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View Full Version : DE Cult-Counts-as Coven (no pics)



eldargal
09-06-2011, 08:36 AM
First off, this is an ideas thread, asking for feedback and whatnot, not a project log so no pictures.:p

In a brief dicussion over counts-as Sslyths on Warseer, I had a flash of genuins (in my opinion). I've never liked DE covens much, the mutilated construct thing doesn't appeal in a huge way. I have a squad of wracks, some haemonculi and some grotesques just to complete my model collection and use sometimes (haemonculi). But I don't like them enough to have lots, but I like the rules.

My stroke of genius was this: a Wych Cult counts as Coven:

Haemonculi > Beastmasters on foot
Grotesques > any critter on a 40mm base
Wracks > any critters/slave warrior on a 25mm base
Talos > Beastmaster riding a carnifex/other large critter.

So the rules stay the same, but instead of ugly loking haemonculi I get lithe girls leaping about with whips, instead of big hulks of mutilated muscle I get lobotomised and mind controlled raveners/tyranid warriors, WFB ogres (given wych cult tatooes, DE style weapons and such) etc. For wracks, Orks, genestealers, mind controlled marines stripped down the their bare chests with little bottles of oil on their belts so they are all gleaming and slippery, and, what was I saying? Oh right. You get the idea.

Every model will be converted, I want to make that clear, this isn't just a 'counts as' army. Tyranids will be lobotomised with spikes and wires sticking out of their heads or have fluid injectors strapped to them pumping them full of mind controlchemicals, Orks will have shackles and chains and/or exploding collars, Marines I thought could have bloodstained bandages all over their heads and a little antenna sticking out from under them. Plus any other monster I take a fancy to. :rolleyes:

Functionally everything is just the same as coven units but it suits my armies overall aesthetic. And ties in with the converted 'nids I have for my current beastmaster squads.

Fluffwise, the beastmasters are so steeped in suffering that they radiate pain (haemonculi pain token) and are so accustomed to being bit, trodded on, spat at, clawed, sat on and whatnot that they are tougher than their namby-pampy, damp eyed, nancy boy skyboard wielding comrades (haemonculi stats). They have a huge menagerie of critters, both sentient and otherwise, which they can lead into battle, from mind controlled critters.

What do people think?


Edit: Also, suggestions for other 'counts as' grotesques and wracks welcome, even from non-GW ranges.

miteyheroes
09-06-2011, 09:58 AM
It's a cool idea. We know that Dark Eldar do experiment on all sorts of slaves and create things out of them, so this would definitely work.

I think if I were doing it I'd make the Haemonculi as female Haemonculi (using bits of Vampires & Damsels possibly?) rather than Beastmasters. Have them as a group of Haemonculi who've formed a particular alliance with a Wych/Beast Cult, creating new beasts for them as interesting experiments. Just to make the Haemonculi more visually distinct from other characters.

Also you'd have to make sure it's easy to tell the Beastmaster's slaves and the Haemonculus' slaves apart? But that shouldn't be too hard, with the more experimented-on creatures as Grotesques and the less modified as Clawed Fiends, etc.

But yes, it's a good idea and bringing the disparate units together more sounds cool. As long as it's still possible to tell them apart...

godzy
09-06-2011, 12:43 PM
Good idea!
I got some reaper models to stand in for beasts, I'll look up the models and be right back with links.

Kazzigum
09-06-2011, 01:40 PM
I think it is a great idea as well. I love the newer style codexes, especially the DE, for this reason. They are dripping with detail and really lend themselves well to creating really cool counts-as armies that are of things that are really different. Just to toss some ideas in there, you might want to think about doing this as a splinter of the Beast House from Dark Heresy -- in fact, I might steal your idea and do so (just 2-3 army projects that I'm working on to finish first -- Ha!). The background is very shadowy as to who/what is the originator of the Beast House. How cool, and how perfectly appropriate, would it be for it to be a WE cult?

eldargal
09-06-2011, 11:59 PM
Miteyheroes, the real beastmasters will be on skyboards, the haemonculi on foot, the idea being that fluffwise it is just one big Wych Cult. They may certainly employ Haemonculi to help control the critters but they won't be on the battlefield.:)

In terms of background the Wych Cult is a subsidiary of my Kabal of the Raging Maiden. So probably not much avenue for tying in with the Beast House.:)

speedfreek
09-07-2011, 03:02 AM
Functionally everything is just the same as coven units but it suits my armies overall aesthetic. And ties in with the converted 'nids I have for my current beastmaster squads.

Do you have any pictures of the rest of your collection?
To see how this might look together.

eldargal
09-07-2011, 03:08 AM
No, sorry.

faolan
09-07-2011, 08:06 AM
No, sorry.

Stop sucking.

Otherwise, I absolutely LOVE the idea.

eldargal
09-07-2011, 08:16 AM
I'm working on it.:p Would be faster if I could find a camera which didn't stop working when I come near it.

godzy
09-09-2011, 02:52 AM
my detailed, link heavy post went AWAL, so Here's a second try/

I got three of these to use as clawed fiend (the wereshark is much taller then the other, might be usfull as a different count-as)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/370439929518?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649#ht_519wt_1037
can be a good base for a grotesque

http://www.ebay.com/itm/320669987580?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649#ht_519wt_1037
I love this guy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/65076-WERESHARK-Reaper-P-65-HEAVY-METAL-/320646282794?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa801fe2a#ht_538wt_1037
fits perfectly as a blood-crazed clawed fiend

I did not get any werewolves, but they could look nice with some tubes, wires and other augmentations.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320669652687?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649#ht_538wt_1037
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320669987177?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649#ht_519wt_1037


I will use these as razorwing flocks
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3355-BAT-SWARM-Reaper-Dark-Heaven-Legends-/330602539201?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf97268c1#ht_538wt_1037
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3479-MURDER-CROWS-Reaper-Dark-Heaven-Legends-/330602539267?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf9726903#ht_538wt_1037

I hope these help a bit.