Horus Heresy 3e Review: Vindicator Siege Tank

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars, rounded up. The most criminally under-played tank in Horus Heresy. 

Background.

A somewhat short ranged dedicated siege tank, the Vindicator saw use in both cities and other close range fire fights by all legions. They are well capable of destroying enemy tanks to smithereens and are generally able to pose a strong threat to many things in the game.

Strengths. 

The core demolisher cannon is simply excellent. It comes with breaching, stun, AP=3 and 3 damage with S=12. Okay, you only get one shot and it is a small blast radius, but when you hit, you are going to cause mayhem. If it were AP=2, then it would be the perfect tank to be honest! Ordnance on D makes it a tank killer. 

You can replace the demolisher cannon with a Magna Laser Destroyer. The does give AP=2, at S=10 and 3 damage, along with armour bane. This is similarly excellent and has two shots. Well worth taking as a pure tank killer. Better, you don't really have to move with a range of 36, so you can frequently take the ordnance on D to really go for a kill. 

Pintle options are viable here, but mostly to taste. The hunter killer missile adds to the cost, but might be the difference for a tank kill perhaps. Search lights are not needed (probably) given your target selection, but the dozer blade is to taste. 

Weaknesses. 

Not quite as good as older editions of 40k in some ways - a smaller pie plate and worse AP for the demolisher cannon combine with rear armour of 10 to make for some slightly worse outcomes here. The Laser Destroyer is a very viable option though. I used to love taking a triple vindicator list with Death Guard. Exceptionally powerful. 

Builds.

Vindicator with Demolisher Cannon, Dozer Blade (145 points).

Can't go too wrong! Really effective in terrain dense boards. 

Vindicator with Magna Laser Destroyer (160 points). 

Slightly pricey but very worth while. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Predator

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Not to be under rated - the rules are good.

Background.

Trading the transport capacity of a rhino for added armour and firepower, the predator is a well known and well used variant of the old chassis. They can come armed in a variety of manners, and this reflects their battlefield role.

Strengths. 

You can choose your battle field role here and tailor the product to suit.

The turret provides a large range of possibilities.

The basic predator cannon is solid at S=8 with breaching and more fire power for staying still. 

The firestorm cannon not only causes panic as you might expect but has 2 damage. Probably not a great choice unless you know you can get close.

The plasma destroyer gives a large pie plate at S=8 and breaching with the possibility to overload. I actually rate this strongly.

The heavy conversion beam cannon is superlative if you can sit back and keep your range good. Highly recommended for back line firing. 

The Magna melta cannon will kill things, but this is your tank buster with only one shot. 

The Graviton cannon shocks, blasts, and breaches. Nice combination.

The Volkite macro saker relies on lots of shots and deflagrate. Treat it accordingly.

The neutron blaster gives you armour bane, shock, but also overload and a single shot. A bit more chance dependent here. 

The twin lascannon - let me say there's nothing wrong with this.

For the Sponsons, you have the choice of heavy bolters (standard), flamers (close range), las cannons (complementary longer range anti tank or anti monster), and volkite culverins (anti infantry). Pintles offer more customization, but really very optional. I like the havoc launcher in the general case. Hunter killer missiles to taste, search lights probably very optional, and a dozer blade if you need to get close (don't take if you have a back line construct). 

Weaknesses. 

For what you get, the predator is almost without notable weaknesses. You just need to consider how you are balancing it against the rest of your army and what the enemy might plausibly bring. 

Builds.

Predator, Predator Cannon, Heavy Bolters (100 points).

The naked version is viable as a mid range dakka option. Take a havoc launcher to complement.

Predator, Firestorm Cannon, Heavy Flamers, Dozer Blade (105 points).

Get close and personal. Suited and fluffy for some legions (Blood Angels, Salamanders, possibly Word Bearers), but not really recommended.

Predator, Plasma Destroyer (125 points).

A solid choice! Take heavy flamers to taste. 

Predator, Heavy Conversion Beam Cannon, Las Cannons (150 points).

Very much a back line choice and stationary. Excellent prospect.

Predator, Magna Melta Cannon, Las Cannons (140 points).

Add hunter killers to taste. 

Predator, Graviton Cannon (120 points).

Decent. 

Predator, Volkite Macro Saker, Volkite Culverins (115 points).

Go big on volkite for anti-infantry.

Predator, Neutron Blaster, Las Cannons (135 points).

Anti tank.

Predator, Twin Las Cannon, Las Cannons (130 points).

Also anti tank!

Warhammer World: Gaming Tables Selection

More images from Warhammer World today. This time a selection of their gaming tables which are available to book and play upon. And for me: also some inspiration in there for the terrain and scenery of course!

The table with the fallen titan was a highlight for me. I won't be recreating it due to budgetary considerations unless someone really wants to sponsor me for a very hefty amount! Very inspirational regardless.

The combination of Tyranid terrain, Death World Forest, and natural lotus heads (that's the one with lots of holes that sometimes triggers people). I like these combinations, and seeing the death world forest also wrap itself around the more industrial terrain is something I might try (with the caveat of having to obtain some more death world terrain one day, but it is out of production now). 

A more regular layout here, but lots of dense terrain with walkways makes for an interesting and tactical board. 

An ork looted set of terrain.

I liked the use of the Necromunda Hab blocks on ground level. But again, a bit expensive to do for my terrain. 

A much more crafted table with a road down the (long) board and installations on either side. 

Industrial settings here, with recessed green pools of (maybe) acid or something similar that doesn't warrant to much investigation potentially. 

And finally a more traditional set of terrain around the board. 

Hope you enjoyed this short tour of terrain highlights from Warhammer World!

Warhammer World: Isstvan 5 Drop Site

I was recently able to visit Warhammer World again for the first time in years. It has changed a lot since I last went, and there are lots of new exhibits. 

One of the newer ones is the Isstvan 5 drop site diorama featuring the Salamanders retreating back to what they thought would be friendly legions only to be betrayed. The Iron Warriors have opened fire on them having already sided with Horus in his civil war. 

The sheer scale of the diorama is impressive from the wide angle shot above. Given the crowds, this was the best angle I could get on the total diorama. To the right are the entrenched positions of the Iron Warriors. To the left are the retreating and dying forces of the Salamanders. Some have made it very close to the traitor lines and are engaging thoroughly. Other Salamanders are trying to rally survivors as best as possible. 

The view above gives the Salamanders view looking upward to the hills where the Iron Warriors have dropped in their walls from orbit. 

And here is the opposite view from the Iron Warriors line looking downward into the depression. 

The detail is insane. 

And the layers of dust and wreckage tell their own stories. 

I spent ages at the diorama looking at all the little details and the smaller stories that they are telling where there are brave survivors looking for a way out, and those determined to still take the fight forward. 

Incredible!

Emperor's Children Phoenix Terminator

The first Phoenix Terminator fully painted!

I think it probably could do with one or two more highlights, but overall it is more than tabletop high enough quality standard. The purples follow my usual Emperors Children approach with base, layer, contract and highlights all in the citadel range. The base has the technical paint applied that results in cracking - I've applied a layer of watered down PVA glue to keep everything in place. The golds were difficult to achieve, but think I got there in the end. The decals round out the tabard nicely as I wanted them in white rather than the otherwise black colour shown in the usual schemes. 

I really like the pose of this one as well, caught in mid-swing against an opponent! Highly dynamic and evocative!

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Thousand Sons Ammitara Occult Intercession Cabal

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️

1.5/5 stars. Rounded up. The humble recon squad competes directly and might be a much better choice.

Background.

Ammitara are painted as part of the Order of the Blind. A secretive and shrouded sect within the legion that was responsible for assassination protocols in tandem with scouting duties ordinarily associated with reconnaissance squads. They were a force that was often doubted to exist, even within their host legion.

Strengths. 

This is a recon squad in recon armour. They have infiltrate, move through cover, and support unit as you might expect. 

They come armed with nemesis bolt guns for your sniping needs. Combined with infiltrate you can get to where you need to be and start taking shots. 

The ability to take upgrades to your weapons is solid. You can get melta guns, plasma guns, or aether-fire blasters. Given the infiltrate rule, the blaster looks very attractive. 

Weaknesses. 

The 4+ armour save is a significant problem. 

You get Corvidae by default and cannot change it. But that's actually okay. 

The lack of close combat weapon upgrades for the sergeant lowers the unit utility significantly. 

They've also lost the Mind Killer psychic power from first edition - sigh. This is really what made them stand out as a solid choice. 

Builds.

5 Ammitara, 1 Melta Gun, Nuncio Vox, Melta Bombs (180 points). 

An all comers base line unit. Very expensive. 

10 Ammitara, 2 Aether-Fire Blasters, Nuncio Vox (320 points). 

An eye watering points cost if I'm being perfectly honest. This is why the recon squad is going to be better in almost every case.