Well I’m back with some great hobby advice to save you time and money, “counts as”. We’ve all got less and less time lately and it seems like there is no shortage of models to build, so what’s better than to get the models you want, AND actually play with them?
With me I just like to be different. My stuff HAS to be custom. I dunno if its my gamer O.C.D. or my multiple army syndrome, but when something new comes out and looks cool I gotta have it. That’s where “Counts as” comes in, I can make it fit into my existing army.
Now I’m sure by now you’ve taken a closer look and seen the Chaos iconography on my Storm Raven, and started screaming heresy. Heh, don’t worry this baby isn’t necessarily chaos per ce, its just a “counts as” Blood Angels Stormraven Gunship.
Why? Well besides the point that fluff wise I’m sure the Iron Warriors have captured all sorts of neat stuff, (Tyranid Levithian ship in Storm of Iron anyone)? I just don’t have the time or the drive to paint up and convert both a Loyalist and Renegade marine army. I would MUCH rather keep converting and painting up models to be Chaos, and run them WYSIWYG off which ever Space Marine book I want.
I have a Chaos Vulkan He’stan (you didn’t think the Salamanders had that spear for the last 10,000 years did you)? I have Chaos Terminators with Thunder Hammers and Storm Shields, heck I even have Chaos Land Speeders, and I sleep very well at night. That’s because its all WYSIWYG, and I can play it for what it is.
-MBG
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at the Las Vegas Open, each of which attracts thousands of players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the 2011 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament. He was even featured for his painting in issue #304 of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf Magazine.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
