With the recent release of Warhammer 40,000’s 10th edition, we’ve also seen an update to the narrative Crusade rules. I’m unsurprisingly a massive fan of this game mode, as it provides a solid framework for developing your army’s story all while playing games – There’s a solid progression system to represent units gaining battlefield experience and suffering injuries.
As such, I will be documenting the progress of my Space Marines in Crusade.
WHO IS YOUR ARMY AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
My Marines in question are from the Raptors Chapter, a Second Founding successor of the Raven Guard. To keep it brief, their modus operandi is very similar to their parent Chapter, but with an emphasis on pragmatism and marksmanship. To a Raptor, the mission is paramount, and their skill in shooting (specifically with the humble bolt weapon) is second to none. I like to think of them as closer to a military formation than the Knightly Order that many Marine Chapters tend to feel like.
I’ve always been a fan of the Raven Guard – matter of fact, I play them in Horus Heresy. When 40k’s 8th Edition started, I found myself with a number of Primaris Space Marines and a desire to keep playing the Ravens. Why the change, you ask?
I’d painted enough black armor for the time being.
This specific formation has been my ongoing army since then, initially dubbed Mobile Task Force “Old Crow” (for reasons that’ll become apparent shortly). A relatively small, autonomous battlegroup that prefers to launch surgical strikes against the foes of the Imperium. The dawn of the Fourth Tyrannic War has seen them dubbed as one of the many Solblades responsible for the defense of the Imperium against Hivefleet Leviathan. Although more often than not, they have found themselves dealing with the aftermath of Abaddon and Vashtorr’s Arks of Omen campaign, facing down against warbands of Traitor Astartes.
Solblade “Parabellum” is largely composed of the Raptors 4th Company, though also incorporates units from the veteran 1st Company, as well as the infiltration specialists of the 10th.
CRUSADE ROSTER
Chapter Master Branwen Lycaeus (Primaris Captain)
Branwen is a recurring character that I’ve been using for both Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000. Originally hailing from the Raven Guard homeworld of Deliverance (then named Lycaeus), she was part of Corax’s revolution against the prison moon’s overseers and a recruit to the Legion when the Primarch was reunited with the Emperor. Serving in both the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy, she eventually was put into stasis as one of Belisarius Cawl’s initial specimens for his project to develop Primaris Space Marines. Awoken in the grim darkness of the even further future, Branwen was transferred to the successor Raptors chapter, distinguishing herself enough to claim the title of Chapter Master.
To me, the loadout of sword and shield seemed head and shoulders the best choice for a Primaris Chapter Master – all the better when given an Honor Guard of Bladeguard Veterans to serve as a close combat wrecking ball. I generally like to play aggressive with Branwen, seeking out the enemy warlord to take down in single combat. Perhaps not entirely in-character for the pragmatic Raptors, but very much in the style of the old Raven Guard “Decapitation Strike.”
Branwen is the first character to receive an Enhancement, namely Artificer Armor. I figured this suited a Chapter Master well, and would serve to improve her survivability on the table as she seeks out characters and Warlords to duel.
Chapter Lieutenant Corbin Lycaeus (Primaris Lieutenant)
Corbin is another of my Horus Heresy veterans, henceforth known as the Lycaeus Sisters. A heavy weapons expert, I built her with an onslaught gatling cannon that I had spare from an Invader ATV. This was back during 9th edition when there was a specific bolt rifle relic that I thought could be accurately represented with a minigun – though now a suitable Weapon Modification battle honor could serve to represent it.
Unlike Branwen, Corbin still wears the black armor of her original Legion/Chapter – this was partially to represent the history of these old Heresy veterans, but also helped to break up my painting routine a little and provide a break from all the olive green that I had to paint.
Corbin is at her best bolstering a line infantry squad, particularly in assisting Intercessors in taking and holding objectives from the foes of Solblade Parabellum.
Chief Surgeon Addivaria “Addi” Lycaeus (Primaris Apothecary)
The third (but not final) of the Lycaeus sisters, Addi similarly wears the black armor of the Raven Guard. She’s perhaps the least complex of my conversions with a simple headswap, but is all the same is an important member of Solblade Parabellum.
Back during the days of 9th Edition Crusade, I often took the ‘Recover Geneseed’ Agenda in order to secure additional XP and provide use for a fun injured space marine objective marker that I made. It heightened the drama and provided for some exciting moments in many games (including one against T’au where I was able to negotiate her safety in completing this mission in exchange for ignoring some of the mission’s primary objectives). I really hope to see faction-specific agendas like this make a return in the upcoming Space Marine codex.
Addi leads a unit of Hellblasters, putting her medical skills to work ensuring that plasma overheats don’t take the squad out of action too quickly.
Fireteam Kaene (10x Intercessors)
The backbone of Solblade Parabellum, and my primary objective takers and holders. This squad is a mix of both the easy-to-build models from the Dark Imperium set, and the later multiparts with a nice eclectic mishmash of bolt rifle variants. I’m pleased with the recent consolidations of the three weapon types, as it means that building a squad from my collection can involve a mix of models from multiple sources.
Fireteam Kaene is named for their Sergeant, Norra Kaene. This may or may not be a reference to a character from Archer. I’ll leave that up to you, dear reader.
Fireteam Baum (10x Hellblasters)
Who has ten members and a high attrition rate due to overheats? These guys. The primary anti-elite and light-vehicle firepower for Solblade Parabellum, it’s Fireteam Baum’s job to make problems disappear in a blaze of white-hot plasma fire. They’re all from the Dark Imperium set, and alongside Fireteam Kaene have been a mainstay for my Raptors since the dawn of 8th edition 40k.
Fireteam Baum is named for their Sergeant, Keri Baum. Yes, the fact that it sounds like Cherry Bomb is on purpose, especially given her red hair.
The Crowsguard (3x Bladeguard Veterans)
Some more recent additions for my Raptors, the Crowsguard are Branwen’s personal honor guard. They wear black armor to honor the original heritage of the Chapter Master, with some among their members having been seconded to the Raptors by Kayvaan Shrike himself – apparently to keep the Old Crow alive.
Again, a painting project to break up all the green I’ve had to paint, I figured that going back to my Horus Heresy scheme would help this unit to stand out. They’re named for Branwen’s moniker and callsign among the Raptors, “Old Crow.” As bodyguard for the Chapter Master, their job on the table will be to follow her into battle, taking down anyone that’d threaten their charge.
Fireteam Apex (3x Eliminators)
Blasphemy, an unpainted unit!
Currently a work in progress, they’re named for one of my Horus Heresy units – a squad of Mor Deythan. These snipers are armed with Las Fusils for taking down hardened targets, preferably anything that’s been marked with the Oath of Moment to give their weapons a bit of extra punch.
My plan for painting these will be to put the focus onto their camouflage cloaks, rather than on the green of their armor. The cloaks will be done up with a jagged urban pattern to visually tie them to my Mor Deythan, as well as to give them a bit of blending effect with the ruined cityscapes and asphalt that comprises most of my Raptors’ basing scheme.
Asset Scorpion (Gladiator Lancer)
The big gun, named for the Scorpion tank of Halo fame (expect to see way more Halo references as my army builds up – they’re green with gold eye lenses, it’s basically an army of Master Chiefs).
This is my main anti-tank/anti-monster piece, and a solid centrepiece that I think stands out amidst all the infantry. This model is pretty much entirely stock, save for some strategically placed magnets that will let me run it as the other Gladiator variants, or even an Impulsor if needed. Though for the purposes of Crusade, it’s Lancer all the way down.
GOING FORWARDS
Among our local Crusade group, we’re of the mind that one should roll for their Battle Honors and Scars – while it gives you a degree of choice, there’s a certain excitement that comes from the random chance of the dice that means that maybe, just maybe you’ll end up with something unexpected to try out. As such, it’s difficult to plan exactly how Solblade Parabellum will evolve as it accrues experience. That said, I do have some general plans:
Branwen needs her Paragon Blade. A simple master-crafted power sword will not do for a veteran of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy – as such, her first Battle Honor will go into a weapon enhancement in hopes of giving her a sword worthy of her legacy!
As a leader of troops, LT Corbin would benefit greatly from the Bolter Discipline enhancement, giving humble Intercessors some added punch with their bolt rifles in dealing with greater threats.
As for the rest of the army – I plan on making choices that fall in line with the Raptors’ modus operandi. They’re known for stealth, marksmanship, and pragmatism, and as such anything that helps them in completing missions and being deadlier shots has priority.
As the Roster expands its’ supply limit, I have my eyes on adding a number of key units to Solblade Parabellum – chief among these are a unit of Infiltrators, an Impulsor to ferry Branwen and her Crowsguard into battle and a mighty Redemptor Dreadnought to provide more armored support. Of course, there is also the question of the fourth and final Lycaeus Sister, and the addition of an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor, for when Solblade Parabellum finally faces the alien threats of the 42nd Millennium.