I'm always looking for fun ways to augment my forces, and I've always liked the "WWII, hordes of cannon fodder" feel of the Guard. So today I was thinking of how I might use models I have (plus maybe pick up and/or convert a few more) to make a fun ally contingent. Here's what I was thinking:
HQ: About the only HQ character worth a damn (in my opinion) in the whole codex is Colonel Iron Hand Straken, who has S6 and 3+ armor, so finding a "counts as" should be easy for him. Like maybe this mace-wielding chaos model from the Dark Vengeance set (not my paint job -- stolen off the net).
I could also see fielding a primaris psyker or a commissar. (Oh, okay, I guess Commissar Yarrick is pretty okay too...). I'd also like to run Nork Deddog, the mutant ogre bodyguard, and would probably run ministorum priests with my troops, since they don't take up HQ slots (and I'm a sucker for free HQ models).
TROOPS: For my troops, since I don't have a horde of impie-looking infantry to make a big platoon (which would be sweet), I'd run two squads of Penal Legion suicide troops, which is more fitting anyway. For them I could easily use the DV cultists, which I have 20 of, so... Perfect! (Although I've always thought it'd be fun to paint up Catachans in prison orange with their wife-beater T-shirts and headbands... THAT would be awesome.)
ELITE: Definite top choice is my ugly mutant ogres to run as Ogryns. I figure their ripper guns can be manifested by some kind of nasty giant boils that pop or acidic vomit or the like. I also wouldn't mind running a psychic choir just for the fun of it, using Fantasy Flagellants for the squad.
FAST ATTACK: I'm going to go against the grain here and say my one FA choice would be rough riders. I know there are lots of better super-gunship-flame-tank options, but I like the cavalry, especially for a chaos guard warband. I'd use my (yet to be assembled) marauder horsemen, and possibly then add a beastman centaur to be Mongul Kamir, the upgrade character. (Is he worth the points? Hard to say, but why bother with rough riders if you don't take him?) They would be a somewhat squishy unit with one good charge (via the hunting lances), so I'd have to save them for a precision strike against a vital or vulnerable target.
HEAVY SUPPORT: Even though this is where all the Guard's real power lies, it's the least interesting for me. I'm just not a big vehicle guy. But I suppose I could convert up some pieces to use as a turret on my Crimson Fist/Chaos Predator tank, to run either as a Hydra battery (my first choice) or some other artillery piece. (Sure a whole squadron of Leman Russes are super-duper, but this is just an ally group and I don't have the models for that.) Or I suppose I could just use this tank as-is for a counts-as Leman Russ too. It even has the upgrade character already mounted up and shouting orders.
Sounds fun! Now I just have to get that crap done!
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By the way, don't forget about my fantasy warfare story giveaway -- it's two hours of downloadable audio action, completely free if you're one of the winners drawn Christmas Day. Why not give it a shot???
