The Mighty Stardrake Rises, Space Marines and Warzone Fenris Continues...

Hello there everyone! It’s a pretty light weekend for Games Workshop but at least we get to see the new Stormcast dragon in all it’s magnificent glory! The Extremis Chamber is open and here come the Stardrakes!

The retribution of the heavens given form!

Get a load of this – the Stardrake, massive, cold-blooded destroyer that the Extremis Chambers love to unleash, swoops into the pre-order fray today. Huge, reptilian creatures with vast wings and serpentine necks, noble of aspect and filled with celestial magic, ridden into battle by the strongest and most powerful warriors of the Stormcast Eternals Extremis Chamber, these fearsome creatures of Order can tear apart even the most berserk champion of Chaos in mere seconds. 

Have a look at a video of his scaly magnificence:

The greatest Stormcast Eternals of the Extremis Chambers ride to war on Stardrakes, celestial beings infused with the power of their stellar god Dracothion. With a roar like thunder they descend from the Heavens to bring salvation to the Mortal Realms.

You can built this mighty beast with a Lord-Celestant on his back, or as a Drakesworn Templar; each are powerful warriors of Sigmar you’re going to love fielding... The Stardrake itself, an imposingly large model, features different shoulder armour and head options, wing positions, and ruined terrain on the supplied Citadel 170x105mm Oval base.

A Lord-Celestant on Stardrake; leaders of the Extremis Chamber, commanding the very power of the stars themselves, they carry either a tempestos hammer or stormbound blade and sigmarite shield.

This is a massive new kit – I can’t wait to see what other hobbyist are going to do with it! I’m really interested in the wings and if they are re-positional or not. I’m sure with some creative cutting and green stuff they will be. I do like the different weapon options but I’m also hopeful that the rider can be bit-bashed and bit-swapped with some of the the other stormcast kits. But I really like the body of the dragon – it looks more like the Fyreslayer’s Magmadroth with the beefier, elongated look. I think these new kits are a vast improvement over the old dragons...

A Drakesworn Templar, the retribution of the heavens given form, armed with either a tempest axe, arc hammer, or stormlance and skybolt bow.

Also in today's Webstore Blog we got this video:

Warhammer 40,000: Imperial Space Marine 2016

That's right... your favourite plastic armie is about to turn 30!! And there it is from a french promotional flyer:

“Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of SPACE MARINES”

“Exclusive Figure”

“Many Events”

“and much more”

The big question for me is are we talikng about a FREE promotional Space Marine? Or is there going to be a limited edition one you can buy? If GW is seeing this as a blackout date and all staff is required to be on hand – I would expect there to be a lot of stuff going on. Previous blackout dates have corresponded with the launch of Deathwatch, Betrayal at Calth, and Age of Sigmar for example.

Here’s the previous rumors on what was up for April 16th:

via captain citadel (BoLS)

“A mate of mine passed along that GW has blacked out the following dates for their store employees: Feb 28, Apr 16, and May 7th. I assume that means big releases on those dates.”

Speaking of space marines rumours... One GW author loves to tease the community. You Space Wolves folks will want to see this:

Black Library author Robbie MacNiven, keeps a 40K themed Warhammer 40,000 tumblr blog where he occasionally drops hints. He has been knee deep in working on an upcoming Space Wolves (and Space Sharks) novels and just dropped this image a couple of days back:

Oh boy ...

Let’s hope this means the sequel to Curse of the Wulfen is coming back sooner than later. The big question is – exactly when…
As said before, light week from Games Workshop... Maybe they are gearing up for something BIG in the next couple of weeks… So far this is what is know:

• Lost Patrol is Q2 (June 2016)
• Reported Age of Sigmar board game in Q2-3 (Summer 2016)
• Build & Play Series is Q4 (November 2016)
• Reported sequel to Betrayal at Calth in Q4 2016
• Blood Bowl in 2017

It looks like GW is swing back hard into the standalone boardgames that all tie into their existing “big-line games” this year. They are truly returning to their 1990s roots... I guess that's all for now. Thank you for your time and hoping to write to you soon.

Joaquim de Oliveira

Come, warriors ! Come, dogs of Sigmar...

This publication was only possible thanks to:

GW
and
BoLS (Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4)

What's to Come: Stormcast Dragons and... Lost Patrol?

Hello there my friends! The Dracoth Cavalry maybe riding in this weekend but they are the Heralds of things to come... like the HUGE new Dragon for the Stormcasts, and also, are we going to witness the return of an "old" board game? Lets check it out!

There is no place like home... there is no place like home...

In the AoS front: As if ridding dracoths wasn´t enough, the Stormcast Eternals now are riding Stardrakes into battle! Come see the latest pics from WD's next issue:

Yes, this guy is really, really big!

If you’re looking for the “scale” of this model – compared to the Dracoth Riders in these pics you can see this new Dragon Kit is going to be a giant! It’s definitely on par with the Magmadroth from the Fyreslayers and looks to dwarf the Celestant Prime is size. 

And yes, there are rules for both modes...

First off we see the “standard” model: a Drakesworn Templar:

Click to enlarge it!

Next up is the big hero version: a Lord-Celestant on Stardrake:

Click to enlarge it!

Ok, so on the templar you get the rules for all four weapons options. Cavernous Jaws just eats models whole and can do it multiple times a turn! AWESOME!

For the Lord Celestant, the Lord of the Celestial Host will buff up your entire Extremis Chamber force on the table... But check this pictures for more details:

Buy! Must buy!

This kit is certainly “comparable in size to Archaon”... it’s HUGE! It looks like you’ll get two different heads for the Stardrake and the rider is coming with different weapons as well – You can make either a Drakesworn Templar or a Lord-Celestant riding one of these awesome star-wyrms. The scales of these Stardrakes is truly impressive and the kit is perfect for a showcase or centerpiece model. I wonder how Chaos is going to stop these things in the Realmgate series…

 No matter, we also have next week’s GW releases...  Is your wallet ready?

Products & Prices

GW Studio

• Stormcast Eternals Stardrake £85 (or 120€ or $140)

Black Library

• Eye of Terra: Horus Heresy Novel Compilation $30
• Realmgate Wars: Beasts of Cartha $17.50

Forge World

• Legion Astartes Red Book: £32

Ok, the Star Drake is £85, which is clocking in 15 pounds cheaper than Archaon’s £100, but GW will expect you to buy multiples of the Drake (at least 2, right?). I think we can all agree that the Archaon Everchosen mini is a more impressive and well conceived mini than the Star-Drake.

Either way, this is going to be an amazing centerpiece model for any Stormcast Eternals Army and I want to wait to see it in 360 views as soon as possible! And. also in next week's HD issue we have the following teaser:

“Next Issue: The forces of Order unite against the Gorechosen!”

Hmmm, the “Gorechosen” sounds a lot like the earlier rumor talk of a Forces of Destruction release window to follow on the heels of the Stormcast Eternals.

“Gorechosen” sounds like this could be an Ork version of the Chaos Varanguard and Stormcast Eternal Dracothian Guard kits. I would look for some type of crazy mounted uber-orks next week – all nice and “age of sigmarized” (Or I might be totally wrong and it’s yet another Khorne release... or Warriors of Chaos Chosen?!).

Meanwhile, back to 40k front and out of the blue, GW seems to be bringing back the classic “Lost Patrol” as a boxed game in June... (As of press time, BoLS is awaiting confirmation from Games Workshop)

Back in 2000, GW released “Lost Patrol” a board game involving Space Marine Scouts battling for survival in a hostile environment:

The original game is described by BoardGameGeek as follows:

What the original looked like...

 “Lost Patrol is the second publication in a series of mini-games by Games Workshop. In this two-player game you choose either scout-marines or the ‘lurkers’. Scouts are represented in familiar WH40K miniatures when ‘lurkers’ are just cardboard tokens.

The board is created with a hexagon tiles as the scouts travel through the dense jungle. The scouts’ mission is to reach the dropship before the ‘lurkers’ eliminate them. As the scout team explores further, the jungle divides into many sections, and some of your teammates might even get lost (never to be found again).”

Basically a picnic in 40k ...

Out of the blue, we have the following report from ICV2 and North American Game Distributors:

“Games Workshop is releasing a new version of the 2000 classic Lost Patrol with updated components and rules. It arrives in stores on June 17.

The new game is a two-player game with one side taking on the roles of Space Marine Scouts hunted by the other player controlling a group of fearsome alien Genestealers. Played out on a dynamic, tile-based board, the squad of Marines must navigate a jungle that moves and changes as they travel the board. The game has updated rules from the original 2000 game and is just as fast-paced as the original, playing in about 30 minutes.”

So far the game has been described as follows:

• Lost Patrol ($60)
• Designer: Jake Thornton (designer of many recent Mantic titles)

Included minis:

• Astartes Scouts x5
• Genestealers x12
• “Infestations” x6
• Map Tiles x30

If theese miniatures will be the basic scouts or some new models, or even if this is actually true is yet to be seen... I guess we shall gave more details in May/early June...

I guess that's all for now. Thank you for your time and hoping to write to you soon.

Joaquim de Oliveira

Hear me Roar...

This publication was only possible thanks to:

BoLS (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

What's to Come: Stormcast Eternals Extremis

Hello my friends! This Monday the net has been flooded with new pictures from the Age of Sigmar... The Stormcasts are back and this time they have called in the Cavalry and more! Come see the latest Pics for the Warriors of Sigmar!

Still not 40k Thunder Warriors... 

BoLS has already a great collection of pictures of what's to come next week and oh boy, things are getting extreme... check them here!

But here are some main points:

This new unit is called Dracothian Guard and each box set brings 2 guys mounted in Dracoths for £40 (55€... Ouch!).

As you can see it's clearly based in the Age of Sigmar's box Lord-Celestant, but notice that the dracoth's armour is less detailed and the knight has a shield.

Also, the new cavalry come in 4 flavours, according to the weapon you choose:

Fulminators with Stormstrike Glaives, regular cavalry?

Tempestors armed with (rapid -fire?) Boltstorm Crossbows

Concussors with Lightning Hammers ... real shock cavalry!

And the Desolators carry Thunderaxes to battle...

Note that there are no rules... yet! 

Also, for some reason, there will be a new Knight-Heraldor model...

The new one (right) and the (not that) old model

For the same price of the existing one, the new model comes with a new, and better, pose. Someone has to explain me how is he suppose to blow that battle horn with a mask glued to his face...

And last (but not least), the cover for the new battletome/expansion; Stormcast Eternals Extremis!

Notice the choosen picture...

Will we get a Stormcast model ridding a dragon? Notice the background of the next image:

Are thoose wings?

Seems like that Archaon will (finally) have a match in the Order Grand Alliance... And who's the rider? Will Vandus Hammerhand have an up-grade just like Archaon a few months ago? 

Love it or hate it – Age of Sigmar and Games Workshop has some really great models! These new Dracoth Cavalry models are really impressive – I love the scales on their cloaks and how it blends into cloth. I also find it interesting that they have a ranged option as well. I can just imagine the storm of death those repeater bolt throwers will unleash on their foes.

From my part that's all for now. Thank you for your time and hoping to write to you soon.

Joaquim de Oliveira

Keep dreaming...

This publication was only possible thanks to:

BoLS (Parts 1 and 2)

Deathwatch Overkill Unboxing and Playthrough

Hello hello... after (almost) a week out I'm back in business... Deathwatch:Overkill is here! It’s time to take a look inside the box and all the goodies within!

Peek a boo I see you!!!

Today we will see into the box itself, and the a general overview of the game components. Let’s get started! First of the the box itself. You can see here picyures from the box set:

What you see is what you get...

Two of the “zone-based” board sides, you use to build the game missions

Now we see the cover of the softcover 48 page rulebook, just dripping in Deathwatch iconography – just wait till you see the inside!

Nice job there GW...

Next we get a look at a couple of the miscellaneous components.

Can't wait to start build these...

A dozen sample Genestealer Cult Ambush/Gambit cards – there are a LOT more!

And let’s wrap up this intro piece with that obligatory pile of bases, dice and the new fancy clear plastic measuring tool.

The new ruler seems cool...

Now, focus on the Deathwatch marines themselves:

Go team Cassius!

The models are all really unique and loaded with awesome extras and characterful equipment... I'm very impressed! The Salamander Terminator (who also happens to be the first Deathwatch Terminator Miniature ever!) has scales all over his armor. He also packs the heat – literally – with both a heavy flamer and an underslung Meltagun. Where is it underslung? His Power Fist! We haven’t see Power Fist attached weapons in a long time but those Deathwatch boys get all the cool toys. And that was just ONE model.

Garran Branatar, Salamanders Veteran

Every single model has something cool and unique to their chapter. The Ravenguard Assault Marine has some really great chapter specific iconography on the top of his Jump Pack. The Ironhands Marine has Bionic Limbs. But one of my favorite models is the Imperial Fist “Brother Grytt” with his Frag Cannon. I could go on, but I think I’ve made my point: The Deathwatch Kill Team Miniatures are amazing!

Join the BoLS crew as they get an Exclusive look at the Deathwatch Kill Team Miniatures from the new Box Board Game Deathwatch Overkill!

We also (feverishly) built the models to show them off in their full 360º glory:

Exclusive 360º from BoLS ... look at Kill Team Cassius from the new boardgame from Games Workshop: Deathwatch Overkill!

Building the models was pretty simple. They aren’t ‘snap fit’ easy – but they are single pose (for the most part) so it would be really difficult to screw these up. BigRed and I highly recommend using plastic glue with a needle applicator like the Model Master line from Testers. This will not only make assembly a breeze but the plastic glue will leave you with a super strong bond. Plus, it also helps fill those seam lines – which are already hard to spot thanks to the masterful cutting-up of these models on the sprue. 

Just an example...

Whoever is at GW that does the model cuts/sprue layouts – if it’s a team or a single person – but, who ever you are, you are amazing at your job. Keep it up! Seriously – if you watched the video you can see just how much stuff they managed to cram on those sprues. And when you build them they go together so ridiculously well.

Now, focus on the Genestealer Cult themselves:

This is the moment a lot of you guys have been waiting for since we learned that the Genestealer Cult was making a comeback...

Be Alert!

How the Tyranids would uses a Genestealer Patriarch to infiltrate a planet and that Patriarch would stay dormant or in the shadows slowly spreading his psychic web. Genestealers “Infections” would spread causing mutations and hybrids. Then, eventually, the cult would strike causing mass confusion and civil war. The stronger the Cult becomes the larger the Psychic beacon is for the Tyranid Invasion Fleet. The Cults would organize and strike at pivotal orbital defenses or undermine the PDF so they wouldn’t be able to counter the incoming fleet. In some cases, the cults would simply take over and the planet would become a tasty morsel for the passing Hive Fleet. Everyone would be devoured. Can’t waste that Bio-mass after all!

The Patriarch is easly my personal favorite of the bunch. He shares the same design DNA as the Space Hulk Broodlord – but he’s definitely different. He’s got more girth, a longer tail, more spikes, bigger claws, a massive brain/head – he’s just very menacing. For some reason I also love the mini familiars... they are so cute...

Aren't they cute?

One thing to be noticed was that this new Genestealer Cult army doesn’t just expand on the cults – it also sheds some light on what it would look like to live on an Imperial mining world. The armor of the cultists, especially the 3rd and 4th generation hybrids really shows off the style and clothing of the miners. Their “suits” are really cool. They remind me of the designs of the 1985 Dune Movie or the House Van Saar gangers from Necromunda. I’d love to see more kits with that same aesthetic. These models definitely left me wanting to see more Hybrids and Cultists of all shapes and sizes. 

Join the BoLS crew as they get an exclusive look at the Genestealer Cult Sprues for the new boardgame from Games Workshop: Deathwatch Overkill!

We also (feverishly) built the models to show them off in their full 360º glory:

Exclusive 360º from BoLS ... look at

Genestealer Cult

 from the new boardgame from Games Workshop: Deathwatch Overkill!

“they aren’t ‘snap fit’ easy – but they are single pose (for the most part) so it would be really difficult to screw these up. BigRed and I highly recommend using plastic glue with a needle applicator like the Model Master line from Testers. This will not only make assembly a breeze but the plastic glue will leave you with a super strong bond.”

One of the cool things I would like to mention is that the Genestealer Abberants have some really cool cuts on the models. What I mean is that there are only two bodies and two sets of arms. But even though they are positioned differently they are still interchangeable. So, again, whoever is designing the cuts and sprue layouts for these kits is doing a bang-up job – Give them a raise, a gold star and many, MANY thanks!

Grab your tools and assemble them all!

Now, focus on the Rules themselves:

Now we wade into Deathwatch Overkill rulebook and see what makes this game tick. Let’s get started!

The BoLS Crew sits down and run through the rulebook for the new boardgame from Games Workshop - Deathwatch Overkill!

The rulebook is a 48 page affair, full color with a lot of artwork (much taken from the Black Library Deathwatch series), full game rules, a 9 mission narrative campaign, and a small background section to give newcomers some basics on the grimdark forces involded. Here is just a small sample:

Here we see the full components laid out with descriptions of each. On the black sections of the rulebook we get the fluff side of things. Here we can read of the mysterious fate of the Inquisitor and the first Deathwatch Killteam sent to Ghosar Quintus.

Digging into the rules, you can begin to see some of the overall asymetrical balance and tone of this game. Note the 6 phases of the game turn. In particular, note the TWO Deathwatch Attack Phases. The Deathwatch player will be weilding absolute killing machines in this game, but the Genestealer Cult player has unlimited (and fast regenerating resources).

Now move onto movement. There is no inches or centimeters in this game. You are limited by the number of “zones” you can travel in a turn. MOdels have a move stat of between 1 (the hulking Salamander Terminator), to 4 (the motorcycle equipped White Scar). There is also the option to jump across the black “abyss” areas of the board if they are somewhat close together – but don’t fall… A big differentiating feature from Space Hulk.

Here we see the basics of rolling attack dice, making saves and removing models. You will rarely if ever need to roll more than 3 dice at a time. No need for new players to have to rush out and buy boxes of chessex dice for this game. More importantly we also get some sexy artwork of that Blood Raven Librarian in a tight spot!

A sample mission. Players of Space Hulk will feel right at home. We have a map, initial start positions for the Deathwatch, entry areas for Genestealer Cult models, objectives and special rules. Note that in this mission you have 4 Deathwatch models who need to kill 25 models to win. The Genestealer Cult player must kill 2 Marines before this happens to win. It’s that kind of game!

A quick reference page, giving some insight into the rank and file Genestealer Cult members.

Now, focus on the Rules themselves:

That said welcome to the Grimdark new boardgame players. Strangely this game is set in the “near past” with a young Chaplain Cassius, the the link between the Genestealers and the Tyranids Hive fleets is unknown at this time.

I will let you now with the GW's video of the playthrough to get a taste of all of it...
Thank you for your time and hoping to write to you soon.

Joaquim de Oliveira

This publication was only possible thanks to:

Games Workshop

and BoLS (Part1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)