Badasses? But they're elves!

So here it is, the first in what will hopefully be a long line of blogs about my new and hopefully ever-expanding Retribution of Scyrah army, along with news and previews ripped straight from the main PP website! I figure it'll help if I start with a quick overview and plan for my particular Retribution forces, as well as how I see myself heading out from this point.

Firstly, my confession - I hate the Dawnguard models.  The Sentinels are slowly growing on me, but the oversized thigh armour leading down to tiny shinguards make them look like their ankles are going to snap at the slightest provocation.  I know a lot of people enjoy bitching that the Destors aren't released yet, but seeing as they're Dawnguard and therefore going to look so ridiculous I'd never use them the Retribution line is, as far as I'm concerned, entirely released for this year.

Secondly, the models I've ordered.  Now, at the moment, they're only on order and I have to use my Cygnar, but when I get them, I'm looking at the following;

Adeptis Rahn
2 Heavy Myrmidons (Which are going to be made up as Phoenixes)
An Arcanist
A Box of Battle Mages
3 Magisters.

The idea is that this will make a 25 point list that also happens to be a Tier 3 Rahn list.  As much as I love the models, I don't think I could get the 24 Battle Mages needed for Tier 4 without wanting to kill myself or, worse, hating the sculpts so much I'd never want to look at them again.  I also, after I've got this little lot painted up, plan to get another few batches of models in no particular order;

All the character solos.  Eiryss, Narn, Nayl and Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen.  The reasons for this lot should be obvious...

Ravyn and a complete Houseguard Rifleman unit with UA.  I was originally going to try for a Ravyn Tier list but a combination of Vortex of Destruction and War Tempered put paid to that.  Plus the Rifleman Officer is one of the nicest models PP have ever made, so awesome that it's still not allowed in the gallery...

Kaelyssa and a complete Mage Hunter Strike Force with UA.  This will get me on the start of Kaelyssa's Tier list, as well as give me a decent unit for if assassinations prove too hard with Rahn and his boys.

Garryth, two Mage Hunter Assassins and two Ghost Snipers.  This'll get me two of each combat solo that isn't a Dawnguard.  Garryth is also awesome, so having his lot just that bit cheaper makes it easier to justify buying him quickly!

A bunch of Myrmidons.  My Primary goal is to get two of each Heavy and one set ready for the Discordia (oooh, the Discordia...).  To be honest, I've been utterly underwhelmed by the Light Myrmidons, especially seeing as we have the ultimate in beauty - a Heavy with an Arc Node, but I may pick up some Griffons if I get some 'jack Marshals later on.  At some point during my Heavy binge, I want to get a second Arcanist, because the Retribution's solos are amazing.

You'll notice that Vyros isn't on that list.  He won't be on that list until I can decide what I want to do with him, because that model continues to piss me right off.  See the Dawnguard rant above for details, and add in that stupid sword and bird for good measure.

As far as painting goes, I can honestly say that I hate the official Retribution scheme more than almost any other paint job I have ever seen.  It's more sci-fi than most science fiction armies, and has more in common with Storm Troopers than fantasy soldiers, even ones that fight alongside robots powered by arcane energy.  To this end, I'm going to do what most people seem to have done with their Retribution (and I thought I was being so original...) - use black instead of white.  More specifically, inspired by Gdaybloke from the PP forums, I'm going for a dark, smoky grey armour and lighter blue-grey cloth.  It'll look like SWAT team members, but it's still slightly closer to the time frame than far into the future (or long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, depending on your point of view).

Anyway, I've rambled on long enough, and I've got to do...  Anything else.  Coming soon...  When I actually get my first Retribution models, and hopefully their first game!