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Here is the skinny; my FLGS just released its Tournament schedule for the rest of the year. 2 months worth of 1750 games, then a series of Escalation style games (500, 750, 1000, 1250, and finally 1500). I have been painting IG like a mad fiend for the last 3 months, and am fielding a fully painted force for the 1750 games. But, after that I am not going to want to touch my guard for a while (no more painting of red praetorian tunics, PLEASE).

So my Conundrum is: What to paint\field for the Escalation format games? I would like some input based on the following factors: Cost (Not adverse to expense if the coolness factor is high). # of Figures (Trying to avoid painting 100+ figures in one army unless the concept is so cool and broken that it just HAS to be done). Availability of Figures (Ie. No Squats or Dark Eldar impossible to get figures, or very few). How well it performs on the tabletop.

When I see a concept that I like, latch onto, or just think it is just so broken it needs to be fielded, I will start purchasing figures and start adding them to the painting que.

Here are some of the concepts I have been kicking around in my head:

Nurgle Daemon Army based off of Cavalcade of Nurgle artwork in the original Realms of Chaos rulebook. Think plaugbeares with arms full of nurglings, mutated “performers” whose robes do more to show off and hint at their mutations than cover them, and wagons being drawn by sickly horses painted in garish colors that have been decayed.

1000 Sons chaos space marines; Nothing but 1000 Sons in all of their glorious fluff. Lots of Blue and Egyptian themed figures.

Wild Rider Eldar: Red Eldar Jetbikes. LOTS of RED Eldar Jetbikes (This would be the easiest of the three as I have quite a bit of this army already).

So.. let the suggestions and ideas flow..

Personally I really like the Cavalcade of Nurgle idea the Mordheim Carnival of Chaos models would be great for this and you get to use a rickety horse drawn cart in 40k great fun!

Go with the bikes since you have most of it , and in the new rules this army is one of the only eldar builds that isnt hard to win with .

Here is a concept I have had banging around inside of my head but has never been realised due to lack of disposable income and university work, but here goes.

After the death of Horus his legion was conflicted as to their leadership. When Abaddon declared that Horus was dead and lead the legion into the Eye of Terror there were those that disagreed. One of the Captains of the legions believed that it was Horus, not the Emperor who was the true god of Mankind, and as a God he could not be fully destroyed. His mortal vestiges had been destroyed but his spirit had been released into the universe, His advisors had even unearthed an ancient prophecy which stated that the god of mankind would be reincarnated and return to lead his people to greatness once again.

Gathering together what support he could, he took those loyal to him and to his ideals with him, scouring the galaxy for the new vessel of the Spirit of their God, Horus. They would search many worlds, and engage in many conflicts, but would remain pure and relatively unblemished by the forces of chaos. When those who started the search started to grow old and die, they realised that they would need others to continue their work and so their apothecaries outfitted their ship, the "Spirit of Horus" with the medical facilities needed to create a next generation of Sons of Horus to continue their search, and they dispatched their most persuasive and covert members to find and recruit suitable candidates.

Forces - Horus Heresy Period Luna wolves/Sons of Horus, with their armour repaired with whatever resources they could scrounge together in their search. Perhaps Cultist support as well

Army - Either Space Marines to get the organisation, or Choas space marines and treat the marks as certain members leaning into the various blessings of "Their God" e.g. Mark of Khorne - Veteran Assault marines who think that Horus has Blessed them for their ferocity.

Thats about it really, just a bunch of Sons of Horus searching for the reincarnation of the man they think is a god