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.

So, a few years ago, when I was just starting my chaos army, I asked dakka about how to make a model look scary. I noticed that as I started making the models, the ones I liked best were the ones that were a little less psychotic, and a little bit more classy.

I've realised, over those last few years, that I was going about it slightly wrong before. The best bad guys aren't just the ones that are creepy, or scary, or filled with mindless malice. Fear is a good start, but that's really not enough.

No, the best villains aren't the ones you fear, I've come to learn, they're the ones you envy.

They're the ones that you're afraid of, but deep down, you wish you could get away with being. They have the money, they have the power, they have the respect. They can do what they want, when they want, for whatever reason they want. The fact that they use it for evil, whether selfishly or, worse, selflessly just makes it that much worse.

For example, Heath Leger may have put up a good performance as the Joker, but let's all be honest, here. The best bad guy of all time is this guy:



It's not just that he more or less runs the galaxy. It's not just that he has his own fleets of star destroyers. It's not just he has basically infinite coffers of power and respect. It's that if you so much as think of disrespect him or fail to do exactly what he wants, he is going to take out his lightsabre and, being the best swordsman in the galaxy, instantly hack you to pieces where you stand without a moment's thought or effort.

Actually, no, he's not even going to do that, he's just going to point at you and be a melon-fething sorcerer until you choke to death.

Just think of what you could do with even a fraction of that.

Anyways, while inspiring creepy fear was going to be difficult, I was wondering if it's possible to take the next step. Is it possible for a 40k mini to inspire that intangible sense of awed, jealous envy. Like, you look down at your army, and think it looks pretty cool, and then you look across the table and, like seeing a gold-plated Benz rolling up next to you at the stop light, stare on in sulking admiration, knowing that no matter what you do in life, you will never, really, have a piece of that.

Thinking of how to display that kind of ostentatious wealth and power has seemed a little tricky to me, and I'm actually having a rather difficult time coming up with examples of 40k minis that I've seen.

I mean, some very rough exemples I can find in a few minutes of searching are...







But that's all a little bland, even for what I'm looking for.

So I wanted to put this out for advice. I was wondering if anybody had seen a classy 40k army, or even if people could post images of the kind of bling they'd find obnoxious while secretly coveting. You know, something like...



... you know, I just realised that it's possible to get 440 square inches of 24 karat gold leaf for just $10. I could just have gold-plated marines... or a gold-plated land raider...

 Ailaros wrote:


... you know, I just realised that it's possible to get 440 square inches of 24 karat gold leaf for just $10. I could just have gold-plated marines... or a gold-plated land raider...

Man I really want to see a gold plated land raider. That would be one of those things I'd call someone ridiculous for doing but wish I'd thought of it first...

For me, the best way to provoke envy is an awesome free-hand on your model:



How can you not feel envy when the model in front of you is literally a piece of art? How can you not think "Damn, I want your skills".

Granted, I'm practicing and doing my best to one day attain them, but you get the idea

P.S: Oh, and Darth Vader isn't a bad guy. He was the Good Guy. The rebels were the bad guys who were attempting to bring down a perfectly good and efficient government system

How about putting models on slightly higher ground? My csm are standing on top of rubble and they simply dwarf their imperialistic dog counterparts.

Not sure about scary but that Night Lords LR looks amazing!

A quick look through the gallery came up with this.



Now this model has couple things going for it. Colour; it's gold and red, If this was at a tournament, people from 3 tables over will spot this model. The gaudiness also gives him an air of bombastic power. Posture; he is standing up right, chest out and looking off into the distance. He look like he couldn't care less if their were bullets flying around him. Size; being a primarch, he's probably bigger than most troop models and size=power. The only thing that would give more power to this model's image is if he was standing on a corpse.

Model-wise, pose comes into it a lot. You want a model that's imposing, and that's more easily achieved when the pose is "open" than when it's "closed". These Sternguard are a good example, compare how badass the two on the left look compared to those holding their bolter with both hands, and as a result closing their chest off:



The pose can also be used to indicate the model holds a position of power, for instance, a raised arm is used for rallying troops or giving orders, and pointing as well. A good old fashioned yell doesn't go amiss too.

I think that'll be all you'll get out of the model itself I'm afraid - blingin' armour has a knack for making one person envious at the same time it makes another person cringe from it being so OTT. The rest I think you'd have to rely on background fluff for.

The best way would be to do the most stunning paint job possible. That should put everyone in awe of your skills at least.

Bad moonz exemplify what you are looking for in ork society, I would reckon. (from the ork model PoV not the player PoV)..

As far as the imperium of man goes... the get money marines come to mind.. Though of course those were very comical.

I feel like the first example is probably the best example of wealth in the universe, the gold plated ornate armor.. Though the blood drops should look like jewels to bling the joint up. IMHO. I think adorning them with jewels and the like will definitely help.

As far as from a player persepective, what makes me oooo and awwww is a great paintjob on a unique looking model. Typically result of self sculpting, or great conversion work.