Special Task Forces Unit: Straken-Gaunt-Schaeffer

[mahershalalhashbaz]

Hey y'all,

I've been thinking of assembling a small, playable (i.e. 1 HQ + 2 Troops or Combat Patrol) IG force comprising the Gaunt's Ghosts and Last Chancers squads from the GW Collectors range. As they are no longer fully legal under the current codex, I've tried my best to fit them into the current rules...along with some interesting additions.

Almost out of the box (Special Weapons were added), I've managed to (re)organise the Ghosts and Chancers into two Hardened Veterans Squads, each equipped with a Heavy and 3 Specials. Perfect for the start of a 400 Point Combat Patrol, aka, the XIVth Tanith Legion.

Alongside that, I am looking at some or all of the following purchases:
Straken, Harker, Marbo and a Primaris Psyker (as Inquisitor Oriel), 2 x Tanith Troopers

This would result in the following forces:

Special Task Forces Unit: Combat Patrol [400]
HQ
Primaris Psyker (Inquisitor Oriel)

Troops
Veteran Squad (Ghosts)
1 x Veteran Sergeant [LP/PW] (Gaunt)
1 x Heavy Bolter (Ox, seconded from Chancers)
1 x Loader (Brains, 2nded from Chancers)
3 x Plasma Gun
4 x Guardsman (Corbec, Dorden, Milo, Shiv - seconded)
------
Doctrine: Forward Sentries

Veteran Squad (Chancers)
1 x Veteran Sergeant [PP/PW] (Schaeffer)
1 x Missile Launcher (Rocket Girl)
1 x Loader (Fingers)
3 x Meltagun (Animal, cloned successfully)
1 x Demo Charge (Demolition Man)
3 x Guardsman (Grease Monkey, Hero, Warrior Woman)
------
Doctine: Demolitions

Unfortunately, the snipers (Larkin and Scope) were left out for practicality purposes. I did consider using them as Ratlings, but I could not really find the points to field a Ratling squad as filler and still be able to have an HQ. As well, to fit the Psyker, Gaunt had to downgrade to a Laspistol. The Psyker was chosen as an optional HQ for the Combat Patrol as he was the only proper HQ choice with <3 Wounds.

At 500 points, however, the snipers, along with everyone else, would be added in the following manner:

S.T.F.U. Devilgaunt Legion [500]
HQ
Company Command Squad (Devils Command)
1 x Company Commander [LP/CCW] (Straken)
1 x Heavy Bolter (Harker)
1 x Loader (Marbo)
2 x Sniper Rifle (Larkin, Scope; promoted to Liaison Officers)
2 x Bodyguards (seconded Tanith Troopers)

Thoughts? Rants about fluff travesties, tactical blunders and odd acrostics? Also, any ideas on how to better/more practically organise the miniatures would be highly welcome.

Lastly, I would like some suggestions on representing Inquisitor Oriel. The current stock of Inquisitors/Imperial Psykers are too "combat impractical"/heavily armoured, and I feel that they don't really fit in with the gritty special forces feel of the S.T.F.U. Does anyone have or know of any description of what Oriel looked like?

How about this guy for starters?

[macknight]

for oriel, i'd use the special ed inquisitor gideon lorr, the model seem to match the description a bit. as far as having all of them in just 2 squads is a bit unfluff, remember they reorganize and consolidate after losses from other squads prior and during battles, so i would make a platoon or penal legion in the forces of organization.

[mahershalalhashbaz]

Sweet. I actually didn't know Gideon Lorr existed before this. He certainly has the gritty van Helsing (the movie) look that would be the type to "requisition" the Last Chancers. Great find!

He might be a little hard to hunt down (but hey, since we already went all Expendables-like)...

Alternatively, I might convert the current Inferno Pistol Inquisitor, who somehow bears a striking resemblance to Lorr.

Can someone also point me in the right direction to find like, a compiled source of information on Inquisitor Oriel?

Edit: In particular, what weapons/armour does he use?