Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey Dakka,

So I've decided to take a break from painting and modelling my Drow 'counts as High Elves' army for the moment. If I see any more purple in the near future I'm going to start dribbling in the corner

I found an old, unpainted SM Tac squad in my bits box and thought immediately about painting them up as Scythes Of The Emperor. I havnt seen one single SoE army in 20+ years of playing 40k, which seems a shame as Thier fluff is great, and I love an underdog. Plus, according to the recent fluff, there are only 100 Marines left in the entire chapter. So I wouldn't have to break the bank if I wanted to buy the complete chapter!

I was wondering idly if I should put some restrictions on what they can take in the FoC though. With them being nearly destroyed by Hive Fleet Kraken, I thought maybe no Terminators? Or at the most 0-1 of 5 Termies, 0-1 Dreadnought no Venerable allowed. You get the idea?

What's your thoughts on this Dakka? I'm a fluff gamer and don't play competitively at all, so the more fluffy the list the better. Here's the link for anyone that knows little or nothing about the SoE.
http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Scythes_of_the_Emperor#.URAxfYlYCc0

you might be able to have a few more vehicles/ terminators if you use like the hairspray chipping technique to make them look like they have been barrowed from other chapters and repainted like that one Ultra Marine suit of terminator armor used in one of the spacehulk clearing teams in some fluff i can't really remember.

another neat thing you could do is run all the power armoured marines as veterans and only use scouts as troops.

Scouts as troops eh? That would be pretty cool actually, a little like the Novices in a BT army? As for the vehicles thing, yeah, I could just ally them with a Vanila SM force (Ultrasmurfs spring to mind) but I really want a pure Scythes army.... I know, I'm being picky

Although I wonder where they would get Thier new recruits from? They have no home world and just one ship. I could say they live a nomadic existence and pick the best potential Space Marines from the varying worlds they visit/invade?

You would only have to use BT codex if you wanted a veteran sgt in power armor but both the DA and Vanilla codex allows scouts as troops already. I am pretty sure fleet based chapters can pretty much recruit from anywhere they see fit as long as they are nicking other chapters new recruits.

the more i think about the cooler the BT codex sounds for this because they can have larger squad sizes if i recall and are more focused on close combat which would make sense for the Scythes as they would use a lot of CC in their boarding and recovery missions. Probably wouldnt want more than 2 power armored marines per squad though, i forget if they can combat squad but you wouldnt need more than a vet sgt. and a cpl. in PA.

Templars have no Vet Sergeants, and their main Templar Squads are a flat 1:1 ratio between Initiates (marines) and Neophytes (scouts).

Just use the Vanilla codex as the Scythes are still a 'Codex Chapter' at the end of the day, even though they're on the verge of extinction.

Also, don't feel like you have to limit yourself on the FOC. You can always take plenty of Termies/Dreads for example, or lots of basic Marines or an armoured strikeforce and just play it as either 'before Kraken' or even during the whole Kraken affair...

Experiment 626 wrote:
Templars have no Vet Sergeants, and their main Templar Squads are a flat 1:1 ratio between Initiates (marines) and Neophytes (scouts).

Just use the Vanilla codex as the Scythes are still a 'Codex Chapter' at the end of the day, even though they're on the verge of extinction.

Also, don't feel like you have to limit yourself on the FOC. You can always take plenty of Termies/Dreads for example, or lots of basic Marines or an armoured strikeforce and just play it as either 'before Kraken' or even during the whole Kraken affair...

I think the OP wants to use the restricted FOC as a story telling device for fun. I do agree the vanilla codex would work fine. You could just use PA guys as sternguard and scout squads for the rest. Maybe use Pedro kantor as your HQ because the crimson fists had a similar brush with disaster.

You could go for "withered" squads as well, to represent a lack of replenishment. Tactical marine squad of 7 with just one special weapon...Devastators with only two or three heavy weapons...a Predator with no sponsons...you get the idea.

I really like the overall concept of a chapter in decline as a modeling and playing challange. Sure you don't *have* to limit the forces you choose, but it makes for a much more interesting new army project. You will need to keep strict count of your figs as you acquire them to make sure you don't go over the 100 point mark. I would further add to the ideas here, but using nothing higher than a space marine captain as you commander, even if you *call* him your chapter master. He has moved into the position, but just doesn't have the experience one expects for such a role.

Scouts as troops work, as they try to rebuild the chapter. Maybe a couple tac squads, but also some sternguard squads, but without as many special weapons added in. I really like the idea of the devastator squads with less than full heavy weapon kit outs to represent the chapter trying its best to spread out its heavy support fire instead of having 2 squads with full heavy weapon loads, having 4 with half so that they are more flexible tactically. Varying the armor types and parts of different levels of power armor would be cool as well, to show that since their forge capabilities have been depleted with the loss of their home world, they have had to scavenge a lot of their gear when repairs are needed. This can also be conveyed by finding some older weapon bits too, so not all the bolters and bolt pistols are the fancy newest models, but a mishmash of different marks and appearances. On this front I don't necessarily agree with any kind of patch work painting, though. I would see the chapter making sure all parts are in their colors to maintain their conherence as a military force and their pride in their chapter.

Not sure that the BT codex will give you exactly what you want for this task due to the fact that you can't just built units full of neophytes. They have to be accompanied by an equal number of battle brothers. The vanilla marine book or even dark angels would work fine for them. Perhaps vanilla would be better since your chapter that has been used and abused will likely not be in a position to take full advantage of the death wing or ravenwing special rules anyway as the chapter is cut back to the basics.

I would really like to see some "in progress" shots of this project going forward.

Skriker

In the 6th edition rulebook, near the back in the Hobby section, there's a guy with Scythes of the Emperor. He used tyranid skulls as trophies for all his warriors.

Just and idea, but you could use the Iron Hands upgrade pack and chop off limbs to make them all look like they've had close encounters with tyranids. The Ultramarines Veteran squad would do the job, too.

If you are looking for some restrictions, how about this:

You may not take any Troops choices other than Scouts. Due to the nature of the conflict, all full battle brothers of the scythes have advanced into veteran positions. As thus, their only basic infantry are scouts.
You may not take Bike Squads or Attack Bike Squads. The same thought as the previous point applies, in that scout bike squads would fill these slots.
You may take 0 - 1 in total of the following: Predator, Vindicator, Whirlwind, Landraider, Landraider Crusader, Landraider Redeemer, Thunderfire Cannon. This from the fact that while their veterans are alive, they likely lost a large amount of their support wargear, such as heavy vehicles.
Additionally, you may only take 0 - 2 in total of the following: Rhino, Razorback, Drop Pod, Land Speeder.
You may only have 1 HQ choice per FOC in your army. This represents the chapters reluctance to field multiple commanding officers at once lest they loose their entire command structure in a single battle.
You must include at least one dreadnought in your list. They likely have a lot of dead heroes to stick around in walking boxes.

EDIT: Also, if your friends are ok with house rules, ask them if they would be ok with letting you take Land Speeder Storms as dedicated transports for scouts in squad sizes of 5. They are supposedly easy to produce, and are useless as a fast attack choice, so see if they would be up for it.

 Tappers wrote:
In the 6th edition rulebook, near the back in the Hobby section, there's a guy with Scythes of the Emperor. He used tyranid skulls as trophies for all his warriors.

Just and idea, but you could use the Iron Hands upgrade pack and chop off limbs to make them all look like they've had close encounters with tyranids. The Ultramarines Veteran squad would do the job, too.

I like that cyberlimb idea. Kind of a "we survived, but left pieces behind for our troubles" kind of vibe.

Skriker