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I've started a modelling project and have a couple of test models in various states of completion, but I haven't decided what they'll represent.  I'd like to get some feedback on an appropriate codex on which to base my project before I get too involved in it.

Concept is this: IG-based exoskeletons (think Power Loader from the movie "Aliens" but with guns and transparisteel armor) and three-crewmember baby titans or large Sentinels.  I guess its sort of like light Battletech mechs and jump infantry.

Here are some armies I think could represent this:

• Deathwing -- This would be the most straightforward.  Exoskeletons would count as terminators and mechs use dreadnought rules.
• Trait Marines -- Would allow more dreadnoughts (if you subscribe to the "take six dreads" interpretation) or at least let all the dreads be venerable.  Would also let me take some jump capable exoskeletons (assault troops).  Troop choice requirements mean one of three choices: 
  • Use both tacticals and termies, but could cause some confusion trying to distinguish armored exoskeletons (as 3+ power armor) from really-armored exoskeletons (as 2+ terminator armor).
  • Use only 3+ armor or 2+ armor, but the 2+ armor version would require me to take inferior Scout troops.
• Daemonhunters -- Similar to above, but I could also take inducted guard to represent normal troops.  Would also let me have access to a normal Sentinel or two as well as improved comms.
• Chaos Space Marines -- Oblits, Termies, and Dreads or Defilers.  Would have the same "2+ vs. 3+ armor" problem.  Plus, are chaos termies, dreads, and defilers any good?  I've never used any of them.
• Alpha Legion or LATD -- Could mitigate the 2+/3+ issue by taking "normal" unpowered troop choices
• Iron Warriors -- Could add lots of Oblits and an extra Dread or Defiler.
• Armored Company with Grey Knight allies -- I have a bit of experience with AC, but I have no idea how I'd model tanks to look like walkers without any confusion about the fact that they actually count as tanks.  Yep, this is probably a bad idea, but its a brainstorm session, so it goes down as an option.

I like doing extremely customized armies, but I don't like it when "counts as" goes too far.  Everything in the army needs to have obvious counterparts in the rules, so it has to stay simple.  (Thus, Armored Company is right out.)

So, what ruleset do you think would best capture the flavor of this concept while still remaining reasonably competitive?

Style: Id say go for LotD. They practically are IG and the low tech stuff fits their style.

High quality modeling: If you want to keep the mode count low, to have more time to spent on each, propably death wing is best.


I want photos!!^^

I would say the codex that best fits your description (assuming you don't want any "standard" IG running around) is the Iron Warriors list, with Oblits as your smaller troops and Defilers (with mutated hulls and daemonic possession to make them suitably tough) as your big walkers.

Although I loathe the idea of suggesting that list to anyone (just because the world needs another Iron Warriors army like I need a hole in my head), that certainly would be the easiest option for your opponents to remember.

You could also have a field day modeling weapons onto the smaller armor (for all the Obliterator options), and your bigger mechs could have big anime style indirect rocket launchers (for the Defiler's indirect option).

 

What's wrong with Tau? They are the epitomy of battletech (hardpoints) but ultimately capture the flavor of elements, exosuits, powerloaders, Starship Trooper gorilla armor, etc.

Tau's not a bad idea, though you'd still need to have non-mecha foot troops.

Here's a crazy idea - use a stock Chaos list (since it sounds like there would be some great modelling opportunities in there), and for troops use only Daemons modelled up to look like smaller 'warbots'.  Just fluff out the summoning to them being teleported to battle, and the icons are markers that the ships need to lock onto the location to teleport them to...

I'd believe a little 'Rogue Trader esque' eldar warbot looking thing with a buzzsaw for an arm has the stats of a Daemonette.

KW

If you could stomach the idea of wheeled vehicles in the army, you could use open-topped IG buggies of about the same size as the old Ork buggy to represent scout bikers and a hard-topped command car to represent a captain on a bike. (or maybe even a de-orkified Kustom Speedsta (Epic 40k thing with big ray guns) in 25mm scale as a biker Epistolary with Fury of the Ancients...) With the Be Swift As The Wind erratta, that gives you troops and HQ right there leaving the rest of the list for dread-sized suits.

If you could see them as using air cover, maybe something along the lines of 3x5 Marines including Captain with meltaguns in drop pod + ?x1 vennies in drop pods + ?x6-8 assault marines would work. (tacticals/assault marines = light suits, vennies=heavy suits)

Tangentially, I reccomend missile launcher, assault cannon and extra armour unless you go for a drop pod.

Thanks for the input. Now for my rambling comments...

Raider: LATD would be nice. If I go with a Chaos-based army, I'll justify the various daemonic things by saying that they think they're helping the Imperium but have begun to slip into heresy. Heck, even if I don't go Chaos, I might say that they've begun to dip into heretical non-sanctioned equipment, raising the collective eyebrows of the Inquisition.

Yakface: I agree about the Iron Warriors. They fit, but there are so many cheesy IW armies running around that I'm leary of being just one of "those guys" even if the models are customized. Also, I have a couple of conceptualizations of the army floating around in my head right now. One of them has standard lasgun-toting infantry running interference for the walkers. The only big requirement that I've nailed down at this point is that it can't look like I'm running actual marines. So an army with 4+ or 5+ save puny humans scurrying around the suits and between the legs of the walkers would be fine conceptually.

Stonefox: Tau could work, but I have a couple problems with it. First of all, I already have a Tau army, so I'd like to do something else this time. Second, they don't really have anything that screams "big ponderous walker."

Kwade: Nice idea for some fun conversions. That would solve the 2+/3+ confusion issues. It is definitely pushing the bounderies of "counts as" in my opinion though (too many little things like daemonic instability and whatnot), but I'll give it some thought. My brainstorming for LATD had a similar concept with traitors as standard guard and mutants as some sort of little spider-like bot or servitor.

Wight_widow: Hadn't thought of buggies as bikers, although the idea of using Swift as the Wind to get around using tacticals and scouts did cross my mind briefly. Would make some nice conversions, but I'm not sold on the viability of the army. A trio of dreads, enough terminators to make an impact, and a pack of bikes is a lot to fit into 1850. However, your drop army idea is pretty much how I'd do it if I go with trait marines.

On that note, I think I need to avoid having loader-suits (or exosuits?) counting as both 2+ armor and 3+ armor, even if I try to model the 2+ with bulkier armor. It would just be too confusing for my opponent. I'll have to have them all count as 3+ armor (tacticals and assaults) or have them all count as terminators. That ought to narrow the options a little.