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What are the Pyroclasts?


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This is in reference to unit of Salamanders mentioned in Vulkan Lives. They appear to be pretty slow, in the Istvaan V battle mentioned into the book they are described as something to akin as trundling a long at the same pace as the Firedrakes who were Terminator armour. So do you think they are in Terminator armour, or some other bulky suit, maybe carrying big Promethean tanks or something?

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Well, the Forgeworld HH event mentioned a Word Bearers unit called the "Circle of Ashes". Its description read "Pyroclast Destroyers" and apparently they have an affinity for flame-based weaponry. And the description sounded similar to the Vakrah Jal in Betrayer, with the hand-flamers. I think Forgeworld is just introducing a new general unit and due to it being flame-based, the Salamanders are just expected to have a ton of them. Although, it is possible that the Salamanders might have a specific variant.
Given that the Bearers have "Pyroclast Destroyers" while the Salamanders seem to be fielding "Pyroclast Terminators", maybe it's a term that designates an incendiary weapons specialist in general, a bit like Assault Marines and Assault Termies are both CQC experts?
It hasn't been said that they wear Terminator armor though. Although, I don't think so because the Pyroclast later on seemed to have no problem keeping up with everyone else later on in the story. I think the slow movement was something of a safety movement in order to keep from burning themselves.

It hasn't been said that they wear Terminator armor though. Although, I don't think so because the Pyroclast later on seemed to have no problem keeping up with everyone else later on in the story. I think the slow movement was something of a safety movement in order to keep from burning themselves.

 

They're carrying tanks full of promethium. Quick movement to cover would be monumentally important, unless they were armoured in a such a way that they could limit damage due to a struck fuel source.

 

Can't remember where I heard it, but I remeber an old WWII vet, Marine if I recall, that said "The only thing worse than running out of fuel for my flamethrower, was running into combat with a full tank."

The more you mention these guys, the more I'm starting to think "Dreadnoughts". Brayath Ashmantle's dreadnought hull was around since the Heresy, Carried an aura of pain and anger (Istvaan, maybe?) and has more flamethrowers on it than could be legally declared sane. Possibly a nod to entire unit's equiped as such?

There were two units for Salamanders previewed in the last HH event, Firedrakes and a PA unit with heavy flamers. I'll try and get a name for them, might match. And carrying a heavy flamer and its respective tank around is no easy business.

Can't just be a unit of power armoured heavy flamers, since you can already achieve this using the standard list, has to be more to them.

There were two units for Salamanders previewed in the last HH event, Firedrakes and a PA unit with heavy flamers. I'll try and get a name for them, might match. And carrying a heavy flamer and its respective tank around is no easy business.

All the rumor boards say they are "pyroclasts". However, then you get the problem with the screenshot of the Circle of Ashes which call that Word Bearer unit "pyroclast destroyers". So I'm guessing the Salamanders are getting a special "Pyroclast" unit, but everyone either missed the actual name, or Forgeworld didn't announce a name and everyone assumed it was "Pyroclasts".

 

http://apocalypse40k.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/seminar-3-models-of-horus-heresy.html

No offense to the Salamanders and the Raven Guard, it's just that the Word Bearers have so much built up already with the sheer number of stories they appear in. So far Angel Exterminatus is the only novel I know of where I have seen a Salamander and a Raven Guard without seeing a Word Bearer. Meanwhile, I can name a few where the Word Bearers appear without the Raven Guard or Salamanders. Besides, its better than the Night Lords. Or units don't even have names at the time of the event. biggrin.png

Well, the rules make the models, as well, so an entire unit of Promethean pyros with some kind of special flamer that melts all heretic thoughts or something (kidding) would be different. Reavers and Rampagers are pretty much just melee squads.

 

Very curious to see those Firedrakes, the Circle of Ashes perfectly capture the Word Bearers' vibe, from what we've seen, but there's a thing about Salamanders having a more tribal touch to them Pre-Heresy, let's see how FW captures that.

 

There's also the Phoenix Guard terminators and the giant Assault Claw, previewed at the Weekender as well.

 

PS: By the way, Erebus will supposedly also come with Kor Phaeron. Awesomez.

 

Sally Pyros

 

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t272/m_r_parker/HH%20Weekender%202013/C5294074-B1A1-42F0-ABCA-AFE32ED2A95E-9728-00000E081B2C80B1_zps114a7c37.jpg

In the book, as far as I can remember, it doesn't specifically mention that the pyroclasts wear power armour or terminator armour, but the impression I get is that they almost certainly wear power armour. It does specifically mention at one point that they are somewhat cumbersome because of the prometheum tanks strapped to their backs. It also specifically mentions that the pyroclasts are armed with flame gauntlets similar to Vulkan's. They are described as wearing a chain-mail mask over their faceplate and a drakescale surcoat. I woud quote but I dont have the book with me and I'm sure a more diligent brother will no doubt do the work for me...  That sounds lazy doesn't it....

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