Alright, so for many years I've been wanting to do a Mechanicus Army, but didn't like simply using Space Marine or Imperial Guard lists as they never felt quite right. Plus I already own armies of both. Looking at the Chaos list I found that I actually quite liked a lot of there stuff, but can't stand the fluff and many of the Chaos Space Marine models. This gave me the idea of using the Chaos rules for an Explorator army. Here's some stuff I've come up with so far, mostly fluff in an attempt for this to make sense. I do oh so love my fluff.
Please note, however, that while I do try and base some of this off the fluff I can find I'm making it up as I go along, such as the reasons why these are small, powerful forces rather than the might of a Skitarii Legion. I also use a lot of Dark Heresy information.
Exploator Forces
The Dark Age of Technology left behind many relics, most significantly more advanced than the technology left in the hands of the Red Priests of Mars to this day. As a result sometimes a ship, or fleet of ships, are launched into the void to hunt for this forgotten tech. Even the rumour of a working
STC will launch a crusade, but even lesser technology is sought after with a religious fervor that can only be described as fanatical. Nothing and no one can stop the Adeptus Mechanicus in there quest.
Explorator forces are by nature the most potent the Mechanicus can field. Not only must these forces be successful in there goal the more compact, powerful form of the army allows for quicker attacks on there targets as well as saving much of the room on there vessels. When attempting to salvage the remains of an Imperitor Class Titan this can be imperative. Explorator forces, therefore, do not make much use of the Skitarii Legions, instead preferring to take the most loyal of the Cult Mechanicus - Servitors and the Priests themselves.
The machines used by Explorator forces are ancient and rare, and therefore it has long been decided not to practice the hasty battlefield repairs on them that the Tech Priests carry out on the vehicles of other forces. Better to salvage a damaged vehicle and repair it at the base ship, rather than risk untol damage attempting to repair it in the field with too few tools and too little time.
Techno Enhancements - Counts as for Marks of Chaos
Over the years the Adeptus Mechanicus have created many ways to make there fighters more effective. Some they share with the Imperium at large, or at least one version of it. Others remain firmly in the hands of the Mechanicus, secrets too important to be shared or too difficult for any but the Forge Worlds to be able to manufacture.
Combat Drugs
There are three primary drugs used by the Mechanicus, varied depending as to the intended task of the unit. Many different kinds of Explorator unit can benefit from these concoctions, and indeed most at least have a stim injector implanted in there bodies, ready for the occasion when a combat drug may prove crucial. Other types of unit take them as standard, relying on them to be effective in there given role.
Drug EX842 - Glory: A potent drug that increases a desire for personal glory. Re-roll failed Morale checks. (Counts as Mark of Chaos Glory)
Drug XK187 - Rage: A combat drug which increases the fury of a unit. It adds one attack (Counts as Mark of Khorne)
Drug IS947 - Bliss: A recreational drug that not only calms the mind but enhances the perception. Adds 1 to Initiative (Counts as Mark of Slannesh)
Drug IV777 - Bloom: A potent drug that helps to block pain's grasp. Adds one to Toughness (Counts as Mark of Nurgle).
Refractor Field
A powerful force field. It will grant a unit a 5+ invulnerable save, or if combined with an already present refractor field (the model already has an invulnerable save) then it will add an additional one, to a maximum of 2+.
Control System - Count as Chaos Icons
Mechanicus units use several powerful systems that are extremely difficult to operate, such as the stim injection system and refrator fields. The Machine Spirit within these devices designed to gauge the flow of liquid into an individual or the amount of power a field needs are complex, especially at a man portable size. Although some units will have a dedicated system for each member others will rely on a central control system, carried by one squad member, as the Machine Spirit can be enhanced to govern many systems more easily than new ones created for each squad member. If the person carrying the Control System falls, however, the system fails for the other squad members as well.
Teleport Homer: Allows troops to Deepstrike in with great accuracy. (Counts as Personal Icon)
Psionic Upgrades
Although the Tech Priests most advanced methods of genetic screening means that mutations are rare among the priesthood, sometimes the Machine God wills that such individuals as Physchers are born into the Cult Mechanicus. Fitted with psionic nets to harness and control these powers, the Psycher Priests are often out casts within the cults even as there gifts are found useful, and so often end up in Explroator Fleets.
Machine Upgrades
Ancient Machine Spirit - Many of the vehicles used by the Adeptus Mechanicus are truly ancient, and the Tech Priests make sure to interfere with system as little as possible, nor modify them. Although possibly less advanced than some other, more recently discovered or created versions, these relics serve there purpose well, powering and controlling a vehicle even if the crew is incapaciated or dead. (Counts as Deamonic Possesion)
Laud Hailer: Powerful speakers are sometimes fitted to vehicles, chanting the praise of the Machien God and the Glory of the Omnissiash at both audible and non-audible sound waves. Removes 1 point from Leadership when Tank Shocking. (Counts as Dirge Caster)
HQ Choices
Magos Militant -
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Secutor - Counts as Daemon Prince
A Tech Priest that has dedicated his life to the technology of war, and built himself into an engine of war nearly without peer. Years of technological upgrades have termed them into towering mechanical constructs, looming over there lesser brethren, and the Secutor Tech Priests are often led to battle by one of these mighty warriors.
Modelling Ideas - Inquisitor Range Delphan Russ, some coversion work required to remove gun. Customized Dreadnaught with parts from a penitent engine. Customized Throne of Judgement.
Magos Explorator -
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Techpriest#Magos - Counts as Chaos Lord
A somewhat renegade and unusual Magos, dedicated to the retrieval of technology. They are used to travelling through hostile areas of space, searching for clues and retrieving the the most blessed of technology, and have become warriors of some strength and power. Equipped as standard with customised power armour and a refractor field, they often take there own, handcrafted weapons and war gear, making them truly terrible.
Modelling Ideas - Modified Terminator. Modified Marine Conversion. Modified Dark Angels Characters, such as Ezikiel, for the hood. Tech Marine.
Magos Psionic - Counts as Chaos Sorcerer
A Psycher of the Mechanicus, these powerful Tech Preists use technical implants and hypno indoctrination to control the powers within there own mind. In the Explorator fleets there powers find many uses, and lesser brethren can be found guiding certain kinds of servitors into battle.
Modelling Ideas - Same as Explorator
Elite Choices
Legio Cybernetica Robot -
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Legio_Cybernetica - Counts as Chaos Dreadnaught
These potent warmachines have existed since the Heresy, in many cases, and are as lethal today as ever. The ones sent with Explorator fleets are designed for prolonged independent operations, but this cause the problem that, having fought almost every enemy including Renegade Mechancus, it may have friendly fire issues. And it walks dangerously close to tech heresy...
Modelling Ideas - Modified Dreadnaught
Myrimidons - Counts as Chaos Terminators
Those who follow the path of the Secutor often gain the rank of Myrimidon. Granted the right to wear potent suits of armour and gifted with personal refractor fields, these Warrior Priests are terrifyingly powerful fighters, bearing there Power Axes into battle singing hymns to the Omnisiah.
Modelling Ideas - Epic Scale Knight Titans. Modified Terminator Suits.
Possesed - ???
Chosen - ??? - Higher ranked Secutors?
Troop Choices
Secutor - Counts as Chaos Space Marine
Tech Priests, gifted with a bolter and pistol, the song of war in there heart. Genetic and mechanical enhancement has made them far in excess of the average Guardsman or Skitarii and there faith in the Machine God grants them courage.
Modelling Ideas - Modified Dark Angels Veterans.
Squat Servitors - Counts as Death Guard
Although the Squat race has been all but annihilated there genetic material is stocked with the Mechanicus. To honor there past deeds for the Omnissiah in preservation of technology the Adeptus Mechanicus preserves the Sqauts, in the form of a potent group of combat servitors. Between the Squats natural toughness and a potent cocktail of drugs they are virtually immune to pain, making them an ideal soldier in some ways.
Modelling Ideas - Combination of Marine and Dwarf bits.
Electro Priests - Counts as Noise Marines
Rather than carrying a standard weapon these warriors of the Omnissiah cover there body in electoos, turning themselves into living Tesla Coils. Channeled through a specially crafted suits of armour they fire powerful bolts of electricity at a foe. Some carry an additional power supply to create an even more powerful charge.
Modelling Ideas - Dark Angels veterans with electricity crackling off them (blue wire with white?) and different back packs.
Vengeance Servitors - Counts as Thousands Sons
Armed with a modified Bolter using a variation of the Vengeance Round occasionally gifted to the Astrates Sternguard, these Servitors have a much more potent and safer version. Combined with a potent refractor field these Servitors are lethal, but require a Psionic Tech Priest to truly control them as no programming is advanced enough to cover all there functions perfectly.
Modelling Ideas - Marine Torso with a servitor Heavy Botler.
Khorne Berserkers ???
Fast Attack Choices
Chaos Raptors/Bikers - Secutors on Bikes/With Jump Packs.
Spawn - ???
Heavy Support
Land Raider/Predator/Vindicator - Yeah, no need to do much here.
Rex Mechanicus -Counts as Defiler
A powerful walker chassis fitted with a variety of weapons including a battle cannon from a Leman Russ. These machines are fast, dangerous and well armoured, although not as potent as a Leman Russ itself and no match for a Dreadnought, but thanks to the Machine Spirit are capable of operating on there own for long periods.
Modelling Ideas - Heavily modified Defiler
Praetorian Servitors -
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Praetorian_Servitors - Counts as Obliterators
These powerful guardians are sometimes sent with Explorator Forces to secure a site or place, they carry a variety of powerful weapons which allow them to devestate most other enemies.
Modelling Ideas - Ogre torsos mounted on a Thunderfire Cannon Base
Daemon Stuff
Machina Ex Deus - Counts as Greater Daemon
On occasion, when things are truly desperate, a Tech priest will use an ancient pattern of nano-virus. These tiny machines rebuild his body using his implants and flesh within moments into a potent machine of war, known as the Machine from God, which will devastate almost any foe. However, the mutation caused by the nano-virus is unstable and eventually the Tech priest will collapse into a pile of parts.
Modelling Ideas - ???
Warp Probes - Counts as Lesser Daemon
To help with navigation the Mechanicus have routinely send probes into the Warp itself, to try and gather information. Protected by something between a Gellar Field and a Refractor Field these machines are, on occasion, summoned to the battlefield as there inhuman abilities can make for potent weapons.