Friday, 18 October 2013

GW (largish) Niggle sorted - Dark Elves book incoming (to a postbox near me)

GW and global trading: We have a problem Houston

 

As a complication of GWs global pricing policies I ran into an unusual problem. I bought a gift certificate as a present for my son a few months ago. When he wanted to use it online, it turned out that the voucher had been issued in US Dollars (Despite my login details showing NZ) and it was useless in NZ.
I ended up giving him the money in hard cash, and tried to sort out the mess...

The local GW shop would /could not honour the gift certificate, and after 6 months of to-ing and fro-ing we finally got someone in Aus to sort the problem.

6 months later...I was getting rather frustrated with the whole situation, as my bank had also stung me with a $25 foreign exchange rate fee. (On a $100 gift voucher, billed to me as NZ$135 at the time, it brought the cost of a $100 voucher to $160).

I received an email advising me that a new certificate (At today's exchange rate, $120, NZ would be issued) which would put me out of pocket $40 on the nett balance.

I thought just to let it slide, but someone at GW was perceptive enough to what had happened, and that the exchange rate was different at the time of purchase. Today an email with a voucher arrived for $150 NZ.

In the end this leaves me just $10 (plus interest lost) out of pocket,after  six months of trying to get an adequate response from the US/UK or wherever. Should I be glad?

So I bought the Dark Elves Army book, and DE magic cards, and the cards for Lizardmen and WoC. Lets wait and see...probably my last online purchase from GW.

Think I'll just go down to the local GW shop in future or buy off traders on TradeMe rather than go through this again!.

Anyhow, Kudos to the GW employee who saw the exchange rate difference and adjusted the voucher. Have a great weekend mate!

Thursday, 10 October 2013

Minis Swap and Sale: KWC 2nd Annual Swap Day Sun 20.10.2013

We want you! 

For the 

Kapiti Wargames Club 

Swap Day

20.10.2013



Unwanted or unloved Miniatures?

The Annual Kapiti Wargames Club Swap Meet is on again!

Sunday 20 October 2013


10.00 to 16.00

Paraparaumu Community Centre
Nga Hina Street, Paraparaumu



Entry Gold Coin Donation at door


Bring all your unwanted bits and models: Warhammer, 40K, Warmachine, FoW, Military, Napoleonics, Ancients, Moderns, 28mm, 20mm, 15mm
 ...any scale, any condition. 



Missing bits, complete or partial kits...all comers welcome! 
Your trash is likely someone's treasure!

Sell or swap!







(Most likely there will be some gaming too)

Thursday, 3 October 2013

First pics of New Hydra Model over at Plastic Crack!

Jossy at Plastic Crack has just published some of the first pics of the New Hydra model:




(also a first look at the Core troops, which I am less enthused about.)

Copyright Jossy, used without permission, just to illustrate the link

. Not my work or picture Just placed as a service to the community that do not follow Jossy's blog 
(Anyway, you should if you are a WH fan) 
All rights belong to Jossy and GW.

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Here it comes: DE Magic and Items, Stats, and rearranged to make sense

DE Magic and Rules, Stats incoming

Via HEROs Gaming blog (Tip your hats that way, plse. Thanks HERO)

Poss some bits lost in translation from ? Spanglese, reorganised to make more sense.



Q and A:

Rules for Assassins and Death Hags:
Are gifts of khaine surpressed or is there a list in the book?

Assassins and hags use different things, former has 3 choices of poison, latter has 3 choices of gift. Hags can only take 50 pts of magic weapons, while assassins have access to 50 pts magic items.
They are  DE hero characters, they can only take one from the three choices.
Assassins: 90 pts with poison attack. Can get two hand weapon or a Handbows. Access to 50pts magic items and one of three poisons (See below)

Shadowblades and Hellebron can have all 3 choices at their disposal simultaneously

Poison:
Black lotus: for each unsaved wounds inflicted by the character, a cumulative -1LD
Dark venom: KB
Manbane: +1 bonus to wound rolls

Gifts:
Cry of war :Cause fear, and all fear test made by the enemy unit in base contact with the hag suffer -3LD
Rune of khaine: Model gains +D3 attacks
Witch brew: She and her unit get frenzy. if they already have frenzy, they become super-frenzied with +2A. but the unit suffers -3LD when testing not to restrain from charging.

Fluff background question? What's the relationship between DEs and Slaanesh now? Does the cult of Slaanesh exist in fluff?
It looks like the warlocks(and sisters of suffering)  have something to do with Slaanesh from the captions in the pics, but I can't make it out.
No info- source doesn't know background fluff other than that the warlocks have been cursed by Malekith, if they don't find and kill the innocents, their souls will be taken by Slaanesh. so they have to kill and satisfy the dark prince all the time for survival.

Stats and rules of the cauldron. Does it have a 4+ Ward Save and does the hag get it as well?
CoB has a 4+ ward save itself; it can give the hag and witch it joins 5+ ward save, other units a 6+ ward save.
Witch Elves keep poison? Yes WE Initiative? They're I6

Sacrificial dagger and Pendant?
Yes the dagger is there. No pendant.
Everytime when u cast a spell but before dispelling, u can use the dagger. remove a model from the unit, and roll a D6, 4+ gets an extra dice and must be rolled and added to the result, then opponent tries to dispel. If you roll 1-3 then u can try the dagger again and again until you get a dice, or you can simply give up.

Does an Assassin get mundane armor? Assassins do not have access to armour. Does the missing of an armour-option mean, that an assassin cannot get a magic armor as well? No he can't
Do Assassins count against the hero slot limit? Yes

Is the Sea Drake Cloak available for all characters- or just for corsairs? Yes the cloak is available to dreadlord and master

Weapons: 
Handbow rules? What about the bleakswords?
Handbow range 12'', the rest stays the same (AP)
Bleakswords have no other rules mentioned, 9pts.
RBT now special and 70 pts, you can take four.(yes four)

Hydra and Kharybdiss:
Hydra is 6445552(3+remaining wounds) 6, cost 160 pts, 4+AS, 20pts for flame breath and 20pts for a 8'' shooting with multiple shots=remaining wounds, s=remaining wounds.
Kharibdyss is 650755456, 160 pts, 4+AS, poison attack, abyssal howl (reroll successful ld test), feast of bones(if all attack hits, auto hit D6 S7 hits afterwards.)
and one more thing... hydra and the kharibdyss both are monsters now, without handlers. though you can see two on their base, there is nothing about them in the rules.
Hydra regen rule:  Roll to regen wounds at the end of DE turn only: at the end of your phase if it still alive, you roll the number of dice equal to number of the lost wounds. 4+ regains a wound
Are the Hydra and the Karbdyss water creatures? No they don't have the sea creature rule. (Strange that one)

Harpies (Was worried that they had been canned, but sounds like they're still there )Whats the cost of harpies, do they ve any special rules like no panic ti other DE? Herpies are in special, 15pts and do not have any special rule except for fly.

Shades are 16 pts, hand weapon and repeater crossbow, no armour. Can take great weapon or two hand weapons for  2pts per model.

All lores for small sorceresses (2 lvl) too? Is she 80 pts?
Strange but certain. Small sorcerer can also take all 8 lores. and she's 80pts.

Whats about the rules of the Black Guard?
BG have eternal hatred of all enemies, that means rerols of all failed rolls to hit every round. They keep other rules per 7th Ed.(Warrior elite replaced by eternal hatred)

Points and options for black guard and cold ones: What does the medusa chariot thing do?
BG 15 pts, EX 12 pts, Cold one knight 30pts.
The Medusa chariot:  All DE within 6'' +1LD, and all others -1LD, Called Aura of Agony.

Do executioners still have Killing blow or are they now D3 wounds: Still KB, not D3 wounds.

Which special characters are in, which are out?
They stay the same. No new special characters. (Though Lokhir would go - Ed)
Does Malekith get cheaper? Yes, he's only 510 pts on foot. Didn't change much of his rules, now the circlet grants him an bonus dice if failed his casting/dispelling attempts once per magic phase

Fleet Admiral and the Beastmaster characters?

Lord choices: Fleetmaster is 155 pts with 566433739. Two hand weapons, light armour and sea dragon cloak. 50pts magic items. have a special rule called show no weakness that if he's fighting in a challenge or killed a character and still alive, the unit he joins become unbreakable till the end of that turn.
Sea dragon cloak upgraded in this edition: Now a 5+ scaly skin.

High beastmaster is 300pts 577433839 including mount (Manticore or scourgerunner chariot) Spear, light armour and sea dragon cloak. 100pts magic items. Special rule called Beastslaver: At the start of each of your turns, choose a friendly monster within 3''.That monster gets +D3 A till the start of your next turn.

Scroungerunner's cost includes the bolt thrower, I'm quite sure the High Beastmaster can man the bolt thrower.Yes, he takes place of one crew. His BS 7.
Special or rare? Special, cost 150 pts, profile is S4 T4 W4 with 5+AS, M9, two crew with spear and repeater crossbow,  a harpoon launcher, like a bolt thrower but far more powerful. it's S7, 24'' range, and cause D3 wounds. if a monster suffer any wounds from it, the monster will be dragged D6'' directly towards it. If D6 > 3, the monster suffer another wound with no AS.


Scroungerunner



Magic items aren't that great but everything else seems awesome.

Malus Darkblade:  Daemon now gives him +1 to WS,S,T,I and frenzy. Any to hit roll of 1 hits a friendly model in base contact.
Supreme sorceress is 185pts with lvl3, dreadlord 140pts. sorceress 80pts with lvl1.

Kuran and Tullaris
Kouran 596432739 joins BG to make them unbreakable. Comes standard with  +2S crimson death, and a 5+AS with Armour of Grief which delivers a S5 hit every time an opponent hits him.

Tullaris 566432739 joins EX gives them frenzy. Magic great weapon called the First Draich:  5+KB

Are they still champions or moved to hero slots ? Moved to hero slot, W2 each.

SoS vs WE:
Sisters of Slaughter
Rare choice with very impressive state 564331629. 15pts model, with shield and hand weapon. Can have a magic banner up to 50pts. 4+ward save in close combat, and every close combat phase it can choose an enemy unit in base contact: They lose parry and rank bonus in combat result.(still can steadfast). If any enemy model in base contact with them have higher basic WS or S (before weapon modifiers), they get +1 to their to hit and wound rolls.


Click to see full-size


Are they Khanites and do they get the same bonuses from CoB as WE's?
No they're not brides of Khaine, they're arena fighters. COB can give them 6+ ward save if join them... but still if they're 6'' within COB they can reroll all the failed rolls to wound. and COB have a bound spell can make them frenzied.

Magic item section look like? Do I still have access to the Hydra Banner (fingers crossed)

From my first glance they're not as good as HE. Only 10 items, including one 100 pts nearly useless sword (hydra blade, +D6 A, every close combat phase u must make a -2LD test or suffer -5WS, but gain HKB.) and one 100 pts useless banner (Banner of Nagarythe, makles the unit unbreakable). Hydra banner is not there any longer.

Magic: How does Power of Darkness work? Available lores?
Power of darkness is one of the two signature spell, which cast on 8+, target the caster's unit. all models in unit get +1S until the caster's next magic phase, and recover D3 casting dice, if you rolled 3 dice, the caster suffers a wound that cant be saved by armour. Dark elf have access to all eight lores this time, cheers. (Yeehaa! and thank you very much, ouch! - Ed)
DE sorcerer casting dark magic gain +1 bonus in casting value. It's called HEKARTIS BLESSING

What would you say is the best magic item the DE's got?
The dagger sounds pretty nice, how much does it cost?
25pts. DE have some "OK" items IMO

click to enlarge

Looks like the Dark Riders now have shields? Is this a default now, or still an option which causes loss of Fast cav? Upgrade with 1pts/per model. DR can have both light armour and shield without losing fast cavalry rule. 16 pts per model with light armour. 1pts for shield, 3 pts for crossbow.


Warlocks

Warlocks: Fast cavalry in rare Stats 544431528, and M9 on horse. 25ptsper model. Only have hand weapon, but have 4+ward save except for wounds caused by model with mark of Saanesh or daemon of Slaanesh. they're considered to be level2 wizard which is used like pink horrors. (+1 for casting value for each extra rank except the first, to a max of +3) They know 2 spells, one is doombolt from DE army book, the other is Soulblight from lore of death. (Think we'll be seeing a bit of this- Ed)

Basic DE warrior cost ? Core infantry comes with shield and sword or spear.  9 PTS for spearmen and swordsmen. RXB is 12 pts without shield upgrade (+1PTS)


Click to enlarge

Dark Elves: Second Wave Leak: First Photos

Dark Elves: Second Wave Leak: 

Photos, and confirmation of the lean to Slaanesh

Via Facebook: Presumed scans from the Army book, showing what else is in store for the DE lovers amongst us! (If you can believe the post)


Warlocks

Warlocks, the alternate build for Dark Riders, can't make out what the actual name of these altenate riders could be, but note the term "Slaanesh" actually printed in the caption! 
See, I told you...Slaaneshi Druchii! 


I'm loving the look of these riders, but...Oh dear! What were you thinking with buck teeth on the horses?
Has Bugs Bunny been crossbreeding with the Druchii stock? Bring out the tooth file. Gonna have to do some converting here!


OK, I think. Gives me no real reason to update my current dark riders.
Looks if they may be getting some light armour and/or shield option though, and a nice build on the riders themselves, fitting more with the look of the (unchanged) cold one riders

But then the backslide starts. 

I was so excited about getting new Executioners and Black guard, expecting at least some dynamic poses. But I am very underwhelmed with these (as also with the new core warriors) It seems the DEs backslid to the 90s, with static poses. Not a great improvement on my current metal ones, and just as good and my current alternate Gamezone figures (see bottom of page) 


OK, nice detail, BUT Static, static 1990s poses. Missed opportunity... Is all that I can say.
Alternate companies to GW can only improve their own sales. 



Not a halberd raised in anger. Even the empire's halberdiers are more dynamic


...OK, intersing. Look Ma, no visible wheels. With 2 attacks each from Cold Ones, plus impact hits, etc this is gonna be a seller. We'll see what the stats show


Mobile bolt-thrower. 
Waiting to see the stats, but can't imagine it's gonna match th Cannon of Khorne



Interesting. So not  a "Admiral of the Fleet", but Balck Ark Fleetmaster. 
Did we really need a peg-leg? The legacy of the pirate lore permeates the corsairs...
Ok, I can live with it. 
Now the qiestion: Does he have -1 to his movement, and how does that affect the unit he is in? 


For those who prefer decals. As I said, back to the nineties.
Does GW sell a decal fix? Not sure, if not they soon will....

Overall impression of the DE release so far:
(If the post I got this from is not a hoax, but the photos seem to come from an Army book)

Bit disappointed with the infantry, core and elite both. Seems we've had a backslide to 1990s design, with rather static poses, ham-sized hands and limitation of poses. (As an aside, I'm building Empire Greatswords from my pile of shame at the moment, and have found the same problem there) 
Characters seen so far also a bit bland.

 Cavalry and Chariots are pretty good, with the exception of those teeth. It appears the GW fixation with eating apparatus has now switched from parrot beaks to protruding gnashers for the horses and hydra.
I'm liking the buff machines and monsters (other than the hydras teeth) Now to find out about the magic...

Alternate Black guard I use  at present:
Gamezone figures


Dropped the shields, as BG don't have 'em





Thursday, 26 September 2013

Dark Elf Rules Leak

The Original Carybdis
Dark Elves Rules "Leak" Info from the latest White Dwarf magazine, via Kiwihammer and Jossy:

New Releases

  • Matt Ward authored the new book
  • Largest dual kit is the Cauldron of Blood /Bloodwrack Medusa. You can also use this kit to make the special character Crone Hellebron.(Think I'll be getting this)
  • The next dual kit is Witch Elves and the Sisters of Slaughter – Sisters of Slaughter are apparently the lost daughters of fallen noble houses and look great. (Will keep my old WEs, definitely make the SoS)
  • The new DE Core box allows you to make your warriors with Spears, Swords and Shields or Repeater Cross-bows. (Bleh, don't-a'lika tha newa look)
  • The Dual Hydra/Kharibdyss kit looks pretty good, there are pictures of the Hydra with different paint schemes that actually look a lot better than the leaked photo we’ve already seen. (Will do Kharibdyss - have 2 Hydras in my Army already. Maybe they'll look less cartoony with their lips painted differently) 
  • The Special Character Shadowblade  is a single pose figure that will come in a clampack (Probably won't get - have several assassin-type figures from various brands)
  • There is a Lore of Dark Magic Card set being released. (No surprises here, but the content)
  • Army Special Rules/Points Cost
  • Dark Elves now have the army-wide special rule of ASF (unsure if this will apply to monsters/cold ones. Should have had this all along. Elves, are n't they?)
  • Dark Elves also have Hatred but presumably only in the first round (What about the eternal hatred HE rule ?)
  • Black Guard have eternal hatred (Yay! - all races, I presume. DE Elites needed some sort of buff to remain competitive. What about Executioners? )
  • New Rule called murderous prowess allows Dark Elves to re-roll 1′s to wound. Unsure if this will extend to shooting and magic.(DEs will need something in the world of Monstrous cavalry, as it seems they're not getting any)
  • There is a new Beastmaster Lord Level Character which costs 300 points when naked on a Manticore (Good to see Beastmaster characters back, been missing their caste of DEs from the prev Ed) 
  • Witch Elves are core and 11 points per model. They can also take magical banners.
  • A unit of 40 Spear Elves and of 30 Xbow Elves with Full command costs 390 points. Unsure what options were used but that means the warriors were 12 points per model. If you do the maths on this it means that Spears are 9ppm and Crossbows are 12.
  • A DE Sorceress Hero looks to be 80 points
  • Cauldrons of Blood still come out of Hero slots and look to have increased in points. They can join units (That's new and useful ! All units or just Khiainite units? Limits on numbers of cauldrons ? More than 1 per army? ) and one of their powers allows a unit to re-roll to wound. (ASF, Hatred and reroll wounds, stacking - Ouch! Bring on the pain!) In the Batrep a unit with a Cauldron and this buff up deletes a unit of Sobunz.
  • Bloodwrack Medusas are rare and have a shooting attack called Bloodwrack Stare. Not sure what it does
  • Hydras can now regain wounds in a manner similar to the Slann with the regen power of the old ones. They are now 180 points, have monster+handler but have to buy their breath weapon. (Can live with that) 
  • Lore of Dark Magic – The attribute is called spiteful conjuration and does extra wounds to enemies that have spells cast on them. Unsure of how the mechanic works but could be similar to Tz lore attribute? (Time will tell about the rest of the magic)
  • Lore of Dark Magic – Only spell mentioned is called Word of Pain and it reduces WS/BS/I
  • A Dreadlord with Heavy Armour and a Shield on a Black Dragon costs 449 points.
  • Cold Ones are 30 points and have 2 Attacks, unsure if the cold ones themselves have ASF (They needed to be improved. Suppose they still suffer from stupidlty. Unlikely mounts and monsters will get ASF IMO)


More photos and a first sneak look on Jossy's blog: http://plastickrak.blogspot.co.nz/




  

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

Dark Elves of Slaanesh Arrive: 1st WD leaked pictures

Dark Elves of Slaanesh arrive

The long awaited first wave of DE releases are out in the Oct WD. I am a bit underwhelmed by some models, and enthused by others from what I can see. The stats may well change my opinion.

We can probably expect a second wave of more nautically themed Corsairs/Admiral of the fleet hero next, with the new Riders and Chariots...

I particularly liked the sinister look of the faceless DE's of the previous edition, so I can't say that I am rapt with the poncy faced HE look! Have the rank and file been sanitised to make them unappealing and force other purchases? Looks like the Shrine and Cauldron got all the spikes and the troops lost their spike and spite. We need SPITE in our DE Armies. These guys look kind.(Apparently getting ASF  (reward for looking like HE? ) and Murderous prowess - see below ? Just Khainite units/characters) )

Either way the Cult of Khaine is on the rise. I always thought Khaine and Khorne were more interchangable, but it appears that there is a definite Slaaneshi lean to this release:

Photos in order of "Like" as far as I am concerned:



Like e'm a lot




Love 'em lotz


Nice




ok



ok



Ho-hum - could have done sooo much with a new hydra. 
What do we get, the Friendly Lochness monster mutated... Lips don't work for me. 
Not EVIL enough. Dark elves are EVIL. Like the dynamic handlers

The pose of the creature works, then heads, not for me.
Would probably build the Karibdyss from this kit, keep my old hydras.


Bleh! Bleh!
High elves masquesrading as Dark elves. where did the EVIL go? 
Boring. No chance I'm gonna undate




Nooooo.....a step backwards

Rules Rumours (ex Warseer):

The sisters of slaughter are rares: enemies is base contact with them lose rank bonuses.

Hydras are specials can upgrade to get a strength 4 breath attack, no regeneration  but can regrow heads (recover lost wounds) just like the slann can with his discipline.

The karybdiss thing has a special ability that triggers when all 5 of its attacks hits ( gets an extra attack that inflicts additional hits) has a scaly skin save and causes terror. Enemy models in base contact must re roll successful leadership tests. Both use the monster and handler rules.

They have 2 signature spells just like high magic. One of the spells goes off on a 8+ and grants a unit +1 strength and then you gain D3 power dice but if you gain 3 power dice this way the wizard suffers a wound with no saves allowed.

The army has always strikes first.

Murderous Prowess: models with this rule re roll 1s when rolling to wound.

Wizards casting Dark Magic add plus 1 to their casting attempts.

Price Update (Ex Jossy at Plastic Crack)

Just received the price list for the Dark Elves release for New Zealand and Australia, and all us Kiwi's and Aussies will be very happy to know that the models at least are very close to what the US prices are!


(Not if you use the Big Mac Index, we are still paying for being on the backside of the earth and GW using outdated exchange rates - ed)


Dark Elf army book: $US 49.50 $AU 83 $NZ 98
Dark Elves Battle magic: $US 6 $AU 8.5 $NZ 10Shadowblade: $US 20 $AU 22 $NZ 26Dreadspears: $US 35 $AU 45 $NZ 50Witchelves: $US 60 $AU 70 $NZ 80Hydra: $US 65 $AU 70 $NZ 85Cauldron: $US 75 $AU 80 $NZ 95So this may well be considered a price increase for the US, but here in New Zealand and Australia this is a price drop!


I can see me getting the Witchelves/Sisters of Slaughter, Karybdis build, Cauldron (Build depends on stats), and of course the book. My wallet is groaning in trepidation....


Tuesday, 17 September 2013

New Dark Elf releases: Warlocks and Kraken, whole rework of army coming: Dark Elf Rumour Drums

The Dark Elf Rumour Drums are stepping up the beat: Major revamp coming


Looks like we are in for DE release in Oct. Major revamp of the DE's seem imminent

Early sightings of high-res pictures and info from " insider friends that work for GW" claim the following:

Lion275 over at Warseer :

" We can't and won't show pics unless our source gives us the ok. The pictures we have received are the high res pictures that will be in the WD. As of right now we only have the pics, no details on the book. Last time we got the pictures and then the book a little later. As soon as we get more info we will pass it on. So as far as the weapons I can only go off the pictures. Here is what I see:

Warlocks appear to have one hand weapon
The new chariot crew is armed with spears and what looks to be a large crossbow or bolt thrower on the chariot.

The new Warriors look quite different to me. But then again I am a big geek that notices stuff like that. They have cloaks that come down their back and all the helmets don't cover the eyes any more.

The warlocks are bare chested, and the weapons look mundane...aka not glowing. They look like large jagged daggers. They are held in reverse grips which looks pretty slick. The warlock champions eyes are glowing which IMO hints at some magical abilities. md as far as the warriors go I think a big difference will be the size of them. Look at the size difference between Isle of Blood Lothern Sea Guard and the normal High Elves spearman.

Im really excited to hear about a plastic hydra finally.It looks bigger and beefier. Like we said Dark Elves are setting the bar for the best range of models in WHFB.  Can you tell what size base the hydra is on?

I can't really tell from the pic. The two handlers are actually on the base so I don't have their base size to compare to. .

The cloaks hang down from underneath the shoulder armor and cover the back of the chain mail. It definitely is new for them but it looks really cool. The Druchii warriors also have shoulder armor. It makes them look simply awesome. The skull embossed on their shields looks great too. Yes the Hydra does have 2 handlers.

The Warriors, Black Guard, and Dark Riders all have cloaks. None of them appear to have face coverings. The Executioners appear to have skull faced helms. The theme to me appears to be a more sinister version of their High Elf bretheren. The plate armor has very spiked and jagged edges. The style will still fit well with the Shades and Reaper but next to these new models they will look very dated.

-The Kraken has 5 heads/fanged maws. The have spines and scales with smooth neck and belly flesh. Scales are painted a Dark Grey with the softer flesh painted blue. Looks awesome.
-The pictures we have of the Witch Elves has them with two hand weapons. 
-Black Guard look very stalwart with large halberds and high helms with 3 spikes on each side with a flowing plume on top. Their armor is black trimmed in gold and they have dark purple cloaks. The unit champion is holding a sword by the hilt with the blade planted in the ground. Musician is a drummer.
-The executioners have what look like skull helms, and their armor is a brighter silver than the Black Guard. Their tunics are red in color and the Draiches are all held on the left hand side of their bodies (their left our right). They look very cool ranked up.

The Dark Riders are very cool looking. Sleek looking horses with only a bit of armor. All of the Riders are hunched over in the saddle to give the illusion of speeding fast cav. The helmets appear to be open faced and they are armed with spears in the picture I have, once again that doesn't mean they wont get crossbows (in the pictures we have they are in the back ground behind the Warlocks). The Kraken doesn't have tentacles, it has four legs with webbed appendages ending in claws and it also has a tail.

The Cauldron of Blood/Blood Throne looks very cool. If you are a fan of the newer larger models GW has been putting out for WHFB you will really dig it. It is a bit toned down compared to the Empire Celestial Hurricanum/Luminark of Hysh and has blades and hooks on it to make it very sinister and Dark Elf. I also want to say thanks for such the warm welcome. I am glad that you guys are fired up for this release. As soon as more info becomes available to us I will share it on our Facebook and post here too. I will continue to answer questions about the models to the best of my ability and thank you for being very understanding as to why we cant release the pictures sent to us."

Thursday, 5 September 2013

Rumour Bells Ringing Dark Elves and 9th Ed Rules?

Dark Elves, Brettonnia or Dwarfs? Rumours abound:



I would like to believe the DE Rumour (being one of my Fave armies)

4 October 2013
September 27th (pre-orders)

Condensing my net trawlings:

Dark Elves are due in October 2013, it is said be a complete new book and not just a wave
New elite infantry kit, possibly witch elves, executioners or black guards.
(If new witch elves, there will most definitely be a new Cauldron of Blood piece)

As expected Monsters and Flyers:

- New Multi-kit Hydra / Kar Karond Beast (Sea/Land/Flying Monster)  - two variations of hydra and Sea       Drake/Beast (flyer)
- Box of 10 new plastic Witch Elves
- Box 10 new plastic Executioners / Black Guard alt builds
- New Cauldron of Blood / Altar of Khaine. (Hybrid kit with old witch Elf or aura similar to EoTG called ?      Khaines blades?  a whirlwind of magic blades emitted by Khain's hatred.
- Blister Fine Cast Priestess/Crone/Hag of Khaine
- Blister Assassin  (Shadowblade)
- Blister Dark Fleet Admiral/Corsair Hero - more than Lokhir, who has become useless w make way rule.
- Executioner /Black Guard Hero Blister
- Plastic/resin  Morathi ?
- Plastic harpy kit with two options
- dual kit chariot ?


Rules:
- Dark Magic buffs up characteristics  of characters, transformation and wound recovery spells aka 5th      
  Edition.(Do we see the Black Horror spell back?)
- Sacrificial Dagger;  buffs the Cauldron of Blood in units (Skaven bell type.) ( 4 + and one per phase)
- Dark Fleet Admiral Hero buffs shooting skills  of unit
- Revamp of Assassins ? Cheaper and causing terror, better rules in keeping with their intent ?
-  Ability to use poison as an option across all Khainite Units
 - Multiple wounds and killing blow for executioners and Black Guard respectively .
-  Malekith more powerful than Teclis. (Doubtful)
-  Monster of the deep-Kar Karond (Sea Drake? ) more powerful than current Hydra

- The emphsis of the book lies around Khainite units (Kharond Kar, Hag Graef and Clar Karond

 So Monsters+Altar of Khaine+Khainite Units, Corsairs as focus.Dark Elves getting more destructive and poisoned attacks to cope w monstrous cavalry , many players' perception of the character each of the Elven races strengths in battle: DE - Offensive, HE - 
Defensive,  WE - Guerrilla warfare . 

The Elite/ heavy infantry definitely need something to help cope against the trend to Monstrous Cavalry:
Multiple wound attacks ( Execs used to do D3) and Killing Blow for Black Guard ? Thanks, that will do me just fine.

Rumours about 9th Ed?
From Tim the Thief on Faeit 212:

New Rumors for the 9th Edition of Warhammer Fantasy Release:

All Softcover Army Books will become obsolete with the new release.
The New Starter Set Boxes  will released at the same time as the Hardback Rule Book
The Set will include a Book called “Armies of Warhammer”, this Book will have simplified "beginner" Army lists for ALL available Armies. No full rule book - i.e. force you to buy a book and a starter set.

Armies of Warhammer will give Players a little view of all Armies and they Units, also it will be a transitional solution for the obsolete Army Books
Armies of Warhammer will be a part in the new Hard back Rule book
The Rule book in the Set will be a simplified “Starter or beginner " Rule book

A smaller complete Hardback Rule book will released too, called “Warhammer – The Rules”

Rules
The rule set will change again, GW has recognized the last Edition has had a hard impact on sales of Warhammer products. (read people are not buying it, and opting for the starter set instead)

The number of special rules will reduced
There will be no releases of Fantasy Supplements, the books will contain more background.
Page numbers up to 150 pages are possible!


The Father of Modern Wargaming Dies: RIP Don Featherstone

Sound the last post: Don Featherstone (1918-2013) 

The man who invented modern wargaming, has died.



After a fall and a short sick bed, he passed away yesterday. 
RIP Don, your books inspired me to take up wargaming as a hobby. 
I have never looked back. 
Thank you Don , and goodbye.

Rest in Peace.


More info: