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Bang for buck: Largest # of GW bodies for least cost


Indefragable

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Hi all,

 

As alternatives to the official cultist models, what are some GW kits that provide the highest model count possible for cheapest price that could be used in a counts-as manner?

 

I know there are 3rd parties out there but I’m curious what 40k/AlS/WFB kits might provide.

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Hey Brother Indefragable, a great topic worth revisiting now with so many new AoS options, etc.  We considered this, too, and here were options we considered:

 

- normal cultists cost US$2.00 each

- Skaven Night Runners from the old WhF line cost US$1.75 each, and can be Hrud/mutant Beastmen

- Chaos Marauders from the old WhF line cost US$1.90 each, need some weapon swaps but are human

- Crypt Ghouls from the old WhF line cost US$2.00 each, need some weapon swaps but are cool mutants

- Bloodreavers are US$2.90, and are good Khorne Cultists OR really good Bloodletters with an alt paint scheme

 

A very cost-conscious friend actually used Skaven for a traitor mutant horde in 30k/AoD/HH.  He's extremely frugal so we reckoned that was the cheapest unit option, but unfortunately people mistook us playing AoS; that was how bad it looked.

 

Looking at all the options and weighing the pros/cons, I'd personally still go for normal cultists.  Because any money I'd save, it'd actually take more time than it's worth to me.  However, after looking at those ideas, Bloodreaver minis are really good, and are a great alternative to Bloodletters which are weird models.

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I also second the Bloodreavers, and I'm definitely planning on using those for my World Eaters/Khornate Cultists. The hard part is getting pistols for them, I'm looking at the Tzaangor upgrade kit?

 

The other option I came up with, Cawdor Gangers, isn't the most cost effective, but two boxes of Cawdor Gangers (40 each) nets you 10 melee, 10 shooty cultists.

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For bloodreaver pistols, I’d just glue holstered pistols to their belts and leave them holding their “brutal assault weapons “.

 

Something like:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40K-CSM-Khorne-Berzerker-Holstered-Pistol-Bits-4-Bitz/192749871962?epid=1431508342&hash=item2ce0c9a35a:g:Vg4AAOSwIs1cCWyo

 

Get 5 lots of them for 8.75 (including shipping). Good for 20 bloodreaver cultists!

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I still think the best bet is to get the standard pack of 5 Cultists, yes you'll still need to convert the specialists (heavy stubber from GSC/Orlocks, Flamer from Guard or most Necro gangs) as well as the leader (again, from any of those sources).

 

But sourcing these from a discounted seller (I've found the Cultists for 20% off) will mean you can do this even cheaper. That's the route I'll go down (assuming we get a Codex soon that has a Lost and Damned-style list of Traitor Guard, Cultists and mutants..!)

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I've been looking at human-type models for a different reason and I agree that Chaos Marauders are probably the cheapest. I don't know about you, but I reckon I've got enough spare guns kicking about in my bits box to get some converted up pretty quick. They also have horned helmets!

 

But the sculpts look a bit dated to my eyes, the newer AoS ones are much better and more of a heroic scale. I don't know for sure having not had any in my hands to directly compare, but I reckon the old Marauders would look puny now.

 

If only I'd kept my original Necromunda box set Goliaths!


Oh and also - have you looked on ebay? You might be able to get job lots of assembled minis for cheapy cheap. 

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I've been looking at human-type models for a different reason and I agree that Chaos Marauders are probably the cheapest. I don't know about you, but I reckon I've got enough spare guns kicking about in my bits box to get some converted up pretty quick. They also have horned helmets!

 

But the sculpts look a bit dated to my eyes, the newer AoS ones are much better and more of a heroic scale. I don't know for sure having not had any in my hands to directly compare, but I reckon the old Marauders would look puny now.

That's one reason why I didn't consider using these - they are getting on now (17/18 years?)*; also, IIRC, they're bulkier than other 'normal' human miniatures from around the same time (e.g. Cadians), almost looking on a par with Chaos Marines in terms of height.

 

However, if that doesn't bother you, and you've got plenty of autoguns/lasguns going spare to convert them with, they're another option.

 

Another consideration is the aesthetic side - which minis fit which theme you want to represent.  If you want something looking like average Imperial citizenry have risen up, I think a combo of GSC and Necromunda parts should fit that bill (however, not the cheapest way of doing it).  If you want a horde that looks like they've come from a feral/feudal world where a traitor legion/renegade chapter recruits from, those WFB/AoS marauders look the part.  The 'proper' cultist models look to me like they're the human 'dregs' that tag along with the Chaos Marines, hoping to obtain a measure of their master's glory; the slaves that toil away in the fleets of Chaos, given a battered autogun, then herded towards the enemy.

 

As well as that, there's also the option of using Cadian/Catachans as the basis for Cultist conversions; but as an aside, now that BSF has brought us 'official' Traitor Guard minis, I wonder if we'll see more of these?  Especially if a new Chaos Codex goes for a 'Lost and Damned' approach (or includes these an option for a formation/detachment Chaos Marine players can use).

 

*either it's time to get the current Marauders if you can, or hang on, as it looks like they're getting updated soon - there are rumours of a new AoS battletome for 'standard' Chaos, and updated figure sculpts.

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I've been looking at human-type models for a different reason and I agree that Chaos Marauders are probably the cheapest. I don't know about you, but I reckon I've got enough spare guns kicking about in my bits box to get some converted up pretty quick. They also have horned helmets!

 

But the sculpts look a bit dated to my eyes, the newer AoS ones are much better and more of a heroic scale. I don't know for sure having not had any in my hands to directly compare, but I reckon the old Marauders would look puny now.

That's one reason why I didn't consider using these - they are getting on now (17/18 years?)*; also, IIRC, they're bulkier than other 'normal' human miniatures from around the same time (e.g. Cadians), almost looking on a par with Chaos Marines in terms of height.

 

 

Is that right? I was looking at them on the GW webstore and thought the Bloodreavers looked bigger/bulkier. I'd be interested to see a side-by-side comparison.

 

I have to admit I was interested in this for a completely 40k-unrelated reason...

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Is that right? I was looking at them on the GW webstore and thought the Bloodreavers looked bigger/bulkier. I'd be interested to see a side-by-side comparison.

 

Yeah, you're right, the Bloodreavers are bigger still - I think that's partly because, since the move to AoS, the figures have been 'embiggened' :) slightly by GW.  It's a trend that has happened across all ranges, I think someone on here pointed out that the BSF Traitor Guard are slightly taller than the plastic Cadians.  But I think the Chaos Marauders always were on the 'bigger' side for human miniatures (they are aspiring to be mighty Chaos Warriors, after all... ;) )

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I used marauders for cultists back when only the alpha legion could use them, one thing to bear in mind with them is that as they were designed for fantasy rather than 40k or AoS they are deisgned with ranking up on square bases in mind so they look kinda samey.

 

More recently I mixed that flagellants kit with the dark vengeance cultists to good effect for a grubby rabble style of cultist.

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That just shows how outdated the Marauder kit is as Catachans aren't exactly up to todays standards anymore either to be honest. :sweat:

Yeah, those kits are ancient, but someone on this forum (Cheex) used Catachan arms mixed with the new Bloodreavers kit and it looked perfectly fine. Same scale, arms-wise, surprisingly :laugh.:

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I like the Flagellant kit. It's still sold and you get zealotly-looking guys with lots of bare arms and robes.

 

I'm a big fan of that kit for cultists, too. All you need are some pistols or autoguns and you're set.

 

 

That just shows how outdated the Marauder kit is as Catachans aren't exactly up to todays standards anymore either to be honest. :sweat:

Yeah, those kits are ancient, but someone on this forum (Cheex) used Catachan arms mixed with the new Bloodreavers kit and it looked perfectly fine. Same scale, arms-wise, surprisingly :laugh.:

 

 

Yep, Catachan arms fit Bloodreavers perfectly - if you can graft them on in the right places. 

 

IMG-20180619-195647.jpg

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