Prot Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Hey guys, I'm a massive fan of a lot of the HH Ultra content and really enjoyed Censure. But after reading the Deathfire stuff (in that era) I am really hesitant about picking this up by the same author. So I'm torn... I was hoping to get feedback. If I loved Censure, would I like this? Personally, short story wise, nothing has blown me away since The Purge (that story came out of nowhere and might be my favorite novella from the Calth wars.) What do you guys think? Who bit the bullet and bought it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flint13 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Defs, it's pretty awesome. Thiel and company assault a super secret project. There are dramatic explosions, sword fights, and a cunning Word Bearer ploy. It's totes my favs within the last dozen audio dramas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veterannoob Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I bought it, because, it's a HH work so who am i kidding? ;) Actually, I like it. These recent audio dramas have stepped up the production quality even more. It's one I'll def have to listen to again though, as I think there are more treasures connecting to other works I may have missed in Red-Marked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prot Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 Thanks guys. I will definitely be picking this up. Gotta get me my Thiel fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 I thought it was unnecessary and didn't really add much. We already know the key players that survive this drama from Deathfire, we already know the Red-Marked get the backing of Guilliman (Stratagem) and the big plan of the traitors gets foiled by default. It offers some insights into the censured Ultramarines and their standing within the Legion, some decent one-liners from Thiel and decent audio production, but as far as the story goes, I wasn't impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karden00 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 It was more or less filler. Enjoyable to listen to, but yeah, other than that it could have not existed and the HH story wouldn't have felt a thing. I do mean the HH story, and not the HH experience. It was wonderfully produced. The production quality was 10/10, with the sound effects, various readers and whatnot. It adds little to nothing to the HH story, but IMO it does a lot to give us a feeling of what the further Heresy could be like to listen to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prot Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 Well in fairness a lot of these side stories are 'filler'. I honestly don't expect major revelation after reading one of these short stories, but I will say I bought it and listened to it.... really enjoyed it. Agreed the production value was way up there and I was surprised how many more voice actors were in it compared to the past stuff. The sounds of war in the background have definitely improved as well as the 'miscellaneous' beeps and chirps you associate with various sci-fi machinery. The fighting was good.. intense, and raw like it should be between Astartes. It had some really good moments for me. I'm glad to see the Red Marked continue their journey and obviously this is actually going somewhere so I wouldn't write off the possibility of these guys have a profound effect somewhere beyond the scope of these stories. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Honestly, a lot of the side stories aren't actually filler stories. They all add something to another novel or strand of the war. Red-Marked goes back to fill in a blank that didn't need filling, and could easily have been filled in a story advancing the Red-Marked's plotline. Filler, to me, is something that doesn't add anything of value or significance to the rest of the ongoing plot. Most HH stories do that, in one way or another. It ranges from character development, introducing new players or plotpoints, adding mystery and so on. A lot of the audio dramas are niche spectacles or lead into the next big books. Red-Marked doesn't do that, since the next big book with Thiel released last year already (Deathfire), and his return home to present the Red-Marked concept happened years ago already (Stratagem). The traitor plot was obviously foiled as even by Pharos, the plan did not proceed. Those were evil machinations created solely for Red-Marked to boost Thiel's brilliance up further, in retrospect. They are isolated to this story. Among the audio dramas, it sticks out as one of the very, very few that are pretty much redundant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karden00 Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I also forgot to mention... The space marines were bad space marine. Especially for Ultramarines. Again, to take nothing away from my enjoyment of the book, they seemed far too human far too many times for my taste. One of them seems sickened by slaughter something no Astartes, even proper Ultramarines, should not really think twice about. Many others are a little too disaffected by their 'Red Marked' status as well. Still, great good fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petitioner's City Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I also forgot to mention... The space marines were bad space marine. Especially for Ultramarines. Again, to take nothing away from my enjoyment of the book, they seemed far too human far too many times for my taste. One of them seems sickened by slaughter something no Astartes, even proper Ultramarines, should not really think twice about. Many others are a little too disaffected by their 'Red Marked' status as well. Still, great good fun. What about (non fiery) Salamanders? Would they be sickened? This sounds interesting; and I guess it makes it curious - redmarked are indeed not 'fit for purpose' marines. Maybe this is partly why for that individual? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkChaplain Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 They're not simply not "fit for purpose", they screwed up somehow, went against the Legion's principles or philosophies, refused orders, or went along with terrible stuff. Basically, they are rogues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prot Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 I also forgot to mention... The space marines were bad space marine. Especially for Ultramarines. Again, to take nothing away from my enjoyment of the book, they seemed far too human far too many times for my taste. One of them seems sickened by slaughter something no Astartes, even proper Ultramarines, should not really think twice about. Many others are a little too disaffected by their 'Red Marked' status as well. Still, great good fun. Well to be honest I'm not sure I personally agree with what you're saying here. Ultramarines are well known for protecting their citizens, and the citizens of the Imperium. It's well documented and while many astartes do have the same sense of protecting humans, some Astartes do not place high value on it. There's a good scene in the Unburdened books, and it has Ultramarines being shown as 'weak' for protecting their own. Conversly Word Bearers have no trouble gutting their own people in disdain... just cause they can. I thought it was fitting that this seemed to bother the Ultramarine deeply. Plus slaughter is just that... slaughter. Ultra's are efficient. No wasted posturing, or excessive violence. It isn't their thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soric Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 I enjoyed this audio drama and I've listened to it multiple times as I can't get enough of the intro sequence (both the Garreth Armstrong's voiceover and the opening battle scene). While I would also agree that this doesn't earn points for the story as it's pretty standard fare, I do feel that the production value as well as the characters make up for it. Bolter porn...maybe, but at least it sounds good :P Despite that it's inspired me to start a Heresy era Ultramarine force based on the characters and I've already converted some minis for it. I do have some questions though and I'm not sure if I should ask it here or start a new thread. Which company does Aeonid's comrades hail from? Are Bracius and Envelio mentioned in previous HH stories or were they made up just for this? If anyone has any info it would be most appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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