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Hi DakkaDakka.
I'm planning on making a squad (either 5 or 10) of Black Templar honour guard, but I need some help. I've looked at various things and I have a few ideas of how I want these guys to look. The following is a picture from deviantart.com which is pretty much what I want my guys to look like.


BUT I have a few problems. Firstly, the shield. I know this is a FW BT terminator storm shield, but are they too big to be used on regular sized marines?

This picture shows that the shield covers most of the Terminator's body, so would it be too big for a regular guy? I reckon it looks fine on the previous picture but the person who converted that model may have cut down the shield (which I really don't want to do).

The whole idea of the squad is to have a real medieval look about them, so swords, axes and shields would be preferable because I don't think thunder hammers look all too medieval...
Which brings me to problem 2, what do I use for weapons? If I'm to go by-the-book, then a squad of assault terminators would be the easiest thing to have, just using swords and other weapons as thunder hammers.
But if I was to use regular marines, they would either be illegal or have to be very much not WYSIWYG (as in a squad of sword brethren with swords and axes all counting as chainswords,{only one model in the squad can have a power weapon} and storm shields). One problem with option 2 is that it would be very points heavy. Now I am meaning to have this group mainly for looks, fun and to add to my crusade's fluff, but in a game each sword brethren is going to be 39 points a piece, with the only benefits being 2 attacks each and a storm shield, whereas the Termies have better armour, better weapons and are only 40 points each (plus veteran skills).

So Assault Termies sound better (from a gaming point of view), but would regular marines look better? What do I use for weapons? I like the idea of hoods, but can a hooded head fit in termie armour? Will the shields be too big for regular marines? Any other conversion ideas? PLEASE HELP!


P.S BTW I already have two boxes of the Black Templar chapter upgrades, so shoulder pads, purity seals are fine (I have only used one sword altogether as well).

P.S.S Please suggest ideas that won't involve needing too much money!

P.S.S.S Sorry about the mass of text

That is beautiful. If you want something like that, i reccomend to make full use of the upgrade packs. As for ideas, for a head i would definetly check out WoC, Brettonians, and Empire Knightly orders.

Thanks Commisar Von Humps, I checked out WoC and I think they are just a bit too evil looking, they remind me too much of vikings or barbarians. As for the Empire or Bretonnians, I think the helmets are sweet but would unbalance the look of the models. I also don't want to have to buy a squad of guys just for their helmets.

I was more thinking of the Dark Angel style of helmets, with the hoods. But I'm wondering if its possible to make a hood out of greenstuff on one of the Black Templar helmets?
Thanks, and keep the advice coming!

Uhm, isnt that just the master of the watch or something?
thewarstore.com=bits for sale from like everything ever.
i recommend looking online until you find a bunch of pictures that you like the poses of, and find alot that look nice together. then look at your bits. then decide how much you want to spend. THEN worry about how they look
Personally, all of my squads involve running forward and pointing guns, so most defensive-facing models are anathema to me. But I've modeled a bunch of templars for my dad.

So obv termies are a b*tch to pose because theyre so static with leg placement and the like. so reg marines would look better. however, termies last longer. IMO.

Dark Angels hoods are good but would look out of place without a cloak. so choose. cloaks cover alot of detail though. be forewarned.

Add me and PM me, ill check out some bitz on the warstore and recommend some for you, and explain some ideas. i usually go with white helmets and red details on helmets for command squads, helps them stand out.

AND since the emperors champion is resin now, you can use his body. since citadel finecast ive been converting alot of reg marines into chaos ones. its fun. but yeah, let me poke around ill show you what i find. PM me.

P.S. sorry for the wall of text

Thanks for recommending thewarstore, I instantly found something that I think would be great for weapons!
I thought of grey knight terminator nemisis force swords, and whaddaya know, they have em! 5.99 for a pack of 5, which is great! But would the halberds be better?
Obviously those weapons would be too big should I decide to go with regular marines, but then there is all the regular grey knight pieces, so I think I have found where I can get what I need pieceswise!
So, pwease enlighten me, are the grey knight weapons suitable?

haha THATS what i picked! i got a list... can i pm you?

Of course please do!

the double headed axe glaive encarmine from sanguinary guard... theres an axe for you.

use grey knights helmets for all of them. they look knightly, if that's the black templar image that you are enforcing.

uhm halberds are okay, but limit them... knights typically fought with swords. or axes, because theyre badass.

capes could be cool. like the sword brethren.






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maybe use the castellan crowe model and remove the arms? thats a nice sideways facing pose that can make you look like he's aiming a shield and then in the other hand, you could put an axe. hes got a really nice stance. and a cape

I had a look at the glaive encarmines and they are boss, perfect weapons. I like the regular Black Templar helmets I currently have, I just don't know whether if they were without helmets whether it would detract from their knightly-ness. Also if you know what capes I could use that would be very helpful (not the sword brethren ones, because they aren't on thewarstore.com)
Thanks!

uhm let me check.



Automatically Appended Next Post:
Commander's cape:
http://www.thewarstore.com/product26961.html
nice torso bit: http://www.thewarstore.com/product27133.html
head wreaths: (knightly i think)
http://www.thewarstore.com/product27132.html

you could do double swords like these:

and you could use the termie shields, they are beautiful. they should fit too

Falchions as counts-as Lightning Claws look amazing!

So falchions work like lightning claws? Cool, but that doesn't matter because I'm not using their rules, just for looks. But BTW I couldn't have two swords or two handed weapons because one hand has to be holding the shield :/
I don't know whether the regular nemesis swords would work better, but I really just need termie weapon ideas.

TheTemplar wrote:So falchions work like lightning claws? Cool, but that doesn't matter because I'm not using their rules, just for looks.

You misunderstood me. What I meant was you could model a Templar with a pair of falchions and have him count as if he's wielding double lightning-claws, and that it looks awesome. You could still have the shield strapped to his arm. You could even model a broken and battered shield on the base, and have him wield one "normal" Nemesis sword and a falchion, so that it looks as if someone trashed his shield, forcing him to pull his knife.

AlmightyWalrus wrote:

TheTemplar wrote:So falchions work like lightning claws? Cool, but that doesn't matter because I'm not using their rules, just for looks.

You misunderstood me. What I meant was you could model a Templar with a pair of falchions and have him count as if he's wielding double lightning-claws, and that it looks awesome. You could still have the shield strapped to his arm. You could even model a broken and battered shield on the base, and have him wield one "normal" Nemesis sword and a falchion, so that it looks as if someone trashed his shield, forcing him to pull his knife.

definately
or have one sword broken and mangled the shield on his back and making a last stand

AlmightyWalrus wrote:

TheTemplar wrote:So falchions work like lightning claws? Cool, but that doesn't matter because I'm not using their rules, just for looks.

You misunderstood me. What I meant was you could model a Templar with a pair of falchions and have him count as if he's wielding double lightning-claws, and that it looks awesome. You could still have the shield strapped to his arm. You could even model a broken and battered shield on the base, and have him wield one "normal" Nemesis sword and a falchion, so that it looks as if someone trashed his shield, forcing him to pull his knife.

Sorry about the misjudgement on what you said
But now that I know what you mean, I really like the idea! The only thing is if I use the rules for lightning claws, then he doesn't have a shield (using it I mean)...
Also, would you do this for Termies or power-armoured marines? I'm only asking because (thanks Cloudstalker) I now know for certain that the power-armoured squad would be illegal. If I was to use them as a command squad (meaning I could have a standard bearer and an apothecary), they couldn't have storm shields (well, only the specialists could) and only the specialists would be able to have power weapons. If I took them as sword brethren (power armour) then they COULD all have storm shields, but only one could have a power weapon, the rest would be regular CCW.

Capitansolstice wrote:definately
or have one sword broken and mangled the shield on his back and making a last stand

Once again I really like this idea. I think this would make for a great diorama, but would it suit a member of a squad? If I was to do it, should I have him as the squad leader with falchions counting as LC?

Thanks for the ideas guys!

Just thought of another thing...

If I was to use Terminators, should I get the FW BT Terminator shoulder pads? I already have the BT Terminator shoulder pads from the upgrade kit, but I'm wondering if the FW pads would add more variety to the squad...

yes get them why not

TheTemplar wrote:Just thought of another thing...

If I was to use Terminators, should I get the FW BT Terminator shoulder pads? I already have the BT Terminator shoulder pads from the upgrade kit, but I'm wondering if the FW pads would add more variety to the squad...

If you're going to dive in you might as well do it head first. Go for it!

TheTemplar wrote:Just thought of another thing...

If I was to use Terminators, should I get the FW BT Terminator shoulder pads? I already have the BT Terminator shoulder pads from the upgrade kit, but I'm wondering if the FW pads would add more variety to the squad...

I think GK shoulder pads would also add variety, and they will cost less. Just use the ones with no Inquisition symbols on them.

but if you just get all of the FW at once= less $$

Thanks guys! I'll be sure to get them!
But does anybody have any comments on this?

TheTemplar wrote:

AlmightyWalrus wrote:

TheTemplar wrote:So falchions work like lightning claws? Cool, but that doesn't matter because I'm not using their rules, just for looks.

You misunderstood me. What I meant was you could model a Templar with a pair of falchions and have him count as if he's wielding double lightning-claws, and that it looks awesome. You could still have the shield strapped to his arm. You could even model a broken and battered shield on the base, and have him wield one "normal" Nemesis sword and a falchion, so that it looks as if someone trashed his shield, forcing him to pull his knife.

Sorry about the misjudgement on what you said
But now that I know what you mean, I really like the idea! The only thing is if I use the rules for lightning claws, then he doesn't have a shield (using it I mean)...
Also, would you do this for Termies or power-armoured marines? I'm only asking because (thanks Cloudstalker) I now know for certain that the power-armoured squad would be illegal. If I was to use them as a command squad (meaning I could have a standard bearer and an apothecary), they couldn't have storm shields (well, only the specialists could) and only the specialists would be able to have power weapons. If I took them as sword brethren (power armour) then they COULD all have storm shields, but only one could have a power weapon, the rest would be regular CCW.

Capitansolstice wrote:definately
or have one sword broken and mangled the shield on his back and making a last stand

Once again I really like this idea. I think this would make for a great diorama, but would it suit a member of a squad? If I was to do it, should I have him as the squad leader with falchions counting as LC?

Thanks for the ideas guys!

I think you should just do what you think looks the coolest and have the falchions, ect as just normal CCW also if they can have bolters they could be holstered.