrast over the parts I want red, black templar over the tubing, leadbelcher cabling/chainmail/chainsaw teeth, rakarth flesh for skin, then give it a coat of nuln oil.

 

Gives it a very heavy industry grime look, that sometimes comes out a bit shiney.

[Prot]

I have some zerkers in the 'to do' pile, but they'll be part of my Iron Warriors, so in IW colours, maybe a red helm, and grimy. 

 

Yes! For sure that works... I remember back when I was the local "iron warrior guy" (I literally was just known by that name at events) I had a few giant squads of Zerkers going in my IW. That's back when it was known that they hung out together quite frequently!

 

Some great stuff to look at. Great inspiration Commander!

 

Here's what I came up with. I just revisited some of my older Daemonkin models, slapped some stuff together where needed, and started using a process I came up with on my White Scars. I just expanded on it...

 

 

I plopped my WIP crowe down just for comparison of 'new' old marines, vs very old.

 

 

- Oils/Enamels. Then a reducer... isopropyl/mineral spirits (depending on the medium). 

 

Added sponge chipping, went back in with focused highlights.

 

And I took out one of my oldest World Eaters (metal) models for comparison of my 'grimdark' vs my old technique:

 

 

 

I do like how it turned out. Not quite a fast as I'd hoped, but I can probably shave a few steps off. 

[Ulfast]

I love your new take on the world eaters. Good work. Would love to see more. Are you  planing to game with them too?

 

I also totally agree with you about the Khorne daemonkin codex. It´s was so great and fun. First time it was fun to lose your own models! I do wish GW would bring it back in some form. I still have the codex at home. 

[Brother Nathan]

some nice examples here. i do subscribe to that world eaters never repainted their armour ut are so drenched in blood which is why they are what they pear now. i plan when i do ones for my iron warriors to pant them in their metal colours then heavily splatter them and gore drench them in a way so you see red bezerkers before you realise they were iron warriors underneath... must et around to my tester models to try it out mind. 

[Prot]

Thanks guys.

 

So far one game, and my opponent was playing Sisters of Battle. Ironically I think he thought this might be a silly game, as I did. But I used Black Legion as the cohesive part of the force, as I don't think World Eaters persay have all the tools just yet (until a codex comes out).

 

So the Black Legion did the shooting, and Zerkers were Elites. Although it was rough, it was a decisive win by the World Eaters/Black Legion. 

 

I would say the ability to control the board is the big part. Pure World Eaters, with the strats may work. My issue right now is that other armies are quite a bit stronger at assault, so for now it is my personal preference to keep the best shooting the codex has to offer in my back pocket to offset what the super assaulty armies can do. Even facing 20 Sacresants is just nasty. They hit very hard, and come with a 2+/4++. Vaul is ridiculous and rerolls of everything seem to be everywhere. 

 

That said, I have come to this strange reality that I've been vocal about locally; 1 wound vs. 2 wounds feels SO insignificant now, I think it's a red herring to chase that extra wound with a new codex. In fact, I'd rather stay cheaper, and keep one wound.

 

I know that sounds crazy, but I feel like all my opponents are absolutely loaded with 2D weapons or better. In fact, the only thing I want a wound on is Terminators. 2 Wound terminators absolutely sucks. I have some World Eater Terminators I'd love to bring out. They are old Foregworld models that haven't been painted, but I need to see what they do to the weaponry first.

 

Anyway a bit of a ramble, but I have less problem with 1 wound marines than ever at this particular time (Termies need 3 though or don't bother.)

 

The Zerkers were a lot of fun. I'm watching the Custodes Codex develop and the layered complexity bothers me. I think were in this extreme pile of 'Gotcha 40K' rules, and I don't want more bloat... but it's coming, and I fear Daemonkin would be ripe with that sort of stuff if it came out again.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

The second wound is really more of a defense against MWs at this point, really.  Most spells or abilities that hand out MWs tend to do so as d3s, and a full 3-hit slap from Smite for example kills three models right now.  Once that second wound comes in, you'll only be losing one.  Big swing.

[Tallarn Commander]

Yup, I've certainly noticed that when my opponent starts spamming mortal wounds then my Possessed, Termies, and Bikers are way more durable than my glass Cannon Warp Talons, Bezerkers, and Chaos Marines.

[MadEdric]

Had a game last week against Orks last week. I had 2 squads of Bezerkers, one squad with Chainswords and bolt pistols, the other with chainaxes and Chainswords. Both with x2 plasma pistols (because everyone wants to be Kharne), Champions with Powerfist and combiweapon. Nine man squads.

Veterans of the Long War let the chainsword squad wipe out 10 boys and a squad of squigg riders. The axe squad took out a large squad of bikes using Stoke the Nails to get exploding on a 5+.

That was great, but they were quickly gunned down, having 2 wounds might not have saved them from that, but there would have been a lot more units going after them.

Also had to give MVP to the Maulerfiend and Venom Crawler. Both soaked up a huge number of shots, the Forgefiend rolling around 7-8 5+ invul saves in a row. Was glorious.

Also, it becomes a lot more easy to remember DttFE, when you always get to use it. It is nice on helbrutes using scourges.

[Prot]

Great call on the helbrute. Any time you can proc those bonus hits, it’s worth including. 
 

I live my venomcrawlers…. Maybe it’s worth pulling the, out again!  Although painted Black Legion I could give it a shot as WE. 

[Evz]

No pictures, but I do prime black then just drybrush dark dark red over it, then hit in the finer details, super watered down and neat. It makes them look hella gritty. I could never pull off the brighter colors.

[Khornestar]

No pictures, but I do prime black then just drybrush dark dark red over it, then hit in the finer details, super watered down and neat. It makes them look hella gritty. I could never pull off the brighter colors.

Would like to see them some time, sounds like a cool method!