Horus Heresy Novella Review: Ravenlord by Gav Thorpe

This is a novella I have been awaiting for quite some time. I have greatly enjoyed Gav’s take on Corax (he has assured me that there is more coming) although i am eagerly awaiting his work on the 1st Legion too. Corax is one of the primarchs that i feel has been given a very rounded and(ironically all things considered) grounded portrayal. Gav’s previous Corax stories have always been enjoyable reads and with the release of the new FW model (love the figure, hate the head) it has been deemed time for non limited edition buyers (though I must confess I am tempted to magpie on the Ltd ed Horus Heresy covers book - Im a sucker for Neil Roberts Art) to get their claws into Ravenlord. So does it measure up to previous standards? Less about magpies more about Ravens! Let’s have a look.

The first thing i should mention is that there appears to have been a change in the manufacture/quality of the novellas, thankfully it is an improvement. The dust jacket and pages are noticeably thicker, I thought this was a feature of the Ltd edition versions (i did pick up the special Betrayal at Calth books as my first foray into Lt editions) but it appears to be a change going forward, the spine is more squared than rounded and overall its a welcome change, making these premium priced novellas seem to be all the more worth the £15.00 you lay out for them. Purists may well complain that they look different on the shelf but in all honesty the difference is minimal.

Ravenlord finds Corax and the remnants of his legion conducting a guerrilla war against traitor forces, hitting convoys and supply lines to deny Horus’s forces the resources they need to make their assault on Terra. In addition to the Ravenguard Corax has gathered elements from the other legions (and not just the shattered ones) in order to conduct his sabotage operations. Facing no small measure of discontent from the other marine legions over his decision to remain out in deep space and not return to Terra, Corax continues to seek out isolated loyalist elements in order to bolster his forces.

One such discovered legionnaire, a Ravenguard of some renown presumed lost at Isstvan, reports of a prison planet where other survivors of Isstvan have been taken. Despite the risk of a trap Corvax decides that this is a mission that must be undertaken. Suspicison wars within him however, as he has been betrayed by one of his sons before. Can this new arrival be trusted? With shadows everywhere he looks, Corax must wrestle with his own doubts and learn who to trust.

One of this things i really like about Corax is that he is not infallible. I detested Vulkan and his perfection. An immortal with no discernible flaws, he was infuriating. Corax is much more rounded, subject to pride and arrogance, capable of making errors. It makes for a much more interesting character and makes the Ravenguard Primarch more identifiable. Unlike Corax: Soulforge however here Gav gives a little more attention to the other characters in the book, some of which work as a moral foil to the Lord of Ravens.

Gav doesn’t stint with the action either although it is later in the book. There is a rather satisfying ship engagement detailed as the Ravenguard ambush a Sons of Horus supply convoy, with the assistance of some Imperial Fists. The Ravenguard strike and then slip away, ravaging Horus’ supply lines with hit and run tactics. It’s well written and full of punch, escalating the pace of the book nicely, it is however, just an appetiser before the main course as we enter the final third of the book which is dedicated entirely to the raid on the prison planet.

 

Here, Gav highlights the stealth nature of the Ravenguard with a sneaky insertion mission before they launch the final assault. The action is well written as Gav works in all the different Ravenguard units, such as the Raptors, painting a vivid picture of the assault. However, it is once Corax comes to the field of battle that things really heat up. As the Primarch's fury is unleashed upon the traitors his sons discover a treacherous secret that places Corax in mortal danger. It was actually at this point the novel started as Gav teases the reader with a pseudo cliff-hanger before taking us back before the assault and commencing with the build up. Though this is a spoiler free review I have to say it was very interesting to see Corax bested and humbled, it’s not often that we see a Primarch in this position and it further adds to Gav's realistic portrayal of the Ravenlord.

Overall, Ravenlord is a good read, though by no means essential. I am much enjoying the ‘shattered legions’ arc of the Heresy as opposed to Imperium Secundus and the Perpetuals which seems to have somewhat overextended its welcome. The early stages are slow build up where Gav deftly juggles different themes and builds upon Coraxes character and indeed that of the Ravenguard. It is fascinating to see how Corax marshals the different legions and pursues his campaign against Horus of a death by a thousand cuts. There is nothing particularly outstanding or novel (if you’ll excuse the pun) about the story, for the most part it is much the same as we have seen before and are likely to read again, but it is certainly worth your time. When the pace explodes the action is also very good and visceral with some intriguing traitor weaponry being used. But it is the work done outside of the action that intrigues me. Gav has always excelled at characterisation and this is no exception and although he does dwell a little more on non Primarch figures it is all too brief and I fervently hope that he will do another full length Ravenguard novel so that he can do all these characters justice. The Ravenguard may well be bedecked in black and white but Gav presents them in fascinating myriad shades between and I look forward to reading more about the sons of the Ravenlord soon.


8 out of 10 - Recommended

Warhammer End Times Book Review: Archaon, Lord of the End Times.

As I write this, admittedly some time after reading the book, it occurs to me that the ‘Old World’ has been gone for quite some time now. And you know what? I still miss it. I miss Lustria and the Empire, I miss dragons and steam tanks and men at arms, I miss the heady charm of the rich world GW took some thirty years creating, and about 5 months destroying. I haven’t yet delved into the background of the Age of Sigmar, but to be honest at this point I'm not sure if i'll even bother. After all, there are still plenty of old Warhammer Novels that I still have to read (or reread for that matter) Maybe one day the Age of Sigmar will rival Warhammer Fantasy for depth and breadth of narrative but for now I just don’t see it sadly.Certainly from what I have seen so far it pales to the imagination and intricacy of the Old World.

However, this IS the end. I have come to the last of the Fantasy Line of books. Barring a dramatic U Turn from GW, this is it. Finito. Game over. Thus far I have found the End Times novels to be of varying quality, hardly the send off such an important universe deserves. Oh sure some have been okay, pretty good even, but considering the scale of the event that they are supposed to tell I cant help but feeling a little disappointed.

                                 

Hopefully Archaon: Lord of the End times, will go some way toward rectifying this. I’m expecting an epic tale of good and evil, which will be talked about through the ages and marveled at by all, that is what would be needed. Problem is that it is written by Josh Reynolds, whose Nagash book (the start of the series) I really did not care for, finding it meandering and self indulgent. Still, he started this series of novels so why shouldn’t he end it? Thankfully I am pleased to report that Archaon is a much more engaging read. Perhaps recognizing that he needs to wrap things up he belts through the story at pace, keeping things nice and brisk yet not overly superficial at any stage, though the brevity of the narrative overall is as vexing as ever.

The book is split into three distinct acts. The first act is set at the final defence of Middenheim as Archaon’s hordes assault the city. Heroes fall here, there is no other way of saying it. Josh is brutal and indiscriminate in the wielding of the reaper’s scythe and by the time Archaon inevitably stands triumphant in Middenheim a great many major characters lie dead in the dirt. Archaon himself as a character makes little impact however, his motivations and character are underdeveloped and never really bought to the fore. The character of Cantor Unsworn is used in proxy, his place ever at Archaon’s side and presumably meant to create a human contrast to the Lord of the End Times. But it never really works. Part of the problem is that this is the first End Times novel that Archaon has shown up in, so little time has been spent building him up. We’ve read about atrocities in his name but he has been non involved thus far. Therefore there is not really a great sense of threat about Archaon which is a shame. I cant really say that much changes once he does deign to appear either, there is a bit of killing and a bit of brooding but its not really the Lord of the End Times that makes his mark. That said, heroes fall, characters drop like flies and the first part of the book is particularly bloodthirsty.

After the initial slaughter though it is a great deal of back and forth between Cantor and Archaon in some admittedly, rather well written interchanges. One gets the feeling that they are trying to emulate Horus with Archaon and the unsworn (he has not devoted himself to any God and this is what stands him out) is one of his sons in the heresy, albeit one unsure of his role in the greater scheme of things. It’s a shame that Archaon is not bestowed with more of an identity. It just seems he is doing it all to achieve an end. No great masterplan or agenda, he just seems tired. This would be ok if more had been made of him in previous books but it really just comes off as something the reader cant really care about. Its all a bit muddled. I know Rob Sanders has written a pair of Archaon books and I shall have to check these out sometime to see if they shed more light on the character.

The Archaon arc (sorry) continues into the second act of the book which takes place far away from Middenheim as the representatives of all the different races all decide how best to try to save the old world. A little of Josh’s penchant for elaborate politics creeps in here but mostly everyone is in character with all the races finely represented and as you would expect to find them. Of course special attention is lavished on the vampires but with the other characters to balance it out it really works here and although the action is sparse the intereaction between the characters is pretty good. Apart from the sections where we go back to Archaon still brooding and putting his endgame plan into place I much enjoyed the second act of the book, finding it the most interesting of the elements weighted into this novel. It made me think about how improved Nagash might have been if similar breadth had been displayed. Of course Nagash does show up in a ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend/for the greater good’ kind of arrangement, and eventually a decision is made to bind the winds of magic to each of the central characters in an effort to amass power sufficient to challenge Archaon. The long standing plot thread between Manfred and Vlad Von Carstein also comes to a head in a particularly satisfying manner.

                                           

The final section of the book is a desperate rush and assault on Archaon. It goes without saying that this is once again an action packed section of the book, though it is much the smallest of the three parts, as we head towards the inevitable cataclysmic climax. Though once again it might feel a touch superficial in places there is still some good character work to be found and overall there is some great stuff in here as the heroes and antiheroes attempt to stop the destruction of the Old world. With a few surprises still up his sleeve Reynolds produces a worthy if somewhat abridged account of the most important battle to ever happen in the old world. Some of the very oldest and famous characters make an appearance in the final battle and for a moment you feel that they can turn the tide. It is a truly epic struggle between good and evil and it is well written, I rather hoped it had gone on for longer.

But of course as we all know, this is the End Times. The Old World does not survive. There are no more Warhammer Fantasy books. Now is the Age of Sigmar.

So, overall, Book V was a decent read. The sections that are spent trying to make Archaon a worthy antagonist are perhaps a little flat. Archaon just really does not come across as particularly strong or powerful. It’s a shame as on the whole the characterization in this book is pretty strong. Josh has done better with the characters that he has created from scratch, and of course his beloved vampires receive special attention, but here at least he has increased his scope. There is still a startling amount of brevity to the book though with elements being skipped altogether in the rush to finish the story. Sadly this has been endemic of the entire series, all too brief and superficial in the scheme of things. The Old world deserved better. I am aware that there are a few other novels and short stories that were released alongside these books but the bulk of the story is here and it is woefully lacking. Whilst not a complete disaster by any means, it all too often falls short of the standards I would expect when it comes to relating an event of this magnitude and import. It’s a shame. With more respect and care the series could have been a worthy read and an epic saga to conclude one of the finest fantasy universes ever created. As it stands however it is more akin to a damp squib, though the series may well have moments of merit it falls somewhat short of recommended reading unless you wish to tie up the narrative arcs of the associated characters. In that respect they perform their respective roles admirably.

Boxed Game Review: Betrayal at Calth

Though it was somewhat overshadowed by the announcement of GW creating a new studio to focus on one off box sets and specialist games, Betrayal at Calth is still one of the biggest releases in recent years.  Though the plastic Heresy models may have been the world's worst kept secret (and quite likely the main reason that it has sold so well and had people picking up multiple boxes), there is actually a game attached to it which i'm sure at least some people will end up playing. I myself have picked up two boxes, representing the start of my Ultramarine Heresy army. So let's take a look at this box of wonders that Games Workshop have created.

An underwhelming box but what inside is very impressive

The Box:

The first thing that I noticed was the box seems a little smaller than I am used to. I can only assume that this is as a result of recently receiving such behemoth boxes as AVP: The Hunt Begins and Journey: Wrath of Demons. Nonetheless compared to these (and other recent releases) Betrayal at Calth seems remarkably compact, especially given its eye watering price tag.

The box art also seems decidedly low budget. It serves its purpose sure enough, and is a step up from the likes of Dark Vengeance in my opinion, but it's just not jumping off the shelf at me. Assuming that there is a limited miniature release to follow i hope they work on the box design and make it a little more compelling. Of course no one is buying this for the box, just as likely no one is buying it for the game, but first impressions count.

This is destined to be released as a separate kit i am sure

The Models:

No, it's the models that people will be primarily picking Betrayal at Calth for and once you have savoured the particularly satisfying 'new box smell' you are greeted be a veritable mass of sprues. Now the first thing you  will notice is that these are NOT snap fit models. In fact they are as far from it as you can get. No, instead these sprues hark back to those that were in the 3rd Edition Warhammer 40,000 starter, they are multipart models the same as you will pick up in a squad box off the shelf. The next thing you will notice is all the options. There are alternate weapons, ammo packs, alternate heads, each sprue is festooned with 'bitz'. This is not a starter set sprue, this is 100% a miniature kit destined for later release. There are no legion markings on the models and i'd be very surprised if many people actually end up painting the models as they are on the back of the box, nearly everyone i know has bought this to start a legionnaire army.

Terminators. 

For this is not a Boardgame, though it is disguised as one. It is far removed from the likes of Space Hulk and even the Assassin Board Game Execution Force. This is a loss leading introduction into a full 30k release and FW Horus Heresy Sales. And it is a very smart move from GW.

The Tactical marines we have largely discussed. Already ready made for release separately, they are completely interchangeable with FW upgrade packs and for that matter current 40k kits. As i'm sure everyone knows you get 30 marines in the box. A squad of ten marines is conveniently split across three sprues. I can see these being released separately for at least £30.00 each maybe more such is the amount of content.

An impressive feat to get it all on a small sprue. 

The Contemptor has come under a little bit of fire, mainly for its very static pose. I will agree that it is somewhat staid and stationary but i think they have tried to keep the number of parts down to get it in the box. I'm hopeful that in a full release there will be a little more to it than at present. That said, it is a fairly complex build (the Assault cannon arm is four separate pieces alone) And it is impressive that they have managed to take this solid lump of resin and convert it into a plastic kit. It just would have been so much more impressive if they had made the legs more posable. The arms are easily interchangeable with Forgeworld ones but that is about it. It is also fairly easy to convert the arms as they are symmetrical if you want a twin gun or twin fist option. (assuming you picked up two boxes). I'll be magnetising to take advatage of all options. Also of note is the carapace which is separate from the main body. Perfect for variant legion specific versions. Whether or not this potential is realised is another matter. i would expect them to come from Forge World in any event.

Could we see FW  variants of this piece?

Thankfully the Terminators are a touch more varied, though no more customisable. Again, this is a kit that can be released later on, everything you need for a squad of 5 Cataphractii terminators contained on 2 sprues. One leg is separate at the knee on each model allowing for a little more dynamism than you often see which is nice. I had planned on magnetising all the arms but you don't get enough shoulder pads with the sprue, so ill either pick some up from a bitz store or improvise. with a bit of work you could also rework the arms to add to the pose but in all honesty these have been quite nicely designed and should be a lot of fun to build and paint. One thing that would be converters should take note of is that you do only get half a head, this is something i would have liked to see changed though if you cut through the plate on the back piece you could likely get round this and fit an alternate head in it. Heavy weapons are also lacking, you only get the heavy flamer, but again, FW has all your needs for any alternatives. There is also the chance that when this gets released separately there will be a heavy weapon sprue.

Superbly engineered character figures.

Which leaves us with the two command models. These are the most 'starter like' in the set and also comprised of the fewest pieces, they are also testament to what can be achieved with plastic, and although they reek of CAD design they are superbly engineered. If you recall that the Space Hulk Terminators blew everyone away in 2009, these are light years ahead. Though they are somewhat limited in terms of pose they look fantastic, certainly much better than the Assassin models that were released for Execution force, which i really did not care for. Conversion wise Kurtha sedd will be easier to modifiy as Aetheon is a rather chunky figure.

Overall this is an  AMAZING set of models, there are few mould lines and the sharpness of the detail is exceptional. The Contemptor could be a little more impressive but overall the quality is very high indeed.

The Other stuff:

So that's the models out of the way, what else do we have? Well bases (32mm and up) dice, (12 non D6 - bit like the Space Crusade ones) and the card stock are next. The card is essentially 4 large double sided hex tiles. They are of a very nice finish and premium quality, they are a little thinner than Space Hulk, and lack the embossing of that standard setting board game but they are still very nice. I thought at first that the fact there are only four boards was very limiting but in all honesty I am sick of taking ages to set up games (Imperial Assault i'm looking at you) so after further consideration I am all for it, it can still be put together in a variety of ways. The design varies between machinery and ruined temples and caves, representing the subterranean Arcologies of Calth very well. Not much to say but refreshingly in keeping with the quality of the rest of the game. As are the tokens for tracking activation (we'll discuss these more a little later)

A good finish, and they are double sided to add variety. 

The cards are oversized and also very nice. Separate decks for Ultramarines and Word Bearers tactics and another deck for the various dread locations with a reference card for the types of unit each too. Nice glossy finish and feel good in the hand.

The cards are great and quite large

The transfer sheet also deserves special mention, it is much more like the FW ones and again of very high quality, I plan on painting my fine detail on for the most part but the Word Bearer elements like all the cruciform and armour details are particularly impressive. As an aside GW have also popped a couple of extra baggies in the box for your tokens and such. Nice one GW. Cheers,

Excellent transfers. 

Which leaves us with just the books. Instruction manual first. At 20 pages it's quite the beast! These are complex kits Other than that, what to say? It's an instruction manual. It shows you how to put the models together and does it very well, you will need to refer to it. The kits are not especially intuitive. Looking at the manual will also help you decide how to paint and which if any sub assemblies and magnet points you will use.

As you can see, this is no snap fit kit

The other book is the rules manual and this is a thing of exquisite beauty. Styled like the Horus Heresy hardback books it is thick paged, glossy and just really quite nice. There is some lovely artwork, some fluff (though not enough in my opinion) and a breakdown of the rules and the six included scenarios. The rules are pretty basic but we will discuss those in a sec, It's all well described and the armoury section in particular is wonderful, very evocative of the Wargear book in the old second edition starter. The back cover, as you might expect features a concise quick reference sheet.

Though im not overly keen on the box the cover of the rulebook is sublime. 

The Game:

The game is played on the hexagonal maps, these are preset arrangements depending on the scenario. The game works on the alternate activation principle. Each unit has two actions of which it can take one at a time when it activates. When you take an action you flip the units token over then remove it when it takes its second. A unit is quite simply whichever models occupy the hex at any given time and this is quite fluid as you can move models between hexes by taking a consolidation move (this does take an activation). Each Hex has a maximum capacity so you can have three models at the most in a hex (less if terminators are included)

Other actions you can take include run, advance, shoot and assault. You move one hex for an advance and 2 for a run. There is a simple cover mechanic and the tiles have no go hexes that block line of sight, so tactical positioning is a factor in the game. Looking at the rules i cant see that there is too much of a difference between advancing and running when it comes to shooting with your second action.

As mentioned the game does not use D6 nor anything you would recognise as a statline. In an effort to keep things as simple as possible the game uses bespoke dice with only blank, hit, critical hit and shield faces. Its a fairly basic premise. Each weapon in the unit adds to the amount of dice rolled, criticals trigger the critical hit effect of one weapon in the unit and also count as a normal hit. Dice are then rolled equal to the armour value to try to get shields to get negate damage, Different weapons have different critical rules. A bolter critical hit takes away a remaining tactical point from a target and a multimelta at close range can negate any defence dice altogether, instantly killing the target! Very much in keeping with the established fluff and making it a tactical choice over what you have in a unit. I'm not sure Plasma guns are worth the effort though (two criticals and they kill the firer)

The book is very well presented

Further mixing things up are the command cards. To be played when the card states these can really throw a spanner in the works and there are some well and truly nasty cards in there, particularly for the Wordbearers. Sometimes the scenario will dictate the cards you use, other times you will draw from a deck. The scenario also dictates sides and often has bespoke special actions that can be taken by either side. As mentioned, the other cards are for the Contemptor and each represents a location. You draw a card at random to see where you hit it, a welcome return to Second edition sensibilites! And that is not the only one, indeed the Assault cannon blows up if you roll 4 criticals on the dice and as its normal critical allows you to reroll misses and shields as much as you want to increase your hits it represents  a delicious risk/reward mechanic.

A bit of narrative to set the scene

The game itself plays well, not exactly fast and furious but not complicated to the point that it will  deter the uninitiated. Being able to think forward a turn or two will certainly lend you a strategic edge. The cards lend a welcome element of randomness to the game and a well played card can put a spanner in the works of any strategy. Triggered events in many of the scenarios will also keep players on their toes. You will need to think about unit construction, movement and in which order you take your actions. I can see the game being a great deal of fun and there are many opportunities for memorable moments of heroics and treachery that have come to typify the Heresy. Rad grenades (a command card) for example are a a characterful (only the Word Bearer deck has the card) and devastating weapon.

And its the little things like this that make Betrayal at Calth so compelling, the RTB01 era Missile Launcher, the jamming and exploding Assault Cannon and multiple locations on the Contemptor. This is a set that has grabbed the attention of jaded old veterans and younger gamers alike. I'm sure that this is only the beginning too, The Horus Heresy is a massive source of potential revenue for Games Workshop and they would be fools to not exploit it to its fullest.

Price: 

So lets talk about price, well there is no denying that Betrayal at Calth is a premium product, in line with GWs usual high standards. Certainly it carries a price to match coming in at £95.00. It could have been much worse, the rumoured price was over £100.00 and indeed leaks of an issue of Warhammer Visions had it up at a RRP of £115.00 which I would have thought was too much, So what makes it worth £20.00 less? Which lets face it is still a substantial sum.

Dark Vengeance: Yes it's a lot of stuff but the models are pretty basic. 

Well, to answer that let's go another £20.00 down and look at Execution Force, that was released as a limited edition at £75.00. It had 4 new sculpts and three boards and that was it. The sculpts were Assassins and of wildly varying quality, between the clown footed Vindicare, square groined Eversor, gurning Cullexus, and the ridiculously disproportional Callidus i didn't really think that any of them were particularly impressive, I guess the nicely dynamic Eversor came off the best. They were also all way too big scaled to everything else. All the rest of the figures were either from Dark Vengeance or already released in 40k. Add to that the fact that there was only one mission and very little replay value and it is clear to see it was a lazy and half assed game slapped together to sell some new Assassins and though some picked it up it is still available now which should tell  you everything you need to know about sales volumes. 23 figures, only 4 of which are new sculpts, for £75.00. Not good value.

Officio Assasinorium: Execution Force. Not good value

So lets compare that with Betrayal at Calth, ok its still only 38 models for £20 more but they are all new multipart kits, these are not plug and play starter models like you will find in Dark Vengeance this is more like a couple of battleforces. Much has been made of the cost saving compared to Forge World resin and this is substantial as to get this from Forge World would cost you well over £300. I prefer not to make this comparison as this is not resin you are paying for, but even when compared to plastic prices it comes off favourably. To get this content as 40k units would set you back over £150. When released separately I would imagine these kits to amount to closer to £200.

Your number one route to the Heresy

So Betrayal at Calth is good value just for the models, but lets not forget the high quality of all the other components, the book, the board tiles. The replay value inherent in the game and the general attention and care that has been spent on it. Betrayal at Calth probably would have still represented good value at the original tag of £115.00. However to cross that hundred pound mark is a big stretch, I think the current price is much more attractive and fair and it would seem people agree with me as copies are being snapped up at an incredible rate. It may be GWs most expensive starter yet, but it is hard to argue that you do not get what you pay for. It's a very accomplished release although it is most certainly NOT a pick up and play boardgame and i just wonder if that will impact casual sales.

So what for the future? We already know that there will be a limited 30k range released in the new year. I would not expect them to make everything that FW does, just the basics with FW supplying anything else such as upgrades. Will we see plastic tanks? I'm honestly not sure, it would be nice, FW ones are very expensive and resin really does not lend itself to that kind of model tending to need a lot of unwarping and work. Books? Well maybe but i think the rules will stay where they are. I expect a modest core army in plastic with FW support for the more esoteric and legion specific elements. The important thing is that GW have finally made the Heresy open to all and this is only the beginning.

And further in the future? Well Betrayal at Calth would be VERY easy to release additional content for, new missions even if user created will be a breeze and i really hope that GW capitialise on the popularity of this set. There are always many more practicals and theoreticals for the Ultramarines to try. There is already one extra mission released in White Dwarf but in a rather cheeky move you require two copies to play it, Still it is a start.

It's happening, it's really happening!

And of course lets not forget that GW have recently done what we all thought was the impossible, they have announced the return of Specialist and one off games. In fact they are creating a new studio just for this purpose. Could this be a return to the halcyon days of old? It is too early to tell but the official release DID mention Necromunda BFG and Epic by name so i guess anything is possible. Whilst it would appear that FW is largely going to take over the majority of production for these games that doesn't mean they are not going to be in plastic. It's a long time off and likely to be premium priced but the grim darkness of the far future has never looked brighter....

Horus Heresy Book Review: Macgragge's Honour by Dan Abnett and Neil Roberts

Yet another nostalgia inducing GW product arrived at my front door Sunday last week. (Yes a delivery on a Sunday!) As I received my copy of Macgragge’s Honour from Amazon. Originally released alongside the Horus Heresy novel 'Know no Fear' a few years back as a hardback deluxe limited edition, it has now, as most of the limited edition stuff is wont to do, arrived as a mass release for a saner price. I’d managed to keep from reading it so it would be a nice surprise and if nothing else it’s been an age since I have read anything from Dan Abnett anyway, stolen away by Hollywood and Marvel as he has been.

Of course this is far from GWs first foray into the comic world. Many of you will remember Warhammer Monthly, GWs own comic back in the early days of the Black Library and where legends such as Malus Darkblade, Ephrael Stern and Ulli and Marquand first came to be. In more recent years BOOM! Publishing produced a range of Warhammer and 40k Comics that are worth tracking down though they will never be regarded as classics. It is a medium that has always seemed to lend itself well to the universes of Warhammer and it is perhaps surprising that more have not been produced. Certainly based on the quality of Macragge’s Honour I fervently hope it is not a one off and that Neil Roberts will lend his talents to more than book covers again soon.

Upon getting the book the first thing that struck me was the size. Somewhere between A5 and A4 it is destined to look slightly odd on your bookshelf, the spine matches up with the gold on black design that has become so familiar but its size will most definitely stand out, larger than the novellas and hardback books it will stand alongside. Of course this is still substantially smaller than its original release and one would expect that the reason this decision was made was so not to diminish the impact of the artwork within. As it turns out this was a wise choice.

The book starts with a small excerpt of text. Following on from the last pages of his book 'Know no Fear', Dan explains how Kor Phaeon, gravely wounded by Roboute Gulliman, flees Calth; his work done. The Ultramarines Primarch will not allow this to stand and issues an imperative that the traitor must be destroyed. So Macgragge’s Honour sets off in pursuit of the renegade vessel.

The first thing that smacks you in the face is the artwork. Neil Roberts wonderful panels are a sight to behold. For one thing the scale that he manages to impart in his pictures is amazing. You really get a sense of the size of the ships involved and the epic nature of the conflict taking place. The damage that gets inflicted on both ships is spectacular and Neil nails the look of the book 100% from the mechanical aspects to the personnel on the ship. I’ll let the pictures I have included in the review speak for themselves but I particularly loved his depiction of the Warp. Very 80’s.

The size of the book works, there is so much detail in Neil’s work that to make it any smaller would be a crime. Any larger and you risk it not fitting on most bookshelves. So although it will look somewhat out of place the choice of size seems to be the right one. I do wonder if the original might have been a bit TOO big but in all honesty Neil works so much detail into the pictures im sure larger pictures are not an issue.

But of course pictures can only tell part of the story, thankfully Dan is on fine form here with a classic turn. Mr Abnett obviously has a great deal of Pedigree as a comic writer already having turned his hand to many different subjects and his work here is as solid as you would expect. It’s not the Watchmen but he moves everything along at a brisk pace whilst keeping the reader informed.

Don’t expect Macragge’s Honour to advance the plot of the Heresy either. The emphasis of this book is firmly on action and finding ways to show off Neil Robert’s art. Yes there are a couple of characters that get a little more time than others and there is the usual tales of sacrifice and valour that you expect from the increasingly large Ultramarines vs Word Bearers aspect of the Heresy, which lest we forget, was no more than a footnote in the original narrative of the Horus Heresy.

These are spoiler free reviews so I wont tell you what happens in the book but suffice to say that the Macragge’s Honour’s pursuit of Kor Phaeon is far from straightforward and there are plenty of twists and turns in store. There are space battles. boarding battles and even a bit of chaos daemon action for good measure. With the recent leaks of the Betrayal at Calth Board game (which this was surely released to coincide with) it got me even more fired up to start my own Ultramarine HH army. The ending is also left fairly open, begging a continuation.

Even after the action ends there is a 'behind the scenes' look at the book with story boards and pages of Abnetts orginal script. Its a nice touch and i'm glad they included it, it is nice to see the work that has gone into such a polished product.

There isn’t really a great more to say in all honesty. It’s a well written and superbly illustrated slice of Horus Heresy action. I’ve tried to include plenty of pictures in here but I really would recommend picking a copy up if you can find it a bit cheaper than the £30.00 GW want for it (I paid £17.99). It won’t take you long to read but the time it does take you should have a great big grin plastered on your face every time you turn the page.

Game Review: X-wing the miniature game: The Force Awakens Edition

It seems a long time ago that X-wing launched now, it's popularity catching all (including FFG) by surprise and leaving it unavailable for some time after its release, although it is readily available now. Though I feel it doesn't really work at the 'epic' scale I feel as a small scale skirmish/dog fighting game it is peerless. Besides for the larger stuff I have Star Wars Armada, and that I am REALLY enjoying.

And it was Armada that lead me to Wayland Games Hockley recently. Ostensibly there to snag a deal or two on the Armada blisters for their grand opening, my eyes were suddenly drawn to the Force Awakens X-wing core set. Of course I  was already aware of it as it had been leaked a good few months ago and FFG have been actively previewing it since, but now it was available to buy. Reasoning that this was no impulse buy but in the cause of genuine Conclave research (at least that's what i told my girlfriend) and that it was only £24.00 i nabbed a copy.

The same, yet different.... note the new turns on the templates....

At first glance it doesn't really look all that different. Sporting a blue scheme rather than red, even the front cover art looks similar at first glance. The ships are presented in exactly the same way too. Of course those ships are brand spanking new shiny Star Wars goodness. Nestled in the plastic inlay are two F/O TIES and a  Incom T-70 X-wing. I would expect you to already be aware of these ships but just in case, the T-70 has a look much like the old one till you get to the back. With a new split wing profile and engines that are split too it looks like an update of the old model and is familiar and exciting all at once.

Just looking at this is getting me excited for December!

The TIE is so similar to the old one i thought it was actually the same mould! It's not, I checked, but it really does just look like it has been recoloured. The differences are minimal to say the least. Black with white panels it looks like a negative exposure version of the original. One thing i will say is that although these are new moulds they are different to the actual TIEs that we have seen so far from the Film, even the other TIE toys seem to be more accurate than the X-wing ships.  Something of a surprise given how much FFG lauds its collaborative relationship with Lucasfilm and the absolute authenticity of their product.

A fine looking ship...

They are different but you will have to look really closely to tell..

As an aside there was a rumour going round that the recently released Micro Machines would serve as substitutes for the X-wing models. At three for a fiver it would be a cheap way to bolster your fleet.  Well I grabbed a pack (research reasons again obviously) and as you can see they are poor in comparison when put next to the real thing. Yes they would fit on the flight stands no problem and you could probably get away with it but they are softy and bendy and quite frankly would stick out like a sore thumb. Stick with the real deal folks.

For one thing, the holes are too big for the stands. 

The TIEs are smaller and made of a very bendy plastic. But they look more authentic than the X-wing ships.

No comparison in my eyes... stick with the real thing.

Despite it's similarities to its predecessor the Force Awakens edition is far from the same game repackaged. X-wing has been around for some time now and many minor revisions have been wrought into the game mechanics and this edition has those incorporated. More tightening and a bit of clarifying than reinventing the wheel, it is more a case of correcting a few incongruities than anything else. A few of the steps have been re organised to correct glitches that have arisen as the game has got more complex and the wording in places has been revised for clarity's sake.

In addition, in line with other Fantasy Flight Games X-wing now comes with a separate rules reference guide. Acting as a glossary/index it should make any rules disputes super quick to resolve.
Another change is the addition of two new maneuvers. There are two new turns that will really shake up the way the game works. Now these turns may have actually made an appearance in later X-wing expansions i'm not sure. I'll freely admit I have lost a little interest in X-wing, As time has gone on the game has become more grand and more complicated and i don't think that it works as well at that scale. Still i look forward to trying these new maneuvers, it looks like the new T-70 can literally dance round the board as i said.

The separate rules reference will help a lot...

The damage deck has also been re balanced. The new version completely replaces the old deck. There were a few imbalances and a few cards that affected certain classes of ship a lot more than others. It's nice that FFG have taken this step and i look forward to seeing how the new decks affect critical hits that are doled out. Part of this change might be that due to the new ship stats criticals may well be dealt out more often.

The game works the same way but check out those new T-70 stats!

Ah yes, new ships. The new fighters in the box have been considerably beefed up. For a start the F/O TIE has SHIELDS, well one. Yes you read that right. it's shielded. Still not a tough ship by any means and the X wing has gained another shield too, but at least the games you play with your core set will last a little longer. In addition the TIE can now lock on and the X wings get a boost action added to their action bar. This in addition with the new turns that are introduced make them a LOT more survivable. These new turns have been introduced I think, to combat the problem of ships just endlessly doing J turns, a problem i encountered in many of my games of  X-wing. One of the new turns is a hard turn where you then rotate the fighter another 90 degrees, another is a slight turn but you flip the fighter much like a J turn (Korigan loop)

Dancing i tell you, DANCING!

These additions, in combination with the new upgrade cards should prove to be a welcome shot in the arm for X-wing. The new T-70 can practically dance around the battlefield and the more durable TIEs and retooled damage deck should make for exciting and balanced play. Obviously as time goes on more and more Force Awakens ships are bound to be released and it will be interesting to see how they incorporate these into the game. I still think X wing works best with just a few ships on either side and becomes somewhat clumsy at the 'Epic' scale but this is a very promising revision of a game that was already rather strong with the Force......

Warhammer End Times Book Review: Rise of the Horned Rat

Now that Age of Sigmar has been released I am getting a renewed sense of sadness from these books. As I have previously said, I have not read all of the large hardback campaign books but that is something I am going have to change. It has become increasingly apparent that each of these novels will focus on a very specific part of the cataclysmic saga that signals the end of the Warhammer World. I was rather hoping that by reading these novels  would be gaining a greater perspective of the End Times as a whole, enriching what seems to be a fairly superficial overview in the books. Sadly this is not the case, instead each novel seems to focus upon only one character. Indeed it could be said that each book wraps up the story of a character, being handled by the Author that contributed most directly to their background. For The Fall of Altdorf  Chris Wraight tied up Hellborg and Schwarzhelm of the Empire's story. Gav Thorpe did the same in The Curse of Khaine, bringing Malekith's and indeed the Elves, tale to a satisfying conclusion and finishing his Sundering saga. Now it is the time of the Skaven.

Well more accurately Queek Headtaker, as it is his tale that concludes here. Therefore one would expect David Guymer, author of the characterful but unfocused Headtaker, to be penning this book. However it is Guy Haley that has taken writing duties this time round. Aside from a few shorts i'm more or less new to Guy's work so i was unsure how well he would pick up the character of the Skaven and Queek in particular.

I'd needn't have worried. Guy superbly brings the maniacal Skaven to life, showing a great deal of respect to Davids work and adding one or two minor embellishments of his own. Queek is a Skaven, a short lived race anyway, who is running out of time, , The Headtaker is getting old, and slow, he knows it and he fears his approaching infirmity. Knowing that soon he will not be able to fight and will succumb to one of the frequent attempts made on his life. He is offered a way out, an elixir to grant him eternal youth, by another Skaven warlord. The Price? King Belegars Head.

Thus embarks Queeks quest, to finish the job that he undertook a few years ago and kill the Dwarven King. The Skaven are ascendent, the countless hordes of ratmen sweeping across the Old World and destroying all before them heralding the coming of the Lord of the End Times . The Dwarves on the other hand. are very much the opposite, in decline and preparing their final stand. The sense of prevailing doom is very strong in this book. In many ways it is as much about the Dwarves as it is the Skaven. Doughty and brave but no less doomed, there is some great characterisation here for the Dwarf race as they prepare to meet their end.

And although the book primarily focuses on these two elements there are other factions too. Skarsnik is present, sensing the opportunity to do what he has been thwarted in many times before. Although his is a comparatively minor role in the scheme of things the sections of the book that featured him were actually my absolute favourite. Of course this should have come as no surprise given that Guy wrote the Skarsnik Warhammer novel, a book I have not read yet but that has risen towards the top of my reading list. Guy's portrayal of Skarsnik is wonderful, a tired, old school, London style gangster in the very best traditions of GW past, i'd imagine the late Mike Reid or perhaps Ray Winstone reading the audiobook. Just reading the Skarsnik based passages gave me a pang of nostalgia, i doubt that the Orcs and Goblins of the Age of Sigmar will be as characterful and irreverent.

Also briefly featured are the Ogres, along with probably the only time i'll ever see a Blur lyric in a fantasy book (though that said I have seen Slayer and Metallica and even Father Ted lines in other Black Library publications so you never know,...) The Ogres are portrayed more or less exactly as you would expect and it's a shame that they aren't featured more. Though theirs is a small part they add another layer to the deception and skullduggery you would expect from a Skaven book. Along with Skarsnik also add some levity to what is otherwise a rather dark book. Yes, this is the End Times and this book REALLY feels like it. With the Dwarves in particular the situation is truly dire. Though they meet their end stoically and, well, like a Dwarf, meet their end they do. It is quite relentless as they are ground down and forced back again and again, It is the rout of their civilization, the massacre of Dwarf kind.....

So with some fantastic characterization, brutal action and events that actually make a difference this is the perfect End Times novel right? The one that finally lives up to the name? Well no, not quite. Though what is here is rather good, it is not exactly a page turner. The myriad of plots and schemes inherent with the Skaven means it is at times a muddled read. In addition with the focus on Queek, you don't really get a sense of the machinations of the Skaven Lords. At the start of the book there is a section where the Lords are vying for influence and power but any ambitions put across here are lost as soon as the focus shifts to the Headtaker. In addition, the fate of the Lizardmen, a large part of the Campaign book from what i am lead to believe, is summed up in one line. ONE. LINE.

So whilst what is here is fairly well written (though it does suffer from a lack of focus in places) it still falls somewhat short of doing justice to the End Times as a concept. It is a good read and worth your time but like its fellows i don't think it will ever be regarded as a classic. Sadly with one book to go i'm not sure that the series can be turned around. Then again, the books are steadily increasing in quality with this being the best yet so you never know.....

Horus Heresy Novella Review: The Purge By Anthony Reynolds

It's funny you know, how books can relate to your gaming hobby. Be it being inspired by something in a novel and using it in your army or games, or taking character names or places and tying it into your own narrative. For me The Purge has reignited a rivalry that i have had with my Conclave of Har compatriot Lee Trayler for many many years....

I've always enjoyed playing games against Lee, we've faced off against each other so many times, from 2nd edition (which we have been revisiting) to current. My Ultramarines versus his Word Bearers, my Eldar versus his Emperors Children, My Ultramarines vs his Emperors Children and the Arch Fiend De'Sade (oh the stories that could be told of those battles!) and more recently my Emperors Blades vs his Eldar, through the last two decades we have crossed swords/bolters many, many times. 

And another classic face off beckons, Lee has been amassing a 30k Word Bearers army in preparation for the worlds worst kept secret, the Horus Heresy plastic starter, a return to the army he used so very long ago. I in return will be returning to my original army. The Ultramarines. I'd not really put much thought into it till now, as Ying and Yang it was just assumed that we would face off again with this new release. All of that has changed since I read The Purge.

I headed into this novella after the giddy highs of Scorched Earth. (review Here) Indeed, the novellas I am reading are actually better than the full length novels at the moment (and certainly more frequent!) which is a sad indication of the state of the series in all honesty. I thought that i'd be bored by the book, after all, the 'Shadow Crusade' is something that has been well explored (and some would say belaboured) in the Horus Heresy. Reams of paper have been devoted to what was essentially a footnote in the original narrative of the Heresy.  What more could 'The Purge' possibly contribute? 

Well quite a lot actually, this is one of those nice little character background books that fleshes out the legions depicted in lieu of a slew of bolter porn. This is not to say that there is not action within, there certainly is, it's just this is more of a considered and subtle and dare i say grown up, Heresy story.

The story revolves around one individual, Sor Talgron, though there are many other characters in minor roles (more than most novellas in all honesty) this is his story. The main narrative is broken into two sections, there are flashbacks to Terra, before Isstvan V but after Isstvan III as Sol Talgron is bought before Rogal Dorn in the wake of Horus's first seditous act. Nathaniel Garro features in a walk on - walk off cameo as we gain a rare glimpse into how Horus's rebellion is initially perceived back on Terrra.

However, although events on Terra are important (indeed pivotal in many ways) it is the part of the book set in the present that is of most note. Sol Talgron leads his army of Word Bearers against the remainders of an Ultramarine force in the Shadow Crusade. Here we see the desperation that Gullimans legion can be driven to and their absolute hatred of the Word Bearers. I found it inspiring to say the least! The Ultramarines have never been driven like this and I felt they were portrayed here like never before, very much diminished are the 'theoretical and practical' this is survival, and failing that, revenge. They can't win and they know it, Hero after Hero lays down his life in order to ensure they can deal the Word Bearers a bloody blow. Reading it really makes me want to pick up a Horus Heresy army so i can take the fight to Lees Word Bearers.



But despite the action, inherent in this part of the book as the Ultramarines make their desperate and heroic last stand, this IS a book about the Word Bearers and Sol Talgron in particular. The character study of the Word Bearers captain is exceptionally well written. Sol Talgron is a soldier through and through. He turned heretic with the rest of his legion but doesn't subscribe to their new found beliefs, put simply is is of the old school. He is following Lorgar's orders because he is a loyal soldier and though he may agree with Horus he is having trouble reconciling how he feels about the Gods of Chaos. This makes him a liability and something of an outcast in his own legion. He is balanced by Jarulek, who in comparison has totally sold his soul to the Dark Gods. Talgron hates Jarulek, hates what he represents but knows that unfortunately he is a necessary evil. Much as he bemoans what has happened to his Legion, he follows orders.

Unfortunately The Purge tails off DRASTICALLY at the end. Put simply the ending is rushed and Sol Talgrons eventual fate is not explained well at all. Though the reader is left with some idea of what has happened (presumably to be expanded up on in a novel at some point) it certainly does not do justice to the rest of the novella. The author has done exceptionally well given the page length but the final few chapters cannot come close what has come before.

And that is the real problem here, some novellas feel like an excerpt from a much longer book, some feel like a few ideas coblled together. The Purge feels like it should have been longer, much longer. It feels like a novel that has been compressed into a much smaller format. The purge has plenty of ideas and content. It is however severely hamstrung by its format. Its a shame as much of what is here makes for fine reading and as i say, it is the type of book we just don't get enough of in the Heresy, So i would say that Th Purge is worth picking up but this should have been a novel, and given that there are precious few of those released these days that is all the more damning, .I am lead to understand that the book heavily ties into Reynolds's 40k Word Bearer trilogy and I shall have to pick that up sometime to see if it gives me fresh perspective. For now though, if you will excuse me i have a 30k Ultramarines army to plan.....