Does the Imperial Guard need a new aesthetic?

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**Stormonu**

Bobthehero wrote:
Storm Chimeras have an autcannon and don't sacrifice carrying capacity

Is that a forgeworld kit - I’m not familiar with it?

**Sunsanvil**

As a 40k noob I've been sitting on the fence in terms of which army to buy into. The only one which floats to the top is IG, but I have yet to buy in because of this very subject. Of all the army's I like IG the best... but I dont love it.

Infantry is ok, but could really use a freshening up. As others have said, the 10 man box should contain as many options as the basic 10 man Marine box. ie, plasma/flammer, choice of head (bare, helmet, or beret...which yea I know that a scion thing), and above all, gender parity. Give me that, and I would buy in TODAY.

Generally speaking I wish it would gravitate a little more twords a James Cameron's Aliens sort of thing, armour and all. Not-stupid looking transports would be nice (Taurox begs for a tires mod). Assaults which actually look like they belong would be god (as oppose to orkish or oversized old men). And "Ratlings"? Really?!?

**Polonius**

If anything, IG are not grim dark enough and too pseudohistorial. I say really run with the vostroyan style aesthetic.

**Nurglitch**

If you push the satire too far it kind of loses its edge.

**Stormonu**

Sunsanvil wrote:
As a 40k noob I've been sitting on the fence in terms of which army to buy into. The only one which floats to the top is IG, but I have yet to buy in because of this very subject. Of all the army's I like IG the best... but I dont love it.

Infantry is ok, but could really use a freshening up. As others have said, the 10 man box should contain as many options as the basic 10 man Marine box. ie, plasma/flammer, choice of head (bare, helmet, or beret...which yea I know that a scion thing), and above all, gender parity. Give me that, and I would buy in TODAY.

Generally speaking I wish it would gravitate a little more twords a James Cameron's Aliens sort of thing, armour and all. Not stupid looking transports would be nice (Taurox begs for a tires mod). Assaults which actually look like they belong (as oppose to orkish or oversized old man looking). And "Ratlings"? Really?!?

Not trying to be snarky, but for those who don’t like the current 40K vehicle aesthetic, is there really any reason not to replace them with 1/35 or 1/48 model kits that better fit the desired aesthetic? For example, I’ve bought and painted up a chili German panther model (and Type 95 JDF tank ) for my GSC army, to make it visually distinctive from my IG Leman Russ models.

Spoiler:

**Bobthehero**

Stormonu wrote:
Bobthehero wrote:
Storm Chimeras have an autcannon and don't sacrifice carrying capacity

Is that a forgeworld kit - I’m not familiar with it?

Krieg variant of the Chimera, with extra armor plates on the tracks and an autocannon main weapon

**SickSix**

The model range needs a complete makeover. I am really hoping they release plastic Steel Legion when they revisit Armageddon. That would be awesome.

And an updated more sensible Tank would be nice as well.

**oni**

No. They're fine as is Maybe a face-lift to make them more proportional and in-scale, but they do not need and should not be re-imagined.

All of the new non-Intercessor Primaris SM's look completely stupid. We don't need another faction adding to the High Sci-Fi silliness.

GW is slowly losing sight of what makes W40K great, with their cartoons and their soft kiddie-glove lore and their horrible failed faction (i.e. Ynnari). They need to get the experimentation out of their system and get back to the things that make this IP so freaking amazing.

This is the grim dark of the far future. There is no hope, there is no innovation. There is only war!

**Kanluwen**

Spoiler:

Honestly, we just need stuff streamlined a bit on the Cadian kit. Maybe some options for some more 'ragged survivor' parts for people to use if they so chose.

**Bobthehero**

Where is that from? Seems inspired by Cadian Blood.

**Kanluwen**

Bobthehero wrote:
Where is that from? Seems inspired by Cadian Blood.

Apparently it's from the UK/EU "exclusive covers" versions. It is, in fact, the cover to Cadian Blood.

**Inquisitor Jex**

Yes; update the Cadian kit to include more special weapons options, and same for the Sarge...hell, just make an extra sprue with everything that's missing on it and dump it in the box, problem solved.

**Darnok**

The Imperial Guard needs new infantry more than anything else.

The vehicles are fine in my opinion. They already come with infantry components that are properly scaled, and their aestethic is just fine.

The basic infantry though... ugh. Both Catachans and Cadians were not even great kits when they came out, and they have definitely not aged well. It's not their look on its own - it is the scale. They are both scaled too big compared to the rest of the range. Take the artwork Kanluwen linked to a few posts ago: Cadians look fine as they are, as long as they are proportioned properly. The current kits are not!

So Catachan and Cadian infantry needs a 100% remake. I can easily see GW remaking both, and giving each a variant version of infantry thrown in with them (veterans, grenadiers, whatever). And sooner rather than later...

**inflatablefriend**

It'd be great to see the IG infantry get a going over.

Not necessarily a complete reimagining, but certainly fresh sculpts that have a less heroic scale.

Aesthetic wise the art for the Cadians works, though I do miss the older Imperial Army looks, I want my officers in shiny breastplates!

Be nice to see the standard/command options rolled into one pack, more head options (Inc female) maybe things like forage caps making a return.

**SeanDrake**

Yes and new models would be good as well but I guess it’s a case of careful what you wish for as there’s an inevitability that we end up with £35 boxes of 5 guardsman.

**oldravenman3025**

Warpig1815 wrote:
To clarify, I'm not talking about the Skulls and Eagles, Gothic here. What I'm referring to here is this - times have changed. The most recent extremity of 40ks setting now features somewhat of a revival of hope and technology for the Imperium, albeit on a small scale, just as it has brought it's most dire of challenges in 10,000 years. Love it or hate it, Cawl's Primaris have open a metaphoric floodgate for the Imperium - that innovation and new technology can be done. Now while I'm under no illusion that this would spread to the Imperium at large, I don't feel that any Imperial Commander would deny the products of such innovation (Although, naturally, I suspect the Mechanicus would kick up a fuss).

This being the case then, do you, the community, feel that it's time that the Imperial Guard, not just the Primaris, get a more updated look?

For my own opinion, while I am fond of certain designs, the faux WW1 vehicle designs chafe against my tastes (Which I appreciate is subjective). I understand they were originally intended to look backward, and reflect the technological regression, but I feel that is a theme GW has long since dispensed with. These days, vehicles and tech are no longer really portrayed in the fluff as make-do-an-mend solutions - but as actual effective fighting machines. However, their designs haven't changed and have a whole host of flaws that would hinder their function (and I mean basic mechanical problems - accepting the suspension of disbelief for multi-fuel engines and miniaturised power-plants). Personally speaking, I'd like to see a shift towards more logical and modern designs (albeit keeping the decorative aesthetic) - with lower profiles, armaments grouped in the turret and a suspension/track layout that looks as though it could cope with the hellish and varied Battlefields of 40k. These aspects, at least to my pedantic mind, are crucial in retaining that sense of grounding that allows me to suspend my disbelief in other more fantastical areas.

So, what are your thoughts, and if anyone has any conversions, designs or similar - feel free to share (provided you credit where credit is due).

Well, the Imperial Guard did get a bone tossed their way with the reintroduction of the Carnodon from the manufactorums. And on top of that, Guard Carnodons can use Volkite Culverins and Volkite Calivers!

I do think it wouldn't hurt to update the look of Guard vehicles. I'm talking along the lines of Mars-Alpha/Ryza Leman Russ hulls/turrets in plastic, and the nicer looking Forgeworld weapons designs (Take the Battle Tank, Demolisher, or Exterminator. The Forgeworld versions look waaaay better and realistic than the GW/Citadel versions, which look goofy on a clown car/chibi level). And perhaps some 40k rules for the Leman Russ Incinerator.

As far as a more modern look. I wouldn't have a problem with it. But a better way to achieve that with less butthurt, in my opinion, is a simple expansion of what the Guard can take on their lists. With the coming of the Primaris Marines, who get their own unique toys to play with, there is no reason not to bring the standard Astartes vehicles back to the Guard's vehicle parks. Vehicles with that more modern look about them. Allow players to create elite/veteran Imperial Guard lists with these units, and pay the appropriate points for them.

**Hawky**

Ah, yes, 40k rules for the Incinerator would be great. even if it was limited to a single model for an army, like a relic tank.

Guard has the advantage is the biggest customization potential. Don't like the Leman Russ tank? Use any other design, kitbash it with GW parts and call it locally produced pattern.
Tournaments and playing in GW stores can be a little tricky, though.

I hope to see some new releases/updated designs in the future. The Leman Russ chassis needs it the most. It's little wierd when APC chassis is bigger than heavy tank chassis.

**Eldarsif**

I would just love a fresh Steel Legion sculpt.

**ChazSexington**

Yep.

They need more spikes and eight-pointed stars.

**Rob Lee**

New aesthetic? No, not really.

More flavour? Yes.

Why have we got models/bits/codices available for 4 at minimum different flavoured Space Marine chapters, 6 if you include Deathwatch and Grey Knights, 7 if you include the new Stormcast Eternals, ooh sorry my bad I mean Custodes, and only really 1 flavour of Imperial Guard (Catachans don't count, they've barely a handful of squads!)?

I remember back in the day when you had Vostroyans, Elysians, Tallarns, Mordians, and my favourite, those nice grim atmospheric Steel Legion (which i guess have now been supplanted by FW's uber expensive DKK!), all looking like parodies/imitations of various real world countries armed forces.