Category: warhammer 40k

Here come the Jokaero

Well I didn’t see that coming…

We are seeing the return of the Jokaero to the Warhammer 40000 universe.

Jokaero are heavyset, orange-furred apes with retractable fingers and toes, similar in appearance to the orang-utans of ancient Terra. Yet this primitive appearance is completely misleading. Jokaero are technosavants without peer and have an instinctive understanding of machinery and technological systems. So great is their skill that they can customise almost any weapon or equipment, giving a group of Henchmen more powerful weapons, better protection or even both at the same time. While outwardly they appear to be unarmed, Jokaero digital weapons can prove to be deadly, whether they choose to use a powerful laser, a flame thrower or a devastating melta weapon.

First seen in the original Rogue Trader Warhammer 40000 rule book, this is the first time an actual miniature has been released. Reminding me slightly of the Librarian from the Discworld novels I think this miniature, as well as working with the Grey Knights and Inquisitors, would also be a handy model to have to use with the Rogue Trader RPG.

They come from the skies…

The Grey Knights are about to descend upon us….

We are about to see the imminent release of the new Grey Knights from Games Workshop and on the GW website is a real taste of what we can expect in this revamping of the Grey Knights. The models are now available to pre-order.

As well as lots of new plastic models, the main difference is the change in emphasis from Daemonhunters to Grey Knights in the new Codex. Previously the focus of the older Codex was with the Inquisition and entourage, with the Grey Knights very much there, but their role was supporting an Inquisitor. From the rumours and recently released pictures, what we will see in this new Codex is the focus now been on the Grey Knights. This Codex is about the Grey Knights and their weapons of war.
As expected the Stormraven is a key part of any Grey Knights force, but we also see some new and interesting models, particularly the Nemsis Dreadknight.

Its powerful weaponry will happily tear through any enemy army, both at range and in assault.

As a 4-Wound Monstrous Creature with the same save as a Terminator armour, the Nemesis Dreadknight’s adamantium-alloy skeleton also lends it incredible durability.

I like it and I don’t like it… probably something I need to see in the flesh (plastic) to see what it really is like. Reminds me of the older Eldar War Walker model.

These new releases may be the impetus I need to finish my own Grey Knights force.

Stormraven, not just for the Blood Angels

Well if this photograph of the back of the Stormraven box is real then the Blood Angels are not the only Space Marines that can use the Stormraven.

As you can see the box has a Grey Knights painted version with lascannons.
Now to be honest I have never been one to follow GW’s doctrine to the letter, if I like a model and want to use it in a particular way then I will (and usually I will ask my opponent’s permission too). If you like the model, I would say buy it and paint it in the colour of your chapter (or legion). Yes it may be “problematic” if you wanted to use it in a tournament, but for me gaming it about gaming and not competitions. Just because a rulebook says that I can’t use a model, doesn’t mean that I can’t use that model. The Warhammer 40K universe is very big and despite the Inquisition, I am sure that in some depths of the universe there are Space Marine chapters and Imperial Guard units using stuff that according to doctrine they shouldn’t. Where needs must and all that.

Actually if you go far enough back in time you can find in old copies of White Dwarf Imperial Guard units using Land Speeders and Rhinos – that was in the days when GW made very few plastic kits and there was no Forge World. So it made sense for all the forces of the Imperium to use the scarce plastic kits available. Alas today where we are awash with plastic kits, GW can now make kits for single chapters that “can’t” be used by others.

So, if you want to use the Stormraven for your Imperial Guard or your chapter of Space Marines, then go ahead and do so. You’re not going to kill the fluff if you do.

Thinking though that one of these Stormravens would make a nice Inquisitorial transport for my Inquisitor – and we know that they would have access to them…