Horus Heresy 3e Review: Battlefield Assets

Journal Tactica: The Issvan V Dropsite Massacre is filled with a lot of lore about Isstvan V and what happened there when Ferrus Manus' fleet arrived. To a veteran like myself, a lot of the material is recycled and regurgitated from much older sources and does little to add anything spectacularly new compared to the First Edition black books (Book 2 and 3 in particular are worth referring back to here). 

With that said, I'm going to commence the brief review of this journal tactica with the Battlefield Assets. 

The journal makes clear that players can use them in any game - not just the legendary mission contained in the journal. The number of assets is dependent on the points value - 2 assets for up to 1500 points, and 5 assets for up to 3500 points (then 8 and 10 either side of 5000 points). Players determine the attacker and defender and this affects which can be selected. Minefields have to be away from other assets, and explosive ones go off on a 4+ to inflict a number of hits equal to the asset points at S=8 with breaching and shred. This is nasty. 

Disruption Emitter [attacker] (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 1.5/5 stars, narrowly rounded up). Reduce the advanced characteristics by one will hardly make too much of a difference. The fact the emitter might disappear makes it worse. Not worth the stupidly large 3 asset points.

Melta Minefield [defender] (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars). This is useful not merely as a threat (which it clearly is in terms of hull points), but also as a way in which to control approach lanes. Easily worth the 2 asset points. 

Graviton Snares [defender] (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5 stars, rounded up). Causing pinning, this is also a great minefield. Much like the melta minefield, it also controls approach lanes. AND it is only 1 asset point. 

Frag Minefield [defender] (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars). Similar to the above as a way to control approach lanes, this one is a blast marker that gets placed on any model on a roll of a 1 on 1d6 (so not every model will get hit). S=5 with AP=5 hits result. Strong and has the potential to take some marines down that want to cross it. Also probably a bit of a default choice. 

Contingency Device [defender] (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars). Remotely triggered corrosives and viruses! The triggering is awkward though: suffer and panic, and take an intelligence test. Seems a bit unnecessary - just trigger it. Everyone gets hit within a 6 inch radius with S=7, AP=4, 2 damage, shred and breaching. Ouch.

Forward Ammunition Drop (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars). Your miniatures must be using S=5 weapons or less without things like blast templates or heavy. Gain S+1. This is great!

Strategic Cogitator Array (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars). Request new orders. On a roll greater than the battle turn, select a secondary objective in play and increase the victory points by 1. Neat, but possibly situational. 

Overall, these are fluffy. But if I am being brutally honest, some of the assets and dangers of the battlefield presented in the First Edition Black Books are simply just better and much more extensive!