HH-FW-6: Retribution

[Monique]

http://battlebunnies.blogspot.ru/2015/07/f...y-pictures.html

White Scars, Blood Angels and Dark Angels are all in the next book. They will have legion rules but no characters or legion specific units.

Book 6 will cover shattered legions and will focus on players creating own narratives for small scale engagements.

Future book will be Thramas and Signis Prime (mirroring the old Blood Angels/Dark Angels codex)

Prospero may not even be book 7. They need to ensure that they can produce the entire range quickly and efficiently and not keep people waiting. To create all the models needed for Prospero would take about a year.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/3...read/?p=4113936

Book 6 will be shattered legions plus basci legiones asartes rules for DA, BA and WS.

Having some issues with rules balance on shattered legions front.

Prospero pretty much sorted, waiting for models to be done.

End of year for book 6.

No prospero till next year

Will get a horus heresy era marine red book.

Then a seige of terra/scouring/protochaos redbook.

Those are both far off though.

Legions can change their spots (ala word bearers). Some specific ones mentioned were fists and alphas.

Some juicy alpha stuff hinted at being in the pipeline. (Mr blighs words were yes they will change/split but i cant tell you any more).

Space wolves will be very different from 40k wolves when they arrive. Bligh is expecting :cuss to hit the fan.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/3...read/?p=4113969

Legion character changes.

Word bearers became demon summoners.

Fists become different at seige of terra and then again post iron cage.

Alpha begin to fracture.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/3...read/?p=4107166

Right, I'm back in a hotel now so can do more of a detailed breakdown.

I think I've posted all of the pictures that I took. I spoke to Blake Spence about the Mastadon first thing (it was the first thing in the display room), and that is a fantastic kit. Rules are still being worked on, and the model on show was a first Production run to which they need to fine tune the molds. In terms of transport capacity it is alleged to hold between 30 and 40, and is designed to cut through and blow through walls to deliver shock troops - it's like a Karybdiss, but as a tank. It was originally thought up with front tracks based on the Sicarian and the rear as a Land Raider. Front doors have Frag Assault launchers, and are operated on moving Pistons - this thing could a pain to put together. It has Void Shields (2x bubble things on the top in the middle) and has a rear turret that can fit razorback size armaments. I'm recalling loving it, and can see this being a purchase. Timeframes are unclear, but there's still a month or two of work left on it.

Spent a long time talking to Alan Bligh about various bits and pieces. For the non heresy stuff, they'll be releasing warscrolls for their Warhammer Forge things in the next month or two, and they would like to do another book in the future if time permits. For 40k they are looking to do more Imperial Armour, and the hint is that Tau may be involved (hence the giant battle suit). They would like to do more, but they have a lot of projects and could really do with more writers to get through all the things they would like to do. I asked about a 40k Mechanicus book using 30k models and rules, and the response I got was "we'd be stupid not too" - the caveat that I was given was that a lot of the Cybernetica stuff would most likely be out of production for 10,000 years and they can't rebuild it, and also likely to be forbidden tech. I think it's something they are throwing about in the early design process at the moment.

With respect to the Heresy stuff - book 6 is now almost certainly Shattered Legions, but they may sneak in a chapter at the end of the book with 'the remaining legions' specific rules and Rites of War, just not named characters or Primarchs. This follows nicely with the upgrades we've been seeing, and is an acknowledgement to players that want to get started with their legion before the specified book comes out. As an aside I heard second hand, and not via Alan Bligh, that book 6 would be called Retalliation, and would feature Iron Warriors. Which also coincides with the artwork that was being done as demos, they were working on a Salamanders Falchion (so Shattered Legions) and Iron Warrior legionnaires.

Alan also had a Mechanicum red book on his desk, which is Production ready and awaiting arrival on the ship - so should be 5-6 weeks before it comes up for order. Alan mentioned going forward that if there were a large shift in the basic 40k rules that needed addressing they would update the red book rather than the main books, so no Massacre 2nd Edition. Also red book has Orinatus rules in it, 2 different profiles.

For Prospero, it sounds like the rules have progressed but are still being play tested, now the delays are coming in from model design. There are 4 unique looking armies to consider, and according to Alan the Wolves are very different to their 40k iteration, and he's looking forward to seeing how people react to them. Customers sound like they're going down full army route (another "we'd be silly not to" remark) and sound like they'd eventually get Terminators, Dreadnoughrs, and other units.

He is working on a lot of stuff in parallel, even within the Heresy side, including some preliminary stuff on the other untouched legions. He remarked that some of the nuggets of information in Unremembered Empire about the Dark Angels was based on some of his thoughts that he'd provided to the author and they had dropped in. Discussing how Black Library and ForgeWorld operate, there isn't any delay on either the ForgeWorld or Black Library sides to keep the timeline in sync, but ForgeWorld do have to keep an eye on not accidentally spoiling upcoming books when writing their own background and narratives.

The Moddelling Masterclass book is looking good, and should be coming available in the next couple of months. Saw snapshots of the photos for painting an Imperial Fist Falchion, and a Warlord Titan.

Simon Egan is not giving away anything on the next Primarch he's working on. Heard him get asked a number of times, and every time he stated he wasn't allowed to say anything or drop any hints, which he didn't. My thought - if book 6 is Shattered Legions and Iron Warriors, the only Legion without a Primarch would be the Raven Guard, so personally I think it would make sense for it to be Corax. But, that's just my opinion.

Transfers look like they're getting a big push now, and saw Imperial Fist sheets being worked upon by Holly Goodwin. There's an entire book of various Legion and Legio sheets that are closing to Production, so these should be coming out thick and fast soon enough.

Of the new sneak peeks, I was really impressed with the Techmarines. I couldn't get a decent photo due to the light coming in from the outside, but did try some basic iPhone imagine manipulation to show them up. They have a bit of an iron Hands feel to them, but the armour is very unique. With two there I'm assuming it must be similar to theApothecaries where they come in 2 to a pack.

The only downside was that the Design area was as hot as Hell! I don't know if that room had air con or not, but with the Bugmans kitchen next door, lots of studio lights, and an increasingly busy area, it quickly became unbearable for me. They had industrial floor fans, but by mid morning they were only blowing the warm air about. I don't know how the ForgeWorld team managed to survive in there, so Kudos to them all.

I'll try and have a think back to see what other nuggets I managed to glean. I couldn't find anything about the Stormbird, or rules for the new release models (although it looks like one was spied). Several characters sound like they're getting rules, but whether they will or not is another matter.

News from the FW Open Day 2015

Ok, here are the bits of info. I picked up during the day. I'm sure other people will have other bits to add but at least this is a start. In no particular order, let the froth begin:

Book 6

This will not be Shadow Crusade. This will not be Signus, Prospero or any other major campaign we have heard of.

Talking to Alan Bligh, Book 6 is going to return to the Legions in a fairly major way since the recent departure with the Knights, Solar Auxilia, Militia and Warp Cults. No real details emerged about what the book will contain but Alan did mention some of the following:

Possible basic rules for the remaining Legions. That's right folks; Dark Angels, Blood Angels and White Scars may well get their Legiones Astartes rules in the next Book. No special units for them however but you may get rules to be able to play them as well as...

Rites of War. Instead of a separate book of Rites, Book 6 is likely going to contain new Rites as well as Legion specific ones for new (maybe old as well) Legions.

Agents of the Imperium will probably arrive as well in the form of Navigators, assassins etc. not Custodes as they will have their own army list. Malcador's Knight Errants may well also make an appearance.

Andy Hoare also mentioned the idea he is developing of creating an army list similar to the Tyrant's Legion from Badab. In essence this would involve militia forces being led by Astartes. So you could have Warp Cults led by Word Bearers or insurgent forces led by Alpha Legion (or are they?)

Shattered Legions were also mentioned as being "very likely" to appear as they have the rules but previous books have been too large to contain them. Blackshields will also appear (I've seen the artwork, very nice).

One of the art designers showed me a few of the pics that he could from the new book. Porn. Sheer porn in resin form. Prepare for mass combat, nuclear blasts, lance strikes etc. It'll be a big campaign.

Mechanicum Red Book

It was there. I held it. It's real. Mechanicum players no longer need a brick hod to play their army.

No real changes from what I could see (Garro may have more detail). Some new units, general tidying up of rules, Ordinatus variants. There are three options of army list: Taghmata, Cybernetic and Reductor. Reductor can now take artillery like Whirwinds and Scorpius.

The book also contains all the six basic "core" Age of Darkness missions in one area. Andy and Alan both mentioned that they are hoping to also have these as a PDF to download soon as they recognise people don't want to carry large books around just for missions.

Mastodon

I'm not keen on super-heavies generally for the Astartes but I was really taken with this. It's big, larger than a Spartan and broader with four tracks. Rules currently are not written but there is lots of fluff surrounding it.

Firstly, it is not a tank-hunter. The designer said, if you want a tank-hunter that can transport troops - take a Spartan. The Mastodon is a siege breacher. It's purpose is to drive up to enemy fortifications or buildings and disembark troops.

But how, I hear you cry. At the front is a large melta weapon that will have rules designed for it to very easily breach fortifications. Once the initial melta hole has been made, the front doors open outward. These doors have sharp hooks / teeth to force the breach wider and allow the embarked troops to force the gap. To help with this, the front sponsons are hard-fixed with heavy framers to sweep the breach. The clever part is, that as well as the front doors, the Mastodon also has a rear ramp as well. The intent is that troops following behind the Mastodon can enter the rear ramp, move through the vehicle and enter the prepared breach. Principle is the same as a Medieval Belfry (siege tower).

To help deliver the occupants and to protect them during the breaching action, the Mastodon is equipped with two void shields (I'm wondering if these may be the same as the Stormbird and can be projected) and a mounted Anti-air weapon similar to rotor cannons in design (have a look at my album). That weapon emplacement is the same size as a razorback turret link so there will / could be other options. There was also a missile launcher on display as well. Finally the Mastodon has two lascannons, not twin-linked or anything special, just lascannons. Just remember, this is not a tank-hunter. The fluff also mentioned that heavy flamers at the front could be swept over the hull to cleanse it of any enemy infantry trying to board. There were no plans to offer alternate sponson weapons (no Volkite sponsons - sad Astartes sad.png).

This is a very nice looking model with lots of good concepts. The rules should be quite exciting.

Imperial Armour Master Class - Horus Heresy

There were lots of page spreads and, if you have the other books, it looks very similar but with Heresy armies. One major difference is that it looks like each Legion will have a painting guide on how to paint the Legion with the new FW airbrush paints.

It looks very pretty and certainly up to the standard we expect by now.

Imperial Armour 14?

If this is not a new book, it is likely to be going over some of the older volumes. Chances are it will include Tau as the new Super-Heavy walker was a big clue. Alan Bligh was saying that the Tau have created this in response to Titans and Gargants and is designed to swamp those type of Walkers with immense volumes of fire or strong, focused beams.

Magos and Servitors

These are very cute. Instead of the typical Servitors that we are used to, the 30k version are similar to the Scyllax but on 25mm bases. They are going to do several versions, the first will be general repair Servitors and later variants will have the weapon options we need (grenade launchers please!). Cost will be low (for FW) as they recognise that several may be needed.

* * *

ЦВЕТОВЫЕ СХЕМЫ

"Железный Воин"

"Глефа Саламандр"

"Альфа-легионер и Железнорукий"

* * *

АРТЫ

"Портрет Пертурабо"

Изменено 8 февраля, 2016 пользователем Cassie Hack

[Разжигатель Войны]

ГДЕ

АРГЕЛ

МАТЬ

ЕГО

ТАЛ

?!

[NigatiF]

ГДЕ

Значимость™ персонажа не показана. Кому он нужен.

[Angrily]

Prospero may not even be book 7. They need to ensure that they can produce the entire range quickly and efficiently and not keep people waiting. To create all the models needed for Prospero would take about a year.

Мы задерживаем книгу по Сынам и Волкам, чтобы фанаты Сынов и Волков поменьше ждали. Логика супер. Что они там целый год клепать собрались? Несколько отрядов Кустодиев и Сестёр, апгрейд паки на два легиона, пару примархов и 3-4 именных плюс декали и два дредноута?

Звучит как план на 2-3 месяца.

Серьезно? Просперо не будет и в следующем году, почему ФВ, зачем ты это делаешь?

Там написано, что Просперо не будет точно в ЭТОМ году, и, возможно, не будет в следующей книге.

[Tyrael]

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/3...read/?p=4114039

если я правильно понял это:

The book that deals with Calth and the aftermath (along with Angrons' assention and other stuff) will be the book after the next AT THE EARLIEST.

то книга по шедой крусейду и ультре будет после шестой и, как бы не седьмой, что, в принципе, двойной удар по яйцам.

[RedFurioso]

Так бэковая часть BA и DA будет в следующей книге? Или только по одной страничке с правилами?

[Alfаrius]

Интересно, а семинар будет?

[Листригон]

да ладно вам, 3 легиона выпустят... и не довольны.

[Польский Велик]

Дарки это так-то нежданчик.

[castelian]

Итак, в 6-й книге нас ждут Разбитые Легионы, Тёмные Ангелы, Белые Шрамы и Кровавые Ангелы.

А разбитые легионы это кто? Сальки, ЖР и ГВ? Или это сложности перевода и там что то другое подразумевалось?

[Knijnik]

Шрамы? ШРАМЫ? ШРА-А-А-А-АМЫ!!

Я доволен.

А если еще бэка нормального отсыплют, буду на седьмом небе.

А "разбитые" именно всмысле разгромленные, или нас ждет аналог 1-й книги, но по лоялистам которые у себя успели трейторов вырезать, и как это происходило.

Изменено 5 июля, 2015 пользователем Knijnik

[MagicEngine]

Зачем выпускать правила на легионы без персонажей и специальных отрядов? И где в таком случае они будут? =|

Затравка видимо.

А что, в следующей книге Повелителей Ночи не завезли? Трамас, все дела.

Изменено 5 июля, 2015 пользователем Nukus

[BlackChalice]

Кстати, возможно, что будет и про Альфу, ЖВ и ЖР, т.к. один из дизайнеров упоминал их в контексте след. книги, потом сказал, что не может больше ничего раскрывать. Про первые два не знаю, но ЖР слышал несколько раз.

[Assalid]

Я вот понять не могу, скульпторы форджи правда считают, что любой исторический деятель спит и видит как забраться на груду металолома? Ну были же нормальные диорамы у Ангрона и Мануса с Фулей, у Курца хоть какой-то сюжет есть. Того же Пертурабона можно было на какой-нибудь командный мостик поставить со всякими приборчиками и парой центурионов-сигнальщиков на подхвате - чего ему в одно лицо по свалке лома бродить-то?

[Blasted Horizons]

Ну отпинал Рыцаря и забрался на остов поле боя обозреть, все дела.

[Assalid]

Ну отпинал Рыцаря и забрался на остов поле боя обозреть, все дела.

Это было бы нормально, если бы вся черактер сериес не представляла собой забравшихся на булыжники/лестницы/кучки неясной субстанции ппримархов и капитанов. Та же история, как у ГВ с блистерными героями - ничего плохого в одном двух любители камней, но смешно и печально, когда такие чуть ли не в каждом релизе - ладно хоть пока марины этого избежали, отдуваются ксеносы, асасены и мертвое ФБ.

[RedFurioso]

Просто раньше модели были привязаны к конкретным локациям.

Ангрон и Локен с Абаддоном - Исстван III. Фулгрим и Феррус Манус - Исстван V.

А дальше пошли абсолютно оторванные от контекста подставки. Лоргар в оккультном кругу, Мортарион и Тифон среди каких-то труб...

Теперь форджа делает все базы в виде "побеждённых врагов" (Жиллиман, правда - исключение). Логики в этом нет, но смотрится круто :)

Кстати, а кто-то опознал принадлежность разбитого рыцаря к какому-то из Домов? Серебристо-синих я ещё не видел.

[nabirthefirst]

На правах вброса, в начале июня был в Нотингеме, пока доставали мои коробки, разговорился с местным продавцом, так он "по секрету" шепнул, что Форджа планирует выпустить всех примархов до конца года. вот и хз, верить ли ему, жаль свой походный паяльник я в тот день оставил в номере.

Изменено 5 июля, 2015 пользователем nabirthefirst

[BlackChalice]

Следующий примарх один из трёх: Альфарий, Коракс или Дорн. Инфа точная и от дизайнера примархов. Просто кто именно он не мог сказать, т.к. им не разрешают. Я ему также сказал за базы в виде огромных руин, что не всем это нравится. Он сказал, что это указание свыше так делать. Но было видно, что призадумался.

Изменено 5 июля, 2015 пользователем BlackChalice

[castelian]

Мне кажется следующая книга будет собранием кратких компаний - Блады(Сигнус) Дарки(Трамас) Шрамы(Талларн, вот и Пертурабо подоспел кстати), еще может быть будут Пожиратели миров и иже с ними (Арматура, де Шеа)

Ну это просто моя чуйка, она к слову еще ни разу не подтвердилась))))) :rolleyes:

[Angrily]

да ладно вам, 3 легиона выпустят... и не довольны.

Я лично недоволен не этим. Ну выпустят в 6 книге разных лоялистов, ну ок. То, что Просперо не будет 6 книгой слух витал уже давно. Только вот теперь витает слух, что далеко не факт, что оно и 7-ой книгой будет. При этом говорят какую-то ерунду типа "мы оттягиваем книгу, чтобы вы поменьше ждали и получили миниатюры без задержки". При этом им ничего не помешало задержать мини аж для третьей книги до сих пор.

И ещё я плохо понимаю как отдаление книги по Волкам и Сынам поможет слепить в срок их миньки - как будто для остальных книг, которые выйдут до Просперо, их лепить не надо.

[ANF]

это тебе не альфа олололегион во имя топ 1 фанбоя после френча и варда делать. Блай сказал что альфалегион веселее и интереснее.

форджа как обычно фейлит и слоупочит. не будем говорить про рулы и ненужный 5+ скам всунутый наперед богоподобных легионогоспод

Изменено 5 июля, 2015 пользователем ANF

[Листригон]

у меня шкурный интерес, но я хочу Трамас отдельной книгой :love:

не понятно, почему было не запустить правила на легионы в самом начале, потом можно выпускать и выпускать без лишнего мандежа.

[ANF]

форджа не очень умные ребят и совсем неспособцы в рулах. делают все через анусай. теперь даже миньки

[Monique]

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/3...read/?p=4107166

Right, I'm back in a hotel now so can do more of a detailed breakdown.

I think I've posted all of the pictures that I took. I spoke to Blake Spence about the Mastadon first thing (it was the first thing in the display room), and that is a fantastic kit. Rules are still being worked on, and the model on show was a first Production run to which they need to fine tune the molds. In terms of transport capacity it is alleged to hold between 30 and 40, and is designed to cut through and blow through walls to deliver shock troops - it's like a Karybdiss, but as a tank. It was originally thought up with front tracks based on the Sicarian and the rear as a Land Raider. Front doors have Frag Assault launchers, and are operated on moving Pistons - this thing could a pain to put together. It has Void Shields (2x bubble things on the top in the middle) and has a rear turret that can fit razorback size armaments. I'm recalling loving it, and can see this being a purchase. Timeframes are unclear, but there's still a month or two of work left on it.

Spent a long time talking to Alan Bligh about various bits and pieces. For the non heresy stuff, they'll be releasing warscrolls for their Warhammer Forge things in the next month or two, and they would like to do another book in the future if time permits. For 40k they are looking to do more Imperial Armour, and the hint is that Tau may be involved (hence the giant battle suit). They would like to do more, but they have a lot of projects and could really do with more writers to get through all the things they would like to do. I asked about a 40k Mechanicus book using 30k models and rules, and the response I got was "we'd be stupid not too" - the caveat that I was given was that a lot of the Cybernetica stuff would most likely be out of production for 10,000 years and they can't rebuild it, and also likely to be forbidden tech. I think it's something they are throwing about in the early design process at the moment.

With respect to the Heresy stuff - book 6 is now almost certainly Shattered Legions, but they may sneak in a chapter at the end of the book with 'the remaining legions' specific rules and Rites of War, just not named characters or Primarchs. This follows nicely with the upgrades we've been seeing, and is an acknowledgement to players that want to get started with their legion before the specified book comes out. As an aside I heard second hand, and not via Alan Bligh, that book 6 would be called Retalliation, and would feature Iron Warriors. Which also coincides with the artwork that was being done as demos, they were working on a Salamanders Falchion (so Shattered Legions) and Iron Warrior legionnaires.

Alan also had a Mechanicum red book on his desk, which is Production ready and awaiting arrival on the ship - so should be 5-6 weeks before it comes up for order. Alan mentioned going forward that if there were a large shift in the basic 40k rules that needed addressing they would update the red book rather than the main books, so no Massacre 2nd Edition. Also red book has Orinatus rules in it, 2 different profiles.

For Prospero, it sounds like the rules have progressed but are still being play tested, now the delays are coming in from model design. There are 4 unique looking armies to consider, and according to Alan the Wolves are very different to their 40k iteration, and he's looking forward to seeing how people react to them. Customers sound like they're going down full army route (another "we'd be silly not to" remark) and sound like they'd eventually get Terminators, Dreadnoughrs, and other units.

He is working on a lot of stuff in parallel, even within the Heresy side, including some preliminary stuff on the other untouched legions. He remarked that some of the nuggets of information in Unremembered Empire about the Dark Angels was based on some of his thoughts that he'd provided to the author and they had dropped in. Discussing how Black Library and ForgeWorld operate, there isn't any delay on either the ForgeWorld or Black Library sides to keep the timeline in sync, but ForgeWorld do have to keep an eye on not accidentally spoiling upcoming books when writing their own background and narratives.

The Moddelling Masterclass book is looking good, and should be coming available in the next couple of months. Saw snapshots of the photos for painting an Imperial Fist Falchion, and a Warlord Titan.

Simon Egan is not giving away anything on the next Primarch he's working on. Heard him get asked a number of times, and every time he stated he wasn't allowed to say anything or drop any hints, which he didn't. My thought - if book 6 is Shattered Legions and Iron Warriors, the only Legion without a Primarch would be the Raven Guard, so personally I think it would make sense for it to be Corax. But, that's just my opinion.

Transfers look like they're getting a big push now, and saw Imperial Fist sheets being worked upon by Holly Goodwin. There's an entire book of various Legion and Legio sheets that are closing to Production, so these should be coming out thick and fast soon enough.

Of the new sneak peeks, I was really impressed with the Techmarines. I couldn't get a decent photo due to the light coming in from the outside, but did try some basic iPhone imagine manipulation to show them up. They have a bit of an iron Hands feel to them, but the armour is very unique. With two there I'm assuming it must be similar to theApothecaries where they come in 2 to a pack.

The only downside was that the Design area was as hot as Hell! I don't know if that room had air con or not, but with the Bugmans kitchen next door, lots of studio lights, and an increasingly busy area, it quickly became unbearable for me. They had industrial floor fans, but by mid morning they were only blowing the warm air about. I don't know how the ForgeWorld team managed to survive in there, so Kudos to them all.

I'll try and have a think back to see what other nuggets I managed to glean. I couldn't find anything about the Stormbird, or rules for the new release models (although it looks like one was spied). Several characters sound like they're getting rules, but whether they will or not is another matter.

News from the FW Open Day 2015

Ok, here are the bits of info. I picked up during the day. I'm sure other people will have other bits to add but at least this is a start. In no particular order, let the froth begin:

Book 6

This will not be Shadow Crusade. This will not be Signus, Prospero or any other major campaign we have heard of.

Talking to Alan Bligh, Book 6 is going to return to the Legions in a fairly major way since the recent departure with the Knights, Solar Auxilia, Militia and Warp Cults. No real details emerged about what the book will contain but Alan did mention some of the following:

Possible basic rules for the remaining Legions. That's right folks; Dark Angels, Blood Angels and White Scars may well get their Legiones Astartes rules in the next Book. No special units for them however but you may get rules to be able to play them as well as...

Rites of War. Instead of a separate book of Rites, Book 6 is likely going to contain new Rites as well as Legion specific ones for new (maybe old as well) Legions.

Agents of the Imperium will probably arrive as well in the form of Navigators, assassins etc. not Custodes as they will have their own army list. Malcador's Knight Errants may well also make an appearance.

Andy Hoare also mentioned the idea he is developing of creating an army list similar to the Tyrant's Legion from Badab. In essence this would involve militia forces being led by Astartes. So you could have Warp Cults led by Word Bearers or insurgent forces led by Alpha Legion (or are they?)

Shattered Legions were also mentioned as being "very likely" to appear as they have the rules but previous books have been too large to contain them. Blackshields will also appear (I've seen the artwork, very nice).

One of the art designers showed me a few of the pics that he could from the new book. Porn. Sheer porn in resin form. Prepare for mass combat, nuclear blasts, lance strikes etc. It'll be a big campaign.

Mechanicum Red Book

It was there. I held it. It's real. Mechanicum players no longer need a brick hod to play their army.

No real changes from what I could see (Garro may have more detail). Some new units, general tidying up of rules, Ordinatus variants. There are three options of army list: Taghmata, Cybernetic and Reductor. Reductor can now take artillery like Whirwinds and Scorpius.

The book also contains all the six basic "core" Age of Darkness missions in one area. Andy and Alan both mentioned that they are hoping to also have these as a PDF to download soon as they recognise people don't want to carry large books around just for missions.

Mastodon

I'm not keen on super-heavies generally for the Astartes but I was really taken with this. It's big, larger than a Spartan and broader with four tracks. Rules currently are not written but there is lots of fluff surrounding it.

Firstly, it is not a tank-hunter. The designer said, if you want a tank-hunter that can transport troops - take a Spartan. The Mastodon is a siege breacher. It's purpose is to drive up to enemy fortifications or buildings and disembark troops.

But how, I hear you cry. At the front is a large melta weapon that will have rules designed for it to very easily breach fortifications. Once the initial melta hole has been made, the front doors open outward. These doors have sharp hooks / teeth to force the breach wider and allow the embarked troops to force the gap. To help with this, the front sponsons are hard-fixed with heavy framers to sweep the breach. The clever part is, that as well as the front doors, the Mastodon also has a rear ramp as well. The intent is that troops following behind the Mastodon can enter the rear ramp, move through the vehicle and enter the prepared breach. Principle is the same as a Medieval Belfry (siege tower).

To help deliver the occupants and to protect them during the breaching action, the Mastodon is equipped with two void shields (I'm wondering if these may be the same as the Stormbird and can be projected) and a mounted Anti-air weapon similar to rotor cannons in design (have a look at my album). That weapon emplacement is the same size as a razorback turret link so there will / could be other options. There was also a missile launcher on display as well. Finally the Mastodon has two lascannons, not twin-linked or anything special, just lascannons. Just remember, this is not a tank-hunter. The fluff also mentioned that heavy flamers at the front could be swept over the hull to cleanse it of any enemy infantry trying to board. There were no plans to offer alternate sponson weapons (no Volkite sponsons - sad Astartes sad.png).

This is a very nice looking model with lots of good concepts. The rules should be quite exciting.

Imperial Armour Master Class - Horus Heresy

There were lots of page spreads and, if you have the other books, it looks very similar but with Heresy armies. One major difference is that it looks like each Legion will have a painting guide on how to paint the Legion with the new FW airbrush paints.

It looks very pretty and certainly up to the standard we expect by now.

Imperial Armour 14?

If this is not a new book, it is likely to be going over some of the older volumes. Chances are it will include Tau as the new Super-Heavy walker was a big clue. Alan Bligh was saying that the Tau have created this in response to Titans and Gargants and is designed to swamp those type of Walkers with immense volumes of fire or strong, focused beams.

Magos and Servitors

These are very cute. Instead of the typical Servitors that we are used to, the 30k version are similar to the Scyllax but on 25mm bases. They are going to do several versions, the first will be general repair Servitors and later variants will have the weapon options we need (grenade launchers please!). Cost will be low (for FW) as they recognise that several may be needed.