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Hi, long time listener first time caller...

Im slowly assembling (in my head and on sprue) a force of 'generic' sci fi troopers made mostly out of Space Marine Scouts - pics to follow of a few mock ups- but i'm struggling with how to represent them on the table. I'm not hugely bothered fluff wise as I'm going to be using them also in some other games (starship trooper and HALO type games too) but I will also be playing 40k with them. To give you a rough idea where I'm heading see this Kopinski piece from AT-43 artwork - http://www.karlkopinski.com/image.php?id=173

the smaller power armour troops in the near background are the kind of things I'll model out of terminator (see below)

So here are my thoughts:

Option 1: Use Codex Space Marines and make a scout orientated army. This will give me the option of bikers too. Ill be building some heavy armour tyoe exo suits (think of those ones in AT-43) out of terminators that can be represented in rules by normal marines. this will allow me have a few more weapons options and be fun to make - especailly a devastator squad! I can also build 'super heavy power armour' represented by dreadnoughts. However am I right in thinking that scouts are now only BS3? (not buying codex til i've decided on which list) If so that would bugger it a bit a that'll leave me fairly weak.

Option 2: Use codex S/M again but increase the armour of the scouts slightly (knee pads/greaves, they'll have helmets anyway, more arm armour) and treat as normal marines - this gives me a huge amount more options weaponry wise but gives me a problem with my 'heavy armour' as I really dont want to model powerfists and represent them with terminator rules on them as I dont see them like that at all. Also that gives me an issue regarding modelling the 3+ save - I personally feel that it would be ok but then I also feel 3+ is high enough for the way Space Marines look (a third of lasfire gets through?!) but not everyone will agree. Which is also the problem with option 3...

Option 3: Use the Sisters of Batle list.... lots of equipment, bolters (which is the only thing that wont be 'generic' as if I remodel weapons the scouts get quite hard to work with) and good wargear options (I quite fancy the idea of doing 'seraphim' in a similar vein to the plastic Tau stealth suits). Again I end up with a difficulty with the 3+ save and what to count the ' heavy armour' as - my only thought was poss. allied armoured sentinels which sounds quite cool to my mind - especially if I model that terminator rocket launcher onto them as a sentinel rocket launcher - this 'sentinel' version would be good as it'd make them poor in combat which is how I imagine them.

I considered inquisatorial stormtroopers armed with shotguns (ie arbites) but I'm worried that wont be a viable option forever (ie when they change the codex and forget to put it in) and I dont want to suddenly not be able to use them.

So thanks for letting me ramble... any thoughts? Once i know which list i can stop prepping the models and get assembling and I'll keep the pics here.

Hi there! First post here too!

First off, I think your idea is great! It has the potential to be an outstanding army.

Now for your list. You are right, Scouts are now BS 3 and WS 3 but otherwise have excellent special rules that goes more along there intended role. That being said, I think option #2 is your best option. The new C:SM is quite good, so when you'll play 40K, you'll have a decent army. Modeling wise, I think your options are better (scouts with added armor would be great for marines, think ODST armor VS Halo Marines armor - Grear!) even considering the Terminator PF question. You could try to make a power field generator on one arm representing the close combat weapon of the suit - you get a leaner arm and still keep it representative enough.

Anyways, I hope to see your first couple of models soon!

Thanks mate - yeah I'm excited by the concept, just trying to fit it into 40k for when I want to play that is a bit harder... Once it's finished I'll work on fluff later. I was thinking along the same lines as you but then I began t think about sisters a bit more (as you do!) - the ten man squads are a bit of a pain but the 'allies' will give me space to use all sorts of 'counts as' troops and IG tanks. I've almsot finished one of the 'powered armour' suits so i'll put a piccie up later - the more I think about it the nore I really like the idea of using them individually or in small squadrons as armoured sentinels... I just think the profile for terminators really doesnt suit them. If I remember the allies rule correctly that would mean I could have two squadrons of those and some sort of jump trooper (seraphim).

I think I'm pretty much set on Sisters unless anyone can convince me otherwise...

Well the test model is done - photo's here are only from the basecoat stage - ignore his gun and neck as i've not begun to tidy them in this picture. I'm happy with him... he's going to be a squad leader and I've decided to definately use the SoB list as a starting point so I hope people feel they are suitably armoured.

As for colours I'm also using Vallejo quite heavily on this one, and plan to weather them suitably once they're finished. All the 'armour' units (see earlier posts) will be in this green too.

Omce i've finished the half squad I'm working on I'll put a good pic up....

Looks good, reminds me of the early American Football players a bit.

Nice painting there! It's clean and crisp, I like it. I was expecting more conversion work though to be honest. Not that it is bad as it is, but y'a know....

I'll wait until you post half a squad, maybe you will surprise us with something special (crosses fingers!)

Thanks - crisp and clean is what I'm after.

To be honest, on the line troops there wont be any spectacular conversion - just some minor kitbashing to get them all in line. I think any dramatic conversions will detract from the genric 'grunts' feel I want.

I think the 'seraphim' jump troops i'm thinking up will be abit more impressive, as are the slowly developing 'heavy armour' suits (allied sentinels)

I like everything about this idea- and cant wait to see it carried through!

Nice concept and concept model. I've actually got a similar project on the backburner, using scouts with the GRIMDARK elements scraped off with Pig Iron heads swapped in, in an attempt at more generic sci fi marines. My plan was to go with your #1, though aye, that does make them pretty lackluster in game. Meh, for me it's more of a modeling project anyway.

- Salvage

Looks like a great idea , can't wait to see some fo those "heavy armour" suits, keep it up!

I've now amalgamated all my updates os see them here:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/260163.page#1030901

cheers

very nice paint job, it definately pops...