Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Librarian

Background.

Once upon a time, all the legions featured psyker-warriors within their ranks. These librarians would be disbanded under the Edict that followed Nikaea (otherwise known as the Trial of Magnus) in the main part, but came back with interest paid during the Heresy. 

For reference purposes, the old Inferno black book listed those legions in favour and against psyker battle brothers. Those legions against the use of librarians are:

Iron Warriors

Space Wolves 

Iron Hands

World Eaters

Death Guard

Candidly, even among these legions there are librarians. The Space Wolves used rune priests to channel the power of Fenris (no doubt causing Magnus to giggle at the claim that they were opposed to psykers) and the last cadre of World Eaters librarians certainly persisted into the Heresy despite Angron finding them more than headache inducing to be around. 

Mortarion hated psykers due to his personal upbringing on Barbarus. Yet psykers persisted even within the Death Guard, and remained hidden in some famous cases. I don't have much to say about the Iron Warriors and Iron Hands avoidance of psykers though. 

Strengths.

The most obvious strength for Librarians is access to psychic disciplines. But there's one item of equipment that is easily overlooked here and that is the psychic hood. Take it. Every time. Yes, it chews up points that you might have used elsewhere, but for that army that you will face every so often that uses psykers, you will be glad that you did.

Weaknesses. 

Not many realistically other than the standard issue of instant death.

Warpstone Flux Rating:

4/5. The rules are strong. They also allow access to psychic disciplines for all legions, and the use of valuable psychic hoods. For some legions, this is the only psyker available. 

Difference to First Edition.

Neutral. The rules are comparable. That said, the whole approach to psykers and psychic powers has radically changed -- and changed for the better -- and it is worth stating that. I will look at psychic powers distinctly later on.

Builds.

Legion Librarian with Force Staff, Psychic Hood (120 points).

My baseline offering. Take with a squad in a transport.

Legion Librarian with Force Axe, Psychic Hood, Jump Pack, Plasma Pistol (150 points).

More of a lone star threat, but also good to rock and roll with an assault sqaud.

Legion Librarian in Cataphractii Terminator Armour with Force Axe, Psychic Hood (145 points).

Take a combi-weapon to taste, but otherwise ready to go with a terminator squad.

Tartaros terminator armour will drop the points cost by 10 here, if needed to fit in with such a squad.

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Centurion

Background.

By necessity, in any legion with many tens of thousands of members, there had to be a strong command structure. Each legion has within it its own champions who have demonstrated their worth, but might not yet have risen to the rank of Praetor. The Legion Centurion is one such character, although there are more specialized roles within the legions that are similarly common given the need to organize and create a smoothly flowing command structure. 

A Note from The Author.

I will not be reviewing Cataphractii and Tartaros armoured Centurions and Consuls distinctly. Instead they will be all bundled together for ease of reference. 

Strengths. 

A Centurion is a fighter - pure and simple. They gain a refractor field to help with their artificer armour along with the relentless special rule. They are very customizable as well in two regard: firstly the base equipment that they can use, and secondly for the Legion Consul upgrades that they can take (in brief, they can be upgraded to Forge Lords, Chaplains, Librarians and far more besides). We will review each of the Consul types distinctly, here we will focus on the Centurion himself. 

For games under 1000 points, a Centurion will be the only commander available if named characters are similarly not being used. Hence the Centurion and the Consul upgrades are important. But they also have their place in higher points games. Note that a detachment can have 3 HQ choices. Therefore it is likely a player could have up to 2 Centurion or Consul choices to go along with a Praetor (or Primarch). This can be very useful indeed. 

Weaknesses.

None really. They are 2 wound HQ selections (3 in terminator armour) that possess a high degree of customization available. As with other Praetors, just watch out for instant death. 

Warpstone Flux Rating:

4/5 stars. Great choice and great rules arising from the customization available.

Difference to First Edition.

Neutral. The rules are comparable. 

Builds.

Here we list only the Centurion Builds. We will look at the other consul choices distinctly.

Legion Centurion with Nemesis Bolter (70 points).

In all honesty, I think we are going to see much more nemesis bolter action in the new edition. This centurion sits back with the heavy support and sniper squads and uses his BS=5 to take on targets of choice. Welcome to the Raven Guard or Alpha Legion.

Legion Centurion with Thunder Hammer and Boarding Shield (90 points).

Brutal close quarters fighter. Great for Zone Mortalis, and probably Iron Hands too.

Legion Centurion with Jet Bike, power weapon (lance probably) (105 points).

Charge in and strike with the power lance at AP3, then dash out again. Suited to speedy armies such as White Scars and Emperor's Children.

Legion Centurion with Jump Pack, Twin Lightning Claws, Melta Bombs (105 points).

Death from above to roam with other jump pack squad marines. Nice for armies like World Eaters and others than want to be in combat. [although if its armies like Dark Angels, take bladed weapons instead obviously].

Legion Centurion with Plasma Pistol and Power Fist (95 points).

Quite the traditional build for a Centurion to be candid. Foot slogging and meant to get in a rhino or other transport with his brothers. 

Legion Centurion with Combi-Melta and Chain Axe (75 points)

Upgrade the Chain Axe to Power Axe or Charnabal Weapon to taste. A nice touch to run alongside a squad within combat armies such as World Eaters. 

Legion Cataphractii Centurion with Chain Fist and Combi-Melta (110 points).

Wreck both vehicles and buildings ... plus their contents.

Legion Cataphractii Centurion with Combi-Plasma, Thunder Hammer, Grenade Harness (115 points).

An all rounder that will sit nicely in a larger terminator blob. 

Legion Cataphractii Centurion with Power Fist (95 Points).

Cheap and cheerful!

Legion Tartaros Centurion with Twin Lightning Claws and Grenade Harness (95 points).

Close combat orientated and suitably deadly.

Legion Tartaros Centurion with Thunder Hammer and Volkite Charger (92 points).

Another close combat terminator, but with some interesting anti-infantry ranged threat too. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Tartaros Praetor

Background.

Praetors in Tartarosterminator armour share all the same kinds of boons as praetors in regular power armour, but also have that magic 5+ save and unlike their Cataphractii cousins are able to undertake sweeping advances. Once again, this is the kind of praetor to lead from the front. 

Strengths. 

As with the Cataphractii praetor, the Tartaros praetor has an impressive 4 wounds and is a strong character to contend with. Of course, they also come with Master of the Legion which is all important for access to the Rites of War. Armies including this character don't necessarily have to be built around them to make best advantage of the terminator armour, but consuls that help with close combat such as a chaplain are certainly going to help. 

Weaknesses.

This terminator moves slower than Tartaros armoured terminators and may not undertake sweeping advances. Otherwise, look out for instant death incoming and its going to be all good. 

Warpstone Flux Rating.

5/5 stars. For the same reason of the power armour praetors, it is essential that players have access to Rites of War and taking a praetor of any sort should be a given at points values in the thousands.

Difference to First Edition.

Neutral. The rules are comparable.

Builds. 

There are many different sorts of builds to consider here, and some will depend on not only the kind of army being constructed, but also on the individual legion in question. 

Legion Tartaros Praetor with two lightning claws and grenade harness (125 points).

A nice points cost for a very effective Praetor who will likely see use with many armies, although this one strikes me as particularly nice for Night Lords and even White Scars.

Legion Tartaros Praetor with Thunder Hammer and grenade harness (130 points).

Very little not to like here. Replace the thunder hammer with a paragon blade to taste. 

Legion Tartaros Praetor with Volkite Charger and Lightning Claw (112 points).

Arguably one of the cheapest terminator praetors in the game that is not the "naked" version.

Legion Tartaros Praetor with combi-plasma and Power Fist, with Grenade Harness (135 points).

A very generic praetor that will do well in almost any kind of situation and with any legion.  

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Cataphractii Praetor

Background.

Praetors in Cataphractii terminator armour share all the same kinds of boons as praetors in regular power armour, but also get the benefit of some of the best protection available in the game. These Praetors should be thought of as leading from the front and be built accordingly.

Strengths. 

With a whopping 4 wounds, the Cataphractii praetor is a beast to be contended with. Able to withstand an impressive amount of incoming fire power and bladed weapons, this terminator is strong to say the least, and as usual comes with the important Master of the Legion rule. Players should take this terminator if they are fielding an army that can be constructed around him and benefit the unit that he is a part of. Consuls like apothecaries will be important here, along with command squads and perhaps other terminator units who are also wearing cataphractii armour. 

Weaknesses.

This terminator moves slower than Tartaros armoured terminators and may not undertake sweeping advances. Otherwise, look out for instant death incoming and its going to be all good. 

Warpstone Flux Rating.

5/5 stars. For the same reason of the power armour praetors, it is essential that players have access to Rites of War and taking a praetor of any sort should be a given at points values in the thousands.

Difference to First Edition.

Neutral. The rules are comparable.

Builds. 

There are many different sorts of builds to consider here, and some will depend on not only the kind of army being constructed, but also on the individual legion in question. 

Legion Cataphractii Praetor with combi-melta and chain fist (160 points).

Take on vehicles and destroy their contents if they are a transport. Great for deep strikes, and works nicely with armies wanting to tear down the world ranging from Night Lords and Iron Warriors through to Imperial Fists and Sons of Horus.

Legion Cataphractii Praetor with two lightning claws and grenade harness (150 points).

A generic close combat praetor. Need to think how he will get into combat though - remember they're slower than other units. 

Legion Cataphractii Praetor with Paragon Blade and Volkite Charger (152 points).

A nice option for armies who like blades (looking at you Dark Angels players). 

Legion Cataphractii Praetor with combi-plasma and thunder hammer (160 points).

Hammer time, backed up with plasma death on one turn. Suits Salamanders (although combi-melta or flamer is probably more tempting) and those with a more technological theme. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Praetor

Background.

Legion Praetors are the commanders just below the Primarchs themselves. Given the sheer number of them, their names and variations are extensive indeed. Inside their own legions they command and lead from the front -- it is likely that almost every army short of a kill team will be lead by such a praetor, and therefore they are probably one of the most important HQ choices available to the budding commander. 

Strengths. 

Apart from being very effective within the game, the main reason for taking a Praetor is to generate access to Rites of War. Indeed it is unlikely that anyone should face off against, or use an army without such a rite, and as such having a Praetor (or Primary) within a Horus Heresy space marine army is essential.

Their stat line is strong, and comes with 3 wounds and has base wargear that includes artificer armour and an iron halo. Their special rules beyond Master of the Legion (which gives the rites of war options) is Relentless which is a nice touch; as well as the ability to take a command squad. 

Weaknesses.

Arguably there are few weaknesses here. The main one is that players can only have 1 Praetor per 1000 points. 

Warpstone Flux Rating:

5/5. Essential. Players need to have a Praetor in any game where they are not fielding a Primarch and over 1000 points. Their rules are too strong to ignore.

Difference to First Edition:

Neutral. The rules are comparable. 

Builds.

There are a vast array of builds that are possible for Praetors without terminator armour. The following is just a small sampling that will hopefully serve a number of different army styles and legions.

Legion Praetor (120 points).

The "naked" Praetor remains a viable tactic to use for almost any legion and army. You would take this one to generate a rite of war and then do as you please with him - probably take a command squad and rhino maybe? Spend the saved points elsewhere in your army. Candidly, I have never seen anyone play a naked Praetor yet, but it remains very viable.

Legion Praetor with Jump Pack, Thunder Hammer (170 points).

Suited for armies who need a leader at the front along with other jump pack equipped marines and one who is going to make an impact. Seen a Raven Guard army like this. Good also with deep strike armies. Take melta bombs to taste.

Legion Praetor with Bike, Paragon Blade (170 points).

Probably a White Scars Praetor here, but could be tailored to any legion realistically. Bring alongside other fast moving elements to position and cause damage. Take melta bombs to taste. Upgrade to a Jetbike if desired for a further 10 points (recommended).

Legion Praetor with Nemesis Bolter (130 points).

Very much a "cheap" backline leader to sit with heavy support squads or sniper squads. Might be nice for Raven Guard, Alpha Legion, Night Lords and others. 

Legion Praetor with Boarding Shield, Power fist (145 points).

For Zone Mortalis fans. Also does well with more defensive and armoured armies such as Iron Hands. 

Legion Praetor with Charnabal weapon and Disintegrator Pistol (150 points).

Charnabal blades might not be to everyone's taste (if not take a paragon blade), but they seem well suited to certain legions (Emperor's Children and Blood Angels among others). This is a foot-slogging Praetor, but would also do well in a rhino or other transport.

The First Beakie

The first beakie out of the new boxed set finally got built. At this rate it might take me a glacial epoch to get through the rest of the set!

Some thoughts, but not necessarily in any order.

The bonded shoulder pad (the one with the bumps on) comes as two parts! I mean, what the? Couldn't quite understand why to be honest when there was what appeared to be plenty of room on the sprue.

The bayonet (as well as the chain) fixing have their own special rules. This means that these miniatures are some of the only ones in the game that can take advantage of these upgrades. Would have liked if other marks could have used them.

Backwards compatibility is not all it could be - the torsos cannot be mixed and matched with other marks. In one way this is fluffy of course. But in other ways it prevents kit bashing which for so long has been a hallmark of the range.

Speaking of range, there are only 5 poses. There's enough variation within the set to not make this matter though, but this is disappointing. 

Really nice bolt pistol holsters and accessories that are much improved. The detail is amazing. With that said, I still drilled my own bolt gun!