For the Cult - Daffrid

Back in the heady days of 2nd edition, when geeks were real geeks, computers were real computers and the internet was being used by the US military to quicken the pace of misinformation, Andy Chambers wrote a codex. It's on my shelf, it's called 'Codex Tyranids' and in this book are 3 pages detailing the 'Genestealer Cult Army List'. Interestingly I acquired my copy of this book from a rather shabby bookshop hidden in one of the many alcoves in Manchester's Affleck's Palace, Dysartes stole his...(that's never been proved - Ed)

Anyway, the cult army interested me quite a bit so I did some investigating. The initial conclusion was that either the inquisition had been very successful in eliminating this threat or that I would have to put some real effort into finding more about them.

Background

Throughout the Imperium, an insidious threat has been slowly spreading for many centuries. From planet to planet, system to system, worlds are falling to a subversive force guided not by material conquest or love of battle, but by inbred genetic drives unfathomable to mankind. Spread by seemingly random chance throughout the galaxy like seeds in the wind, the alien Genestealers arrive quietly on unsuspecting and unprepared worlds. Once they set a foothold in the unsuspecting populace their drive to conquer asserts itself, and far too many times the planet is thus doomed. Their true alien masters arrive from the void between stars to consume the living biosphere of the planet: the way of the intergalactic Tyranids, who must devour fresh life for new genetic materials.

If asked to simply describe a cult army, my first reaction would be to say 'errr'. My second more succinct point would be to say that the cult is not an army as such; it is a insidious uprising by a fanatical rabble. The cult is lead by a Genestealer Patriarch (the primogenitor of the cult and the oldest and most powerful of it's kind) who controls the cult through a Genestealer Magus (a 4th generation mutation with psychic powers whose human appearance allows him to be the public face of the cult). As the cult grows, more humans are infected by Genestealers. Their psychic presence attracts nearby hive fleets to the existence of new feeding grounds and it is this that triggers the cult into action, taking over the planet for when their masters arrive. Ironically the arrival of the hive fleets signals the end of the cult as they are eaten along with the rest of the planet, still duty done I suppose.

Style of play: 

Meatshields... Ok, well, there's a bit more too it than that but, essentially you use your cheap initiates (about 5 points) as a shield for your elite close combat Genestealers and Hybrids whilst pummeling them Guard style with your Brood brother heavies and that's about it. I could go on about tactics and finesse, but no cult is the same.

Current Situation: 

In my investigation into the cult I discovered the yahoo cult group run by none other than GW's Tim Huckelbery, which is a good place to go and ask cult related questions.

I'm also happy to report that an experimental codex for the 3rd edition was written and published in the now defunct Citadel journal (40-41), and as if by magic I can link you to an online version in two parts:

 Part1  and  Part2

Made available by the good grace of Tim Huckelbery

timh@games-workshop.com

I would point out though that since it is unofficial you can't use it in tournaments and you need your opponents permission to use them, but sod it - if your gaming group is any good they should be more than happy to play you. It makes a refreshing change from the norm.

Since these models are no longer in production this poses an interesting problem. To my knowledge you could back order them from GW though I have yet to try this, but the other option is good old Ebay, models do on occasion crop up.

The other option is the one I prefer which is to convert. Hopefully I'll be able to get a few pictures up here to document my progress, since in my opinion no two cults should look the same, a disorganised unsightly rabble is exactly what they should look like (not that I'll let Dysartes paint them, oh I'll be slapped for that (Me? Paint gribbly cultists? With MY reputation? - ED))

It has also come to my notice that new Genestealers are in the making, though pictures are hard to come by. Personally I prefer the old ones, but that's me.

'For the Cult'

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