Random Army Ideas

After the last "random" post, I think this one will have a lot more order... sorta. Just some of the random army ideas Ive toyed around with, but havnt done anything with yet... and in at least half of the cases, I wont.

-Von Carstein Historical
This army is built around three "eras" in WH history. The first part is Vlad's bid to take over the Empire. Its got all the special characters (Mannfred the Acolyte version), and nearly all the units allowed, aside from the Blood Knights.

Second part is Konrad's rampages. He is the only vampire allowed, with a few necromancers. This list is mainly set for under 2k. Limited Corpse Carts, but Blood Knights are allowed.

Third part is the return of Mannfred, now a Count. Other vampires are allowed (but none of the special characters), as is pretty much everything he can throw at the Empire before Hel Fen.

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-Mutant Guard
No history for this one, Im just tempted to take a bunch of Fantasy beastmen and file off the Chaos symbols (or not!), and slap Catachan arms with lasguns on them. Their squad and company leaders would be Cadian models, with plenty of commissars.

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-Space Marine Homeworld
Many of the worlds that provide recruits for the Space Marines know of their overlords, and welcome them. The Ultramarines recruit the best from Macragge's schools. The Salamanders go one better and actually train potential recruits as blacksmiths before recruiting them. The Iron Stars, however, actually return to their extended families after completing their tour as a scout, and this chapter is well known for not only allowing the Imperial Guard to recruit from their homeworld, but for sending a few squads of Space Marines along with each regiment, to ensure commanders do not waste their kin in pointless actions.

Not too sure how to run this force, other then maybe an Inquisititorial Storm Trooper force, with Space Marine allies, or just save it for Apocalypse.

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-"In the name of the Emperor!"
Another fantasy army based around a few special characters, this time all in the same time. Karl Franz, Kurt Helborg, Ludwig Schwartzehelm, Volkmar, and Balthasar Gelt, supported by a ton of Reiksguard, Greatswords, and state troops from Reikland and Altdorf. To include them all would require a 5k+ army...

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-"Blood Elves"
More paint scheme then anything else, this was what I was planning when I picked up a High Elf Battalion box... Go look up Blood Elves in World of Warcraft. That red and gold color scheme they have? Yeah, that on High Elf models.

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- "The Peasants are revolting!" "Yes they are..."
I want to make a peasant force from Bretonnia. Just because.

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-Spawnchompers!
Lots of mutant ogres, from the Spawnchompers clan. Thats actually what Ive got, hidden away in the closet of DOOM. Ive got a few units of assorted mutations, and was in the middle of creating a conjoined twin model when I got bored and started working on something else.

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-IG Frenzy
Is it just me, or are there a TON of potential ideas for the Guard if you dont tie yourself to a pre-described planet? Considering the number of IG blogs out there, no, its not just me. ;)

One I considered was taking WH Empire hand gunners and "counting them as" guardsmen.

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-Blood Axes
Id like to be able to play IG with some Ork freebooters, or an Ork army with some IG advisors. "Sure, we will give you a thousand shooters, if you go in and kill off all those genestealers for us!"

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These are a few of my ideas for now, Ill save more for later!

Looking once more at the Cadians...

So, I learned last night there is another Cadian 42nd out there. Hrm... In order to prevent confusion in the Holy Imperium, Im going to redesignate mine. Ill pick a number later. ;)

Im planning on repainting what Ive got (not that a lot of it is painted anyway), with a simpler scheme. It always annoyed me that I spent more time painting guardsmen then space marines. So, Im working on a scheme thats simpler, and works with my table and the armies they are likely to fight alongside. While not quite as fast as Drax's method, this should work for me.

Prime black, give a coat of catachan green. Give it a few washes of either beastal brown or scorched brown. Drybrush with catachan green (maybe with a little bleached bone in there). Paint the gun casing and boots black. Im still trying to decide on the badges on the helmet and chest, though Im thinking grey/white. Flesh and metal bits done as normal.

Shoulder pads... on the left side Im thinking of a slight homage to the "ancient" 2nd edition codex. Two color split, one half as the company color, other as the platoon color, with the squad number in white. Platoons are now much larger then they used to be (maxed out at 6 units back then), but as Im hand painting the numbers, I see no problem. The other side Im not so sure on. I might break down and use the decals, get that gate badge showing, but then Im half tempted to leave it bare.

Ideas/Suggestions?

**EDIT** I just had an "Oh, DUH!" moment. The right side shoulder pad is going to get my campaign badge, a white star in a circle.

Monday Top Ten #13

Ive always considered the number thirteen a little misunderstood. Its not it's fault that bad luck is associated it the number, right? ;)

1. Ranillon takes a look at painting equipment.
2. FoxPhoenix builds a table that can be easily stashed away.
3. Ron has 6 tips learned while working on commission.
4. Oni has a spiffy download-able roster sheet.
5. TNA has a cool project going on that involves Ork Nobz, time limits, and Childrens Charities, as shown by James.
6. The 25mm Warrior has tips on saving money while feeding the mini-addiction.
7. Morkai has a pretty cool picture of a Genestealer up.
8. John's tip for painting flying models involves paintbrushes....
9. *GASP* How did Mik's non-GW models get here? Go look, maybe play a new game!
10. And, since the new Imperial Guard book is incoming, we look to Drax's thoughts on it.

Weekend stuff...

First up is a pic of my recently rebased Imperial Fists, First Tactical Squad of the Second Company. Since the picture was taken, Ive touched up the tac badges, and still have to add unit numbers, and do something with the VSgt's banner. But I like how the yellow looks, even if I loath painting it.


Next up, the complete Red Scorpion Assault Squad Eight of the Fifth Company. Nothing more planned for this unit, time to work on finishing that Devastator squad.

Speaking of that Devastator squad, they have 6 models completed from before, and four models primered, drybrushed grey, and with the yellow-ish trims painted. Im hoping to get them worked on this week.

I also drybrushed the metal onto 4 of those dwarfs, and most of their cannon. Only 25 more to go!

More work was done this weekend on my table. I finally got the other sheet of fabric I need, and once I clear everything off, I plan to tack it onto the plywood. The hills got some love as well, as I gave them all a coat of thinned elmers glue mixed with sand. Im thinking Ill be spraying (and praying I got it on thick enough) tomorrow.

Tonight, I have a goal. To discover a source of decent plastic trees that are sold fairly cheap. Ask nicely, and Ill share. ;)

Oh, and I joined on that MyBattalion thing, as Ryan. ;) Check it out Here.