16 replies to this topic

[Sun Reaver]

A couple of the guys at my local GW and I are wanting to start a Horus Heresy campaign. Since a majority of the guys are doing Loyalist Legions, I have decided to do a traitor legion and have narrowed down to these 4: Alpha Legion, World Eaters, Emperor's Children, and Luna Wolves.

I really want to do the Alpha Legion but as we are all trying to be as fluffy as possible, I fear it will look rather boring. The Alpha Legion go through great pains to look nearly identical to one another, going so far as to make sure their armor is polished at all times so that even a dent or a scratch could not set them apart. (Deliverance Lost) The only thing that would set them apart would be their war gear. Also what codex would be the best?

If I were to do the World Eater, I would either use the Blood Angels or Space Wolves codex to replicate their all out assault style. The army would involve a lot of mechanized armor with dedicated combat squads inside.

The Emperor's Children seem the easiest to model as all their legionaries can have the Aquila on them. I would probably use the Space Marine codex for them.

As for the Luna Wolves, I would probably use the Space Wolves codex and play a drop pod list.

I want to ask your opinions based on the above conclusions I have made and to ask what legion you guys think would be the easiest to build but do justice to the legion as well? What mark armor should I use? What can I not use?

Thanks,

Sun Reaver

Edited by Sun Reaver, 27 March 2012 - 07:42 PM.

[LaCroix]

dont forget word bearers using the BT codex......
or really all of the traitor legion using the standard sm/c
as for armour come downs to how much dosh you want to spend on forgeworld gear.
mark iv was heavily used in the traitor legions as they were kitted out before the others.
but really any armour up to mk V will do by going through the collected visions book
the cheapest to collect/model would probably be emperors children using the basic tac boxed set with some minor modding to make look like earlier marks.

well my thoughts anyway

[TennisBall]

It was only Omegon who tried to ensure that his armour bore no marks that could identify him. The Alpha Legion during the heresy would also have the same problems that the other legions had of ensuring a good supply of replacement armour parts, they would have had the same mix of armours as the others including the patch job mkV "heresy" suits.
When in open battle they must have used squad and other markings for ease of identification. They were still a legion with tanks, bikes, thunderhawks and the like, just they also liked to play spy games too. I bet the Alphas fighting at the dropsite massacre fought like a normal legion with marines formed into companies, chapters and the like with banners and captains leading from the front.
Luna Wolves didn't exist during the Heresy, they changed their name to Sons of Horus shortly before the Heresy started. Possibly Loken and the other loyalists on Istvaan III repainted their armour back to the Luna Wolves colours but I don't recall if that was said in the HH books.
I don't think you can use normal marines for the Emperor's Children. A large part of them became Noise Marines, as for the rest I don't know but they would have all sorts of implants to heighten their senses and sensations thanks to Fabius Bile, as well as having bright ugly paint covering themselves, strange decorations on their armour and who knows what else.
The only legions who seem to have retained a somewhat normal appearance were the Alpha Legion, Sons of Horus, the Iron Warriors and the Death Guard. The Death Guard don't appear to have become plague marines until just before their arrival at Terra where they showed up for the battle of the Imperial Palace. Before that they would have looked like their pre-heresy selves except with chaos markings on them, whether that included marks of nurgle I've no idea but possibly.

[Sun Reaver]

It was only Omegon who tried to ensure that his armour bore no marks that could identify him. The Alpha Legion during the heresy would also have the same problems that the other legions had of ensuring a good supply of replacement armour parts, they would have had the same mix of armours as the others including the patch job mkV "heresy" suits.
When in open battle they must have used squad and other markings for ease of identification. They were still a legion with tanks, bikes, thunderhawks and the like, just they also liked to play spy games too. I bet the Alphas fighting at the dropsite massacre fought like a normal legion with marines formed into companies, chapters and the like with banners and captains leading from the front.

In Deliverance Lost, it states that Alpharius made sure his armor was no different than everyone else's in his legion. But I suppose the main battle force would have some distinction between them.

Luna Wolves didn't exist during the Heresy, they changed their name to Sons of Horus shortly before the Heresy started. Possibly Loken and the other loyalists on Istvaan III repainted their armour back to the Luna Wolves colours but I don't recall if that was said in the HH books.
I don't think you can use normal marines for the Emperor's Children. A large part of them became Noise Marines, as for the rest I don't know but they would have all sorts of implants to heighten their senses and sensations thanks to Fabius Bile, as well as having bright ugly paint covering themselves, strange decorations on their armour and who knows what else.
The only legions who seem to have retained a somewhat normal appearance were the Alpha Legion, Sons of Horus, the Iron Warriors and the Death Guard. The Death Guard don't appear to have become plague marines until just before their arrival at Terra where they showed up for the battle of the Imperial Palace. Before that they would have looked like their pre-heresy selves except with chaos markings on them, whether that included marks of nurgle I've no idea but possibly.

Sorry if I wasn't clear enough earlier, but I meant to say that I am creating the legions when they were still loyal to the Imperium. As such I was wondering on which codex would fit their battle tactics. After reading the novels, I narrowed it down to few in the original post.


After much thought and consultation with some buds, I have narrowed it down to the World Eaters and Luna Wolves. As I already run a Blood Angels army, I think it would be best for me to either use the Space Wolves or Space Marine codex to bring some freshness to my game. Do you guys have any refernces to the certain tactics these legions used. I am currently re-reading the initial trilogy of the Horus Heresy to get some better insight on the Luna Wolves.

Sun Reaver

[Crimson Hawk]

WE are simple;
RAGEMAIMKILLBURNGOREKILLYDEATH ect.

[MordentHex]

Worldeaters are simple, just use codex chaos marines. All the rules you will ever need are in there for a berserker army. They are Sons of Horus, not Lunar Wolves during the heresy. They would be sea green. By all accounts including myself, not an easy color to get right. Deathguard are rather straight foward and would probably compliment your zerkers more in color selection.

[Sun Reaver]

Worldeaters are simple, just use codex chaos marines. All the rules you will ever need are in there for a berserker army. They are Sons of Horus, not Lunar Wolves during the heresy. They would be sea green. By all accounts including myself, not an easy color to get right. Deathguard are rather straight foward and would probably compliment your zerkers more in color selection.

As stated above, I am going to to be building the legions BEFORE THE HERESY. The Luna Wolves did exist and none of the legions have fallen to Chaos yet.

Right now, I am asking on the tactics the World Eaters and Luna Wolves used during the Great Crusade. Anyone have any sources?

Sun Reaver

[TennisBall]

In Deliverance Lost, it states that Alpharius made sure his armor was no different than everyone else's in his legion. But I suppose the main battle force would have some distinction between them.

Of course it was, thanks for the correction.

Sorry if I wasn't clear enough earlier, but I meant to say that I am creating the legions when they were still loyal to the Imperium. As such I was wondering on which codex would fit their battle tactics. After reading the novels, I narrowed it down to few in the original post.

Easy way to avoid confusion is pre-heresy means Great Crusade when everyone was still loyal. Heresy is once they start to adopt chaos practices via the lodges and introduce chaos symbols into the legions.

Blood Angels or Space Wolves codex for the World Eaters given their full frontal fast attack way of fighting. Death Company or Wulfen seem appropriate to represent the butcher's nails.
Standard codex for the Luna Wolves as I belive they were considered a well rounded legion like the Ultramarines, they had no legion specific specialty and Horus was like Guilliman in that he was a brilliant tactician and waged war scientifically.

[Durfast Spiritwolf]

Useful ideas here: http://www.tempusfugitives.co.uk/

[DIDM]

in my future there will be a Loken Wing of Luna Wolves

Loken + my man crush

Like any Boss would do



Loken ain't easy

[Antarius]

Worldeaters are simple, just use codex chaos marines. All the rules you will ever need are in there for a berserker army. They are Sons of Horus, not Lunar Wolves during the heresy. They would be sea green. By all accounts including myself, not an easy color to get right. Deathguard are rather straight foward and would probably compliment your zerkers more in color selection.

As stated above, I am going to to be building the legions BEFORE THE HERESY. The Luna Wolves did exist and none of the legions have fallen to Chaos yet.

Right now, I am asking on the tactics the World Eaters and Luna Wolves used during the Great Crusade. Anyone have any sources?

Sun Reaver

I would still use C:CSM for World Eaters, I think.

[Kol_Saresk]

For the World Eaters, I would think Blood Angels as they are very assault oriented with white armor and blue trim. Not too sure if there was a specific armor scheme. The Luna Wolves would be vanilla Marines with white armor I believe and I think the cover of False Gods shows them having a blackish red trim. That same cover showed them having helmets similar to the Moloch mini up on Forgeworld.

Don't know if that helps any sorry. Maybe MK II or MK III armor(or at least look alikes) for the World Eaters and MK IV for the Luna Wolves as they were preeminent amongst the Legions so it would be fitting they have the new tech?

EDIT: I would probably go with the Luna Wolves as far as easiest since they were the Vanilla Marines of their time although a Space Wolf Drop-Pod sounds like it would do just fine.

Edited by Kol_Saresk, 31 March 2012 - 07:50 PM.

[Maximvs]

Luna Wolves.

Just kidding. I run (actually more than a year from my last battle, or it seems ) PH-WE with C:CSM and goes pretty well with pre heresy wargear. Assault marines are zerkers ofc, tacticals are CSM, and even run a knight (defiler conversion). Is really fun. I tried the BA dex but has not the flavour for me. I use mostly MK II and MK III power armour. You can check my sig for some pics.

Cheers.

[esinhorn]

Why not go old school Pre-Angron War Hounds.
If you go on the BL site and look at the cover of Weakness of Others,take out the planet in the middle and that IS the Warhound badge.

Edited by esinhorn, 03 April 2012 - 03:30 PM.

[MordentHex]

My bad, thats what i get for late night lurking and then replying. anyways, i said use C:CSM because of the squad size cap. 20 not 10 like C:SM. Depending on which fluff you go by the legions had different squad sizes which is till represented well in C:CSM. Also yo uget options to heavy weapons not available in the right quantity or type in C:SM. Horus Heresy: collected Visions bro, get you a copy or at least try and google the heresy to give you something solid to start building on depending on your own tastes.

[Crimson Hawk]

Worldeaters are simple, just use codex chaos marines. All the rules you will ever need are in there for a berserker army. They are Sons of Horus, not Lunar Wolves during the heresy. They would be sea green. By all accounts including myself, not an easy color to get right. Deathguard are rather straight foward and would probably compliment your zerkers more in color selection.

As stated above, I am going to to be building the legions BEFORE THE HERESY. The Luna Wolves did exist and none of the legions have fallen to Chaos yet.

Right now, I am asking on the tactics the World Eaters and Luna Wolves used during the Great Crusade. Anyone have any sources?

Sun Reaver

I would still use C:CSM for World Eaters, I think.

Agreed- the WE were still absolute nutcases pre-heresy, but they were loyal nutcases, a bit like Wolves, only a bit more savage. So you really have 3 choices for them-

Space wolves- run a Bloodclaw-heavy list, Ragnar would make a cool Kharn, but stay away from TWC, Fenrisian Wolves ect.
Blood Angels- Two words- DEATH COMPANY. Take Lemartes, at least two units of DC, at least one Death Company Dead, and maybe some Tactical marines, to represent the fact that not everybody was absolutely mental ie. marines who hadn't got their implants yet.
Chaos Space Marines- Stick to Lords, Berzerkers ect. and stay away from and daemonic elements, and you should be fine
And plus, it's a great time to be a WE fan, with A-D-B's book Betrayer coming out soon!

Edited by Crimson Hawk, 11 April 2012 - 10:15 AM.

[Sun Reaver]

Worldeaters are simple, just use codex chaos marines. All the rules you will ever need are in there for a berserker army. They are Sons of Horus, not Lunar Wolves during the heresy. They would be sea green. By all accounts including myself, not an easy color to get right. Deathguard are rather straight foward and would probably compliment your zerkers more in color selection.

As stated above, I am going to to be building the legions BEFORE THE HERESY. The Luna Wolves did exist and none of the legions have fallen to Chaos yet.

Right now, I am asking on the tactics the World Eaters and Luna Wolves used during the Great Crusade. Anyone have any sources?

Sun Reaver

I would still use C:CSM for World Eaters, I think.

Agreed- the WE were still absolute nutcases pre-heresy, but they were loyal nutcases, a bit like Wolves, only a bit more savage. So you really have 3 choices for them-

Space wolves- run a Bloodclaw-heavy list, Ragnar would make a cool Kharn, but stay away from TWC, Fenrisian Wolves ect.

I was actually talking about this same idea with a mate of mine last week. I have always wanted to run a Ragnar/Bloodclaw heavy list and what better way than to make them World Eaters. This sealed the deal. Thanks for the input fellas, expect a WIP thread very soon.

Sun Reaver