Horus Heresy 3e Review: Castellax-Achea Automata

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Psychic robots! Can't not like them and I'm not even sorry. 

Background.

Secret research by the Thousand Sons legion resulted in automata that were expendable in full frontal assaults. As with a lot about the legion, these constructs were pretty much in the realm of heresy even before the Council of Nikaea and the Emperor's Edict. The Space Wolves would find out about them soon enough at the Fall of Prospero though. 

Strengths. 

Did I mention Psychic Robots?!

They have a rule called psychic conduit which means that they act as psychic lightning rods. If you suffer a perils of the warp and you're close to the robot, then you can have the robot take wounds instead. 

The stat line is attractive with 6's in S and T, along with 4 wounds and Leadership of 12. The WS and BS are only 3 however. 

The Achea force claws are worthy with AP=3 and 2 damage with breaching. The asphyx bolt cannon is solid with 4 shots and rending at 4+. This can be upgraded to an aether-fire cannon which gives you a blast template and breaching instead at the same range. I'd be tempted by the upgrade since the AP is the same and the S is better with the aether-fire; and that blast template is nice even at the expense of rending (although I haven't math-hammered this to be very honest). A pair of regular bolters rounds it all out.

Firestorm and Firing protocols completes the picture here. 

Weaknesses. 

It explodes! There is a danger here because presumably you have a unit near by to take advantage of the psychic conduit special rule. 

Builds.

Pick between the bolt cannon (80 points) or the aether-fire (90 points) variants. Both are viable, but I do think the aether-fire variant edges it out. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Khenetai Occult Cabal

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The rules are good.

Background.

One of the smaller cults within the Thousand Sons legion, the Khenetai fused their psychic powers with their blades and accomplished incredible martial feats therein. Attuned beyond even what the Emperor's Children were, these warriors enhanced their skills through specific arcana that made them deadly and in unison with their brothers. 

Strengths. 

WS=5 warriors with 2 wounds each and paired Achea force swords and a bunch of special rules makes this a formidable close combat fighting unit. 

The paired blades first of all grant an extra attach compared to normal at S+1 with breaching. This is already impressive. 

They have 2 psychic reactions. The first - Bladeweaving - is a 5+ invulnerable save versus volley attacks and in melee. This is great and very fluffy. The second - Mindsong of Blades - is gaining Precision at 5+ in close combat which is very nice. 

Weaknesses. 

The Khenetai Prosperine Arcana replaces other arcana, but this is a straight up swap, so it isn't really negative, I'm just pointing it out. 

The points cost is just about okay, but I think in some scenarios they are probably over priced and could do with something like Vanguard to make up for it. 

Builds.

There are no upgrades to discuss. Hence the only variable is how many per squad which is set between 5 and 10. I can see arguments for the minimal and maximal sizes quite readily. 265 points for the full 10 man squad is solid, and 145 points for 5 is acceptable. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Sekhmet Terminator Cabal

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. The rules are average mainly and flexible for the points cost paid.

Background.

Scarab Occult Terminators to those outside the Thousand Sons legion, and standing apart from those even within the legion. These are a band of psykers who hold their minds in the highest enumerations and in battle appear to be so precise as to be automata ... perhaps foreshadowing the fate of some of their members. 

Strengths. 

WS=5 terminators with Achea pattern force swords and Vanguard (3). 

There's build options here not only in terms of equipment but also the Arcana. I like Pavoni here, I have to admit. But don't let me put you off selecting others, as many of them are going to work depending on your plan for the unit (tank killers, infantry hunting, etc). 

I'd be thinking about a grenade harness as an almost auto-upgrade, but beyond that it depends how you are dedicating them. Lightning claws (especially single ones) are not my favourite. The odd thunder hammer and chain fist could certainly be useful though. The reaper autocannon is very nice (think: Corvidae especially). 

Weaknesses. 

They don't have access to asphyx weapons. But perhaps you can claw some of this back with careful thoughts about Arcana. 

Builds.

5 Sekhmet, grenade harness (255 points).

The base build. Works nicely with Pavoni if you don't have another purpose in mind. 

5 Sekhmet, 5 combi-melta, 2 chain fists, grenade harness (325 points).

Tank hunting or a distraction carnifex. Take Raptora perhaps. Expensive realistically though.

10 Sekhmet, 2 Reaper Autocannons, grenade harness (510 points).

Corvidae. Possibly a lack of friends as well (doubly so if you have a squad of heavy support marines with autocannons) - you've been warned. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Prosperine Sorcerer

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded down. A bespoke sorcerer with pre-defined powers at S+1. Effective enough!

Background.

Arguably reckless practitioners. These are the sorcerous cabals of Prospero. Effectively the men of these cabals are walking artillery in a psychic sense. They flick lightning bolts, fireballs, and blink tornadoes into existence to do some mighty damage and in the aftermath of the Space Wolves destruction of their home, they only got worse. 

Strengths. 

They come with a Prosperine Spirit Stave. This is a force weapon with AP=3 and initiative+1. However, the special rule here is very cool. You get S+1 on any ranged or close combat psychic weapon that you conjure thanks to the staff. 

The get access to Biomantic Slam (biomancy); Wildfire (pyromancy); and Immovable Force (telekinesis). That is all they get though. 

Weaknesses. 

They don't get the usual Arcana. They're stuck with a very limited set of psychic powers. 

It is also disappointing that there are not options for jump packs or bikes / jetbikes. [Or dare I say Discs of Tzeentch later on if you get super heretical]. 

Overall.

For the points cost you pay, this is a reasonable transaction. Since you can only have a pistol upgrade, I don't think its worth talking about build here. You will need a transport solution though.

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Magistus Amon

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Strong psyker praetor. 

Background.

The one time tutor to the Thousand Sons' Primarch, Amon served as both equerry and emissary during the Great Crusade. He was really the lead in the legions intelligence gathering unit though. Post Prospero, he became an embittered individual and felt very cut off from his brothers.

Strengths. 

Amon has a praetor level stat line and some interesting weapons which are mainly based around poison. The ranged weapon fires random number of shots at short range to cause not only poison, but also stun and breaching. He only has one shot with this though. Boo. The melee weapons is also poisoned, but at 2+ with AP=2 which is nice. 

As a psyker, he comes with Divination and Telepathy built in which is more than a reasonable combination. 

The icing on the cake though has to be infiltrate to within 9 inches. This is outstanding and makes for an excellent turn 1 ranged attack and some psychic powers at the ready as well. 

Weaknesses. 

Poisoned and one shot on the ranged weapon isn't the best, but at least it is interesting!

Overall.

Worth the points and makes for an interesting alternative to Ahriman overall. I really like the infiltrate that he has going on.

Praetor Challenge: World Eaters Jungle

Welcome Praetors! 

It is the start of the World Eaters turn on a jungle planet replete with Eldar ruins and hostile native flora, and dead megafauna. Once thought to be worthy of joining the Imperium, it is now fought over for scarce resources. 

The loyalist World Eaters need to optimize this turn. What should they do?

World Eaters Force:

Despoiler Squad: 8 strong, sergeant with power sword, vexilla.

Praetor (unwounded): Power fist, archeotech pistol.

Veteran Assault Squad x8, sergeant with falax blades, 1 power maul.

Iron Warriors Force:

(right of frame) Tactical Squad x10 (sergeant with power fist and plasma pistol), bayonets, vexilla.

(left of frame, north of rhino) Tactical Squad x10 (sergeant with power fist), chain bayonets, vexilla.

Rhino (full hull points) with havoc launcher.

Heavy support squad in terrain, 5x las cannons, augury scanner. 

Where are the World Eaters moving to, shooting at, and charging into? Are they worried about reactions? Are they going to deploy (advanced) reactions of their own? Over to you, Praetor.