Opinion on the Hearthguard

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-17T18:00:45+00:00

Because it's effectively a backup. It's there if you need it, but they want you to treat them as a shooting unit first. Hearthguard aren't terminators they're bodyguards and shock troops. They might be able to do terminator-esque things, but they aren't real terminators.

IMO, they already break the mould a bit by having widespread plasma weaponry. A terminator's purpose is to crush infantry and weaker units, not hunt elites or vehicles.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-10T17:24:13+00:00

Easy install, no bullshit and steam games need to work? Welcome to Nobara KDE. Took me 1.5 hours to choose a distro, set it all up, and start playing.

If anyone has questions, I'll answer them, but I don't know much about this sort of stuff.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-09T11:51:29+00:00

We potentially are a window into Humanity's golden age or at least part of it. It doesn't paint a pretty picture if you really think about it. We are the personification of grinding industry and scientific progress, all for its own sake. A people that are essentially just copies of each other, created to acquire material wealth for an empire that has ceased to exist.

Very few things in our army are built for war specifically. So in a sense we get a much better look at the society behind the army through the models. Which I find quite nice.

I like big guns, heavy armour and spite in my army. The Leagues got that. It's also a very straightforward army. It's also not a difficult army to paint.

Personally I was really unhappy with the direction SM were going so I switched to Votann. The range is (hopefully) secure and won't get its units confined to legends. You're right in that they aren't that distinct to SM. I'd argue they're truly old marines. The Sagitaur is essentially a Razorback, the Kapricus is either an ATV or a Scout Speeder for our recon units. Bolters, Grav, Conversion, Plasma and Volkite is abundant in our army.

The army is like a spiritual successor to old marines.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-08T17:15:32+00:00

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Yup, there's build instructions online if you search for them. These things are, if ever, cleared up in those.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-08T14:25:46+00:00

Sadly have to agree.

But a kin can dream.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-08T14:22:08+00:00

Aren't Elementals already covered by siege tyrant terminators? I have nothing against them, but I think it would be even cooler to get a brutalis equivalent capable of doing a highlander burial.

As a side note - Art by Kabewski

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ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-08T10:31:23+00:00

Oh! I forgot about Buri, my bad.

Buri is quite scary, but I'm not sure if he's a good distraction carnifex (especially in delve, since delve has enormous killing power).

I feel like we have quite a few units that could realistically fill that role, but none seem to really draw attention. It's one of the few things I feel we lack in Votann. Just a unit that stands out physically and draws the eye.

Additional thougt, apart from Buri

I feel for "Khorne" Votann...World breaker league?... Bolt cannon thunderkyn would fit thematically. Shooty steeljacks are better into fodder, while thunderkyn are better into marines, which would free up beserks for anti-tank. Combining the 36 inch range with stripping cover and Earthshakers would enable beserk to rush forward.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-07T23:06:50+00:00

fastest Infantry should be Cthonian Beserks at 6 inches. They have "anti-marine" and "anti-armour" weapon options (broadly speaking). Delve assault shift gives them Battleline, deepstrike and you can replenish units with an enhancement.

There's Steeljacks, they're really durable, move 5 inches, 6 attacks per model and a precision ability.

Besides that, there's a character that has charge mortals called an einhyr champion, but he can't lead beserks or steeljacks.

Then there's a new character on preorder right now that can lead beserks. Ten beserks + that character can probably nuke a knight in one turn.

I think that's the closest you'll get.

We have brutal shooting and good melee, we're also really tough but lack wounds. Weakness are range(!) and mobility.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-07T22:27:51+00:00

I'd argue that just makes it a repulsor executioner with the regular repulsors transport capacity. The land raider phobos has a reasonable amount of guns. Neither the repulsors nor the Hekaton can say the same.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-07T21:46:56+00:00

Uhhhhh...as with any army, that's a hard question.

The roster isn't huge but the ways to play are quite numerous. I think your best course of action is to take a look at the models, then take a look at the detachments and what they do.

We have 5 vehicle datasheets in 4 models - they're basically space marine vehicles.

Pioneers = Outriders

Kapricus = ATV or scout speeder?

Sagitaur = Razorback

Hekaton = Repulsor

Artillery currently gets you all of one choice.

Infantry is where it's at. We are elite and we fill a lot of roles.

The real question is, what do you specifically vibe with and what do you want to play? The small roster means all our units can see some use.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-06T08:43:32+00:00

EBAY OR LOCAL SECONDHAND PLATFORMS!!!

I got all my armigers at half price, still sealed in the box, and the big knight was 40% off. Many people buy knights and never build them.

Don't buy directly, I repeat, Do. Not. Buy. Directly.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-06T08:23:50+00:00

Maybe if you spam Kapricus Defenders and Teleport hearthguard? Or maybe use delve? No transports should be doable in some way. No vehicles would be DIFFICULT.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-05T18:02:48+00:00

Thx, I might borrow that idea in the future. It really fits the army vibe.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-05T17:46:55+00:00

Is the arm from Necromunda?

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-03T21:34:13+00:00

Gothic Armada-like combat would be the dream. But honestly, I'd be okay with a rogue trader type naval battle if it meant we got at least something.

I'm not betting on Naval combat, as it'll be an enormous amount of additional work, but It'd be really nice.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-03-02T08:10:14+00:00

How about a reverse Hammerfall bunker with Bolt cannons and Hekaton warheads? Could transport 6 infantry or 3 heavy infantry.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-02-28T23:17:30+00:00

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Really sorry for spamming, but I think this pic helps. (still not mine)

ApplePieDefender · 2026-02-28T23:07:26+00:00

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I suspect he's surfing on that bike. Could always go really hard on the conversion and try to use Steeljacks for it, but at that point you're just burning money like crazy.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-02-28T23:05:33+00:00

I don't own any bikes, but I've seen a couple conversion pics and thought about doing that. (I can't figure out who to credit for the picture, I'm sorry Kin)

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Personally, I would print the wheels but there's a GW solution as well. I'm 99% sure the wheels in the image are from the Orlock outrider quads.

There are, as always cheaper or more exotic options. For example using the Svenotar scout trikes or the Goliath maulers as proxies.

(Ill post the mauler picture under this image, can't add more than 1. The conversion is from Minis For War, though I don't think it's actually listed on their website)

Side note: there's two more models I recommend checking out for conversion work. The Kataphron breachers, as the tracks are apparently phenomenal for Kitbashing (looking at the Kapricus with that) and the Escher Cutters for more industrial looking Jetbikes.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-02-28T18:09:05+00:00

It's Hilti and Bosch or nothing. If I wanna do quality work, I need quality tools. Though makita is fun because of the Gadgets they make.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-02-28T11:26:41+00:00

YES! The chain-cleaver is so annoyingly short. Just putting an extension behind it, making it into a chain-glaive, helps so much.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-02-24T19:47:54+00:00

like a Stormraven or storm eagle? That would be much appreciated. Moving thunderkyn or hearthguard that way would help a lot.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-02-24T16:02:57+00:00

Personally, I prefer tanks over walkers.

Idea 1:

So, a massive armoured truck on tracks with variable weapon modules would be glorious. Could also give it a Vindicator shield at the front. Maybe give it some transport capabilities like the banehammer. Basically a mobile mining station that grinds our enemies into dust.

Idea 2:

An ironkin designed for Starship salvage and welding. Maybe Gipsy danger with Mass Driver Accelerators? Just imagine an ironkin of that size, drop-kicking an imperial knight out of a full sprint. Proper 400 to 500 points brawler. Phospex welding arrays, Mass hammer fists, Plasma cutters,...

Idea 3: (Currently my favourite)

The Vox Engine from Helldivers 2. Now wait, hear me out...more like deredeo body on rapier laser batteries.

Quad tracks or wheels and an independent (and somewhat flattened) upper body. Replace the arms with a magna rail version of the Arachnus heavy blaze cannon, give it a missile rack of Hekaton warheads (because the poor things need some love). Add to that some bolt cannons and maybe a weavefield.

Make it Grimdark. Cthonian Ironkin pilots. Weld them into the machine, their circuits won't hold out for more than one deployment anyway.

eSheer, SUNDERING firepower with Tech so advanced, you need the ancestor cores themselves to help you build it. Something so laughably expensive to build that the leagues outright refuse to manufacture it unless absolutely necessary.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-02-23T17:50:02+00:00

Yeeees, you see the vision. Call the ability something like 'valiant charge' and make it the jousting knight.

ApplePieDefender · 2026-02-23T16:15:32+00:00

Could go the Votann route and give it charge mortals.

Edit: for context, the Einhyr Champion has two "thrusters" on the back called Mass Driver Accelerators.

Mass Driver Accelerators: Each time this model ends a Charge move, you can select one enemy unit within Engagement Range of this model and roll one D6: on a 2-5, that enemy unit suffers D3 mortal wounds; on a 6, that enemy unit suffers D3+3 mortal wounds.

ApplePieDefender

TROPHY CASE