 | It's pretty safe to say that Warhammer Age of Sigmar is probably the biggest thing to happen to Warhammer in many years. Precipitated by The End Times, Age of Sigmar is set hundreds of years after the sundering of worlds, so much so that those times are consigned to myth and legend. Chaos has ruled supreme since Sigmar's alliance was betrayed (by whom I'm not sure) and the people have suffered horribly. Age of Sigmar surrounds the return of Sigmar and his new forces as they attempt to liberate the worlds from Chaos. It's an interesting plot device to have all we have know consigned to history. Pretty smart actually! White Dwarf #75 is entirely involved with this release and fleshing out the universe. There is a lot of fluff, the four page rule set (how weird is that BTW), the Warscrolls (which are like the 40K Datasheets) a painting guide of sorts (curiously not called Paint Splatter), Sprues and Glue looks at construction of some of the kits (little that there is) - this is simply one of the best looking White Dwarfs we have seen. + + More After The Jump + + |
First and foremost, the issue comes with a free Liberator. Have a look at the size of him next to my WIP Space Marine. Wonder if there will be further attempts at actual comparative scale in the new miniatures?
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The initial fluff section tells you pretty much all you need to know about the changes to the universe. It's quite involved and also goes through the nine realms the universe has become. The 8 pages are also flanked by stunning art and photography.
Following the "in the last episode" section is the overview of the Warhammer Age of Sigma Boxed Set.
Like many, I've spent a bit of time wondering if this is for me. It's $200 AUD and the figures aren't really that poseable, there's repetition in the poses and (the crucial question) would I ever paint them all considering I still have a Stormclaw boxed set I haven't even touched! So I ordered it anyway...
Like many, I've spent a bit of time wondering if this is for me. It's $200 AUD and the figures aren't really that poseable, there's repetition in the poses and (the crucial question) would I ever paint them all considering I still have a Stormclaw boxed set I haven't even touched! So I ordered it anyway...
The images have been leaked all over the net this week, and I'd have to be cynical and assume they were leaked on purpose to get some hype up. Guerrilla marketing and all.
There's some detailed shots of Vandus Hammerhand, his elite Retributors (below) and the Lord-Relicator Ionus Cryptborn. Despite their limited poseablity, the poses you do get are really dynamic!
There's some detailed shots of Vandus Hammerhand, his elite Retributors (below) and the Lord-Relicator Ionus Cryptborn. Despite their limited poseablity, the poses you do get are really dynamic!
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When it comes to troops, Sigmar's forces are just as impressive as his elites. The Liberators (below left) and the Prosecutors (below right) are great looking miniatures showing a definite departure form the usual Warhammer look. Again, it will be interesting to see the individual kits when released as a comparison.
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Meanwhile in the land of ouchy-ouchy-burning-and-stabby-stuff, Chaos also have some very impressive forces lead by a mean looking dude called Korghos Khul. This is an epic looking miniature with a nasty looking lap dog. Nice to see a character on such a large base too.
With him are Threx Skullbrand who carries Khorne's Portal of Skulls. Having seen the game previewed today, the portals are an important part of the game, so if you have a character carrying one it may be an interesting game dynamic.
The big beasty is Skuldrak who has been mutated by Khorne to be a dentist's best friend!
With him are Threx Skullbrand who carries Khorne's Portal of Skulls. Having seen the game previewed today, the portals are an important part of the game, so if you have a character carrying one it may be an interesting game dynamic.
The big beasty is Skuldrak who has been mutated by Khorne to be a dentist's best friend!
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Your Chaos forces are made up of some great looking "Blood Warriors" - a huge improvement on the current Khorne lineup. Speaking of big improvement, the Bloodreavers pick up where the Chaos Marauders barely even got to. I would love these in a multi part kit!! This will have to do for now.
Boss man with the whip is Vekh the Slayer who's possibly the only overweight Khorne guy I can remember, but he has a whip in one hand and a sword for the other, so no one is too worried about telling him!
Boss man with the whip is Vekh the Slayer who's possibly the only overweight Khorne guy I can remember, but he has a whip in one hand and a sword for the other, so no one is too worried about telling him!
Here are the rules which includes the important disclaimer at the end to play nice!
The rules seem very simple and it will be interesting to see if they will stay this way as the game matures.
The rules seem very simple and it will be interesting to see if they will stay this way as the game matures.
Look - extra stuff!! The Gates of Azyr is the novella introduction to this new time in the Warhammer world.
There's two new figure cases (which incidentally cost more than the game itself!) and the Painting Guide. I had a look at the Painting Guide this morning and wasn't that impressed. It's quite sparse and although it has instructions how to paint certain things, alternate colour schemes and banners of famous units are missing. It just seems like a big Paint Splatter which is a real shame!
Gold is the order of the day with the new gold spray and two new gold paints. Be good to have a new gold base colour to add to the range. Not sure about the current offerings at all.
There's two new figure cases (which incidentally cost more than the game itself!) and the Painting Guide. I had a look at the Painting Guide this morning and wasn't that impressed. It's quite sparse and although it has instructions how to paint certain things, alternate colour schemes and banners of famous units are missing. It just seems like a big Paint Splatter which is a real shame!
Gold is the order of the day with the new gold spray and two new gold paints. Be good to have a new gold base colour to add to the range. Not sure about the current offerings at all.
Now here are the much-touted Warscrolls. the big surprise is they have crammed them up onto one page.
With recent 40K releases they have been very generous with allowing each one it's own page so it seems odd to cramp them up like this. You can make out the writing, but not that well. It all but defeats the purpose I think. BUT, at least you can find out that the Blood Warriors are seemingly the new name for Khorne Beserkers
With recent 40K releases they have been very generous with allowing each one it's own page so it seems odd to cramp them up like this. You can make out the writing, but not that well. It all but defeats the purpose I think. BUT, at least you can find out that the Blood Warriors are seemingly the new name for Khorne Beserkers
More fluff! This time it's a bit repetitive, but the pictures are nice!
Sprues and Glue is a primer on how to assemble the models. There's a good shot of the Prosecutor's wings which shows the amount of detail on them. It's a bit hard to see, but have a look at the weird torso shape on the miniature in the first example. One of his arms is also have his chest.
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Did Paint Splatter change it's name? Aaaaw. Well these are some pretty simple tips to painting the miniatures in the boxed set. The examples on the Chaos guys are nicer, especially the bone and stomach maw (gross!). The flesh on the Bloodreaver are very good too.
There's a spread on how to start playing now and explaining that the base shape doesn't matter... and a million fan-boy voices where snuffed out in one stroke of the pen! So much written about something that doesn't matter anymore! We can now get creative with the bases. Not a bad thing.
Finally there is this very simple overview of the Alliances. As the information is up on the GW site (as we told you earlier today) you may as well have a look to get a real idea of how it's all going to work.
That being said, Orcs aren't Orcs anymore., neither are lots of the old race names and the alliance between Sigmar and Lizardmen opens this right up!
That being said, Orcs aren't Orcs anymore., neither are lots of the old race names and the alliance between Sigmar and Lizardmen opens this right up!
Verdict
There really is a lot here! If you're into Warhammer then you absolutely must get this issue. Considering it's place in the hobby itself (and the fact you get a free mini) this is an issue for everyone!
My Games Workshop had extra copies, but don't rely on that too much!
My Games Workshop had extra copies, but don't rely on that too much!
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