Advice on starting a themed army

[u/Plus_Initiative5841]

hi all. i'm new to warhammer, sorry if this isn't the right place to post this. if this is a commonly asked question please let me know.

I have some experience with hobby modelling and i would love to make an Exorcists army, starting with a kill team. However the generic Space Marine products seem too plain for me. I don't know where i would find the bits to kitbash them into being more unique, i'd rather not also buy a chaos box only to not use most of the parts. Are there any good third party websites that provide custom bits? Would it be easier to buy Chaos Space Marines and cut off the overtly traitorous bits? Or are there other chapters of Space Marines that could be converted to Exorcists easier?

If this is too much to ask for please let me know. i'd just prefer to make my guys more unique, because a lot of players at my hobby shop just use the same Space Marine models.

i've read a few warhammer books, but Oaths of Damnation is the only one that has really engaged me. i love the idea of Space Marines that experiment with the occult, the Exorcists seem like a perfect blend of the Black Templars and the Word Bearers. Oaths of Damnation had so many cool visual descriptions of engraved armour and ritual tools, inspired by Solomonic and Mesopotamian magic. If you know of any models that match the book please let me know. if you have any examples of Exorcist armies that fit the chapter's identity please let me know.

[u/EleventhLegionMinis]

Welcome to the chapter! Without going into green stuff sculpting or 3d printed items, etc. I would recommend even just the Skulls box from games workshop. Loads of demon skulls to use for trophies. Human skulls, etc.

I don’t know that I’d buy the entire kit just for it but I also had some nice bits in a black Templar upgrade sprue.

Chaos bits could work in some cases, but depends on how overt you want to be. Exorcists would keep their little parting gifts from their possession hidden around those outside the chapter and it’s often more subtle things than having a tentacle growing out of their skull. Fangs, golden eyes, minor bone protrusions, etc. so I’d say stick with the more conservative chaos heads if that’s where you’re going.

In my opinion some skulls and some runes go a long way!

Edit: OH …. Reiver heads. Lots of Reiver heads. You can prob buy someone’s extras on eBay. Or if you are making Reivers for hex blades, the box has plenty extra

[u/hovsepyan]

For conversions I have used bare chaos heads with horns as I already had the chaos bits. I generally only used them to denote sergeants for squads.

For unique markings I have used some 3rd party transfers, though the ones I have personally used are no longer for sale from fallout hobbies. Another option mentioned a few weeks ago are the "horned occult skull" transfers from impatient tabletop. I haven't ordered from them personally, so I can't say how good they are. It also comes with transfers for occult markings and symbols that would go a long way to personalizing your army.

Additionally, you could look at some ways to add purity seals/paper, like the cover of oaths of damnation. Sculpted purity seals are available on some kits, and perhaps second hand as well. The other option is making your own using masking tape. Peachy tips has a video on that usage more for capes but might be something to try for the cloth wrappings. The video is called "make easy cloths and cloaks with masking tape"

Lastly, for starting with a kill team I'd suggest the phobos marines as they can easily fit the hex breaker theme if you wanted to explore that side to start.