The Araxxian Crusade

[Helias_Tancred]

Divine Hammer. Godhammer Pattern Land Raider. 

 

 

[Helias_Tancred]

I had to do a couple touch ups, thin some sloppy standard mechanicus grey edge lines, etc. Also used some black to remove those decal edges that were showing on the rear red templar cross decal.

[Helias_Tancred]

On 8/11/2024 at 9:59 AM, SWORD BROTHER RYAN said:

That is a great looking termie!

 

I followed the official GW How-to-paint a Black Templar terminator video on YouTube. lol. It's a good and easy recipe. 

[MadGamerAK]

Question, with your crusade, did you just make it up or are you following a story line? Personally, I am just getting in to actually reading about Warhammer 40k. I hadn't done much with it but build the models, paint them, and play them. But I am starting to get into the lore and everything.

[Helias_Tancred]

22 hours ago, MadGamerAK said:

Question, with your crusade, did you just make it up or are you following a story line? Personally, I am just getting in to actually reading about Warhammer 40k. I hadn't done much with it but build the models, paint them, and play them. But I am starting to get into the lore and everything.

 

I just made it up. The crusade is named the Araxxian Crusade because the goal is Araxxis system, where the aforementioned proverbial chaos crap is going down. The Word Bearers were a traitor legion of space marines back during the Horus Heresy, and Chaplain Erebus is a big big bad guy who is a Word Bearer. We want to kill him ;)

 

I got the idea for the name from planet Arrakis from Dune ;) ... I know enough of the Warhammer 40k lore to come up with a reason for the crusade based around something that could be very plausible for the setting.

 

Many years ago (2013) my knowledge of the Black Templars began with the audio drama from Black Library, "Templar". It is a story about First Captain Sigismund of the Imperial Fists legion who, later when the loyalist space marine legions split into chapters, was the first High Marshal of the newly started Black Templars chapter, which was one of the space marine chapters that was created from the Imperial Fists legion when it broke down into separate chapters. 

 

To me Sigismund, his beliefs, his values, his practices, and his views on combat, honor, etc are at the heart of what it is to be a Black Templar. Period. 

Edited December 25, 2024 by Helias_Tancred

[MadGamerAK]

Thanks for the info. I think I'll start working on making my own crusade ideas then!

[Helias_Tancred]

Brother Nidon of the Imperial Fists, seconded to the Black Templars for a time of three solar years. Intercessor. He was sent to Squad Godwin (Intercessor).

 

I used a slap chop method with Army painter Speed paints 2.0 Maize Yellow. I'm sorta meh on the results. If I add any more Imperial Fists to my Black Templars I'll paint them using the traditional method. I like using contrast and speed paints for more technical purposes, but still not a fan of using them to paint an entire miniature. I have a Crimson Fist hellblaster that I'll add next to my Black Templars. 

[MadGamerAK]

I think he looks great, do you prefer Army painter over the Citadel paints?

[Helias_Tancred]

On 1/16/2025 at 12:22 AM, MadGamerAK said:

I think he looks great, do you prefer Army painter over the Citadel paints?

 

No.

 

My go-to paints has always been Games Workshop's Citadel paint line since I got into the hobby back in 2012. I do however use Army Painter's Fanatic White and Matte Black as my go-to pure black and white. I use several other Army Painter acrylics, and I use a handful of Vallejo paints/colors and technical products  such as their water-based matte varnish.  To be candid I like all three brands: Citadel, Vallejo, and Army Painter!. And they are the ones I primarily use. I've used Reaper's paints as well and I like them too. They're the thinnest ones out of the bottle that I've tried but they are good. I have a couple of old OOP P3 paints that are quality. I'd like to try Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats too, and I keep hearing great things about Monument Hobbies Pro-Acryl line, especially their Titanium White!  I have not used a paint brand that I have not liked. From my experience it's that I find several paints or products within a range I like overall, that I do not like such as GW's White Scar and Abaddon Black, or Army Painter's shades?

 

For a Contrast/Speedpaint style of paint I believe Army Painter's Speedpaint 2.0 line is hands down the best out there .. IF I was using that style of painting to do an entire miniature? However I do use a number of Citadel Contrast paints for specific technical purposes (plasma coil glow, a flesh wash, etc). I use Army Painter's Speedpaint 2.0 Grim Black for a slap-chop method of doing the black power armor highlights on my BT non-characters, and it works fine.

 

My answer is not .. a simple one lol.

 

 

Edited January 18, 2025 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

On 1/16/2025 at 12:22 AM, MadGamerAK said:

I think he looks great, do you prefer Army painter over the Citadel paints?

 

I'm going to do another Imperial Fists intercessor for my Black Templars and this one I'm doing the standard paint style: primed in white, based in Averland Sunset, then I'll apply Agrax shade (although a number of years back GW recommended Casadora Yellow shade), then do blocks/sections of the armor in Yriel Yellow, then edge with Flash Gitz Yellow and maybe Phalanx Yellow for the highest edge on limited parts?

 

Not going to use the AP Speedpainter Maize Yellow slap chop method again. I think I can do better using a traditional method?

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2025 by Helias_Tancred

[MadGamerAK]

You know, I have some transfers for the imperial fists, I might have a good soon at making a few myself.

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

From my experience, painting yellow in a way that doesn't make it look like a child's toy is a major pain. Vince Ventrella (I'm sure I misspelled that!) in his hobby cheating videos has a great way to paint IF Yellow that is awesome (although I wouldn't go the WHOLE WAY for an entire army, just characters). He uses an airbrush quite a bit though. I use it for my House Hawkshroud Knights.

[Helias_Tancred]

One of my two 5-man intercessor squads. Squad Godwin. 

 

 

[Helias_Tancred]

First sword brethren completed! Sword Brethren Castellan Brusc. Rest of the five man squad to follow. 

 

 

 

 

[Helias_Tancred]

Sword Brethren Brusc, led by Sword Brethren Castellan Brusc.

 

 

[Helias_Tancred]

...

 

 

Edited March 22, 2025 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

On 1/16/2025 at 12:22 AM, MadGamerAK said:

I think he looks great, do you prefer Army painter over the Citadel paints?

 

Fast forward months later, and let me change that no to a yes. Yes I do prefer Army Painter Fanatic paints over the Games Workshop range including speed paint 2.0 > contrast paints. 

 

[Helias_Tancred]

UPDATE!    UPDATE!    UPDATE!

I got frustrated with the challenge of playing a melee focused collection and sold my entire Black Templars collection, around February 2025, to one of my close friends who also collected Black Templars. All the pics of the models up to this point are gone! They were part of my first collection. I'm glad he has them, he is quite fond of them, and well I get to keep seeing them on the tabletop. So a win-win. Afterward I began a Dark Angels collection since they were always one of my favorite collections to play. So almost a year went by, and I'm deeply immersed in Dark Angel land but then I realize something ....

 

Well actually I realized several things. First off I missed my Black Templars. Big-time! I missed painting them, kit-bashing them, and IMO they were the marine chapter I painted the best. Secondly I realized I quit on them FAR TOO SOON, and I should have gutted out the sobering fact melee armies are harder to play, I've always struggled with melee armies, and I needed to accept that as a challenge and work to overcome it versus just quitting like a ****y.

 

So after having built up, started painting, and been playing a near 6.2k point Dark Angel collection in the latter half of 10th edition, I'm now also re-collecting Black Templars!

 

Ever since I did my massive hobby reset towards the end of 2023 (sold off ALL of my 40k stuff except my painted terrain-namely 28k worth of Dark Angels and Blood Angels plus other GW 40k collectibles) I knew I wanted to do one collection and to keep it smaller, under 7k. Well, I realize I'm happy with two collections of chapters I love, and that's okay by me. Neither will get over 7k, I prioritize what I need versus what I want, ensuring everything I buy will get painted and used in army lists at one point or another. 

 

Edit: As of April 2026 I'm focusing more on Black Templars going into 11th edition. By focusing I mean slowly filling out my collection (it's around 3.4k now and expecting it to get around 4.5k max when I'm done), building, painting, and playing (learning them). I know it will be a challenge finally learning to play and have fun with a melee focused army. I accept that. It helps that they have always been one of my favorites (Thank you ADB with Helsreach) for chapter culture, lore, characters, and their place in the 40k milieu.

 

The Araxxian Crusade is back!

(I updated the first post of this thread, some names, of course the crusade is smaller atm, etc.)

 

Edited Friday at 10:40 PM by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

My local game and hobby store still had two of these on the shelf alongside the new ones. I had to pick one up!

 

I'm back in the saddle! The start of the new Araxxian Crusade!

 

 

Edited Friday at 10:33 PM by Helias_Tancred

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Good to have you back. 

[Helias_Tancred]

Thank you. I'm very happy I got my foot back in the water. Still neck deep in my Dark Angels collection atm, but I've also started my Black Templar collection anew!

 

(990 points)

Space Marines
Black Templars
Incursion (1000 points)
Wrathful Procession

CHARACTERS

Marshal (80 points)
  • Warlord
  • 1x Master-crafted power weapon
    1x Plasma pistol

Techmarine (55 points)
  • 1x Forge bolter
    1x Grav-pistol
    1x Omnissian power axe
    1x Servo-arm

BATTLELINE

Crusader Squad (150 points)
  • 1x Sword Brother
    • 1x Heavy bolt pistol
      1x Master-crafted power weapon
  • 5x Initiate
    • 5x Bolt pistol
      5x Bolt rifle
      5x Close combat weapon
  • 4x Neophyte
    • 4x Astartes chainsword
      4x Bolt pistol

Intercessor Squad (80 points)
  • 1x Intercessor Sergeant
    • 1x Bolt pistol
      1x Bolt rifle
      1x Power fist
  • 4x Intercessor
    • 4x Bolt pistol
      4x Bolt rifle
      4x Close combat weapon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Impulsor (85 points)
  • 1x Armoured hull
    2x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points)
  • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
    • 1x Plasma pistol
      1x Power fist
  • 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
    • 4x Astartes chainsword
      4x Heavy bolt pistol

Ballistus Dreadnought (150 points)
  • 1x Armoured feet
    1x Ballistus lascannon
    1x Ballistus missile launcher
    1x Twin storm bolter

Redemptor Dreadnought (195 points)
  • 1x Icarus rocket pod
    1x Macro plasma incinerator
    1x Onslaught gatling cannon
    1x Redemptor fist
    1x Twin storm bolter

Sword Brethren Squad (105 points)
  • 4x Sword Brother
    • 4x Heavy bolt pistol
      4x Master-crafted power weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (98), Data Version: v687

Edited Friday at 10:34 PM by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

Black Templar collection rebooted! Araxxian Crusade got the engines restarted! 

 

The black box is the Honoured of the Chapter set with a chaplain, judiciar, 3 eradicators, 3 blade guard veterans, and a blade guard ancient. 

 

Most immediate next purchases are the Emperor's Champion, an Execrator Chaplain, and Apothecary Biologis. 

Edited October 17, 2025 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

Added an Emperor's Champion, and High Reclusiarch Grimaldus + servitors.

 

Next up is Helbrect and a second Sword Brethren squad. Then another Bladeguard Veterans box and an Eradicators box in order to round out my two squads of each from 3 to 6.  

[Helias_Tancred]

Added Helbrecht. 

 

I also have more characters; judiciar, chaplain, blade guard ancient, and a second castellan. 

Edited December 1, 2025 by Helias_Tancred

[Helias_Tancred]

Marshal Tiberius in his Terminator Armor, when he fights alongside Squad Arnd!

 

 

Edited Friday at 11:43 PM by Helias_Tancred