Daemonkin of Khorne vs. World Eater Codex.

 This is a sort of review of the new World Eaters Codex for Warhammer 40,000 9th edition. It's really more like a compare and contrast between a book that came out in 7th edition and this new one for 9th. Both lists included a Blood Tithe mechanic so it makes sense to sort of see the commonalities these two books share. The Codex: Khorne Daemonkin was a bit of a surprise release at the time, as this faction didn't have much foreshadowing in the lore or anything. It was clearly a merging of the Khorne Daemons and all the Chaos Space Marines that could take a Mark of Khorne as a support vehicle for the release of the multi-build Bloodthirster kit that was released alongside it. Despite this, it was an interesting and fun list to play with and against.  

When I got the new Codex: World Eaters and was skimming through the unit datafaxes I noticed that the Chosen were not in the book any longer. This stood out to me as I had a unit of them and was considering building them for the World Eaters. When the Daemonkin of Khorne Codex was released the Choosen were still the poster boys for Chaos as they were in the Dark Vengeance starter set and one was depicted on the cover of the Khorne Daemonkin book! In fact, that same image was used on the cover of the White Dwarf (#477) that featured the interim World Eaters list that was printed just last year!

So alike yet so different. 

It got me thinking that there were a lot of folks that embraced the Khorne Daemonkin all those years ago and built armies based off it. Sure, that list only appeared in 7th edition but it was possible to play your marine options using the Chaos Space Marine books that were released for 8th and 9th without dropping anything*.  Now we have some units that clearly are new spins on some of the dropped units. Jakhals are clearly Khorne specific Chaos Cultists and I doubt anyone could fault someone for using their Cultists as such. And your old Choosen models could make decent proxies for Eightbound. But if you had a unit of Khorned up Chaos Space Marines, well, sorry pal. To play with some of those excluded units you'll need to take another detachment. 

Two units that are not in Codex: World Eaters. 

What are all the excluded units you ask? Well, all the daemons* and quite a few Chaos Space Marine options. In order of how they appeared in the Khorne Daemonkin Codex they are the units that don't appear in the Codex: World Eaters (9th ed):

• Chaos Lord- Technically he's still in the new book but only as the Juggernaut riding option. If you had a model of a guy in powered or terminator armor you're out of luck. I don't think there's even a Legends option yet. 
• Chaos Cultists- These are now Jakhals, but some of your old options might not be allowed anymore.
• Chaos Space Marines- These are generic World Eaters who aren't Khorne Berserkers. For those of us who owned the old World Eaters from '92 that were carrying bolters or just had some red and brass Chaos Marines, well, too bad. 
• Possessed. One could probably proxy these for Eightbound. Maybe Exalted Eightbound?
• Chaos Bikers. - This deletion makes little sense to me as they can quickly close and engage their foes in close quarters. The omission of these chaos chaps baffle me. I modeled a single guy to use as an Aspiring Champion for a Black Legion biker squad but now I am very glad I didn't give into the temptation to do a whole squad of them. 
• Raptors- Again, these guys make sense to have in a Khorne army as they can get stuck in really fast. 
• Warp Talons- Same as the Raptors whom they share a kit with. These models were new at the time and were prominently featured throughout the Daemonkin book. 

It's also worth pointing out the models that are mentioned in the Codex that GW missed the boat on making a model for, and the most obvious one would be the Berserker-Surgeon. To quote page 10-11: "These individuals are the inheritors of the legacy set down by the Apothecaries and Techmarines who first developed the Butcher's Nails for Legionary implantation. Berserker-surgeons operate across the galaxy working with different Chaos Lords*** to create homicidal maniacs who have no concept of fear, pain or death." The Death Guard has a guy like this, but the World Eaters need a guy like this! But, he's no where to be seen. Perhaps in a future edition? For now he's the World Eater's equivalent to the Mad Boyz for the Orks or the Exodites for the Eldar: stuck in the lore and nowhere on the table top!

How many players had these guys? 

It's also curious to see what was kept in the new list. 

• Heldrakes- I suppose Heldrakes make sense to stay but the exclusion of Raptors and Warp Talons seem odd in contrast. 
• Defiler- The Defiler and Forgefiend are the true heavy support options for this army but I can't help but wonder if a Chaos Vindicator** would've made sense too as you do have to close a bit with it to make it truly effective. 
• Chaos Spawn- The Chaos Spawn stands our to me for not having the Daemon keyword.
• Forgefiend- (see Defiler)
• Maulerfiend- A true close combat monster that makes complete sense to have in this book. 
• Chaos Terminators- There would be some angry players out there if these models were dropped. I am bummed that we didn't get new Khorne-themed models for them considering that Deathguard and Thousand Sons got theirs, but maybe they're saving them for a 10th ed launch? 
• Rhinos- Can't leave out their sweet spikey rides. 
• Land Raider- And we can't leave our the spikey rides with firepower. I still miss the Destroyer Blades from 6th Ed. 
• Daemon Prince- Updated with a new model just in time for this release, so of course he had to be included. 
• Berserkers- You just can't have a World Eaters army without them.

Added to the new list are the Predator tanks, which I thought was an interesting choice for light heavy support for the World Eaters and one that I wasn't quite expecting. Surely a Vindicator would've made sense too?**

Thankfully I have been tediously slow at building out my World Eaters so adapting to the new list shouldn't be too painful for me. Others might have a different story and are contemplating stripping their Raptors of their paint and ripping off their khorne bunny heads. The get-you-by list from White Dwarf last year sort of prepped us for these changes. But still, time and money invested in a unit only to not be able to play with it eight years later, it's a harsh let-down.

I for one am enjoying this new book over all, and I think you'll see me continuing to feel Khorney for a good part of this year. 

*And you could play your Daemon options via the detachment rules.

**Note my personal bias. 

***(none of whom wear Terminator armor any longer and are constantly mounted on a Juggernaut)

All images in this post are (c) Games-Workshop and are used here without permission and for review purposes and should not be regarded as challenges to the copyright.

Worldeaters Master of Executions (Part 1)

 This model has always interested me but I put off buying it mainly due to it's goofy head. Or heads, as it has two options and both seem kind of goofy to me. But when it was revealed a while back that the Master of Executions would be in the Worldeaters Codex I was intrigued by the notion; I liked what he could do for the regular Chaos Marines in the game and having him in with the Khorne berserkers seemed like a natural fit. Then the visual  idea of fitting a death-bunny khorne head on his shoulders really cemented the idea... so I finally got the model. 

In my clutches at last! 

While tinkering with the pieces it occurred to me that the metal Khorne warrior head I wanted to use (I haven't a clue where and when I got this!) wasn't going to work. The MoE heads are both flat on the bottom where most of the spare heads I have available to me have a ball for a neck. 

Rejected metal heads. 

So I found an alternative plastic head which I was able make fit by cutting the ball joint down to size with a hobby knife. I was really pleased with how this turned out, well, so far anyway.

A nice head for a not-so-nice head-taker. 

While assembling him it occurred to me that painting the legs inside the cloak was going to be a challenge once the legs were attached to the base. So I have decided to keep him in three pieces and attach him to his base after I have painted him. 

A base-eye view. 

I have to note how easy this model is to assemble. I was particularly impressed that the designer chose to have one of the joins be at the seam of his cloak with the stitches overlaying the real join. A natural place for it to go and quite an obvious choice really. The previous plastic production from 20+ years ago, and especially  the metal models, were just not able to pull this stunt off. 

Stitches for the snitches. 

I have to wait for some favorable weather to be able to prime this model, and that may be awhile. So that's all for now, hopefully I can make some more progress sooner than later...

 

More Deathwatch Veteran Bikers

 The Deathwatch Veteran Bikers squad that I whipped up back in January* are getting some reinforcements.  I recently got these four used Space Marine Bikers in a deal and now it's time to integrate them into my Deathwatch. Instead of making another unit of 3 bikers, I decided to max out the squad. If anything they should be able to soak up damage better in the game. 

The  newly acquired used bikers.

Unfortunately I will end up with a leftover biker, whose fate will be decided at some future point. Maybe if I ever get back to the Dark Angels he'll become a Ravenwing guy. Or if I ever return to the Space Wolves biker project maybe he'll go there? 

New shoulder pad and sword 

New bits added. 

All of the above was written prior to November 2nd 2022. In the interim I have been able to dabble, poke, prod and tinker on these things until finally they are now done.  My free time has become sparse to say the least, to the point that just getting this far on these three bikes feels like an accomplishment. 

A Blood Angel.

Ultramarine.

Black Templar.

Joined up with their battle brothers I think they look good. Individually I don't think these models would win any awards for me but that was never my intention, I just wanted them to be up to a level that would look good in the battle reports that I feature on this blog. And I think they'll work out good in that regard. Accept that the continuing trend is that the models with the most paint tend to be eliminated first in most of my games so it's unlikely they'll appear in many pics in the future....

Altogether now, VROOM!!!

Ok. So final role call, we have a Blood Angel, Ultramarine, Black Templar, Crimson Fist, Imperial Fist and the leader is a White Scar (of course right?). I think I maxed out my decal options on this unit. Except I don't have any Dark Angel or  Space Wolf guys. Maybe they'll be the ones on the Attack Bike that I hope to top this unit off with...?

*Of 2022. Keen observers might note that my first finished models of 2023 are quite similar to my first finished models of 2022. A fun coincidence as I was had hoped to get them done before the New Year so I could open and close 2022 with finished models from the same squad. But this works for me either way. 

2022 Year End Review

#ArtistVSart2022

It is time for my Annual Review of the models and miniatures that I have completed painted. What a year it was, with a lot of outside real world stuff that sought to steal, compromise and otherwise highjack my hobby time. Heck, it even cut into art time too. But let's out some of the stuff I actually did get finished. 

Deathwatch Veteran Bikers. 

Deathwatch Rhinoback.

Deathwatch Landraider 

A Necron Warrior 

Wounded Guardsman 

A Termagant and a Genestealer

Deathwatch Squad Crull 

Death Cult Assassins 

A pair of Primaris Reivers 

Primaris Lieutenant 

Lord Inquisitor Kyra Draxus 

Three Khorne Berserkers

Black Legion Chaos Sorcerer

Ultramarines Furibundus Dreadnought 

And the last thing I got finished in 2022 was my Dreadtober entry, the old Rogue Trader era Imperial Dreadnought. It's not for lack of desire to do anything, but time has simply not been available. My busy season is the end of October thru the Holidays, plus I had a nasty viral upper respiratory illness in the first half of December that knocked me on my ass. Which is why there has been no updates for over a month now. So I intend to be back into the swing of things by February. I also have artwork that I need to complete as well and that will take priority over my hobby stuff also. 

For this upcoming year, well, first of all I am very excited by the new Worldeaters Codex and I hope to get those Berserkers done in time to get some games in with them when the book is released. It's a target, and I'm not sure if I can hit it. 

Also I hope to get in some more Ultramarines painted as I enjoyed working with them last year. And I would like to revist the Dark Eldar and get them on the battlefield again. We'll see. 

I do have some more old 40k artwork that I did in the late '90s that I want to show you guys in the New Year also but it will be a good while before I can do that. 

Not a bad year really, but not as much as I hoped I could accomplish.  But 2023 is a new start, so let's see what we can do!

Space Marine Heroes (Part 1)

 Recently I picked up two packs of the current release of Space Marine Heroes. These are the red plastic versions of the first series that were blue plastic. When that first series was released here in the States a few years ago, I collected a few of them of them to make a unit around the single Ultramarine guy that I had painted.  However only recently have I been remotely focused on my Ultramarines so I never built these models. Until now.  

My inspiration was a sick day. After leaving work early feeling like absolute crap, I went home and slept for about five hours. Feeling a bit better later in the day I didn't feel well enough to paint or draw but assembling simple models was just the right thing to focus on for a bit. And these models are definitely simple. They are push-fit, and some of GW's best examples of them if you want my opinion. I use Plastruct Bondene Styrene & ABS Plastic Solvent Cement to secure the bonds, but only on a few parts. I left some partz unglued so that I can paint behind them. 

The first guy is Brother Castor. Or that was his name in the first set. In this current release he has a Blood Angel name is Brother Arteno. He's about as standard of a Space Marine that one can imagine. 

Brother Arteno. Or Brother Castor. 

This next one is a standard guy as well, but that pose makes all the difference. I really like this one a lot. In the first series he was called Brother Gaiam. He does not appear in the current release so no Blood Angel name for him. 

Brother Gaium.

This next guy was called Brother Toriad in the original release. He was a rare model exclusive to Japan and not part of the U.S. release. But he was available in a Barnes & Noble exclusive game. He is now included in the current series as Brother Sevrael. Note that I used the spare head from Brother Gaiam as I liked the idea of him screaming at whatever he's shooting at. 

Screaming Brother Toriad/ Sevrael. 

This next guy is Brother Titus. I liked his bare head and decided to use that one. He's reloading his bolter in a very dramatic fashion. He's also available in the current series as Brother Marzio. 

Brother Titus/Marzio.

I think this model was inspired by one the Codex covers (maybe 7th?). It's quite a dynamic pose and quite different from the others. His name is Brother Garus and is not in the current series. 

Brother Garus.

And this is Brother-Sergeant Sevastus. In the current series his Blood Angels name is Brother-Sergeant Baldaeo. 

Brother-Sergeant Sevastus/Baldaeo.

The squad Sergeant might be familiar to long-time readers of this blog. I painted this miniature a few years ago for my Celestial Lions. In fact, I think he is the last model I have since painted for the Celestial Lions. So I decided that this Ultramarines Sergeant was going to keep his helmet on. Besides l like the look of the red helmets on Ultramarine Sergeants and I want to continue that here. 

As you likely spotted in the lead photo, the marine that these guys are intended to join up with is somewhat smaller. These Space Marine Heroes were probably the last 'first born' models designed before the Primaris Marines arrived. The previous growth spurt the marines had was with the Deathwatch Veterans who were mostly in MK VIII armor. These guys probably scale up well with the MK VI miniatures that were launched with the current edition of Horus Heresy but I have yet to see a comparison. Anyway, I don't think it will matter too much once they're painted, but then we'll just have to see at that point. 

Three-way Attrition

 Last week on the 5th of November, Kushail, Da Masta Cheef and I gathered to play a three-way game of Warhammer 40,000 9th edition. I brought my Black Legion Chaos Space Marines,

Cheef brought his Tau,

 

and Kushail brought an all Dreadnought list of Lions of Harlech.

We decided to use the Open War deck and chose War of Attrition. We randomly drew a Twist card  and got Exhausted, much to Kushail's glee, as it ment all models had their Strength characteristics reduced by -1. We all pulled Ruse cards which we kept secret from each other until they were revealed. 

This isn't going to be one of my typical battle reports, but more like a highlight of what happened. Cheef took so many photos that I"m having a difficult time figuring out what's what, or when was what, or why we took a given photo. So, I am going to focus on who eliminated which units. We only counted a unit destroyed when the final model was pulled as a result of shooting, close combat in the fight phase or elimination during the morale phase. Assists did not count for anything other than bragging rights. 

The dice eating lava board

The Lions of Harlech won the roll-off to go first, Chaos would go second and Tau would go last.

 

Looking at home in a Chaos shrine...

According to my notes there were no destroyed units in the first turn. Although I almost wiped out the Tau Hogziliaries, but one sneaky piglet got away! 

This little piggy...

The ruckus of turn one.

LIONS OF HARLECH TURN 2

The Hellbrute, despite using the Fire Frenzy Stratagem during the Lion's Shooting Phase and getting some Overwatch shots, failed to withstand the double onslaught of the Ironclad Dreadnoughts and was ripped apart. The Lions scored 220 points. 

The pathetic demise of a Hellbrute. 

BLACK LEGION TURN 2

"Shoot 'em down boys!"

One of the Lion's Itonclads was destroyed by the Psychic powers of the Sorcerer Lord in Terminator armor. 

The Black Legionaires wiped out the Tau Jaloo Auxiliary. 

The Black Legion take the lead with 235 points. 

Lining up for a strife,

TAU TURN 2

The Tau didn't eliminate any units but they put a considerable hurt on the Black Legion and picked off a few wounds from some of the Lion's Dreadnoughts. Using the Outflank Ruse card, the Piranha and Ramora Drone harassed the Lions of Harlech while a squad of Breachers, Kroot Carnivores and a Kroot Shaper showed up in the Chaos deployment zone. They took a wound or two off of the Chaos Sorcerer. 

End of Turn 2 points: 

Lions Of Harlech: 190

Chaos Space Marines: 230

Tau: 0

LIONS OF HARLECH TURN 3

I have heard it said somewhere that 40k is a three-turn game in the sense that the winner can usually be determined by end of turn three. Well, Kushail was determined to make that theory a working one. The Chaplain Dreadnought charged my Exalted Champion, and, well, pulped him. This earned him another 90 vps 

CHAOS SPACE MARINES TURN 3

The traitor astartes didn't eliminate any units this round but they did hold their own against the Dreadnought onslaught. Both of my psykers put some hurt on the Chaplain Dreadnought using Smites of Infernal Gaze powers to achieve this. Of Particular note was the Aspiring Champion of Legionaires Squad 3 by rolling an against the odds Morale test and keeping the Chaplain tied up a bit longer. 

The Vindicator putting the hurt on the Dreads. 

TAU TURN 3

No units were taken out by the Tau in this round but they put a lot hurt on my Legionaires squads and tore some armor off of some dreads. But the Kroot did manage to get a charge in on my Chaos Sorcerer. The Chaos Sorcerer took a few wounds from these guys but he killed a lot of them in return. The failed morale check caused a lot more pain on the Kroot but the remaining ones were still in the fight.

LIONS OF HARLECH TURN 4

The first few rounds were just a big wind-up for Kushail and his Lions of Harlech, and on Turn 4 he landed his killing blows. In the Shooting Phase he shot down the Ramora Drone, and picked off the Kroot Shaper. Then he squashed a squad of Chaos Legionaires. He racked up 190 points from all of that and it was looking like he was going to be hard to catch up to.

Out flanked but fully armored. 

CHAOS TURN 4

Now trailing the Lions in points I was desperate to get rid of some of these Dreadnoughts. My Legionaire with the Balefire Tome finished off a Contemptor Dreadnought with Infernal Gaze earning 150 points for me. And my Sorcerer used Infernal Gaze to eliminate the Chaplain Dreadnought for 180 points. A moral victory indeed, but one short lived, as the Kroot took him down in the Fight Phase. It was the Tau's first points in the whole game so far, but an impressive 120 points and a crushing blow to my army. 

TAU TURN 4.

"Surprise!"

The Kroot, having showed the rest of the Tau how to draw blood, inspired the rest of the Tau to continue to do so. They finished off the rest of my big squad of Legionaires (220 points!) and blasted away the Vindicator (130 points). 

LIONS OF HARLECH TURN 5

It was mopping up time as the Lions finished off The Taus Breachers (95), the Hogziliaries (80 points), the Kroot (84 points) and the last of my units, the Legionaires (215 points). The Lions had this one in the bag, it was just a matter of sorting out the details.

CHAOS SPACE MARINES TURN 5 

(We're dead Dave, we're all dead.)

TAU TURN 5

The Tau got the final kill of the game by taking out a Contemptor Dreadnought (150 points).

"It's coming right at us!!!"

It was a fun game, even though I was tabled I dished out a fair amount of hurt and we had good fun. So here are the breakdown: 

CHAOS SPACE MARINES: 565 Points

TAU: 620 Points

LIONS OF HARLECH: 944 Points. 

Victory to the Lions! 

The stand off.

There's  a lot little things that occurred in this game but I don't recall where they fit into the play-by-play of the game. Things like, I need to keep a guy a alive and he had to make three 6+ saves, he rolled two 6's, I uses a CP reroll and got the third 6. Etc. It's those little moments that make games like this one especially fun. I'm already looking forward to the next one!