Storm Crusaders
I started the Storm Crusaders when I got into Warhammer 40,000, only a couple of months ago. I took a look at various codexes and decided that none of them really zinged me, so I decided to start my own chapter and allow myself some artistic license. The army and the fluff are both works in progress and far from complete, but this is what it looks like so far.
The Storm Crusaders are very much like an order of knights, in that each one of them is recruited at a young age from a noble family on their homeworld. They look down upon the Guard, as commoners serve in the Guard, while nobles serve the Chapter. Instead of Tactical Marines, they're Knights of the Chapter. Instead of Veterans, they're Paladins. Instead of Scouts, they're Squires. My chapter also has a non-codex makeup in that each company has the ability to be completely self-sufficient and has a contingent of squires. Each squire is assigned to a Knight, who is responsible for his training. The squire, in return, is responsible for maintaining the Knight's armor and equipment. When the Knight feels his squire is ready, the squire receives his armor and is knighted.
Assault Marines are called Holy Martyrs - they're the young up-and-coming, headstrong Knights who must first prove that they are brave enough to face the enemy in melee combat before they're put in a Tactical squad. Devastator squads are almost unheard of in my Chapter, since they rely heavily upon battlefield mobility. Their heavy weapons come in the form of Predator tanks, Dreadnoughts, and Land Raiders, which are able to lay down the heavy firepower while still remaining mobile.
Much of my army still is not painted, and therefore is not pictured here, but I'll be updating this page as I paint more of my minis.
Army List
First of all, I apologize for the quality of the photos. I am not a photographer. Quite the opposite, I suck at photography. But here's my army.
HQ
Knight-Captain Torvus Videar (Captain). Terminator Armor. 140 points.
Saint Claudius (Chaplain). Jump Pack. 115 points.
Prophet Chronos (Librarian). Epistolary. 150 points.
TROOPS
Knights of the Chapter (Tactical) Squad Castor. Meltagun, Heavy Bolter, Power Weapon. DT Rhino. 225 points.
Knights of the Chapter (Tactical) Squad Pollux. Meltagun, Missile Launcher. DT Rhino (not shown, don't have it yet). 210 points.
Angels of Retribution (Scout Sniper) Squad Redrick. Camo Cloaks. Sergeant Telion. Sniper Rifles. 137 points.
Squire (Scout) Squad Lobo. Heavy Bolter. 85 points.
ELITES
Holy Paladin (Terminator) Squad Mordecai. Assault Cannon. 230 points. Fielded (as shown) with my Captain.
Honored Paladin (Dreadnought) Remus. Extra Armor. Assault Cannon. Missile Launcher. 140 points.
Steadfast Paladin (Sternguard Veteran) Squad Adamos. Plasma Gun. Meltagun. 140 points. Typically fielded (not shown) with my Librarian, but not always. If the Captain and Chaplain can be fielded, my Librarian stays behind (two HQ limit).
FAST ATTACK
Holy Martyr (Assault) Squad Talonus. +5 Marines (unpainted, so not shown). Power Fist. Combat Shield. 220 points. Fielded (as shown) with my Chaplain.
Tornado pattern Land Speeder squadron. +2 Speeders. Multi-Meltas. Tornado Pattern Assault Cannons. 300 points. My fast-moving tank-killers.
HEAVY SUPPORT
Predator Annihilator "Sudden Death". TL Lascannon. Sponson-Mounted Lascannons. Storm Bolter. 175 points. My mobile heavy-weapons platform.
All together, 2267 points.
I'm planning on getting a Predator Destructor and a Land Raider Crusader to flesh out the Heavy Support slots. I'm not sure yet what I'll do with my third Fast Attack slot.
Unit Photos
Captain Torvus Videar in his gilded Terminator armor
My Chaplain, Saint Claudius, and my Librarian, Prophet Chronos. Prophet Chronos's name is extremely bad, and I am taking suggestions for a new one.
Knights of the Chapter Squads Castor and Pollux. I apologize again for the quality of the photographs here. It didn't occur to me at the time that varnished wood is not a good backdrop, especially for minis that are mostly white. I'll try and get some new photographs for these guys.
Holy Martyr Squad Talonus, who are fielded, as stated above, with my Chaplain. Again with the wood backdrop.
Holy Paladin Squad Mordecai, who are fielded, as stated above, with my Captain.
Honored Paladin Remus. This is probably the most visible example of my Chapter's heraldry, both on the banner (with the Chapter's insignia) and on his knee (without insignia). The heraldry uses only colors, no images, because it's much larger than a single family.
Why I Started This Army
I got into WH40k only a few months ago and, as I said above, decided to create my own chapter. It's still a work in progress, but it's essentially evolved as I've painted more minis into what it is today.
