Solar Auxilia: First Model

Here's my first Solar Auxilia model assembled!

As with all models that are less chunky than a space marine, I always think that the parts feel a bit light weight and fragile. This particular model is nowhere near as bad as (say) dark eldar or Warhammer skeletones for that kind of feeling, but its always in the back of my mind. 

I like the fact that the torsos attach at the waist and I wished all space marine models still did that to provide maximum variety and the possibility of mix and matching as much as possible. The weapon feels a little flimsy compared to a bolt gun, but it is okay. I did not, however, attach a bayonet to the model which feels like it is in the exceptionally likely to be damaged by transportation and playing category. 

Overall I like the sculpt and the assembly was simple enough. I just have to churn out a full squad of these now which seems like a mammoth task ahead of me. Or maybe I'm just procrastinating. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Greater Brass Scorpion

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5/5 stars. A very dangerous Lord of War for the traitor mechanicum.   

Background.

Who decided that a mechanized scorpion armed with lots of ranged weapons was a great design? Probably the fevered dreams of traitor Mechanicus is who. Despite the strength of its ranged weapons, those close combat claws are very much favoured and its blood lust is just as legendary.  

Strengths.

Treated as a knight, the scorpion comes with a dangerous array of ranged weapons. These include the scorpion cannon - a shredding, pinning, 9 shot heavy bolter. A pair of hell maw cannons which are flamers with torrent at S=7. Plus a demolisher cannon that also rends. 

If that's not enough those two mechanized claws are amazing. Brutal (2) on its own is great. But the scorpion also has some special rules that make this even worse like rampage and hammer of wrath (four!!). 

The whole thing isn't slow either with a movement rate of 10 which is great for this kind of creature. 

Weaknesses.

Rear armour = 12. That's all I've got under weaknesses. 

Overall.

Your opponents will not like you. Especially those that run dreadnought lists. Or Knight lists. Or frankly most things short of a titan.

World Eaters Loyalist Overseer Painted

Hi readers, I have completed painting the loyalist World Eaters Overseer model which I converted a few weeks ago to be holding a nemesis bolt gun. Of course, the one handed pose isn't perfect for the kick back, but I'm supposing the power armour servos will help him out with this. Either than, or he is just pointing it to indicate what direction to fire in for the las rifle section. 

The painting scheme follows the standard pattern for my World Eaters with whites and blues in the right locations followed by a lot of fun with a sponge applied black and grey, and then red contrast paint followed by blood for the blood god to add to the goriness. Hopefully the splatter comes from a distance here, but it really does add to the vibe regardless. 

I now have to decide how to paint up the las rifle section. Whites and blues are appealing here, it has to be said, over and above the paint schemes presented in the rule books and online. Not sure, but comments welcome. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Kytan Daemon Engine

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5/5 stars. An excellent Lords of War for those who want an alternative to Khorne dedicated knights.  

Background.

Somewhere between a Ceratus Knight chassis combined with a blood thirster, the Kytan is everything that the demented Taghmata of Sarum could have ever have dreamed of - or had nightmares about. A big choppy axe for chopping things and a quality dakka gun would make even the most jaded Ork weep. 

Strengths.

The gatling cannon is very reasonable here and is similar to the standard castigator armament for comparison. Heavy 18 at S=6 is nothing to be ashamed of even at BS=3. 

The stat line is very reasonable overall, but the stand out is that the weapon skill equals six. This reinforces the primary role of the Kytan: to lunge into combat as quickly as possible. Heedless slaughter will help with this, but the Brutal = 3 axe is where the real shine happens. Combine with special rules like hammer of wrath and rampage, and this is a chaos knight equivalent who is capable of tearing up other armies that don't have an answer to either running out of the way, or an equal counter threat. 

Weaknesses.

You could say BS=3, or the side and rear armour being 12 are a weakness. You may be correct. But you'd also expect the controlling player to get into melee as soon as possible to mitigate all of these facts on the ground! 

Overall.

Really excellent, and capable of near unmatched board control in melee. It is one to watch out for if you are playing against it since it will really (really) hurt. This is also the reason why I'm giving it a rare 5/5 star rating. 

Wargames Gallery: Termite Pest Control

The Alpha Legion emerge from a termite, but the Iron Warriors move in position to conduct some pest control. 

[Spoilers: those thunder hammers and chain fists make short work of the termite and their support squad inside it.]

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Aetheric Dominion

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. I wish that this rule was much more extensive. 

Aetheric Dominion.

The special rule "Aetheric Dominion" is given to dark mechanicum forces and represents the influence of one of the Warp's powers that be. 

Clearly within a single unit, there can only be one such dominion selected. And that unit cannot join another that has a different one. This is all well and good. 

What bothers me here is that in The Martian Civil War, there are only two - yes TWO - dominions to select between. This is more than disappointing. At least give us the core four chaos powers please? But no. 

Heedless Slaughter. 

Registering as the Khorne influence, the Heedless Slaughter dominion is to do as the title suggests. This rule forces you to charge within 8 inches of an enemy, but you can game play over ride this by shooting at a further away target and thus making the charge invalid. In addition, you get +1 charge distance, combat resolution, and sweeps which are all very appropriate. Its just the shooting that perhaps should be controlled a bit more arguably?

Malevolent Artifice. 

I see this as the Tzeentch one, but it seems to not quite be wholly appropriate either. The idea here is that the warp twists human invention to use it against them. If S<T from an incoming attack then you get to re-roll your armour save. I quite like this for engines with a good toughness value (at least better than a plasma shot?). Otherwise if you primarily have engines with a lower profile, then it might be a bit meh. Sure, sometimes you get lots of bolt gun fire incoming. But most of the time it'll be things like las cannons targeting your engines, so I suspect this dominion is a bit useless.