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I was wondering what some of you would think of a Space Marine army that was not painted in the colors of any of the Legions, but rather, in a completely new color scheme. This would be because I would have it be a coalition of units from different Legions coming together for a unique cause, and would allow me to play the same army with different Legion rules in different games without breaking a game's immersion. I'm still up in the air about if I even want to do this, but I'd like to hear some other people's thoughts.

Now I know that technically, I can paint my army however I want, but given how the HH games has something of a historical game feel to it, would such a thing be possible in the lore and do you think others in the community would like it or not? I know that some Heresy players can be a bit picky about lore accurate armies, and I'd rather not have people looking down on my army as not 'authentic,' and maybe even not wanting to play me.

Blackshields/ shattered legions. That is what you are looking for.

 ArcaneHorror wrote:
I was wondering what some of you would think of a Space Marine army that was not painted in the colors of any of the Legions, but rather, in a completely new color scheme. This would be because I would have it be a coalition of units from different Legions coming together for a unique cause, and would allow me to play the same army with different Legion rules in different games without breaking a game's immersion. I'm still up in the air about if I even want to do this, but I'd like to hear some other people's thoughts.

Now I know that technically, I can paint my army however I want, but given how the HH games has something of a historical game feel to it, would such a thing be possible in the lore and do you think others in the community would like it or not? I know that some Heresy players can be a bit picky about lore accurate armies, and I'd rather not have people looking down on my army as not 'authentic,' and maybe even not wanting to play me.

There is incentive to paint the Legions in different colour schemes in the source material. However it is prudent to not steer away too much from the original. I have used for instance dirty Boltgun Metal drybrushed with silver for my Iron Hands in addition with blue OSL for the eye lenses and plasma gun effects.

Coalitions are represented in the rules in the Allies section. Some Legions profit more from allying with a particular faction than others although no one stops you from using two Legions who despise each other to experience a more difficult game or by telling a story. Perhaps both factions develop at least grudging respect for each other at the end of a campaign much like in a Hollywood cop buddy movie.

 Strg Alt wrote:


Coalitions are represented in the rules in the Allies section. Some Legions profit more from allying with a particular faction than others although no one stops you from using two Legions who despise each other to experience a more difficult game or by telling a story. Perhaps both factions develop at least grudging respect for each other at the end of a campaign much like in a Hollywood cop buddy movie.

To give an example to give you some ideas, my Loyalist World Eaters are accompanied by an Allied contingent of ultramarines. These ultramarines are essentially Probationary Officers, keeping an eye on the WE, before Bobby G hooks them up to the Supply Lines. However by the end of the heresy the We are Loyal to Ultramar itself, becoming the "Hounds of Ultramar" chapter.


A fun idea is to try and add some elements to mix the two parts together, showing how they fight together. Such as my WE having dedicated UM officers to help focus the Nails (ran as Vexillia), and the UM commander has the Arena Champion Chains that some WE have, to show he's the only outsider to win in the Arena.

 ArcaneHorror wrote:
I was wondering what some of you would think of a Space Marine army that was not painted in the colors of any of the Legions, but rather, in a completely new color scheme. This would be because I would have it be a coalition of units from different Legions coming together for a unique cause, and would allow me to play the same army with different Legion rules in different games without breaking a game's immersion. I'm still up in the air about if I even want to do this, but I'd like to hear some other people's thoughts.

On the other hand, if you want a more blended force, with more than two legions involved, like the old Shattered Legion or Blackshields, what I would do is this. First pick a legion you like the rules of and make the HQ's look like that legion, (essentially fluffing it as them running the force how they are used to doing)and then mix everyone else up, maybe flavoring certain units as certain legions. (Iron Warriors at the artillery, Blood Angel Assault Marines, Imp Fist tacticals, etc.) Then, you tie all the units under a common symbol or feature. Everyone has chaotic flair, everyone has a particular stripe pattern on the legs, etc.


Just some ideas on how to make that work, since we've not rules for Blackshields or Shattered Legions yet.