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Hey everyone- this is my WIP army so you'll need to bear with me at the lack of photos. This army was based off a conversation I had with a WHFB player about why they wouldn't like 40k. The crux of their issue was that they love vampires: they love their fluff, the way they look, the whole undead thing and everything else. Since 40k doesn't really offer that, it was sort of 'dumb' to them. As an avid fluff reader of both universes, I started wracking my brain on how to bring vampires into 40k. I then went to the basics...

According to WHFB fluff, vampires are a combination of dark magic and raw magic, warp stone. This gave them semi controllable mutation, unlike chaos spawn, allowing them to have some vorpal features without going completely bonkers. Likewise, Varghulfs are sort of like a half vampire, half chaos spawn.

So now adaption to the basic rules: dark magic becomes psychic powers, especially warp based ones. Warp stone becomes warp artifacts and raw warp energy.

This led me to the fluff for my new vampire army...

Essentially there are two story lines- I'm not sure which I like most or if I can tie them some how... The first is about a radical inquisitor who believes warp energy can make him a better servant to the emperor. After an elaborate ritual culminating in the drinking of demon's blood, he became an everliving servant to the emperor and bane to all dark creatures. However, the inquisitor soon found that smiting the fallen was not enough- he began to suffer tremors and seizures, as well as general lethargy, should he not consume blood. This thirst drove him to new heights of violence- slaughtering entire 'cults' of 'traitors' in order to quench himself.

Second half of the story line. The blood angels have always been known to suffer from the 'red thirst'- an overpowering need to drink blood. While most have been able to overcome their urges, some are locked away in deep dungeons - a black mark upon the chapter's honor. In one case, however, a strike force of blood angels, while traveling through a warp space, encountered a localized storm. Whether by the chaos gods or otherwise, the fury of the storm not only attacked their souls but also their very bodies. After exiting into real space, the blood angels realized what had happened. During their transit, the warp storm's energy had corrupted their gene seeds, driving their 'red thirst' from a compulsion to a necessity. Furthermore, their already herculean muscles had been augmented, now filled with vorpal energy. While unable to ever return to the imperium, these Knights Sanguine have become even more zealous in their service to the emperor- vowing to die in his name so they might regain their souls...

And here's some of the work I've done so far:































So to sum up what you are seeing- I'll be using Daemonhunter rules. Grey knights will stand in as the vampiric space marines. Inquisitorial storm troopers will be ghouls- the undead slaves of the vampiric marines. I also have built some other stuff, but haven't gotten any pictures at the moment, so stay tuned!

Could this be a loyalist army I actually like? I think it may very well be!

The first story sounds the best, gives it a sort of anti-hero feel. I could imagine a Black Library book about it.

The conversions, although subtle, are well done with a decent paint job to boot.

I'm looking forward to hearing (reading) some more fluff and gawping at some more pictures.

Your friend should read some 40K lore about the Ghoul stars as he's clearly not aware of the fact that Vampires do- exist in 40K. They aren't the undead "Suck your blood and turn you into a Vampire" kind, but rather just general predatorial shapeshifters. So there -are- Vampires in 40K, though they're a deviation away from the conventional concept of Vampires.

Yours look very interesting, and it's always great to see little-mentioned races being turned into playable armies. Though they do look too "Good" to be Vampires. They need more Chaos and Dark Eldar bits to sort of "Darken" them

If you decide to go with the actual Ghoul Stars fluff, I'd also check out some sources like Pig Iron for alternate Guard heads/weapons. You don't want them to come out looking too Imperial in that case.

Thanks for the feedback! I know they aren't 'too' evil looking, but that's a little bit of what I'm going for. I really want this army to be ambiguously oriented, sort of like the 13th legion from the eye of terror campaign.

Both your armies look totally awesome and have great fluff themes to go along I agree with Infiltraitor, the first story is the better one. It makes them into aggressive predators, rather than victims.

Cant wait to see more

Interesting idea with the Black Crusade idea - Some more Vampiric touches would be good (ie Clawed gauntlets, Wings, etc...). Perhaps designate your Assault Marines with Bat Wings instead of Jump Packs once you expand? Could say that the Wings are mutations from exposure to the Warp Energies. The good thing with Vampires in 40K is, again, the Shapeshifter element. If you ever decided you didn't like something about this army's story, you can just bluff it and say that they just assumed the appearance of Marines. That's the beauty of a non-codexed army, the fluff is so open ended.

For your Guardsmen as they are, I'd suggest shortening the extended clips a little bit, they do look a bit silly being that long, but it's a nice idea. If you want to try any Sickle Mags, heating up the plasticard with a lighter and then slighly bending it around a small piece of metal tubing works farly well. Just don't heat it too much or it'll warp a bit when bending/cooling.

sweet stuff , I like the feel of the army the vamp heads look cool in the power armor cant wait to see more .

Absolutely wonderful work. I like the idea, the fluff (both work for me), and the execution. Kudos!

Would you say your marines are renegade? like, against the imperium but all for the emperor? other than that, i like em, quite a bit, ur termies could be like obliterators but less chaotic, a mix of demon prince and obliterator, maybe even bloodthirster

If you somehow made the Inquisitor vampire dude's vampirism connected to the SM's vampirism then the army would be just about perfect in my eyes

The use of Space Wolf heads would be good to get some fangs in there . . . and look what is being released in October . . . any one else thinking of making a vampiric Space Marine chapter using the new Space Wolf models?

Great army, could you tell me how you get plasticard to look like such a great banner?

The moment i read your post about your fremen army i looked this one up....and i wasn't disappointed. This one is just as awesome as the fremen one. The story behind it was also a really great read and sounds like it came out of the black library. Awesome man 10/10 for your armies!

1. Like the first bit of fluff.
2. DHs as a base-inspired boyo, inspired. Conversions are excellent, paint job is excellent. As someone else noted, here's a loyalist chapter I wouldn't mind seeing on the board.

Good looking army. Night Lords are another obvious use of Vampire style iconography in 40K.

Vampire Space Marine Army? Green Stuff? o yea.....

corpsesarefun wrote:If you somehow made the Inquisitor vampire dude's vampirism connected to the SM's vampirism then the army would be just about perfect in my eyes

Hmmmm. Ok, got it. The Inquisitor, already knowing about the Blood Angel's red thirst, decided they would be the most easily corruptible army. Since he viewed his 'transformation' as a boon to the imperium, what would be greater than giving his gift to the space marines themselves?! However, most marines are incorruptible and pure, resilient to the thought of heresy or mutation. But what if they could be deceived? What if they could be unwillingly turned? Perhaps the red thirst would exacerbate their power, while simultaneously forcing them to embrace their new abilities....

As such, the Inquistor (I really need a name here) used his inquisitorial and imperial summons to requisition one entire strike force of the blood angels space marine chapter. After meeting them upon their flag vessel, Sanguinus Perpetuus, their journey into warp space began. However, no sooner had their strike craft entered the maw of warp space did a flicker come to his eye- immediately he tore from his tattered cloak a hexagrammically sealed tome or arcane power. While the crew stood in shock, the Inquisitor slammed his dark text upon the helm and began shouting incantations in both the dark and holy tongues. As the 13 seals began to break, several marines rose to stop the radical inquisitor. With a flick of the wrist, a spasm of black energy sent a dozen of the emperor's finest sprawling across the bridge, smashing consoles and sending showers of sparks. Fed by the power of the warp, the Inquisitor's spell came to full fruition, sending an explosion of pure vorpal energy across the ship and the surrounding fleet. For moments, nothing happened and dark silence filled each vessel. Then, flickers of light began to appear throughout the now darkened ships. Eight foot tall monstrosities stood- no longer just the emperor's finest, but eternally warriors and monsters to behold. Those human crew thus unaffected were quickly herded by the corrupted marines and feasted on by slavering mouths and jutting fangs.

However, not soon after their grim meal did the marines come down from their rampant thirst and realize the atrocities they had committed. Now penitent sinners, the blood angels aboard painted their armor black as a sign of shame for their crimes and sought expiation via the slaying of the immortal emperor's foes.


Not bad!

Ok back to questions. Dakka Dok- I cut a large strip of plasticard out and then held it about 3 or 4 inches above an open candle flame. As it began to warp, I quickly bent and prodded it into some more appealing shapes. Also, I made sure to sand it after to remove and finger prints.

That's freaking awesome! Write a novel on it! I would buy it =]

And I really wanna say the ultra-clichéd name for the inquisitor . . . Vlad anyone? =p