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Having gotten myself firmly back into 40K with my Blood Angels (custom Angels Revenant successor chapter) and loving it, I'm thinking about having a pop at AoS.

I can't choose a faction, though...

Am not overly keen on Stormcast Eternals (although there is a possibility I might end up playing them). Am investigating Legions of Nagash and a possible Vampire led horde of skeletons, but it's not really getting me that excited.

What would you good people recommend for a Blood Angels lover?

I like a good aesthetic. Courage, dignity, some tragedy or flaw (hence why the undead were initially appealing). Not really a fan of monsters or hordes, though...

Thanks.

How about an order alliance of Stormcasts and Daughters of Khaine?

Both have winged units, the 'Casts have those artistic metal faces and the Daughters have a blood lust thing going on.

Hello and welcome!
Being a Blood Angel lover myself I might be able to give a couple of suggestions. Some armies that might suit what you’re looking for are:
1) Idoneth. These Aelves are noble but also deeply flawed, and also quite interesting and cool looking if that kind of aesthetic interests you.
2) Sylvaneth. Another breed of Aelf but the wooden kind. These dudes have the caring and noble side and brutal violent side of Blood Angels in them and also look boss if you’re into tree peeps.
3) Disciples of Tzeentch. If you’re happy to go chaos these guys can be all your criteria as you can make your own group of them who were a noble city of knowledge hunting bros who were turned to chaos in obsession from the leader or something along those lines. Again cool models if you’re into that kind of thing.
4) Ossiarchs. These dudes just came out and fit the description quite well, and there is even a group of them who are very noble but fall to an animalistic rage which they try and keep under wraps and hide from everyone.

More probably suit, even generic Chaos who are getting some new models and a new book soon, doing something similar with them as the Tzeentch example, but those 4 are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head. Hope that helps.

One thought is go to the GW website and open up the page for an army that interests you. Then open a tab for each model in that army. Now go through the tabs one by one and look at the various photos and 360 rotations and close the tab on any you don't like the look of.

Now review what is left. It might be that you've closed everything but a handful of special characters or monsters - ergo things that are part of the army but which you might only ever own one or two of ever and which might not even all fit in an army at once.

Or perhaps you've only closed the core infantry, so you might not like the model you'll make the most of; but its only one part of the army and many of the more exotic things you love;

etc... Basically its giving you a better idea of what you do and don't like at an individual model level. It's important because the last thing you want is to have an army that you love the lore of; but hate putting together and painting (that's an army to play in computer games and read books/stories about most likely).


Courage, nobility and a flaw are all kind of present for every army. Each having their own interpretations of them of course. Flesheaters would consider themselves very noble and courageous as they fight evil and save maidens; winning for the underdog and then holding grand feasts and parties. That in reality they are insane vampire ghouls who are more likely to be tearing apart the innocent; feasting on their bodies and dancing with their entrails is - well - part of their madness.

Many Chaos warbands consider themselves quite noble - the Knights of Nurgle short stories often show how they are quite honourable within their own codes; even though they are festering with disease and covered in boils, pocks and maggots. Oozing bile and bringing their corruption to the world.

 Tiberius501 wrote:
Hello and welcome!
Being a Blood Angel lover myself I might be able to give a couple of suggestions. Some armies that might suit what you’re looking for are:
1) Idoneth. These Aelves are noble but also deeply flawed, and also quite interesting and cool looking if that kind of aesthetic interests you.
2) Sylvaneth. Another breed of Aelf but the wooden kind. These dudes have the caring and noble side and brutal violent side of Blood Angels in them and also look boss if you’re into tree peeps.
3) Disciples of Tzeentch. If you’re happy to go chaos these guys can be all your criteria as you can make your own group of them who were a noble city of knowledge hunting bros who were turned to chaos in obsession from the leader or something along those lines. Again cool models if you’re into that kind of thing.
4) Ossiarchs. These dudes just came out and fit the description quite well, and there is even a group of them who are very noble but fall to an animalistic rage which they try and keep under wraps and hide from everyone.

More probably suit, even generic Chaos who are getting some new models and a new book soon, doing something similar with them as the Tzeentch example, but those 4 are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head. Hope that helps.

Thank you so much for this. Opening up possibilities I hadn't even considered...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Overread wrote:
One thought is go to the GW website and open up the page for an army that interests you. Then open a tab for each model in that army. Now go through the tabs one by one and look at the various photos and 360 rotations and close the tab on any you don't like the look of.

Now review what is left. It might be that you've closed everything but a handful of special characters or monsters - ergo things that are part of the army but which you might only ever own one or two of ever and which might not even all fit in an army at once.

Or perhaps you've only closed the core infantry, so you might not like the model you'll make the most of; but its only one part of the army and many of the more exotic things you love;

etc... Basically its giving you a better idea of what you do and don't like at an individual model level. It's important because the last thing you want is to have an army that you love the lore of; but hate putting together and painting (that's an army to play in computer games and read books/stories about most likely).


Courage, nobility and a flaw are all kind of present for every army. Each having their own interpretations of them of course. Flesheaters would consider themselves very noble and courageous as they fight evil and save maidens; winning for the underdog and then holding grand feasts and parties. That in reality they are insane vampire ghouls who are more likely to be tearing apart the innocent; feasting on their bodies and dancing with their entrails is - well - part of their madness.

Many Chaos warbands consider themselves quite noble - the Knights of Nurgle short stories often show how they are quite honourable within their own codes; even though they are festering with disease and covered in boils, pocks and maggots. Oozing bile and bringing their corruption to the world.

This is very much what I'm doing atm. The Flesheater Courts really appeal to me for that very reason, but I can't stand the way they look - and I have young children who'd probably poop themselves if they saw the battletome or a single model!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Some of my favourite models are the Blood Knights - and I used to love the fluff of the Blood Dragons bloodline, with heroic but tragic Abhorash and their desperate, relentless quest to lift the curse upon them.

But the models are so bloody expensive I could put together a whole starter army for the cost...

And I'm not a huge fan of the Vampire lords models GW have retained for AoS. Although some conversion options from other sources look like an interesting prospect.

I'm of the opinion that one day Vampires will get their own Battletome. Death basically appears to have worked by GW first putting everything into Legions of Nagash to preserve it and then teasing out the various subfaction armies within it into their own force. Vampires are a big component and I'd be really surprised if they don't get their own Battletome one day. However when that might be is impossible to guess at (even if it came to be - Legions could turn into the Vampire force in the future).


As for flesheaters and kids, don't forget most models look like toys and cartoons (unless you are seriously good at painting - even then its still a toy). Consider that most kids made it through Watership Down and Animals of Farthing wood in the 80-90s and most of us survived that I think you'd be fine - asides what kid wouldn't want their own pet zombie dragon?!

 Overread wrote:
I'm of the opinion that one day Vampires will get their own Battletome. Death basically appears to have worked by GW first putting everything into Legions of Nagash to preserve it and then teasing out the various subfaction armies within it into their own force. Vampires are a big component and I'd be really surprised if they don't get their own Battletome one day. However when that might be is impossible to guess at (even if it came to be - Legions could turn into the Vampire force in the future).


As for flesheaters and kids, don't forget most models look like toys and cartoons (unless you are seriously good at painting - even then its still a toy). Consider that most kids made it through Watership Down and Animals of Farthing wood in the 80-90s and most of us survived that I think you'd be fine - asides what kid wouldn't want their own pet zombie dragon?!

If Vampires made a comeback as a full faction, I'd be sorted!

My son (who is 6) is fine with it all. But my daughter, 9 (and my wife as well actually), is even afraid of my Chaplain's skull mask!

If you want a flawed history and a fast, hard hitting army then deepkin may work for you.
Run the sea unicorn to make your eels a battle line option and you can literally play an all mounted army that hits worryingly hard still.

Mobility is a huge thing in AoS, so having an entire army that can essentially fly around the board makes it far easier and you can pick the charges.
Tons of the death star type builds are slow and avoiding them is key, something deepkin can do without even trying.

Jackal90 wrote:
If you want a flawed history and a fast, hard hitting army then deepkin may work for you.
Run the sea unicorn to make your eels a battle line option and you can literally play an all mounted army that hits worryingly hard still.

Mobility is a huge thing in AoS, so having an entire army that can essentially fly around the board makes it far easier and you can pick the charges.
Tons of the death star type builds are slow and avoiding them is key, something deepkin can do without even trying.

And they have truly spectacular models, too. Definitely worth a look

Just to throw a wrench in the works... do you really want two armies that essentially play the same?

I’m not really familiar with AOS, but maybe your alternative army might be something slow and snooty, to provide a change up from your 40k playstyle? Just a thought, as that’s what I’ve done over the years. Try to pick armies that play differently to what I’ve done before.

 greatbigtree wrote:
Just to throw a wrench in the works... do you really want two armies that essentially play the same?

I’m not really familiar with AOS, but maybe your alternative army might be something slow and snooty, to provide a change up from your 40k playstyle? Just a thought, as that’s what I’ve done over the years. Try to pick armies that play differently to what I’ve done before.

That's a really good question, and as I haven't bought anything yet it's not really a wrench in the works either!

I don't necessarily need them to play the same, but I would like something with an aesthetic and foundation which I know that I like. And as a reference point, I have Blood Angels from 40K.

I hope that makes sense?

I have a Flesh-Eaters army. I like them quite a bit but I would say they are as aesthetically far from Blood Angels as is possible.

Painting them has reminded me a bit of painting Nids from 40k or probably more like Orks though I've never painted Orks. They are 99% skin. No pants. No armor besides the Archregent and even that is just some shoulder pads.

I think Soulblight is going to have to be your army. The Blood Knights at perfect aesthetic pair for a Blood Angels enthusiast (I understand the draw, I used to play and love BA in 5th Ed 40k)

I just saw someone selling a great Soulblight army with 15 knights and 1-2 dragons, a coven throne and more for only $250. eBay and Facebook Markets/groups are your friends. Go there, get yourself a steal on the army you want to play rather than settling for something you don't like as much.

 bocatt wrote:
I have a Flesh-Eaters army. I like them quite a bit but I would say they are as aesthetically far from Blood Angels as is possible.

Painting them has reminded me a bit of painting Nids from 40k or probably more like Orks though I've never painted Orks. They are 99% skin. No pants. No armor besides the Archregent and even that is just some shoulder pads.

I think Soulblight is going to have to be your army. The Blood Knights at perfect aesthetic pair for a Blood Angels enthusiast (I understand the draw, I used to play and love BA in 5th Ed 40k)

I just saw someone selling a great Soulblight army with 15 knights and 1-2 dragons, a coven throne and more for only $250. eBay and Facebook Markets/groups are your friends. Go there, get yourself a steal on the army you want to play rather than settling for something you don't like as much.

I think you're spot on. I do love the Blood Knights. Yes, they are expensive, but if I could get grab a deal on eBay or somewhere - it'd be worth it.

Thanks.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
What about Legion of Blood? Or does Soulblight serve Blood Knights better?

 Darian Aarush wrote:

 bocatt wrote:


Snip

I think you're spot on. I do love the Blood Knights. Yes, they are expensive, but if I could get grab a deal on eBay or somewhere - it'd be worth it.

Thanks.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
What about Legion of Blood? Or does Soulblight serve Blood Knights better?

Soulblight is very restrictive but if you want to play B Knights then you're going to play Soulblight. B Knights become Battleline meaning 15 knights fills your requirement for a 2000 pt game and then you can fill the rest with whatever you want whether it's more magic, more knights, more dragons, whatever. No need for Dire Wolves, Zombies or Skellies if you dont want to paint a 60 dude horde of zombies.

Soulblight also gives all vamps a Bloodline, including your knights, that can now be the Blood Dragons you know and love but in the Mortal Realms. They're one of the better ones IIRC but they're all superb.

If you take Prince Vhordrai (who is a blender-y psychic murder machine ala Mephiston) you can also take a Battalion that includes him and 3 units of BKs. The points tax you pay is basically just for the artifact of power (of which there are many generic ones available in Malign Portents/sorcery that are quite good, even overpoweredly so) and a free command point to bust out more of those silly good Vampire CAs. Vhordrai has his own that lets another hero (not him) fight in the Hero phase which is a common denominator in armies that are strong. The ability to outflank on a board edge is situational at best and worthless at worst, but can provide a surprise tactical maneuver or a fear tactic to leverage against your opponent, especially in AoS where objectives are super important and having a flank collapse to Prince Murders-a-lot is a very bad thing indeed.

Legion of Blood is... Meh. The best thing it gives you is access to ALL of the other toys of Nagash. And Nagash himself. Take that as you will.

Blood Knights are still better in LoB than Soulblight in my opinion. Sure, you'll need to take a few dogs for Battleline, but that's totally worth it in my opinion.

LoB trait is better than any bloodline for Blood Knights, and you get much better command ability, relics, and command traits to choose from.

Why not use the dragon prince models from the high elf range for blood knights?
I see it all the time.
They are less than a 3rd of the price, look better and they are plastic.

Jackal90 wrote:
Why not use the dragon prince models from the high elf range for blood knights?
I see it all the time.
They are less than a 3rd of the price, look better and they are plastic.

They are no longer sold, GW removed them as part of the Cities of Sigmar update. They and a lot of the high elf removals were quite a surprise to many and the "last chance" was only clearing out of stock GW was currently holding so it vanished within a day or so of them going on last chance.

As a result they are no longer viable unless you can hunt down some; and as time goes on they will get harder to find in clean unbuilt condition and likely cost more and more as they were popular and good sculpts in plastic.

Jackal90 wrote:
Why not use the dragon prince models from the high elf range for blood knights?
I see it all the time.
They are less than a 3rd of the price, look better and they are plastic.

I use Chaos Knights with Daemonette heads. Works quite well in my opinion!

Pic here: http://imgur.com/a/VCOYeZ2

You'll probably have to hurry with those too as GW is releasing new Chaos Knights in December so the current kit is likely to vanish.

 Overread wrote:
You'll probably have to hurry with those too as GW is releasing new Chaos Knights in December so the current kit is likely to vanish.

Sure, though it should work just as well with the new kit. May be a bit more expensive though. At the moment you can get 5 Chaos Knights for about £16 on eBay.

Jackal90 wrote:
Why not use the dragon prince models from the high elf range for blood knights?
I see it all the time.
They are less than a 3rd of the price, look better and they are plastic.

eBay may need a visit!

Have purchased the Legions of Nagash battletome (ePub). Looks good. Still haven't decided between Soulblight and Legion of Blood.

 Darian Aarush wrote:

Jackal90 wrote:
Why not use the dragon prince models from the high elf range for blood knights?
I see it all the time.
They are less than a 3rd of the price, look better and they are plastic.

eBay may need a visit!

Have purchased the Legions of Nagash battletome (ePub). Looks good. Still haven't decided between Soulblight and Legion of Blood.

You don't really need to choose. Nothing to stop you changing up from game to game!

So long as you have some wolves/skeletons/zombies/Chainrasps of course.

I've gone for a Soulblight Vampire army, using these guys https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kings-of-War-BNIB-Undead-Soul-Reaver-Cavalry-Troop-MGKWU101-/392223076057 as Blood Knights.

 Darian Aarush wrote:
I've gone for a Soulblight Vampire army, using these guys https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kings-of-War-BNIB-Undead-Soul-Reaver-Cavalry-Troop-MGKWU101-/392223076057 as Blood Knights.

Welcome to the Mortal Realms friend. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Those models are sick. Remind me of old "Blackguard" type characters. Be sure to post pictures when you get into the thick of it!

 bocatt wrote:

 Darian Aarush wrote:
I've gone for a Soulblight Vampire army, using these guys https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kings-of-War-BNIB-Undead-Soul-Reaver-Cavalry-Troop-MGKWU101-/392223076057 as Blood Knights.

Welcome to the Mortal Realms friend. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Those models are sick. Remind me of old "Blackguard" type characters. Be sure to post pictures when you get into the thick of it!

Thanks!

Yep, definitely will.

Cool models!

Just be aware you won't be able to use them in any GW store, or at certain tournaments and other events that only allow GW miniatures.

 Stux wrote:
Cool models!

Just be aware you won't be able to use them in any GW store, or at certain tournaments and other events that only allow GW miniatures.

Yep. Don't play in any of those anyway, just at a local club.

It's just a unit of 5 GW Blood Knights (200pts) is £60. And I've just bought a mounted lord (Mantic), 5 knights (Mantic) and 4 bat swarms (Reaper miniatures), total 500pts, for a total of £35.

All my Blood Angels stuff is GW (much of it directly from GW). If the Blood Knights had been £30, I would've got them. But £60 for 5 battleline models is insane.

Let us know how those Mantic models turn out for your blood knights. I like you, refuse to pay £60 for 5 models and have been looking at alternatives, most "convert this" suggestions cost almost as much if you don't have the required parts to convert and need to buy from bits stores!

And welcome to the Alliance of Death!

 Rabidweasel wrote:
Let us know how those Mantic models turn out for your blood knights. I like you, refuse to pay £60 for 5 models and have been looking at alternatives, most "convert this" suggestions cost almost as much if you don't have the required parts to convert and need to buy from bits stores!

And welcome to the Alliance of Death!

Thank you. Will do.

It's annoying, because thus far I've been 100% loyal to GW. The Blood Knight miniatures are really good, but they're not worth £60. You can literally put together a small army for that amount of money.

I was also disappointed by the range of Vampire Lords miniatures GW retained (I think the ones they got rid of were the better ones!). The Blood Dragon you get riding the Zombie Dragon is a nice one, but too much for me just starting out. Would've been nice if they'd kept him as an option on a Nightmare, too. I know there is a mounted model (but he's a Von Carstein and aesthetically too different from the look I wanted).

Both the Prince Vhordrai and Neferata models are amazing, but again too big/expensive for me starting out.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Stock photos of the models I've gone for here:

https://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-125134-62122_Decent%20Heroic%20Scale%20%2828mm%29%20Vampire%20Miniatures%3F.html

Yeah part of the issue is that Vampires currently aren't a fully supported faction. They're in a weird middle ground where they aren't legacy as they're in the Legions battletome, but at the same time their rules are mostly token inclusion.

I wouldn't be surprised if one day they do a full reboot of the faction with new models, but it probably won't be any time soon.