Horus Heresy 3e Review: Mastodon Super-Heavy Assault Transport

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️

2.5/5 stars. Rounded down. Slow, but has its place.

Background.

Employed only sparingly during the Great Crusade to breach enemy positions, the Mastodon saw increased use in the days of the Heresy as a fully armed and armoured transport capable of protecting its transported marines even against titans to a reasonable degree.

Strengths. 

AV=14 all round with 20 hull points and a whopping transport capacity of 42 makes the Mastodon impressive. Only the Sokar Stormbird can compare. 

You can carry 4 models that lack infantry or paragon, but can't have greater than bulky of 6 (so yes, you can carry some contemptor dreadnoughts which is pretty unique). 

Two void shields help keep it all alive nicely. The siege melta array is nice enough with a large blob at S=10 but obviously short range, and the turret skyreaper is fine with S=7 and skyfire. 

Weaknesses. 

The movement rate of 10 is a problem for a transport, unless you don't mind moving slowly, which admittedly many people might. 

This is the sort of unit that you need to build around. Not only your army list, but also your battleplan. 

Builds.

Mastodon, las cannon sponsons, heavy flamer sponsons (620points).

We have to take two lots of sponsons, so the selection here corresponds to what is sold (I acknowledge you get all variants) but its always pictured with this combination and I don't see any reason to disfavour it. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Sokar Stormbird

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded down. The rules are fine overall.

Background.

An ancient design that pre-dates even Great Crusade and harks back to the Unification of Terra, the Stormbird is ungainly in flight, unsightly in appearance, but gets the job done. Where the job is defined as forcing a landing zone or forward position.

Strengths. 

This is fundamentally a transport vehicle. And a big one at that. 

It can carry 52 standard occupants and this includes larger models (up to 2 that lack infantry or paragon), with the restriction of nothing at Bulky (6) or above. It can also carry a rhino (which is at 12 on the bulky scales). 

AV is 14 all round with a solid movement of 16 and a juicy 22 hull points. Topping this off are two void shields as well. 

For weaponry, it has las cannons on the hull, twin heavy bolt guns (two on the turret and one on the rear) as well as six hell strike missiles. These are nice to be clear, but not quite at the same level as you'd get out of the turbo-laser on the thunderhawk.

Weaknesses. 

Exactly the same as second edition in terms of my critique. This is a great craft, but the points cost is a significant deterrent here. It certainly is one for the collectors and is ALWAYS well regarded on the table top for the sheer audacity of fielding it and the rarity with which it is seen. I actually like it a whole lot, but wow - the real world financial cost combined with points cost in game makes this a rare one to see in person. And given I tend to play at lower points levels games, I guess I just don't see it much!!

Builds.

Sokar Stormbird (850 points).

Take the gravis heavy bolters if you want them - they will provide much closer fire power for you. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Thunderhawk Gunship

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. The rules are sound.

Background.

Combining void warfare alongside regular atmospheric attack vectors, the thunderhawk is a nice all rounder for a Lords of War choice. It effectively fills in the gap between the larger stuff that the Imperium uses, and things like the Storm Eagle. It was a late Crusade development and saw use by both sides in the Heresy.

Strengths. 

AV=13 with 18 hull points is reasonable but not impervious for a Lords of War choice. Where it shines is the transport capacity of 32 though. This is for larger models as well as infantry. But only 2 models that are not infantry or paragon (and no vehicles). Too bad also if you are Bulky 7 or more. 

The centre line turbo laser destructor is excellent, of course. In short: S=12, AP2, D=6 with a small pie plate and armour bane. The other weapons are several heavy bolt guns, a las cannon, and hellstrike missiles. 

Weaknesses. 

The thunderhawk has had a glow up from the previous edition! Much needed. It is no longer AV=12 but AV=13 with more hull points. It regained superheavy. Its points cost has come down too. I still don't like the new flyer rules that much in this edition, but they are functional and the thunderhawk will serve well enough!

Builds.

Thunderhawk (685 points).

There are no upgrades to discuss. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Falchion Super-Heavy Tank Destroyer

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars. Rounded down. The rules are great! 

Background.

Sharing the same chassis as the shadowsword and others, the Flachion was developed during the great crusade to take down the largest of foes and assorted monsters. Of course, its role as a titan destroyer only came later with the outbreak of the Heresy, but it proved no less effective.  

Strengths. 

The Falchion mounts a Neutron Wave Cannon. This beast has a 120 inch range and two shots at S=12. the AP=2 and damage=4. Armourbane marks it out as a anti-vehicle, anti-titan tank, and there is also ordnance on damage which is mind blowing. It causes stunned as well in case you need that. In essence then, this is a weapon that can potentially inflict 16 damage per turn. 

You get las cannon arrays on the sponsons which can also contribute and you can upgrade for free to laser destroyers or gravis heavy bolters. But you might as well stick with the original armaments. 

Weaknesses. 

The stat line has AV=12 at the rear which is an issue like others of its kind. Again, here my advice is to park it near to a board edge and let the range take care of your enemy knight or titan. The HP=18 will help keep you alive for a little while at least. The points cost is high, but the worth is solid. 

Builds.

Falchion (650 points).

No upgrades, and no worries. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Fellblade Super-Heavy Battle Tank

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars. Rounded down. The rules are great! 

Background.

A variant of the Baneblade that features an advanced accelerator cannon. This in turn was only possible due to the Great Crusade that conquered new planets for the Emperor and returned such technologies back to the hands of Terra and humanity more widely. 

Strengths. 

The central accelerator cannon is impressive. It has a range of 100 inches. I'm just going to write that again: 100 inches. One shot, but with large blast (or slightly smaller depending on the shell). The HE shell is at S=8, AP=3, and 2 damage with the large pie plate, and the AE shell goes at S=12 with AP=2 and D=3. These are incredible numbers. Stun comes with the HE, and ordnance on D for the AE shells. Impressive. 

But there is more! You get a heavy bolter, a demonlisher cannon, and two sponson mounted las cannon arrays (which can be upgraded for free for the laser destroyers or gravis heavy bolter arrays, but all are viable). 

Weaknesses. 

The stat line has AV=12 at the rear which is an issue. But if you park it on a board edge, then presumably you don't care. The HP=18 will keep you alive long enough to do damage. The cost is high here though, but probably on balance worth it. 

Builds.

Fellblade (650 points).

The non-upgraded version is just fine!

Emperors Champion Conversion for Word Bearers

This is a conversion concept that has been bubbling away in the back of my mind for quite some time - which is to say years. I originally wanted to do it with the older sculpt of the Emperor's Champion, but the newer Primaris version really pushed me over the edge. 

One of the core problems with this conversion is to think how it might plausibly slot into Horus Heresy without looking like it is out of kilter with all the other miniatures. The pose actually helps with this. Standing on the rock should make the miniature look taller or more imposing and therefore this helps disguise the Primaris issue at source.

I have shaved off the guards at the top of the knees to make the miniature look more in keeping with Heresy era space marines. Gone also are the shoulder pads and replaced with a set of mark 4 shoulder pads. The helmet has been similarly replaced as although the sculpt was really good, I didn't like the cross on the side of the cheek and couldn't be bothered to green stuff it over. Moreover, the sculpt wasn't strictly Heresy either even if I could get away with it.

The backpack was an item that I really wanted to retain though. Those ribbons of oaths were something I rather liked. But ultimately the backpack itself screams Primaris. Here I have replaced it with an older Chaos Space Marines sergeant back pack which is much more suited. 

In the left hand I have positioned some works of Lorgar! This is from the older Chaos Space Marine Terminators range that I had lying around. The Imperial Eagle has also been shaved off the rosary beads in the left hand to leave the hand free to hold open the book at the desired page. 

The final miniature is one that I am quite happy with even though he still has a mild height issue compared to his Heresy brothers. I'm certain it will fit in though once painted up. I will use him as either a legion centurion or praetor. Clearly, he is traitor aligned.