Thinking out loud about Death Guard

--Warning! Rambly Wall of Text Ahead!--

Ive been on a bit of a tear with my Death Guard recently, as I am sure some of you have noticed. And there is more to come. Seriously, another picture post is still scheduled as I type, and Ive got three more already to get photographed and posted.

Well, when I made the order (WAAAAAAAY back in March!), the only goal I had was to make a 1500 point list. A respectable goal, in my opinion. Like all plans, it did not survive contact with the enemy: Me. As I type this, that 1500pt list is (finally) fully painted, along with a few extras to bump it to 2000pts. And that is not the end. During my trip last fall, I picked up a Fire Raptor, a Sicaran, and the event-only Navigator. Ive been bouncing between where they were going to end up, but pretty much settled on the Death Guard. For now. And right now, the Sicaran is on the painting table, so that is what matters.

In addition, thanks to a friendly neighborhood Tyrant, I have a few squads of MkIII infantry as well. Once those were decided on, I made another FW order, and got bolters that were more to my liking (came with Tigrus, I wanted Phobos), along with sufficient helmets and shoulder pads for the force, and a few other extras *coughMortarioncough*...

So, obviously my little 1500pt project has grown legs and is fully dancing now. The question is what music is playing?

Obviously, the Death Guard have some biases when it comes to models I should be building and bringing, though it is also said Mortarion wouldn't allow his force to be undone by the lack of certain units. Ill be focusing mainly on terminators and the basic tactical trooper, but I am planning to include some of the more specialized units.

Im going to try to stick with MKII and MKIII for most models where possible, though MKIV will make an appearance as well, mainly for the previously mentioned specialist units. Still, Ive got a few ideas on conversions to sneak more Crusade and Iron armor into the collection.

Originally, when I built up their bases, I did it to show these ancient heroes/heretics were a mighty step up from the Chapters of 40k, and I am going to stick with that. Speaking of bases, I am going to be sticking the power armor models on 32mm bases, because I like the look. Assuming I can ever order any of the blasted things!

Having blathered about model choices, unit choices, and bases, I think the only thing I wanted to touch on left is organizational details. Pretty sure being led by Typhon nails down that they are from the First Grand Company, Ill have to sort out what chapter when I get around to painting a banner....

So, where am I going with this force? End goal? Dont really have a goal. Whatever I feel like painting for these guys, and see where it ends up.

2013 in review

Its about that time again, isnt it?

2013 was an "interesting" year in my house. Up through August, I was expecting '13 to go down as one of my worst years yet (still wont win any awards), with car issues and the financial difficulties that often come with those.

And then, September happened. Wife and I said "No more back-lot deals!" and got something "new-ish". With a warranty. We have a car payment, but its still cheaper than the amount we were socking away to pay for repairs. And then, the VA FINALLY settled the wife's disability (only been fighting for 5 years), and we suddenly had disposable income... which means I suddenly had a proper hobby fund again.

So, enough of that, what happened with the hobby over the year? Well, I finished off all my Red Scorpions. Ive since picked up a few models to expand the Honor Guard, but they are sorta gathering dust at this point.

I started a Nurgle Chaos Marine "Black Crusade", but kinda lost interest, and they are boxed away.

Ive got a decent start on a Dark Angels force, that might be used as allies for other 40k armies.

I finished painting my Cryx, and sold them off. Decided I needed to clear them out and remove the distraction.

I have barely done any work on my Circle Orboros collection, though I did pick up a WoldWrath.

I started a Convergence of Cyriss force, currently I need to paint "blue glow" on half the models to finish them, and then paint Aurora.

I started a Skaven force, started with the IoB models, but added a Battalion box and some Stormvermin. The IoB models are done. The Stormvermin are about 30%, and the battalion is still unassembled...

I finally joined in on the Horus Heresy craze, and have a few squads of Night Lords in the works. These are going a lot slower than Id like, as they are a bit more expensive, and few of the locals seem overly interested in 30k gaming.

With winding down on the Red Scorpions, I decided to work on another Space Marine chapter. I put together a squad and Captain from the Minotaurs, but decided they were not quite what I was looking for. So, I dusted off an old favorite of mine, and redesigned the Storm Fists.

Fluff Purist, what does that even mean?

So, I was having a nice chat with @Curis on Twitter about Space Marine color schemes, and he told me about the new colors for the Howling Gryphons. I mentioned that I preferred the brighter schemes, and he said he liked the newer "grittier" colors. He said "Ahhh, seems you prefer the GW aesthetic." My reply was: "I am a fluff purist first, and just happen to prefer my models to be visible from low orbit."

Ive been thinking since then, what exactly does that mean? Obviously I like the fluff, or Id be playing a different game. Do I turn my nose up to fan produced material? No... Does it have to appear in a codex to be "canon"? No, the Horus Heresy series likely broke many people out of that trap. Do I ignore Forge World material? Obviously not. So, what exactly does it mean, and more so, what does it mean for me?

Ive been known to say "no fluff like the old fluff" from time to time, and my choice of preferred chapter reflects that in a way. The Red Scorpions almost fell into the same pit as some other chapters (Rainbow Warriors, Flesh Eaters), and it took Forge World looking for something to claim to save them, but even if they hadn't, I think I would have eventually come around to them.

By now, everyone has heard that Forge World is rewriting one of the greatest battles of "recent" 40k history, the Badab War. I read earlier that they are changing the story some (Not just the Space Sharks, heh), so that the Red Scorpions have a major involvement. They had been just protecting shipping from the Executioners chapter before (plus the mysterious Angstrom Incident), and now it looks like the final battle of the campaign was Culln verses Old Man Huron. Quite a jump there, right?

Normally, contradictions in the fluff are ignored, the passage of years invariably gets some facts confused, but this is somewhat recent history and is a major jump for my chosen chapter. So, looking at it through the fluff, how did it go? New Fluff trumps old fluff, right? But GW trumps Forge World? The GW stuff is two decades (at least!) older?

Ive decided, screw it, learn to love the Newspeak (doubleplusgood!). I may be cherry picking the fluff I adhere to, but history is written by the victor (or sometimes the survivor).

And for the record, I still prefer the "clownish" red and yellow scheme for the Howling Gryphons.

What does everyone else think? Where do you fall in the fluff spectrum?

Forge World goodies....

Everyone has seen the new Forge World stuff coming up, right? Of course we have. If you are just getting back from an internet free weekend, however, go take a peek at BoLS, they got the goods.

Ok, now that we are on the same page... Remember that post I did about a week ago, regarding my Forge World wish list? Looks like they covered part of it some. Couple more Daemon Engines! A big one, and a small one... just none that dance on their heads, but give them time, Im sure Tzeentch will get love eventually. ;)

That Khorne Slaughterer looks to be a confusing jumble of spikes, chainsaw blades, and armor plates... Perfect! I like the Blight Drones too, they seem to make me think of big, fat house flies...

Ok, time to go looking for more pics, cuz you know there has to be more! ;)

Forge World Wish List

Lepp brought up a good point. Those of us who order from Forge World fairly recently have seen that "What one item would you like to see us make" question.

And Lepp is right, thats an unfair question. I have to choose one? In their defense, asking "whats your top five most wanted?" would make a lot more work for them, and Id rather they spent the time packing and sculpting and shipping.

In no particular order, what Id like to see out from Forge World.

Armor variant parts. Imagine having a set of parts to mix and match with from Mk1 through the mythical Mk8, both for Imperials and Chaos. (Ok, I lied, this one actually is my #1.)

Venerable Dreadnaughts for the Founding Chapters (two down, seven to go!)... though maybe the White Scars shouldnt get one.

Generic Dreads for the Chaos Gods. All World Eaters are Khornate, but not all Khornate Chaos Marines are World Eaters...

More Daemon Engines. Lots more. Big ones, small ones, ones that dance on their heads... you get the idea.

More Eldar. More Necrons. Maybe even an Ork or two... more conversion/add on kits for existing vehicles would be cool. Variant Destroyers maybe?

More Nuns-With-Guns. Think about this, FW could make them the "Official FW Army" and do them up proper, since GW doesnt want to/cant do them in plastic. Metal or resin...

Warhammer Fantasy... Why do they do nothing here? I understand people like tanks, but after popping out two unique IG regiments and parts for others, plus the Red Scorpions and some of their special character models, they really have no excuse to not be doing the occasional stunty or lizardman.

Of course, I also have a separate wish list for the Red Scorpions... ;)