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.

In prior editions this would have been a no-no due to the way you drew LoS and range from the weapon and vehicle facing mattering.
But now that none of that exists and you just measure from the hull/base, what do you think of the modeling oppurtunities?

For example: It always bothered my sense of symmetry that an Eldar Falcon with 2 Shuricannons would have 1 mounted on the side of the turrent and the other under the hull.
In 8E, where the weapon is no longer matters, so I could either:
A) mount both Shuricannon on the turret and the Pulse laser under the hull or
B) mount both Shuricannons under the hull and the turret only having the Pulse laser and maybe a scope.

This could open up easier magnetization options. So a single grav tank could be used as any grav tank without needing multiple turrets and fewer magnet spots.
Just buy a Fire Prism/Night Spinner, put a magnet under the hull for Shuricats, Shuricannon or Pulse laser, then 2 magnets on the turret for the Spinners, Prism, Shuricannons, Bright lance, whatever really.

Personally, I love this change about 8E as I do extensive conversion work and no having to match where a weapon is mounted really frees up my creativity. I just need to match a given model in rough size and profile.

-

Go for it. I constructed a not-Fire Prism out of some spare bits I had, and decided to mount its shuriken cannon on the Falcon turret. Doesn't make any difference.

(and yes I used a d-cannon as the fire prism beam...because it's all I had sitting around!)

Only issue could be if things like firing arcs come back in 9th edition, but I highly doubt it. I'd say you're fine.

I think you're fine.

In fact, that's one of my favorite things about 8th.

And if they really make us (company commanders, or even brigade commanders now) micromanage the facing of every single little tank or even weapon under our command I'm going to pull my hair out. This is a game, we're "roleplaying" as a commander of a force, and the scale has shifted so that we are at a level of command where the facing and fire-arcs of a given weapon system are not ours to micromanage. We're not tank commanders or even platoon leaders anymore.

Cool, thanx. Nice conversion too, Elbows!

 MrMoustaffa wrote:
Only issue could be if things like firing arcs come back in 9th edition, but I highly doubt it. I'd say you're fine.

This. It's totally cool right now, just be prepared if you're in this for the long haul that things can change.

Stux wrote:

 MrMoustaffa wrote:
Only issue could be if things like firing arcs come back in 9th edition, but I highly doubt it. I'd say you're fine.

This. It's totally cool right now, just be prepared if you're in this for the long haul that things can change.

Noted. Been playing for over a decade now, so I think it's safe to say I'm in it for the "long haul". I've seen my fair share of conversion invalidated unfortunately.

Particularly my Wraithlords riding Vyper jetbikes counting as WraithKnights back when they we Heavy Support MCs, that were basically just WLs with double the wounds and movement, hence a WL riding a Jetbike with the correct guns was fine.
Flash forward to 7E and WKs are now GMC Lords of War and my conversion just don't fit anymore, despite being some of my favorite.
Luckily some slight modification and I can use them as Hemlock Wraithfighters now. But I still miss using the models for melee

Sounds awesome! Do you have any pics of those to share?

Yeup my heavy stubbers have always been modeled on the front of my leman russes similar to WW2 tank driver guns.

Never had issues in prior editions, now I really do not have any issues :-D

Stux wrote:
Sounds awesome! Do you have any pics of those to share?

I was in process of updating the post above with the pics. I had to add the "wings" and remove the sword (but still on via magnets) to make them work as Hemlocks. Fluff-wsie they were Saim-hann spirit-seers in life, so in death they are Wraithlords the ride modified jetbikes and just use the Hemlock rules.

-

I have always found the rule of cool over rides all but the most strict player objections. I mean if it was a tournament yeah, follow the rules with the models, but personal play? If it looks cool and makes sense go for it!

Now it's even easier to do that stuff.

I'd totally let you use your "Wraithbikes" as wraithknights! Really cool every time I see them.

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
I think you're fine.

In fact, that's one of my favorite things about 8th.

And if they really make us (company commanders, or even brigade commanders now) micromanage the facing of every single little tank or even weapon under our command I'm going to pull my hair out. This is a game, we're "roleplaying" as a commander of a force, and the scale has shifted so that we are at a level of command where the facing and fire-arcs of a given weapon system are not ours to micromanage. We're not tank commanders or even platoon leaders anymore.

Actually the forces aren't nearly big enough for company. Brigade commanders? HAH! Don't let the detachment names fool you. Those arent' battallions. Company of tanks would be 10 tanks. Battallion would be obviously even more...

since everything is a potato in 8-th it doesn't matter where to glue a weapon.

40k like most games just gets simpler each edition it seems. That's been the trend for a while, and 40k has always been a few steps simpler than most. It's unlikely they'll bring arcs and weapon positions back imo.

tneva82 wrote:

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
I think you're fine.

In fact, that's one of my favorite things about 8th.

And if they really make us (company commanders, or even brigade commanders now) micromanage the facing of every single little tank or even weapon under our command I'm going to pull my hair out. This is a game, we're "roleplaying" as a commander of a force, and the scale has shifted so that we are at a level of command where the facing and fire-arcs of a given weapon system are not ours to micromanage. We're not tank commanders or even platoon leaders anymore.

Actually the forces aren't nearly big enough for company. Brigade commanders? HAH! Don't let the detachment names fool you. Those arent' battallions. Company of tanks would be 10 tanks. Battallion would be obviously even more...

You can run 10 Imperial Guard tanks (one tank company) for ~1500 points.

You can run a platoon (51 guys) for 220 points from Codex IG.

You can field an infantry company (3 platoons plus HQ) for 690 points. With some finegaling (moving officers around / dropping platoons to 41 guys, etc) you can end up with three companies at 2000. Voila, a battalion.

At 4k, which is within striking range of the 40k rules as I've played games this large, you can end up with two battalions - or one (modernish) regiment - of Imperial Guard.

Brigades are weird because they don't have strict sizes.

 Mmmpi wrote:
I'd totally let you use your "Wraithbikes" as wraithknights! Really cool every time I see them.

Thanx. It's too bad that WKs suck this edition.

This is the progression of my Wraith Bike conversions so far:

6E - WKs are Heavy Support MCs that are double the wounds and movement of Wraithlords - My Wraithbikes are born
7E - WKs become LoW GMCs - My Wraithbikes are not really tourney appropriate due to their unique size and shape, but I make slight modifications to use them as "counts as" DreadKnights in an allied GK detachment (using modified WG as Terminator troops & a Librarian HQ)
8E - GKs cannot ally with Eldar, and WKs are a liability - My Wraithbikes must change form yet again to be Hemlock Wraithfighters.

They are still magnetized to be used as WKs if I ever get the itch, but in general I don't have enough time to play games anymore, so when I do, I'm going to paly my normal list (without WKs)

-

While we're on the subject of your past conversions: I seem to remember you worked on some type of wraith pain engines (for a dark artisan formation with a CWE vibe). I couldn't find it on your blog, so I was wondering what happened to that, as the WIP shots were quite nice.
Unless of course I'm mistaken and you're not the one who was doing that…

fresus wrote:
While we're on the subject of your past conversions: I seem to remember you worked on some type of wraith pain engines (for a dark artisan formation with a CWE vibe). I couldn't find it on your blog, so I was wondering what happened to that, as the WIP shots were quite nice.
Unless of course I'm mistaken and you're not the one who was doing that…

You remember correctly, glad I made an impression. I didn't get them finished before 8th dropped and the Dark Artisan formation was destroyed. Having no further interest in painting them, I sold them on eBay.
I later cleaned up my blog as I generally don't like WIP pics that will never be replaced with a finished product.
This is from the thread about them, but the link is broken on my work computer (which happens even with brand new links), but may work on your end.

 Galef wrote:
I got a work-in-progess pic:



-

Thanks! Too bad you couldn't finish them before 8th ed. dropped, they were really imaginative.

I would just have you target from where the weapon is mounted, wysiwyg style.
I am personally not a fan of the simpleton weapons facing vehicle rules this edition,
and prefer a more tlos approach.
So, any reasonable conversion would be fine, just play it as it is built.
The WL on bikes you could use as anything that matched its loadout with an approximately same silhouette.

I would likely not sit across the table from a GK Eldar allied army, however.
Like putting ice cream on a pizza, just .... not for me.

Anyways, I say go for it.
Your idea is a sound one, esp re magnetizing, and if facings and weapon locations do come into play again, just play the model as it is built.

The trouble - some might want to say misery - arises when one is always trying to manipulate rules and models to his/her advantage.
This is not the spirit of the game/hobby, imho, and everyone suffers for it.

 jeff white wrote:
The trouble - some might want to say misery - arises when one is always trying to manipulate rules and models to his/her advantage.
This is not the spirit of the game/hobby, imho, and everyone suffers for it.

Agreed. I am just trying to get the most out of the least amount of models. I'm not buying a new model when a perfectly good one is on my shelf and just needs a few weapon swaps.

-

 Galef wrote:

 jeff white wrote:
The trouble - some might want to say misery - arises when one is always trying to manipulate rules and models to his/her advantage.
This is not the spirit of the game/hobby, imho, and everyone suffers for it.

Agreed. I am just trying to get the most out of the least amount of models. I'm not but a new model when a perfectly good one is on my shelf and just needs a few weapon swaps.

-

No doubt, and that is perfectly reasonable.
Build it to a vision and play the vision.
Too many other people seem fully focused on playing to the rules.
They write lists rather than collect armies.
GW seems to fully endorse such a mindset, too,
with the result being the soul of the hobby being sukt out for money.

I'm not sure I agree with the idea that GW focuses on a "build list not armies" mind set. since I started playing GW has move more and more in a "army building" mentality where they have changes however is what an army qualifes as. gone are the days of the mono faction army, instead we have a mind set that favors interlinked crusade armies. the intent of this is clear. instead of just collecting X or Y, we can collect and build X and Y and maybe even some Z. instead of "I have ultramarines" it's "My army is an imperial crusade force from the Indomtus crusade. it features Robute Gulliman and his custodes escort, leading a force of primaris Ultramaries, Imperial guard and Skitarri.. all with the intent to recapture this world from my friends force of Black Legion chaos martines, and their summoned Khorne demons"

I say go for something unique. I have a spare tank kit sitting around I'd thought about making a parody tank out of to poke light fun at the current LOS rules - thinking about replacing the smoke stacks with multi-meltas and just having the cannon come straight up out of where the turret would normally go.

I'd quite like to build a Chaos Land Raider like one of the old Epic 40,000 variants: http://www.solegends.com/citcat1999/c1999p0233-00.htm

Alternatively, if you built a Sabre Tank-hunter, then it's easy to use - a Predator with no sponsons!