GW Online : Warhammer 40,000 : Space Marines : Converted Command Squads

CONVERTING YOUR SPACE MARINE COMMAND SQUAD

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CHAPTER INFORMATION

Hobbyist: Ross Watson, US Promotions Editor
Name of Chapter: Twilight Swords
Homeworld: Gladius IV

COMMAND SQUAD ARMY LIST ENTRY

Name	Points	Equipment	Points	Notes	Total

Veteran Sergeant	15	Terminator Honours plasma pistol power Weapon	15 10 10	Furious Charge (3)	53

Apothecary	15	Terminator Honours narthecium & reductor power weapon	10 25 10	Furious Charge (3)	63

Standard Bearer	15	Terminator Honours Company Standard power weapon	10 25 10	Furious Charge (3)	63

Company Champion	15	Terminator Honours power weapon/ combat shield/ bolt pistol	10 20	Furious Charge (3)	48

Space Marine	15	Terminator Honours plasma gun	10 10	Furious Charge (3)	38

				Total Points:	265

SQUAD SELECTION AND TACTICA

Ross Watson: When the new Codex: Space Marines came out, I knew I finally had the chance to create the Chapter I've been thinking about ever since I started playing Warhammer 40,000. The Twilight Swords have lived in an old college spiral notebook of mine for many years. Now, the new Chapter Traits system and the awesome new models combine to provide me with the perfect opportunity to make the Twilight Swords into a proper Space Marine army.

Founded on the storm world of Gladius IV, the Twilight Swords Chapter reveres skill at arms above all else. A series of ritual duels determines how high an Astartes can rise in rank, although defeat rarely results in death. Instead, a Space Marine who loses a challenge is inspired to train harder and learn new tricks for the next round. Although this commitment to excellence is admirable, the Twilight Swords' pride is ever a source of concern. The Chapter must constantly struggle to avoid a tactically sound battle plan falling into a series of one-to-one combats. Twilight Swords Commanders and Chaplains lead by example and exact harsh discipline to rein in the duellist tendencies of their brethren.

The idea I had in mind while constructing this Command squad was that this unit represented an Honour Guard for one of the Chapter's most learned Librarians, stalwart Commanders, or inspiring Chaplains. There is no doubt that some of the most skilled veterans would volunteer for such duty to gain a chance to test their abilities in the fires of war. Thus, I purchased Terminator Honours and the Furious Charge Veteran skill for every model in the squad. In keeping with the Chapter's symbolism and theme, everyone who can take a power weapon received one. I added a plasma gun and the Veteran Sergeant's plasma pistol to give the unit a bit more ranged punch, although I think I shall soon replace the plasma gun with a meltagun so that the unit can fire at full effect and still assault. With all the power weapons in this squad, Armour Saves won't help the enemy much in assault! After adding in all the extra Attacks from the Terminator Honours, this squad should be able to handle itself very well in assault against nearly any opponent.

A Librarian could lead this squad to victory as a counter-assault force, while a Commander could surround himself with this veteran group as a bodyguard while he directs the rest of the army's fire. A Chaplain could inspire this squad in vigorous close combat from a Land Raider Crusader transport. Hmm, I shall certainly have to build some more Twilight Swords forces and see which approach suits me best!

THE CONVERTED COMMAND SQUAD

	VETERAN SERGEANT

	When I modelled up the Veteran Sergeant, I knew that I wanted to make him look like he'd been around a while and was no raw recruit. I found a very ancient-looking plasma pistol on the Khorne Juggernaut Rider and affixed it to the end of the Veteran Sergeant's left arm. More digging around in my bitz box resulted in the discovery of a Ravenwing Biker's arm, complete with power weapon. Since the other swords in the Command squad were all either aimed upwards or forwards, I aimed this sword down to the ground. When I added the Company Champion's head from the Command Squad sprue (another bit too nifty to leave behind!), I adjusted it slightly to make the model look as if the Veteran Sergeant were carefully aiming his plasma pistol to fire a shot. The wreath and standard top from the Command sprue rounded out the model nicely.

COMPANY CHAMPION

I began working on the Company Champion first . For me, the background idea of this guy is just too cool not to have personalised the model a bit. I liked the Champion's torso, therefore I kept that original, but I added Asmodai's Sword arm – the details on the shoulder pad (the skull and purity seals are awesome!) and the position of the arm intrigued me. Next, I sawed off the head from the Emperor's Champion to lend a suitable aura of majesty to the model. Lastly, I took a page from a friend's book for the combat shield. The arm and bolt pistol were from the Command Squad sprue. I added the shield (taken from the High Elf sprue) and the Imperial Eagle (from the Imperial Vehicle Accessories sprue) to create an ornate left-handed combat shield. A bit of Green Stuff here and there kept the concept together and gave me some room to manoeuvre when placing the arm, head, and shield at the angles I was looking for. As a finishing touch, I thought the double-headed eagle standard top from the Command Squad sprue would look great perched on his backpack and would reinforce the eagle imagery on the combat shield as well.

	APOTHECARY

	I liked the idea of an aggressive Apothecary, challenging his enemies to come and face his wrath for daring to injure his battle brothers. To fit that image, I chose the Emperor's Champion's arm and used the Black Sword to represent the power weapon. Placed at the right angle, it gave the appearance that the Apothecary was clearly ready to fight. I added a holstered bolt pistol to his right hip (since he would no doubt wish to fire upon his enemies from afar as well) and altered the placement of his other arm with the narthecium and reductor. To make his equipment look more sophisticated, I took the Xyctos Needler from Fabius Bile and altered it to rest on the Apothecary's forearm. Lastly, although I really like the new Apothecary head on the Command Squad sprue, I chose a similar-but-different head from the Space Marine Vehicle Accessory sprue. Since I had a similar head with an antenna on my Standard Bearer, I thought that this head would reinforce the idea that the Twilight Swords Command squad is in constant communication with all the Space Marines in any particular mission.

STANDARD BEARER

It took me a while to find just the right torso for my Standard Bearer. I knew that the Twilight Swords Chapter uses swords heavily in its imagery, but I did not want to copy from any existing Chapter like the Dark Angels. Luckily, I found a Ravenwing Biker torso that seemed perfect. The Company Champion's power sword is just too cool looking not to use. I added it to my Standard Bearer to serve as his power weapon. Since the Apothecary and the Company Champion already had both of their swords aimed upwards, it seemed best to vary things a bit and point the Standard Bearer's weapon straight ahead, as if he were preparing himself to leap into combat. The standard itself came about in an unusual way. When I had taken a High Elf shield for the Company Champion, I left some of the sprues lying around on my modelling table. Glancing around for inspiration for my company banner, I noticed some of the High Elf bitz looked particularly interesting. After a little experimentation, I had added two swords to either side of the banner and affixed a small wing as well. Lastly, I added the dragon head standard top from the High Elf sprue to the top of the banner. All in all, I think this is my favourite model from this squad.

	SPACE MARINE

	Since I knew that I would give this Space Marine a plasma gun, I chose the Company Champion's shoulder pads. Those particular shoulder pads looked reinforced – ideal for a wielder of the temperamental plasma technology. I added a wreathed skull from one of the Mordheim Pit Fighters and slightly converted an Iron Warriors helmet because I thought it looked like one of the older Marks of Space Marine armour. This fellow is not nearly as extensively converted as the rest of the squad, but I like his look and the pose where it seems he is pointing out a new target to his comrades.