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With the recent update to the Dark Angels arsenal, I have decided to upgrade my Company Veterans from using combat shields to storm shields. Two problems: I have already modelled these guys with the combat shields, and I can't find storm shields that would fit economically.

As I see it, there are two solutions:

1. Since the whole unit is using the shields, would it be acceptable to say that the combat shields "count as" storm shields?

2. Make some plasticard trim to bulk out the combat shields, giving them more of the image of the larger shields.

I am hoping for the former... Thoughts? Questions?

Personally I don't think anyone would have a problem, as long as you keep all the shields the same. When you start saying that in a squad of 10 5 of them have combat shields, and 5 have storm shields then you might run into a few problems. You'd need to differentiate them at that point, but otherwise it wouldn't be much of a problem.

SoloFalcon1138 wrote:With the recent update to the Dark Angels arsenal, I have decided to upgrade my Company Veterans from using combat shields to storm shields. Two problems: I have already modelled these guys with the combat shields, and I can't find storm shields that would fit economically.

As I see it, there are two solutions:

1. Since the whole unit is using the shields, would it be acceptable to say that the combat shields "count as" storm shields?

2. Make some plasticard trim to bulk out the combat shields, giving them more of the image of the larger shields.

I am hoping for the former... Thoughts? Questions?

i think it depends on what type of play environment you'd be using them in. in a friendly game, i'd have no problem with *all* the combat shields being storm shields without any modification (option 1). In a tourney setting though, i'd want them to be bulked up and be instantly distinguishable from a combat shield at a glance.

Lone Dragoon wrote:Personally I don't think anyone would have a problem, as long as you keep all the shields the same. When you start saying that in a squad of 10 5 of them have combat shields, and 5 have storm shields then you might run into a few problems. You'd need to differentiate them at that point, but otherwise it wouldn't be much of a problem.

+1

As for the tournament setting, talk to the TO, and even if they say yes, make sure that your opponent knows about it before the game starts.

Lone Dragoon wrote:Personally I don't think anyone would have a problem, as long as you keep all the shields the same. When you start saying that in a squad of 10 5 of them have combat shields, and 5 have storm shields then you might run into a few problems. You'd need to differentiate them at that point, but otherwise it wouldn't be much of a problem.

No, no, nothing like that... I have outfitted them all with the same weapons and shields. Under the old rules, the storm shield option was expensive and almost useless. The FAQ made them better.

There is no real clear identifier to distinguish a storm shield from a combat shield, aside from the combat shield's ability to be used with another weapon in the hand.

As such, if your combat shields don't have weapons behind them, you shouldn't have any hassles just calling them storm shields instead, so long as any similar-looking shields in your army are also counted as storm shieilds.

Sitting down to try and bulk these things out, I realized a storm shield is not much bigger than a combat shield, same height, maybe 3mm wider.

If all you have are storm shields, using the combat shield models, you're fine. Just make sure, as insaniak said, to make sure there aren't any weapons behind them. What do these combat shields look like, anyway?

Gavo wrote:If all you have are storm shields, using the combat shield models, you're fine. Just make sure, as insaniak said, to make sure there aren't any weapons behind them. What do these combat shields look like, anyway?

The three that I acquired from the Dark Angels upgrades look like this:



But you guys are saying I'd have to fix the one on the right in the split colored robes?

Yeah...you could just cover it in GS or something.

Really if he doesn't want to, he doesn't have to cover the weapons behind it up if it's a storm shield. As you are not giving any weapons up to have the storm shield, it is still a perfectly WYSIWYG model whether it is combat or storm shields.

If you run a cable trough the combat shield and into a marine shoulder pad i would say it's a pretty fine storm shield to me .

For example (these are not combat shields, but i got them the same way I did these):

Frakkin sweet pics there....

And yeah - no need to Mod figs as long as all are the same stats in squad, and opp knows about U/grade.

Might be a nice psychological ploy as well....

Lone Dragoon wrote:Really if he doesn't want to, he doesn't have to cover the weapons behind it up if it's a storm shield. As you are not giving any weapons up to have the storm shield, it is still a perfectly WYSIWYG model whether it is combat or storm shields.

The point of removing the weapons is that it makes things less confusing for your opponent, which is ultimately what WYSIWYG is all about.

Combat Shields are specifically designed to allow the marine to use a weapon in the same hand. Storm Shields are not. So, without anything else that specifically identifies something as one or the other, if you put a model on the table that has a weapon mounted behind the shield, your opponent is going to assume it's a combat shield.

It's not a huge issue, so long as you are consistent... if all of your combat shields are standing in for storm shields, for example. But it's worth at least considering. Making the effort to ensure that your army is as un-confusing as possible is just common courtesy.