Bases

I’ve been considering the bases for the army.  Ive already decided that I don’t want to just go with the standard GW bases.  For a plain base, I like rounded edge bases from Warmachine.  However, I’ve been looking around the net at the pre-cast resin bases.  There are some fantastic ones at Kerr & King as well as Barrule and foundations of war.

The theme I’m thinking of for the bases is that of a church or temple floor, perhaps ruined.  Ive found just the ones at Kerr & King though they dont do the right size.  Ive emailed them to ask if they can do a 25mm round base.

First Order

So, I’ve been pondering what my first steps will be. I’d always start off with some Troops. I find it a good way to get the colour scheme in order and mess around with a few things that Id rather not mess with on characters etc. So, I’m looking at :

2 x Boxed Tactical Squads – £18ea – This would give me one large squad (close combat) and two smaller specialist squads. 10 Models per box.

1 x Boxed Scout squad – £12ea – 5 Models – This would give me a few Neophytes to add.

3 x Black Templar Chapter Upgrades – £15ea – These give me all sorts of stuff like weapons, shoulder pads, vehicle markings and such. These will do for now though Ill also be ordering brass etchings from Forgeworld.

So, total cost £93. I wish I hadnt have added that up now! Anyway, that will be a good place to start. I’ll get those order this weekend once the house move is done and should make a start on them next week.

Edit 22/4/08:  Ordered these today and also got some black templar shoulder pads, total value was £108! Yikes!  However, I also bought some odds n sods from forgeworld.  These were land raider doors, rhino doors, various brass etchings, black templar dreadnought with two arms, twin linked lass-cannon and missile launcher.  Terminator storm shields, terminator shoulder pads, purity seals.  So, that little lot including delivery was another £123.  Ouch.  See what happens when you have some money left over from moving house!  This will largely make up an extra’s box and be some needed accessories when I move on to do the dreadnought, terminators and vehicles.  So, they’ll keep for a while yet.

I’ll be able to make my first start when these come maybe late in the week.  Already thinking about basing.  Not sure what kinda bases to put these on yet.  Considering urban.

Black Templar History – Part 7 – Warriors of the Chapter

The Black Templars are organised in a very different way to the majority of Codex Chapters, not following the Codex Astartes as previously mentioned.  There is no Scout chapter so the new Templars are judged in other ways.  Once around a dozen are deemed worthy to become Black Templars, they are shipped to the Crusade Fleet where those pure enough have the initial organs planted that begins the process of turning them into Space Marines.

Neophytes

Those that are sent to the fleets.  they are put through many  trials by the Space Marine Initiates.  These are tests of strength, endurance, battle skills and of course faith.  Should the Neophyte survive and all are satisfied with their progress, his is passed for tutelage under a single Initiate who swears oaths to train him in the methods of worship and war of the Black Templars.  If the Neophyte is able to prove himself to both his Initiate and the Chaplains, he himself is elevated to the rank of Initiate.

Initiates

Once accepted in a Fighting Company, the Initiate hones his craft until being able to take his own Neophyte.  This means the experience and wisdom of Initiates is preserved, being passed from one down to the next.  The Initiates are organised into Crusader Squads, these being the most numerous type of any Chapter.  While the most common armament of the Crusader Squads are Bolters or Bolt Pistols and close combat weapons, they can be found wielding more specialised armoury allowing them to adapt as each situation deems.

Any Initiate that excels in close combat are organised into Black Templar Assault Squads, being equipped with jump packs.  This allowing them to get face to face with their enemy swiftly where they are most effective.

The Sword Brethren

Mighty heroes who have carved themselves into Black Templar legends.  The greatest of the Black Templar warriors.  It is every Templars ambition to become one of the elites.  Clad head to toe in the finest Black Templar armour adourned with Crusader  Seals, these are the very image of a warrior Knight.  Should a Marshall die, it is from the Sword Brethren that his replacement would come, thus only the bravest and mightiest are worthy of this great honour.

Sword Brethren are no longer responsible for Neophyte training as they themselves receive further guidance, notably in the use of Terminator armour, amongst the Chapters prized relics.  It takes rigorous training to perform in Terminator armour, and once trained are expected to perform at the highest standard as an example to the rest of the Chapter.

Black Templar History – Part 6 – Crusaders

The Codex Astartes did not sit well with the Black Templars.  They chose not to model themselves on its guidelines.  Instead, following the oath of Sigismund, the Chapter embarked on its Crusade, living upon its fleets rather than any homeworld.  Though if the Chapter had a spiritual home, it would be on the Eternal Crusader, The High Marshalls battle barge.

The Black Templars are seldom assembled as a chapter, more so as Crusades.  Usually no more than three at any one time.  The size of the Crusade is also not fixed, sometimes one the sizes of several regular chapters have been known.  Only thing known for certain, the numbers involved are greatly higher than required in the Codex Astartes, though spread over a large area.  Rumour would put the number around five thousand and the idea of these coming together in one large Crusade is what bothers the Inquisition.  That said, no one could ever question their faith in the Emperor or their loyalty which has been unwaivering.  This perhaps the reason the Inquisition has not questioned their stance or had need to investigate.

Some describe the Black Templars as fanatical.  Moving from system to system wiping out all that betray the name of the Emperor, such as their mission from the very first day, this mission continues today.  They class all mutants, aliens, heretics, warlock and the like as abominations and as such must be purged.  Witches must burn, their power being from the Warp.  The mere presence of a witch on the battlefield will send the Black Templars into a frenzy.

Upon cleansing a world, the Crusade will build a Chapter Keep.  They would aim to recruit new members and use them to house the Keep as a constant reminder to the Emperors presence.  Hundreds of the Keeps have been built over the years and hence swelling the numbers of the Black Templars.

Black Templar History – Part 5 – The Second Founding

Not every Primarch liked the idea of having their legion broken down.  One of these was Rogal Dorn.  Rogal was unfaltering in his commitment to the Emperor and did not was his resolve weakened by splitting his forces.  Labelled a rebel along with Primarchs Leman Russ of the Space Wolves and Vulkan of the Salamanders who shared Dorns views.  It almost seemed once more that a great rift was tearing the Space Marines apart.  Just as it was expected and as battle brothers prepared themselves for another civil war, Dorn backed down.  He agreed to the formation of two new chapters from his Legion.  These were to be the Crimson Fists and the Black Templars.  From this moment, their paths would be their own.  The Champion Sigismund would lead the Black Templars whose colours they took on.

Just as Sigismund had been chosen as the Emperors Champion for his utmost faith in the Emperor, so his Chapter would follow with such heroic passion and faith in protecting the will of the Emperor and Mankind.  Seeing that a gesture of supreme faith was needed, Sigismund as High Marshall of the Black Templars, swore a mighty oath that upon leaving Terra, he would prove his faith and loyalty, never resting against the foes of the Emperor.  This oath, renewed by each High Marshall since.  So, the greatest Space Crusade was begun, one that remains unbroken still.

Black Templar History – Part 4 – Aftermath

Without the guidance of the Emperor, many human renegades sought to plunder the worlds already on their knees.  Times of anarchy and confusion.  But it was at this time that the remaining heroes stood up.  The Space Marines stood up against all those that still wished to push against the Emperor.  It was a time of Legends, non more so than the remaining Primarchs.  With their Space Marines they withstood all that was thrown at them while the realm regrouped.

Even to this day, those who would stand against the Emperor lie in wait, studying the forces who stand in his name looking to exploit any weakness they can find.  But the Space Marines and their Primarchs stand strong, none faltering.  Thus began the Age of the Imperium.

As the threat of annihilation was lifted for now, Primarch of the Ultramarines, Roboute Guilliman, devised a military organisation that would spread the power of the Legiones Astartes and Imperial Navy and Army across the Galaxy.  Never again would one Legion wield such power.  These rules were laid down for the Space Marines and the Codex Astartes was written, covering every aspect from markings to tactical doctrine.  Current Legions were to be broken down in to smaller Chapters, each being a thousand strong and self sufficient.  Each would take its own home world or fleet and be ready to defend the Imperium whenever threat came.  This was the Second Founding of the Space Marines.

Black Templar History – Part 3 – The Great Betrayal

The Warmaster of the Emperors Armies, The great Primarch of a Space Marine legion. This was Horus. His legion being the Sons of Horus. As the Emperor stood on the brink of his ultimate goal, the Dark Gods were whispering and laying dark thoughts to Horus. Casting aside his Oaths, Horus drove his legions to turn upon the others. Instead of rising in great victory, the Space Marines fell into a bloody civil war as the Dark Gods looked on and smiled.

Eventually, it came to Terra and the walls that surrounded the Emperor with only his most loyal. In a final throw of the dice, the Emperor along with Sanguinius of the Blood Angels and Rogal Dorn of the Imperials Fists and their sturdiest warriors would take the battle to Horus on his great barge that was in orbit above Terra. While the majority of the Fists remained on Terra protecting the Imperial Palace, Sigismund would become the first Emperors Champion by staying behind to protect the Palace with fell Oaths.

The Emperor and his warriors teleported to the battle barge but found themselves separated. No doubt the Dark Gods were playing their part once more. As each fought their way to the Warmaster, it was Sanguinius who would encounter Horus first. Horus trying to have him turn to the Dark Gods, but on refusal, slew the angelic Primarch. Then, the Emperor and Horus would clash in a titanic battle of flesh, soul and spirit. The Dark Gods of course favoured Horus, but the will of the Emperor was strong. A deathly blow was landed by Horus, but with his last gasp and drop of strength he found enough to land a mortal blow on Horus, destroying the traitor before falling himself. The legions of Horus were broken and scattered. Dorn and his warriors fought their way back to Warmasters sanctum but it was too late. The Emperors broken body lay there and the cried of woe were said to sweep through the barge to be heard down on Terra itself.

Primarch Rogal Dorn though rose. He carried his Emperors limp body back to Terra. Then under instruction of the weak and crippled Emperor, bound him within the Golden Throne to sustain his existence for eternity. Victory at an awful cost was the end result. The Emperors dream lay in tatters and his Primarchs shattered. All he had done was all but destroyed. what followed wasnt peace, but further torment. Deaths numbered billions and numerous worlds lay ghost ridden wastes. As the raging hell of the Heresy was finally snubbed out, mankind once more found itself on the brink of annihilation.

Black Templar History – Part 2 – Conquest of the Galaxy

The great Emperors work was not to be undone.  Genetic records were stored in his vaults deep beneath Terra.  From these records of his Primarchs he created the Space Marines.  Mustered into ten thousand strong legions of the First Founding.  They were true warriors with immense strength and a willpower that was unbreakable, their loyalty to the Emperor unflinching.

The Emperor would now set out from Terra with his Space Marine legions to conquer the Galaxy.  It was then that these Space Marines first referred to their mission as the Great Crusade.  One after the other worlds would fall from the grasp of their oppressor.  The alien filth would be annihilated as epic war followed the next in what was an onslaught.  The Warp tainted planets were cleansed and all in the name of the Emperor.

Slowly, one by one and during these Great Crusades, the Space Marines were reunited with their Primarchs.  The various planets in which they had been raised (and dominated) became the new homeworlds for those legions.  With the Primarchs as their new leaders, their names stamped on each battlefield with mighty force.  Gods in the making and history was written.

Nothing now could stand in the way of the Emperor and his mighty generals and their legions.  His dream of a united Galaxy was near his grasp.  But, dreams are shattered and non more so than this.  In the most vile act of treachery, his dream turned nightmare.  One that is still lived out today.

Black Templar History – Part 1 – An Age of Strife

In the early days, domination of Alien races and other twisted creatures from the Warp, plundered planets enslaving the populations.  At this time Humanity was on the brink of annihilation.

It was at this time the one now known as the Emperor would emerge.  Nothing is known of him, other than he was of Terra, one of the remaining human worlds.  It was here that he founded the Empire.

He employed genetically engineered warriors, the earliest precursors of the Space Marines.  Already, he was working on his next generation of super-warriors.   His strength grew and his Empire began to conquer worlds and take back what the vile beings had taken before him.

His next plans were for his new generals, his super warriors.  These were Primarchs.  They were twenty in number.  Extraordinary individuals, great leaders and generals who in his name, would conquer.  Each having powers beyond any witness before, rivalled only by those of the Emperor himself.

However, unseen and prepared for.  Disaster would strike.  In their early stages of development, the Primarchs vanished.  Scattered throughout the galaxy without trace or explanation.

Heavy Support Intro

Black Templars do not have devastator squads.  So its basically vehicles only.  Im planning on being quite top heavy with vehicles.  These will either be to get troops into combat as soon as they can, or be my main fire power.  The Land Raider Crusader will be first as a troop carrier.  After that Id go for a Predator.