Short Break - See you in September

I am taking a short mid-year break from the blog as I usually do. I'll be back in action here in September. Hope you've enjoyed the content from the first half of the year - there's more to come yet!

Wargames Gallery: Sun Killers become Daemon Killers

The Emperor's Children sun killers shelter behind an Aegis line and take shots at the mutated and demonic presence of the Word Bearers on frost rimed world forgotten to time.

Painted: Emperor's Children Assault Squad

One fully painted Emperor's Children Assault Squad!

11 members, 2x power axe, sergeant with twin lightning claws, shields all round for the rest. 

The idea here is to take advantage of the Emperor's Children in build advantages and swing fast whilst getting into position rapidly. They will sit alongside the sun killers and an apothecary with a phoenix warden to make up a small, but capable, allied detachment for any of the main forces that I have. I'm tempted to purchase a second assault squad to make this into a full detachment, but that's a project on the back burner for the moment. Hope you like the squad and the colour scheme!

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Solar Auxilia Stormhammer

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars. Rounded down - only just. A great deal for your Lords of War slot.

Background.

The super heavy tank of choice for the Solar Auxilia and packed with a plethora of shots. They are the vanguard of the fleets, and able to operate independently in the most hard and harsh of environments without concerns. 

Strengths.

I have to be honest here, the sheer amount of firepower that this beast is able to pump out is prodigious. The storm cannon on the front, and the twin linked battle cannon are the highlights, but it doesn't end there with other multi lasers and cannons ready to bring to bear on the targets. 

A grand total of 12 HP is similarly impressive and an improved rear armour of AV=12 is solid enough.  Don't forget the smoke launchers and that its classed as super heavy.

Weaknesses.

For the points cost you are paying, it is near perfect. Even the non-upgraded version is totally viable. 

Builds.

Stormhammer, hull mounted las cannons, pintle multi-laser (585 points).

I've upgraded the naked version here with more lasers. There's no real need to do this, but I do like my lasers and they do come in useful when you want something else that is big and heavy to no longer exist along your line of sight. 

Weekend Build Part 2: Complete Leviathan - but for which Legion?

The second and final installment for this weekend: a complete Leviathan dreadnought. 

The loadout here was an interesting choice given that the plastic set doesn't allow duplicate weapons which would ordinarily be my inclination. I opted against the melta lance simply on the grounds that I wanted a machine that was firing against heavy infantry - as opposed to a true tank buster. Of course, I'm sure I could have just picked up a duplicate weapon from eBay, or even a claw, but I kind of like the look of the longer ranged dreadnought here. Plus I've not actually used a graviton weapon recently and their whole aesthetic appeals to me.

There remains one question though. Which legion should I paint this Leviathan for?

Here's the options:

Iron Warriors: Pro: very fitting. Con: already have a contemptor and don't want to overload this legion with more single member unit choices.

Alpha Legion: Pro: would complement my previous contemptor. Con: really don't want to expand this legion any further otherwise I'm going to have to sell parts of it!

Shattered Legions: Pro: could fit any of the three main legions of the shattered legions. Con: already have a Salamanders contemptor, and the shattered legions rules suck. 

World Eaters: Pro: much needed fire support. Con: everyone expects close combat armed leviathans.

Emperor's Children: Pro: would be amazing to paint in these colours. Con: wouldn't fit with the allied detachment as I already have sun killers. 

Blackshields: Pro: temptation. Con: I don't own any other blackshields nor do I yet have time or plans! 

Other: Name it! Con: I don't own much of any other legion nor do I have plans at this point in time!

Weekend Build Part 1

Uh oh! A leviathan grows!

Took a bit of fiddling to get the stepping foot to sit flush with the groin area thanks to the way that the components all glue together. The foot at the front is a flat one and rests on the (junk) of some old style imperial ruins. I'm going to get the rest of this one glued into position tomorrow. Can't wait to see how he turns out!

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Solar Auxilia Malcador Infernus Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded down. A flame tank that should be better than it seems on paper.

Background.

When you absolutely need to clear out an enemy from dug in positions in city scape ruins, forests, or perhaps even the traditional trenches. The Infernus spreads out a lot of deadly flames thanks to the inferno cannon. But they are kept in reserve for when the demand is really required and evidenced.

Strengths.

The inferno cannon is certainly deadly, there's no two ways about it. It will destroy things consistently. The sponsons are also heavy flamers by default as well, which just adds to the heat. You can even take a pintle heavy flamer as well if you need just a touch more flame! The other sponsons and pintles are all quite valid as well. 

Weaknesses.

AV=13 on the front and sides are not attractive. The AV=11 on the rear is a problem. The overall points cost is just about acceptable for what it is doing, but as a Lords of War, there are better choices. 

Builds.

Infernus, with added pintle heavy flamer, flare shield, dozer blade  (335 points).

I'm taking the heavy flamer addition here for fun. I think the dozer blade is going to be required more here than on other vehicles as well. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Solar Auxilia Cyclops Demolition Section

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded up. I want to like these a whole lot! I'm just a little torn and not sure quite where I sit with the star rating though!

Background.

A remote controlled explosive made for destroying buildings. Except its now in a war zone. And targeting enemy tanks, apex xenoform, and titans alike. Brought into position by a transport and then controlled by the Operator, these are literally deadly when played right.

Strengths.

I totally adore the concept here. I almost gave 5/5 stars just for the remote controlled aspect. There needs to be more of this in the game. It reminds me of Rogue Trader days to be very honest.

I digress. The S=10 hit with AP=1 and brutal means you are going to be causing a serious headache. This alone means it is worth taking.

Weaknesses.

The obvious counter point to what I just wrote is that the Cyclops unit explodes. Thus making it a literal one hit wonder. In turn, this makes the price tag questionable. But what the heck. Take them anyway. Rule of cool applies!

Builds.

3 Cyclops and 1 Operator  (105 points).

Go all out here. Take a flying transport to get them where they need to be and use that remote control when you are ready. This is a unit that has so much potential! Of course, they're going to be targeted before they get into charge range, but you can hopefully take care of that with a bit of tactical acumen?

Wargames Gallery: Former Allies

The Emperor's Children champion soars ahead to confront his former ally in the Iron Hands. The Salamanders are close, but not close enough to join in. Can he defeat his former ally before the Salamanders can join in? 

[Spoilers: yes]

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Solar Auxilia Valdor Tank Destroyer Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Others may disagree, and might be right to, but I like this one!

Background.

The neutron laser is a relic from the dark age of technology of the Imperium. Each Valdor tank is therefore something of a unique treasure and expensive to produce. Named for the golden boy, this tank was rolled out to the Auxilia primarily and is still a comparative rarity. 

Strengths.

It is a mobile neutron laser beam! You get ordnance 2 at S=10. It will be killing things. And that my dear reader is the entire point of this tank and I'm not sure I need to write much more in the strengths other than I like the aesthetic of the tank as well!

Weaknesses.

Its a Malcador chassis. Would prefer AV=14 on the front like a Leman Russ, but we can't have everything. 

Builds.

Valdor, Sponson Lascannon, Flare Shield (290 points).

A mobile neutron laser beam, with a las cannon for luck, and a flare shield to take the incoming shots. I'm not taken with the pintle weapons overall, but the dozer blade and hunter killer missile can be taken to taste. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Solar Auxilia Armoured Battery

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️

2.5/5 stars. rounded down. More tanks! But they're not quite worth the points cost.

Background.

Medusas? Basiliks? Sure, that's the name you give to tanks when you have ran out of famous primarchs. Clearly the Angron and the Sanguinius tanks never made it beyond mechanicum testing zones.

Strengths.

The main weapons on these tanks are the earth shaker cannon and the medusa mortar. Both are okay, with the medusa probably being slightly better out of the two. 

Pintles are available along with extra tanks here to make up a full squadron of three.

Weaknesses.

There's really not much to write home about here overall. The points cost is just not really justified to my mind when there are other tanks to invest in. That said, they are nice artillery tanks and look good on the battlefield when massed in number and I do like that aesthetic. 

Builds.

Medusa with hunter killer mission (210 points).

Nothing wrong with the medusa mechanically, but the points cost isn't right. 

Basilisk with pintle multi-laser (210 points).

Not worth the points cost here in my opinion. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Solar Auxilia Malcador Heavy Tank Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Tanks!

Background.

What did Malcador ever do for the Imperium of Man?He had a tank named after him, of course! These heavy tanks are an ancient design and were pressed into hard service during the Heresy by all sides. 

Strengths.

Alongside plenty of customization (did you say lasers all around?), there is a fine choice of main weaponry as well. The battle cannon comes as standard and is generally okay. The two las cannons are great at tank killing. But I think the winner is the Vanquisher battle cannon on the front. 

The heavy bolt gun replacements are equally fun, with a large array of possibilities that are all tempting - probably except for the heavy flamer. 

The side mounted heavy bolt guns are similarly tempting to replace. Again, the heavy flamer is not so much attractive to me personally, but the others are interesting enough. Just take a pintle heavy flamer if you must. You will probably want a flare shield to round it all off, and a dozer blade to taste. 

Weaknesses.

There's certainly a debate to be had here of the Malcador versus the Leman Russ. The points cost here is not quite as efficient, with the front armour differential being a case in point. Note also that the vanquisher is much better situated on the Leman Russ, so you might just want the lasers after all. 

Builds.

Malcador with battle cannon, hull mounted autocannon, and side mounted autocannons, flare shield (250 points).

Probably the baseline entry.

Malcador with two front mounted gravis lascannons, hull mounted las cannon, side mounted las cannons, flare shield (295 points).

When you like lasers and hate enemy tanks sufficiently to want them destroyed on your turn. 

Malcador with Vanquisher battle cannon, hull mounted las cannon, side mounted auto cannons, flare shield (270 points).

Strictly the Leman Russ is better here, but I still like it. I'm biased. 

Wargames Gallery: Guerrilla Warfare

The remains of the Raven Guard take on a squad of Emperor's Children who have been dispatched to put an end to the Shattered Legions guerrilla warfare activities. 

I like this image as it really shows off the Emperor's Children iconography that I worked hard on for this squad for both the shields and the shoulder pads. The scratching and weathering is similarly clear and contrasts nicely with the dusty and worn look of the Raven Guard. 

World Eaters Assault Squad Assemble!

Finally had time to make progress on my World Eaters allied detachment. These are the main troops of the detachment - a squad of jump pack assault marines.

The most obvious thing here are the chain axes and other bits - sourced from an eBay vendor. I'm very happy with these - particularly the arm options which might not be so obvious at first glance.

The sergeant sports a pair of falax blades and - like some of his brothers - is positioned on top of a barrel ready to make the next leap and strike. On the left is the brute with the power maul taken from the Dark Angels terminator range. And on the right is one with a power spear. You may well ask why this arrangement. Largely the answer is the rule of cool and I wanted a squad that communicated disorganized weapons like a bunch of gladiators that have just scooped up whatever they had to hand and are using them very freely. This is emphasized by the left and right handedness of the rest of the squad wherein the chain axes are evenly being used in the left and right hands. 

All told, a bit of a mob of braying marines ready to jump at the next target as the nails bite into their heads - and a story told with dynamism while keeping a relatively consistent basing policy to bring it all together.