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What sort of replacements for ratlings have some of you fine folk devised and used?
I really want to include a unit of dedicated snipers in my army as I really like the snipers for use against a host of targets (and very much wish there was an option for a all human sniper unit) but I honestly hate the idea of ratlings and even the newer models. It has been suggested to me to try some strange sniper/skull servitors, children (a suggestion making a crack at my interest in the Tallarn/desert themed guard and their obvious relation to the middle east), women (weaker and less tough, a bit sexist I think), normal cadian snipers (just say they are a bit starved waiting in position with nothing but instant imperial rations. not a bad suggestion I guess).

Mentors space marine scouts, crouched down.
It fits mentors fluff, though your local TFG might balk.

FORGE WORLD TALLARN SNIPERS! or just convert cadain/catachan bits into snipers, i did that

For Ratlings?

Maybe convert Night Goblins / Plague Monks / other small WFB models?

I like the idea of weak-looking, scrawny, standard IG (a la Mad Larkin) but I haven't gotten working on what I might use for a full squad quite yet.

To add a little bit of a WYSIWYG issue to the mix, however, I would stick to either the crouching or lying snipers so you're not altering the TLOS that the ratling models would ordinarily have. Some might be totally fine with any model so long as it has a sniper rifle but others might think you're getting an advantage having guys twice the height of the space hobbits. Better to err on the side of caution imo and not push the issue.

If you're willing to go non-GW with your 'ratlings' you can do pretty well with many other 25mm models since anything other than 40k generally looks pretty emaciated in comparison. If you're sticking with GW then I'd second the Night Goblins/Plague Monks. I actually use the Plague Monks with Ghoul arms as Sanctioned Psykers and they work rather well.

DoW

You may want to look at the Grymm figs from HassleFree, they are small and they only have 2 sniper figs but its an option.
http://www.hasslefreeminiatures.co.uk/range.php?range_id=25&subcat_id=12

Widowmakers, and Kell Bailoch from warmachine.

Hasslefree do some Space Hobbit figures.

http://www.hasslefreeminiatures.co.uk/range.php?range_id=49&subcat_id=45

physcosamatic wrote:FORGE WORLD TALLARN SNIPERS! or just convert cadain/catachan bits into snipers, i did that

problem is they wont look like the rest of my tallarn army considering im going to have to majorly convert some cadians or catachans to make them look desert/middle eastern looking... cuz im poor
But I suppose a unit of them ought to look unique. Thanks for the suggestion I did not even know they made tallarn snipers

The Revelator wrote:Mentors space marine scouts, crouched down.
It fits mentors fluff, though your local TFG might balk.

What? No it does not. Mentors are not WS2, S2, T2, ld6, or have 5+ armor. Did you think that post through at all?

I am just using Cadian and Catachan models as Counts As Ratlings. They are the only snipers in my army so no issue confusing them with non Ratling squads.

I've just converted up some snipers from cadians. They don't really have any fluff reason for being weaker. The 'surviving without rations' idea is pretty cool though.

physcosamatic wrote:FORGE WORLD TALLARN SNIPERS! or just convert cadain/catachan bits into snipers, i did that

Seconding the Forge World Tallarn Snipers.
Absolutely gorgeous models, been wanting an excuse to get some.

Or the Forge World Elysian snipers are nice too, since they come with parts for both an observer and the sniper.

I have seen several of these Tallarn sniper figs and have yet to see a good one, they are very thin as compaired to the regular metal Tallarn as well not well molded. I would be pretty mad if I had ordered them for what they cost and got what I have seen so far.