The G Dub has been doing a great job recently keeping the ravening hoards fed with releases of codices and army books. If you are more on the 40K side than Fantasy Battle though the chances are the next release is looking interesting. Actually, forget that, it is looking really interesting. It doesn’t matter what army you’ve bonded with (possibly literally if you aren’t careful with the super glue), Space Marines are going to be kind of a big deal.
There have been lots of rumors flying around, but with the release just around the corner enough of these seem to have solidified that we can get an idea what will be sent our way. Let’s have a look at those that have done the best out of coalescing from the warp fog.
I’ll start with rules (the boring bit that doesn’t directly include making models). The limited edition (oh, shiny) will be available in a choice of chapters, including Black Templars. Other places have said Black Templars are back in the big book too which in some ways offsets the cost a little. Kind of two codices for the price of one. There have also been repeated mentions of Graviton guns. These aren’t new exactly seeing as they are in Rogue Trader, but haven’t been a 40K standard option for a while. Oh yeah and the book (176 pages) will be big so expect it to be expensive. And then we are likely getting chapter specific supplements down the road, same as Iyanden elfies and Farsight spacefishcows.
Model wise, we are getting some new stuff, and a lot of updated stuff. The completely new is the Centurions who seem to be a Space Marine version of Killa Kans. At least there are three in a set on 60mm bases. Looks to be a fairly expensive set so let’s hope the models and bits possibilities make it worth it. With the kits GW have been releasing recently I’m sure it will. Various rumors have described a number of weapon options that are dreadnought level but seem to focus more on the anti-infantry side. Plus, if anyone gets the graviton guns you can bet it will be these guys. Hopefully these guys will be similar in size enough that they will cross breed with the dreadnought bits nicely and give us some good conversion possibilities.
For updated sets we look to be getting more choices than a Grey Knight at a Sisters of Battle after battle party. To start we have a new anti-air vehicle which seems to be a Whirlwind variant (at least it was at epic scale). There are Stalker (2 3-barrel autocannons) and Hunter (missile) variants mentioned and it sounds like it will be up-armored similar to a Vindicator. Some descriptions have it very different to our much loved rhino, so who knows this may be a new kit rather than another rhino on steroids. If it is closer to a rhino it will hopefully be easy to kit bash one, although with as expensive as making rifle dreads got, the stalker choice probably means you just need to buy the kit.
Troops wise there are new Captains, Chaplains and Librarians. These all look to be plastic kits but also to be pretty expensive, and may be the single pose plastic sets we've been seeing more of. The existing space marine commander kit is still really good so it will be interesting to see where they go here to differentiate. Please, no finecast. Also for troops we have new Tactical, Sternguard and Vanguard kits. As old as the Tac squad sprues are this will be much appreciated. There is a lot of wish listing out there as to what it will include, but I’m sure it will be an improvement just based on GW getting better and better at squishing stuff on to sprues. With both stern and vanguard getting plastic too the options for kit bashing are likely to be sky high. Lastly, there are a couple of new combination sets with the only interesting one being a Razorback with a Chaplain and a command squad. Have to wait and see price wise if it is worth it. Game Workshop are after all well known for the fantastic value associated with their one-click deals.
What is interestingly absent from the rumors is the assumed Space Marine take on the Riptide/Wraith Knight oval base size walker. Not exactly sure that was something they needed anyway so no big deal. Particularly with all the other juiciness we seem about to receive.
So what do you think. How much is this release going to make your wallet cry?
Citizensmith