Hey cats,
This isn't an 'officially sanctioned' project, but I thought it'd be a great idea if all the talented chaps from the Great Crusade had some way to tie their armies together at the upcoming Siege of the Emperor's Palace.

After a quick ponder, I thought that one great way to do it would be to have the Terran Planetary Defence Force represented by including some Imperial Army in your force. Whether they're following your Expeditionary fleet, dug in on Terra, or throwing their lot in with Horus, a few Terran PDF in your army will provide a great visual anchor.

I thought I'd keep this nice and loose, to encourage as many people as possible to have a go, so here are the guidelines if you'd like to join in the fun.

1) Build at least one Terran PDF member, converted from any human figure you wish.
2) Paint him in any scheme you like, with the following identifying touch: a deep red right arm.
3) Name your regiment after an orchestral instrument.

Terra: seat of government and cradle of humanity. An immense ecumenopolis, with the scorched earth covered – and ruled over – by the Palace. The immense population provides hardy and dedicated soldiers to the Defence Force, a group as varied as the populations it draws its regiments from.

The Emperor decreed long ago that nation-states, petty kingdoms and tribes that acknowledged him as undisputed ruler of humanity would be equal in his sight, and spread a new doctrine of science and truth to the galaxy. Beginning as a humorous whimsy, the regiments adopted the names of traditional musical instruments rather than numbers, so that all would be equal, and not forget the power of beauty in truth. It has since been traditional for the TDF to name their regiments after orchestral instruments; and once a year, representatives from each regiment come together before the Emperor to play.

To keep the Defence Force in training, they are often sent on tours alongside the Expeditionary Fleets, and so vary from green recruits to hard-bitten veterans, tanned by foreign stars on extraterrestrial battlefields. Such Defence Force members are entitled by ancient decree to bear the colours of the Legion they supported on their shoulder pauldron.

Genomed, nat-born or vat-grown, all are marked with a red right arm – tattooed, in the case of the feral Pipers; a red stripe piped down their gold jackets for the arrogant Harpists; and full red jackets for the elite Tam-Tams– as a sign of fealty to the Emperor of Mankind, but the Terran Defence Force otherwise varies in uniform, culture, training and methods across the ancient globe. They are united only in their dedication to the Emperor.

...Or at least, such was the case. Recent events have seen some regiments turn to the dark forces of the Warmaster...

I hope that this provides people with the opportunity to link their force to the others – even if it's simply to have some dead ones on your bases!

If you only paint one, why not use him/her as an objective? A full squad of ten will only set you back 60pts, so plenty of opportunity to fit them into an existing army.

The more ambitious might wish to paint an entire army!

What a great idea! I've got loads of IA already undercoated and awaiting some colour, too... ;)

"The Xylos"...

Great idea, but half of us are going Warmaster. Perhaps we could do an anti-PDF version instead. I fancy a unit of beastmen, so maybe red arms for those!

No worries:

:)

As ever great idea Ed! However like Whitehorn, im one of the Warmaster's faithful - any ideas on how we could adopt the idea?

As the first drop-pods and landing craft fell to Terra, the defenders gripped their lasrifles, boltguns and swords a little tighter. Each stared upwards, a knot of anticipation, fear and perverse excitement at the eve of battle.

It was at this critical moment that the most base betrayal of all occurred. Fully one-third of the Imperial Army Regiments and Terran Defence Force, hurriedly assembled to defend the walls of the Palace, revealed their true colours as supporters of the invaders. They fell upon their former comrades; regiment against regiment, platoon against platoon, and man against man.

In the days that followed, the traitor regiments adopted a simple eight-pointed star, daubed in white across across their face or chest, as an icon of rebirth and freedom.

How's that? :)

Damn the PCRC and their creative minds!!!!

Excellent idea, i'll be more than happy to place some disembowelled unfortunates onto the bases of my cityfight Eldar army i'm building for the next event. I've always wanted to model the effects of a Harlequin's Kiss on a humble guardsmen... like soup you say!?

Even though it may be difficult to argue that my strikeforce made it to Terra for the big event, i'm sure that the mustering of attackers and defenders will have led to the foundation of outposts in the surrounding systems. I would say its possible that elements of the Terran Defence force may have ended up assigned to such outposts, and that they may have had to be neutralised to ensure events "turned out right".

Very cool fluff too....

Sounds like a great idea to me. :)

Sounds like a very interesting idea, with your mad skillz it shouldn't be too hard for you to pull something off that will look awesome!

count me in - i'll convert some of my Prospero Spireguard to fit the bill :)

Could we incorporate a TGC icon somewhere discreetly?

Every miniature has to be carrying a TGC banner measuring no less then 6" accross? :D

Great idea though Ed, and some nice background!

H-Gate, so you are actually making up a new 3000pt army for the seige of Terra? That wasn't just big talk? :P

Hehe, sounds fun! im happy to participate

i love the sound of this! if i can make it then you can definatley count me in ;)

Thought this was a fantastic idea, so I've jumped on the bandwagon :P

Here's my first guy, from the Terran PDF Regiment the 51st Ottavinos, which is another word for a piccolo:





and a link I'm going to do with all 20 of my men, their very own Piccolo:



Just need to work out how I'm going to do this army's bases.

[In best Alyson Hannigan Voice -]

'And then this one time, at band camp, we invaded Terra and tried to kill the Emporer and committed mass genocide. It was cooool.'

Do bagpipes cound as an Orchestral instrument?

After that, you have to include a flute !

Very cool - see if you can make your CO a short hot lass with a flute stuck... never mind...

I just realised, I made my test mini with a red shoulder rather than a red arm. It still counts though! :D

I have an army of red-armed marines, shame :)

I have a bunch of Pig Iron headed Cadians and some Stormtroopers that will 'commit' to the cause.

If a few of you loyalists can post yours up and I will copy a few. I am planning to do loads of mutiliated guys as 'decoration' for my cultists and traitors!

Note see my crucifixtion in the blog section.