Guard Releases

So page 21 of White Dwarf 352 gives us a look inside the new Guard command boxes. Each box has 70+ parts, ranging from legs and torsos to weapons and canteens.

Cadian:
It looks like the only heavy weapons avaliable in the box are the Heavy Flamer and a Sniper rifle (with a cloaked torso to boot). There are only 5 legs, so one guy will be kneeling if you don't buy this along with a normal guard squad. There are only 4 torsos with Carapace armour. The biggest oddity of this is the Officer one lacks the armour, while the Catachan officer torso posseses it. As well, if you want a power weapon, it will be on a bionic arm. Two different banners, one regimental and one platoon, also appear, with some bitz geared to be affixed to them.

Catachan:
5 legs and torsos again (no surprise there). 3 of these though are attached, so less customization in their poses, especially the officer. The medic gear in this set is particularly nice to me and captures the image of a battlefeild surgeon quite well. The arms and weapons in this squad are free of each other, so the poseing in this respect has more options. Some of the coolest bitz are the 4 catachan fangs it comes with (2 sheathed). Infinitely better than SM combat knives.

My recommendation: Buy the 2 kits to make the new Veterans Squad in the Guard list and use leftover bits through out your guard. Use the old metal squad for the Company command if you play cadians. Catachans can go old or new. Although, Schaffer still makes one of the best models for a Catachan commander. And since he does not appear in the new codex, he can be used as anything.

Pages 31 and 32 may further confirm the lack of bits in the new guard boxes, displaying what seem to be 2 standard squads. Maybe there is a wave 2 release with all the advanced bitz people are talking about, but I have my reservations on them being in the new box.

ADDITIONALLY
I am sure many of you have seen (or at least heard of) the leaked Guard Codex. JWolf over at BoLS (--> over there somewhere) even has a list up.
Well, I'll have some brief snippets of its performance in tomorrows post on my Clubs end of the semester Mega Battle. It was an epic apocalypse game of Imperials holding a fortress out against foul Xenos invaders! Special apperances: Marneus Calgar, Samael, Belial, Ezekiel, Creed, The Nightbringer, and Kharn. More next time.

Guard Price increase

So looking on the site, the Guard are getting what is essentially a price increase on normal guard squads.

Instead of the $35 for 20, they now are doing it as $22 for 10 ($7 increase). AND if you read the description of the unit, it is the same sprue. Nothing new. No heavy weapons, no melta/plasma guns to justify the proce increase.

"This box set contains 10 multi-part plastic Cadian Shock Troops, and includes: five leg variants, seven head variants, 10 lasguns, two chainswords, two laspistols, two grenade launchers, two flamers and two Vox-casters. Also included are a host of additional components allowing you to assemble a Sergeant and personalise your squad. Models supplied with 25mm round bases."

That describes the exact same sprue.

This is only on Cadians though. SO if you are thinking of starting Guard, consider playing Catachans.

Here is the new setup: 10 man squad (note how it says out of stock)

Here is the old $35 one: 20 man squad (note how it says no longer avaliable)

This seems to be a trend with the New Guard. First they raised the price on the Valkyrie, but that wasn't too bad. Then the battleforces became way overpriced for what you get (an equivalent cost SM battle force would decimate the Guard battleforce: 5 Assault Marines, 15 Tactical, 5 Scouts and a Rhino for $90) and especially compared to what it used to be (3 heavy weapons, Leman Russ, 20 Guard and some ruins).

Book Review: Damnation Crusade

So I picked this up and read it the other day. A 40k Graphic Novel from Boom Studios.



I figured anything associated with Dan Abnett would be decent.

Overall I appreciated the read. Quick and visually impressive. Certain chapters are done by different artists, one of whom was better in my opinion. Less cartoony, more gothic. Better fits 40k.

The book follows three Black Templar heros, a Neophyte named Radclaw, a Sword Bretheren named Gerhardt, and a dreadnought named Tankred. It jumps from campaign to campaign, detailing the levels of zealotry and piety that the Black Templars posses. Some fluff details are a little off, like a Dread taking 3 dead on hits from a broadside (I wish it could in game). But there aren't too many, and they are spawned more for artistic awesomeness than just to disprove fluff. It covers almost every enemy there is (excluding only Dark Eldar I believe, and generalizing Chaos). So there is something for everyone. Of course though, it sees the Templars triumph each time, so if you are looking for some sweet Xenos victory, look else where.

At a price of $15 USD I wouldn't reccommend buying it unless you are into comics/anime/graphic novels. But, it is definately worth killing a half an hour to an hour at your local border/B&N sitting down and reading it. Most of these places have a cafe as well, so you can buy a cofee or cookie or something to go with it.

So 3 out of 5 aquillas. Short, pointless in the grand scheme of 40k, but rather entertaining. Maybe it can give you some inspiration for painting or converting. Just fun to look at. So go down to your bookstore/library, pick up Tales of Heresy, Gunheads, or Hellforged (or if you are into Halo, the Cole Protocol was pretty good), and while you are there, give Damnation Crusade a look.

Final Verdict: 3 out of 5 aquillas

Book Review: Gunheads

So I am going to start doing some book reviews, as often as I finish them (which is rather quite often, I assure you).

First one will be Steve Parker's Gunheads. This is one of the generic "Imperial Guard" novels, but I say is better than the rest. And for Parker's second novel, he has Improved upon the Vostroyan based Rebel Winter. I personally think he was more interested in this book and in its characters.

Before you pick up Gunheads though, I recommend getting a copy of Planetkill. In it is a short story entitled "Mercy Run". That is a prequel to the novel. Not neccesary, but it can't hurt. Plus Tales is a good read itself.

The novel is of a much more feasible sort than the others in the same series. Nothing quite as rediculous occurs, nothing quite as miraculous. In fact, the guard take a pounding in the book. And none of the main characters are the unstoppable forces other books make, they aren't the miracle makers. Pretty much fluff true to Guardsmen. It is just about honour, duty, grit and guts. In a nutshell, it is Cadians.

The basic plot is that Yarrick lost his mighty tank, the Fortress of Arrogance (like the one in the Apoc book) on the world of Golgotha, during a campaign against Thraka. So army group Exolon is sent to recovery it 40 years later, lead on by the Adeptus Mechanicus, who are really in it for their own mechinations. The story follows the Cadians grim tale as the are lead on by a senile glory hound in a desperate fight for survival hinged on the tanks of the 81st Armoured Regiment.

The novel mostly follows Sergeant Wulfe, the main character of Mercy Run. Other characters of note are Wulfe's rival, Corporal Lenck, the army group commander, General DeViers, the head Magos, and the Armoured Division's commander, Major General Bergen.

It is nice to see a very detailed piece of fluff, such as the fortress, become the hinge of a novel of unknown (untill now) regiments and characters. The only known character from the game that appears is Yarrick, and then mostly in name.

All in all I'd give it between 3.5-4 out of 5 Aquillas. Good fun read. Left open for a sequel, despite the death toll. Not a Guants Ghost's, Horus Heresy or Ultramarine novel, but better than alot of BL stuff. 

Final rating: 4 out of 5. Give it a read.

2500 Pt Daemonhunters List: an attempt to make them good (UPDATED WITH NEW GUARD)

So I know they are rated rather low right now, but here is a list that I think can give armies a run for their money. 

HQ- Grand Master: 241- Master Crafted Nemesis Force Weapon, Incinerator, Targeter, Holy Relic, Scourging, Word of the Emperor
HQ- Retinue (4): 209 – Psycannon
TROOPS- Inquisitorial Storm Troopers (10): 233- Veteran Sergeant, teleport homer; Melta gun x 2; Chimera, Multi-Laser, Heavy Flamer, Extra Armour, Smoke Launchers
TROOPS- Inquisitorial Storm Troopers (10): 233- Veteran Sergeant, teleport homer; Melta gun x 2; Chimera, Multi-Laser, Heavy Flamer, Extra Armour, Smoke Launchers
TROOPS- Veteran Guard Squad (10): 185-Veteran Sergeant, Shotgun; Lascannon; Plasma gun; Chimera, Multi-Laser, Heavy Bolter, Extra Armour,  Heavy Stubber
TROOPS- Veteran Guard Squad (10): 175-Veteran Sergeant, Shotgun; Lascannon; Sniper Rifle; Chimera, Multi-Laser, Heavy Bolter, Extra Armour, Heavy Stubber
HEAVY SUPPORT- Leman Russ Battle Tank: 200- Lascannon, Heavy Bolters, Extra Armour, Smoke Launcher
HEAVY SUPPORT- Land Raider: 256- Extra Armour, Searchlight
FAST ATTACK- Grey Knights (5): 172- Justicar, Frag Grenades, Targeter; 2 x Incinerator
FAST ATTACK- Grey Knights (5): 172- Justicar, Frag Grenades, Targeter; 2 x Incinerator 
FAST ATTACK- Grey Knights (5): 172- Justicar, Frag Grenades, Targeter; 2 x Incinerator
ELITES- Vindicare Assassin: 110
ELITES- Ordo Malleus Inquisitor: 71- Psycannon, Teleport Homer, Targeter, Word of the Emperor
ELITES- Ordo Malleus Inquisitor: 71- Psycannon, Teleport Homer, Targeter, Word of the Emperor

Pts: 2500 Scoring Units: 4 KPs: 14, 23 ('ard Boyz)

So I know it has some light scoring units, but check out these Tactics.

So you deploy the 2 Inquisitors with your Veteran Guard squads. These 2 squads are your firbase. A Lascannon, Plasma Gun/Sniper Rifle, and a Psycannon, plus the Chimera's weaponry of a Multi-Laser, Heavy Bolter and Heavy Stubber (or storm bolter if you'd rather that). Then you have 7 lasguns. Preety much a 36" ring of death and a 24" ring of doom. The Word of the Emperor also helps protect them from assaults. Set them on an objective and hold it with your firepower. The Leman Russ Battle Tank will definately lend a hand to this. Some good ordnance.

Your Stormtroopers are your other scoring units. These guys can push over armour with 2 melta guns. They are to go and take objectives. Their chimera's have heavy flamers to help in this respect. Frag grenades, 4+ saves and hellguns. But you may have to rely on the following to complete their role though.

Okay, now notice hom all of your troops have a teleport homer with them (on the Inquisitors for the Veteran Guard squads).  You have 3 squads of Deep Striking Grey Knights, and Terminators that can as well (although the Terminators have a Land Raider too).  Basically, when something too nasty appears infront of your troops, you drop in a squad of Grey Knights. Two incinerators in each squad will crisp up an enemy to be followed by some S6 attacks. They can be used to help take an objective for the Storm Troopers or hold one for the Armoured fists.

The Terminators can Deep Strike, or mount up in the Land Raider (or deep strike then mount up). The squad has a Psycannon and Incinerator, plus Scourging for when you are just out of range with the Incinerator. The Land Raider along with Word of the Emperor should help keep hard hitting units like Blood Crushers and Nob Bikerz off these guys, and if not, they have S6 Power Weapon attacks and a Holy Relic to beef them up even more. Plus the Grand Master has a +2 S master crafted force weapon. He can dispatch any warboss with ease.

Tons of Targeters. For 1 pt a piece, it is worth it to be able to measure like crazy, checking multiple targets before shooting. My suggestion, keep the tape measure in your hand or have multiple on the table.

A Vindicare is just icing on the cake. Kill characters and heavy/special weapons. My recommendation: Put him near the Armoured fist squads. Have him take out anything with a flamer. Keep those Guardsmen safe.

So there you go, a mechanised/deepstriking army with a magnitude of firepower that Rebel Cruisers couldn't repel.