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Hey, I just recently got back into the 40k scene after a five or so year hiatus, and I have a question.

I'm dead set on building up some Witch Hunters. I've planned out my spreads, weapons, etc. and am currently at the stage in army development where I pour over ebay for hours at a time looking for deals on bits and boxes. All of the Inquisitorial artwork from the old rulebook inspired me to go all out this time around when putting together my army (I absolutely love customization), but...I fear I may take it too far.

Playing with friends or more casual clubs was never a big deall; everyone could really care less that your Chaos Lord had a horse coming out of his stomach or that your Carnifex had two heads. But I must confess I have absolutely no experience at any sort of professionally organized 40k event such as a tournament. I don't know how far models can be tweaked in that context before someone blows the whistle, but I'm getting a sense from reading through some recent tourney accounts that what I'm trying to do with my Witch Hunters could be considered a bit...illegal.

For example, the idea I have for my main two Troop selections (Inquisitorial Storm Troopers) is to alter their appearance completely. I plan to mix and match both Necron and Kroot torsos, legs and arms together, stick on the bearded, grizzled heads from Fantasy's Flagellants, paint all the fleshy bits a sickly pale human skin tone and finally issue each one a Lasgun (because Helguns are completely unobtainable without a jackhammer; thanks GW). Yeah, they're not "Storm Troopers" at all...but the awesome combination of robot, monk and insanity seems to fit right in with the GW-issued Penitent Engines and priests with 7 foot flamethrowers coming out of their shoulder sockets that will be filling the rest of the ranks. Just a stylistic touch, nothing malicious.

So long as I document everything on army lists and reflect my units' upgrades on their models in an identifiable way (i.e. putting frag grenades on their belts, representing weapons), is having two literally unrecognizable regiments of pimped-out Storm Troopers going to invite more complaints than compliments? I don't know if the rules have changed significantly in the past several years regarding this issue; hell, I honestly don't even know if what I'm planning to do was outright prohibited back when I USED to play. In any case I've already shelled out 30$ for random bits of Necron and Kroot and I should probably seek council before I spend any more :-p

EDIT: aaaaaaaaaand I meant to post this in "You Make Da Call". Way to make a good first impression!

I do not see why it would be a problem as long as you explained what everything was if someone asked and were not trying to model something to gain an unfair advantage. If it just looks different, there is nothing in the rules saying you can't.

Hell, you could use Grey Knight Terminators for Ork Boyz if you wanted to, provided your army list was legal and you explained that the GK Termies were just Ork Boyz in terms of stats before the game started.

You shouldn't have any problems. Cool modeling is always neat. Just try and keep everything on the same size base that it was on originaly and no one is likely to complain. If you are going to a tournament or some similar event, you may want to print out an army roster that includes pictures of your models along with what they are (possibly including weapons and stats if you want to go whole hog) so that your opponent has a quick refrence sheet to work with. Beyond that, it sounds good so get to work and post some pictures. I want to see how this army turns out.

Yep, as long as it makes sense, so no gretchin acually being carnifexes , you'll be fine even at GTs. The 'Counts as@ rule is in fine health in 40k at the mo, just make sure before the game you explain fully to your opponent what is going on, I'm sure they'll be happy to be playing such an imaginative army rather than anything else.

Also, keep in mind that we're entering the age of Jervishammer 40K 5th edition.

While the WH/DH/AH combined codex is years away, when it does come, some of your careful/time consuming/expensive customization may (will?) be invalidated in the name of "speed of play".

Of course, if the is a Codex that will DEMAND customization, it will certainly be the Inquisition one, so, who knows?

If they have the appropriate gear, I don't see why not.

Vaktathi, in a tourney setting, I really doubt you could do that. There is a difference between proxying and counts-as. GKs for Boyz would obviously be proxying.

tegeus-Cromis wrote:If they have the appropriate gear, I don't see why not.

Vaktathi, in a tourney setting, I really doubt you could do that. There is a difference between proxying and counts-as. GKs for Boyz would obviously be proxying.

In a Tourney setting sure (depending on what they count as "counts as" and "proxies"), but that is a Tournament house rule, not a rule you would find in the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook. It was an intentionally exaggerated example that is plainly silly, but works as to get the point I was trying to make.

Playing with friends or more casual clubs was never a big deall; everyone could really care less that your Chaos Lord had a horse coming out of his stomach or that your Carnifex had two heads. But I must confess I have absolutely no experience at any sort of professionally organized 40k event such as a tournament. I don't know how far models can be tweaked in that context before someone blows the whistle, but I'm getting a sense from reading through some recent tourney accounts that what I'm trying to do with my Witch Hunters could be considered a bit...illegal.

^As we can see, it is precisely tourney rules that the OP is concerned about.

Mostly, modeling "rules" at tournaments are there to avoid embarrassing moments like "all these gretchin count as necron warriors except for this squad of identical gretchin who are immortals." Not fun to play against.

What you are describing however, is a species of army called "counts as." These armies are awesome to have and to play against. I'm not sure about your particular idea, but as long as it can be pretty clear to your opponent what counts as what, they sky is usually the limit. Just try to make the sizes and base sizes the same.