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So I have a ton of space marine models, I have painted them as a ton of different chapters as I really never play them (prefer eldar and orks and have since 4th)

Given that I have some painted as bloood angels, salimanders, ultramarines gray knights space wolves, and the list goes on I am debating a way to actually occasionally field them (even own some chaos space marines like a heldrake which never saw a table)

Fluff wise I am debating between saying they are alpha legion spies pulled out for the battle explaining so many different models, or giving them all a silver shoulder pad and calling them deathwatch with some black accents painted on em all.

Positive side to Alpha legion might be actually having chaos as on the board since they are a traitor legion, but as they have not fallen to Chaos I don't know if that works so well (again fluff wise unless they are just aiding chaos as that is not unprecedented)

Alternatively should I use this as an excuse to strip and repaint a few hundred space marine models

Paint them as Alpha Legion
Then field them in a 30k Alpha Legion army using the Age of Darkness FoC
(Plus you can Field Alpharius)

Since the Alpha Legion is actually behind the creation of the Deathwatch and in charge of it to this day...

...both?

 Alpharius wrote:
Since the Alpha Legion is actually behind the creation of the Deathwatch and in charge of it to this day...

...both?

is that cannon? if so what books, I would totally read that!

but as they have not fallen to Chaos I don't know if that works so well

In M.31, maybe (as with so much involving the Alpha Legion in the HH novels, answer unclear, ask again later!)

By M.41, there are plenty of Alpha Legion who have gone off the deep & noodly tentacle end and are outright servants of chaos.

To do 'Deathwatch' properly, they should be almost all black. Marines sent to serve on the Watch paint their entire armour black. The only exceptions are their silver left arm (entire arm, not just the pad) and their pauldron on the opposite side, which retains chapter colours. The rest of the model should be 90% black, not just accents.

 Alpharius wrote:
Since the Alpha Legion is actually behind the creation of the Deathwatch and in charge of it to this day...

...both?

Weren't the initial deathwatch loyalist death guard that returned to the emperor after the drop site massacre?

locarno24 wrote:

but as they have not fallen to Chaos I don't know if that works so well

In M.31, maybe (as with so much involving the Alpha Legion in the HH novels, answer unclear, ask again later!)

By M.41, there are plenty of Alpha Legion who have gone off the deep & noodly tentacle end and are outright servants of chaos.

To do 'Deathwatch' properly, they should be almost all black. Marines sent to serve on the Watch paint their entire armour black. The only exceptions are their silver left arm (entire arm, not just the pad) and their pauldron on the opposite side, which retains chapter colours. The rest of the model should be 90% black, not just accents.

Well yea, as a whole was my meaning on the fall to chaos, individual marines of course have fallen and become devoted to chaos. I really like the alpha fluff though that they are working to help but perhaps the only way to help humanity is through guidance and targeted destruction. For deathwatch painting I would yes need to redo most of their armor black and I found some deathwatch shoulder pads that look nice so that might work as well, I did play with my airbrush and some fine sand to make a weathered black paint pattern that showed some of the coloring beneath as if the paint were wearing off. If the idea of alpha legion making deathwatch is cannon I might combine the ideas there. though as the armor is black I guess I would need to use a more gray or brown wash

 G00fySmiley wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:
Since the Alpha Legion is actually behind the creation of the Deathwatch and in charge of it to this day...

...both?

is that cannon? if so what books, I would totally read that!

Ah, sorry, I was joking!

However, it has been somewhat strongly hinted that they were...involved with the leadership/foundation of the Grey Knights!

(And no, I'm not kidding!)

Isn't it hinted that Omegon is Janus, the first Grand Master?

I mean, Bobby G punched one of the twins to death during the Scouring, the other is hinted to be a Grey Knight.

I really liked the Alpha Legion in "Legion" and the single leionaire in the Ravenguard story but apart from those they hvae been badly depicted, dull and without character, menace or even apparent tactical or strategic skill - epsecially the Primarchs

I vaguely recall either Abbadon or Mortarion mentioning in a Black library book that they knew Janus very well before he became Grand Master of the Grey Knights. I cannot remember what book and who said what to who, but read it somewhere.

Anyone know?

Crazyterran wrote:Isn't it hinted that Omegon is Janus, the first Grand Master?

I mean, Bobby G punched one of the twins to death during the Scouring, the other is hinted to be a Grey Knight.

Booby G allegedly killed Alpharius back when he didn't have a twin. Old Fluff and all that. And the gist of that story was, basically, that Alpharius might still be...alive!

Mr Morden wrote:I really liked the Alpha Legion in "Legion" and the single leionaire in the Ravenguard story but apart from those they hvae been badly depicted, dull and without character, menace or even apparent tactical or strategic skill - epsecially the Primarchs

Hard to disagree.

Once the Legion was in the hands of writers other than Abnett, well...

Slaphead wrote:I vaguely recall either Abbadon or Mortarion mentioning in a Black library book that they knew Janus very well before he became Grand Master of the Grey Knights. I cannot remember what book and who said what to who, but read it somewhere.

Anyone know?

That's the one!

I think it was Abaddon, but can't remember the book!

Deathwatch you can bring your team of heroes of any chapter you want. This is 40k the RPG vs a normal army how cool is that.

 oldzoggy wrote:
Deathwatch you can bring your team of heroes of any chapter you want. This is 40k the RPG vs a normal army how cool is that.

Deathwatch is the way to go since it can now be played in regular 40k games.

 wuestenfux wrote:

 oldzoggy wrote:
Deathwatch you can bring your team of heroes of any chapter you want. This is 40k the RPG vs a normal army how cool is that.

Deathwatch is the way to go since it can now be played in regular 40k games.

Albeit very limited. Probably more support later this year, but what they have so far is barely playable, and definately not as a main force.

 M0ff3l wrote:

 wuestenfux wrote:

 oldzoggy wrote:
Deathwatch you can bring your team of heroes of any chapter you want. This is 40k the RPG vs a normal army how cool is that.

Deathwatch is the way to go since it can now be played in regular 40k games.

Albeit very limited. Probably more support later this year, but what they have so far is barely playable, and definately not as a main force.

Agreed. But the models look very cool and what you also get is a unit of 5 (named) Marines besides some other named models.

 wuestenfux wrote:

 M0ff3l wrote:

 wuestenfux wrote:

 oldzoggy wrote:
Deathwatch you can bring your team of heroes of any chapter you want. This is 40k the RPG vs a normal army how cool is that.

Deathwatch is the way to go since it can now be played in regular 40k games.

Albeit very limited. Probably more support later this year, but what they have so far is barely playable, and definately not as a main force.

Agreed. But the models look very cool and what you also get is a unit of 5 (named) Marines besides some other named models.

Yeah, too bad the other named models are not independent characters, only Cassius and the Librarian are.

Alpha Legion is doing a good job if you think Alpha Legion isn't doing their job...

I'm an Alpha Legion player, but I'd go Deathwatch. A literal army of spies doesn't make much sense.

 Crazyterran wrote:
Isn't it hinted that Omegon is Janus, the first Grand Master?

I mean, Bobby G punched one of the twins to death during the Scouring, the other is hinted to be a Grey Knight.

In a battle the UMs deny happened that is based on the word of a Heretical Inquisitor

 Slaphead wrote:
I vaguely recall either Abbadon or Mortarion mentioning in a Black library book that they knew Janus very well before he became Grand Master of the Grey Knights. I cannot remember what book and who said what to who, but read it somewhere.

Anyone know?

Pandorax.