Looking forward to the new series.
https://youtu.be/yQEondeGvKo
What about you?
Category: news
The Squats are back!
In a double bluff April Fool, Games Workshop have confirmed that the Squats are coming back to Warhammer 40000.
It has come to our attention that yesterday’s stunning reveal of the next Warhammer 40,000 faction fell on an unfortunate date. This was an honest mistake that absolutely anyone could have made. To make it up to you, we have a rather special announcement.
They’re real.
Humanity’s long-lost cousins actually are making their return to the 41st Millennium as a full Warhammer 40,000 faction.
The Leagues of Votann are a new faction in Warhammer 40,000 and are by any other name Squats.
Although their civilisation shares common roots with Humanity, the Leagues of Votann have an uneasy relationship with the Imperium of Man. Unlike their superstitious Human cousins, the Leagues emerged from the Age of Strife with far more of their ancient technology intact, including some infamous advances the Imperium would consider extremely heretical.
So expecting to see some powerful and reliable weaponry. We also know that Squats used Rhino transports as well.
Will we see bikes and trikes? These when they were originally released did divide opinion.
What about the Iron Eagle Gyrocopters which function as a fighter-bombers and Overlord Armoured Airships for Aeronautica Imperialis? I can see that at some point we might see models for the Leagues of Votann.
Unlike most other Imperial armies, the Squats don’t build Titans. Instead, the Engineering Guild provides the army with a variety of Praetorian Super Heavy War Engines. Will we see these in Adeptus Titanicus. These would be ideal opposition for Imperial Titans, but I think this is probably a no. We’ve not see Ork Gargants, or Eldar Titans, so unlikely we would see Squat engines of war.
Will Forge World make bigger versions for Warhammer 40,000? Well they already make the termite assault drills, which can be used by Squats. As for the aircraft, maybe, as for the Praetorian Super Heavy War Engines I would have thought not.
I would like to see for Adeptus Titanicus or Warhammer 40,000 the Squat Land Trains, these would be fun models, even if they were released more as terrain rather than unit models.
In the meantime here are some photographs of my Warhammer 40,000 Squats from the last century!
These are original Space Dwarfs, which I enjoyed painting in a particular style, which for some reason included pastel colours.
The bases were enhanced with milliput and then holes were made with the end of the paintbrush.
These also demonstrate my early attempts at blending and highlighting.
There was a real mix of weapons on these old models, from las rifles to bolters to power fists.
I loved the power armour on the leader of my little group of Squats and the Heavy Weapons Dwarf was certainly carrying something probably way too big for him.
I wish I had been able to buy more of these at the time of their release. I much preferred the high-SF scheme I went for compared to the space bikers look that the squats eventually evolved into, before disappearing…
And now they’re back!
Cursed City Returns this March
Announced on Warhammer Community today, Cursed City Returns this March. Warhammer Quest: Cursed City is the an instalment in the smash-hit adventure game franchise.
Join with up to three other players to fight back against the undead scourge infesting the Cursed City, an ancient settlement gripped by a terrible curse thanks to a foolhardy deal struck with vampire lord Radukar the Wolf. Play as one of 8 beleaguered heroes trapped within the ancient city’s walls. Each adventure is a race against time, as when the sun sets the dead grow in power and fall upon anyone unlucky enough to remain in Ulfenkarn’s streets.
A year ago the original boxed game sold out in what felt like minutes when originally released.
I did think about buying it, even though impossible to get through my usual discounted suppliers, another of my FLGS had a copy at full price for a while, so I had a chance. In the end I said no.
This time, hmmm. There is a lot in the box with sixty miniatures and lots of boards and cards.
The thing is I don’t even need to panic worry so much.
Don’t think you’ll be able to grab a copy this March? There’s no need to worry – Cursed City will be receiving a full relaunch later this year, along with some juicy new expansions.
I am still tempted though.
I am also tempted by the re-release of Blackstone Fortress as well.
Decisions, decisions.
Vehicle mayhem in the Ash Wastes
So with the recent Las Vegas preview we were treated to a Necromunda animation in which which we were not only introduced to the ash wastes, but also saw this (prospective) new model.
I have no idea what it is.
However the preview talked about convoys through the ash wastes. Attacks by other gangs, creatures and granulated vehicular combat.
It looks like some kind of land train.
We have seen the wheels before in the rumour engine.
It looks like it could have lots of uses, outside Necronmunda as well. I am liking the look of this of Necromunda land train thingy.
As you might expect, no idea about release date, more details, how this is all going to end up. I suspect there may be a big box release which I might get.
What about you?
Dire Wolf Heavy Scout Titan
A new model of an Adeptus Titanicus titan has been announced, a Dire Wolf Heavy Scout Titan.
Is that a Warhound? Is it a Reaver? No, it’s a Dire Wolf Heavy Scout Titan, an all-new variation of the Warhound Scout Titan with a big old extra gun right above the cockpit. And it’s disturbingly good at ambushes. It introduces a bundle of new armaments, including two carapace weapon options – the armour-busting neutron laser and the old, reliable volcano cannon. On top of that, it sports twin Ardex defensor mega-bolters.
This is a nice looking Titan and looks like it will be a useful addition to any titan battleforce.
The Dire Wolf Heavy Scout Titan will be available from Forge World later in the year
Battlezone Fronteris Terrain
I have to say, I do like the Battlezone Fronteris Terrain which was announced on the Warhammer Community site.
This battlezone is designed to give you a range of new terrain for your battles on frontier worlds or to add a little bit more militaristic utility to your existing gaming tables. It includes STC Hab-Bunkers, a Landing Pad, Vox-Antenna, Auspex Shrine, plus a selection of stockades, and will soon be available as a complete battlezone and in a variety of smaller kits.
The new scenery looks very SF but much more functional than the gothic type terrain we have seen in previous releases.
This is something I would put on my shopping list.
Asuryani Vampire Flyers for Aeronautica Imperialis
Was really only yesterday that we had the announcement about new Necron flyers for Aeronautica Imperialis. Today was have another Forge World Aeronautica Imperialis released announced, this time for the Asuryani.
We will be getting the Vampire Raider and the Vampire Hunter.
The Vampire Raider is a large Asuryani atmospheric craft, but its speed and agility belie its size.
Armed with twin-linked shuriken cannons and a nose-mounted scatter laser as standard, it can put out an impressive 17 shots at close range, all while carrying its load of jump troops to their drop site.
I love the mention of jump troops, part of me with my wishful thinking, is we will see those jump troops in a expansion of ground forces for Adeptus Titanicus (a future Epic or Space Marine game). The rational realist in me says, no, won’t happen.
The Vampire Hunter is a similar craft, it though replaces the Raider’s troop compartment with phoenix missile launchers, meaning it’s the ideal heavy ground attack bomber.
It’s also armed with a twin-linked pulsar instead of the shuriken cannon, making it absolutely deadly at long range.
Suspect that like the Necron flyers, this will be a single kit with the option to build either version.
Unlike the Necrons I may actually order these models to go with the Eldar, sorry Asuryani, flyers I already have on my workbench.
The Necrons are flying in
So announced today for pre-order next week (from Forge World) are some nice new Necron flyers for Aeronautica Imperialis.
Each set contains two planes buildable as either Night Shroud bombers or Doom Scythe fighters. The former possess speed and manoeuvrability akin to the fighters of lesser races, dropping deadly doom spheres with unerring accuracy, while the latter shred rival interceptors with a powerful death ray.
The kit allows you to either model. The Night Shroud is akin to the fighters of other forces.
The Doom Scythe is a heavier aircraft armed with a powerful death ray.
Though I like the look of the models, I think this is a purchase I will probably either leave to a later date, or not make at all.
Also announced is the Aeronautica Imperialis Companion.
The perfect addition to your games of airborne combat in the 41st Millennium is here in the form of Aeronautica Imperialis – Companion. This expansion collects new rules, aircraft, and factions, along with existing content previously found within White Dwarf magazine, allowing you to field squadrons from the Necrons, Asuryani, and Adeptus Astartes. Experience a deeper dogfighting experience with detailed expanded damage rules, new Ace abilities, and the challenges of limited ammunition. Novice and experienced commanders alike can use these rules to revolutionise their Aeronautica Imperialis games across a suite of new matched play scenarios.
Bringing in rules from across various sources and White Dwarf along with new rules, means this is a book I probably will buy.
Top Ten Blog Posts 2021
In 2021 I went at writing and posting, but not as many as in 2020, this year I published regularly, apart from a lull at the end of the summer. So in 2021 I published 162 blog posts. In 2020 I posted 436 blog posts, in 2019 I did 143 blog posts. Compare that to 2018 when I wrote just 21 blog posts. However due to the continuing lockdown in 2021 I didn’t visit any museums or go to any shows. So that will probably mean less posting in 2022 compared to 2020.
Here are my top ten blog posts in reverse order. As is typical most posts are from previous years.
The tenth most popular post was from 2006 and was showing the Kroot Knarloc Riders from the Forgeworld Display Cabinets at GamesDay 2006.
Ninth was from 2020 and was some photographs of the Sokar Pattern Stormbird at Warhammer World.
The post at number eight was a post from 2019 about Making the Ork Megatrakk Scrapjet which I had got for Christmas, alas it is still on the workbench.
Seventh post was from 2005 and was when I managed to buy the Limited Edition 40K scale Inquisitor Model (got one) from my local branch of Games Workshop.
Post number six was was also from 2005 and was some photographs of the original Forge World Forgeworld Ork Battlefortress taken at GamesDay 2005.
When this model first came out, I was not a great fan. Having seen the model quite a few times I now quite like it and if I could afforded it I would have got one. Alas it is now OOP and has been for sometime.
The fifth post from 2009 when I bought the Ork Battlewagon Upgrade Pack for my plastic Ork Battlewagon.
The most popular post at number four was from 2020 and was photographs of Astra Militarum Super Heavy Tanks taken on my most last visit to Warhammer World.
In September 2009 Forge World announced a range of new Ork vehicles including the splendid Kill Krusha ‘Eavy Tank. Back in April at the Forge World Open Day I snapped a few Ork Kill Krusha ‘Eavy Tank Concepts and these I published on the blog in 2010. This post was the third most popular blog post.
The second most viewed post, was from 2020 and asked What next for Aeronautica Imperialis? I started to think about which models I would get next, and that got me thinking what we have seen that still needs to be released and also what could be released in the future and what I would like to see in the future as well.
The most popular blog post some photographs from GamesDay 2008 of a Dwarf City under attack.
Overall I was pleased with the amount of blogging that I did in 2021.
Over the last eighteen months or so I have been converting and moving pages over from my old website to the new one on which the blog lived. As a result there are now 1150 pages on the website (along with nearly five thousand blog posts). The main difference between the two kinds are that pages are structured and undated, whilst the blog posts (though tagged and categorised) are in chronological order.
I have done a regular top ten blog posts article every year now for a fair few years, but going through the stats this time I noticed that there were a lot of popular pages as well.
Quiet
Apologies for the lack of posting in the blog over the last couple of months, I have been busy with other things. Hope to be posting a bit more now.
