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Hey,

Over the past few days I've been toying with the following idea:
I wanted to make a Xenos Penal legion squad.

The Custodian would be a human ofcourse.
The Legionnaires would be Tau Firewarriors, Eldar Dire Avengers, Ork Gretchin and such things.

The idea behind this is that the Imperium takes Xenos prisoners, however instead of exterminating them, they use them for dangerous jobs on which they will probably die.

Fluffwise, the Xenos gets a bomb clamped around his neck and have to remain within 300 yards, metres of the custodian otherwise the bomb explodes. The Imperium only does this when they can't find a better way to get rid of the Xenos. There are only one Xenos of each kind in a squad, so there is a smaller chance of a revolt. (only 1 Gretchin, 1 snotling, 1 Dire Avenger, 1 Tau firewarrior, 1 Tau Pathfinder, 1 Tau Kroot in each squad.)

When going to combat, the Legionnaires are quite diverse and thus different abilities can show themselves.

The reason I'm asking this is because I want to know what opponents would think of this and if they would allow this.

The Snotling might be a bit too small, but otherwise, I could see this being a viable idea. It might be a bit more realistic if the squad wasn't as diverse, since this would make more sense if these guys were a quickly raised, ad hoc formation and not something that the Imperium had put together with a lot of care and effort. Also, make sure that your Xeno Suicide Squads look appropriately broken and enslaved, and try green stuffing actual bomb collars around their necks.

Moving to Proposed Rules.

i'm going to do some abhumans for my Penal Legions - I'm using the Beastmen Gor Models with Catachan Lasgun arms.
I've done a load of background for it too so they fit into the army

insaniak wrote:Moving to Proposed Rules.

But... what rules are being proposed? The OP is asking whether people would be cool with a counts as, isn't that just general discussion? Uh, Mr Mod, sir?

SkaerKrow wrote:The Snotling might be a bit too small, but otherwise, I could see this being a viable idea. It might be a bit more realistic if the squad wasn't as diverse, since this would make more sense if these guys were a quickly raised, ad hoc formation and not something that the Imperium had put together with a lot of care and effort. Also, make sure that your Xeno Suicide Squads look appropriately broken and enslaved, and try green stuffing actual bomb collars around their necks.

I was thinking about taking a Imperial Guard grenade and greenstuff that one around an arm, neck or a leg.
Depending on where I can place it.

And I agree with you about the beaten up look, they have to look as if they are grabbed from a camp/deathcell a minute ago.

As for Insaniak, I think that I placed it in the right forum, since I am not asking for a rule change, nor do I propose any changes in the rules, but rather I ask for a modelling change in the current Penal Legions.

There's no legitimate reason for anyone not to allow it. I use the penal units to field kroot mercenaries in my IG army.

Modelwise it sounds great.

Rulewise, not so sure about using Penal Legion as a base. I doubt the imperium would give lasguns to firewarriors for example.
Perhaps no weapons, slow and purposeful to represent the shambling broken nature, and 1 s6 krak grenade that counts as a s6 power weapon as well, but the model dies when its used. No need for a custodian to be in the squad, I would instead have the custodian be a 30 point upgrade for the command platoon that allows xeno fodder to be purchased, perhaps also counting as a vox carrier (to detonate the bombs after all)

Just a small point here: when an Eldar aspect warrior goes all Khaine-bloodlust-crazy (i.e. dons armour and helmet), they strip down to the barest essentials when it comes to loyalty and self-preservation.

Translation: they'll kill every non-Eldar they see while trying to escape their imprisonment by death.

DevianID wrote:Modelwise it sounds great.

Rulewise, not so sure about using Penal Legion as a base. I doubt the imperium would give lasguns to firewarriors for example.
Perhaps no weapons, slow and purposeful to represent the shambling broken nature, and 1 s6 krak grenade that counts as a s6 power weapon as well, but the model dies when its used. No need for a custodian to be in the squad, I would instead have the custodian be a 30 point upgrade for the command platoon that allows xeno fodder to be purchased, perhaps also counting as a vox carrier (to detonate the bombs after all)

This idea does sound great, but it involves making new rules for them.
That's why I'm not too happy with the topic being moved here.
I just wanted to see if people would object to it and why they would.

It was just for modelling, to paint something else then a horde of Guardsmen, although your rules do sound good. I'll use them in a friendly game.

Mahtamori wrote:Just a small point here: when an Eldar aspect warrior goes all Khaine-bloodlust-crazy (i.e. dons armour and helmet), they strip down to the barest essentials when it comes to loyalty and self-preservation.

Translation: they'll kill every non-Eldar they see while trying to escape their imprisonment by death.

Then he was knocked unconscious and tied up, gagged,drugged up that he is not able to think reasonably?

I wouldn't mind it. As long as there suitably represented and i know what there supposed to represent sure. But make sure your opponent is okay with it before using it. Make sure you have a backup plan just in case...

That's why I'm not too happy with the topic being moved here.
I just wanted to see if people would object to it and why they would

Yeah, if its a modeling rules question I dont think its an issue (and agree its not a proposed rule issue) as long as they look like prisoners. There is no penal legion models in the first place, so no claim about modeling for advantage really applies.

One half of me is like YES YES YES and the other half is like NO NO NO. I love the modeling idea and the coolness of the squad but I dislike the fluff background as the emperium hates all xenos and would much rather kill them. but I guess there is always room for modification, take the jakero for instance.

It would probably be better for the Eldar to be Guardians, civilians would be easier to break then Aspect Warriors. Eldar in general would be rare as penal legionaires since
A: the camp they were held in would be the target of every Ranger band in the system
B: Eldar are defiant and their will is not easily broken
C: An Eldar would more likely be the subject of interrogation followed by execution then putting them into a combat situation in which escape is possible.

I've always wondered why penal legionaires didn't just grab the custodian and beat him to pulp. Are you really going to detonate a guy whose bomb collar is inches away from you?

The bomb collars are made so that they will only hurt the legioners and not the custodian.

I have done exactly this with my guard army. I used Kroot with explosive collars (made from epoxy putty) and I have had no problems with people complaining. I also wanted to make a second squad with Ork boyz but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I suppose, but I still think it would be better for penal legions to have the constant threat of rebellion. Really is there much point in fighting when you know you're not going to have a chance at pardon. If I was a penal legionaire I would screw that and take my chance at jumping the custodian when he was distracted.