Alternative representation

No, this isn't a post about the inclusive representation of alternative lifestyles in the hobby. That'd be a very long and involved post. Nor is it about alternative models to represent factions within major intellectual properties.

It's instead about the opportunity to use a bit of lateral thinking with how to depict special rules or ways to have units in a style that fits the army.

My specific examples are 40k, Imperial Guard, since they're ones I'm actively working with.

The Vostroyan relic, The Armour of Graf Toschenko, gives a boost to toughness and a 2+ save. This is essentially Guard Terminator armour, especially combined with the Invulnerable save most officers have as standard.

That Invulnerable save is much the same as the save Space Marines get from Combat Shields, so, why not have an officer with a Combat Shield?

On the subject of shields, the Mordian relic, Order of the Iron Star of Mordian, gives a uniform save against any wound. Sounds like a decent shield to me.

Then, of course, we have the big guys: Ogryn and Bullgryn. Back in 1987-93, first edition, every army had access to robots. They had ridiculously over complicated rules and, to be truly worthwhile, required a lot of points to be spent on Programs. As a result, they were rarely used, and were dropped in second edition. They made a few faltering comebacks over the years, none successful until recently. Nowadays we have Castellans, now renamed Kastelans, and the Luther Pattern Excavation Androids or Ambots. Surely i can't be the only person tempted to use one or both for Ogryn proxies?

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