Tactical Squad Complete

On Thursday last week, I weathered the feet of the Legion Tactical Squad, completing the first 10 Astrates for my XIII Legion force.  I am very pleased with the overall result.  I am starting to write-up some background for what Chapter of the Legion they are and what they are doing during the Shadow Crusade and associated units. 

Wading through the dust 

Preparing to Weather

These are the first 10-man Astrates prior to weathering.  I have a reviewed a few guides about weathering and have the pigments.  I intend to start with the pigments and then sponging mainly the areas with transfers.  Most of the armor material is not paint but intended to be the appropriate material and while the Astrates are weathered, they will not be overly damaged.

106th Company Astrates before civilization crumbles around them

10-man Squad in Progress

I have been making steady progress on my first XIII Legion Tactical Squad.  I am regretting attempting to go after a full 10-man squad right away.  I feel like I would feel further along if I was starting my second 5-man, having finished the first 5-man.

All this being said, I have not really used any new techniques on the XIII models yet.  But I have settled on the plan to do basic weathering 1) using powders and 2) light sponging.  Next weekend, I intend to buy at least a pack of Vallejo pigments (Stone and cement, city).  I intend to weather the lower calf and feet of the Legionaires with a light dusting of a light grey pigment to represent them defending the shattered civiti of the 500 Worlds of Ultramar.   My XIII Legion are now having to forgo superficial maintenance and thus I will "chip" and "mud" where I think it is appropriate.  But that is all to come.

For now, I will finish up highlights on black and apply transfers over the next week.

Winning on Objectives

Slowly Advancing Death Guard

I played another game of Horus Heresy Zone Mortalis this weekend.  This time against a Death Guard.  In this instance, I ran Kharn and the Butchers as stand-ins for Loyalist World Eaters Praetor and Terminators.  It was another Pyrrhic victory, with just the Praetor and a single Rampager surviving, again.  I won by managing to keep the Death Guard from my deployment zone and rolling a six to end the game on turn 5.

MVP

The MVP of the game was definitely the Death Guard Mortis Dreadnaught with a pair of Kheres Assault Cannons and my inability to roll successfully.  Over the course of two turns, the Dreadnaught caused my two tactical squads to break and run, off the table.   My only actual success was my Praetor slaying three Grave Wardens and breaking the unit.

The ongoing failure of my World Eaters to achieve casualty success is rather annoying.  I am heavily considering investing in a Tactical Support Squad carrying Plasma Guns.

On the modeling/painting front, an Ultramarines squad is in work.  Taking on 10 Astrates is a bit of a task, right off the bat.