Headquarters
It's the first model you look for after setup, the one you worry about when close combat begins, and the one you'll risk half your army to protect. We have a strong attachment to the heroic hand that guides our forces, and we take pride in letting them lead the way (sometimes against our better judgement). They are often the most expensive unit in the army, and the benefits they provide are potentially game-changing. So what can the hobbyist do to distinguish their precious HQ from the rest of the pack? What can be done to create a model worthy of the points and the prestige?1. Do a Better Job
Look at it this way: a space marine costs 16 points, and a blank Chaplain 100. Doesn't it make sense that the chappy should be painted six times better than the standard marine he leads? Now I'm sure we're all thinking if only it were so easy that all I have to do is want to improve. Strange thing is: you're not far from the mark. Just vowing to take your time and really notice every detail is one of the major keys that separate a good paintjob from a great one. Most people underestimate their own capacity for artistic success; I know I have. If you're looking for a couple specific ways to up your game, try this article I wrote about taking your painting to the next level.
2. Build a Better Base
It used to be in 4th edition 40k that line of sight was grouped according to size categories instead of today's true line of sight. Thus, if you wanted your commander looking down on the enemy from atop a ten-foot statue, that wasn't a problem. But today you want someone that can keep their head down as low as the rest of the boys. In some cases it can't be helped (looking at you Hive Tyrant), but it's asking for pain when your boss is the only guy that can be seen by the las cannon devastator squad on the far hill. Factor in that characters must be mounted on the base they came with (aka: no more terminator bases for you!) and you're looking at some pretty severe limitations on how to build a better base. My solution is to keep it simple.
I'm reminded of real-time strategy games like Dawn of War or Starcraft where there's a glowing circle around your selected units, and I don't see why it couldn't be done directly on a base. In 40k you already have the circle drawn for you, and you can use simple geometric objects (such as other bases) to stencil all manner of interesting designs on your base. This way you can paint a base that fits with the rest of the army, but still stands out. This can be adapted for any number of circumstances. Psychic characters could cause the ground around their feet to glow, a more burly character might be lit from below by lava, and any model could be lit up on a suitable technological base.
In this way you add plenty of depth to your creation while keeping him/her/it at the lowest vertical point possible. Check out this article for a step by step way to texture a flat base for the best of both worlds.
3. Make a Custom Model
Every time Games Workshop puts out a warhammer plastic release, I dive right into the sprue pics looking for conversion opportunities. There are so many options, even an adamant collector won't find every possible combination. Take a look online at some of the bits ordering sites and you know there are plenty of conversion opportunities out there.
A growing option is forgeworld. Although the company is largely known for their oversized models (demons, titans, tanks, etc.), they have also been putting out a number of kits specifically to customize existing GW HQ models. Forgeworld is still rare enough that it may be worth it to order that great monstrous creature, or a space marine modification kit. Shipping is always a hassle with international orders, so consider getting some buddies together to chip in and reduce the individual shipping cost to something more affordable.
But don't forget, even a custom pose can sometimes be the difference between Bob McMarine and Crog the Conqueror. Just because you spent money on your HQ doesn't mean that you've got an automatic winner. I've seen plenty of cash all but thrown in the trash on fancy forgeworld models with a subpar paint job. It's more than okay if your librarians custom bike is just a regular bike with a couple plastic shields glued on. Remember, the only thing that matters at the end of the day is how your leader looks, not the price tag.
4. Give it a Custom Color Scheme
Sometimes the best solution is the simplest. You have 100 guardsmen wearing black camo with red armor. How do you make the general stand out? Paint him white with green armor!
Take a look at a color wheel and see what colors are opposite the ones you've been painting. These are called complimentary colors, which provide maximum contrast when displayed next to each other. It's especially convincing if it's only applied to a few models, so try to use this technique sparingly.
Another easy way to make a model stand out with just color but without such a drastic difference is to flip-flop the color placement on the model. This was the theory that game developer Relic ran with when they made the first Dawn of War games. Going back to the black camo/red armor example, a commanding officer wearing red cloth with black armor would certainly stand out, but would also keep much more closely in line with his fellow Guardsmen.
5. Make it Shine
Perhaps the most convincing way to denote importance is to do just that. A marine in power armor will get someone's attention if he's the only one also wearing a billowing cape with a gigantic skull and laurels emblazoned on the back. Signature weapons, ornate armor, unique helmets, personal heraldry, war trophies; all of these send a very clear message to your opponent: don't mess with this guy!
Sometimes it's taken care of for you, as with the master of the forge. This Space Marine HQ has a special ranged weapon called a conversion beamer, essentially a gigantic laser cannon. As there is currently no official model, it's full of possibilities for the hobbyist. After all, how easy would it be to notice a marine who has a giant gun that is modelled with 4 gauss tubes from the necron warriors box?
6. Be all Sneaky-Like
Not everyone wants their commander to stand out. After all, with some forces, the HQ would rightfully be hiding as best he could; it's a dangerous universe out there!
There are some gamers that would rather not make a big deal of their HQ, in hopes that their opponent forgets or misses his presence altogether until it's too late. After all, as long as they're equipped correctly, there's nothing to say your boss man has to be bathed in neon lights at all times. Especially if you're playing a low toughness/wound model, having someone blend in with the crowd wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.
It builds an interesting narrative of an everyman/woman hero or a junior officer of some sort who is just starting their career. There's tons of good reasons to keep it humble, but do keep it honest.
