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Post by Makarova (M.I.A) on Jun 17, 2009 21:32:25 GMT -5
Hey everyone,
I'm going to start up my old Dark Eldar army again, I really need a break from the Guard. And it'll be nice to have a side army where I don't have to extensively convert every model.
I thought to make my DE army a veteran mercenary company. Basically a smaller Kabal who realised they were all idiots continuing the political madness on Cammoragh, and promptly decided to make something out of their lives and offer themselves as mercenaries. They accept any job if the price is right. And also think torturing people for amusement is pretty silly, so when they want to amuse themselves they prefer to kill people outright. And preferably get paid to do it.
That's the basic concept. I'm having trouble on how to make the miniatures though. I'm only going to use plastic minis, so that means a ton of Warriors (which is perfect as they're my favourite unit in the book). I want them to appear as practical, ruthless mercenaries and desperately need ideas for converts, poses or just anything as I've never properly worked with DE minis before and don't have a clear realisation of what you can do with them.
I really need a painting scheme as well, again I want it to look practical and "hardened". Any ideas would be appreciated.
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Post by whiteiron on Jun 17, 2009 21:40:47 GMT -5
i dunno, dark elder aren't really dark eldar if they aren't doing their BDSM thing and feeding off the suffering of others, but I do like the break off merc thing.
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Post by Makarova (M.I.A) on Jun 17, 2009 21:45:27 GMT -5
While BDSM is always jolly, I just don't like that my soldiers would torture people for fun. I really have something against torture.
Maybe they're more in line with common Eldar corsairs than Dark Eldar. Though they're still merciless, greedy killers.
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Post by whiteiron on Jun 17, 2009 22:33:19 GMT -5
ok, I can understand your aversion, but I just got done reading the gaunt's ghosts 2nd omnibus and the dark eldar assassin at the end made me want to sleep with the light on and I'm married! lol He was pretty sadistic, but if you wanted to do a sort of jaded dark eldar thing, with some well thought out fluff that could be really cool, btw check out tickle me emo on youtube, it made me think of dark eldar lol
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Post by Makarova (M.I.A) on Jun 17, 2009 22:35:12 GMT -5
Fluff isn't an issue, models and paint schemes are. Thanks for the encouragement though!
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Post by Ymmot (M.I.A) on Jun 18, 2009 1:36:14 GMT -5
it isn't all about fun and games, they harvest those slaughtered to keep themselves alive, anything to keep them from having their souls devoured by Slannesh, which is the eventual fate of all dark eldar...so is the torture really necessary? maybe not but I think it makes for more potent souls for collecting...though it could be just for fun...they are pretty screwed up as a race...
they created Slannesh.
but anyway...I think the outcast pirate theme is a great idea, I sorta use the same idea myself, though mine are still a bunch of happy little sadistic psychotics, spreading terror and misery is what they do(when they aren't too busy getting blown to bits.)
for your theme I suggest looking at some plastic craft world eldar bits, maybe working in the parts from a squad of guardians or something.
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Post by Makarova (M.I.A) on Jun 18, 2009 3:04:17 GMT -5
I'd want them to still be Dark Eldars in essence, mainly because I have something against Craftworld Eldar and don't want anything to do with them.
But well...
Dark Eldar Pros:
- Lovely models - Generally more sinister - An easy force to build without the need of a lot of coverting
Cons:
- Would more than likely torture people - Are decadent polygamous morally corrupted ner-do-gooders
Craftworld Pirates Gone Bananas Pros:
- More disciplined - Tight mercenary group who wouldn't stab each other in the back
Cons:
- Need Guardian/Avenger bits, have none whatsoever. Might be able to loot 5-6 Guardians. - Need to constantly be ashamed over playing anything Craftworld related, could be saved by saying even their own kin have turned against them because they're well, merciless greedy smeg heads.
So that rounds it down to a few ideas:
Dark Eldar Mercenaries (standard bits, will probably have to be decadent) Craftworld Eldar Corsairs (guardian bits, will smell rotten fish) Craftworld Eldar Ruthless Mercenary Badass Killers (dark eldar bits, eldar discipline and morals, dark eldar ruthlessness and murdery-ness)
I think the third idea pretty much lets me both keep the cake and eat it. What do you people think?
Oh, and I have a few ideas for the models as well. As many as possible should have both pistols and rifles, and I'm going to take all my spare Catachan leather pouches (hey, eldar carry things too) and give to them. You know, the little ones that come in rows of three or two with a grenade.
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Post by The Envoy (AWOL) on Jun 18, 2009 10:50:21 GMT -5
Yeah. There's nothing wrong with some bad ass mercenary killers.
I'd say stick with the third idea, as it gives you the most breathing room on what you can work with.
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Post by Ymmot (M.I.A) on Jun 18, 2009 11:48:52 GMT -5
just shave them spirit stones off of any craftworld bits you use.
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Post by sothas on Jun 18, 2009 14:45:27 GMT -5
huh.... maybe it's just me, but all those things you listed as Dark eldar "Cons" are pretty much Pros for me... /shrug. but i also play chaos almost exclusively.
Anti-emo emos.... interesting concept.
I'd say maybe give them a camo-type paint style and maybe some non-eldar bits for armor to show them as scavengers and mercs that'll buy anything. Maybe throw on some guard or tau shoulders or helms. Scavenging some Dire Avenger parts could work for this too. Just some thoughts.
Some other personal thoughts. I think the torture/sadistic nature is what makes then "dark." taking this away IMO removes the charm i think.
On another note, diversity almost always rocks!
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Post by Makarova (M.I.A) on Jun 19, 2009 0:23:01 GMT -5
I really have something against torturing people, I was probably tortured like hell in a previous life. I mean I think it's hilarious to blow big holes in children with a 14 mm pistol in Fallout 2 or to Sociopath (kill everyone with a melee weapon, no one may spot you, no bodies may be seen. Statistics have to be zero in everything except kills) in the Hitman games, but when people suffer or die in the wrong way... No, it just creeps me out. I can get kicks from killing people outright (mainly in Hitman), but nothing else. And even then I'm basically a nice person who wants everyone to get along at the core, I just have a furious temper from time to time and is slightly messed up. I like the camo and scavenger ideas though. Will be easy to mix in a few spare IG parts or so. I could also give them a properly camouflaged bodysuit, will probably look striking. Urban camo would work best I think, woodland looks out of place. Edit; Or not. *imagines stealthing zenos in the Predator forest* Thanks a lot!
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Post by The Envoy (AWOL) on Jun 19, 2009 0:30:39 GMT -5
Actually, if you did something similar to the Predator costume from the movies it would look pretty good anywhere you fought.
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Post by Makarova (M.I.A) on Jun 19, 2009 0:40:33 GMT -5
Like this bloke? Bubonic brown bodysuit, bestial brown leather and grey armour plates? Or are they metal in the film? Lovely idea! I did look for a theme reminiscent of something else I like, makes you more attached to it.
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Post by The Envoy (AWOL) on Jun 19, 2009 0:50:05 GMT -5
Yeah. That would work.
I think the plates are metal, but if you give it a good couple layers of black wash, it'll dull them down but still keep the metal look.
And don't forget the helmet will likely be the same color as the armor.
Edit: I actually just thought of this, but you may be able to mix a little grey in with the metal you choose, wash it and maybe get the same look as the pic.
I'd try it on a test model first though.
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Post by Ymmot (M.I.A) on Jun 19, 2009 12:31:19 GMT -5
And even then I'm basically a nice person who wants everyone to get along at the core... Me too...the idea of torturing someone in real life makes my stomach turn... my DE use fear to torture people, y'know...mencing them with knives and mocking them verbally before closing in for the gleeful slaughter... expect the Haemonculus... she totally strings people up by their toes and flays them alive, that crazy chick is screwed up in the head. and then I got a male and female Archon, who get their kicks from torturing eachother... (uh, nothing wrong with that right?) right now the male Archon is in charge... he had the female demoted to Succubus in one of the Wych squads because she was having an affair with a Chaos Sorceror... my male Archon did not like that very much.
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Post by whiteiron on Jun 19, 2009 12:43:41 GMT -5
wow 0_0
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Post by Ymmot (M.I.A) on Jun 19, 2009 12:58:43 GMT -5
sorry, I ramble...
ps- I think the tan/leather under the raised dull metal/grey would look pretty cool, and I like the mercenary pirate idea, sorta refugees from the webway who fled there to escape Slaneesh but slowly learned the error of their ways...
or maybe they got kicked out for not bringing enough blood to the blood orgy...
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jun 19, 2009 14:37:26 GMT -5
You're a gem, ymmot. A gem.
Makarova, what about the Vidiians from Star Trek Voyager? Crazy guys going around stealing other people's body parts... like a bad visit to a foreign bar. And they had interesting costumes, too. Classy, but subtle.
If you really want to make DE stand out from the crowd, do them with "subtle."
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Post by Ymmot (M.I.A) on Jun 19, 2009 15:37:27 GMT -5
"You see my friends, It is all about the maximum amount of fear with the minimal application of pain, you must wait until the time is right to act, allow their minds to reel at the terrible possibilities until they seize up and the soil themselves with terror, and you end it in a single agonizing strike. Should you prolong the killing their bodies will go numb and the luster will fade from their eyes.
We must refine the art of death, bask in the aroma and savior it on our pallet,and then swallow it down in a single gulp.
After all, the rawer the emotion the greater the narcotic...
and in the end that is all that my warriors truly want."
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Post by Makarova (M.I.A) on Jun 21, 2009 5:10:43 GMT -5
*hides under bed with AK-74* Get away from meee!!!
ElegaicRequiem: I'm afraid I haven't seen Star Trek Voyager (don't stare like that, I don't like high sci-fi) but the things about collecting body parts is just a little bit too macabre for my taste. The subtle theme was in my mind though, like making them camouflaged assassins or so, but I figured it'd make them look too ninja. Ninjas sucks.
I think I'll actually go with the Predator colour scheme, along with the looted/traded equipment. Give them the same treatment I'd give a group of IG veteran mercenaries. Never seen that done before on Eldar, so I'm happy with it. =)
*crawls out of bed, pointing gun at Ymmot*
I like the refugee idea, though I wouldn't say they learned the error of their ways as they're still ruthless merciless greedy savage murderers.
But we don't torture people. Eeeeeeek.
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Post by Ymmot (M.I.A) on Jun 21, 2009 9:09:47 GMT -5
Eep I surrender!
hah... just pointing out that yoy can still be creepy and evil while down playing the physical torture and making it more psychological.
*runs away!*
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Post by Rolling Thunder on Jun 21, 2009 9:30:08 GMT -5
I feel Ymmot and I need to go into business together.
Tell me, do you have a use for three thousand WS4 Stormtroopers with a psychopathic attitude, and a knack for terror tactics?
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Post by Ymmot (M.I.A) on Jun 21, 2009 10:35:51 GMT -5
Yes!
You lot stand out in front...
my Dark Eldar will be hanging around the back lines, ready to swoop in with the reavers, raiders, and ravengers... eventually...
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Post by ElegaicRequiem on Jun 21, 2009 13:28:40 GMT -5
Are those 3K stormies using the chems order I invented?
I wouldn't be comfortable with a bunch of DE lurking behind me...
And Makarova, they didn't collect body parts for fun, they had a disease, and used other people for 'volunteer' organ donors. ... Yeah, that's still a bit dark, but they were cool that way.
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Post by druchi on Jul 10, 2009 16:36:48 GMT -5
Why dont you kit bash some Craftworld Eldar and Dark Eldar parts? Could be very interesting and could allow for some very unique and a very distinctive army.
Colour wise I never liked the idea of the bright gay pride eldar I always Imagined them wearing more earthly and natural tones, browns, leathers, grey's so on and so forth.
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