Pic from the original White Dwarf article (illustrated by Pete Knifton) |
Say what?
Yup, original. The Space Marine jetbike (the Mk 14 'Bullock' Jet-Cycle) was introduced at the same time and in the same White Dwarf article as the Ravenwing. A particular passage talks about how the Ravenwing Company made a sub-orbital drop with their jetbikes to engage and surprise the enemy in the relief of Rynn's World. In the last Dark Angel Codex, this background was slightly re-tooled and incorporated into the background of Sammael himself (accept now it's just him and him alone, and the 11 drop-ships are now reduced to a single Thunderhawk). This was White Dwarf #96. I want to also say that this was the 1st introduction (with exception to the scraps of info in Rogue Trader itself) to a lot of background elements that would later evolve into the larger story for the Dark Angels and perhaps even the Horus Heresy itself.
GW Catalog page. Note that an original plastic marine from the Imperial Space Marines boxed set was required |
Here are the original stats just to blow your mind as to how awesome Rogue Trader was! Granted, it's been so long since I looked at these I can't recall what the 2nd set of stat's are, let alone the meaning of the abbreviations or the rules to use them! But the top row should be easy for you to figure out: the Jet-Cycle was FAST! (Yup, that's 300" a round! Only the Eldar Jetbike was faster!)
The 2nd generation of jetbikes. The pilots were the same as the ones for the ground bikes. |
Original advert. And I used to think these were expensive back then! I still say the xmas marine with the tankard would make a great Wolf Guard! |
So, here's hoping the rumors are true and that we'll have some Dark Age of Technology goodies soon!
-Neverness
Image Copyrights respective to holder (Games Workshop) used without permission and for review purposes only