Redesigning the Crusade

Earlier this week I was in the midst of a conundrum. I was thinking I didnt want to include the Blood Angels or Dark Angels, because I wanted to paint something different then what every other person using those codexes use. That and I dont want to paint more red then I have to. But I did still want those books in my Crusade. However, I decided that in order to not be painting a ton of black armored chapters (seriously, most of their successors are black!), I may as well leave them as is.

Last week I got my copy of the Grey Knights codex, and a box of power armored Grey Knights, with the intention of converting them into Librarians... Well, my Crusade has grown from seven Chapters to eight. I am not counting this as a new army, as Id already included every other Space Marine codex, no reason not to include this one, right?

The post title said redesigning, right? Guess Id better explain that. I had the entire Crusade set up to view earlier, and all the unfinished models were somewhat depressing and daunting. So, they got packed up and I was trying to forget them. Not a good idea when Ive cut down to three-four armies, right? So, in order to make it manageable, each Chapter has a starting point set up, and Ill add units as the entire Crusade gets painted. For now, each has 2 Troops and 1 HQ set up. Once the entire group is painted, Ill add an Elite, Fast Attack, or Heavy Support to each.

So, looking at my existing Crusade, Ill just go down the list on where they stand.

Dark Angels: Two 5-man Tactical Squads, and a Company Master.

Blood Angels: Currently, 5 Death Company, 5 Tactical Marines, and Lemartes. Need to add an HQ, unless I want to use him as a Reclusiarch.

Space Wolves: Currently, one Wolf Priest. Need to add a unit of Grey Hunters and Blood Claws.

Marines Errant: Right now, I have a Librarian, Scout Squad, and a Tactical Squad with Razorback. Think they are all painted, so they are waiting on everyone else to catch up.

Imperial Fists: Captain and two Tactical Squads. One is mostly painted, the other needs to be finished (very close, mostly basing).

Grey Knights: Currently I have a Brotherhood Champion and a 5-man Strike Squad. I want to add either another Strike Squad or a Terminator Squad for this stage.

Red Scorpions: Yeah, these guys are just sitting and waiting for the rest to catch up. Two Tactical Squads and a Captain.

Black Templars: I have an Emperor's Champion and a Chaplain. Need to add a pair of Crusader Squads. However, whispers on the grapevine are that this will be the next Imperial Marine codex, and I could see them putting out a better kit for them. Seriously tempted to let them wait for now.

The stage one goal is going to be two full sized Troops choices (just 10 for the Death Company) with transports, and an HQ choice. I have not decided if I want to take Command Squads for the Chapters that get Captains, but I am not ruling it out at the moment.

The ultimate goal is still a Battle Company (or equivalent) for each.

One Thousand Points Of Fun!

I made a couple decisions last week, that I was going to stop playing a single chapter list, and that I NEED to get the models on my desk painted. Oddly enough, those posts I did last week removed all the desire I had to work on my Imperial Guard for now. So, I made a few self imposed rules for when I play a game...

#1: I am not allowed to run a mono-chapter SM list. This means I have to look to my full collection, rather then just my Red Scorpions. Easiest way to get the Crusade flavor across.

#2: If I run a model that is not FINISHED (tactical and chapter badges and all), my ENTIRE ARMY gets -1 Initive. This is the spur to get me to only use painted models. I considered LD, but ATSKNF made that nearly pointless.

So, with those in place, this is my new 1k list. Initials before the entry are the chapter they are from.

1k Crusade Force

(ME) Librarian w/Smite, Gate of Infinity
100

(IF) Tactical Squad (10) w/ Missile Launcher, Meltagun, Combimelta, Power Weapon
200

(RS) Tactical Squad (10) w/ Missile Launcher, Plasma Gun, Power Weapon, Meltabombs
195

(ME) Scouts Squad (8) w/ Power Fist, Heavy Bolter
149

(ME) Terminator Squad (5) w/ Assault Cannon, 1 Chainfist
235

(IF) Dreadnought w/ Assault Cannon
115

We are ganging up on DT's group this weekend... err, I mean joining them for fun! So, Im going to expand this to 1500 and 2k... Ill post those as soon as I figure them out... along with what got painted this weekend and what I did to the table lately...

Monday Gaming wrap up...

Mike came over this afternoon, and we had our little bash... Several years ago Id played against one too many Space Wolf Rhino Rushes, and swore Id never play against the Sons of Russ again. Ever. Time heals many wounds, and Id figured I was ok, two editions later. Well, after that 500 point game a little while back I was wondering... Today was 2000 points, a blue and white line against the darkness.

Mikie had some difficulties with arithmetic at first, and was short a few points (something like 160), so we decided to allow him to add in the points after turn one, but they had to come in as reserves. He ended up with a pair of wolf guard battle leaders, an iron priest, a rune priest, a large blood claw pack, a pair of grey hunter packs, some jump packers, a long fang pack, a predator, and a dreadnought. My list is two entries down. ;)

Turn one started off with my predator turning his into a nice and toasty fireball, and every heavy weapon that could draw LoS to the bloodclaws doing so... Turn two was those bloodclaws, along with the iron priest and WGBL, running off the table, and his dread charging my terminators... My turn three was my command squad taking apart a unit of grey hunters and the termies breaking his dreadnought. His turn three was him conceding. I lost three models over the entire game...

It felt good to finally tear the Space Wolves a new one, though games that are over that quick usually leave me feeling sort of guilty.

Lessons!
Dont forget to pop smoke, that 4+ cover for a razorback can save it!

Look at the table after deployment, and before turn one, make sure you know what units your opponent brought to the table... I didnt notice the Long Fangs in the tower until they wrecked my Razorback's twin lascannons.

Land Raider Crusaders are vicious. Even at range they can lay down a respectable amount of fire.

Err... If you are planning on shooting your enemy to bits, dont block off LoS completely...

Monday Gaming, and Marines Errant list.

Ive got a game against Mike tomorrow afternoon, 2k of my Space Marines against his Space Wolves... I should wait and post my list after the game, but Im bored and feel like tossing it up now. :)

Captain w/ Relic Blade, Digital Weapons, Meltabombs
145

Command Squad
2 Veterans w/ 1 Power Fist, Flamer
Apothecary w/ Chainsword
Champion w/Power Weapon, Combat Shield
Banner Bearer w/ Chainsword
Razorback w/ Twin Lascannon
175+75

Tactical Squad (10) w/ Heavy Bolter, Flamer
VSgt w/Power Fist
195

Tactical Squad (10) w/ Heavy Bolter, Meltagun
VSgt w/ Power Sword, Meltabombs
200

Tactical Squad (10) w/ Plasma Cannon, Plasma Gun
VSgt w/ Stormbolter
195

Tactical Squad (10) w/Missile Launcher, Plasma Gun
VSgt w/ Power Fist
205

Terminators (5) w/ 1 Chainfist, 1 Assault Cannon
Land Raider Crusader w/Stormbolter
235+260

Scouts (10) w/ Heavy Bolter
VSgt w/power fist
175

Predator w/ twin Lascannons, Heavy Bolters, Stormbolter
140

total: 2000

I decided to go with a full Marines Errant list, so this will be a line of blue and white against the slobbering hordes of blood claws and whatnot. The only ME model that wasnt included was the Librarian, and Im still not entirely convinced Im not gonna sub something out for him.

Currently the plan is to break them all into combat squads, spread them out so he can only charge one at a time, and concentrate fire where I can... Of course, I wont combat squad if we end up playing an annihilation mission...

Crusade Project, defining the Chapters involved...

Im looking at a list right now, a list of what I possess for each of the three battle companies. Not included on this list is all the extra "fun" stuff. This is commanders, chaplains, Tac, Assault, Dev squads, and dreadnoughts. You know what Im noticing by looking at this list? Codex Chapters all look the same on paper. Seeing as my plan is three battle companies from different Chapters, I should work to emphasise the differences in the organization, as well as the color schemes.

Lets start with the one with the most information available: The Imperial Fists. Siege masters, stubborn as me on a cold morning, and a real hatred for the Iron Warriors. So, got some stuff to work with then. Im thinking that the Imperial Fists will be having more Dreadnoughts then the other two, possibly more then them combined. That will help show that these guys have been around for thousands of years longer then the other two chapters. Im also going to keep them loaded for anti-MEQ and anti-tank combat, since they are hunting the Iron Warriors.

The Red Scorpions are fanatical about remaining true to the Codex, and their own genetic purity. Im thinking these guys will be lined up to take on all, in true Codex fashion, being specialised by not being specialised.

Information on the Marines Errant is scarce, most significant is that they served alongside the Red Scorpions during the Badab War, and that most of their gene-seed was stolen by Huron Blackheart recently. From what I remember, he did it by creating many smaller conflicts that scattered their forces far and wide. Not quite sure how I want to set these guys up, but Im seriously thinking of taking biker squads instead of jump pack assault squads. I also think Im going to point their gear choices towards anti-infantry, with an eye towards Orks and IG...

Comments/Suggestions?

Bunch of pics for ya!

Tanks, Devastators, and Assault Marines...

Command for the three chapters, and the Dreadnaughts...


And Tactical Squads, plus the single squad of Scouts I have so far.

Some of my Red Scorpions.


Librarian and tac troops from the Marines Errant. I really need to get around to painting the badges on these guys.



Captain, Tac Marine and Devastator from the Imperial Fists. I decided to use the Black Templar bits on these guys, cuz it seems to fit. Ive been slacking on Chapter badges here, cuz I really hate decals...

Rolling on with the "Crusade"

Well, I boxed up the all my Space Marines except the Red Scorpions, the Marines Errant, and the Imperial Fists. Once that was done I reorganized how I had them set on the shelf. Previously they were set up by Chapter (as seen here), but now they are grouped by troop type. All the Tactical squads are grouped, the Assault and Devastator squads have their own spots, and all the command is together... that and pulling the others off has made the shelf more roomy, so its easier to sort out what Ive got going. Im planning on a pic or three when I get home today, so hopefully Ill upload that before going to bed.

In addition to sorting them out on the shelf, Im working on a few army lists that will use models from all three chapters. This (I hope) will motivate me to paint the models in that list.

At least, thats the plan...