Legio Imprint: The Dornian Heresy

[Ferrata]

The Dornian Heresy

As a member of the moderating team here at the B&C I've had the chance to do some pretty cool things. For starters I get to work alongside some of the most knowledgeable, enthusiastic Space Marine players, writers and painters on the planet. I've also been able to help run various Arenas of Death, helped to judge various competitions and I even get to occasional tidbit of inside info on upcoming Astartes projects from GW. But the real reason I love what I do here is that I get the chance to help shape the direction of the B&C, one of the largest, and we hope best, 40K sites on the internet. It can be a daunting responsibility but it's also a great honour and an even greater pleasure and it's times like today, the launch of The Dornian Heresy Volume 1, itself Volume 1 of the Legio Imprint, that really drive that home for me.

The Bolter & Chainsword's mission statement is simple:

"The Bolter & Chainsword exists to help people learn about modelling, painting, understanding, and playing with power armoured armies in the Warhammer 40k game universe."

What you hold in your hands (or more likely, see on your monitor) is the first half of one of the most ambitious undertakings we've seen in the 40K community in a long time - a complete alternate history of the pivotal Heresy era of the Imperium and one of the best examples of the B&C ethos we've seen in just as long. Lead author Aurelius Rex and his co-conspirators, including Ferrata, Owlandmoonguy and a number of very talented artists, present to you 'The Dornian Heresy, Volume I'. Inspired by the Index Astartes articles that appeared White Dwarf in the early 2000's, a time many consider the peak of both that august publication and Space Marine fluff in general, this book gives you a chance to relive to those glory days from a new perspective.

A quote from Aurelius' own introduction will give you a taste of what's inside:

This premier issue is devoted to chronicling something a little different; a twisted alternate timeline in which Warmaster Horus was able to cast off the daemonic influences that sought to possess him, and where the Ruinous Powers were instead forced to corrupt Rogal Dorn to overthrow the Emperor. The Dornian Heresy is the tale of an alternate universe where choices, sometimes large, sometimes small, have led to the familiar primarchs and legions meeting very different fates. For instance, how different might things have turned out if Sanguinius had instead been found and raised by the mutant tribes of Baal, or if Angron's first meeting with the Emperor had been as an honourable ally against the slavers at Fedan Mhor?

The authors of each of the 10 full-length articles have done a tremendous job of producing high-quality stories that will resonate with 40K players both new and old as a plausible alternative to the Horus Heresy. Careful evaluation of the characters, strengths and flaws of the pre-Heresy Primarchs and their Legions has resulted in some amazing twists and turns to the familiar Heresy story, some you might guess, others will simply leave your jaw on the floor but still strike true with the 40K fluff aficionado. So what are you waiting for? Come join Aurelius and his brothers in ink as they create history anew with The Dornian Heresy Volume I!

And remember, this is just the first half of the story!

Legio Imprints

This book in particular, and the Legio Imprint in general, also represents yet another step forward for the B&C. For more than 10 years now the B&C has been the online place for Space Marine players to gather to talk about their armies, their ideas and other aspects of what might appear to be a rather unhealthy obsession with small plastic army men for many of us. For almost as many years we've been offering tools to help Astartes players around the world make the hobby easier, more fun and even cooler. These tools have included the Interactive Space Marine Painter (and its Chaos and Xenos counterparts), the Librarium and the Liber Astartes Guide to DIYing. We've also held competitions and community events and generally tried to be the only place a 40K player need come for information and advice on painting, playing or understanding Space Marine armies and fluff, to whit - The Ultimate Space Marine Resource Site.

Now the B&C is stepping up its efforts to give the wider 40K community a taste of the tremendous talent and amazing effort put into projects across this site. This will take the form of semi-regular e-publications created by the B&C community which will showcase the best of the B&C to the rest of the world. Note that the phrase 'the best of the B&C' will cast a wide net, we'll be looking for the best writing, painting, rules, gaming advice and more all across the board to appear in future volumes of the Imprint. Also note that when we say 'created by the B&C community' we mean that too, we'll be looking for authors, artists, painters and even members to help with the production processes of digital publications.

You'll hear more about this project in coming months but in the meantime, if you're interested in helping, or you've got a suggestion about what deserves to be part of the Legio Imprint or even an idea for a volume then please contact me, SCC, via PM.

Right now I'd particularly love to hear from anyone willing to lend us their desktop publishing or e-publishing skills and experience, the board itself provides us with a natural pool of talented 40K artists and authors but the real trick is producing high quality publications to do justice to their work. Again, please send me a PM if you think you can help.

- SCC
B&C Administrator

Download The Dornian Heresy Vol. I Here!

The Dornian Heresy Volume I (PDF)

[Sigismund Himself]

No comments from the Liber for this magnificent piece of work? :D

[Captain Juan Juarez]

I'm at work so can't download it yet.. But even from a single glance at the Heretic Dorn image I'm hooked; this is what makes the B&C one of - if not - the greatest fan forum anywhere in the world.

[Hrvat]

I am slowly digesting.

 

I can actually see people starting armies based on this.

 

I am even thinking on converting some Blood Angels.

[DarkKnightCuron]

I am slowly digesting.

 

I can actually see people starting armies based on this.

 

I am even thinking on converting some Blood Angels.

 

I'm already thinking about converting some Ultramarines from the pdf. Their armor design is rockin!

[Aurelius Rex]

The design of the Ultramarines in the painter and artwork is down to Madscuzzy - absolutely stunning work!

 

The Tau influence on the mk 16 Damocles pattern armour is subtle, and suitably high tech in comparison to the technological stagnation and superstition of the Imperium. You should be able to make out the way they differentiate the chapter within the legion - the name on the world on the shoulderpad (like Macragge or Orpheus) as well as the chapter symbol on the knee.

 

When I saw the images taking shape I thought I would love to convert up some Alt-Ultramarines, if only I had the modelling ability. I got like that when I saw all the artwork - the artists were brilliant - so seeing the rotting Blood Angels made me think I could convert them up, then seeing the blingy White Scars, then the Word Bearers, then the loyal Thousand Sons...

 

If anyone does make some Dornian Heresy miniatures, I would love to see them. :)

 

Aurelius.

[Walter Payton]

I loved the thing, I just didn't comment here because I had already done...

[Grey Hunter Ydalir]

Absolutely fantastic stuff. My favourite artistic piece so far is the Ultramarines vs Tau in their section. While in the normal universe I am heartily sick of the Ultramarines, my view is almost the polar opposite in the Alternate Heresy.

 

Phenomenal work done here.

 

I can see a whole new fan-universe springing up beside GW's official works based upon this and to be honest, it might inspire GW to work all the harder on their own future works.

 

Much kudos to those involved in creating this. It stands as both something to aspire to for us in the Liber and also as an example to just what can be achieved in fan-created work, which is what the Liber is all about.

[Ace Debonair]

Up to now my favourites are the Thousand Sons.

Eyeless versions of the egyptian helms = infinite awesomeness.

 

But as I've said about a hundred times...

Bring on the Night Lords! ;)

[Brother Caleb]

I'm a big fan of Khorne worshiping uber-feral Space Wolves.

 

This piece is very inspirational on a literary level. Even if it doesn't prod GW along, it will definitely push the rest of us here to step up our game.

[Cyrl]

Why? Why did you have to go and give me the 'new army bug' yet again guys?

 

Before I write anything more I have to thank you for a most enjoyable day in the office, I've almost read the entirety of this today, I believe it's only the White Scars entry which remains unread. The quality of writing throughout is excellent and you can see the level of throught which has gone into each twist of the plot and the contrast the piece has with the 'real' plot line.

 

It's only a matter of time before someone mistakenly posts details of the Dornian timeline elsewhere, your work lives up to GW's standards - your proof-reading exceeds theirs too! :P

 

I do have a few questions for the team, first off why is it that the Imperial Fists, as instigators of the Heresy have been left out of the initial Imprint? After seeing the image of a chaotic Dorn I really would like to know more, so hurry-hurry quick-quick as Thanquol would say.

 

Was it a deliberate choice to include the Raven Guard in the first Imprint, given their lack of support in recent times by GW, Forge World imminently notwithstanding of course.

 

Was there a concious attempt to match certain aspects of the new timeline with certain codexes or was this more an attempt to fit the @legiond to their existing general themed? E.g. Abominations : Obliterators, Thousand Sons turning to dust: CSM Rubric Marines, The Lost: Death Company.

 

Is there any chance you could prodce a piece similar to the iconic scene on the bridge of Horus' flagship: Night Haunter beneath the banner, Horus impaled as Dorn and the Emperoro prepare to duel? I'd definitely buy this if it was avaliable as a poster.

 

There's lot's more i have to say but I'll leave it there for now ;)

[Aurelius Rex]

I do have a few questions for the team, first off why is it that the Imperial Fists, as instigators of the Heresy have been left out of the initial Imprint? After seeing the image of a chaotic Dorn I really would like to know more, so hurry-hurry quick-quick as Thanquol would say.

 

Was it a deliberate choice to include the Raven Guard in the first Imprint, given their lack of support in recent times by GW, Forge World imminently notwithstanding of course.

The opening IA articles were themed towards telling the story of Istvaan - with the WE, EC and RG the loyalists who got massacred, and later the Ultramarines to see the story from their very different perspective. Later ones have been moving into the attack on Prospero (Space Wolves and Thousand Sons) and we are now into the Siege of Terra with the White Scars, Blood Angels and the Iron Warriors. Towards the end come the legions represented on the Phalanx (SoH, IF, NL) which are at the conclusion of the Heresy. So in general, reading the IA's in order tell the story of the Heresy in a themed order. The Imperial Fists are planned to come towards the end of the project, alongside the Sons of Horus... two big hitters to bring the project to a conclusion. Well... the Death Guard will be the last article, but you will have to wait to see why. :D

 

Was there a concious attempt to match certain aspects of the new timeline with certain codexes or was this more an attempt to fit the @legiond to their existing general themed? E.g. Abominations : Obliterators, Thousand Sons turning to dust: CSM Rubric Marines, The Lost: Death Company.

There are many common themes from the Horus Heresy 'verse I wanted to echo in the Dornian Heresy, although I have tried to give them an original spin with different contexts... such as the World Eaters and Emperor's Children uniting to save Skalathrax rather than burning it to ashes. You have spotted some of the twisted parallels above, I see. :D

 

One of the colourpieces is a nod to Space Hulk... and even gives a hint to how to play the Dornian Heresy version of the game. Not sure if it was too obscure, but bonus points if anyone spots it. :devil:

 

Is there any chance you could prodce a piece similar to the iconic scene on the bridge of Horus' flagship: Night Haunter beneath the banner, Horus impaled as Dorn and the Emperoro prepare to duel? I'd definitely buy this if it was avaliable as a poster.

I shall have to see what the talented artists are inspired to work on... although that would be a stunning and as you say, iconic moment. :)