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It's not something I've seen done a lot, but I'd really like to theme an army around a genestealer cult at some point. I won't buy classic models however as I want the hybrids to fit in more with the new style of genestealers.

I'm just wondering about a few things:

1: What Codex should I use to make my Genestealer Cult usable in games?

2: What models would be good for converting into hybrids?

3: What sort of colour scheme should I use for clothing etc on the human members of the cult?

4: Any suggestions for making my hybrids look less like people with genestealer bits glued on?

I think that's all I'd like to know right now.

EDIT: This project may well end up putting my Ork army plans on the backburner for a bit.

The Bell of Lost Souls blog put up a rather nice Genestealer Cult mini-codex today: http://belloflostsouls.blogspot.com/

That's very nice and all, but I have to have a codex that is legal, so I can use it in-store.

Sure,

It's on the shelf next to the LotD one.

If you're going to use this one, its pretty much a one off. They don't make a codex for this one.

*slaps forehead*

I know that, I'm looking for somethign that would allow me rules-wise to make a genestealer cult army and use it under those rules, replacing certain units with those from the genestealer cult fluff.

I've decided I'll go full-on 'Nids and then make up some cult models for games of apocalypse, where the 'Nids can take a guard army as allies, representing the cult aiding the tyranids in seizing the planet.

i think that the ork list would make a pretty decent representation of a genestealer cult.

Boy, using Eldar rules would be really, really funny.
Harlies=Stealers;
Guardians with scatter lasers/shuricannons=rebel PDF with carried heavy weapons;
Wraithlords=hybrid genestealer/burden beasts;
Scorpions=mini-lictors (or use Karandras);
Avatar=patriarch.

Dispensing with the ridiculous limousine rules would be in better taste, but you could always buy Serpents/Falcons and call them "up-armored grav-cars."

I'd go with the nid codex with human cultists subbing for various gaunts.

basically you'll need 'stealers, hybrids and cultists, which can be 'stealers, hormagunts and termaguants. Or even mobs of 3 humans on a swarm base as human wave/ripper swarm.

The new Empire flagellents make great robed and ragged cultists, Catachans make good Imperial laborers, Empire militia are good all-around humans.

For hybrids Skaven plague monks, zombies, orks and chaos maruaders would all work. I think Skaven are the best there but you'd need a lot of spare human/stealer heads.

Other stuff, Biovores as cannons? Warriors as Ogryn? Seems this would work.

use the 'nid codex, you can run a leman russ, use the carnifex rules for it.

For a carnifex I'd make some kind of construction sentinal rather than a Russ, people will get less confused that way.

You could even call the 'the executioner' since that's what a Carnifex was in ancient Rome.

1. Codex. The official Cult Codex was in the Citidel Journal Vo. 16 with Special Characters listed in Vol 17. This is a legal codex to use, and may still be available through Mail Order. I've used this COdex 3 times at Campaign Weekends at GW HQ Nottingham.

2. Models. I was lucky enough to purchase a load of the original hybrid models from the 80's. Most of my troops are made up from Necromunda models, I suggest the Delaque / Cawdor / Orlock / Ash Waste / Redemptionists models as they have cloaks, masks, bandanas etc.

2. Colours. I've gone for a purple blue look.

3. To make it stop looking like you've just stuck some Genestealer bits on its easy. By using the Redemptionist models, you can easily clip a hand off,drill out the sleeve in the cloak, and replace with a Stealer claw. It looks like the claw is comming out of the clothing and naturally part of the model.

My Genestealey Cult is around the 5000pt mark, maybe more. I have 2 Warhounds for them as well. My only advice is, if you do get some of the old classic models, they are HIGHLY desirable, and will go 'walkies' if you leave them. Unfortunately this happened to me, and I lost my Magus model, which I can't replace now.

Awesome stuff Squig, any more pictures?

Sigh, I'm tempting myself to start a GS cult...

Very nice stuff there, Squig. Though personally I dislike the old hybrid models, along with the patriarch which looks like a genestealer that's become a servant of nurgle.

That's why I'll create my own ones, but for now I'm going to build up a basic 'Nid swarm, the Cultists can come later.

Also, you said you've used the cult rules at campaigns in GW HQ Nottingham, have you used them since 4th Ed. was released?

Yep, I've used them since the 4th Edition. I like them 'cause they bring a bit of randomness back to the game, like all the Imperial Vehicles I use are not maintained very well, so every turn foll 2D6, snake Eyes and they break down and are imobalised for the rest of the game. The Magus has the 'He who runs away . . . ' rule, which allows him to disengage from CC and leave his bodyguard in the mele, leaving him free to do other stuff. Hi bodyguard are fanatical follows that throw themselves in from of enemy fire to protect the magus, so in shooting I can allocate up to 3 wounds per model (nut they onth have 1 wound each, so if I take 1 wound I take 1 off, if I took 4 wounds, I'd allocate 3 to 1, and then 1 to onther, and loose 2). The other sneaky plan, allows the Patriarch and his bodyguard (which can be stealers) to be transported in a Chimera. Troop choices without heavy weapons or hybrid leaders can infiltrate. If the Magus is killed, then all the troops are forced to take a morale check, Fail and their broken for the rest of the game, pass and their fearless for the rest of the game.

I've also used them at a campaign weekend whereby I had to use the IG Codex. My Elites or Fast Attack could be Stealers, my magus was a psyker with a force weapon, but I prefered the Journel rules.

Cool army and they look quite well painted. It's too bad GW just decides to stop supporting certain armies.

I like these conversions for a genestealer cultist.




http://us.games-workshop.com/games/40k/tyranids/painting/forgotten_fleet/r_horror_2.htm

and

http://us.games-workshop.com/games/40k/tyranids/painting/forgotten_fleet/j_slug_2.htm

That second one looks pretty cool. But neither have the 'stealer feel. They need mutations.

Those were just Tyranid offshoot species which use mind control to make aliens do their bidding.

But neither have the 'stealer feel. They need mutations.

Not all Genestealer Cult members are inhuman. Many are humans under genestealer influence via psychic control. Also, none of them have 'mutations' they are hybrids, they look weird because that's the way they're meant to be, part Stealer, part human.

Of course, what would be even more interesting is a Stealer cult that uses another race, maybe Tau, as a host species.

I've loved the Genestealer Cult since I first saw it in the Yellow Compendium. Talk about a precursor to the now defunct LatD.
It allowed me to use some of my favorite minis from my collection (Rough Riders, Beastmen, etc.) together. The fact that I could also put my Realm Of Chaos books to use with it was another +.

I just started a Tau Cadre myself, and was really into CDR Farsight's fluff. While they kind of explained his enclaves, I immediately thought there could be much more to it. Was it possible that Farsight had received the Genestealer Kiss? Shortly after reading Tau Empire, I developed this "counts as" Tau force. It will most likely not feature Farsite simply because I feel he lends himself to a suit heavy lits which takes away from the cult theme for me.

My intent was to build the Cadre as follows:
-Patriarch as Farsite or the IA:3 Tau character (dunno how I like this though)
-Magos as the Ethereal (very similar models)
-Metal multi-pose hybrids as FW leaders, pathfinders, Ethereal's bodyguard
-Space Hulk plastic hybrids as Kroot
-Genestealer Familiars as Kroot Hounds



I've got the hybrid models, now it's just a matter of getting 17 more Kroot Rifles to arm the Hybrids. If you've got any of the Kroot Rifles without arms, I'd be interested in making a trade via PM (same screen name on Bartertown for trade history).

I ran a genestealer cult using Tyrannids as my base army with Witch Hunters Adversaries (from the WH Codex) added on top of the nids to represent the cult. The WH Adversaries allow you to take traitor guard and mutants as troop choices and a variety of psykers and cult leaders as HQ. It was a great fit.

major_slovak wrote:I ran a genestealer cult using Tyrannids as my base army with Witch Hunters Adversaries (from the WH Codex) added on top of the nids to represent the cult. The WH Adversaries allow you to take traitor guard and mutants as troop choices and a variety of psykers and cult leaders as HQ. It was a great fit.

Now that's a good idea!

major_slovak wrote:I ran a genestealer cult using Tyrannids as my base army with Witch Hunters Adversaries (from the WH Codex) added on top of the nids to represent the cult. The WH Adversaries allow you to take traitor guard and mutants as troop choices and a variety of psykers and cult leaders as HQ. It was a great fit.

I was going to suggest just using the Nid Codex as a count's as army , but if you can get more choices with the WH rules then all the better.

<<Servant of the Great Father scurries off to find his WH Codex>>

Let me take another stab at this

1: What Codex should I use to make my Genestealer Cult usable in games?

Tyranid Codex. I personally like the idea of using the Gaunt rules for juiced up Blood Brothers, but the WH Adversary rules wouldn't hurt if they gave you greater options, like heavy weapons...

2: What models would be good for converting into hybrids?

I like working with plastic. I'd actually consider hitting the fantasy range for the Empire State Handgunners.
They have a uniform, but more of a civilian look for the 40K setting and the Guns look enough for lasguns or autoguns.

http://store.us.games-workshop.com/storefront/store.us?do=List_Models&code=305837&orignav=300943&ParentID=258884&GameNav=13

3: What sort of colour scheme should I use for clothing etc on the human members of the cult?

Purple seems to have been the cult favorite back in the day, but I'd be all about the black.
Maybe, predominantly black with purple highlights and details.

They love they're genestealers and hybrid offspring, so I imagine you could go with any paint scheme that matched you Genestealers and it would look apporpriate.


4: Any suggestions for making my hybrids look less like people with genestealer bits glued on?

Green Stuff, lots of green stuff

Hybrids would do well to wear robes to cover thier deformities fromt he watchfull eyes of the Inquisition.

Wow, Squig - those are some nice models. I particularly like the Cult's Repressor.

I think Adam's got an interesting idea about going black for the Cult's color-scheme. I mean, purple worked for 2nd Ed when everything was glaringly primary colors, but yeah, a purple so deep that it's nearly black would look cool for today's game.

I've been playing with the Citadel Journal genestealer cult list since it came out. It's very balanced and everyone I've met loves to play against it. I hardly ever even take the genestealers because 4 squads of 50 cultists and 3 lemans is great fun in itself.

Two of my 50 man squads have shotguns. At 12", they fire 100 shots! Here's the catch though. Say we're shooting at marines. 100 shots at 5+ to hit is roughly 33 hits. At 5+ to wound, that's 11 wounds. After armor saves, that's only 3-4 dead marines! LOL The hidden power fist on the hybrid squad leader is the only saving grace.

I've played against imperial guard and he loved that I wasn't getting armor saves against his las-guns. I played against orks and they loved the amount of bodies piling up on both sides. When he waaghed in and killed 20+ models, he slapped the table and said "that's how I imagined a waagh charge to be!" It's actually such a balanced list that 80% of my games are ties.

I love my genestealer cult.

mortal888 wrote:I've been playing with the Citadel Journal genestealer cult list since it came out. It's very balanced and everyone I've met loves to play against it. I hardly ever even take the genestealers because 4 squads of 50 cultists and 3 lemans is great fun in itself.

PICTURES!

lol I guess pictures would be a good idea. I'll take pics next time I play with them and post them up. It will be a few weeks though.