Plasma Support Squad Gunner - Iron Warriors

A brief painting follow up to the weekend - and another Iron Warriors support squad member toting a deadly plasma gun.

For the squad, I've opted for an unusually uniform painting scheme approach with the right leg done in the yellow hazard stripes, an icon on the left leg and right shoulder, coupled with a single yellow stripe down the helmet to denote membership of the squad. The plasma itself has white in the recesses, and darker highlights - which is the exact opposite of the ordinary painting approach that has dark colours in the recesses. It takes a bit of a mind-flip to get accustomed to doing things this way!

 

Plasma for Breakfast?

What do Iron Warriors eat for breakfast? No, I don't know either, but I'm going to guess plasma might be one of the things they do eat. 

This particular Iron Warrior is part of a support squad armed with plasma guns. I've followed the white-in-recesses approach to plasma here and stuck with the blue colour as the accent for the Iron Warriors rather than divert to reds or greens on the plasma coils for consistency. I like the eyes on this marine, although I think I might need to go over the decal on the shin again to soften it up further perhaps. Another nice battlefield ready miniature!

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Infernus Abomination

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. A solid traitor assassin to rival the traditional clades. 

Background.

Something a bit fearsome and clandestine that stalks the battlefield. Something that likes to ignore physical reality when it is convenient. Something that takes on the fears of those that it preys upon and uses it to maximal effect.

Strengths.

I'm going to start here by mentioned Fear (2) - ouch! This is quite impressive within the game.

The abomination is able to regenerate, which although is very nice indeed, is probably something that you're not going to use since he will either be killed outright very quickly, or survive intact.

He possesses a fleshbane pistol with an exceptionally short range, and a random 2d6 shots. Its ... okay.

The real action is down the the armaments which can mutate between three difference forms. Of these three, the outright best is a hammerblade that swings at initiative with S=8 and AP=2. Let's also mention brutal (2) here as well. Its plain nasty. You won't need any of the other mutations his weapon can form realistically. 

The abomination comes with infiltrate and scout, and don't forget the special rules as well. The armor save and invulnerable save is nice.

Weaknesses.

Traitors only! The pistol probably isn't a highlight and given the assassin nature of the unit, I had hoped for something a bit better in this department, or at least a second unit that was more shooty than this one is.

Overall.

A great points cost for an assassin and a good investment for the traitor player. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Cults Abominatio Rules

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. Interesting rules, and not over-powered. 

Cult Operatives.

They're on the traitor's side normally (unless there's something that doesn't force picking of a side, in which case: go for it), but always distrusted. Seems fair!

Advanced Reaction: Empyreal Shift.
When close to, or charged at, or shot at by an enemy, this reaction allows a modest range re-positioning. This is nice and on par with what we might expect of assassins. If the leadership test is failed, then the unit and the one that caused the reaction surprisingly drop 1d6 wounds. This is nasty and sometimes you might just want to fail that leadership test given that no saves of any kind are permitted.

Abomination Unit Type.

The abominations of the Cults don't care about your terrain and will happily ignore all penalties and dangerous terrain. On the negative side, they can't join different sub-type units, use transports, or be a warlord. These are all very reasonable. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Imperial Fists Decurion Sagittar

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars. Rounded down. A truly excellent upgrade for the Imperial Fists. 

Background.

This battle brother likes his autocannon. On top of a vehicle. Shooting lots and all around. A little too much. 

Strengths.

For a modest points cost, gain not only an augury scanner, but also an Illiastus assault cannon on a pintle for your Saggitar to use. 

He can shoot one defensive weapon or his pintle weapon and choose to gain skyfire or precision shots against a different target to the rest of the tank. This is extremely nice and provides strong options. And of course, he is an Imperial Fist and really likes the assault cannon.

Weaknesses.
Not many realistically.

Overall.

Well worth the points cost for the equipment price alone. The special rules make this truly impressive.

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Sons of Horus Decurion Lanius

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded up. A very reasonable vehicular upgrade.

Background.

Somewhat like a commissar for the Sons of Horus. This guy will shoot at friendly Sons of Horus in whom the unacceptable seed of fear blossoms. 

Strengths.

As a tank upgrade, it is cool to see he comes with a banestrike bolt cannon as standard. The range, rate of fire, strength and possible breaching is significant here.

There are 2 special rules to take note of. Firstly he comes with an impressive banner that grants Ld=9 to all who gaze upon it for morale and pinning purposes. Secondly, he will shoot any Sons of Horus unit within a reasonable range that fail a morale check for d3 wounds and thus amend that failure!

Weaknesses.
I mean - yes. He will kill your own men. But this does have a place in some circumstances.

Overall.

A solid, if double edged upgrade to ensure morale remains high!