Horus Heresy 2e Review: Questoris Household Dark Blessings

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The Dark Blessings are a replacement for the Household ranks and can only be taken by traitors. Some are really good, others a bit less so. Suggested knights are provided for each entry.  

Conqueror of Worlds. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The dark blessing version of the Seneschal. An auto-include for the big boss whose warlord trait provides access to reactions. Suggested Knight: Lancer. 

Heedless Slaughter. ⭐️

A free upgrade (probably from Khorne) that comes at the cost of WS-1 and BS-1, but gain Rage (2) if you have an armiger unit somewhere. I am torn on this upgrade. Rage is nice. But those negatives are bad. Very bad. I probably won't take it on balance.  

Malevolent Artifice. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gain IWND +1 for each wound or hull point you inflict in close combat until the end of the battle. This is very, very nice, and worth the points cost. Suggested Knights: Lancer, Acheron, Questoris.

Encroaching Ruin. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BS+1 and a bonus speed to armigers that start a turn next to it. Very nice overall. Suggested Knight: Questoris, and probably Asterius.

Putrid Corruption. ⭐️⭐️

Ablative organic mass that speaks of Nurgle. Loses movement speed, but gains unrelenting which lowers 1d3 wounds from a penetrating shot to just 1. This is okay overall, but not amazing. Suggested Knight: Unclear. 

Infernal Tempest. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tzeentch (we think?) gives you psychic or sorceress powers. Warding grants an invulnerable pip, tempest is nice for its AP=2 but is short range. Suggested Knight: Questoris. 

Ravenous Dissolution.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WS+1 and marked for death. This is quite strong and calls for a melee unit. Suggested Knights: Lancer, Questoris. 

Rapturous Sensation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Slaanesh (given the title of the blessing) demands your attentions. No reactions unless you take a Ld test in a large bubble. This is strong, but situational. Suggested Knight: Unclear. 

Formless Distortion. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WS+1, become a character, and get an ionic lash which is at AP=2 and S=10 with exoshock. Very nice indeed. Suggested Knight: Questoris. 

Assembled Endryd Haar

Endryd Haar is a miniature that I have wanted to get my hands on for a long time, and now that time has come! He was out of stock at Warhammer / Forge World for quite some time, but I finally got my order. The model is relatively easy to put together, although the whole balancing on one foot thing is never quite as good as you first think it is going to be. I glued the dynamic foot to the base as best as I could to provide extra stability. 

The tabard at the front required a bit of work to get fitting correctly into the lower abdomen correctly and this is a paint point that I'd recommend less experienced modellers to pay closer attention to before gluing into place - do a few dry fits first! The rest is easy by comparison. 

My plan here is to paint Endryd up in his original World Eaters colours. The intent is to have him as either a World Eater leader of some kind, or to use him alongside my other World Eaters in a Blackshields force - perhaps as they just found out the extent of the betrayal. I would then give the army access to the World Eaters armoury through Panoply of Old, and add in another Oath that I've not yet decided upon (thoughts welcome!). 

Wargames Gallery: Plasma Eaters

Having moved into place on board their rhino transport, the Iron Warriors plasma support squad takes aim at the World Eaters leviathan before some further backup arrives! 

The decals on the vehicles are doing all the hard work in this image, even if I say so myself. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Camba Diaz

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. A cheap praetor with some special rules. 

Background.

A very reliable and steadfast commander who perhaps lacked the legend of Sigismund. He earned his reputation through meticulous siege actions - both on the offensive and on the defensive. Little wonder he was held in good stead by his Primarch. 

Strengths.

In short, this is a Praetor character with a few upgrades. His warlord trait is The Line Unbroken which allows him to declare its activation when on an objective. This gives counter attack and fearless until the end of the battle so long as he stays put. This is strong, and probably best used as a forward attacking force. But you know, if you need to, having that objective on the back line is reasonable if facing off against other Primarchs I suppose. 

He will also gain feel no pain when he has one wound remaining which is fluffy for Camba, and comes with an AP3 power sword - forged by the Iron Hands in some kind of lost bet - that also rends. This is okay without being amazing. 

Weaknesses.

No real weaknesses, but arguably, not a first choice master of the legion. His role is then in smaller points games where his warlord trait might make a big difference. 

Overall.

A fine choice, but just not as good as other choices that the Imperial Fists can make. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Kaedes Nex

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The Raven Guard answer to when something just needs to not be there. 

Background.

Kaedes is not a nice person, to put it ever so politely. He was, very rightly, incarcerated on the same world that Corax came to rest on when he was scattered there. Already an accomplished evil killer, somehow, Corax saw fit to offer him a second chance within the legion. He said yes, and now serves at Corax's command. But he's not liked to the point of being shunned. That doesn't make him bad at his job though. Lucky that he's a loyalist really, otherwise I could readily imagine him falling to the dark powers of chaos. 

Strengths.

A 3 wound moritat with two hand cannons that have to shooting profiles. The first provides pinpoint strikes and comes with brutal (2) concussive and pinning with sniper, the second provides a way to empty the ammo stores and comes with a whopping six shots with concussive and pinning. 

His shooting ignores most modifiers like night fighting and so on. And he always - always - attacks at full ballistic skill. This is actually a little bit insane, but there you go. He also has an uber-infiltrate rule to help him deploy where he needs to be, and a slew of other more standard special rules that include things like rampage and shrouded. Unlike many good shooting character, he is also good in close combat with rending and more brutal (2)'s helping a lot. 

Weaknesses.

No jump pack is a serious negative here coupled with the 12 inch range on the hand cannons. Yes, there are rules to help, but it remains the reason I can't give 5/5 stars. 

He's also a non-compulsory HQ and cannot be part of another unit. Hence he can and will get targeted regularly. Happily, he can also be part of a Blackshields force which makes for an interesting option. He also only get the Falcons rules if a Raven Guard. A bit pricey in terms of points cost as well, but that's okay for what you are getting. 

Overall.

I can see a lot of Raven Guard and Blackshields players wanting to take Nex. He gets some early turn kills in before perishing (assuming he doesn't get over watched back or reacted back) which is always a danger. But hey, why not just snap shot at your full BS back yourself as well?

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Aster Crohne

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. A strong centurion, but a little bit on the expensive side. 

Background.

Aster Crohne is a survivor who defies belief. A relic of the wars that tore Saiph apart, and one who was undertaking the Great Crusade prior to the rediscovery of Sanguinius himself. He stood apart from the main legion and never really rose in rank as he should have, finding himself in charge of the 94th company and the Inductii. 

Strengths.

When he loses his last wound he will be put back into reserves with one wound on a 4+. This only happens on the first time, but it is a great fluffy rule that helps him stay in the game. 

His warlord trait is directly associated with the 94th. It gives Inductii sweeping attacks as well as A+1 when making successful charge. This is in addition to the usual Fear rule that Blood Angels Inductii have and overrules (at least from reading the rules) the lack of sweeping assaults which is good news for the Blood Angels player. The additional movement reaction is solid. Aster can also join Inductii units which is obviously a good thing.

His weapon of choice is a S+1 AP=3 axe that also rends which is great for dealing with enemy blobs of tactical marines. The two hand flamers are also good, to be clear. 

The stat line is basically a consul centurion with an extra wound which is good.

Weaknesses.

Obviously as he's not a Praetor, he does not have Master of the Legion. This isn't so good. He's well suited to leading Inductii though, so that's a plus. 

We also need to acknowledge the points cost here as well. It is on the high side, and you will also need a transport for maximum effectivess.

Overall.

A fluffy character with rules to suit. He's going to be wanted as a Judicar (Centurion) to lead Inductii, but that's it. Good for small points value games that involve Inductii, but in higher points value games I would want to just be using him for his ability to slice and dice. The Blood Angels are not short of other ways of doing this though!