Another Sons of Horus Tactical Squad

For the Warmaster! Fresh reinforcements for the XVI Legion Astartes!

That's right, more Sons of Horus! Painting new 30k stuff continues to take up most of my hobby interest these days, and that trend continues in this post. The XVI Legion Astartes continue to get reinforcements with another big 20-man tactical squad. These are all plastic multi-part models from GW, enhanced with the custom resin shoulder plates featuring the Sons of Horus icon from Forge World. This squad was also enhanced with helmets from Red Warden Miniatures on Shapeways (highly recommended, much nicer than the Forge World heads).

Sergeant on the left, with plasma pistol and lightning claws. The fellow on the right has one of the custom heads from Red Warden on Shapeways.

Rear detail on the officer and one of the troopers.

Big squads are a thing in 30k. Many of the troop selections can be as large as 20 models. Big tactical squads can basically just tromp steadily across the battlefield in an entertaining fusion of Napoleonic tactics and grimdark 30k power armour and guns. There a few reasons this is good to do. Within the game itself, these big squads can clomp ominously across the 6' x 4' battlefield and soak up fire (hopefully), while your smaller, harder-hitting elite units position for a killer blow to the enemy battle line.

Vexillary on the right, regular trooper on the left.

Large tactical squads can also dish out abuse as well. The 30k setting teams with all sorts of scary weapons, and the bolt gun can seem a bit humble in comparison. But in a big tactical squad, all of those bolt guns are pretty good for one important purpose: taking out other Marines. And since the Horus Heresy is a civil war pitting Marines against Marines, taking out other Marines is pretty useful in games of 30k, so these big tactical squads have that going for them. A firefight against a unit of 10 (or less) Marines will, in general, work out pretty well for your 20-man tactical squads. And a firefight pitting a 20-man tactical squad against another 20-man tactical squad is just fun!

Vox operator, and another regular trooper.

Of course it is also possible to mount these large squads in vehicles like a Spartan. But outside of a big monster like the Spartan, there are only a few vehicles in the 30k can transport 20-man squads. And in any case,  I expect you would want these chaps out on the march, no lurking in transports. As I said, it is better to have these guys just clomping ominously forward using their own legs.

The custom Sons of Horus shoulder plates are a nice touch, and painting these is so much easier that messing around with the decals.

And the last reason I am painting these big squads is that it just looks silly and kind of cool. For an old-school gamer like me, this big bunch just brings to mind the clouds of small Mark VI marines from the original "Space Marine" game, and it is fun to see that, and play that, in the much larger 28mm scale game. There are so many sorts of elite and specialist units in the Horus Heresy game (and they are great!), but there is something about basic tactical marines slogging it out against the enemy's basic tactical marines that I enjoy so much. In my view, it's great that the game designers for the Horus Heresy have maintained these many thematic connections to the old "Space Marine" game.

Team photo of the full squad.

With two big 20-man tactical squads to serve as a base, my "new edition" Sons of Horus force is coming along nicely. Further reinforcements are on the way - but so are some new targets for them to engage on the tabletop! Stay tuned for more 30k painting, interspersed with the odd detour - as we move through the fall. Thanks for reading! Horus for hope!