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So I'm thinking of a starting a new army. I currently have two ideas, a counts-as Locust army using the Tyranid codex (the Locust from gears of War, I mean) or a Laer army form the Horus heresy.
For those who are not familiar with either, here are some links:
Laer: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Laer#.UAssr3iLGJU
Locust: http://gearsofwar.wikia.com/wiki/Locust_Horde

My issue is, I'm not sure which to pick. I have a Slaanesh chaos space marine army, so the Laer automatically seem cool to me. I'd probably use the dark eldar codex, to represent all the chemicals and drugs, with slaanesh daemon allies.
But then...Locust. They're just so awesome.
Both would really present cool conversion opportunities.

My problems with both is that Laer may or may not actually exist in the current setting as they may have been extincted by the Emperors' Children during the Horus Heresy, while the Locust never existed in 40k fluff.

So I put it to you...which to pick? And why?

Go locust man...

Yeah...
While the Laer are actually FROM the 40k universe the Locust are much more fleshed out in terms of their fighting style, soldiers and vehicles. I can't actually remember there being any mention of Laer vehicles in the Fulgrim book so yeah...
Plus I've always thought they would work amazingly well as a 40k army.

What's that thing in the background with the skull-like face? I've never seen that before!

The big thing with the huge cannon on it's back?
That's a Brumak.

I meant the thing to the right of the Kantus.

Laer - Because they sound like the Zerg

Crystal Geyser wrote:I meant the thing to the right of the Kantus.

Oh that one... Sorry
That's a Rock Worm. Y'know the moving cover that bites you if you get in it's way.

Given that I hadn't even heard of the Laer before this thread I say go with them! The Locust don't sound nearly as interesting.

You could always make up some fluff that a group of Laer lived somewhere else or were missed by the Emporer's Children.

What would you use for models?

Models would probably be lizardmen skinks, with the mouths converted to be more insectoid. They'd probably wield some weird alien type weaponry, maybe dark eldar-ish, and have snake tails.

Stick with the 40k setting, go Laer.

Yes, they were made extinct by the EC, but who cares? People model and play pre-heresy armies all the time, full of people who are long dead by M41. Delving into 40k history is cool.

I might even put together a Great Crusade Xenos fandex - full of races like the Laer, Hrud, Megarachnids, etc.

Neither. Pick a 40K faction or play a different game.

40K is not a well designed game. As an exercise in a fun or competitive game, it is a failure.

However, as a way to forge a narrative within the excellent background material, it is a great way to spend some time and roll some dice.

If you're moving away from the background, to simply play the 40K mechanics with an 'outside' force, you're going to be constantly disappointed.

Kaldor wrote:Neither. Pick a 40K faction or play a different game.

40K is not a well designed game. As an exercise in a fun or competitive game, it is a failure.

However, as a way to forge a narrative within the excellent background material, it is a great way to spend some time and roll some dice.

If you're moving away from the background, to simply play the 40K mechanics with an 'outside' force, you're going to be constantly disappointed.

Well, Laer ARE a 40k faction, just not one with any rules or fleshed out story. But I get what you mean, 40k as a game is a bit "meh", I've always been into it for the fluff and miniatures more than the actual rules.