Inspiration: Duncan paints a 2nd Edition Blood Angel.

 This video popped up on my feed today, figured I'd add it to the blog.  Duncan Rhodes (now of Duncan Rhodes Painting Academy and of previous GW painting tutorial fame) does a retro paint job on a Blood Angel miniature from 1992.

Inspiration: Eldar Pirates and Dark Angels working together?

 After many moons of not gaming 40K (in any edition!), we finally played a proper 2nd edition game.  No modifications (except how we handle flamed units).  No PA Activations, etc...just classic 2nd edition by the book.

We took two 500 point forces and played cooperatively against a 1,000 Tyranids list.  Running my Eldar I opted for two small squads of Pirates, led by heroes...and a unit of Eldar scouts.  The Dark Angels, led by a Techmarine, ran two battle squads in rhinos.

We added a narrative mission focus, in case this turns into a campaign:

• An Imperial world had ceased communicating with the nearest system.
• A nearby Dark Angels frigate was dispatched to investigate.
• Upon arriving in system, the Dark Angels frigate experienced long-distance communication issues.
• The Dark Angels frigate was hailed by an unknown Xenos ship.
• This Xenos ship turned out to be an Eldar Pirate vessel.
• While prepared to destroy the Xenos vessel, the Dark Angels first accepted a hail from the self-proclaimed captain of the vessel.
• The Eldar Pirate Captain informed the Dark Angels that the Tyranids Xenos had overwhelmed the planet.  The Pirate Captain and his ship were monitoring the Tyranid fleet as it was nearing the Eldar Craftworld of Yderis.
• The Dark Angels acknowledged this possibility when their long-range communications failed, an issue consistent with evidence of the Tyranids hive fleets.
• Within hours of translating in system, the Dark Angels came under attack from the Tyranid hive fleet.
• A small combined party of Eldar Pirates and Dark Angels made for the surface of the planet, hoping to fire off a distress signal from the planet's communications satellites - perhaps the only communications strong enough to break the cloud of the Tyranids' fleet.

Our goal: At the start of each turn, if we possessed models inside the communications command building, we could roll a single D3.  If we acquired nine points, the message was sent successfully.

The odd alliance between Eldar Pirates and Dark Angels Space Marines attempts to hold the line.

The Dark Angels valiantly hold their line against the wave of Tyranid creatures.

The Space Marines fall as they engage the merciless Tyranids.

Using the other Pirate squad and the Space Marines as distractions, the last Pirate squad tries to reach the command station.

As the Tyranids swarm forward, one of the rhinos crashes into their lines, running down several creatures.

With their armour and skill, the Dark Angels plow directly into the Tyranid lines, firing boltguns and flamers out of the hatches of the rhino - hoping to buy enough time for the signal to be sent.

Unaccustomed to open warfare, particularly on the ground, the Eldar Pirates move up cautiously.

A squad of Eldar Scouts who had deployed inside the command structure are attacked by Hormagaunts within two turns - dying quickly.

One of the Pirate Squads and its hero engage the Termagants, hoping to buy more time.

With few weapons capable of harming the Carnifex, the rhino drivers resort to ramming - with little success.

Gargoyles spit acid all over the tactical marines - however, with 'Insane Bravery', they interrupt, gunning down several and driving them off.

 

 

In the end...we were victorious, but only just.  Our survivors included two damaged Rhinos (both of which had been sliced up by the Carnifex but luckily survived), one Techmarine and the Pirate Captain.  At the last moment they managed to fire off the message and leapt into the top hatch of a Rhino which was driving by.

Every other model was slain by a Tyranid, and we had a LOT of bugs left on the table.  We were suddenly reminded how vicious Tyranids were in 2nd edition.  We'll probably do more games in this series and continue our co-op struggle against Tyranids.

Resources: Space Marine Datafaxes (2020)

A new set of Space Marine datafaxes.  Keep in mind, I'm aware that dozens upon dozens of new Space Marine vehicles exist.  These are simply the ones I could stomach creating and spending time on!

2nd Edition Space Marine Datafaxes 2020 (Download)

Sample Datafax:

Includes the following Datafaxes:

• Space Marine Bike
• Space Marine Attack Bike
• Space Marine Land Speeder
• Space Marine Rhino
• Space Marine Predator
• Space Marine Razorback
• Space Marine Whirlwind
• Space Marine Vindicator (PA Creation)
• Space Marine Drop Pod (PA Creation)
• Space Marine Land Raider
• Space Marine Land Raider Crusader (PA Creation)
• Space Marine Land Raider Redeemer (PA Creation)
• Space Marine Dreadnought
• Space Marine Ironclad Dreadnought (PA Creation)
• Space Marine Contemptor Dreadnought (PA Creation)
• Space Marine Leviathan Dreadnought (PA Creation)

Reference: Codex Space Wolves

The first of the official Space Marine codices, Space Wolves introduce a lot of options which would later be abused by not-so-scrupulous gamers!  Space Wolves were one of the most unique of the Space Marine forces - featuring units unlike any other published chapters.  It is also the only codex to feature a battle report in its contents.

Date: 1994

Length: 88 Pages

Armies Included: Space Wolves

Included Wargear Cards:

• The Axe Morkai
• Master-Crafted Bolt Pistol
• Frostfang
• The Pelt of Wulfen
• The Wolf Helm of Russ
• Night Wing the Cyber Raven
• The Rune Staff Stormcaller
• The Hood of Gnyrll
• The Helm of Durfast
• The Wulfen Stone
• Hrulf's Hood of Darkness
• Torgarl's Plasma Blade

Included Datafaxes:

• Bjorn the Fell-Handed (in the Special Characters area)

Included Unit Entries:

• Wolf Lord
• Wolf Priest
• Rune Priest
• Iron Priest
• Wolf Guard Champions
• Grey Hunter Pack
• Blood Claw Pack
• Long Fang Pack
• Wolf Scouts
• Wolfguard
• Dreadnought
• Servitor Bodyguard
• Rapier Laser Destroyer
• Tarantula
• Bike
• Land Raider
• Rhino
• Land Speeder
• Predator

Included Special Characters:

• Wolf Priest Ulrik the Slayer
• Wolf Lord Ragnar Blackmane
• Njal Stormcaller
• Great Wolf Logan Grimnar
• Wolf Guard Durfast of Mordrak
• Wolf Guard Ranulf
• Bjorn the Fell-Handed
• Wolf Lord Kyrl Grimblood

 

Reference: Codex Angels of Death

Codex Angels of Death was a large tome included a heap of information for running both the Blood Angels and Dark Angels.  This is a larger book with a lot of content, heaps of wargear and a good smattering of special characters.

Date: 1996

Length: 120 Pages

Armies Included: Dark Angels, Blood Angels

Included Wargear Cards:

• Standard of Fortitude
• Standard of Retribution
• Standard of Devastation
• Death Mask of Sanguinius
• The Inferno Pistol
• Master-Crafter Plasma Pistol
• Red Grail
• Shroud of Sanguinius
• The Lion Helm
• Sword of Secrets
• Book of Salvation
• Blades of Reason
  

Included Datafaxes:

• Ravenwing Land Speeder
• Space Marine Whirlwind
  

Included Unit Entries:

Dark Angels

• Master of the Death Wing
• Master of the Raven Wing
• Dark Angels Master
• Company Standard
• Chaplains
• Librarians
• Apothecary
• Techmarine
• Veteran Sergeants
• Deathwing Squad
• Assault Squad
• Tactical Squad
• Devastator Squad
• Scout Squad
• Ravenwing Land Speeder Squadron
• Ravenwing Bike Squadron
• Ravenwing Attack Bike Squadron
• Tarantula
• Space Marine Dreadnought
• Rapier Laser Destroyer
• Space Marine Whirlwind
• Space Marine Land Raider
• Space Marine Predator
• Space Marine Rhino
• Space Marine Razorback

Blood Angels 

•  Terminator Captain
• Space Marine Captain
• Company Standard
• Chaplain
• Librarian
• Apothecary
• Techmarine
• Veteran Sergeants
• Death Company
• Terminator Squad
• Veteran Space Marine Assault Squad
• Assault Squad
• Devastator Squad
• Scout Squad
• Tactical Squad
• Bike Squadron
• Space Marine Dreadnought
• Tarantula
• Rapier Laser Destroyer
• Space Marine Land Raider
• Space Marine Whirlwind
• Space Marine Predator
• Space Marine Rhino
• Space Marine Razorback
• Space Marine Land Speeder
• Space Marine Attack Bike

Included Special Characters: 

• Commander Azrael, Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels, Keeper of the Truth
• Ezekiel, Grand Master of Librarians, Keeper of the Book of Salvation, Holder of the Keys
• Brother Bethor, Bearer of the Sacred Standard
• Sapphon, Grand Master of Chaplains, Finder of Secrets
• Asmodai, Interrogator Chaplain
• Commander Dante, Lord of the Blood Angels
• Veteran Sergeant Cleutin, Guardian of the Shroud of Sanguinius
• Chief Librarian Mephiston, Lord of Death
• Apothecary Corbulo, Sanguinary Priest of the Blood Angels
• Brother-Captain Tycho, Commander of the 3rd Company

 

 

Reference: Codex Ultramarines

The "Ultramarines" codex from 2nd edition served as "the" Marine codex.  With the exception of the included special characters and their wargear, this was the codex used by players to run any variety of Space Marine chapters.  Strictly adhering to the Codex Astartes, the Ultramarines were the blue-print for many successor chapters.

Date: 1995 

 

Length: 96 Pages

Armies Included: Ultramarines

Included Wargear Cards:

• Servo Arm
• Plasma Blaster
• Auto-Launchers (for Terminators)
• Photon Beam Searchlight
• Rod of Tigurius
• Hood of Hellfire
• Gauntlets of Ultramar
• Banner of Macragge

Included Datafaxes:

• Space Marine Whirlwind

Included Unit Entries:

• Terminator Captain
• Space Marine Captain
• Company Standard
• Chaplain
• Librarian
• Apothecary
• Techmarine
• Veteran Sergeants
• Terminator Squad
• Veteran Space Marine Squad
• Assault Squad
• Tactical Squad
• Devastator Squad
• Scout Squad
• Bike Squadron
• Space Marine Dreadnought
• Tarantula
• Rapier Laser Destroyer
• Space Marine Whirlwind
• Space Marine Land Raider
• Space Marine Predator
• Space Marine Land Speeder
• Space Marine Attack Bike
• Space Marine Rhino
• Space Marine Razorback

Included Special Characters:

• Chief Librarian Tigurius
• Marneus Calgar, Master of the Ultramarines
• Ultramarines Chaplain Cassius
• Ancient Helveticus, Bearer of the Battle Standard of Macragge
• Captain Invictus of the Ultramarines First Company
• Legion of the Damned (Squad)