Hey.
I'm thinking of potential alternate models for several
IG codex units... well, not just models, but concepts in general... and I want to know what you think.
First though, a little bit of background info about my fluff and theme... my Guardsmen are fairly high-tech, and superstitious of (and lacking) psykers and abhumans. All members of their society are taught to fight at an early age, and PDF troops often accompany Imperial Guard forces as auxiliaries. They come from a planet named Xanderia.
Ok, so the units:
- Psyker Battle Squad
Concept: A squad of robotic attack drones, accompanied and supervised by a human "handler" (responsible for keeping the drones running, and preventing/addressing malfunctions in the field if necessary).
These drones are armed with lethal electroshock weaponry
[representing "Soulstorm"], as well as translocational neural disruptors
[representing "Weaken Resolve], and each is able to wirelessly transfer available power reserves to other drones within its "locally-networked" unit
[representing "Psychic Choir"]. Due to the unstable nature of this power transfer network however, attempts to funnel energy can sometimes result in the deactivating, short-circuiting or malfunctioning of one or more contributing machines, often causing internal damage beyond the handler's ability to repair in the field
[representing "Perils of the Warp"].
They'd hopefully look something like
this, or maybe similar to Tau drones.
NOTES: This converion would account for their profile (ie, reduced
WS, reduced
Str. and increased
Ld.), and fits in with the technologically-advanced theme I was going for.
- Ratlings
Concept: A squad of elite child soldiers, selected from amongst Xanderia's most promising and well-trained youth troops. Destined for prestigious careers within Elite or even Storm Trooper companies, these child prodigies are deployed on reconnaissance and fire support missions alongside fully-fledged Guardsmen in order for them to garner valuable battlefield experience... and for their watchful commanders to weed out those unworthy of their elite status.
Alternatively, an all-female squad of sharpshooters (although this wouldn't really account for their different profile characteristics).
NOTES: I'd
much rather go down the child soldiers route (I know, I'm horrible
), but I doubt I'd be able to find many models, well, models that look like actual children anyway. I'd want short, but proportional figures, representing troops aged from maybe 10-14 years old... any ideas?
Disclaimer: I know the concept of child soldiers or weak women might be offensive to some people, but I'm just trying to characterise my army, and make them as unique (and grimdark) as possible.
- Hydra
Concept: Not really a massive overhaul, but... a self-propelled, anti-air missile defence system. A lot like a Manticore in appearance and based on a Chimera chassis, but armed with multiple pods/racks of small, fast and agile guided missiles (each like a modern-day Stinger). These guided missiles represent the modified profile of a Hydra's Autocannons (72" range, Heavy 2, twin-linked and ignores "Flat Out"/"Turbo Boosting" cover saves), and allow for some (relatively) easy converting... maybe I could use the missiles from the
IG HWT box.
Anyway, those are all the major conversions I can think of
atm... I'd really appreciate any info about possible non-
GW models I could look into, and feedback or creative suggestions on your part!
Thanks in advance!
Cadre Coronal Afterglow w1;d0;l0 
Order of the Sable Heart
Grave Knights
Black Legion 8th Grand Company
Relictors 3rd Company 
6,000