Age of Sigmar - Fantasy Space Marines

The Age of Sigmar models have finally leaked their way onto the internet. On the one hand, the bloke on the big beasty has some promise. On the other hand, it seems GW is hoping that some of the Space Marine gold dust will rub off onto Fantasy, mostly by introducing Space Marines into Fantasy. Or am I the only one who sees that?

The chaos guys look like they've taken inspiration from the End Times Khorne boxed set, which is a bit off-putting (since they were shit). But it's only one blurry phone shot from the White Dwarf, we'll get a better look once the glossy glamour shots are out, so I'm holding off on judgement. Except for that whole "Fantasy Space Marines" bit, I'm judging the hell out of them for that.

The new logo's neat tho?

My Top 10 Models (GW edition):

I've been seeing this go around for a while and I thought i'd give it a go. So, here it is, in no particular order, my ten favourite models:

10 - Rogue Trader Chaos Dreadnought

Probably the best Dreadnought GW has ever made (the Forgeworld Contemptors are a close second) - I love the Giger-esq aesthetic, it's subtly creepy in a way the new Hellbrute isn't.

9 - 1998 Gamesday Ork Nob

I'm going to lay this out right here: Gorkamorka is my Oldhammer, and this is the best Gorkamorka Ork (until the next one anyway).

8 - Death Jester

Creepy jester? Check and mate.

7 - Orc Shaman

Arguably my favourite model of all time. It's probably, to me at least, the best fantasy Orc that GW has produced (a bold statement indeed).

6 - Da Red Gobbo

Gorkamorkas back! I just love the idea of the Rebel Grotz. The Red Gobbo is the most characterful of the lot. Just look at him! Where did he even get a leather jacket in the middle of a desert...

5 - Space Ork Nobz in Power Armour

Painted by Dylan Gould - http://dylangould.blogspot.co.uk/

I don't know what it is about these guys. Their faces are weird, the proportions are odd and their waists are unsettling. But that said, I still love them. I just can't explain why. Like a pet dog that stinks a bit and eats it's own sick.

4 - Space Skeleton

The perfect mix of creepy, menacing and impossible to find for a reasonable price on eBay. All-in-all, 10/10 would pine after again.

3 - Nazgrub Wurrzag

Ok, last Gorkamorka model. I promise! I remember, as a lad, reading a fluff peice about Nuzgrub and it's stuck with me since, I think it ended with him pole axing an Ork boy in the head with his pick axe. If it just wasn't for his right arm (it's just holding his shotgun a bit... Oddly) he'd be my #1 Gorkamorka Ork.

2 - Genestealer primearch on throne (with magos)

A bit out of left-field (mostly because it's not an Ork), this is the model that keeps me wanting to do a genestealer cult. And any model that makes you contemplate dropping the money required to start a whole army is surely deserving of a place in your top ten?

1 - Marauder Giant

Aah, the Marauder Giant. To me, the definitive giant. A model I've wanted for as long as I've been in the hobby, but could never have (until recently, well, mostly). If only the new giant was just this guy, in plastic. I'd have an army of them.

Ok and that's it for my, admittedly GW-centric, list. I'll produce another one sometime focusing on alternative companies. Maybe, I've been very flakey on my posting recently. This is a situation I'll have to rectify :).

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White Dwarf 388 - Empire!

So White Dwarf 388 is out and, would you know it, it's all about these empire chaps. Even though the pictures have been on the internet for a week or so, it's nice to see them in print. Now that i've had a proper look at these guys i can say that i'm still not blown away by Karl Franz/Generic General on Griffon. The pose is just too static, it looks like a statue of a griffon (especially when you put it alongside the Island of Blood griffon), and i'm still not sold on the random Steam Tank hull they've strapped on its chest. That said, the two-headed one is the best of the bunch.

With the, slightly disappointing, griffon out of the way i'm very happy with all the other releases, especially the Celestial Hurricanum, which may get re-puropsed as a Tzeentch Warshrine for the Warriors of Chaos army i have to keep stopping myself from buying.

Now i've seen the Demigryph Knights, i think they look cool, plus, they're on 50x75 bases, so they wont look stretched out/dwarfed by their base.

Of the rest of the models, the Master Engineer is nice (i prefer him to have the scope) the captain is holding his weapon all weird, but shouldn't be too hard to convert. The Witch Hunter and Warrior Priest are the best of the four new finecast (the wizard is probably third). My only complaint is with the re-released finecast models, to be exact the "HEROES OF THE EMPIRE - VALTEN", three resin models for £40? World. Gone. Mad. I don't think Forgeworld charges that much (i'm ignoring the existence of Lietpold the Black here, otherwise my argument would look stupid).

All in all, i'm impressed with the Empire releases (also, am i the only one who's noticed that Flagellants are Special choices now?) and it's taking a lot of willpower for me not to start collecting them (that said, i have ordered the book and Master Engineer, just to see them in the 'flesh'). Once i've completed the Vampires (or Skaven) i'll consider Empire (or Warriors).

New Empire, Monstrous Arcanum & Forgeworld Terminators!

So, pictures of the new Empire Army Book and models have 'leaked' onto the internet (don't think it really, technically, counts as a leak if the leak is just pictures from next weeks White Dwarf - I think the term everybody should be using is 'Advertising'). That aside the models i'm most impressed with?

These two sets (the Demi Gryphon Knights i can take or leave and the new Karl Franz is sweet, but the Griffons Chest plate just seems a bit off to me - if it's optional i will, of course, change my mind). To be exact the Witch Hunter (top left) and the Warrior Priest (bottom right) are the two I like the most. Also the Horse-Drawn Cart with the model of the old-world solar system is just too cool.

Aside from that, Forgeworld has a couple of new releases:

Monstrous Arcanum:

"This is the eagerly-anticipated first book in a new series from Warhammer Forge, and as its name suggests Monstrous Arcanum deals with a veritable carnival of monsters both arcane and bloodthirsty. Within this 113 page, full-colour hardback book, you will find 32 new monsters – nightmarish horrors and noble beasts, creatures of magic made flesh and the victims of terrible curses inflicted by dark powers – presented in the form of Binding Scrolls for use with any Warhammer army."

More big monsters in Warhammer is only a good thing, the Warpfire Dragon and Basilisk models alone have convinced me to order this book. Also, "first book in a new series" does that mean more books full of big nasties? I'm sold. 

And finally:

Tartaros Pattern Terminator Armour. Or, for short, Mini Contemptors. If i were in the market for new Terminators (or any terminators, for that matter) i'm be getting these. For one, they'd look great alongside the Contemptor Dreds. 

Although, they could do with a bit Chaosing up. Maybe some mould, tentacles and rotten ooze. No, stop. My bank can't take any more!