There is a distinct desire to make the Ultramarines less dull. We were shown some concept art for Word Bearers, Ultramarines and the Fire Masters Titan Legion. It will show the Word Bearers getting more Chaos-y.
Horus Heresy Book V: Tempest - work is just starting on this. It will have the usual mix of display and more army standard tips and tricks. It includes how they put the Istvaan III display board together.
There will be a Horus Heresy Model Masterclass Volume 1. That will include a slipcase, a post and QR sheets for each unit to save people lugging the whole book around. There will be a special edition of Conquest. The book will include a history of the battles, background for the Solar Auxilia, background for the Knight Houses, the background to 4 new Knight Houses of the 31st Millenium, a campaign system, a Solar Auxilia list, and a 30K only Knight list. There was a Latin name for the Imperial Army, but someone mumbled, so I missed it. The Solar Auxilia are an elite branch of the Imperial Army. (Apparently, that didn't go so well for them!) One example given was a House which had only been a part of the Imperium for five years at the outbreak of the Heresy, so sided with the only faction they'd ever met - Horus. It covers why their histories and existing allegiances determine the side they end up on. There's a mention of the Knight Houses of the area, and their interlinked backgrounds.
Their forces are now carving out their own client empire, harvesting humans for their experiments. This is where some of the worst of the Dark Mechanicum are, licensed by Horus to forge their own mini empire as long as they keep his armies supplied. The world of Cyclotrathe was mentioned - a Dark Mechanicum world which isn't in the 40K background, because someone has (rightly) turned it to ash by the time 40K happens. There was a mention that some of the Loyalist forces have gone mad, others are engaging in revenge attacks to worlds that have allied or even capitulated to Horus, and others are waging a guerrilla war. For example, Manachea is a big Agri-World, and a bit of a bread basket for that sector of the Imperium. It covers the conquest of a significant portion of the Northern Imperium, as Horus takes control of a sector of space cut off from the rest of the Imperium by warp storms so he has a base of operations. These are battles that aren't in the Horus Heresy Novels, but is about what Horus and friends did "in between the gaps". There is a Forge World Knight on the cover, which gives a bit of an indication as to the book's focus and content. Horus Heresy Book 4: Conquest is due at the end of November, so people can order it in time for Christmas. The Kharybdis Assault Claw makes an appearance for Chaos as well. There are also some references to Chaos Hereteks. Renegades and Mutants are all in there, with a particular combination of traits intended to allow you to give models Hellguns to allow for Chaos Storm Troopers. The army list includes a lot of HQs which unlock options, and also purchasable upgrades for Warlords to unlock yet more options still.
I also managed to get a quick chat in with Andy Hoare and a look at the book on one of the desks. The army list is a single army list with many options - it expands on the army lists from Vraks, allowing you to field any of those armies, but also adds in options for Slaanesh and Tzeentch Renegades as well. All the Chaos Vehicle and Daemon Engine rulesĭaemon possessed Fellblades were mentioned, as well as the Decimator being included.This is out in limited numbers at the weekend - there's a run of 2,000 with a slip case and poster. The first one up to the plate was Imperial Armour Volume 13: The Lost and the Damned. Warhammer Fest, Day 1: Afternoon Forge World Seminar Horus Heresy details from Warhammer Fest.Īll of this is courtesy of The Responsible One's Wargaming Blog.