New Defiler

[lhg033]

I am really liking all the new Chaos stuff they have been releasing. 
It might be the nudge I need to start on some of the old projects I have to justify later on getting some of this stuff. That includes an unbuilt old defiler.... I wonder how easy it would be to convert it with the spare bits from the new one...?

 

[Evil Eye]

1 hour ago, Wispy said:

"I don't like it." - Evil Eye, on all new models.

Which isn't even true. The new Red Corsairs Reavers are excellent minis, the new Vyper is great (and a worthy successor to the longest continuously in production plastic kit GW made until that point), the HH Whirlwind is a delightful callback to the original (and the ability to put Tarantula turrets up top to make it into a 2E Whirlwind is a really cool feature) etc etc. There are plenty of new models I like- doesn't mean I can't be critical of new models I think miss the mark.

 

Regarding the Defiler, having had a good look at it and discussed it with my friends, I am starting to warm up to it and I think a very simple way of making it look better would be some very minor sculpting work and an appropriate paintjob to recontextualize the flesh as a sort of soft material sleeve or gasket protecting the joint mechanisms underneath. Kinda like the fabric coverings on the joints of a Patlabor Ingram but more grimdark. I feel like it would make the fleshy bits less of a distraction from the rest of the Defiler. Alternatively if you wanted to go maximum body horror you could kitbash and sculpt in some bits of zombie or whatever to make the flesh look like an amalgam of sacrificial corpses melded into one disturbing mass, rather than just generic daemonflesh.

[Agrest_IW]

7 minutes ago, Emperor Ming said:

I thought daemon souls interned into daemon engines had to be undivided and reap souls for the forge

 

I guess not

 

160mm base 

 

Wont be able to move on most boards

He will probably :

Scuttling Walker: Each time this model makes a Normal or Advance move, it can be moved over friendly MONSTER and VEHICLE models as if they were not there. This model can move over terrain features that are 4" or less in height as if they were not there.

 

Or something familiar

Problem is with hidding him ( he is squishy) not moving ;)

[Jukkiz]

Also, why isn´t there option for a more box shaped torso? GW seems to be moving towards "make everything round" Sculpting nowdays on chaos models.

[Vassakov]

Just now, Jukkiz said:

Also, why isn´t there option for a more box shaped torso? GW seems to be moving towards "make everything round" Sculpting nowdays on chaos models.

 

That seems to be the design language of the Daemon Engines and their associated models - more insectile and segmented, rather than the more straight lined and boxy designs of the older ranges. Also arguably a point of differentiation from the more angular Imperial design sensibilities. Almost nothing about the old Defiler fits with that design philosphy.

 

Personally I really like it, and it's still recognisably a Defiler but one which matches the contemporary Chaos designs. Of course, if you liked the classic Defiler because it was so different this isn't worth much. 

[Jings]

I like it enough that'll I'll probably pick one up but I'm not a huge fan of the fleshy bits. The shop someone posted earlier with extra armour is likely a conversion I'll be doing. Thankfully it has enough gubbins to do so. 

 

I prefer the old box over curves, but seeing as I already have the OG I don't mind it. It'll make each look distinct on the table. 

[BitsHammer]

3 hours ago, Wispy said:

having the fleshy part also means it can look deathguard without any conversion. selling nurgle with the "one size fits all" chaos kits has previously been challenging. 

An exposed midriff works really well for EC. It all comes down to if the skin is painted to be sickly or not.

1 hour ago, Jukkiz said:

Also, why isn´t there option for a more box shaped torso? GW seems to be moving towards "make everything round" Sculpting nowdays on chaos models.

Imperium gets boxes, Chaos gets more organic shapes seems to be the idea.

[AppleCrumble]

I like it! Put me down for two! 

[Marshal Reinhard]

I for one don't understand how it was EVER a question wether the 4 god legions could take it.... 

 

Those are not generic khorne heads, nurgle heads etc.. those heads are of those specific legions in question.

Edited 1 hour ago by Marshal Reinhard

[01RTB01]

7 minutes ago, Marshal Reinhard said:

I for one don't understand how it was EVER a question wether the 4 god legions could take it.... 

 

Those are not generic khorne heads, nurgle heads etc.. those heads are of those specific legions in question.

Because emperor's children can take maulerfiends yet not forgefiends. They're in the same box. Emperor's Children currently can't take defilers or predators or vindicators, etc. 

 

Although it would make sense we could take the new defilers straight off the bat, there's enough reason why the shown images could be slaaneshi defiler rather than Emperor's Children defiler. 

 

However, it's thankfully a moot point as we can so happy days.

[LSM]

2 hours ago, Agrest_IW said:

He will probably :

Scuttling Walker: Each time this model makes a Normal or Advance move, it can be moved over friendly MONSTER and VEHICLE models as if they were not there. This model can move over terrain features that are 4" or less in height as if they were not there.

 

Or something familiar

Problem is with hidding him ( he is squishy) not moving ;)

 

That doesn't really help a great deal with movement on dense boards. (Currently.)

 

The Defiler has a Movement of 8" (~203mm), with a base of ~6.3" (160mm). Which means that any Monster/Vehicle/Low-Terrain that they are scuttling over needs to both be right in front of them when they begin their move, and no more than ~40mm across. (In order for their base to clear it by the end of their move.)

 

I think (when this came up in another discussion) the only "friendly Monster and Vehicle" they can actually scuttle over are the Sekhetar Robots in Thousand Sons.

 

Emperor's Children's Thrill Seekers (in future) and CSM Renegade Raiders giving them Assault on their gun helps a touch, with being able to Advance and still shoot.

 

//

 

19 hours ago, Indy Techwisp said:

It feels like a kick in the teeth to give it TSons bits and make it yet another godawful fleshy abomination that doesn't fit the TSons vibe in the same refresh.

 

I like to bang the drum on Thousand Sons getting a Rubricae/Sorcerer Dreadnought, under the argument that Helbrutes do a bad job representing either concept (not dusty/not magicky). And lorewise the idea of Sorcerers nicking other Chapters/Legions' Space Marines to stuff into Helbrutes is a little funny, but... the faction could do with proper representation in that corner.

 

The Defiler, though, conceptually is a little more on the "wild, twisting Horrors" side of the things than the "All Is Dust" side for me. (In the same manner that while I'd want a Rubricae Dreadnought, I wouldn't see the need for a Rubricae Forgefiend.) 

 

//

 

As for the model itself, what an absolute peach.

 

I don't think I've seen anyone mention it, but the side shot makes it look like it has substantially more "junk in the trunk". (Like a bug's abdomen, protruding out between/behind the back legs). 

 

Definitely more fleshy, but I'm good with that aesthetic. The huge suite of options are nice, and it's fun that there are the four Cult Legion heads... and a clear "this is for Iron Warriors" one. (Could have done without the nipple guns. No need to Primaris-ise them. ;P)

[01RTB01]

Last tournament I went to I took two stompas, boards are fine. Difficult perhaps but not impossible.

[Ming the Merciless]

3 hours ago, Fire Golem said:

I think it looks great as DG. 

 

Nice, just needs a sprinkling of Nurglings

[Dr. Clock]

3 hours ago, Evil Eye said:

recontextualize the flesh

 

3 hours ago, Evil Eye said:

go maximum body horror

100% this. I'll be doing my usual 'all the weird flesh bits and just constantly bleeding' thing as any true Khorne-dog should.

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.