C-3PO Trains A Dragon... Or Two - White Dwarf #111 Review

During the launch of Age of $igmar, all we saw for many weeks were the bastard sons of C-3PO on steroids, the Stormcast Eternals. Like Space Marines but with less variety and super sparkly, the Stormcast Eternals were overexposed to the point of complete saturation point.
It's with this piece of background in mind that I present this week's White Dwarf review which, at it's core, has Stormcast Eternals. The static Fritz Lang-esque dudes have not only returned, they brought with them a pet.
And what would an Age of $igmar knight ride? Well a frikkin' dragon - what else?
Sure they have no wings, but I wonder if the Seraphon look at them and think of these beasts as being in bondage to humanity, their supposed ally.
Can you see it now? A "Free the Dracoth" bumper stickers all across the realm, marches in the streets calling for Dracothian rights. There's a side story for you!
So is this a good issue? Worth buying??
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The idea of the Dracothian Guard is actually really solid; Sigmar's answer to the Dark Gods Varanguard.
Unlike the Varanguard models though, these are very solid, very static, almost as if on parade. Games Workshop do horses really well, so why not us the same rationale to these mounts too. For me they are just really boring. Some of the alternate colour schemes shown in White Dwarf make them look more interesting, but at $110 AUD for two of them, i'll pass.
The Lord-Celestant is an option in the kit and adds a new rider and new armour to the Dracoth.
The interesting thing is that Games Workshop have done a Lord-Celestant before - in the Age of Sigmar boxed set - and far from being static, it was dynamic and powerful looking (right). Pity they didn't just rebox this awesome older miniature!

Despite my misgivings about the previous releases, possibly one of the most dynamic kits for the Stormcast Eternals in the Age of $igmar is the Knight Heraldor (above left). This is listed on the Games Workshop webstore as "Knight Heraldor 2" BTW because of the equally dynamic Knight Heraldor.
Again we are looking at high prices for characters, so this comes in at $42 AUD.
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More Stormcast Eternal stuff, this time another upgrade for the existing models to make Tempest Lords.
This is a great idea and something Games Workshop have done in a limited capacity with Space Marines.
Frankly I think these would be amazingly popular with modellers and they fact they are doping them I think is awesome! More for Space Marines please...

Combining man and machine, power extreme!! No it's not the Centurions cartoon from the 80s, it's basically what is going on here. In Stormcast Eternals Extremis, Sigmar and Dracothian unite to bring their forces together to fight Chaos. Expect more lizards in Sigmar's forces if this book is anything to go by.

How To Paint Stormcast Eternals is the new guide to ten of Sigmar's legions. Games Workshop painting guides can be hit and miss - lets see where this one lies.
Also next week Games Workshop bring out what seems to be single-serve superglue bottles.... whaaa?
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The Last Wall is part 4 in the ongoing year long story arc, The Beast Arises, from Black Library. I'm falling behind on this one. It seem like there's some Imperial Fist Successor Chapter action in this book too! Woo!!

​There's two new Starter Paint Sets - one for 40K and one for Age of $igmar. The sprues for the 40k one are interesting (left). Finely detailed and only vaguely multi-part.
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From Forge World comes my absolute favourite Battle-Automata - the Domitar. This is such a great looking model. I might need a Mechanicus army!

Paint Splatter is not bad this week, they've even changed the way Eternals are painted ever so slightly!

Miniature of the Year 2015. Now I wondered if I should give it away or not, so I hope I made the right choice about showing both pages here.
Two awards for the Skitarii, and the MK IV "Veteran Tactical Squad" is interesting considering it's part of a boxed set! The name they gave it may also be a clue to what the eventual name will be when released as an individual box rather than the boxed Betrayal at Calth game.

The Dracothian Guard have rules, and a number of them for the options available.
I hate to keep hating on these (do I?) but check out the name of the unit with hammers: Concussors. Because they can give people concussion? Well why not call the ones with lances Stabbors and the ones with swards Slicors - Hell the ones with axes can be called Choppors!
Just kidding really - the others have cool names...
"Put on your helmets lads, here come the Concussors!!"

Verdict

The models are naff and too much time was spent on them which is a shame, but there are a few nuggets in here. The Awards was interesting (if only for the short piece in the back where the editors bemoan the lack of awards for the Stormcast Eternals, Hahahah!!)
I'm 50/50 on this one.
Sorry for the lack of direction, but I'm avoiding my own prejudice and not ruling.

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Soundtrack to this Week's Review

If you're a fan of Bolt Thrower and bands of that ilk - then you're going to love this!