WYSIWYG query is it okay to use a combat shield to represent a storm shield?

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**Black Blow Fly**

I am planning to build a couple of jump pack Marines with storm shields. Would it be okay to substitute the combat shield that comes with the boxed set instead of a storm shield? How big should the storm shield be?

G

**unistoo**

If you're not using combat shields anywhere else in your army, then for friendly games that would be fine.

If you want your army to be tourney-compatible, it would be best to do some converting, like removing the bolt pistol from the back and making it bigger or more decorative or both. My point is that it's just good sportsmanship to eliminate any possible source of confusion if you can help it.

**DogOfWar**

I'd look at it as a great opportunity to make some cool, unique-looking stormshields! Why settle for out-of-the-box when you can experiment and try something new?

But if you're not feeling terribly adventurous then I'd say it would be okay. Unistoo is right that even a little bit of decoration or slight modification would go a long way.

DoW

**whitedragon**

I say it's A-ok, either way. I wouldn't have a problem with you calling combat shields storm shields as long as you paid points for them.

It could get a little messy if you had both combat shields and storm shields in the same squad and had no way to tell them apart.

**Gwar!**

I would say no. A Combat Shield is a Combat Shield, not a Storm Shield.

**Malecus**

If you just wanted to pull them out of the box and call them combat shields, no. If you're using them as a basis for conversion, then in anything more than a 100% friendly situation, then the only way that they would work is if you A) had no combat shields in the list, and B) couldn't tell they had been combat shields unless you were told. If there's any chance of confusion, then don't do it.

**Black Blow Fly**

I won't be using any combat shields as combat shields. Note that models can keep their pistols as the rules for this unit simply states they can take storm shields at a cost of X points per model.

G

**Frazzled**

Sure, I challenge 9 out of 10 people to be able to tell the difference in the first place. How many have seen unconverted storm shields on non-teminator marines in real life to tell the difference?

**Mannahnin**

I'd hope for at least a minor conversion. Even without it, if there were no actual Combat Shields in the army, I wouldn't have a problem with it as long as you made it clear to me at the start of the game.

**Black Blow Fly**

I can't really see Space Marines with jump packs leaping around with huge shields. Anyone who has seen my stuff knows that I go for realism over theatrics.

G

**Hollismason**

Its easy as hell to make Stormshields.

Take a piece of cardboard ; Cut an iron cross or whatever into it. Take some Greenstuff slather it on. Take some bitz of skull or make a skull.

BAM Stormshield.

Also, COmbat Shields look just like a stormshield its totally wysiwig.

**JD21290**

Heh, assault vets for lash spam mate?

I would go for something larger than combat shields, they tend to lack size.
If you need some have a flick through a bitz store or ebay, chances are someone sells them cheap enough.

i plan on making my own (plasticard) having a blood drop in the center with wings either side forming the shape.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Edit: failing that mate (last minute thought here) use the top section of tau drones!
they look advanced enough (with power type) to be storm shields, and they are small and subtle enough to look good, but still stand out.
If they are too big then how about the shields the tau suits have? 9cant remember thier name)

**Black Blow Fly**

I like the idea of a drone! Unfortunately I don't have any. The cardboard conversion sounds good and I could use plasticard instead plus a have a big sheet.

I want the storm shields to look like something a Marine in power armor would use. I suppose it should roughly be in between the size of a combat shield and a storm shield, closer to a combat shield. I agree that just using an existing combat shield could come across as a bit cheesy.

G

**imweasel**

If you do some modelling on the combat shields, you should have no problem.

Anyone that complains should be called a tool and then promptly beaten with one.

**Marcus Iago Geruasius**

No problem for me... shields come in all shapes and sizes. Just give me a heads up before we start.

**MasterSlowPoke**

use a vindicator blast shield

**Lordhat**

Fantasy Chaos Warrior shields work well.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-1309-2814_Vanguard%20Vets%20Wip.html

**jmurph**

Add some skulls. Then they are storm shields. Just like skulls turn power armor into artificer armor. Skulls are the most protective thing in the 41st millennium. Hence why everybody wears them and they set up skull mining operations on skull planets.

**Gwar!**

40k: So GRIMDARK™ That the Skulls with Skulls on them have Skulls on them.

**Homer S**

Remember that the point of WYSIWYG is to avoid confusion. If the smaller shields are Storm Shields throughout your army or at the very least throughout a squad, you are OK. Just let your opponent know ahead of time so that there are no issues once the shooting/slashing starts. As you deploy the models, something like... "the Shields in this squad are Storm Shields" should suffice. It might even help your sportsmanship scores. Saying that after he unloads a Plasma Cannon on the squad would have the opposite impact.

Homer

**Wehrkind**

One thing I thought of doing with a combat shield to represent a storm shield was take a bit of clear plastic blister and cut it in the same shape as the shield but scaled up a bit (say 1/8" bigger in all dimensions.) Glue that to the back of the combat shield, and then paint small white lighting/energy lines (think of tesla balls) going from the solid bit to the outside of the plastic bit. Use a blue wash on the clear plastic, and boom, you have what looks like a smaller physical shield projecting a larger energy field for protection.

Still, I would be down with calling the smaller shields storm shields if it was consistent. Don't be afraid of tossing on bigger shields though; properly curved a larger shield isn't too unwieldy for movement.

**Black Blow Fly**

I like the skull idea and I am going to use it as it fits in well with the theme of the army.

G

**The Strange Dude**

Maybe a small bit of wire connecting the shield to the backpack. That said in all honesty as long as your upfront and tell your opponent what it is I can't see a problem.

**Black Blow Fly**

Me either.

: )

G