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Hello Dakka, I am looking for some help with some fluff for the final chapter of my IG force. Not being a huge avid reader, the fluff is one of the elements of the 40k universe that I am weak on. That is why I am here. My goal is to make a fluffy IG army that is effective with how I like to run my IG, and violates as few fluff "laws" as possible. That said the chapter I have decided on is Steel Legion. Mainly due to the fact that they fit in quite well into my idea of IG, vehicle heavy. I do however have some questions I would like to ask the fluff experts with the hope of not being a fluff violator. Here are my questions.

Firstly, being that SL does not have a meltagun model, how much of an undertaking would it be to make my own MG wielding SL models?

Secondly, being that as far as I know SL do not really like to be out of their vehicles, and that I want a static platoon in my list. Which chapter would best solve my need for this? I mean my ideal static element is 2-3 PIS' with special weapons, PW sgts and commi, possibly a priest and a pair of HWT's. MAYBE a SWS.

Thirdly, I would like to include some flyers in my list. 1-2 Vendettas max. Would it be fluffy for SL to be jumping out of those?

Lastly and particular issues you forsee with my want and desire to make this fluffy yet competative list? Is it possible or am I just barking up the wrong tree?

Thank you.

Grix.

Well, first of all. IG are formed into regiments, not chapters.

As for converting your models to have Meltaguns, if they have flamers you might be able to easily convert them.

What we have here (Flyers/Chimeras/Platoons) would call for a combined regiment. The Imperial Guard often divide up specialised regiments (Airborne/Mechanised/Infantry/Artillery ect) into Task Forces or divisions. Your regiment could be the amalgamation of 2-3 regiments (which wouldn't have to necessarily use different models or colours as Task Forces often adopt a universal scheme over extended campaigns).
However, it is not unheard of for Steel Legions to not fully kit out every regiment with Chimeras. Having a Platoon of Steel Legion supported by a swathe of Chimeras is still fluff worthy, not all SL regiments were designed to be fully mechanised.

Sorry, I'm dragging on a bit here. Basically, your SL list with a mix of platoon and chimeras can be considered in line with fluff but the Vendettas would have to have been leased out or 'borrowed' from the Navy or some other Airfield.

The excellent thing about the Imperial Guard is the sheer amount of versatility you have when creating your fluff, provided you keep the 'seperation of power'.

There's over a million worlds in the Imperium, many of them contributing to the Imperial Guard, thus pretty much every idea under the sun is likely to be done, with variations, so you could just make your own regiment that acts like the Armageddon Steel Legion, but actually hails from somewhere else, which allows you to say what it can and can't do quite easily.

Actually using the Steel Legion however:

Pretty much any Imperial Guard regiment with an infantry-base that is on Armageddon would serve you well as a side, as while the Steel Legion will disembark and have other elements outside their Chimera quite often, it's usually not so static heavy weapons. Going with generic Cadians would probably be easiest.

Looking at the fluff for the Steel Legion, it doesn't appear they generally exercise alot of air to ground drops, but I'd imagine they're probably trained to do so, their battle-tactics with their Chimera just make it ineffecient. I would probably relegate this to the supporting force, and the Vendetta/Valks themselves would be from the Imperial Navy.

Other people have posted the basics of this.

The steel legion is almost solely mechanized. But it is very common to have combined regiments when a bunch of regiments go understrength during a campaign. For the static troops you can have catachins, or cadias, or really anything, and the flyers could be cadian or just navy that have been borrowed to the force.

or even better make your own regiment which uses all thesethings, maybe they are mechanized, and the newest recurts aren't allowed chimeras till they prove themselves, and the most highly veteran men get the flyers!

Well in all honesty after thinking of it, it does make sense for the flyers to be from the Imp Navy. That said most of the ”old” regiments are not really versed with air assault tactics. I think Elysian would be the way to go, but from what I normally run as my air assault part of my army is a CCS. Sometimes a SWS or a Vet squad which really just does not jive. I would like 2 regiments at most. One for the mechanized part (SL) and one for the platoon (undecided). I have decided that one CCS will lead each part, after all it is only fitting, but out of the standard regiments (Catachan, Valhallan, Mordian, Tallarn, Cadian) I am not sure wich would fit best with having an Air assault HQ and a static platoon. Or should I just go with all SL?

I mean I would just make your own, but if you want to have a mixture, none of the regiments you mentioned really works, save maybe Cadians since they are the posterchild of the IG and seem to have everything!

You could if you wnat have one CCS that has memebers of both regiments within it, so 2 Steel Legion vets, 2 (insert other regiment here) vets, and then have a commander who is of one of the regiments or is just someone chosen by the high command of the section.


http://www.lexicanum.com/ is also your friend in every way possible. look up those regiments on there for more info!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
maybe the http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Harakoni_Warhawks instead, thou they seem like the Elsian drop troops so may not have the static troops yo uowuld like.

maybe the static troops are mixtures of the two regiments that are forced to fight together and are used to try to build bonds between the two groups, or maybe they just don't have enough tanks. since they already were weakened regiments already since they were combined

Sageheart wrote:Other people have posted the basics of this.

The steel legion is almost solely mechanized. But it is very common to have combined regiments when a bunch of regiments go understrength during a campaign. For the static troops you can have catachins, or cadias, or really anything, and the flyers could be cadian or just navy that have been borrowed to the force.

or even better make your own regiment which uses all thesethings, maybe they are mechanized, and the newest recurts aren't allowed chimeras till they prove themselves, and the most highly veteran men get the flyers!

Or there is simply a very high attrition rate with the chimeras. Not all Steel Legion regiments are mechanized, though even the most footslogging regiment will have more than the usual amount of vehichle attachments.

Just so you guys can get an idea of what I normally go with in my IG lists.

CCS- 4xPG, PP, OotF, Carapace, Chimera
CCC- 4xMG (ride in Vendetta)

Sometimes Marbo
Larger games a PBS w/Chimera

2xVet squads- 2xMG, Flamer each, Chimera
Vet squad- 3xPG, Chimera
PCS-4xflamer, Chimera
2-3 PIS' sometimes with SW's, sgts w/PW, Commi w/PW, Priest
Sometimes SWS w/3x MG (ride in second vendetta)
Sometimes HWT w/3x ML

Vendetta (1-2)
Helll Hound (1-2)

Manticore
Collossus
LRBT/Demolisher/excecutioner

This is what I normally field, HQ's, Vets and FA I am very solid with, the rest I tend to go back and forth with. But it would be nice to phase out my miss-match IG for a standard regiment I will be proud of more than I am now.

Thanks

Grix

Okay, I don't know about Mabo in SL.

Emperors Faithful wrote:Okay, I don't know about Mabo in SL.

Well obviously as with any special character I could/would use I would model him from a Steel Legion model.

On the note of converting a melta gun trooper, have you tried out using the tank commander body from the old Imperila guard tank upgrade sprue (don't know if a similar model comes with the new one), and just adding some straps to the torso in the style of the Steel Legion, greening a set of Cadian legs, and using a set of Cadian arms with the shoulder pads shaved off? There's a thread on here somewhere which details how to convert Legionaires from Cadians btw (pretty neat too=)).

Marbo...eh...as in say an Ork Hunter Veteran that's somehow found himself fighting alongside the bulk of your army- what never read The Last Chancers: Annihilation Squad? Could even be one of those folks if your army's set during the third war. Marbo's a bit of a loose cannon, and works solely on his own, something that the rigid command structure of the Legion probably wouldn't let fly. Maybe make him say a merc, or Imperial Agent, making sure the battle goes as planned for a higher power?

List your army list in the army list section if you really want people to give you tips etc, btw.=P

I can see steel legion working alongside flying elysians or cadians, and I like the image in my head of an armoured strike force with valkyries flying over- very cinematic.
You could easily use catachans as ork hunters too.

Well, like I said, I am pretty solid on the type of list I run. Honestly when making a competative list I rarely include Marbo. PBS might make it in, but Marbo is just not part of my usual play style. Most of the Special Characters do not make it in. If any I might include Yarrick as he fits the fluff, but his rules are below stellar IMO.

Basically what I have been slowly settleing on has been a full Steel Legion army, both parts of my static and mobile vets would be SL models. With the Vets being a bit dirtier emphasizing the fact that they have been around since the third war, and the new platoon is new recruits. The Vendetta's would be Imperial Navy Blue and no more than two.

How does this sound fluff wise?

Couple more questions.

First does anyone have a name of a novel I wan buy to read up on the SL fluff?

Secondly do PBS' fall into SL fluff?

Thirdly, what if any of the FA/HS options would be a pretty big violation of the fluff? I know the Vendetta/Valkyrie is pushing it, which is why I am slowly coming to the conclusion to scrap it all together from my play style.

Thanks for the input.

Grix

Grix wrote:Well, like I said, I am pretty solid on the type of list I run. Honestly when making a competative list I rarely include Marbo. PBS might make it in, but Marbo is just not part of my usual play style. Most of the Special Characters do not make it in. If any I might include Yarrick as he fits the fluff, but his rules are below stellar IMO.

Basically what I have been slowly settleing on has been a full Steel Legion army, both parts of my static and mobile vets would be SL models. With the Vets being a bit dirtier emphasizing the fact that they have been around since the third war, and the new platoon is new recruits. The Vendetta's would be Imperial Navy Blue and no more than two.

How does this sound fluff wise?

Sounds fine, there's honestly nothing wrong with fielding a platoon of SL.

Thirdly, what if any of the FA/HS options would be a pretty big violation of the fluff? I know the Vendetta/Valkyrie is pushing it, which is why I am slowly coming to the conclusion to scrap it all together from my play style.

Thanks for the input.

Grix

There's nothing wrong with Vendetta/Valkryie's either. It's not like the factories produce chimeras and nothing else. There would be plenty of Vendetta/Valkryie vehichles being utilised by the fighters in Armageddon, you don't have to be Elysian to use one. However, technically the Vendetta/Valkryies would still be the property of the Imperial Navy, though that shouldn't have any bearing on the fluff.

I'd say Yarrick is a shoe-in for a steel legion force, I use him in my cadian army just cos' he's awesome.

The best thing is to read the codex.

I think your list can go well with steel legion if you have sky marbo converted and the flyers as navy units being used by the steel legion.

the only issue i would see is the PBS, i dont think steel legion is known for using such things. an idea i have could be playing a steel legion army with an inquisitor and his men alongside. that could have some cool conversions. the second CCS could be the inquisitor, and the vaks could be things he has taken control over, sky marbo could be some awesome assassain person, PBS could be the inquisitor's troops, and some of the Infantry squads could just be low ranking inquisitor troops, basic cadians, or steel legion which the inquisitor had forced out of their tanks for his own purposes.