Tar Aldarion

I've collected a bit of LI because of the models and out of an initial curiosity for the game. Got me some Sons of Horus because of the nice main color, some iron warriors as companions to my Krytoi, some White Scars because of Siege of Terra... don't like the Imperial guard infantry from LI, though, so the ones from the starter mostly haven't even left their sprues. Life, as well as the very mixed vibes in the community about the LI rules, have so far kept me from more. Guess LI will mostly stay nice to have models for me, at least as long as I already struggle to get regular games in in one game. The imperial guard seen in the pictures above started as terrain and stratagems even before LI was announced. I found a handful of white scars as opponents made for a nice backdrop for AT - Infantry and tanks are having their surely heroic yet tiny things, while we're beholding the clash of god machines: Two almost independent battles in the same battlefield (apart from a Shadowsword acting as macro battery and a battery of basilisk as an Apoc strongpoint).

Uh, that sounds like crazy fun. Probably some kind of scrapcode? I've also started my second game in '24 last weekend. Our time ran out after 3-4 hours, in the middle of turn 2. Excluding some casual conversation that sure was had, I fear a lack of routine has summed up again. Luckily, I have the space to leave it all as it were until hopefully soon. Attached is a snapshot of the map prior to deployment and a detail of a White Scars Drop pod assault against the traitor guard. Guess I will make some more pictures of the ongoing battle - a loyal Pallidus Mor Venator with Dire Wolf and Sinister Support against a Krytos Extergimus with some Knight Support.

Hehe, that's definitely a nice to have. Mine were the very first thing I did when I got into AT in 2019, in order to tentatively get back into painting after a 15-or-so-year hobby gap. Anyway, the less grey plastic on the table the better!

It sure is a big piece to paint, with quite some trim... But it's not just a great looking model, but also a really fun kit to assemble. Your Hammer looks good. Nice splitting of the icon on the right shoulder pad!

Uh, congratulations on your reproduction! Two is a good number in that regard. And thanks for the reports. Sounds fun, especially the first scenario must have been total chaos. Do I understand it right that the traitors started on shutdown orders? That must have helped a lot, as Laniaskera tend to hit quite hard in my experience. I'm also yet to field all the new weapons. Did the swarmers debut in dual on one hound?

Thanks indeed for the report! Sounds like the Warmaster soaked lots of fire, but still didn't break the game. How fitting that "war world" was provided.

Sounds like a well used last day off. Keep going, then. As we all probably know, the trim never seems as numbing afterwards. Do you need a picture of the manual? I guess I should have one or ten somewhere...

Ah, good call on the Venator! That's obviously a good place for a shield stripping swarmer hound. It could work both for a long range (volcano) or mid/short range (melta) reaver, depending on gusto. Camping a hound may not be the most exciting thing to do, but I've always liked the look of arm mounted missile pods. One thing to consider is that swarmers need los, so you'd still have to maneuvre a bit.

Goonhammer suggests to go for the larger engines with Crucius, because their larger reactors allow for more of the legio's heat management shenanigans. I would think that Warhounds might benefit from that just as much, but don't have actual experience with the legio... Anyway, since you've already started on the reavers, why not make something different of the Warhounds and maybe the Warlord? Think, Solaria? That's got at least a bit of red in it, and stipling the green panels might be a welcome change in painting after Crucius' more tedious white? Fielding two legios is, like Borak says, not the most direct step you can take towards a won game. But it's probably also not an autowin for your opponent, so if you want to try...

Ah, there we are! Thanks for the link. I agree: swarmer missiles appear quite decent, and shudders range in the "possibly fun" sector. In certain lists (Regia, Arcus...?), a shooty grav/conversion+swarmer hound might be worthwhile. Actually, dual swarmers would strip shields better than a warlord's Apoc, leaving the heavy hitting to colleagues. Definitely cheap for 10P, although not necessarily what hounds are made for. On second thought, the melta might have its niche next to the PBG, given that it can be targeted. Along with S bonuses (ferrox, side/rear, coordinated strike) and fusion, it might help softening up larger targets. I'd try a squadron of two, with PBG+Bolters on one to strip and warm up any location and Melta+Bolters on the other to follow up and maybe finish.

I was going to order the LI starter box today, but it seems not to be available hereabouts yet. On that occasion, however, I've been wondering what the new warhound weapons might actually do. As far as I know, the repackaged titan boxes are supposed to contain terminals and cards for use in AT, is that right? But have we heard something more specific about the melta and missile launchers already? Of not, what would you reckon they might be like?

Uh, nice! I wonder what that'll do to the acastus' silhouette, as the official arm weapons have more of a vertical arrangement. I'm excited. As for the measurements: Mine is already assembled, and I don't think you can tweeze a caliper in there...

By all means, great work! The blue looks striking. Did you use a metallic basecoat, or are those reflections all painted?

I think you're quite strict there. Your warbringer looks fine as a model, whether it fits your gaming preferences or not. And the terrain is an outright impressive display of what the civitas sets can become. I'm very much looking forward to seeing it in some more colour, and I'm sure they make for an awesomely immersive gaming experience! Great stuff! Do you have space to leave it built up? It's pretty much a display of its own, and putting it back into boxes between games would almost be a bit of a shame.

I wasn't aware of such speculations, but yeah, that sounds like a valid interpretation. Just interesting that the "smallest" game should be focused on 6x4', while 4x4' are suggested for titanic clashes in 8mm and 32mm 40k. Maybe an indicator of a serious combined arms concept in LI, with flyers, transports and what not. Anyway, I still might be tempted. I've printed and painted quite a few sorts of City tiles, but wasn't totally happy with any.

So, as expected, all kinds of terrain have been announced in the wake of LI - some "old" AT sets, some ruins of old AT sets, but also new stuff. Like City tiles: They're 12x12" and come in sets of six. That's interesting, because you'd only need 16 for a standard 4x4' board.

Great stuff indeed! The rivets are a simple but effective measure. Ater mortis reminds me a bit of the old AT43 therian walkers.

Thanks for the insights! I've been into FDM printing for a while now, and that's great for many things. But my hobby time - as well as motivation - tends to come in phases. So it's not the investment or the space that's keeping me from sla printing, but the higher maintenance effort: it seems to be less feasable for the occasional, spontaneous printer. But sooner or later, I'll probably just give in. ^^

Nice! I would have seen it in the off-yellow scheme, but the regal blue-white is also nice. It looks... wealthy. Like a high-grade trading combine, and everyone wonders what sort of business might have attracted them to a dust bowl like this. Will you add some transfers and weathering? In your experience, is maintaining a resin printer feasable for the occasional "domestic" printer? I've been flirting with a purchase for a while, and your prints don't help in suppressing the idea.

I guess the plastic Direwolfes already prove me wrong. That's great! If they're ready to plastify a whole niche titan, a few weapon upgrades might indeed be possible. At that point, I wonder if even new Titans might be a thing, eventually. The focus on smaller chassis lets me think of the long-rumoured sub-warhound classes. Exciting times! And even more reason to get my hobby space reestablished soon.

Thanks for the advice! I checked today, and apparently I was lucky enough to receive 3/3 intact weapons. Although, admittedly, I wasn't too sad when I got a second free banner of Armigers because the helverin in the first had been packed with two left autocannons... As for plastic versions of existing resin guns: I wouldn't expect it. The market can probably be considered (by gw) to be too saturated with resin guns to be worth a relaunch in plastic. But I'd sure like to be proven wrong. The latest news about the epic rules sound good, indeed. And apart from being a viable source of basing material, the game might also be a welcome excuse to acquire a few pretty flyers, without being interested in aeronautica itself.

TIAT, I'm excited to see that the New Epic ("Legions Imperialis") starter box is going to introduce new warhound weapons: a missile pod and melta lance along with a volkite and claws/lances all in plastic. That means new options for AT, whether you're into the new Epic or not. They'll be on a new weapons frame, that presumably could be sold seperately. I wonder how compatability with AT is going to be handled: Legions apparently won't use terminals, alas no weapon cards. Ah, another noteworthy bit: "All of the scenery that was released with Adeptus Titanicus is also returning for use in Legions Imperialis, with more to follow." Who else loves the first reinstalment of the classic arm-mounted missile pod?

It totally does. I've always just highlighted the coils, like they were the actually hot parts. But the inversion makes sense, if the heat is supposed to be inside. It sure looks cool and I shall bear it in mind next time. I know it's shamefully lacking Rock 'n roll, but I'm just not capable of more than one night <5h in a row anymore.

Oh yeah, those look great indeed! The plasma glow in particular is a real eye catcher. Very convincing. Was there a special trick or recipe involved, or is it just a series of well-placed washes? I'll need to get a number of other things done (kitchen, sleeping rooms...) before I can busy myself with the hobby space. It's a bit of a drag if you're limited to evening hours and weekends, so I reckon with a few more months. But I may get a game down with a lad's in two weeks or so.

Sorry, @Vogon, for the late reply. Real life keeps distracting me much this year. Your Fureans machines look great. Maybe the panels could profit from some more black (/dark brown) lining between armour and trimm and around panel details like the scrolls. But the yellow is very crisp and striking. I also like the shiny red eye on the reaver shoulder. The Extirpator looks brutal on the warlord, model wise. Mine is still unassembled, but after your pics, I look forward to change that as soon as my new Hobby cave is taking shape, hopefully in the next weeks.