After months of leaks, rumors, and a PR marketing campaign the place writer Video games Workshop determined “fuck with it, let’s have some enjoyable” by making a tongue-in-cheek ‘fansite,’ the brand new version of Horus Heresy has been proven off finally.
If you happen to’ve been following Horus Heresy Third Version gossip, the ultimate product could not come as a shock. As suspected, ‘Saturnine’ is the subsequent core field and encompasses a lineup of brand-new Terminators with shoulder-pads to make ’80s children nostalgic, a previously-unseen – however large – Dreadnought, and a core rulebook that revises present mechanics with out reinventing the wheel.
In line with Video games Workshop’s stay stream reveal, we will anticipate to get our arms on the set this Summer time. (If I needed to guess, I would assume July primarily based on earlier launches for the present Warhammer 40K/Age of Sigmar editions.) And to be frank, I can not wait. I’ve spent a very long time circling Horus Heresy, however the brand new version’s guidelines are sufficient to tip me over into full “take my cash” mania. It is like a blast from the previous; this can be a grittier, extra granular wargame that is very harking back to the Warhammer I performed rising up. Simply take a look at the brand new ‘Tactical Standing’ mechanic, which breaks down how items react to sure circumstances. The ‘Suppressed’ situation signifies that your troops are pinned down and disoriented by enemy fireplace, whereas ‘Routed’ reveals that they have been so battered they should fall again. Equally, the Management stat has now been divided into different classes (Management, Willpower, Cool, and Initiative) that present a greater sense of your warriors’ strengths. These with a excessive Cool rating are capable of maintain calm below nice stress, for instance.
This getting-into-the-weeds mentality units Horus Heresy other than the quicker, extra streamlined Warhammer 40K, and I dig that. In a lot the identical manner, I like how grounded its focus is. There are many huge personalities on these battlefields (simply take a look at the Area Marine leaders, the Primarchs), however extra focus is positioned on the rank and file. The troopers within the trenches.
The narrative it is chosen appeals in a lot the identical manner. This version places the Dropsite Bloodbath of Istvaan V entrance and heart, and this can be a cataclysmic occasion within the lore the place a number of Area Marine legions had been decimated after being lured right into a lure by traitors. That is why the Salamanders have loved the highlight for Saturnine, forming half of the packing containers’s power; they had been badly affected by this occasion, changing into one of many ‘Shattered Legions’ who by no means actually recovered. It is extremely thematic.
Naturally, there’s nothing to say you’ll be able to’t use those self same fashions for various legions. Whereas they’re dolled up in Salamander and villainous Iron Warriors colours for the Saturnine paintings, they’re usable in any military. Which is simply as nicely, as a result of the brand new items are notably fascinating. The Saturnine Dreadnought is without doubt one of the most harmful items to stroll the Horus Heresy battlefield up to now, there is a large defensive cannon you’ll be able to activate foes to devastating impact, and people new Terminators pack an additional punch because of their capacity to dual-wield extremely heavy weaponry… and, , as a result of being virtually impervious. You get fewer of them because of this, however I really feel like they are going to be straight-up automobile killers.
Questioning the place they got here from? Lore-wise, there is a good motive we’ve not seen or heard of those in Warhammer’s already-expansive canon; Saturnine gear is historical tech that is fiendishly tough to make, and was solely discovered by Salamanders Primarch Vulkan. As a result of he is a workforce participant, he distributed the plans for Saturnine armor all through the Legions simply previous to the Heresy. Contemplating how they’re now getting used in opposition to him, I think he is regretting that individual act of charity.
I am certain we’ll get extra particulars within the days to come back, and it will be fascinating to see how this compares to The Horus Heresy 2nd Version starter set. Nevertheless, it doesn’t matter what, I will be there day one. God dammit, Video games Workshop – you bought me once more.
For one thing to play till then, why not try the greatest board video games?
