Deafbok

The vehicle lines got a decent snort-chuckle out of me! Also, now I'm going to check the datasheet for the Command Squad because Lascannon guys with shields is HILARIOUS imagery, made more so by the Apothecary bringing them back.

I just started a topic over in the Adeptus Astartes forum, but I'm particularly sad over the loss of Company Veterans, even if they weren't a specific kit (Effectively the Command Squad, but I had a 5 man kitbashed squad with Storm Shields and combi-plasmas as a centerpiece unit for my DiY chapter that are no longer tabletop legal...) Most units I can see why - there are Primaris analogues or they are redundant (How many flavours of Dread do we really need?) but I'm perplexed by the loss of Assault Squads and the Thunderfire Cannon. I suppose you can build the former out of the VanVet kit anyway, but the latter has been a staple of competitive lists for a few editions, hasn't it?

Hi all! As the proud owner of 7 full Firstborn Tactical squads, among other things, I figured it'd be interesting to have a look at what best fits our lists in 10th. Yeah, yeah, divisive topic - please can we keep this to a discussion of how Firstborn work on the table as they are now, rather than any speculation about what might happen. Look, I'm as upset as the next guy that my Company Veterans squad with combi-plasmas and storm shields is no longer street legal, but I guess maybe I have the meat of 2 Command Squads now? So far I've had some success with Devastators (at elevation for Plunging Fire) paired with a Dreadnought's reroll bubble. They melted a Chaos Knight in a single round of shooting with the support of a Repulsor and Oath of Moment, so very happy with them. Chaplains are very, very tasty with anything that gets to swing a lot, so something like foot Assault Marines out of a transport are tempting to try out. I haven't been able to spot a real niche for my Vanguard Veterans (sobs in magnets) that I'm happy with yet, and all of my Sternguard Veterans are looking for their lifted soles in bemusement... So, what are your favourite Firstborn combos, and how do we get the best use out of them this edition?

Laughs in South African Rands

Absolutely with you on this - though I think if I had to distill my frustration with marines down to a single point which I feel is the root of all their issues, it's a total lack of durability that was present in previous editions. The lethality really is the biggest problem. 2 wounds helped a bit, but the sheer proliferation of S5+ D2 weaponry with any kind of AP and high rate of fire just makes marines melt. Close combat also feels a lot less gritty, as whoever gets the charge tends to straight up melt their opponent. Even being hit by Genestealers with Rending Claws in 4th didn't feel this lethal.

To be fair, you COULD always build a 1e Kill Team - that way you still get your hobbying on, and if you're not using them to game in any case...

Oof, 3 months between replies... Apologies, War Angel - to answer your questions, I've been looking at fluff reasons to field the 10 guys with jump packs with all their toys instead of limiting them to the assault loadout, and figure they're the survivors of the original 20 default assault marines - now functionally veterans in all but name. This allows the 3rd Company to remain at roughly full strength, whilst also highlighting that the Firstborn elements of the chapter are both experienced AND understrength due to attrition. I started collecting 15 years ago, so some of the models have been around that long, though I started repainting to something approximating the current scheme about 10 years ago, and then about 3 years ago I got Citadel paints for the first time whilst doing a Death Guard commission. Trying Contrast over metallics meant another whole wave of repainting, and I haven't looked back since!

I didn't find magnetising the Indomitus guys too rough at all! The Deathwatch kit pairs really well with them for the weapons, and I used 2x1 magnets in the torso and shoulders. Gave them a little flair with a peppering of DW & IF custom pauldrons on the swappable arms, and the only real issue is some of the DW pads don't fit 100% so you need to pick the ones you actually end up using carefully. EDIT: I have all the options available on my Assault Intercessor sergeants - power fists came from the Imperial Fists upgrade sprue, power swords & thunder hammers from the DW kill team kit, & the chainswords are their native ones.

Finally finished moving house & getting my hobby space set up, so it's the end of the hiatus on this log! Firstly, thanks for the kind words, gents! Cheap and cheerful Techmarines do sound like the best idea - I guess they're support characters, after all! My FLGS did "Mystery Minis" packs before Christmas, & I scored an extra Bladeguard veteran & an Assault Intercessor out of them, which is cool. The best addition, though, is these guys... In the 15 years we've been in the hobby, a lot of friends have joined, then fallen by the wayside. They tended to leave their stuff with my dad, and he's just done a big cleanout of his hobby room. One of my mates, a UK expat who moved back a few years ago, left these behind. They're armless, and have no power packs, but are otherwise in great condition. I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to do it yet, but they'll definitely be refurbished & given the best paintjobs I can muster in honour of their vintage GW status. Any tips on the modelling side are welcome, as I'm not sure which kits will best serve my ambitions of making these guys fit for use - All the available weapon arms I have are from the Deathwatch kits - not a great fit, & all hold bolters in the right hand only! EDIT: I'll definitely be adding some vows to the Sons of Dorn Expansion event, as I've still got plenty left to paint!

I have a unit of 5 armed with combi-plasmas. 3 with shields 1 with power sword (Sgt) 1 with thunder hammer. That said, I have a second unit I'm building using the Deathwatch Veterans kit, & I'm leaning towards Storm Bolters as the default choice there. Then again...I bought 100 magnets They're a really flexible unit - I like the survivability bump from the shields, and you can set them to deal with any threat you like in almost any phase. Plasma probably isn't the best option since supercharging could make your shields irrelevant, but melta in pods, storm bolters for MOAR DAKKA, any mix of CCW's you want, paired with characters (Like apothecaries, for annoyance factor...)

I believe you may well be thinking of Vervunhive from Gaunt's Ghosts - certainly sounds like the scope and scale of the thing! I think my vote goes to the team on Gereon in the same series. So many points in that whole damn story.

Started work on a Techmarine conversion this week. My dad dug up an old box full of RTB01 marines which included a classic Techmarine servo-harness, so I'm trying to be a little ambitious. That lightning claw will be changed out at the wrist for an Aggressor arm with flamer, & I'll be having a look for more "Mechanicus-y" bits for the axe. Guitar wire mechadendrites should do nicely, & I'll be looking to magnetise options. What does everyone run Techmarines with these days, anyway?

40k probably saved my marriage during the South African hard lockdown! My wife and I live in a tiny 1-bedroom flat - literally 2 rooms plus a kitchenette - so there was very little room not to be in each other's face the whole time. I got to introduce her to a couple of PC games so she didn't go mad, and I got to paint. I made a MASSIVE dent in my collection - 15 years in the hobby means I essentially have a Firstborn battle company plus a demi-company of Primaris. Finally got to have a small game last week, and I'm absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to putting lists together. The social side of being connected to hobby groups also did a lot for me - special people in this game! Really liking a lot of the fresh ideas coming out of GW at the moment. Everything from rules to model design to expanding into new media. Oh, and I absolutely HAVE to punt Contrast as well - it's amazing over metallic bases!

Ooooh, I've got one! +++++ VETERAN SERGEANT LUDOLF EMPEROR'S BLADES 3RD COMPANY 3RD TACTICAL SQUAD +++++ Brother-Sergeant Ludolf has served in the Emperor's Blades 3rd company for the better part of the last 2 centuries, and has attained a number of battle honours - and battle scars. Ludolf has seen off Xenos, heretics, and traitors alike during the course of his long service. In an engagement at Quasulu against Aeldari raiders, his squad was laid low by shuriken fire from a squad of Dire Avengers. The sergeant stood alone and cut down the perfidious Eldar, breaking their will and slaughtering them as they fled from his fury. Their nearby Wave Serpent transport was unable to evade his wrath - with Ludolf's power sword shearing its rear hatch open before he slaughtered the crew. In the Dabadian Crusade, the traitors frequently fielded Vindicator battle tanks - the shattered ruins of once-proud hab-spires a testament to the destructive fury of their guns. Twice, Ludolf was the sole member of his tactical squad left standing after a volley from the Demolisher cannons - and twice did he hold off wave after wave of cultists and heretic Astartes to hold key objectives. The brother-sergeant is now one of those charged with the induction of the new Primaris battle-brothers into the 3rd company - his wisdom and experience well-placed to serve as an example to the newcomers. +++++ Thought for the day : Faith is the shield of the righteous, Fury the weapon in their hands +++++ Yep. 4th edition - killed a squad of Dire Avengers after his whole squad was killed, then chased down and glanced their Wave Serpent to death. Then was twice the last survivor of his squad after Vindicators shot them to pieces on landing in their Drop Pod in 5th - Morale checks were passed, and cultist squads met in close combat, then run down to secure key objectives.