Salamanders Test Model with Disintegrator Rifle

It has been a long while since I assembled these marines, but I finally managed to get around to painting them. This is the first Salamanders marine with a disintegration rifle. 

The Salamanders component of the model follows my usual recipe for Heresy Salamanders. This is a white undercoat followed by contrast paint to get the green basis. This is followed up by lighter green for highlights. The shoulders are black. I went for a silver trim here (but probably should have gone for gold, but equally the silver helps them be picked out against other Salamanders). Decals are from the Third Edition boxed set rather than from the specific Salamanders transfer sheet. 

For the rifle, I've opted for gold tones here with Nuln oil washed liberally applied. The recesses I've picked out in blue with some darker piping here and there to round it off. The goal was to make the weapon feel ornate and out of place compared with standard issue bolt guns which invariably tend to be lead belcher silver in my collection. And it certainly works. On the game board you can readily pick out these golden rifles with ease. 

Overall I like the miniature and the rifle. I'm not sure I will field too many of them, but this is the start of expanding the Salamanders allied detachment that I have going which is also a part of the Shattered Legions forces that I have. Its a worthy addition overall and I shall get the rest of the squad finished up soon enough. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Hvarl Red-Blade

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. A bit on the too expensive side. 

Background.

Many legions have members who feel like they don't quite belong. Or maybe got the wrong geneseed implant. Hvarl is one of those numbers to my mind - he's a secret World Eater. But only in my head. Really, he just likes chopping heads off. And, erm, collecting them. And then singing and boasting about it to his company mates. And encouraging his company mates to do the same. And only finding joy in the din of combat. But yeah. Still totally belonging to the Space Wolves.

Strengths. 

A praetor in tartaros terminator armour slinging a heavy bolter and his preferred axe, Hearth Splitter. The latter gives AP2 and 2 damage along with armour bane which is good enough. 

He has WS=6 and T=5 meaning he is going to be very reasonably in close combat. 

Helping this is his personal gambit: Head-taker. Oddly this just means he cannot claim outside support help for his focus step. He also has fear which is a nice touch. 

Weaknesses. 

I think Hvarl has lost ground compared to first and second editions. He is okay in a challenge and you can field him accordingly. Yet his points cost is very high indeed. I'd be tempted by a regular praetor in terminator armour with something like a paragon blade instead now. 

Overall.

A fluffy praetor for the Space Wolves, and totally not a World Eater. Sadly his points cost and special rules are not quite there for me personally. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Leman Russ

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Strong on the offence - and set up to kill before being killed. 

Background.

Bred on Fenris, and one of the three trefoil legions, his own legion serves as the nominal "executioner" for the Emperor. Presumably he carried out some of this task with the II or XI legions in the past which prepared him to undertake Horus' altered orders to destroy the Thousand Sons in the true first volley of the Heresy (although it was not recognised as such at the time). Feared as much as Angron or Konrad, the darkness never touched him, and instead of a blood soaked savage as some would portray him, he was canny and had a great sense of self-awareness of himself and possessed utter loyalty to the Throne.

Strengths. 

With WS=8 and S=7 with the same in A and I, Leman is well positioned as a close combat monster. His weapons (The Axe of Helwinter and The Sword of Balenight) give him further S bonuses with AP2 and 2 damage. They also have armour bane and reaping blows, or critical hits (respectively). These line him up to be able to tackle most opponents in the game realistically. 

His side arm, Scornspitter, is only AP3 though, but still handy.

He has a special gambit called Howl of the Wolf Death is very strong: Focus+5 ensures he will probably get to do something. You don't get any other gambit to select though until you miss causing an unsaved wound (at which point this one stops). This should keep Russ on top of things unless the opponent has excellent defences or otherwise prevents him from causing such wounds - which is unlikely. 

As Sire of the Space Wolves, you get the Prime bonus from Grey Slayer packs - unsurprisingly. Infantry also get move through cover on turn one. This is okay. 

Weaknesses. 

T=6 is distinctly average territory for a Primarch. You will therefore need to win fights before you are killed. With W=6, you should be able to hold out, and with the focus bonus from the gambit you should be doing things pretty regularly. Just watch for sneaky counter moves. 

Overall.

The points cost is good for the model, and Russ remains a strong Primarch, even though here his defences are not superlative. Just kill before you get killed is the core message. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Space Wolves Legion Rules

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. The rules are solid enough and in the right hands can be very powerful, but it does take a bit of thought. 

Background.

The Space Wolves arguable had the first act in the Heresy. With twisted orders from Horus, they set about not merely bringing the Thousand Sons to task about their sorcery, but were tasked with significantly more. This saw their numbers significantly reduced by the start of the Heresy, and they became harried by the traitors on a regular basis, and were unable to reach Terra in time for the grand show down. In the background, they are portrayed as a legion apart and and the call of the Emperor should the need arise whilst their Primarch was shunned in a rather similar way to Angron: more like a savage.

Armoury. 

Fenrisian Axe is a chainsword upgrade that yields reaping blow. My thoughts are about on par with chain bayonets - it could be useful, and certainly has the rule of cool, but the points cost stacks up faster that you would like. 

Frost Blades are an invention of Fenris and generally grant reaping blow on top of your standard power weapons for a large points increase. Arguably the Great Frost Blade is worth the points thanks to S+3 and AP=2 with 2 damage at the expense of I-2. 

Pack Thegn is a Prime Force Organization Slot upgrade for an Optae. He gets A+1 and WS+1 with a free frost weapon. This is generally fairly good. 

Tactica. 

The Hunters Strike gives +2 to the distance of your set up moves which is nice. Perhaps it is not quite the same as the World Eaters or the White Scars, but it serves well for a legion that wants to get into combat. 

Gambits.  
No Prey Escapes is a way of making sure that one or both of the combatants dies - you don't go to the glory step voluntarily. 

A Saga Woven of Glory meanwhile gives A+1 to the challengers comrades in arms if the challenge is won. This is a very nice trigger. 

Additional Detachments. 
Bloodied Claw gives more troops (they have to be grey slayers) and heavy assault. This is very thematic and on point.   

Advanced Reaction. 
Bestial Savagery gives you feel no pain at 5+ as a result of being shot at. You then move with a set up and if you get into base to base with the enemy then you are counted as having successfully charged. This is actually strong. 

Overall the Space Wolves are a mixed bag. Their core tactica isn't as strong as others, but the surrounding rules are both fluffy and potentially strong - as well as complementing the core tactica. The problem is getting your Space Wolves into range to begin with. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Tarantula Battery

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. An unsung and undersung unit.  

Background.

Do you remember the movie "Aliens"? The special edition? They deployed some of these beasts and they stopped so many aliens it was embarrassing. Then they ran out of ammo. And things got more interesting. There's no real difference here except that they don't run out of ammo! 

I actually have a real soft spot for Tarantulas in Horus Heresy and I may be over-rating them. 

Strengths. 

Fundamentally these units are static guns with a low armour profile that shoots reactive shots (interceptor, overwatch, and the special automated fire reaction here). 

Automated fire is simple enough. If something ends their move within 48 inches you shoot at it as a zero-cost reaction. But it does rely on movement which might be an issue sometimes. However, you can offset this due to Infiltrate (9) and set up some commanding overlapping fire lanes if you wanted to. They're also very expendable!

Weaknesses. 

Two automated heavy bolters for 45 points is a good deal overall. Particularly at BS=4 which is a significant improvement on second edition. However, the AP=10 is an issue and they will be wiped out prompted with a bit of return fire. So treat them as they are: cheap and cheerful, but deadly in numbers.

Builds.

4 Tarantulas (90 points - i.e., 2 slots).

Four lots of heavy bolt guns to saturate your enemies advancing corridors. This is actually okay in comparison to the cost of a heavy support squad. 

2 Tarantulas with lascannons (85 points). 

Longer range and harder hitting. 

2 Tarantulas with Melta Arrays (95 points)

Very short range, but hard hitting. Use wisely with infiltrate. Not highly recommended overall. 

2 Tarantulas with Hyperios Missile Launchers (75 points). 

Your ground to air interceptors. 

I actually wouldn't bother with the Orias Frag Missiles due to one use only. And only if I had lots of Volkite would I consider the Culverin option. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Land Raider Explorator

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. An iconic land raider variant.  

Background.

The explorator hails from even before the great crusade. It is primarily used for exploring hostile and difficult terrain. Of course, it would later find good use in many of the legions. Particularly the outrider ones, and those associated with mobility such as the Raven Guard and the White Scars. I could easily imagine the Alpha Legion and Death Guard liking these as well for similar reasons.

Strengths. 

As a land raider, it comes with AV=14 all round as the basis which immediately makes it strong (and probably a target!). 

You swap out your carrying capacity here in order to get more kit on board. Here you are granted auto-repair at 5+ as well as the valuable outflank rule. 

Weaknesses. 

In comparison to second edition, the lack of re-rolls of reserves is an issue. The carrying capacity of 8 means you also have to think hard about what you carry on board - and it is not an assault vehicle. My recommendation here is for tactical support squads armed with your favourite special weapons, perhaps with a command or high command marine of your choice. 

Builds.

Land Raider Explorator, Front mounted twin las cannon (240 points).

Lots of las cannons to provide cover for your people on board? Take a pintle mounted combi-melta to taste. Search lights are optional, but I always favour them on cheap and expendable rhinos. Hunter Killer missiles depend on your play style overall. Or just get rid of the front las cannons if you are saving on costs?