A new year's welcome with some Rats and Templars

Happy new year people! Ok, now back to our scheduled programming. This post was supposed to be about Glottkin's special rules, but it's the start of 2015 and I still haven't shaken off the effects of partying like a madman, so this post will be lighter than usual.

The Glottkin post will be up on wednesday, covering the book's special rules entry. This I promise on Sigmar's mighty beard. However now let us look on some tasty, new things that GW and Forgeworld coocked up for us in January.

The Rats are coming and they are huge! 

The End Times Skaven are almost upon us. Featuring in the 4th EoT installement, our favorite Ratmen will recieve some cool looking models and, hopefully, a fine fluff to match. First of all, the impressive Verminlord is taking internet by storm and quite rightfully so!

Nagash vs Verminlord: there can be only one!

This thing is huge and, as was the case with Nagash and Glottkin, really well detailed. What sets this rodent apart from the previous two, is the fact that it comes in 5 different versions, one for each Skaven Clan. My favorite one is clan Eshin's, just for the sheer hilarity of a 10 meter-tall ninja trying to be stealthy.

Ignore me!

Truth be told, they are all great, and have some really nice rules to boot. Each of them is slightly different of course, but each can be truly devastating, both in combat and magic departments. Being a level 4 Wizard and a CC monster with WS 8, 5 Attacks and I 10 these guys can really pack a punch. Add to this Terror, being Immune to Psychology and Daemonic Attack and you have one, nasty wrecking ball coming to wreck your shit. My advice? Warmachines. Lots and lots of warmachines. Empire and Dwarf players are spoiled in this department, since the ammount of black powder firepower those armies chan churn out is riddicolous. I wonder if those Verminlords, having Daemonic Attack and all, are actually treated as Daemons themselves? Oh well, we'll find out soon enough.

Have a sneak peak of the furry bastard's rules. Well, one of them at least

By the Hand of Dorn!

Now let's get to some WH30K. Templar Brethren and Phalanx Wardens, the elite of the Imperial Fists Legion, have just been released by Forgeworld and all I can say is: THEY ROCK! Each of them is magnificent in all it's templary-glory. Being the elite of the elite of the VIIth Legion, these guys have access to the very best arsenal available to the warriors of the Legiones Astartes, including Power Weapons and Artificer Plate.

Honestly, look at those glorious bastards!

Here's a bit of info about them from the Forgeworld site.

Templar Brethren are the elite of the VIIth Legion. They are guardians of the Temple of Oaths aboard the Imperial Fists' great fortress-ship the Phalanx and the Legion's most highly accomplished warriors. With their superior skill in battle and the finest weapons at their disposal, they are at the spearhead of the Emperor's Crusade to unify Mankind.

The VIIth Legion's warships are defended from boarding assaults by the Phalanx Warders, warriors selected from amongst the best of the Imperial Fists Breacher squads. Staunch and immovable, they are the last line of defence when attack threatens and the first into the fray when the Legion boards enemy vessels.

These two upgrade sets contain an array of heads, torsos, shields and close combat weapons for you to upgrade a squad of Space Marines to Templar Brethren or Phalanx Warders. These squads can form part of an Imperial Fists Legion army in Horus Heresy games, and their rules can be found in The Horus Heresy Book Three – Extermination and Legiones Astartes – Isstvan Campaign Legions. Each set is a multi-part resin upgrade kit.

They are available to pre-order now and will be despatched from Friday 9th January 2015.

Honestly, if I'll ever start a Horus Heresy army, it will almost certainly be the Imperial Fists. The range of their miniatures, combined with incredibly interesting fluff and rules, make them a number one Legion for me. Well, at least until the Ultramarines get here... 

Not only are they a welcome addition to any IF Legion army, but their distinctive look means that any Black Templar player will be more than happy to welcome them into the ranks of his Crusader Host. Oh, and notice the little ornament on the shoulder pads of Phalanx Wardens? It's the symbol of the Executioners chapter, famous for it's involvement in the Badab War. In the audio drama "Templar" by John French, we got the first hint about their origins, thanks to the introduction of ruthless and psychotic captain Fafnir Rann, who helps Sigismund in killing some Word Bearers. Now we see that their reputation was well deserverd, as their predecessors were one of the most dedicated and vicious close combat troops at Rogal Dorn's disposal.

By the way, if you have a chance, you should definetly listen to "Templar". It's a great addition to the Horus Heresy story, showing us the mindset of Dorn's chosen warrior and future leader of the Black Templars chapter. Give it a try, you won't be dissapointed.

Notice his helmet. It's the same as the ones that the Templar Brethren use

So that's all for this post. Coming up next is Glottkin in all it's pus-ridden glory. Better bring some medicine with you, just in case.

Until next time

Xathrodox86