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I'm thinking of doing a small Night Lords war-band sometime in the far future so this is just me testing the water. I'm just looking, as the title says, for peoples general opinions on the CSM range. Personally, I'm not overly keen on the current base models, as I feel they look too bland, but I do rather like the aesthetics of some of the more recent Chaos releases such as these guys:




(I have to say though, the Hellbrute, and the Lord of Skulls are ghastly - there is no other word to describe them IMO )

So, what is the general consensus on the CSM range? Would I be better off using the current range before it goes OOP, or is it generally considered that the aesthetics of the above guys are a step in the right direction, and I should wait for the new releases that will inevitably come with a future codex release?

Just as a note; I don't game so I'm not worried at all about stats, just aesthetics/quality of the models.

I'm sort of in the same boat really, I don't play the game and I also collect night lords. For me, it's more because of their backstory than paint job or looks. I as for your question, I think the current CSM rangeis pretty good, what with the heldrake and maulerfiend and the like. Plus, you can spruce up the "bland" basic chaos space marines with bits from the warp talon/ raptors kits which are compatible, giving some awesome looking night lords that have actual lightning bolts moulded into the armour.

Hmm, I suppose, but that would prove to be a costly project if I had to buy sets of regular CSM and then sets of raptors just to use as bits...

Most of the core elements of CSM are old and show it. Im starting up a world eater army and im stuck with the old zerkers from the 90's. The termis look like they where kit bashed then sculpted by GW. If i was you i would save my money waite awhile and see if GW revamps the core units to CSM. Or i would buy everything second hand and deal with the out of date looks because you go them dirt cheap. I picked up two BNIB sets of zerkers a BNIB CSM land raider and a OOP chaos lord for 30 bucks. Just look hard and take your time. Also if you going to do Night lords i wouldnt hold my breath on a revamp for them. As they released the plastic upgrade spru for them last year. Unless you where going to GS the wings and what not to the helmets.

The dark vengeance models and the aspiring champion are representing the gaudier, more ornate elite units of the chaos space marines. It's unlikely that a new troop kit, if/when it comes out, will be significantly more detailed than the current one if the new Space Marine tactical kit is any indication. Probably less 'full diaper' posing, more variety and a better sprue layout, but nothing on the scale of dark vengeance models.

Forgeworld or companies like Kromlech put out alternate kits for individualizing your marines, but unfortunately buying raptor and possessed kits are probably the cheapest way to get more detailed dudes.

I agree, Chaos Marines are kinda hit or miss when it comes to the models. The Lord of Skulls is a joke, and the Helldrake is really only popular because it likely the best unit in the game currently, cause the model is a bad idea poorly executed.

Some of the infantry is awesome looking though, particularly the Dark vengence and Raptor models. I'm slowly building some loyalists by picking and choosing parts i really like from ebay bits sellers, then putting them together from there. The 5 I just started have bits from like 5 different chapters with undesired iconography shaved off and good shoulders from Scibor. Puppets War makes some great Chaos shoulders and weapons IIRC. IMO pick and choose the exact models you want is the way to go.

I like the Lord of Skulls model.
If I ever got one I'd give it longer arms with clawed fingers, long enough to touch the ground with.
The gattling gun would be mounted on the arm so the hand was free.
The arm with chainax should have a long enough reach to get to any foe that got too close to it such as behind it.
The skulls on the front and the side plates would be smoothed over then skull-chains would be added.
Tracks need spikes on them and the side armour needs lots of very small hooks.

@SheSpits - I'm not overly fussed about GW doing a specific Night Lords line, although it would be a good idea, because I can add flavour via bits and GS, it's just, as you say, the CSM look a bit dated. However, I'll take your advice and surf eBay, which I'm already in the habit of doing for Space Marine stuff anyway.

@Badablack - You see, I prefer the gaudier, more ornate look as I reckon it fits the fluff better. Anybody who's had 10,000 years to whittle away in the Warp is bound to have his armour twisted or modified in the way the DV models present it. I think as well, that you are right about the posing of the CSM range, they do look less than dynamic and a bit more like their knees have locked.

@Creeping Dementia - I'll agree that the DV and Raptor sets, IMO, are actually really well sculpted, and in my eyes they fit the idea of CSM much better than the standard CSM. The only problem is that the DV CSM aren't pose-able, so I couldn't just go out and buy 20 something of them as I'd get multiple stances and no personalisation. I tend to use bit's sites a lot when making up my Salamanders, so it'll be just as easy to get Chaos stuff, and yeah - Puppetswar's Chaos stuff is the bees knees - especially the Night Lords themed stuff

@cadbren - My main problem with the Lord of Skulls is that it reminds me of those legless beggars in somewhere like Mumbai you see wheeling themselves around on carts. It kind of appears pointless. If I had been designing it, I would have either made it a full titan sized Daemon engine (Obviously less well armed or armoured so it doesn't make the Chaos titans redundant) but with legs - not tracks. Alternatively, I would have discarded the torso and made some sort of siege engine - using the tracked base for some sort of blood cannon (making use of the blood tanks) or mounted some sort of siege gun or anti-tank weaponry on it. At the moment it looks like two halves of different models stuck together.

The Lord seems to have elements of the ancient centaur mixed in with the defiler.
I think if it had longer arms it wouldn't look like half a person tacked on top of a tank.
It would also look more menacing if the arms looked out of proportion and could actually pick something up off the ground.
As it stands, if it drops its axe it can't strike anything - it would be like the cliche of the slowed kid with his arms locked close to his body futilely waving his hands about while he screams impotently.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Awesome, the auto correct on Dakka turned are e t a are d e d into slowed!!!

Really?

Let's try reetahdid.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Woohoo. Take that stupid politically correct spellcheck!

Have you tried a bits website such as bitzbox or bitzbarn or bitsandkits? They would most probably have all of the raptor/warptalon bits in at low costs. Plus you can choose what you want/need without leftovers. Also, may i recommend some vampire counts gtrave guard bits, as they have the bat wings that are synonymous with the NL. Just clip them off and glue on to a different model and "boom" night lord. And they have a banner that is perfect

http://www.bitzbox.co.uk/product_info.php/vampire-counts-grave-guard-banner-p-3329

Cheers Skillingspree - I'll take a look at that range, it seems to be just what I'm looking for