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I've been trying to put together a "pure" Ordo Xenos army using the Grey Knights codex, and I'm finding it hard to keep things fluffy without making too many contortions. I was hoping the more fluff-informed individuals on this board would be able to tell me if some possible choices would pass the sniff test. The army is supposed to be an OX force tasked with investigating suspected encounters with xenos and quickly cleansing budding threats when necessary (e.g. Genestealer Cults, newly-awoken Necron Tomb Worlds). I'm curious what place the following units might have working alongside the Ordo Xenos (if they have any place at all):

Death Cult Assassins: I love these ladies, but I'm not sure they fit the flavor of OX much. I know Eisenhorn (an OX Inq) worked with two DCA's (although I don't really understand the circumstances), but what are the odds that an OX Inquisitor could regularly call upon a Death Cult for assistance?

Crusaders: Being "warriors of the Ecclesiarchy", I'm thinking they might not suit the Ordo Xenos flavor. I know they can apparently end up in an Inquisitor's retinue, but why would they fight with an OX Inquisitor? Any good reason?

Arco-Flagellants: Seems, again, like an Ecclesiarchy thing. I could see Hereticus or Malleus using them, but would OX? Punishment for traitors selling Imperial secrets to xenos scum perhaps?

*Edited this down to better keep within the scope of this forum*

Ordo Xeno forces would most likely just be made up of inquisitorial storm troopers and Deathwatch marines, as in the remit of the game you would be fielding an aggresive force and not a small unit for diplomatic/investigative roles.

The Ecclesiary based troop choices wouldn't be a good fit in the army due to their heavy links with hereticus.

More likely; it would be made-up of Inquisitorial Stormtroopers if an Inquisitor is in charge.

The Deathwatch tend to operate independently and as a unit on the "campaign" scale, rather than the "battlefield" scale if that makes any sense.

BluntmanDC wrote:Ordo Xeno forces would most likely just be made up of inquisitorial storm troopers and Deathwatch marines, as in the remit of the game you would be fielding an aggresive force and not a small unit for diplomatic/investigative roles.

The Ecclesiary based troop choices wouldn't be a good fit in the army due to their heavy links with hereticus.

Thanks for the quick reply. That was my thinking too...hoping I might have it wrong, I really like the variety those units offer.

I will be using a single unit of Deathwatch marines (counts-as GKSS) and Stormtroopers (DKoK), but that gives me little variety... Can much else be shoehorned to fit the OX theme? I was reading Inquisitor Solomon Lok's background from an IA book and liked the idea of the Mechanicus' Biologis Exploritas working alongside Ordo Xenos... I could use a Magos Biologis as a counts-as Techmarine, or Skitarii as Warrior Acolytes for example. Maybe this would be a better way to approach some of these units? (e.g. Servitors with shields as Crusaders...lithe, cyborg assassins as DCAs...) I know they explicitly mention Skitarii as an example Warrior Acolyte in the codex, but am I still grasping at straws here?

The Biologis Exploritas was more likely working alongside the Ordo Xenos simply because Anphelion was a Mechanicus world.

Ah... Are the Biologis Exploritas ever mentioned outside of the Lok fluff? I'd like to learn more about them, but can't find any other mentions out there.. They seem like a good match with OX, but everything I find that intimates to any partnership between them ("A Genetorium is normally run by a Magos Biologis and plays a vital role in the Inquisition's activities...") seems to hang on the Lok background. Hrmm, this army feels less and less doable the more I think about it.

whigwam wrote:Ah... Are the Biologis Exploritas ever mentioned outside of the Lok fluff? I'd like to learn more about them, but can't find any other mentions out there.

I can't think of too many instances off the top of my head.

They seem like a good match with OX, but everything I find that intimates to any partnership between them ("A Genetorium is normally run by a Magos Biologis and plays a vital role in the Inquisition's activities...") seems to hang on the Lok background.

Well, when you think about it...
The Magos Biologis are one of maybe a handful of institutions within the Imperium(outside of the Ordo Xenos) allowed to study the various Xenos out there. The whole idea behind the Biologis is that they study alien races for weaknesses and attempt to capture live subjects for study.

Hrmm, this army feels less and less doable the more I think about it.

Sometimes, this will happen. Not every institution within the Imperium is really suited for a "battlefield" role.

Think I might just scale this project down to an Inquisimunda gang then...I was mostly looking at it as an opportunity for fun, off-the-wall conversions, but my enthusiasm has faded knowing the premise is on such shaky ground. Thanks for the feedback, Kan and Bluntman.

Whoa now.

I'm sure you can come up with a way to make this work; but it might not be exactly what you'd had in mind from the start. Brainstorm a bit on it, move away from the Grey Knights book and go from there.

Only way I can think of doing it, at the moment, would be to use the Imperial Guard Codex.

If going for lone Inquisitor then use either the Lord Commissar or Primaris Psyker. If Inquisitor & retinue then Company Command Squad.

Then Inquisitorial Stormtroopers are split into two lots; Veterans with Grenadier upgrade & lots of kit (ie Meltas) for your Troop choices, Stormtroopers as your elite choices (if you want to take them).

Anything else is there as support for the 'Inquisitorial Stormtroopers' or to transport them around - as in Vendettas.

Just my thoughts. Oh and thumbs up for going with Ordo Xenos - my personal favourite

Inquisitors are very individual individuals...
You can basically do anything with them.
They tend to pick up followers who don't really fit well in regular fighting forces...
So a Crusader might not actually be a zealous Ecclesiastical warrior but instead a Ganger from the lower Hives who has become incredibly skilled with his weapons.
A Death cultist could be a redemptionist or a Spyrer.
A warrior cultist could be a failed aspirant from a chapter that simply rejects their failures and lets them wonder the galaxy...

So as long as you can validate it (So a puritan Inquisitor won't use a Daemonhost) you could have basically anything...

Kanluwen wrote:Whoa now.

I'm sure you can come up with a way to make this work; but it might not be exactly what you'd had in mind from the start. Brainstorm a bit on it, move away from the Grey Knights book and go from there.

You know, I wasn't exactly enthused about using the GK book in the first place (due to the ritual shaming of GK players I've witnessed since getting back into the game), but I didn't see any other way to do an army that is distinctly OX. The IG codex came to mind when I was first considering the project, and they'd probably be the most "realistic" way to portray a Xenos combat force, but again there's the variety problem. I don't want Stormtroopers, Stormtroopers, Stormtroopers. Same problem with Marine codices---I thought, Deathwatch as Sternguard, Marines as Marines...then...? I just don't see the flexibility to represent something as eccentric as the Inquisition.

The GK codex, however, has the best of both worlds: GKSS are a great counts-as Deathwatch, Acolytes let me fit in GEQ troops as contrast, and the cherry on top? I can take an actual Inquisitor, with flavorful wargear, instead of yet another counts-as. But not wanting to overdo Deathwatch (limiting myself to only one unit GKSS), and now really struggling to make any of the non-Acolyte henchmen units fit the theme... I don't know, it's pretty discouraging. I will keep thinking on it, but ultimately I think that you're right that OX aren't really suited for the battlefield.

Detachment 99 my friend.

Detachment 99.

purplefood wrote:Inquisitors are very individual individuals...
You can basically do anything with them.
They tend to pick up followers who don't really fit well in regular fighting forces...

This is exactly why I want to make an Inquisition army. So much freedom..so much character..! I'm just worried it would be counts-as overload after a point. I will think harder about how to represent the other henchmen types...you're right that there's a lot of possibility there.

Sparks_Havelock wrote:Only way I can think of doing it, at the moment, would be to use the Imperial Guard Codex.

Good suggestions here, I will give the IG codex another look. Like I said a post ago, I don't think it offers the variety I want, but I guess I need to keep an open mind if this is going to work...

Kanluwen wrote:Detachment 99 my friend.

But I'm the only person on earth who doesn't like the Elysian models! Didn't you know I'm impossible to please?

Also: sorry if this thread is veering too far from straight "background". If we've gone too far, I won't mind a mod magically moving this thread to wherever it belongs.

There's no such thing as Counts as overload

Detachment 99 doesn't need to be Elysian models.

It's basically a "framework" for an Inquisitorial seconded veteran Guard Regiment.

Death cult assassins can be part of an ordo xenos retinue when they are needed. You obviously would want to best protection for the situation.

Crusaders can be part of the ordos unit simply on the fact that they are trying to spread to emperors word, which normally involves killing the xenos so humanity my colonize.

I can't help you on arco flagellents, but keep one thing in mind, even a priest can become an inquisitor, and if he hates xenos enough...