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So... I have a couple of thoughts, and a question or two.

If anyone's read any of my other posts, you'll know that I decided to play Scythes of the Emporer. Very cool fluff, a nice paint scheme, and alot of opportunities for model bashing.

First in line.. The Chapter Master. The fluff indicates that the Chapter Master is currently Master Thrasius. He received a battlefield commission when the Emporer's Scythe was handed over to him by Thorcyra.
So... Thrasius has a special Scythe - fantastic modelling opportunity.
I'm thinking him of having him count as Darnath Lysander... The Bolter Drill ability could well represent the experience he gained from fighting such a huge amount of Nids.
Also, the Hard to Kill ability fits... he taken the battlefield constantly - according to fluff - and is still alive.
It doesn't say anything about him having a storm shield tho - but that doesn't mean he hasn't got one. The Emporer's Scythe would count as the Fist of Dorn.

I also toyed with the idea of having himn count as the Forgefather from the Salamanders.
Although he's not a true Chapter Master, some of his abilities fit Thrasius.
Flamer use is key when boarding Nid vessels...and the ability to make them all Mastercrafted makes sense. Also, he has a spear type weapon, which fits a bit better with a Scythe; and I've got an old Nemesis Force Weapon waiting to be used for something.

I like Pedro Kantor, but the Chapter only has a single Chpater Master, and Pedro just doesn't fit the fluff decription that's given.

I'd like to add at least one more special character - maybe a "Counts as Cato Siccarius". But I think that the Scythes are pretty tapped when it comes to special characters.

On the issue of the paint scheme... I've found two schemes for them, and I'm not sure which is correct. One scheme shows a yellow torso, and the rest of the armor black.
The second shows the following in black: Torso, lower legs, helmet, arms - and these parts as yellow: upper legs, should pads and hands.

I started paining them as scheme 1, but have a sneaking suspicion that it's the wrong scheme... I'm not looking forward to stripping, and re-painting almost 30 marines, plus two dreads. pleh!

Image from http://warhammer40k.wikia.com

"Scheme 2" on the left ----------------------- "Scheme 1" on the right



Seeing as the Scythes were pretty much wiped out by one of the Hive fleets, I figure modelling damage is going to be fun... lots of claw marks and acid wounds and such...
After reading thier background, I wished that Tyrannic War veterans were kept around in the new edition. Granted, Sternguard are similar, but it would have been neat to have some Tyrannic War vets - as the Scythes have killed more Tyranids than any other force or chapter out there.

I know that I don't HAVE to abide by the flavor text, but I choose to... nothing bigger than a Rhino, or the variants, and I almost never field Terms. I try to keep Dreadnought use to a minimum, but I usually field 2... although one time, I think it was my second game with them, I fielded 6 - used a Master of the Forge... It was pretty cool, and even tho it didn't follow the fluff, it was great to drop 6 of those guys on the field.

So, my major question is "Which paint scheme is correct?"

My big desire for feedback would be "Which special character do you think Thrasius should count as?"

Thanks for the input and feedback!

To be honest the only scheme ive seen is the one with with all the yellow and black swirling around. Never seen just the torso yellow, that could be a weird variant or something. Also as far as fluff and such goes, who cares if you want to take 6 dreds, thats super killy. But then again if you take a TON of SM that does alot of ass whopping as well. good luck on the conversions and post some pics when your doneish

Nice choice in army. I looked at doing a Scythes force at one point, but never got around to actually doing it. I think the yellow scared me off

The paint scheme #1 is the "original" scheme for the Scythes, and comes from the second edition Space Marine Codex.

There have been others that have derived from the same scheme (#2). I don't think either is "wrong" as its your chapter, so you can customize it to your liking.

Here are a couple of more sources (I'm sure you've already googled them), the fist displays scheme #1, the second scheme #2



http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Scythes_of_the_Emperor

http://www.the-scythes.com/scythes.html

Good luck and be sure to post up some in progress shots. Oh, and last thing, I know that Bell of Lost Souls, and Bolter and Chainsword have shoulder pad transfers for the Scythes, that you can print at home on blank waterslide paper (do it yourself waterslides). Might want to consider it if you don't want to do the freehand.

Cruentus wrote:Nice choice in army. I looked at doing a Scythes force at one point, but never got around to actually doing it. I think the yellow scared me off

The paint scheme #1 is the "original" scheme for the Scythes, and comes from the second edition Space Marine Codex.

There have been others that have derived from the same scheme (#2). I don't think either is "wrong" as its your chapter, so you can customize it to your liking.

Here are a couple of more sources (I'm sure you've already googled them), the fist displays scheme #1, the second scheme #2



http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Scythes_of_the_Emperor

http://www.the-scythes.com/scythes.html

Good luck and be sure to post up some in progress shots. Oh, and last thing, I know that Bell of Lost Souls, and Bolter and Chainsword have shoulder pad transfers for the Scythes, that you can print at home on blank waterslide paper (do it yourself waterslides). Might want to consider it if you don't want to do the freehand.

Ok, good to get the paint scheme clarified. I think I'll do a mix... seeing as they're short on gear, maybe they'd have some older powered armor around, with earlier paint schemes.
I'll get some WIP shots up... I'm ready to start work on a "counts as Pedro Kantor" - but I don't think I'll end up using him... I'm probably going to use Lysander for Thrasius, and then do a good model bash... I just got my SM Commander in the mail a few days ago..so I have alot of fun ahead of me,.

I've seen that waterslide paper - it looks amazing! I need to get a new toner cartridge, and I'll try that stuff out... or just use my friend's inkjet to make them in yellow.

The yellow isn't actually all too bad to work with... I prime them white, and do any yellow sections first... then I use the black, and finally apply yellow touch up as necessary.
Just this past weekend I grabbed a can of Tamia yellow basecoat.. I'm going to try that over the white primer (sorta like the old cans of DA Green and BA Red), and that'll save me alot of brush time... plus it'll be easier to do a tank with it..or such.
Ugh.. I have soo many models to strip and re-prime.. plus a whole box of ones on the spure... two landspeeders, three bikes, an attack bike and a hellfire dread... work is cut out for me... this is going to be fun.

Thanks for the feedback!

I'd say to use the second one as the 'main' paint scheme, for most of the army. And then do the first one as Sergeants, veterans, and the like.

I would go with the Salamander's Forgefather as Thrasius.

Yeah... I think I'm gonna has out some mix of the paint schemes to save myself from re-painting.
I have 2 tactical squads and 5 terms painted up with the yellow chest scheme... I'll work somethin out.

Any reasons why you think Forgefather Vulkan should be Thrasius? Or is it just personal prefereance? I'm looking to explore all options, because I tend to overlook things...

Since The Emperor's Scythes have a renowned exposure to Tyranids, having Master-crafted flamers just fits the bill perfectly. What else can mow down Gaunts like a flamer?

The Fist Weapon of Lysander (I'm assuming it has I1) doesn't fit nearly as well as having the Forgefather's weapon count as a Scythe. That, and all of Lysander's abilities don't really evoke The Emperor's Scythes (Bolter Drill kind of seems redundant for an army I'd like to think would be skilled in close combat?).

Good points....
The "veteran tyranid hunter" fluff really evoked images of Space Hulk in my mind... one reason why I considered Vulkan for the role...
Even tho I only face 'nids one out of every three games, I think it's more about falvor and fun than about mechanics and game stats.

I'll have todig through my bits tonight, and fnid out what I have that I can work with... I know I can get something together...
The old Nemesis Force weapon looks ripe for conversion...maybe some greenstuff (is there a generic version of GreenStuff, which doesn't cost an arm and a leg?)...or some plasticard to model a scythe blade....course, I could definitely find something in all the bits lying around the basement... this could be alot of fun...

The reason I considered Lysander was mostly because he has Eternal Warrior, and massed Boltgun fire works fairly well against nids... but if you don't wound, it really doesn't matter now, does it?
Rerolling wounds on heavy flaers is just awesome... an dread with a pair of HF's podded in behind enemny lines can wreak some havoc... or send two for twice the fun! close up the flanks... hmmmm

thanks again

Hmm, some very pretty marines in Scheme #2.

#1 Would get confused with all the other black chapters I believe.

The Scythes are perhaps my favorite Chapter; I have a fully painted "pre-Tyranid" army of them that guarantees me a "Best Painted" award in every tournament I enter with them. Although the painting IS good (if I do say so myself) I think a lot of the credit goes to the fact that the color scheme itself simply looks fantastic on the table top.

As Cruentus says, the "Scheme 1" is the official scheme, but I find that mixing things up a bit looks great; painting the thighs, elbows or gloves yellow can add that extra bling to break up all the black.

As for rules, pick what ever you'd like. Before the 'nids hit them, they were a normal Chapter, regularly mixing things up with the Tau and Orks. While the 'nid confrontation does make them VERY characterful, don't let that lock you in to lots of Scouts and limited supplies. Run with dozens of Terminators and Land Raider Redeemers if you want to, I do and nobody gives me any grief over it. They are too busy drooling over the models to care.

On the conversion front, I do highly recommend indulging in the scythe theme for weapons. In my army there are lots of conversions, pretty much every power weapon is a scythe of some sort, and I've done special jump packs for the Assault Marines. I'll upload some pics later tonight to show what I'm talking about.

For the moment, let me welcome you to the Brotherhood of the Scythes. You've made an excellent choice and you will never regret it.

Teufelskerl wrote:The Scythes are perhaps my favorite Chapter; I have a fully painted "pre-Tyranid" army of them that guarantees me a "Best Painted" award in every tournament I enter with them. Although the painting IS good (if I do say so myself) I think a lot of the credit goes to the fact that the color scheme itself simply looks fantastic on the table top.

As Cruentus says, the "Scheme 1" is the official scheme, but I find that mixing things up a bit looks great; painting the thighs, elbows or gloves yellow can add that extra bling to break up all the black.

As for rules, pick what ever you'd like. Before the 'nids hit them, they were a normal Chapter, regularly mixing things up with the Tau and Orks. While the 'nid confrontation does make them VERY characterful, don't let that lock you in to lots of Scouts and limited supplies. Run with dozens of Terminators and Land Raider Redeemers if you want to, I do and nobody gives me any grief over it. They are too busy drooling over the models to care.

On the conversion front, I do highly recommend indulging in the scythe theme for weapons. In my army there are lots of conversions, pretty much every power weapon is a scythe of some sort, and I've done special jump packs for the Assault Marines. I'll upload some pics later tonight to show what I'm talking about.

For the moment, let me welcome you to the Brotherhood of the Scythes. You've made an excellent choice and you will never regret it.

Wonderful stuff! thanks!
I think, since I have alot painted in Scheme 1, I might stick with it...and I'll do up some veterans in Scheme 2 or something.
I don't get myself locked into scouts, although they are fun to use... I generally stick to the Rhinos and thier variants..mostly because I don't have a landraider of my own.
I can't wait to do some Scythe power weapons... that'll look great.

One neat thing is that it totally feasable to own the entire chapter of the Scythes... they have about 250 marines left... plus assorted vehicles and such... how neat would that be... I'll have to take count and see ow many I have... Although, I don't have a Scout company to speak of yet... gotta start that.

Looking forward to the pics - proud to be a member of the Brotherhood fo the Scythes. For the Emperor... We are his Scythes

Here are the promised pics; not of best quality, but they should be enough to give you some ideas.

First up is one of my Tac Squads along with a Vindicator in the background.


Then we have one squad of Terminators.


Here's a close up of the Assault Cannon Termi.


And here's my Predator Annihilator.


I'll follow that up with some pics of my Land Raider Crusader.





Finally, pics of my favorite squad, my Assault Marines.






Hope that helps!

Dang dude, those are pretty BA. I would be honored to get purged by those scythes.

i realy like the inside of the front door. makes my guards men pee them selves. i like how it says "dance suckas"
what did you use for the wings on the assult marines.

Nice guys, Teufelskerl. I'd also like to know what you used on the jump packs.

They look like old dozer blade teeth.

WOW!

That looks AMAZING! I love the Assault Marines! The white beakies look awesome.

What color yellow did you use? Was it Sunburst Yellow or Golden Yellow?...or are those the wrong names..so many adjectives....brain full.

Did you use any kind of wash? I did mine in Sunburst Yellow, and then went over it with a Sepia Wash to give them a very worn look.

Now that I've seen what that paint scheme can look like with a fair amount of work, I'm in love with it... it's simple, and VERY striking.
That small bit of white is really eye catching - along with the blues... amazing paint job!

I can't wait to get to work!

The yellow is Sunburst Yellow, highlights of Bad Moon Yellow, with a thin wash of Snakebite Leather. The blues are Regal and Enchanted.

I'm sure you noticed that the highlights are "extreme", for example the Blood Red getting blackwashed and highlights of Sunburst Yellow. Up close it looks strange, but from 3 feet away it all comes together to make the miniature 'pop'. Likewise, the painting is no where near perfect, yet again at 3 feet it all becomes unnoticable. These would NOT win a Golden Demon (wouldn't even make first cut), but they win Best Painted Army awards again and again. All credit goes to the way that the individual colors compliment and contrast each other.

The "wings" for the Assault Marines did come from the old dozer blade; good eye Azog. (They are also pretty easy to make from plastic card if you use one as a pattern.)