Horus Heresy 3e Review: Arquitor Bombard

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. The rules are average. 

Background.

An infantry support platform designed to keep up with the foot slogging members of your army and provide powerful fire power. Enough to down blobs of enemy infantry and crack hard sieges, this engine in the fluff has it all at the expense of it not being a well armoured vehicle. 

Strengths. 

The Morbus Bombard gives you HE shells with S=9 and a slew is special rules including large blasts, ordnance on D, Barrage, breaching (at 6) and pinning. The Phosphex is S=5 with blast poisoned at 3+ and breaching (5+) with panic (3). Both are solid, but the phospex is shorter range with the valuable AP=3.

The graviton charge cannon is also S=9 with AP=3 which is valuable. Double damage shock and pinning are similarly great with heavy on D. It is reasonably good, but short range.

The spicula is much more interesting with a range of 72 inches combining with S=7 and a super large blast radius with barrage and suppressive. 

Weaknesses. 

The bombard is surprisingly sturdy with AV=13 on the front and 6 hull points which makes other rhino chassis based armour cry a little bit. You need to watch your positioning though in order to protect your rear. A marked improvement from second edition too, but I still prefer the Vindicator just about. 

Builds.

Arquitor with Morbus Bombard (150 points)

I am tempted by the autocannon sponsons here to be very honest.

Arquitor with Graviton-Charge Cannon (165 points). 

Not my favourite, but could be good. 

Arquitor with Spicula Rocket System, Autocannon Sponsons (175 points).

Add search lights to taste. This is one you sit at the back field and fire all game long. Recommended more than others for sheer suppressive capability. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Scorpius Missile Tank

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The rules are good. 

Background.

The Scorpius is a different type of Whirlwind tank that was created at the behest of the Space Wolves who apparently wanted some indirect fire support to fight against xenos. It is built on the ubiquitous rhino chassis and fires some rather lethal missiles to do exactly what the Space Wolves wanted. 

Strengths. 

The main strength here is the Scorpius missile launcher. This fires S=8 small blasts that have barrage 2, and breaching at 5+. With AP=4 they're very good at clearing out non-marine enemies and will likely take care of at least some standard marines if they are tightly packed! 

Heavy on FP means you're likely sat at the backfield and staying still most of the game and shooting at your leisure. 

The pintle bolt guns don't really add much, and there's smokecreen as well. I would not bother with a dozer blade, but search lights might be good here. Take a pintle weapon to taste, but possibly a waste of points too ... unless you take the havoc launcher to give you stun (recommended! and has superb overlapping range!). 

Weaknesses. 

The rhino chassis with AV=10 at the rear makes it vulnerable. The 5 hull points offsets this. 

The lack of inflicting statuses is a milder issue for the tank. 

Builds.

Scorpius, Searchlights (125 points)

The core build. 

Scorpius, Searchlights, Havoc Launcher (130 points). 

An extra shot that comes with stun is actually really rather good and excellent points efficiency overall. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Kratos Assault Tank

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The rules are rather good. 

Background.

Despite the popular opinion that the Kratos was only introduced in second edition, the reality is that it has been mentioned in the lore for a lot longer. It is a line breaker tank of ancient Terran origin. Slow moving, but highly effective, the legions swerved away from it as they favoured faster deployments, but it never lost its edge and was rapidly pressed back into large scale service thanks to the Heresy. 

Strengths. 

With AV=14 all around and 10 hull points, this is already a tank to be reckoned with alongside the more classic land raiders. There's a choice of 3 main weapon variants. 

The Kratos battlecannon can fire HE shells to give S=8 and a large pie plate with stun, or AP shells with AP=2 and armourbane. One shot either way, but one is a mechanicum killer, the other takes out tanks. Flashburn shells is an upgrade for a small cost to give armour bane at S=9 and AP2 with 3 damage (all types of shots have D on ordnance making them quite strong). Nothing quite like 4 damage at S=9, so this is strongly rated, even with overload. 

The Volkite Cardanelle is interesting for its vast range 12 shots at S=7 and 2 damage even if the AP is poor. Deflagrate and suppressive only add to this. A real infantry stopper (including terminators). 

The Melta Blast Gun supplies 2 shots at S=9 with melta at a reasonable range of 24. AP is 2 and damage is a straight up 4 with heavy on the RS. This is a real impressive tank killer. 

Sponsons come recommended with lascannons and volkite culverins. The front mounted heavy bolt guns can also be swapped out, but the points costs stack up fast in doing so. Dozer blade if you need to move closer and hunter killer missile to taste. 

Weaknesses. 

Slow moving.

Builds.

Kratos with Battle Cannon, Flash Burn Shells, Mounted Autocannons (300 points). 

Plenty of dakka! Dozer Blade to taste. 

Kratos with Volkite Cardanelle, Volkite Culverin Sponsons, Mounted Volkite Calivers (295 points).

You should know the rule about volkite by now: go big!!

Dozer blade to taste. 

Kratos with Melta Blast Gun, Las Cannon Sponsons, Mounted Las Cannons (355 points).    

When you really, really need to kill some armour and you don't have other choices, and don't mind all your eggs in one giant proverbial basket that acts as an incoming firepower magnet. Very expensive, and possibly should have been a Lords of War (source: me). 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Sicaran Venator

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The rules are good. 

Background.

Lessons learned during the Great Crusade accelerated the idea of needing BIG GUNS at FAST SPEEDS against some xenos breeds. Thus was born the Venator. For your needs when predators and vindicators no longer cut it. 

Strengths. 

The Venator retains the key headline from the core Sicaran. These include 6 hull points, an impressive movement rate of 14, coupled with AP=13 on the front and 12 elsewhere. 

The neutron beam laser is the main attraction of this tank though. Two shots at S=10 with AP=2 and 2 damage, plus ordnance on D. It also has armour bane and shock which add up to a tank killer unit. 

I would be seriously tempted with the las cannon sponsons to drive home the case for a tank killing tank. The pintle isn't worth it, and I don't think the searchlights are either. The hunter killer missile might be okay, so I will decide to leave that to taste. 

Weaknesses. 

As with the base Sicaran, the Venator variant is also not quite as good as previous editions. You will need to think about positioning here. 

Builds.

Sicaran Venator with Neutron Beam Laser and Las Cannon Sponsons (190 points).

Lots of lasers to kill tanks with. The classic tank sniping tank.

 

Warhammer World: Choose Your Colours [For Heresy]

A little addition that I spotted on my recent rounds of Warhammer World: all of the legions in one display with a variety of miniatures, specialist legion terminators, upgrade parts, and nice paint jobs. 

I rather liked this cabinet as a reference material. Sure: there were other displays focussed on every single legion which I might also post at a future point, but this one just stood out as a singular piece and a reference set. Hope you like it as much as I stared at it for a long while!

Another Update to the Horus Heresy Summary Page

Working hard today on giving an update to the Horus Heresy 3e Review Summary Page!

This update includes the Blood Angels, Thousand Sons, Support, Fast Attack, Heavy Transports, and where we are currently up to with Armour. 

Yet to write about: the rest of the Armour section, Lords of War, and the Dark Angels legion! Hence we should be finished with the main Liber Astartes / Hereticus books in the next little while (month or two). Then onward to the other Libers in due course. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Sicaran

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The rules are good. 

Background.

A collaboration between Ferrus Manus, Roboute Guilliman, and the Mechanicum, the Sicaran was deployed only just before the Heresy broke out, but swiftly became adopted by the legions. It is a high speed tank capable of laying down an impressive rate of fire and makes it dangerous against other light tanks, bikes, and fliers alike.

Strengths. 

A larger tank with AP=13 on the front and 12 elsewhere with 6 hull points. The real attraction comes from its main weapon. Here there is a choice. 

The twin accelerator autocannon is attractive with 6 S=7 shots that have rapid tracking and skyfire. Two damage is the icing on the cake. 

The Arcus Missile Launcher gives lots of options depending on your warhead preferences. The regular warheads are good due to AP=2 and 2 damage, Sky spear are great for skyfire, Pyrax for causing panic, and neutron flux for shock. I actually favour the regular warheads to be very honest.

The punisher rotary cannon has suppressive which is good and a reasonable amount of shots. I rather prefer the autocannon though.

The omega plasma array is good with breaching and on overload has blast. Pity about the AP otherwise. 

Sponsons can also be exchanged which might be worth it for las cannons for tank hunting perhaps. Pintles have a similar argument, and hunter killer missiles and search lights are to taste. 

Weaknesses. 

Not quite as good as the previous edition, sadly. 

Builds.

Sicaran (160 points).

I like the "naked" version. It gets a good job done. 

Sicaran with Arcus Missile Launcher (200 points). 

A big jump in points cost, but also in flexibility for your battlefield role. 

Sicaran with Omega Plasma Array (185 points). 

Maybe take las cannon sponsons depending on your targets.

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Vindicator Siege Tank

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars, rounded up. The most criminally under-played tank in Horus Heresy. 

Background.

A somewhat short ranged dedicated siege tank, the Vindicator saw use in both cities and other close range fire fights by all legions. They are well capable of destroying enemy tanks to smithereens and are generally able to pose a strong threat to many things in the game.

Strengths. 

The core demolisher cannon is simply excellent. It comes with breaching, stun, AP=3 and 3 damage with S=12. Okay, you only get one shot and it is a small blast radius, but when you hit, you are going to cause mayhem. If it were AP=2, then it would be the perfect tank to be honest! Ordnance on D makes it a tank killer. 

You can replace the demolisher cannon with a Magna Laser Destroyer. The does give AP=2, at S=10 and 3 damage, along with armour bane. This is similarly excellent and has two shots. Well worth taking as a pure tank killer. Better, you don't really have to move with a range of 36, so you can frequently take the ordnance on D to really go for a kill. 

Pintle options are viable here, but mostly to taste. The hunter killer missile adds to the cost, but might be the difference for a tank kill perhaps. Search lights are not needed (probably) given your target selection, but the dozer blade is to taste. 

Weaknesses. 

Not quite as good as older editions of 40k in some ways - a smaller pie plate and worse AP for the demolisher cannon combine with rear armour of 10 to make for some slightly worse outcomes here. The Laser Destroyer is a very viable option though. I used to love taking a triple vindicator list with Death Guard. Exceptionally powerful. 

Builds.

Vindicator with Demolisher Cannon, Dozer Blade (145 points).

Can't go too wrong! Really effective in terrain dense boards. 

Vindicator with Magna Laser Destroyer (160 points). 

Slightly pricey but very worth while. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Predator

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Not to be under rated - the rules are good.

Background.

Trading the transport capacity of a rhino for added armour and firepower, the predator is a well known and well used variant of the old chassis. They can come armed in a variety of manners, and this reflects their battlefield role.

Strengths. 

You can choose your battle field role here and tailor the product to suit.

The turret provides a large range of possibilities.

The basic predator cannon is solid at S=8 with breaching and more fire power for staying still. 

The firestorm cannon not only causes panic as you might expect but has 2 damage. Probably not a great choice unless you know you can get close.

The plasma destroyer gives a large pie plate at S=8 and breaching with the possibility to overload. I actually rate this strongly.

The heavy conversion beam cannon is superlative if you can sit back and keep your range good. Highly recommended for back line firing. 

The Magna melta cannon will kill things, but this is your tank buster with only one shot. 

The Graviton cannon shocks, blasts, and breaches. Nice combination.

The Volkite macro saker relies on lots of shots and deflagrate. Treat it accordingly.

The neutron blaster gives you armour bane, shock, but also overload and a single shot. A bit more chance dependent here. 

The twin lascannon - let me say there's nothing wrong with this.

For the Sponsons, you have the choice of heavy bolters (standard), flamers (close range), las cannons (complementary longer range anti tank or anti monster), and volkite culverins (anti infantry). Pintles offer more customization, but really very optional. I like the havoc launcher in the general case. Hunter killer missiles to taste, search lights probably very optional, and a dozer blade if you need to get close (don't take if you have a back line construct). 

Weaknesses. 

For what you get, the predator is almost without notable weaknesses. You just need to consider how you are balancing it against the rest of your army and what the enemy might plausibly bring. 

Builds.

Predator, Predator Cannon, Heavy Bolters (100 points).

The naked version is viable as a mid range dakka option. Take a havoc launcher to complement.

Predator, Firestorm Cannon, Heavy Flamers, Dozer Blade (105 points).

Get close and personal. Suited and fluffy for some legions (Blood Angels, Salamanders, possibly Word Bearers), but not really recommended.

Predator, Plasma Destroyer (125 points).

A solid choice! Take heavy flamers to taste. 

Predator, Heavy Conversion Beam Cannon, Las Cannons (150 points).

Very much a back line choice and stationary. Excellent prospect.

Predator, Magna Melta Cannon, Las Cannons (140 points).

Add hunter killers to taste. 

Predator, Graviton Cannon (120 points).

Decent. 

Predator, Volkite Macro Saker, Volkite Culverins (115 points).

Go big on volkite for anti-infantry.

Predator, Neutron Blaster, Las Cannons (135 points).

Anti tank.

Predator, Twin Las Cannon, Las Cannons (130 points).

Also anti tank!

Warhammer World: Gaming Tables Selection

More images from Warhammer World today. This time a selection of their gaming tables which are available to book and play upon. And for me: also some inspiration in there for the terrain and scenery of course!

The table with the fallen titan was a highlight for me. I won't be recreating it due to budgetary considerations unless someone really wants to sponsor me for a very hefty amount! Very inspirational regardless.

The combination of Tyranid terrain, Death World Forest, and natural lotus heads (that's the one with lots of holes that sometimes triggers people). I like these combinations, and seeing the death world forest also wrap itself around the more industrial terrain is something I might try (with the caveat of having to obtain some more death world terrain one day, but it is out of production now). 

A more regular layout here, but lots of dense terrain with walkways makes for an interesting and tactical board. 

An ork looted set of terrain.

I liked the use of the Necromunda Hab blocks on ground level. But again, a bit expensive to do for my terrain. 

A much more crafted table with a road down the (long) board and installations on either side. 

Industrial settings here, with recessed green pools of (maybe) acid or something similar that doesn't warrant to much investigation potentially. 

And finally a more traditional set of terrain around the board. 

Hope you enjoyed this short tour of terrain highlights from Warhammer World!

Warhammer World: Isstvan 5 Drop Site

I was recently able to visit Warhammer World again for the first time in years. It has changed a lot since I last went, and there are lots of new exhibits. 

One of the newer ones is the Isstvan 5 drop site diorama featuring the Salamanders retreating back to what they thought would be friendly legions only to be betrayed. The Iron Warriors have opened fire on them having already sided with Horus in his civil war. 

The sheer scale of the diorama is impressive from the wide angle shot above. Given the crowds, this was the best angle I could get on the total diorama. To the right are the entrenched positions of the Iron Warriors. To the left are the retreating and dying forces of the Salamanders. Some have made it very close to the traitor lines and are engaging thoroughly. Other Salamanders are trying to rally survivors as best as possible. 

The view above gives the Salamanders view looking upward to the hills where the Iron Warriors have dropped in their walls from orbit. 

And here is the opposite view from the Iron Warriors line looking downward into the depression. 

The detail is insane. 

And the layers of dust and wreckage tell their own stories. 

I spent ages at the diorama looking at all the little details and the smaller stories that they are telling where there are brave survivors looking for a way out, and those determined to still take the fight forward. 

Incredible!

Emperor's Children Phoenix Terminator

The first Phoenix Terminator fully painted!

I think it probably could do with one or two more highlights, but overall it is more than tabletop high enough quality standard. The purples follow my usual Emperors Children approach with base, layer, contract and highlights all in the citadel range. The base has the technical paint applied that results in cracking - I've applied a layer of watered down PVA glue to keep everything in place. The golds were difficult to achieve, but think I got there in the end. The decals round out the tabard nicely as I wanted them in white rather than the otherwise black colour shown in the usual schemes. 

I really like the pose of this one as well, caught in mid-swing against an opponent! Highly dynamic and evocative!

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Thousand Sons Ammitara Occult Intercession Cabal

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️

1.5/5 stars. Rounded up. The humble recon squad competes directly and might be a much better choice.

Background.

Ammitara are painted as part of the Order of the Blind. A secretive and shrouded sect within the legion that was responsible for assassination protocols in tandem with scouting duties ordinarily associated with reconnaissance squads. They were a force that was often doubted to exist, even within their host legion.

Strengths. 

This is a recon squad in recon armour. They have infiltrate, move through cover, and support unit as you might expect. 

They come armed with nemesis bolt guns for your sniping needs. Combined with infiltrate you can get to where you need to be and start taking shots. 

The ability to take upgrades to your weapons is solid. You can get melta guns, plasma guns, or aether-fire blasters. Given the infiltrate rule, the blaster looks very attractive. 

Weaknesses. 

The 4+ armour save is a significant problem. 

You get Corvidae by default and cannot change it. But that's actually okay. 

The lack of close combat weapon upgrades for the sergeant lowers the unit utility significantly. 

They've also lost the Mind Killer psychic power from first edition - sigh. This is really what made them stand out as a solid choice. 

Builds.

5 Ammitara, 1 Melta Gun, Nuncio Vox, Melta Bombs (180 points). 

An all comers base line unit. Very expensive. 

10 Ammitara, 2 Aether-Fire Blasters, Nuncio Vox (320 points). 

An eye watering points cost if I'm being perfectly honest. This is why the recon squad is going to be better in almost every case. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Thousand Sons Numerologist Cabal

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded down The rules are fluffy but average.

Background.

The Order of Ruin within the Thousand Sons looked after the war machines and were basically tech marines in everything but name. They were able to predict the ebb and flow of battle in addition to the usual maintenance tasks and thus were highly valued by the legion. Valued enough that each of them had a personal group of bodyguards

Strengths. 

Battlesmith and a servo arm combine with Divination and Telepathy to give a solid character. The stat line is reasonable if unremarkable.

The life wards prevent precision shots against the Numerologist which is very nice and one of the real strengths of the unit overall. Used well this is quite a nice trait to have. But I suspect that players won't choose this unit outside of a fluffy choice most of the time. 

Weaknesses. 

You don't get the full range of psychic abilities. No arcana. And only Foresights's Blessing and Mind Burst as your powers.  

Builds.

Numerologist with Thunder Hammer, 4 Life Wards including 1 with a rotor cannon (150 points).

A flexible unit. Take a cyber familiar to taste.

Numerologist with Thunder Hammer, Cyber Familiar and Aether-Fire Blaster, 9 Life Wards including 1 Power Fist, 2 Rotor Cannons, Vexilla, Augury Scanner, Nuncio Vox (300 points).

Not quite sure it is worth the points cost, but this is the maximal squad.  

Wargames Gallery: Iron Warriors Attack

Sprinting out of the land raider spartan, the Iron Warriors terminators prepare to attack the decimated forces of the World Eaters! But who should they target first?

More internecine battles between these two forces in future weeks! 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Contemptor-Osiron Dreadnought

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. The result of putting psykers in dreadnoughts!

Background.

The result of Magnus The Red's magnificent mind to solve the problem of interring a psychic warrior inside a dreadnought to serve still. The Thousand Sons legion was the first to field them and freely gave the tech away to the other legions who appear to have spurned the gift. Maybe not the Alpha Legion though?

Strengths. 

Rule of cool applies: psychic dreadnoughts for the win!

Alongside all the usual dreadnought upgrades, you also get to buy 1 psychic discipline and have a force sword that has reaping blow.

Weaknesses. 

Costs lots of points already and you're only getting WP+1 and a force sword (which to be fair is very very good) compared to the baseline dreadnought which is why it gets 3/5 stars from me. It is over-costed. But it is still very cool! 

Builds.

Osiron, Kheres Assault Cannon, Divination (235 points).
Dakka combined with preternatural foresight. 

Osiron, Melta Cannon, Melta Gun, Telekinesis (250 points).

Why not? Because of the points cost is the likely answer here to be fair. 

Osiron, Conversion Beam Cannon, Havoc Launcher, Pyromancy (235 points).

Lots of bits to play with. Not necessarily all overlapping though - NB.