Horus Heresy - Scouring Expansion

[Marshal Rohr]

I imagine redoing the Forge World specific versions of Castraferrum, Rhinos, and Predators would be well received. Just redoing the current 40K Predator would be a give or take kind of thing. 

[Captain Idaho]

On 3/30/2026 at 9:28 PM, Mogger351 said:

What factions might you expect to see extra? I can't see them introducing xenos for any reason and it'd risk the dreaded cross-pollination 

 

Sorry for the delayed reply, been a busy working time!

 

Well, from an old reference many moons ago in Codex Ultramarines and elsewhere:

 

 

So the Enemies of Mankind is broad and flexible... but we know that the 2nd sentence is not referencing Chaos specifically since:

 

a) they've just been defeated,

 

b) it subsequently references chaos separately,

 

c) preparing to attack...? They've already attacked! And are still in control of some/many worlds.

 

So that's non-Chaos.

 

Orks are easy as we know they DO attack in the War of the Beast.

 

I think another faction though. Maybe Xenos, maybe some sort of terror from ye olde night.

 

Essentially, whilst GW is reluctant to copy and paste factions from one setting into another, we have 2 massive massive exceptions to this...

 

Custodes are literally the same in 30K and 40K and Marines exist in both.

 

Even the Guard are pretty similar in both.

 

Who knows exactly... I'm not convinced it will happen, just convinced it CAN happen.

[Robbienw]

1 hour ago, Hfran Morkai said:

 

They could always do the MkIIB.

 

What a good looking tank.

 

Hopefully we get redone MkIV and Tartaros before this though because I'm still not building.

MK2B would be most welcome.  Then 40k studio could redo the current one for 40K.

 

Then we would have all 3 main Land Raider chassis types in plastic 

[Mmmmm Napalm]

It occurred to me that the Mk. VII news is fantastic for those interested in Badab War stuff. I know Cult of Paint used the Mk. VI kit to make a Badab era Raptor a while back

[MARK0SIAN]

12 minutes ago, Captain Idaho said:

 

Sorry for the delayed reply, been a busy working time!

 

Well, from an old reference many moons ago in Codex Ultramarines and elsewhere:

 

 

So the Enemies of Mankind is broad and flexible... but we know that the 2nd sentence is not referencing Chaos specifically since:

 

a) they've just been defeated,

 

b) it subsequently references chaos separately,

 

c) preparing to attack...? They've already attacked! And are still in control of some/many worlds.

 

So that's non-Chaos.

 

Orks are easy as we know they DO attack in the War of the Beast.

 

I think another faction though. Maybe Xenos, maybe some sort of terror from ye olde night.

 

Essentially, whilst GW is reluctant to copy and paste factions from one setting into another, we have 2 massive massive exceptions to this...

 

Custodes are literally the same in 30K and 40K and Marines exist in both.

 

Even the Guard are pretty similar in both.

 

Who knows exactly... I'm not convinced it will happen, just convinced it CAN happen.

I think the problem with Xenos is how do you introduce them to the setting from a models point of view. Every single Heresy box set (Betrayal At Calth, Burning of Prospero, AoD 2.0, Saturnine) have been designed so that a person can buy the box and paint it all as a single legion, even if it’s ostensibly painted as 2 different ones on the box art. BoP included the Custodes and SoS but that didn’t really detract from the marine part. If they switched to a 40k system where half is marines and half is Xenos then that not only breaks with tradition but potentially puts off people who aren’t interested in the Xenos faction. 
 

That leaves them with two other options. One is they simply release rules and expect people to use the existing 40k models for orks/Eldar etc. which is something we know they’re not keen on.

 

The second is they develop a completely new line of models for either an existing Xenos faction or a new one and release it separately. They haven’t been willing to do that with factions like Daemons or Sisters of Silence who are an established part of the setting so it seems like a stretch they’d be willing to do it for Eldar or Orks etc. I think it’s even more unlikely to be a new Xenos faction. You’ve only got to look at the Custodes battle group thread to see how many people want those units to remain part of 40k. How much clamour would there be for a new Xenos race to be given 40k rules?

 

Obviously I could be wrong and I’d be delighted to get some models for a resurgent Rangdan Empire or something similar but I think it’s incredibly unlikely.

 

GW have clocked onto the fact they can sell us multiple versions of the exact same 5 pose models in different armours (3 different armours and counting) and we will keep buying them. Why bother with xenos when we need to buy the mk4 guys in that pose, the mk5 guys in that pose and the mk7 guys in that pose? 

[Marshal Rohr]

The only thing with fewer fans than an existing 40K xenos factions is a non-existent, but peripherally mentioned one. People want Rangda, but then the models are just something like Night Haunt but with alien faces, that might tickle some fancies but would turn off others who liked the worm men fan canon. 

[Xirix]

4 hours ago, Marshal Rohr said:

I imagine redoing the Forge World specific versions of Castraferrum, Rhinos, and Predators would be well received. Just redoing the current 40K Predator would be a give or take kind of thing. 

God, what I would give for plastic MKIV Castraferrum that they had in resin back then.

[Xenith]

16 hours ago, ThaneOfTas said:

Mostly guesswork on my part, but I believe that the Eldar Aspect shrines were in their fairly early stages at this point, so I would expect the Eldar to be less uniform than they are in 40k,

 

The craft worlds did not appear exactly at the point of the fall, they would have been a relatively monastic part of society for probably tens of thousands of years before that point, and seen as backwards by the depraved rest of Eldar society (almost Amish like?). They would have been building the craft world Arks, Noah style, for thousands of years before flying off in them. Aspects might have been pretty well formed by that point, however I don't think the Eldar were really fighting anyone during great crusade times, mainly running and hiding, so might not have had as much use for aspect warriors. It would be interesting to see it fleshed out, but historically I recall little to no xeno activity of note during the scouring. 

[Irate Khornate]

I would not expect xenos to make an appearance in a scouring expansion.

 

GW has spent way too long making sure model lines don't cross games much to the detriment of everyone caught in the crossfire.

[Captain Idaho]

There's just very little to work with when you consider a Scouring expansion limited to just Marines. I mean, Codex Astartes being implemented... that's 7th edition and prior Space Marines then? Which does "cross the streams" with another game system.

 

As does Custodes. 

 

So contradictions aside... what else then? We already got thr Legions models and rules.

[Mogger351]

27 minutes ago, Captain Idaho said:

There's just very little to work with when you consider a Scouring expansion limited to just Marines. I mean, Codex Astartes being implemented... that's 7th edition and prior Space Marines then? Which does "cross the streams" with another game system.

 

As does Custodes. 

 

So contradictions aside... what else then? We already got thr Legions models and rules.

Lets be honest it's the same factions and content as the HH, the forces are consistent as is the tech largely.

 

Which is exactly why it's an expansion, there isnt enough to warrant a new game. On paper the horus heresy has had to invent a lot of stuff to justify it's own existence as a game over the years. Both in units and rules.

[Captain Idaho]

If it's just the same, then what is a Scouring expansion then?

[Son of Rawl]

Just now, Captain Idaho said:

If it's just the same, then what is a Scouring expansion then?

40k Historical? We have one, yes. But what about a second one?

 

Hobbit jokes aside, I would like to see the Siege of Terra first before we get to Scouring. Or at the least, the rest of the Heresy range in plastic before any major expansions.

[Marshal Rohr]

5 minutes ago, Captain Idaho said:

If it's just the same, then what is a Scouring expansion then?

A reason to release more power armor and vehicle variants! 

[Lord Marshal]

12 minutes ago, Captain Idaho said:

If it's just the same, then what is a Scouring expansion then?

 

'Normalising' Legiones Hereticus, more Primark variants and MkVII.

 

I think my big question is what's going to happen with Death Guard, since I can't see them wanting you to buy into the 40k range to represent their post-Siege state; the rest of the Traitor Legions can largely be covered by a little kitbashing on the existing Heresy range - if that - but the Death Guard saw such a drastic visual change.

 

Edited April 1 by Lord Marshal

[Khulu]

9 hours ago, Xenith said:

 

The craft worlds did not appear exactly at the point of the fall, they would have been a relatively monastic part of society for probably tens of thousands of years before that point, and seen as backwards by the depraved rest of Eldar society (almost Amish like?). They would have been building the craft world Arks, Noah style, for thousands of years before flying off in them. Aspects might have been pretty well formed by that point, however I don't think the Eldar were really fighting anyone during great crusade times, mainly running and hiding, so might not have had as much use for aspect warriors. It would be interesting to see it fleshed out, but historically I recall little to no xeno activity of note during the scouring. 

Aspect Shrines were first created by Asurmen and his disciples after the Fall.  I think it was pretty fast after the Fall, though. 

[MARK0SIAN]

34 minutes ago, Captain Idaho said:

If it's just the same, then what is a Scouring expansion then?

So they can sell us more armour marks. I know that sounds like I’m being facetious but I’m honestly not. That’s the reason for it. So they can sell more armour marks and different kits. Black library have also seen what a money spinner the HH series has been so the scouring is the logical place to go next. 

[Mogger351]

45 minutes ago, MARK0SIAN said:

So they can sell us more armour marks. I know that sounds like I’m being facetious but I’m honestly not. That’s the reason for it. So they can sell more armour marks and different kits. Black library have also seen what a money spinner the HH series has been so the scouring is the logical place to go next. 

Exactly this, a way to release a box, stir up hype on the nostalgia train and sell some marines. Simple as that.

[Marshal Mittens]

Scouring would be awesome for a few reasons:

 

2nd Founding Chapters.

 

More units.

 

Less established history allowing for more growth.

 

Much longer period allowing for more battles and history. 

 

I love horus heresy. Can't see a downside to scouring. 

[The Lost Son]

As a source book ala the old black books the scouring would be awesome in my opinion, and factual look at the sundering of the legions,auxillia and general decimation of specialist rank and structure within the Imperium as a whole, with suggestions rather than structure for game play. Unfortunately even at the most optimistic I doubt this would happen. Honestly with the metric chasing thought process of recent years (seperate games, seperate accounting check lists) id expect another new scale of marines so you can't use your old tactical squad or the legion squad boxes because why would they want you to buy a smaller number of boxes and be able to make an army. I also think that GW would be wary of making another oops all marines game for fear of burn out. But as a positive to finish if it brings castra ferrum back I'll be happy especially if it's in the forge world style or just generally making use of the vast improvements in casting that exist now.

[Robbienw]

Will be really cool to see the colour schemes of the 2nd founding chapters in the scouring.  I'd expect there to be some difference to modern 40k schemes, as in same armour colours but unit marking and honour badges still like 30k stylings rather than 40k.

[Mogger351]

36 minutes ago, The Lost Son said:

As a source book ala the old black books the scouring would be awesome in my opinion, and factual look at the sundering of the legions,auxillia and general decimation of specialist rank and structure within the Imperium as a whole, with suggestions rather than structure for game play. Unfortunately even at the most optimistic I doubt this would happen. Honestly with the metric chasing thought process of recent years (seperate games, seperate accounting check lists) id expect another new scale of marines so you can't use your old tactical squad or the legion squad boxes because why would they want you to buy a smaller number of boxes and be able to make an army. I also think that GW would be wary of making another oops all marines game for fear of burn out. But as a positive to finish if it brings castra ferrum back I'll be happy especially if it's in the forge world style or just generally making use of the vast improvements in casting that exist now.

It's an expansion, it'll be an age of darkness release and compatible with age of darkness minis.

[Evil Eye]

A transition of the Horus Heresy into a full "Age of Darkness"/"40K Historical" would actually be a really good idea, in my humble opinion. The Heresy itself is very cool of course but expansions and supplements to provide rules both for the age before the present day but after the Heresy (the Scouring, the Age of Strife etc) and leading up to the Heresy itself (Great Crusade etc) would be really, really neat and could actually get me on board with the system rather than just buying the occasional kit for use with my beloved middlehammer era.

[LSM]

3 hours ago, Khulu said:

Aspect Shrines were first created by Asurmen and his disciples after the Fall.  I think it was pretty fast after the Fall, though. 

 

Fulgrim (2007) features Howling Banshees (post Ullanor, pre-Heresy). If the Fall was ~750.M30 (quick google search) then that would be only ~250 years later.

 

//

 

Thinking on it further, and it would be controversial, but: Exodites as 30k's bespoke Eldar faction is something I could legitimately see.

 

(Especially if the focus is on their Knights and space-dino-riders; creating a "mounted" army.)

 

[Astartes Consul]

6 hours ago, Captain Idaho said:

If it's just the same, then what is a Scouring expansion then?

This is the problem, isn’t it? 

 

On the one hand, another marine on marine game, but with slightly different rosters make no sense. 

 

At most it’s 1-2 ‘Liber Scouring’ books with a new army list featuring slimmed down unit sizes, fewer super heavies but also whatever new kits they release. And  some new characters. Maybe the assumption we will get resculpted Primarchs materialises here as well? 

 

On the other hand, we get Age of Darkness: The Scouring with some new marine units and detachments, and then a series of era appropriate lists for other factions. Given the rough state of the lore, that’s proto-Guard, Eldar, Orks. So it’s a 3rd edition nostalgia hype. But then GW is simply not going to produce multiple new lines of miniatures. And it is now a well established policy that kits aren’t intended for use in multiple game settings. So how does this work?

 

The PDFs and Journals have at least brought the concert in kitbashing and using kits from other systems into play for Heresy. So maybe the whole thing is based on a series of PDFs? 

 

Can honestly GW going either way. Or coming up with something even weirder. But I think a lot of our speculation is massively overstating how much GW might invest into this project.