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I've noticed people posting asking about how to build a fluffy list for their legion or asking which legion uses certain tactics so I thought I'd make a thread where people can describe how they feel each legion would play according to fluff.

Appropriate things to include are which units and vehicles they would use more of or less of and which type of consuls may be most likely to lead a strike force of that legion, among other things.

I'm no expert but as i'm starting the thread I feel i should try to put forward my opinions first to start us off.

Son's of Horus: These guys should probably have big squads with CCW as they like to get stuck in, they're likely to use elite units such as veteran squads as well as they're one of the most experianced legions, they're also one of the most likely to us terminators being the Warmasters own, they may not take many ground tanks or transports but would use lots of aircraft and drop pods. They'd probably be lead by experienced, skilled centurions such as delagatus maybe using terminator armour, or a master of signals as they enjoy the use of orbital bombardment.

Emperor's Children: More likely to use smaller squads due to them being a small legion, however they have a lot of veterans and elite units, they make good use of transports both air and land. They're most likely to be lead by legion champions. I'd be tempted to say moritats maybe as well due to they're intrinsic, perfectionist nature.

Now it's your turn, so please share your opinion on what a fluffy list for certain legions should include.

Have fun!

Word Bearers: A few 15-20 strong Tactical Squads with CC weapons (either replacing or on top of bolters) should be the core of your army. Consul-wise you need a Chaplain, and their unique Diabolist is also a fluffy choice. Other consuls are fine too, but Chaplains and Diabolists are the stand out choices.

Word Bearers are fairly vehicle-light unless you're playing a Graven Star chapter style list. A few vehicles is all you should have.

The legions I'm most familiar with:
Death Guard - it's either infantry, or super heavy tanks. There is no in between. March it all right up the board.
Emperor's Children - 10 man squads mostly, take all the options and upgrades you can, get a nice elite unit (terminators or some other goodies) and have them leading the charge. If you're looking at post-heresy then things get a lot more flexible, as the legion was on the verge of tearing itself apart on search of experience.
Blood Angels - What's this 'staying still' you speak of? Plenty of jump packs, transports and fliers. Lighting fast assault units are what they're good at.
Alpha Legion - the ultimate in pure, un-cut, absolute f**kery. Use all their special abilities as much as possible - steal units, screw up reserves and take out as much as you can before it even touches the board . Also tend toward deep strike yourself and high powered attack units.

My Alpha Legion are going to tend to focus on a core of infantry, either transported or outflanking, backed with units that have either long range firepower or speed. The sudden strike out of nowhere, from multiple directions kind of approach.

The Iron Warriors are one of the larger legions(150,00-180,000 at the start of the Heresy), noted as having more armoured vehicles and artillery than any of the other legiones astartes. Tactically they prefer assault in overwhelming and unrelenting force after massive preliminary bombardment. Acceptance of staggering losses at the cost of achieving mission objectives is a core part of the Legions culture. The Legion has close ties to the Mechanicum, and the bonded armsmen of the Thorakitai but has become estranged from the other Legiones Astartes over the course of the Great Crusade.

So what does this all mean on the tabletop? Well the Hammer of Olympia Rite of War whilst not being the most powerful game is fluffy as beautiful bunny rabbit. Mechanised is the name of the Iron Warriors game with scoring provided by Tactical Squads in Rhinos, maxed out Heavy Support choices to fill with traditional legion armoured units and the almost compulsory Legion Artillery Squadron. Fast Attack units just seem to fit with this style of Warfare, Elite Choices boil down to Terminators(In Landraiders),Dreads and Rapiers. The HQ slot is an awkward one, the legion culture de-emphasises heroism as part of their grim utilitarian approach to warfare where everyone is replaceable. So one guy to fill your compulsory slot, which is normally going to be a Warsmith if you want the Rite of War(and you probably do if you are going fluffy) or a Siege-Breaker if you are getting your Rite of War via taking Perturabo. Lords of War is probably either taking old man Perty himself, or a War Machine detachment filled with Typhon's which created at the Primarch's request.

All this of course is just a guide to creating a generic Iron Warriors force using the legion structure covered in Book 3:Extermination. Just like all the other Legions they will have a multitude of formations evolved to suit the variables of different theatres of war. Even in the battles covered by Forgeworld in the same book which are Paramar and the Black Judges you see wide discrepancies from the Legions stated preferences.