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I really like the whole idea of being a normal human in a world dominated by genetically enhanced steroid junkies, so naturally the imperalis militia caught my eye. Problem is their "official" models are just the renegade and heretic models which don't fit what I want to do with them (Loyalist P.D.F). How do I get and/or make models for an I.M.A.C army? What's the best way to build a list?


help, there is too many customization options.

Use Imperial Guard models if you want to stay in GW Plastic, otherwise any other 25mm scale sci-fi/military 3rd party models will work fine.

At the end of the day, Imperialis Militia basically have the same options as an Imperial Guard army - T3/5+ troops with lasguns, heavy weapon teams, Ogryns, Sentinels, Leman Russ' and Baneblades. The only things you really need to look to Forgeworld/3rd party for are Thunderbolts, Rapier Weapon Carriages, Malcadors, Gorgons and Medusa Siege Guns

 GoonBandito wrote:
Use Imperial Guard models if you want to stay in GW Plastic, otherwise any other 25mm scale sci-fi/military 3rd party models will work fine.

Doesn't 3rd party models bar me from tournaments?

Depends on tournament. Gw official ones? Sure. In finland at most unpainted models are banned

If you're trying to play at a GW store or GW-sanctioned event they'll call you out for third-party models, but not otherwise.

Depending on what sort of militia you're going for (and on your budget) Dreamforge Games' Eisenkern (for a more Survivors of the Dark Age/clean-advanced look), Victoria Miniatures' variant Guard ranges, Warlord Games' weird-WWII Konflikt '47 armies, and possibly Warzone: Resurrection or Dystopian Legions could serve as interesting starting points.

(Disclaimer: The only one of those I've had personal experience with is the Dreamforge Eisenkern, which are on par with GW sculpts in quality and don't look that out of place next to GW models if the guns are doctored a bit (they're more realistic in scale so they're a bit skinner, you could blame the gravity/atmosphere on their planet for that).)

(Addendum: Dreamforge and Victoria Miniatures have the extra advantage of providing non-silly-looking female models, in case that's something you care about.)

(Additional addendum: Dreamforge models are a reasonably inexpensive way to go about an IMAC list at $20-25 for ten models, Victoria models are more expensive, but both have heavy-weapon-team models (even if you probably want to add traditional 40k bits to make it obvious what guns they're using, for WYSIWYG/ease-of-play).)

the joy of the list: no actual official models. Use whichever models are best fitting for your fluff. At the moment, I'm using kriegers, but once the new dorfs come out, I'll swap over to playing squat-militia

 AnomanderRake wrote:
(Addendum: Dreamforge and Victoria Miniatures have the extra advantage of providing non-silly-looking female models, in case that's something you care about.)

Amen! If/when I do any IM, I am going Victoria. So many amazing options, including the Arcadians, which I believe are based on the original Imperial Army stylings of Rogue Trader.

 Brennonjw wrote:
the joy of the list: no actual official models. Use whichever models are best fitting for your fluff. At the moment, I'm using kriegers, but once the new dorfs come out, I'll swap over to playing squat-militia

Ofc this is a conversion heavy army, nothing spells fun like painting 200+ 20 dollar models!

But I'm kinda worried about anything 3rd party. I live in Vegas so obviously the LVO is closest to me. Wouldn't they ban me from that tourney due to my 3rd party models?

I'm also looking to make a shooty horde, so what type of liar do you think would fit that?

 EnsignTuna wrote:

 Brennonjw wrote:
the joy of the list: no actual official models. Use whichever models are best fitting for your fluff. At the moment, I'm using kriegers, but once the new dorfs come out, I'll swap over to playing squat-militia

Ofc this is a conversion heavy army, nothing spells fun like painting 200+ 20 dollar models!

But I'm kinda worried about anything 3rd party. I live in Vegas so obviously the LVO is closest to me. Wouldn't they ban me from that tourney due to my 3rd party models?

I'm also looking to make a shooty horde, so what type of liar do you think would fit that?

If they ban you for 3rd party models, they clearly don't get the spirit of 30k and you should call them names and make them feel bad.

 em_en_oh_pee wrote:

 AnomanderRake wrote:
(Addendum: Dreamforge and Victoria Miniatures have the extra advantage of providing non-silly-looking female models, in case that's something you care about.)

Amen! If/when I do any IM, I am going Victoria. So many amazing options, including the Arcadians, which I believe are based on the original Imperial Army stylings of Rogue Trader...

I've been stockpiling Eisenkern. Anyone wants to "...but physical size..." me, take it up with my Dark Age power armour.

 EnsignTuna wrote:

 Brennonjw wrote:
the joy of the list: no actual official models. Use whichever models are best fitting for your fluff. At the moment, I'm using kriegers, but once the new dorfs come out, I'll swap over to playing squat-militia

Ofc this is a conversion heavy army, nothing spells fun like painting 200+ 20 dollar models!

But I'm kinda worried about anything 3rd party. I live in Vegas so obviously the LVO is closest to me. Wouldn't they ban me from that tourney due to my 3rd party models?

I'm also looking to make a shooty horde, so what type of liar do you think would fit that?

Although the relationship between Frontline Gaming and GW has grown tighter I would be shocked if they ever went that far. I have played numerous ITC tournaments (including the BAO) and have never had issues using 3rd party models.

One other option for models is Anvil Industries. They have a pretty good variety of modern/near future infantry models. What I've done with their models is that they have little tracked units that can make for good heavy weapon teams or rapiers if you're going for a more sci-fi look. I use the guys below as rapiers. You can buy a variety of guns to fit into the tracks. You can either just swap them out without glue or stick magnets in for a more secure connection. I just glued it down since missiles are ambiguous enough that they can be pretty much any heavy weapon.



Your cheapest bet is to just find cadians or catachans on craigslist or ebay. Going with any resin option is going to be more costly, but will look more unique and be way cooler.

I think I'm going to go for some Victoria models as those look drilled awesome (espically their Lewis guns).
But then I remembered 30k has fieldablw primarchs, and looking thrown my IMAC list there doesn't seem to be much outside of an overly sized tank that can blast open a primarch. Any tips on downing the big guys?

 EnsignTuna wrote:

 Brennonjw wrote:
the joy of the list: no actual official models. Use whichever models are best fitting for your fluff. At the moment, I'm using kriegers, but once the new dorfs come out, I'll swap over to playing squat-militia

Ofc this is a conversion heavy army, nothing spells fun like painting 200+ 20 dollar models!

But I'm kinda worried about anything 3rd party. I live in Vegas so obviously the LVO is closest to me. Wouldn't they ban me from that tourney due to my 3rd party models?

I'm also looking to make a shooty horde, so what type of liar do you think would fit that?

I'd like to point out that at this year's LVO 30k event, the TO mentioned not banning 3rd party models next time, which is neat

 EnsignTuna wrote:
I think I'm going to go for some Victoria models as those look drilled awesome (espically their Lewis guns).
But then I remembered 30k has fieldablw primarchs, and looking thrown my IMAC list there doesn't seem to be much outside of an overly sized tank that can blast open a primarch. Any tips on downing the big guys?

A Cult Horde list can drown them in fearless Inducted Levies for a mere fraction of the Primarch's points. Super hilarious when you can cast something like Forewarning or Invisibility on them too, to tarpit the Primarch all game long. And if you make them Tainted Flesh as well, you even get a chance to throw back some Wounds with their Rending attacks.

 EnsignTuna wrote:
I think I'm going to go for some Victoria models as those look drilled awesome (espically their Lewis guns).
But then I remembered 30k has fieldablw primarchs, and looking thrown my IMAC list there doesn't seem to be much outside of an overly sized tank that can blast open a primarch. Any tips on downing the big guys?

Those models are sweet indeed. However when the conscripts cost 2 pt a piece and the standard game is 2500 points, that's quite a bill you're facing. Would love to see the finished product though.

In terms of taking on primarchs and other tough units there aren't a ton of options. If you want to do it without assistance the only real way is what GoonBandito describes. There are provenances (basically rites of war for milia) that give your troops "fearless" and then "rending" special rules. At that point you're not playing a gunline though. All models with that provenance can only fire snap shots since they're crazy maniacs. You need a ton of dudes to get into combat and bring enemies down with rending.

Otherwise you basically need allies or just play to the objectives and hope that you have more bodies than they have bullets and close combat attacks. In terms of allies, Mechanicum works nicely if you want to stay from marines.

Money is no issue. I mean if you can't remortgage your house and maybe sell yourself in prostitution, you ain't doing it right.

Heart broken to see my only chance in killing a primarch is hoping one of my lasguns hits him in the eye and causes a black hole. Friggin super humans ruining my normal human day.

If you want to stay GW-friendly, you have a good amount of options depending on the look you want. I am playing a cult horde, so I like the gothic/fantasy look. I'm using a mix of chaos cultists, GSC cultists, WHF Empire militia, WHF Bretonnian Men at Arms, and some 3rd party stuff thrown in for variety. Really gives the army the feeling of a bunch of average citizens rebelling against the empire, rather than just Cadian guardsmen in 30k. But to each their own. The 3rd party models listed so far are all great.

another option, to make it GW/certain tourney friendly, is to look into kitbashing plastics 40k/WFB/AOS kits to get your infantry, I've seen some great Brettonian men at arms with cadian arms and lasguns, for example.

 MeanGreenStompa wrote:
another option, to make it GW/certain tourney friendly, is to look into kitbashing plastics 40k/WFB/AOS kits to get your infantry, I've seen some great Brettonian men at arms with cadian arms and lasguns, for example.

Empire Flagellants are the iconic cultist/traitor militia conversion fodder. And the Dark Vengeance cultists are always a good choice.

So, I have a pretty detailed 30k Militia Tactica over at Heresy 30k - http://heresy30k.invisionzone.com/index.php?/topic/7950-imperialis-militia-cults-tactica/

Warp Cults, as many people have mentioned, are very effective and can bog down a primarch with strength of numbers. However, a lot of the mini ranges mentioned above don't really work for them - they're all a bit 'professional' looking. If going with Warp Cults I'd use the cheapest fantasy models possible - beast men, Mantic ghouls or zombies, cheap 28mm Warlord games spearmen with gas masks, something like that.

When I use Warp Cultm My crazy levies are a mix of Mantic and GW ghouls with Pig Iron heads and Hasslefree pistols. I then use old, robed models for the 'regular' soldiers, including Necromunda models and Tallarns.



If you're going for a more interesting 'professional human soldier' vibe then the links people have provided above are great. Personally. I don't like the eisenkern models, but Victoria are great and Anvil have amazing choices.

If you really want GW friendly, then Cadians or any of the old metal Guard ranges work. With Cadians, numerous companies make alternate heads to use which can alter their look a lot. Also, Genestealer Cult and Chaos Cultist models work really well - here's some Genestealer Cult with Skitarii heads which I use as Solar Auxilia allies, but which could easily be a good conversion for more hi-tech Survivors of the Dark Age or Cyber-Augmentic type guys



So, lots of options. Whatever you do, bear in mind that you'll probably be painting a minimum of 60/70 of these guys (in a fairly elite, tank-heavy force) and as much as a couple of hundred (in a Warp Cult). If you're looking to play in lots of tournaments, though, I'd steer away from the biggest Warp Cult hordes as they're pretty time consuming!

So my plan for my Imperial Militia is using the Survivors of the Dark Age thing and using my old 3rd Edition Metal Stormtroopers and Kasrkin as Grenadiers and then popping the heads of my guardsmen and replacing them with the Skitarii Hooded heads and Helmeted heads.

I figure that's enough of a conversion that should look well on the tabletop for 30k.

I also have a squad of Vostroyans for Grenadiers with Laslocks.

 IronMaster wrote:
So my plan for my Imperial Militia is using the Survivors of the Dark Age thing and using my old 3rd Edition Metal Stormtroopers and Kasrkin as Grenadiers and then popping the heads of my guardsmen and replacing them with the Skitarii Hooded heads and Helmeted heads.

I figure that's enough of a conversion that should look well on the tabletop for 30k.

I also have a squad of Vostroyans for Grenadiers with Laslocks.

I'm using 3rd ed stormtroopers too, they suit the survivors of the dark age quite nicely and end up cosing about the same as the recent plastic gw stormtroopers if you're careful - prices for the special weapons has rocketed up though.

 SirDonlad wrote:

 IronMaster wrote:
So my plan for my Imperial Militia is using the Survivors of the Dark Age thing and using my old 3rd Edition Metal Stormtroopers and Kasrkin as Grenadiers and then popping the heads of my guardsmen and replacing them with the Skitarii Hooded heads and Helmeted heads.

I figure that's enough of a conversion that should look well on the tabletop for 30k.

I also have a squad of Vostroyans for Grenadiers with Laslocks.

I'm using 3rd ed stormtroopers too, they suit the survivors of the dark age quite nicely and end up cosing about the same as the recent plastic gw stormtroopers if you're careful - prices for the special weapons has rocketed up though.

I've actually been slowly collecting them over the years for a Miitarum Tempestus force (Which unfortunately isn't the most playable of lists). I'm up to 105 metal Storm Troopers which will give me a solid base for a Survivors of the Dark Age list. That combined with being able to take Rhinos as Transports saves me money from having to use Gorgons.

 IronMaster wrote:

 SirDonlad wrote:

 IronMaster wrote:
So my plan for my Imperial Militia is using the Survivors of the Dark Age thing and using my old 3rd Edition Metal Stormtroopers and Kasrkin as Grenadiers and then popping the heads of my guardsmen and replacing them with the Skitarii Hooded heads and Helmeted heads.

I figure that's enough of a conversion that should look well on the tabletop for 30k.

I also have a squad of Vostroyans for Grenadiers with Laslocks.

I'm using 3rd ed stormtroopers too, they suit the survivors of the dark age quite nicely and end up cosing about the same as the recent plastic gw stormtroopers if you're careful - prices for the special weapons has rocketed up though.

I've actually been slowly collecting them over the years for a Miitarum Tempestus force (Which unfortunately isn't the most playable of lists). I'm up to 105 metal Storm Troopers which will give me a solid base for a Survivors of the Dark Age list. That combined with being able to take Rhinos as Transports saves me money from having to use Gorgons.

I love the idea of the Rhinos in the list painted in old RT era camo. But... LR Proteus with an extra TL Las seems pretty outstanding if you want to run just 10 dudes in a transport. It becomes a pretty good mobile bunker for like 340pt.

I have had my interest piqued again because of the new Squaaaa.... I mean, Kharadron Overlords. Though no list I make seems to have less than three Proteus and a few Malcadors, so I am thankfully too broke to buy in.

 IronMaster wrote:

 SirDonlad wrote:

 IronMaster wrote:
So my plan for my Imperial Militia is using the Survivors of the Dark Age thing and using my old 3rd Edition Metal Stormtroopers and Kasrkin as Grenadiers and then popping the heads of my guardsmen and replacing them with the Skitarii Hooded heads and Helmeted heads.

I figure that's enough of a conversion that should look well on the tabletop for 30k.

I also have a squad of Vostroyans for Grenadiers with Laslocks.

I'm using 3rd ed stormtroopers too, they suit the survivors of the dark age quite nicely and end up costing about the same as the recent plastic gw stormtroopers if you're careful - prices for the special weapons has rocketed up though.

I've actually been slowly collecting them over the years for a Miitarum Tempestus force (Which unfortunately isn't the most playable of lists). I'm up to 105 metal Storm Troopers which will give me a solid base for a Survivors of the Dark Age list. That combined with being able to take Rhinos as Transports saves me money from having to use Gorgons.

Nice! i'm at 123, and appreciating how expensive and annoying sourcing genuine models can be - even in the UK where they were made, let alone in the US - Kudos!

The problem with rhinos or land raiders is losing special weapin grenadiers....

Plastic chaos cultists do well for warp cult levy. Tempestus are good for survivors grenadiers (albeit slighly more expensive per man than solar auxilia!)

Sadly there isnt a really good plastic guardsman -cadians are carrying loads of gear that didn't exist (its always called kantrael- and cadia-pattern, and the winged skull is specifically an astra militarum symbol) whilst the plastic catachans are...yeah.

any of the metal guardsmen are good, though.

locarno24 wrote:
The problem with rhinos or land raiders is losing special weapin grenadiers....

Plastic chaos cultists do well for warp cult levy. Tempestus are good for survivors grenadiers (albeit slighly more expensive per man than solar auxilia!)

Sadly there isnt a really good plastic guardsman -cadians are carrying loads of gear that didn't exist (its always called kantrael- and cadia-pattern, and the winged skull is specifically an astra militarum symbol) whilst the plastic catachans are...yeah.

any of the metal guardsmen are good, though.

Is that a problem? You get a Land Raider Proteus with triple TL Lascannons, which should really just be a mobile bunker for a super-cheap scoring unit - at least, that is my take on using them. Rhinos are so fragile that I wouldn't be inclined to run them unless it was an absurd spam of them (like 6+) just for target saturation. They don't have a lot of good transport options in the Militia list anyhow, so it gives you something somewhat decent.

 em_en_oh_pee wrote:

locarno24 wrote:
The problem with rhinos or land raiders is losing special weapin grenadiers....

Plastic chaos cultists do well for warp cult levy. Tempestus are good for survivors grenadiers (albeit slighly more expensive per man than solar auxilia!)

Sadly there isnt a really good plastic guardsman -cadians are carrying loads of gear that didn't exist (its always called kantrael- and cadia-pattern, and the winged skull is specifically an astra militarum symbol) whilst the plastic catachans are...yeah.

any of the metal guardsmen are good, though.

Is that a problem? You get a Land Raider Proteus with triple TL Lascannons, which should really just be a mobile bunker for a super-cheap scoring unit - at least, that is my take on using them. Rhinos are so fragile that I wouldn't be inclined to run them unless it was an absurd spam of them (like 6+) just for target saturation. They don't have a lot of good transport options in the Militia list anyhow, so it gives you something somewhat decent.

I'm enjoying having almost equivalent Space Marines in the Rhinos for my Guard just from a fluff and look perspective. They remind me more of Guard Spec Ops with higher tech armor (3+) and str 4 lasguns. If they'd rather focus fire on the rhinos over the Leman Russ horde behind them, they can absolutely feel free in my mind. (Current Leman Russ Count - 11)

Massed tanks (especially demolishers and vanquishers) with a heavy infatry screen is a very effective militia force (tanks are a warp cults only effective fire support given the cult horde provenance)

Gorgons aren't bad transports for regular army, just expensive (£) and perenially out of stock (presumably until they recast them with non dkok gun crew or enclosed gun compartments)

Ogryn Brute squad with Carapace Armour, Shields, Cyber-Augmetics and Survivors of the Dark Age. It's like having a squad of tanks running round the battlefield