I thought today I would talk a little more Horus Heresy but with a particular slant around the list building side of things – but probably not what you think
How to build a legion for 2 systems?
One of the biggest hurdles a gamer who plays 30k can face is the bias around using the force(s) against a traditional 40k army. “They aren’t designed to play against each other” and “It’s not balanced for cross over play” are the 2 most common things I hear. Sometimes, you can’t reason with these people, you can’t sway them and you are then stuck with either trying to knock together a makeshift list or missing out on a game.
But what if you build a 30k list with a cross over list to 40k at the same time?
Let’s use a living example – my own Shadow Crusade force
I absolutely love the Shadow crusade story from Betrayer (by ADB) about Angron, Lorgar and the descent into darkness of the 12th and 17th legions. These 2 legions are presently being worked on by me for use in 30k. So how can I use them in 40k when faced with a negative response from a potential opponent?
When building my Word Bearers, I have been conscious in selecting units and upgrades that are like for like in 40k where possible. I have also made an active choice that the list will be Khorne Daemonkin in 40k. This allows me Chaos Marines, Raptors and Warp Talons, Terminators, berserkers, possessed, a few legion vehicles as well as a few daemons – all very fitting with the Word Bearers. Any need for other specialist units can be allied in via the traditional chaos space marines list.
Likewise, the World Eaters units are very carefully selected to maximise the chances to work in both settings. Adding magnets to a couple of the tactical marines hand for example lets me run them as Legion Tactical marines armed with bolters or as Chaos Space Marines with special weapons – a very easy job considering the time and money saving it provides.
Through these choices right at the start, I am now working at writing 2 lists using the same models. There will be a couple of units/vehicles that don’t cross over (like the hell drake or legion recon) but when placed in context, this means the majority of the force should work in both worlds. Even the Primarch models can be used to represent Daemon Princes with the right wargear or even one of the loyal lords of war (Guilliman could easily stand in as Calgar for example).
An example…
I recently took advantage of the reduced shipping from Forge World (their celebration for their new webstore) and ordered myself the Gal Vorbak as well as the possessed contemptor Mhara Gal. How do I use them in 40K? Easy! Mhara Gal is simply a hell brute with the appropriate weapons and slots in with ease. Likewise, the Gal Vorbak simply roll onto the table as traditional Possessed Chaos Space Marines. Both of these are accessible in both the Khorne Daemonkin and Chaos Marine Codex.
I own a stack of cultists as well as this is very fitting for the shadow crusade and its knife brother auxiliary. Again these models swap with ease with just the unit size changing. All my Khorne Daemons are straight cross overs as well. My tactical marines for the legion cross over through the magnets I mentioned above while the assault marines from the legion become raptors with no issues. Tactical support and heavy support legion marines become havocs from the Chaos Marine book with nearly no issues (so long as I stick to the more standard weapons) and the rhinos, land raiders and predators all work as well. Terminators are fine since they can be armed to match in both settings and all the characters can be translated as well.
Are the lists identical? No. Are they close? Yep! This means that by bringing just a few extra models I can skip the grief and argument with potential pickup games.
Me – Hi, up for a game? 1750?
Opponent – sure! What are you using?
Me – 30k Legion Word Bearers
…..
If they are cool with it – its game on, if they respond in a negative fashion I can reply, no worries, I have a list for them as Chaos Marines as well. Yes, you have to make some compromises or spend extra time in the design and modelling of the list but the flexibility in using the beautiful Forge World models in tournaments and pickup games far outweighs the effort. Playing 30k is as much – perhaps even more than 40k – about the aesthetics and style of the models as it is about having a good list. Getting to use these fantastic sculpts as much as possible is my goal and I think this is a great and simple solution. I am sure plenty of you already do just this but sometimes the most obvious things get overlooked!
Next post – Word Bearers… 30k style!