Forgeworld New Releases - Armored Land Raider Proteus

Forgeworld has released another Land Raider variant.  This time, an up-armored Land Raider Proteus, showing the evolution of the Land Raider.  The price tag is heavy.  $133.50.   I will get one as I collect Land Raiders, but still, that is a lot!

From Forgeworld:

The ancient and venerable Land Raider has served the Adeptus Astartes since its earliest beginnings, and many variants and patterns are recorded in the data-stacks of Mars. Adepts of the hallowed Adeptus Mechanicus collectively refer to the oldest of these as the ‘Proteus’ patterns, and examples of these mighty armoured vehicles that survive into the dark days of the 41st Millennium are held in the highest regard, war-relics beyond compare to the Chapters that possess them.

Believed by certain war-savants to be an example of sacred machine-evolution, the Land Raider Armoured Proteus displays early features of the MkIIb Land Raider, enclosing its twin-linked lascannons in bulky armoured sponsons and adding to this formidable anti-armour firepower with a limited traverse twin-linked heavy bolter recessed into the forward hull armour.

Dark Angels Fellblade

Norway's Johannes Flem (Joey) produced the following AMAZING Fellblade using Tom McBride's parts.  here is what he wrote:

Some time back, I had an absolute ball making a Dark Angels Fellblade using Tom's awesome parts. And while I do have a fair share of Dark Angels, my buddy Marw plays his Dark Angels way more often. So it seemed a better idea to sell him the unpainted model and let him field it. Here's Marw's finished Fellblade. I must say he painted it way better than I'd have, and it came out just like I hoped it would.

Mako Assault Speeder from Blood and Skulls Industry

The second of two Jet Bikes from Tom McBride, aka Machinator, the man behind Blood and Skulls Industry.  I prefer this one and plan to order a bunch for my army.

From Tom:

The first set of prototype molds are complete but they is still some tweaking and clean up to do before I make the production molds. However, here is a fully assembled one to give you an idea how they look:

GW Advance Orders - Space Marine and Dark Eldar Megaforces

Games Workshop has come out with two good deals for Christmas.

The Space Marine Megaforce is a great deal at $ 215 as it has $ 328 worth of kits in it.  You basically get a lot of the basics, though I question the Land Speeder Storm, over a standard Land Speeder.  Here is what is in the set:

Space Marine Commander

5-man Command Squad

20 Tactical Marines

5 Space Marine Scouts

Land Speeder Storm

Venerable Dreadnought

Drop Pod

Land Raider Crusader.

The Dark Eldar Megaforce is also a great deal at $ 215 as it has $ 328.75 worth of Dark Eldar in it (funny how that is the # GW picked - $ 328 for each Megaforce)

10 Dark Eldar Kabalite Warriors

20 Dark Eldar Wyches

9 Reaver Jetbikes, 

5 Scourges

Venom

Raider

Ravager gunship

Talon Assault Speeder from Blood and Skulls Industry

Everyone on the Apocalypse40K forum knows Tom McBride, aka Machinator as the man behind Blood and Skulls Industry.  He keeps cranking out cool stuff and now he has produced a jet bike for all you Pre-Heresy fanatics.

From Tom:

The first set of prototype molds are complete but they is still some tweaking and clean up to do before I make the production molds. However, here is a fully assembled one to give you an idea how they look:

Tau Rumors

Compiled by Tastyfish on Warseer

Cypher on Heresy Online - April 2011

All current metal sets to be plastic (Pathfinders, Krootox, Vespids). New plastics are completed for Crisis Suits, Stingwings and Pathfinders.

Plastic Barracuda as well as a new unit choice, which will be a new alien race (insert your fantasy here).

Battle Suits - plug and play system. Essentially streamlined. Pick two guns and a skill or two skills and a gun. New models with interchangeable arms similar to Killa Kans?

Rule Changes

HQ and Troops
HQ choices are used to unlock units for troops, so a commander in a Crisis Suit unlocks Crisis Suits as troops, an Etheral unlocks Fire Warriors, Shaper unlocks Kroot.

Crisis Suits
Mostly same stats but now 3 wounds, come with every gun option and you can choose what weapon systems you fire every round. Max squad size x 5

Broadsides
Can take Network Markerlights instead of the missiles on their arms

Hammerhead Railgun
Draws a line across the table hitting everything under it. Multiple penetration through vehicles, only stopped by a glancing hit.

Shield Generator
Only team leaders can take a shield generator. The shield generator functions exactly like the DE Shadowfield. 2+ invulnerable save until the first failed save at which point it ceases to work.

Drones
No longer bought as Wargear. They are bought as a unit and then divided as you see fit at the start of the match. You can mix your drones when bought for the point cost needed. This caters for Drone Squadrons as an option.

Markerlight
One markerlight can fire the seekers off one model. Seekers replenish and are no longer one use items. Skyrays will only be able to fire one seeker per round.


BoLS - April 2011

1. Kroot HQ is in the works!
2. Kroot to get own transport (Devilfish will no longer be able to transport Kroot)
3. Kroot will get light armor saves (6+)
4. Kroot shaper will allow for the unit to have a special genetic trait.
5. Firewarrior carbine to get a grenade launcher (either explosive or EMP)
6. Vespids reworked and getting a Heavy unit
7. Firewarrior BS increased to 4
8.Crisis suits will get “hit and run” ability
9. Various changes to Firewarrior equipment
10. Various changes to Crisis suit equipment
11. New Prototypes
12. 4th edition prototypes now “standard” equipment for all suits
13. All HQ’s can act as a commander
14. New type of “Heavy” Battlesuit (new prototype of the Broadside)
15. Stealth suits will be changed to a advanced scout unit similar to Pathfinders
16. Pathfinders will be changed to act as a type of Tau Commando infantry

Now on to Ghost's more recent rumours
...which primarily cover new non-Tau models. Because there's so many, I've split them up and tried to connect the dots between the hints and match them against each other - my thoughts and interpretations are in italics

General Codex rumours
Not the next book, but probably after Black Templars

Author may be Phil Kelly

Army has 4 basic HQs and 3 basic troop choices excluding changes made by any Special Characters if there are any

Return of 4 old SC, plus 2-4 new ones

No Court of the Archon/henchmen type mixed units

New Tau models
New SC "Iceheart"

Crisis suits have been completely redesigned (not just recut sprues and ankle tweaks), less boxy and including a 'morphic weapon'

New sniper suit

Shas'O get a stealth armour option, may be an experimental suit like Shadowsuns, or the experimental suit might be a third option

Allies and Auxiliaries

Vespids get two slots (unknown if this is an additional two, or two overall). Kroot get an additional unit

No Knarloc riders,though perhaps something big (new WFB monster-szied) for the Kroot

Maybe minor psychic powers for Shapers or Shaper like character this is something Ghost has heard from other people and not stated directly

Demiurg have 1 HQ, 1 troop and maybe 1 else. Presumably the Elite choice mentioned elsewhere

Demiurg ancients are a thing Probably HQ, but could also be the elite unit

Possible Demiurg elite choice

Demiurg are "equal to banshees without the scream" so presumably anti-armour close combat, or at least have that as an option. This might also be elite unit rather than the troop one, or be a unit that does both - like a kit that would let you make Boyz and Ard Boyz (or Dwarfs and Longbeards). An elite unit, but being an upgrade to a troop slot to keep out the way of the battlesuits

Demiurg and one other new race join the army, the latter being something bizarre or at least something we've not seen before.

No Gue'vesa unit or models

No Nicassar

Updates!

4 box sets, and 4 blisters in wave 1

Demiurg plastic box
Battlesuit plastic box
Vespid plastic box
Assault transport(?)

Demiurg ancient blister
New Tau SC blister

Demiurg are apparently a lot less Dwarfish than the initial concepts, instead being more like little stone golems (Ozruk from WoW was mentioned)
As a tongue in cheek nod to the fate of the squats, there is a named Demiurg (who may or may not make it as a SC) who survived fighting Tyranids and personally killed a large monster by drilling his way out after being "Swallowed up by the 'Nids"
This Demiurg is aware that the Ethereals have some kind of power over the Tau (maybe other races too) but not the Demiurg, who have presumably signed up for political reasons and of their own free will

Stealth suit mechanics may change
Kroot fieldcraft rule - presumably switched to Stealth and Infiltrate USR
4 new 'Tau' units*: Note these will not all probably be in the first release - there's 2-3 plastic kits here and we already know 3 for the 4 that are coming out.
Dropship (carries upto 15 models or 2 battlesuits and 10 models, or 5 battlesuits)
Fighter
Snipersuits
"Ubersuit"

The Ubersuit is a Battletech/Mechwarrior sort of thing (probably Dreadknight sized), with a special 'ridiculous' ability that lets it rain down shooting if it stands still.
Looks a bit like one of the Battletech Mechs that is named after an ancient weapon

Puppets War releases new items

Well, Puppets War may be a weird name, but they have been on an absolute roll releasing new products.

Two great releases for the current GW range. 

WALKER GATLING GUN ARMS

CYBER BEETLES

You know what they are for!

Alec

The Apocalypse World Records - 2011

 Time to start talking World Records again!  So here they are:

These records were initially collected and kept by Siegeworld, the guys who started the mega-apocalypse games.  Siegeworld is a founding member of the Apocalypse40K forums and their records have been recognized by all the major Apocalypse clubs.  These records are kept in a special thread on the Apocalypse40K Forum and reprinted here.

Most Points in a Single Game

This requires all models to participate in a continuous game on one table interconnected or otherwise. All models must be painted (3 colors + based) and the game must last 4+ turns over an unbroken time period (eg-with some breaks, but no "pause and come back the next day"). 

The Big Game, Los Angeles Battle Bunker, January 22, 2011,   739,247

(The previous record for the Biggest Apocalypse Game was 382,000 by Siegeworld)

Most Points in a Single Battle

Same as Most Points in a Single Game, but models don't need to be painted, and one or more discontinuous tables. Anything goes so long as it is interrelated and simultaneous.  No turn requirements.

The Big Game, Los Angeles Battle Bunker, January 22, 2011,  864,057

(The previous record for the Biggest Apocalypse Battle was 520,000 by GMI games)

Most Points in a Single Battle - Multiple Locations

Same as Most Points in a Single Battle, but allows for multi-location play.

The Big Game, January 22, 2011,  22 locations in 5 countries  2,310,835 points

Note that this record has just been added so that record The Big Game set on January 22nd at 22 locations, is distinguished from a single location battle.  Siegeworld agreed that a multiple location event should have a different record from a single location event since it wouldn't be fair for one location to have to compete with multiple locations for a record.  Plus, we all want everyone competing for different records and pushing the limits!

Most Minis in a Single Battle

See Most Points in a Single Battle (single location). Same restrictions apply. This record is anything goes so long as it is interrelated and simultaneous. A miniature is counted as any piece which has its own base or does not use a base. Essentially, if it can be moved on its own (thus a swarm base is a single miniature). 

The Big Game, Los Angeles Battle Bunker,  January 22, 2011  18,592

(The previous record for the most minis in a Single Battle was 6,500 by Siegeworld)

Most Tank Models in a Single Battle


Anything with an AV, MCs, and GCs count as one, so long as they're painted. Single battlefield as per the first record and no turn limit.  

GW Manchester UK holds the title with 2,562 models.

 

The World's Biggest Apocalypse Game - More locations announced!

January 21 is the date for The Big Game II: The Big Game Strikes Back!  The world's biggest Apocalypse game!

More and more game stores and gaming clubs are joining in The Big Game II.  Any game club or store can participate!  Information is on the Apocalypse40K forums or email me at alec@propworx.com.   

Here are some more locations.

Apoc-Eclipse in North Carolina and run by Apocalypse veteran Matt Plonski will be participating again.

Dark Sphere Gaming in London, England, will be participating again.  You can get information on their site.

Phantom of the Attic Games, in Ukiah, CA will be hosting a game. Sword and Board, located at 295 N State St, in Ukiah, Ca. is owned and operated by Casey McNamara(recently ranked 2nd in 40K nationwide tournament circuit) Many players at this location belong to the Powers of the North 40k Group.  You can find them on facebook.

Max Mini releases Ork Tank

Max Mini has released what they call a "Scrap Tank", but is clearly an Ork Tank.  It is just under 4" long and costs about $ 60, which is a bit expensive I think.  But pretty cool none the less.

Forgeworld New Releases - Eldar Phantom Power Glaive

Two new releases from Forgeworld today.  

ELDAR PHANTOM TITAN POWER GLAIVE

Phantom Titans are deployed when the threat is dire indeed, and the weaponry of these mighty Titans varies depending on the nature of the foe they will face. When ranged against enemy super-heavy walkers a Steersman will commonly arm his Titan with a Phantom Power Glaive, a long and shimmering sword similar in appearance to those wielded by Eldar Aspect Warriors, using the Phantom’s speed and agility to close with and destroy their opponents. 

Designed by Will Hayes, the Phantom Power Glaive is etched with Eldar runes to draw doom upon its hapless opponents, and also features a twin-linked Starcannon. This weapon can be mounted on either of the Phantom’s arms. This full resin weapon is available to pre-order now for despatch in the week commencing 28th November. The rules for this weapon can be found in Warhammer 40,000: Apocalypse.

IRILLYTH PHOENIX LORD OF THE SHADOW SPECTRES

Once a disciple of Asurmen, first of the Eldar Phoenix Lords, Irillyth the Shade of Twilight founded the Shrine of the Shadow Spectres on the Craftworld of Mymeara. Drawn to the small Craftworld in response to a vision of doom and horror, Irillyth gifted the skills of stealth, swiftness and all-consuming firepower to the warriors of Mymeara. After many years, the Phoenix Lord led a great war host to the legend-shrouded world of Bethalmae to destroy a race that would, many thousands of years later, arise to threaten Craftworld Mymeara. Neither he nor any of his warhost ever returned to the Craftworld, and with the loss of their Phoenix Lord the Shadow Spectre aspect fell into decline.

Complete resin kit model designed by Simon Egan. The full background for this resurrected Phoenix Lord will be featured in Imperial Armour Volume 11: The Doom of Mymeara. Experimental rules for Irillyth can be downloaded here.

This model is available to pre-order now for despatch in the week commencing 28th November

Apocalypse Battle Report

Andrew Lotz submitted this Apocalypse battle report.

Some buddies and I got together over the weekend for a quick Apoc game (12,000 points). My Imperial Guard and a buddy's Raptors Space Marines versus a Nurgle CSM, Tyranid, and Space Wolves alliance. I figured I'd share some fun photos and the storyline.

Cheers.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Transmission Code: Beta 377U9K++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++][+++++++++++++++++++++++++Attention: Ordos Malleus++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++][+++

+++][+++++++++++++++++++++++++Attention: Ordos Xenos+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++][+++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Report: Al-Arach 52nd Regiment+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Re: Heretical Plague Indicators++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Action Report: Al-Arach 52nd Infantry Regiment, Lt. Colonel Eugustine

Location: Ionna, Third Moon of Dagurius Prime, Segmentum Secundus

Imperial Disposition of Forces: Al-Arach 52nd Infantry Regiment, Al-Arach 4th Armored Company, 1/2 Company of Adeptus Astartes (designation: Raptors)

Memorandum:

My men of the Al-Arach 52nd Infantry were dispatched as part of an Imperial task force to Ionna, the Third Moon of Dagurius Prime, eight years ago to combat a minor infestation of xenos that was discovered on the lunar surface (ref. Xenos order 8J88N-52). The xenos (suspected designation: splinter of Hive Fleet Leviathan that remained dormant until recently) had begun gestating in underground lairs under the habital lunar surface, and the Imperial colony on the moon was attacked. Our response had been effective, and the campaign to eliminate the xenos was nearly complete as of this report.

Sensors reported the arrival of a single light cruiser in the system, no designation. Attempts to contact the cruiser resulted only in static and a sound like the buzzing of flies. Dispatched observers spotted a number of landing craft heading from the cruiser's low orbit position toward the central area of xenos infestation on the moon. I contacted Captain Argus of the Raptors, and we mobilized the central elements of our forces to pursue the landing craft and intercept the interlopers.

As we approached the site, we found a most curious spectacle. A greenish haze lay over the battlefield, and huge shapes were moving toward us. I ordered rebreather protocols of all my forces, and we formed a solid battle-line in order to deal with the threat. I assumed that it was just another surge of xenos bio-monstrousities, which my forces were well-prepared to eliminate. Unfortunately, the new arrivals had changed things.

The Imperial battle-line was formed quickly, ready to intercept the xenos in the usual pattern. Note the Hellstorm Squadron of Hellhounds supporting the 4th Armored Company's Stormlord. The Al-Arach armory is specially equipped to handle "living wave" style xenos threats, with our extensive use of promethium and volume of fire equipment.

Out of the mist came more than just our now-familiar xenos threat. A number of Rhino-pattern APCs were leading the way. As the first ones neared, we saw markings like I had never seen before.

As the vehicles drew closer, we saw two things that horrified us. First, some of the Rhinos sprouted gruesome tentatcles, or were drenched in a strange sticky greyish tar-like material that seemed to warp and flow before our very eyes. One of the vehicles, a Vindicator, was reported to seem almost "alive", the strange tar moving and shaping like a face atop the armored surface of the vehicle. The second, and more horrible fear, was that the wave of power armor-clad warriors striding behind these rhinos had a familiar designation: the heraldry of Leman Russ' Space Wolves. 

While my 52nd company and the 4th armored made a huge dent in the waves of xenos creatures, the APCs disgorged a set of passengers we were wholly unprepared for: strange, power armor wearing foes covered in boils. It was if a cloud of flies had been unleashed from the Rhinos as well as these immense and strangely silent warriors. Then to our horror, right in front of the 4th armored battle line, a few of these unknown warriors went into convulsions. It was if their bodies expanded outword, or something inside of them burst out of them. Suddenly, three huge entities stood before our tanks, their weeping pustules leaving a wake of brownish contamination on the land. Even more horrifying, the xenos behind them seemed to ignore them--it was if the strange chemical toxins in the air were affecting the xenos, causing their hive mind to follow the commands of these poisonous perversions of reality.

The battle was then joined in earnest. The Raptors, who were fighting on the right flank of our forces, were strangely silent about the nature of their opponents--those power armored warriors in heraldry that appeared similar to that of the Space Wolves. A few reports, particularly from the targeting crew of the 4th armored's Baneblade, suggested that the men were indeed Space Wolves Astartes, but with a horrible greenish pallor. What sort of disease would cause even the mighty Astartes to turn on their allies? I dispatched Commissar Allen to remove that gunner from active duty, given the heretical claims of his report.

The battle became more and more desperate. While the Raptors turned their whole fury on the so-called "Space Wolves", my forces were left to deal with the rampaging creatures of pure disease, as well as the tide of xenos that seemed to be bound to their chemical miasma. I saw the foes first-hand, when a pair of heavily-armored heretical foes teleported just behind my position, their bodies alive with twisting guns and horrific weaponry. They managed to dispatch our Deathstrike missile launcher before it could fire, but the weight of my men's accurate lasgun volleys managed to tear down these two horrors in return.

Meanwhile the huge chemical beasts assaulted the pride and joy of the 4th armored, their Stormlord tank. While the Baneblade hammered the foe without a single scratch, the Stormlord had every single weapon torn off in a frenzy of claws and chemical erosion.

Our more mobile forces, meanwhile, were ahead dispatching the xenos to the best of their ability. The Hellstorm squadron proved to be effective as usual, burning all sizes of bio-beasts to a cinder in righteous, purging flame. Only the very largest of the bio-monstrousities could survive the blaze, and even then some of them fell to the cooking heat of the promethium.

While the 4th armored was ravaged by the assault, my 52nd infantry company managed to unload enough firepower to demolish almost all of the foul, disease-ridden abominations assaulting our position. The battle churned onward, with a stalemate being reached on the right flank between the Raptors and the combined forces of the plagued ones and the Space Wolves impostors. Then as suddenly as they had come, the plagued forces began to draw back. We watched them as they cleared the battlefield, the hunched warriors apparently taking samples from both the xenos as well as harvesting organs from the fallen Astartes warriors. We fired at the landing ships that surged out of the mist to carry the disease-ridden warriors back to their cruiser, but their atmospheric shields kept them well defended. The Raptors, in their rage at fighting the so-called Space Wolves, neglected their usual maneuverable air support and the heretical Plague Marines were able to escape with whatever results they had hoped for in the mission.

I fear that this was but a trial assault, some plan to use chemical agents to pervert the minds of upstanding Imperial citizens (I had to order 47 of my own soldiers to be eliminated in the following weeks for various signs of heretical perversion--however the use of proper rebreather protocol managed to stop most of the heretical infections). As to whether those were infected heretical Space Wolves, the Raptors were not sharing and I did not pursue the matter further. What was horrifying, is that the chemical agents also seemed to be effective on the Tyranid xenos threat. Whether the chemical just masked the plagued warriors from tyranid senses, or whether the beasts were under their full control, remains to be seen. I can only hope it is the latter.

Lt. Colonel Eugustine
Al-Arach 52nd Infantry Regiment

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Transcription Servitor Liquidated+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Transmission Code: Beta 377U9K END++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Lord Inquisitor trailer released!

The Lord Inquisitor is a truly amazing piece of animation has been under way by a group from Germany.  Kind of puts Ultramarines to shame.  Watch this!!

 

Orc Warbus from Puppets War

Puppets War has proven the most consistent and reliable resin accessory/model maker for 40K players and their new Orc War bus is awesome!  And at $ 34, very reasonable.

Which can be built as a Truk as well.

Scibor adds Roman Legion (read Adeptus Custodes) accessories

Scibor has a ton of miniatures that you can use for 40K and their conversion kits are perfect for spicing up your army.  They have analogs for Dark Angels, Space Wolves, Chaos, Spartans, Egyptians and impressively, Adeptus Custodes.  Their "Roman Legionaire" line has some great pieces and they just came out with a new line of customization pieces.

SF Roman Weapons set (NEW)

28mm SF Roman Legionary Veteran #1 

28mm SF Roman Legionary Veteran #2

28mm SF Roman Legionary Veteran #3

28mm SF Roman Legionary Standard

28mm SF Roman Centurion

28mm SF Roman General

28mm SF Roman Legionaries Veterans set 

SF Roman Legionaries Bodies Set 1

SF Roman Legionaries Bodies Set 2

Forgeworld New Releases - Mk 1C Rhino, Reinforced Armor, Minotaur doors

Well, Forgeworld will not let up!  I haven't even had the chance to save up for the last batch of new stuff and the masters of resin hit us with more cool stuff.  Of course, the Space Marines are seeing all the love as usual, which is fine by me.  

The MkiC Deimos Pattern Rhino continues the push towards more Horus Heresy era kits.   

From Forgeworld:

The ubiquitous Rhino Armoured Personnel Carrier is a mainstay of the Space Marine Chapters, and has been in continuous use for over ten thousand years. Its true origins are more distant still, and ancient records mention the RH1-N-0 Tracked Exploration and Multi-purpose Defence Vehicle accompanying explorator missions during Mankind’s Golden Age. Later, as the armies of the Imperium marched across the galaxy, the Rhino was re-armed and re-purposed for military use, and remains a mainstay of its might to this day. There are many patterns and designs of this robust vehicle, and the MkIc Deimos Pattern Rhino is amongst one of the oldest variants, first issued en-masse to the Space Marine Legions of the Great Crusade. 

This pattern is armed with two turret-mounted bolters, slaved to the target-logis systems of the Rhino’s machine spirit, rather than the pintle-mounted storm bolter seen on the later MkIIc design that was more readily adopted after the Horus Heresy. The MkIc Deimos Pattern Rhino, designed by Daren Parrwood, is a complete resin and plastic kit that contains a standard Games Workshop Rhino kit as well as sufficient resin conversion components to construct the MkIc Deimos Pattern variant. This detailed and evocative kit is available to pre-order now for despatch in the week commencing 28th November. The rules for the Rhino can be found in Codex: Space Marines.

Rhino / Predator Reinforced Armor

Previously released in the early days of Forgeworld, this kit has been retooled and is pretty beefy!

Minotaur Rhino and Land Raider Doors