40k Lizardmen

[bensaunders]

I used to play Lizardmen when they first appeared in 5th edition WHFB and the first miniatures I bought on getting back into the hobby around a year ago were Saurus and Skinks to convert into a Blood Bowl team. My girlfriend said the other day, when I was talking about 40k, 'why don't you collect a Lizardman army for 40k?' and at the time I dismissed the idea. But now it's growing on me...

I was somewhat inspired by the Lizardmen-marines on Bell of Lost Souls today:
www.belloflostsouls.net/2011/10/editorial-its-so-fluffy-im-gonna-die_23.html

I've also seen Lizardmen used as counts-as Tyranids and converted into Tau, e.g.:

www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102793&highlight=lizardmen&page=2

www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/225167.page

so I know that using them in 40k isn't a new idea. Nonetheless, it's certainly something I'm feeling tempted by.

Personally, I think the most obvious thing to do, rules-wise, is to use them as Orks. Saurus with guns = ork boyz and Skinks = gretchin. No rule problems that way, only the questions of WYSIWYG and 'counts as' armies.

I don't know yet where to get the guns from or what to do about vehicles, but I don't really intend to build a full army of 40k Lizardmen anyway: based on Orks it would be rather too large, especially given I might have trouble using it in certain contexts. I'm just tempted to make a small force for the fun of converting it as much as anything.

I just wondered, before I go trying to dig out and convert my spare Lizardmen, what others thought. Am I crazy? Or might this work? Any suggestions for conversions also welcome (I'm worried that simply sticking guns in their hands won't be enough).

[Asurya]

Personally I think that the amount of time and effort (and cost) required to build this army you would be better off just collecting a regular army.

Some counts as armies work and there are some that don't. What you see is what you get is quite important in a game of 40k and with counts as armies this can be very difficult.

[chief]

I really like the idea. but i agree with gus that it would be very expensive, but some what worth while

[gcflash]

Surely doing them as the count as Nid army would be much more straight forward and still look the part?

[bensaunders]

Thanks for the replies.

To clarify, I don't propose making a full-size army (at least, not for some time). As much as I admire those who do fully converted armies, I find the numbers required for an Ork horde off-putting enough without the need to make them all out of Lizardmen! Basically, this is just a small modelling project.

I don't think WYSIWYG should be much of a problem. Obviously a Saurus isn't an Ork, but I can still equip them with appropriate weaponry. It helps that the weapons options for basic Ork boys and Grots are pretty limited anyway.

As for 'Nids, I'm not sure that would be easier. I've certainly read about people doing it (Saurus = Genestealers, Skinks = 'Gaunts), but there are more different unit types in the Tyranid army and I don't see how all of them could be represented. Representing different Orks is much easier, if I'm doing Lizards with guns anyway.

I already converted three Saurus warriors into Scalies for Necromunda a while back, so I have some idea what they look like with guns (answer: quite good, though the limited poses would be more notable in a 40k squad). I just tried giving two of my spare Skinks guns and like that look, though I think I need to do something more to them to make them look 40k rather than just Skinks with guns. Not sure what though.

Also, in doing a bit of research online, I found Lizardmen have been used for quite surprising armies, including Necrons:
www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282261&highlight=saurus

And Imperial Guard:
s418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/don_mondo_bucket/1st%20Lustrian%20IG/