Alpha Marines issue, which armor to use?

[PrivateLucky]

So I have decided to make an Alpha Legion army by using Ahazra Redth from IA10 to give my entire army infiltrate. But I have refreshed some of my lore on Alpha Legion and apparently they have not been mutated by chaos (yet) and their battlecry is "For the Emperor!" which I think is for mocking reasons and not that they are secretly working in the Emperor's interests.... So the issue is which models to use? Should I use the loyalist space marine models and mockingly paint them alpha legion colors with Imperial symbols mockingly kept on. I mean if they infiltrate worlds I'd think the locals would not be able to tell the difference between Chaos space marines or space marines unless they are covered in Chaos symbols. This means that Alpha Legion could pose as loyalist marines and backstab their Imperial allies when they moment suits their need. But then again they are Chaos space marines. Even though it is ambiguous which side they are working for they clearly have betrayed the Imperium and the Emperor. So what do you think? Loyalist Space Marine models or Chaos Space Marine models?

Or should I say screw fluff and paint Loyalist marines in American flag colors, I saw a great looking army like this before called the Stars of Dorn.



I know this could go under either Modeling/Painting or Background but it is too much of both to fit either forums so I thought General would be appropriate.

[atraphos]

grab a box of both CSM and Loyalist, mix and match, but stick with the standard blue/green and minimal silver trim, best look for the Alpha Legion IMHO

[Tay051173096]

And don't forgwt to paint some as loyalists...

[PrivateLucky]

I'm still a bit confused, could people give some reasons for one way or another?

[TheDoctor]

you should go for 'merica.

Why?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VXUDlcr0qI

[Inquisitor Engel]

Loyalist parts, but avoid the Aquila. Alpha Legion armour likely dates from prior to the Aquila being used on anyone but the Emperor's Children.

[AndrewGPaul]

It's fairly easy to avoid using the chest plates with the eagle device, but in any case I would think tht the Alpha Legion of all people have managed to "acquire" a few over the years.

[Jogi]

A mix of both would probably look best, local populations shouldn't be able to tell the difference between a loyal space marine and an unmutated chaos space marine for the most part anyway; these are all just myths and legends to the majority of worlds.

It would make sense, fluff wise, that the Alpha Legion would be using a mixture of different armour types to confuse the enemy and as mentioned earlier they would also have armour painted in the colours of loyal chapters for infiltration or other nefarious purposes (read deliverance lost to see some AL dressed up as Raven Guard) plus they can use the space marine ability to learn memories by eating part of their prey, in this case a loyal space marine.

It really is a case of what you prefer but a mixture of "loyal" Alpha armour, chaos Alpha armour and even loyalist colours is entirely feasible.

[Emperors Teeth]

Just go all the way, man. Get some Forgeworld Marines and paint them them as Alpha Legion. If they're not mutated, that only makes your life easier... You'll basically be able to model and paint your army as if it were a standard marine force. You of course, will know otherwise .

If you want to more clearly affiliate the army with chaos, pick up a chaos marine box and liberally scatter the parts through the army. You don't have to go nuts if you don't want to.

[aim]

Personally, I'd go for loyalist parts, because its Alpha Legion, you can, what with all their trickery.
Why? Well, because you have the choice and IMO the Chaos Marine parts look rediculous. Especially the backpacks. But especially the spikes. And the backpacks.

[DivineVisitor]

I've done mine using Chaos Marines with Alpha Legion colours. However my units of infiltrating/outflanking Chosen will be made using loyalist parts and Alpha Legion colours.

Will make them stand out as Chosen too, there extra sneaky.

[PrivateLucky]

A mix of both would probably look best, local populations shouldn't be able to tell the difference between a loyal space marine and an unmutated chaos space marine for the most part anyway; these are all just myths and legends to the majority of worlds.

It would make sense, fluff wise, that the Alpha Legion would be using a mixture of different armour types to confuse the enemy and as mentioned earlier they would also have armour painted in the colours of loyal chapters for infiltration or other nefarious purposes (read deliverance lost to see some AL dressed up as Raven Guard) plus they can use the space marine ability to learn memories by eating part of their prey, in this case a loyal space marine.

It really is a case of what you prefer but a mixture of "loyal" Alpha armour, chaos Alpha armour and even loyalist colours is entirely feasible.

Are you sure Imperial Citizens won't be able to tell the difference? I mean usually chaos icons give people who see them some sort of physical reaction like vomiting or pure fear (like in gaunt's ghosts with the glyphs). Right now I'm leaning more towards the Loyalist models because wearing Imperial iconography and getting someone to trust you and then shooting them in the back sounds more like Alpha Legion.

[Lantern]

I would suggest the pre-heresy armour from forgeworld, as this is pretty much unmutated marine armour, or for want of a better description 'good guys armour for the bad guys'. If its kept clean, painted neatly etc, I think it could work very well for the Akpha legion, especially as some of the armour available still uses backpacks which match the 'Chaos' look.

I think this armour might suit, it has the chest straps that seem to match current Chaos standards.

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhamme...SY-ARMOUR.html

The full selection is here

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhamme...filter_reset=1

Looking at the assault marines, I think they would be perfect, but again, this is all just opinion.

[AndrewGPaul]

Are you sure Imperial Citizens won't be able to tell the difference? I mean usually chaos icons give people who see them some sort of physical reaction like vomiting or pure fear (like in gaunt's ghosts with the glyphs). Right now I'm leaning more towards the Loyalist models because wearing Imperial iconography and getting someone to trust you and then shooting them in the back sounds more like Alpha Legion.

I think those glyphs in the Ghosts novels had adverse effects on those seeing them was because they were specifically enchanted to do so. The Imperium's "innocence is bliss" policy may well mean that the general populace has no idea about Chaos (other than swearwords and legends about the Heresy) and wouldn't recognise the 8-pointed star, for example.

[Aryllon]

Hahaha, stars & stripes paint scheme?!

As in, trying to appear like the good guys?? If that was what you meant, very witty my friend

[PrivateLucky]

Hahaha, stars & stripes paint scheme?!

As in, trying to appear like the good guys?? If that was what you meant, very witty my friend

Umm not really. Just stars and stripes because it would be pretty silly to paint space marines that way. Not painting Alpha marines in stars and stripes.

[Grimmeth]

Paint Orks, because they're secretly Alpha Legion in disguise!

But in all seriousness, I'd probably go Imperial with a smattering of odd CSM bits in (maybe one CSM box per two or three Imperial?) General Imperial Citizens won't notice the odd desecrated piece of armour (seriously, have you seen what The Executioners wear? And they're loyal...) and it means you can have a bit of variety.

Forgeworld Armour is a good bet as well, The Alpha Legion were the last created Legion so likely wouldn't have the older (Mark 2 and maybe Mark 3) armour types. Mark 4 I would probably keep for Chosen or Characters.
But that said they could always have 'acquired' some other armour marks...

[LotusCorgi]

How about use CSM parts because AL ARE CSM?

[Leftenant Gashrog]

Loyalists painted in traitor colours - the first Siege of Vraks book included a sidebar saying to model them thus as they had come to Vraks disguised as loyalists.

Loyalist parts, but avoid the Aquila. Alpha Legion armour likely dates from prior to the Aquila being used on anyone but the Emperor's Children.

That is somewhat contradictory: most of the loyalist parts are Mk7+ which came in after the ban had been discarded.

[Sir_Turalyon]

That is somewhat contradictory: most of the loyalist parts are Mk7+ which came in after the ban had been discarded.

Plenty of FW Mark II/III/IV/V bits to do that... Some of loyalist chests have no aquillas, CSM bits use lot of Mark VIIesque chestplates (mark IV and V were often field modified to protect chest cables) so you can use MarkVIIs other way around.

In all seriousness, paint and model them to look best possible. Background gets rewritten (in more and more stupid form). Well modeled minis stay well modeled no matter what.