A foray into bloodangels

Blood angels

A brief history of an Author's gaming. 

I started 40k with Space Marines. Plain, simple space marines. They were poorly painted and they were rag-tag, often comprising multiple squads as I carelessly misplaced models and had my rhino's shattered by the full onslaught of a dog chewing on them. 

As time has gone on, I've become a better gamer. I understand the game and the models I need better. As a result, I've become more careful with my models and that has spurred me onto becomming a better painter.

A better gamer I may be, but this has its drawbacks. I no longer feel compelled to simply field an army and play, I want to win. I want to win, hard. So, I felt I could no longer use Space Marines. I tried grey knights, for the love of purifiers and that awe-inspiring flyer model. (Not the stormraven itself, but the idea of having a flying land raider.) 

I found that as sixth edition rolled around, Stormravens changed. I could no longer field my grey knight purifiers as I once had in my storm ravens, for want to keep them alive. Add to that a major weakness in hull points and the supremacy of flyers, I no longer felt that grey knights would allow me to field the army I wanted to field. 

I moved to Blood angels. Blood angels are a good mix of my old Space Marines and my newer grey knights - on one hand, I would have amazing fire-power. The other, devastating assault units. So, My blood angels 2k force was born. 

I started by making an army centred around TH/SS terminators. I then moved to Death company, until my list comprised just 32 infantry, 2 dreadnoughts, 2 flyers and 2 tanks - as it does now. 

This is the beginnings of something more competitive - I hope. 

Reclusiarch Mazda

Attached to the 4th company, and leading it's death company is Reclusiarch Ahura Mazda. Described as the bringer of light and wisdom to the darkness of the death company, the Reclusiarch leads his enraged comrades from the front - cracking heads with his power maul. 

I chose to make his helm a specific cream colour, much like the cloth that marks his parchments. That way, he'll stand out from his death company companions. 

Highlights on the backpack - I made sure that
he wouldn't have death company pads - otherwise
he's from the death company kit. 

The Reclusiarch is, for all intents and purposes a captain with WS5 and better rules. His good invulnerable save and strong bonuses for death company make him an ideal leader - ironically, he has to be my warlord, yet I must throw him in the line of fire more readily than other HQs. He also lends 5 S6 attacks to the fight, as well as a 4+ invulnerable save. I'm rather pleased that such a character could be produced with bits and didn't require a separate kit - not paying $40 for a chaplain always makes the wallet heave a sigh of relief.

The Power weapon has been done like any other power sword.

I was a little bit tentative about including the power sword. It is the definition of a double-edged sword, because although it provides something special to the chaplain, it is also not technically legal. While I'm sure noone's going to pull me up about having a power sword instead of a pistol, the possibility is always there.

I thought after reading about chaplains singing hymns as they crushed heads that a chaplain looking into a power sword would be almost poetic, hence its inclusion.

Lost Brother Alexander 

Alexander was a first company veteran before he fell to the black rage. He served in the second company honour guard before that, and had actually at a time been considered for captaincy. His fall was most notable as the flaw manifested a blindness in the hardened fighter. His eyes did not become red as usual, but rather a pale grey or white. His skill at arms has gone unaffected, it seems. It is believed he possesses the same foresight that is gifted to the high sanguinary priest or to Sanguinius himself. 

I'm gonna enjoy people telling me those eyes aren't finished.

details on the fist

Blood angels death company, are, in my opinion, one of the only units still able to effectively hide multiple power fists in ablative wounds. with the correct wrap and pile in, fists can bring the hurt when and only when they have to - on assault two of them bring 10 attacks with full re-rolls. I'm looking forward to facing paladins in the future. 

The model was given a boltgun. This decision was made on the basis that he would gain nothing from using a pistol in combat and that he has relentless, meaning he can always fire his boltgun, even on the assault. 

Ablative wounds, or the bolt pistol and chainsword dudes.

these guys will be just there to protect the mauls and fists. OTC they still bring 5 WS5 S5 attacks with full re-rolls, meaning they can still cause some hurt on the enemy. That said, I plan on doing less with them, so that I can reduce the time spent on models. - this was my test model. 

A dead man... running?

I tried some kind of free-hand to denote original rank. It didn't work out. 

This model was the first I ever highlighted a purity seal before washing it. I like the result. 

The Christmas presents (Blood Angel Assault Marine Sergeant)

I also bought a box of sanguinary guard to make my sergeants and priests with. The actual marines will be using Forgeworld MkIV Assault marines - with a similar kind of jump pack. So, I thought that I'd use the Sanguinary bodies and jump packs to make them stand out. I think it has worked brilliantly.

I'm sticking with the clean white I think. The rest of the model is clean, why must the wings be dirty?
Notice the Null rod used as a power maul.

The jump pack and view from the back - I really like how this looks. 

the helm and maul

My only complaint about the sanguinary guard model was that the wings HAVE to be placed like that. It is impossible to make them flare with the shoulder pads where they are. I was really disappointed by this.

Bolt pistol and company marking - red and green, the Christmas presents.

All in all, I like my models so far. I just hope I have the persistence to keep this up.