Horus Heresy 3e Review: Land Raider Carrier

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Iconic in its own way. 

Background.

The Land Raider has been with us from almost the start. Through the Rogue Trader era to present day, this vehicle is a mainstay of the space marine legions and chapters. In 30k the same remains true and this particular unit sees deployment all over the galaxy on both sides of the civil war, and probably beyond.

Strengths. 

Movement rate of 10 combined with a transport capacity of 12. Naturally, it has an armour value of 14 all around which will keep it protected, and 8 hull points.

Sponson las cannons and a front mounted twin heavy bolter round out the armaments. Of course, it is also an assault vehicle and has auto-repair which is good. Don't forget about the smokescreen option too - it is easily over looked. 

In terms of options, the heavy flamer is an interesting swap to make. The front mounted las cannon is attractive for lots of las action. The pintle options are reasonable: havoc launcher for general duty, heavy bolter for more shots but might not be worth the points, heavy flamer is reasonable, and a multi melta is expensive but depends on if you are explicitly tank hunting at closer range. Combi weapons are okay too. I wouldn't bother with the search light, but the hunter killer missile is to taste. 

Weaknesses. 

It is a land raider. Deal with it. 

Builds.

Land Raider with Front Las Cannon (275 points). 

Cheap enough to be very attractive. Add a pintle multi melta to taste for extra tank hunting, and maybe a hunter killer missile if you are feeling lucky. 

Land Raider with front heavy flamer, pintle heavy flamer (275 points). 

Lots of heavy flames being thrown around for when you are up close. 

Warhammer: Manchester

A chance trip to Manchester recently, and as per usual, I sought out the local Warhammer store. This used to be inside the Arndale Centre the last time that I visited but that was over a decade ago now. The store is now Warhammer rather than Games Workshop, and it is physically located on the outside of the shopping centre along the very busy Corporation Street. It is well served by the local tram network at the Exchange Square stop and easy access to all the rest of the shops, buses, and major railway infrastructure in Manchester. 

Let me start by showing you the impressive shop window display. I noted that the old location was amazing, but they've continued the theme of blowing away the competition in the new store as well (apologies for the reflection). 

But when you go inside, the diorama of tyranids and genestealer cults assaulting the Blood Angels just gets even better. 

I mean, check out the tyranid space craft in low orbit here. Let alone what is dropping from the skies. And all those missiles and laser blasts. Furnaces (water on the outside). Okay. I'll shut up. Just look at the images. 

Elsewhere in the store is no different. Some really excellent displays. Horus Heresy caught my eye, of course. 

But also these daemons! I think I feel inspired to try to do some conversions myself for daemons of the ruin storm now...!

And the staff were so friendly with me too. I suspect they remember my visit despite me wanting to be the anonymous shopper that I usually am. I took too many photographs. I regret nothing though. I'm really inspired now!

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Land Speeder Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The rules are solid. 

Background.

The classic Land Speeder comes armed with an over abundance of upgrade options. This unit won't suit some legions or play styles, but it is undeniably going to shape others.

Strengths. 

The movement rate of 16 is one of the best in the entire game and whole units of these beasts will create headaches for opponents. T=5 and W=3 will keep them alive long enough to cause serious damage as well. 

Another multi-marine antigrav tank, Land speeders have solid rules like deep strike, firing protocols, and a native augury scanner (up-gradable to a second weapon). But where the real strength lies is in their upgrade flexibility. 

Weaknesses. 

Ld=8 is problematic.

Builds.

Land Speeder with 2x Multi Meltas (90 points). 

Tank hunting. You might need 2 or 3 of these depending on your opponent. Take hunter-killer missiles to taste. 

Land Speeder with 2x Plasma Cannons (70 points).

This is amazing for the points cost. 

Land Speeder with 2x Volkite Culverins (60 points).

Take a blob of 5 of these to deal with enemy infantry. Remember for volkite weapons: you want to go big!

Land Speeder with 2x Graviton Guns (70 points).

Very nice for the points. Only a couple of these needed per squad.

Land Speeder with 2x Havoc Launchers (55 points).

Sit back and take some shots at things? Take as many or as few as you desire here.

Land Speeder with Heavy Bolter and Heavy Flamer (50 points).

A meat shield for others in the squad, but also deters charges on occasion.

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Javelin Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The rules are reasonably good. 

Background.

A more heavy weapon orientated grav craft than the jetbike and similarly able to have good speed and maneuverability. These are comparatively rare constructs and valued by many legions. 

Strengths. 

Good movement rates, T=6 and W=4 make for a much more solid version of the jetbike. 

These multi-marine Land speeders have nice rules like deep strike and firing protocols to make best use of what they are. 

In terms of weapons, the combination of the cyclone missile launcher and heavy bolter is actually not bad at al. Upgrade to two lascannons for long range aggression.

Weaknesses. 

Leave the volkite culverins at home - you can't go "big" with this squad. The heavy flamers have limited utility compared to other squads. Two more heavy bolters is interesting for sheer fire power. And what ever happened to multi meltas compared to second edition?

Builds.

3 Javelins (225 points). 

Exploit the missile launcher and heavy bolter combination. Replace the missiles with 2 more heavy bolters for sheer fire power. 

Javelin with 2 las cannons (80 points).

Long range fire platform for anti-monster or anti-tank duty. 

 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Scimitar Jetbike Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The rules are nice. 

Background.

They are jet bikes. With space marines mounted on them. They hover over the ground thanks to ancient anti-grav technology. Not only do they have the cool factor, but they make for a great strike unit in the game as well.

Strengths. 

Excellent movement rate of 16 combines with 2 wounds to make a swift glass cannon strike force. 

The jetbikes carry a heavy bolter as standard which can be upgraded to Volkite Culverins (which I'm not personally fond of unless you go to a maximum squad size of 10); Multi-Meltas (to kill tanks); and Plasma Cannons (to kill infantry with pie plates). 

Upgrading the sergeant's weapon is worth it for close combat duty, but the augury scanner and bolt pistol upgrades are subject to choice. 

Weaknesses. 

The 3+ armour save isn't great, but hopefully with that movement rate, you can position yourself appropriately. 

Builds.

3 Jetbikes, 3 Multi-Meltas, Sergeant with Thunder Hammer (155 points). 

Kill tanks, and perhaps take care of some of what was being transported. Melta-cide otherwise. 

6 Jetbikes, 6 Plasma Cannons (245 points).

Plasma death!

10 Jetbikes, 10 Volkite Culverins (355 points).

Volkite means going big or going home. Take a power fist and augury scanner to taste?

 

Word Bearers Painting

A test model today: painting a Word Bearers flamer marine. 

The recipe was an under coat of black followed by a base coat of Mephiston Red. I then applied a wash of Nuln Oil mixed with Blood Angels red contrast paint (ratio of 2 parts contrast paint to 1 part Nuln Oil). This layer gives the marine a much more broody and deeper red colour whilst granting the recesses a genuinely darker shade. Highlights were then picked out using Evil Sunz Scarlet. 

For the silver parts, the base coat was lead belcher, followed by Nuln Oil, and then highlighted in brighter silver (I tested using necron dry brush which seems to work well for this, particularly for azimuthal angles). 

Shoulder pads were pure Abaddon black followed by edging in Eshin grey. Eye lenses were simply picked out in white and followed up with green contrast paint. Then came the fun part of applying the decals. I like the Word Bearers for the sheer diversity of decals available and the extensive scroll work and iconography that they come with. I've applied the legion symbol to the shoulder pad along with an Eye of Horus to denote allegiance - as if it were in doubt given the new heretical legion icon. There is scroll work on one leg and the Twisting Rune Chapter icon on the other. 

Overall this closely adheres to the colour scheme that I have always had in the back of my mind for the Word Bearers, without going metallic red, or over the top with daemonic mutations or spikes that would come afterward.