Legion Vexilla Bearer

With Leadership values being particularly important in Warhammer 30k due to the chance of routing and fleeing off the board, Legion Vexilla are important to take for helping to counter these chances - especially for large squads. Indeed, for my 20 marine strong tactical squad, I will be taking a vexilla along with a few other upgrades.

To model the Vexilla, there are a number of options. Forge World supply parts that attach to the top of the back pack of the space marines. But I was a little bit dissatisfied with this approach. If one examines the front cover of some of the Black Library books (in particular the cover of Sedition's Gate) it is clear that the Alpha Legion has their vexilla carried by marines rather than on their backs. I much prefer this kind of approach since it feels more authentic - to inspire the troops, the legion symbol and history can be hoisted high by the bearer.

For this miniature, I therefore too a chaos space marine icon pole and attached a space marine banner to the top of it. The pose of the miniature certainly suggests that the marine is proudly displaying the banner front and centre and rallying the troops around him against the xenos or other enemy. The conversion is finished off with a bolter conversion, plus parts from space marines, chaos space marines, and grey knights. As with a number of my miniatures for my Alpha Legion army, the legs will be added later once I've converted them to true scale ones.

Let's Go!

Today, an example of a posed marine who will form part of a tactical squad. The inspiration here for the marine is one that is gesticulating to his brothers to come along quick - Let's Go and get stuck in over here!

The conversion is created by combining parts from space marines (torso, bolter), chaos space marines (arms, back pack -- clearly from the Anvilus Forge World, shoulder pad, head), grey knights (left hand) and anvil industry (bolter cartridge conversion).

Overall, I'm pleased with this relatively simple conversion and will be applying some truescale legs a little bit later, along with an Alpha Legion shoulder pad to the left shoulder.

Finished Plasma Blaster Tartaros Truescale Terminator

This is the final, truescale, tartaros terminator armed with a plasma cannon which will be counting as a plasma blaster, plus a power sword. The pose is intended to suggest some dynamism: the blaster is held in an almost upright position to the body, whilst the sword arm is extended, as if either engaging with an enemy (perhaps a parry manoeuvre even?), or pointing in the general direction in which to charge.

As with the sergeant of this squad, I've built the model so that the extra height to account for the true scale comes in at the waist and hips. This is achieved in a very simple manner by adding extra green stuff in to the gap between the torso and the legs.

The overall effect is one that I'm please with and will sit well alongside the other terminators for my (slowly) growing Alpha Legion 30k army!

Games Workshop Oxford Street London, on Bloodthirster Release Day

Continuing my ever expanding series of Games Workshop store reviews, today I wanted to share some thoughts about my visit to the Oxford Street, London store (UK). As always, I usually do an anonymous shopper thing and purchase a small item and have a chat with the staff there. I must say, that the (apparently solo?) staff member who served me was the height of courteousness and provided total customer service! I guess a lot of stores in London do do that, and it contrasts to the hustle and bustle of the streets outside.

For those of you unfamiliar with London, Oxford Street is one of the busiest shopping precincts in London. Around Oxford Circus tube station, the crush of the crowds is pretty intense - especially during the rush hours (which is when I happened to walk along there to the GW store - a bit of a mistake on my part perhaps, but also the only time I had to walk there). Physically, the store is situated a good ten minute walk away from the Oxford Circus tube station and is located within a smaller plaza just off Oxford Street. It was very easy to find and pleasantly near the entrance to the plaza. The store itself is of a modest to small size, with three gaming surfaces (appropriately covered in miniatures set up to play with ranging from 40k, to the Hobbit) and several works in progress, plus ample space for painting. I was particularly intrigued by several blue-and-white painted magewrath skull piles that were looking like they were going to make some awesome scenery when finished. 

I visited the store on the release day of the new Khorne Bloodthirster as well - hence I snapped the photo below in their glass cabinet to justify to myself just how humongous the new greater daemon is. Very impressive when sat next to Glottkin. 

Other than that, they're really looking forward to the opening of a new store on Tottenham Court Road and were pushing a number of special events surrounding that. Overall: impressed, but would have thought the store might have been bigger given its location.

Horus Heresy Review: Perturabo

The Lord of Iron was as intelligent just as much as he was brutal. His conquests were efficient to the point of brutality and his loyalty to the Emperor strong. Probably at least until he had the return to Olympia to solve the crisis there. And from there, he headed to Isstvan as there was logically little alternative. Many see the act at Olympia as the final straw that pushed Perturabo and his legion over the edge after several reversals of fortune in the campaign against the Hrrud and others. But perhaps the weakness in his armour could be found much earlier due to his intelligence being cold, nearly paranoid, and almost wasted on Olympia. The gnawing darkness within finally let loose on Olympia pushed their guilt over the edge and Horus found them easy to sway to his side - as the Emperor would probably not forgive them, but Horus suggested it was justice that Perturabo carried out on Olympia.

Perturabo is a powerful figure in the game and his cost is certainly in the upper echelons for primarchs. Firstly he is a force multiplier by giving stubborn to his sons. Recall that in 30k, the stubborn special rule comes at a premium. This means that this boon is quite a big deal for the Iron Warriors. His own attacks are also capable to wrecking buildings as easily as tanks.

Much like Alpharius, he is also a masterful strategist when it comes to warfare. This reveals itself in how he gives furious charge to his army in an enemy deployment zone, and how he can start to call in reserves from turn one if required. This latter ability is amazing overall and such a huge boon to certain flavours of army.

But more than that, he can call down bombardments like Horus can, he has exception armour in the Logos that ensures his terminator armoured sons gain deep strike plus a significant wrist cannon that can help wiping out power armour enemies.

Curiously, he also has access to two unique upgrades. The first is to take Ferrus Manus' Forgebreaker hammer - a token given to Perturabo from Horus after Isstvan V. This is probably worth the points in conjunction with his ability to deep strike and should certainly be played in an aggressive style of pride of the legion assault (which is certainly something that Perturabo and his sons would excel at given furious charge and other bonuses). The second is the ability to take a personal (modified) Shadowsword transport (The Tormentor) that comes with 15 transport and a void shield. This costs more than Perturabo himself and its utility is mixed in my opinion, but could be splendid when played correctly in a very large points game. Indeed, it could be an excellent edge.

Overall, I think Perturabo can be played in a couple of ways. The first is part of a spearhead of terminators coming in within the enemy deployment zone and crippling everything around them. Coupling the first turn reserves rolling with free deep striking is amazing as it allows a mixed arms approach backed up by tanks and other elements to hurt the enemy elsewhere whilst the terminators do their job. He could also be played slightly mid to back field and damage the table with his bombardment in the early turns, only to follow through in his own personal Shadowsword. Take lots of tanks with this one and pummel the opponent from range before closing to combat.

Horus Heresy Review: Kyr Vhalen

Here is an Iron Warrior HQ character who found himself separated from the main force of Perturabo, and did not know about the betrayal at Isstvan. Hence he's a loyalist. And one that took great pride in his loyalty when the Alpha Legion attacked Paramar following the betrayal.

His abilities to boost his force are amazing, in my opinion, and totally worth his points, so long as the controlling player builds their army around them. Firstly, he can boost a fortification. This might be to re roll "1"s for saves from it, or increase AV to a maximum of 15. Yes - you read that right AV15. Further, a single unit in the deployment zone can benefit from re-rolling misses to hit with shooting. Hence the only way to play Vhalen is to purchase a fortification along with the force. And one that is already significantly good! The Castellum Stronghold might constitute such an example, but certainly there are others!

Within this terrain feature, I'd suggest placing some of the strongest long range (heavy support style) squads to help out. Iron Havocs are one example that would certainly benefit from this.

His final feature is to be able to have a shatter assault ability - this prevents enemies from hammer of wrath'ing him and must make disordered charges. But its only once per game. His presence and the combination of these abilities is certainly what makes a re-enactment of the Paramar battle between the loyal Iron Warriors and traitor (?!) Alpha Legion a highly interesting contrast. Take an appropriate rite of war in addition and its truly an amazing contest. Perhaps even in the Iron Warriors favour?

On top of this, Vhalen is also a Warsmith and master of the legion. He probably therefore wants to stay back and join a large squad of Iron Warriors. Take some robots to boot, plenty of dakka, a fortification, and some big tanks, and its game on realistically. I will freely admit I like both this character and his abilities!