Codex: Space Marines | Multi-Part Intercessor & Vanguard Vet Teaser | Legends Culling

[MoriyaSchism]

No sprue images or 360 degree shots for the new marines. Is the New Zealand site always like this? 

 

24 shoulder pads? What? Why 12 pairs? I can't remember what the old set was like. I'm so impatient, I really want to see the sprue. 

Edited Friday at 11:34 PM by MoriyaSchism

[Nephaston]

28 minutes ago, MoriyaSchism said:

No sprue images or 360 degree shots for the new marines. Is the New Zealand site always like this? 

 

24 shoulder pads? What? Why 12 pairs? I can't remember what the old set was like. I'm so impatient, I really want to see the sprue. 

 

Sprue pictures, as well as the 360° views, for some reason always get added way later now. Don't know if it's the photography team being absolutely swamped with other stuff, or if it's some weird marketing thing where they came to the conclusion that it's actually beneficial to not include the pictures.

 

Tale of Painters will probably have the sprue pictures up in like nine hours.

[MDops]

Probably worried about people using the 360 photos to convert into 3d models before launch

[Mmmmm Napalm]

9 hours ago, MoriyaSchism said:

No sprue images or 360 degree shots for the new marines. Is the New Zealand site always like this? 

 

24 shoulder pads? What? Why 12 pairs? I can't remember what the old set was like. I'm so impatient, I really want to see the sprue. 

the old set's unique pauldrons included:

- 1x studded mk. vi (now replaced with one that has larger studs)

- 1x pauldron with scrollwork (there's one of these in the new kit, as seen on the sgt)

- 1x pauldron with a nameplate/plaque

- 1x pauldron with a bolt round 

- 1x pauldron with a little vet symbol/crux

- 1x set of pauldrons for the sgt with a little bit that jutted out with a skull, one of which had a little tassel on it 

 

I'm pretty sure that was in addition to a set of ten plain pauldrons for five guys. so it's possible we might have lost equivalents for the last five I listed, but gained a blank mk. vi pauldron 

 

nice to have confirmation that the greaves are interchangeable. this might be the first set where they're intended to be swappable across the whole squad, rather than one swappable greave for each specific marine like the two Vets kits.

 

"five belt mounted accessories" is more evidence in favor of my concern that the belts and pouches are molded on, which will necessitate clipping, cutting, and filing for the bodies I want to place tassets and such on. should the holsters be molded on, hopefully theyre less annoying to remove than the ones on the Armageddon monopose set.

Edited Saturday at 08:18 AM by Mmmmm Napalm

[Nephaston]

320 eurobucks for the blinged out dex is a no from me dawg

[Andrechenko]

320€.

And it should be more expensive.

Your target audience truly enjoys financial waste and deserves it.

[Mmmmm Napalm]

https://taleofpainters.com/2026/09/more-bitz-same-ideas-2026-intercessor-squad-outriders-vanguard-veterans-eradicators-land-speeder-unboxed/

 

aaaand the pistols and pouches are molded on, as i feared. It's the holstered pistols that are going to really annoy me when removing them.

 

There's some variety amongst the power pack vents, unlike before. Pretty sure this is the first kit to feature that since the Sword Brethren.

Edited Saturday at 09:54 AM by Mmmmm Napalm

[Indy Techwisp]

Tabletop Battles has their review stuff up for the Codex and Divergent Chapter supplements (getting a little worried that we've still not heard anything about the CSM Parity update...)

 

Besides Gladius Task Force having a useless enhancement (enables the Captain to always be in Assault doctrine all the time but they can already change doctrine and Assault doctrine doesn't stack well with the others anyway), I found their comments on Deathwatch to be the most interesting.

 

Specifically, DW now have actual fixed loadouts.

For the most part it looks like what you could do before is still possible (mostly) but I find it interesting that this is happening now when they may or may not have an actual codex on the way this time.

Having the Killteams have a specific loadout to them would open the door for GW to now actually produce kits with those loadouts since they're not needing to account for all the minor variations in listbuilding.

Also the Decimus Killteam has the exact same abilities as the Firstborn DW Vets have (Reroll 1's but full Rerolls vs Non-Imperium/Chaos), so I think it's likely the DW Vets are on their last hurrah now.

Edited Saturday at 09:53 AM by Indy Techwisp

[Blindhamster]

50 minutes ago, Mmmmm Napalm said:

https://taleofpainters.com/2026/09/more-bitz-same-ideas-2026-intercessor-squad-outriders-vanguard-veterans-eradicators-land-speeder-unboxed/

 

aaaand the pistols and pouches are molded on, as i feared. It's the holstered pistols that are going to really annoy me when removing them.

 

There's some variety amongst the power pack vents, unlike before. Pretty sure this is the first kit to feature that since the Sword Brethren.

 

So I was thinking on this. 

Between the armageddon set, beginner set and these, thats 25 intercessors. Sure some of us like to buy more (even without these newest ones I have 80 or so intercessors..) but for most people, thats enough for 25 distinctly posed intercessors, and likely all they'll ever need.

[Crimson Longinus]

38 minutes ago, Blindhamster said:

 

So I was thinking on this. 

Between the armageddon set, beginner set and these, thats 25 intercessors. Sure some of us like to buy more (even without these newest ones I have 80 or so intercessors..) but for most people, thats enough for 25 distinctly posed intercessors, and likely all they'll ever need.

 

These newer bodies are nicer than the old ones, and if you have spare weapons, you can turn them into, hellblasters, infernus, desolators, assault intercessors etc. 

 

I ordered a bunch of combi-weapons from a bitseller, so I can turn some into sternguad.

 

 

One thing I wonder when looking at the sprues, is whether the shin plates are interchangeable? I t looks like they might be, which would add some build variety. (And allow GW or third party to make custom shin plates.)

[Mmmmm Napalm]

1 minute ago, Crimson Longinus said:

 

These newer bodies are nicer than the old ones, and if you have spare weapons, you can turn them into, hellblasters, infernus, desolators, assault intercessors etc. 

 

I ordered a bunch of combi-weapons from a bitseller, so I can turn some into sternguad.

 

 

One thing I wonder when looking at the sprues, is whether the shin plates are interchangeable? I t looks like they might be, which would add some build variety. (And allow GW or third party to make custom shin plates.)

the website lists the greaves among the "interchangeable parts" so I believe so.

[Mogger351]

Tabltop tactics have an ultras vs orks game up on YouTube. The marine list is maybe 200 pts adrift from its 10th points, but 50 mins in, the rolling has been wonky enough it's hard to use as a yardstick.

 

Kinda feels like marines should be far more in control than they are due to dice (Lawrence remains a statistical anomoly).

[MoriyaSchism]

1 hour ago, Mmmmm Napalm said:

https://taleofpainters.com/2026/09/more-bitz-same-ideas-2026-intercessor-squad-outriders-vanguard-veterans-eradicators-land-speeder-unboxed/

 

aaaand the pistols and pouches are molded on, as i feared. It's the holstered pistols that are going to really annoy me when removing them.

 

There's some variety amongst the power pack vents, unlike before. Pretty sure this is the first kit to feature that since the Sword Brethren.

Did they miscount the helmets in all the marketing material? There's 9 Mark X helmets and 5 belonging to other marks. They also listed the half-mask head twice, counting it a second time as one of the 6 helmetless heads. Some of the holsters appear optional. I can see only 4 knife sheaths, disappointed to see the gear is molded on. Seems like the Space Wolves kit will be the only way to source combat knives and sheaths. This kit will be like Aspect Warriors, something you buy only once or twice at most. Disappointing, I actually got more mileage out of the 25 basic intercessors I bought years ago. Still unique sculpts and poses are welcome, I will at some point end up buying these when I need 10 more bodies. Shame to see all the bolt rifles are all in one piece, that throws a wrench in some of my plans. I have to make another bits order now. 

 

There's clipping on the Sergeant's sword arms in the bike set because of the stupid Assault Intercessor armoured vambrace they have. One extra body in the bike squad. Absolutely zero cosmetic customization on offer with the Vanguard vets, just helmets it seems. Molded on loincloths are absolutely brutal. No variety on the weapons, pretty lame for a supposed veteran squad. They could have included a couple of those saber style blades that's present in the bike set. The pauldrons are also incredibly bland. I think this is their worst veterans kit yet. In general, it's one step forward and two steps back for all three kits. 

Edited Saturday at 11:40 AM by MoriyaSchism

[Blindhamster]

One thing I will say, is if you have a variety of these sets, arms and the like are just as interchangeable as the old firstborn sets, so nothing stops you using saber style swords on your vanguard :)

[DarkMark]

...yet they're still very high scoring kits according to ToP. 

 

Is it more skimpflation than skrinkflation?

[MoriyaSchism]

4 minutes ago, Blindhamster said:

One thing I will say, is if you have a variety of these sets, arms and the like are just as interchangeable as the old firstborn sets, so nothing stops you using saber style swords on your vanguard :)

That's true, but that also involves buying multiple copies of the bike set to get 3 sabers because all the sources of varied parts got discontinued. Once your bits collection runs dry it's off to the printers. 

[Mmmmm Napalm]

54 minutes ago, MoriyaSchism said:

Did they miscount the helmets in all the marketing material? There's 9 Mark X helmets and 5 belonging to other marks. They also listed the half-mask head twice, counting it a second time as one of the 6 helmetless heads. Some of the holsters appear optional. I can see only 4 knife sheaths, disappointed to see the gear is molded on. Seems like the Space Wolves kit will be the only way to source combat knives and sheaths. This kit will be like Aspect Warriors, something you buy only once or twice at most. Disappointing, I actually got more mileage out of the 25 basic intercessors I bought years ago. Still unique sculpts and poses are welcome, I will at some point end up buying these when I need 10 more bodies. Shame to see all the bolt rifles are all in one piece, that throws a wrench in some of my plans. I have to make another bits order now. 

 

There's clipping on the Sergeant's sword arms in the bike set because of the stupid Assault Intercessor armoured vambrace they have. One extra body in the bike squad. Absolutely zero cosmetic customization on offer with the Vanguard vets, just helmets it seems. Molded on loincloths are absolutely brutal. No variety on the weapons, pretty lame for a supposed veteran squad. They could have included a couple of those saber style blades that's present in the bike set. The pauldrons are also incredibly bland. I think this is their worst veterans kit yet. In general, it's one step forward and two steps back for all three kits. 

when Indomitus released in 2020 i was fine with those vambraces; because every vambrace featured the Indom. Crusade symbol and every model in the set had a vambrace,  i assumed it was a special campaign honor. but when the multiparts released, and they all had that on one arm but without the symbol, i was annoyed. I think they're too big and flare out too much; i think the more rounded look they have in SM2 is better:

 

and as for the vanguard vet cosmetic options, they  just have one alt greave for each dude which is lame. good helmets with the unfortunate exception of the beakie which is plain. 

 

 

the only intercessor body with a separate holster bit is the sgt. the rest of them are  molded on like this. i can deal with that for the pouches and grenades easily, but the grips on the pistols especially are going to be annoying to get rid of and keep the spot where they were looking tidy and unblemished, *especially* if the holster covers any bit of the undersuit. having to do what i did in the below image for *multipart* bodies is annoying.

 

 

aside from this particular gripe i think the intercessor kit is quite nice. 

Edited Saturday at 12:34 PM by Mmmmm Napalm

[Robbienw]

Molded on gear for basic troops is a backward step.

[Mmmmm Napalm]

instead of having whole arms connected to each sword and axe, they should have separated them and given you the option to attach the weapon of your choice to each arm, would have opened up more room (in a sprue thats already somewhat spare...) and they could have given you more weapon options. mauls, styles of axes and swords, *lightning claws*. instead we have a rather disappointing kit compared to the sternguard from '23.

[MoriyaSchism]

46 minutes ago, Mmmmm Napalm said:

when Indomitus released in 2020 i was fine with those vambraces; because every vambrace featured the Indom. Crusade symbol and every model in the set had a vambrace,  i assumed it was a special campaign honor. but when the multiparts released, and they all had that on one arm but without the symbol, i was annoyed. I think they're too big and flare out too much; i think the more rounded look they have in SM2 is better:

I wish the vambrace was a separate piece you could opt out of like the nu-Mk III. I just use repurposed Reiver arms for my Assault Marines. The blank vambrace is a nice piece to include on combat specialist Marine like a Company Champion, but in general it looks odd when included for a whole 10 man basic infantry squad. Really uncustomizable Veteran kits are not worth it, a while back I got the multipart Bladeguard Veterans box as a gift and I was shocked by how limited it was. Nearly identical to the snapfits. I couldn't imagine paying 50 euro for this ever. It's sad to see the bodies of the Vanguard Vets barely deviate from the snapfits in the same way. 

[Mmmmm Napalm]

19 minutes ago, MoriyaSchism said:

I wish the vambrace was a separate piece you could opt out of like the nu-Mk III. I just use repurposed Reiver arms for my Assault Marines. The blank vambrace is a nice piece to include on combat specialist Marine like a Company Champion, but in general it looks odd when included for a whole 10 man basic infantry squad.

i can recommend the blood claws and grey hunters kits for chainsword arms. plus you get chainswords with handguards. I have a lot of bodies that I haven't gotten around to dedicating towards any particular purpose; might make more Crusaders with them or might do one off stuff for other chapters. if I do make an assault squad it would be either Blood Ravens for my brother or perhaps Novamarines if I ever want to drive myself insane. regardless, I plan to use a mix of the chainsword arms from the Indomitus monopose assault guys, blood claws, etc.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head with it being odd for whole squads. when you have a variation like that it shouldn't be utilized in such a formulaic way. "these guys are melee oriented; they all have the melee vambrace". primaris have improved immensely since 2017, but lingering bits of per-unit standardization/uniformity with respect to certain details are still holding them back. all melee oriented units have one pauldron with raised trim, an enlarged vambrace, and the gauntlet has that additional articulated plate covering the knuckles. details and variations from the standard marine that I would otherwise like and appreciate become boring because of their uniform, standardized deployment in the designs .

 

 

Quote

Really uncustomizable Veteran kits are not worth it, a while back I got the multipart Bladeguard Veterans box as a gift and I was shocked by how limited it was. Nearly identical to the snapfits. I couldn't imagine paying 50 euro for this ever. It's sad to see the bodies of the Vanguard Vets barely deviate from the snapfits in the same way. 

 

yeah while I find the vanguard vets kit disappointing Im at least thankful we're past the initial phases of primaries where there was no variation amongst the dudes with the exception of the sgts helm having a skull. 

 

i think the vanguard vets are definitely a downgrade from the sternguard. they should have had a choice of pteruges or loincloths for a guy or two, in addition to the separation of arms and weapons I mentioned. not to mention the poses, which are a big downgrade next to the Armageddon monopose guys. I do appreciate that one of the bodies in the kit has one of those metal bands around the thigh that the oldmarine veterans had on a couple sets of legs

Edited Saturday at 01:29 PM by Mmmmm Napalm

[MoriyaSchism]

15 minutes ago, Mmmmm Napalm said:

I think you hit the nail on the head with it being odd for whole squads. when you have a variation like that it shouldn't be utilized in such a formulaic way. "these guys are melee oriented; they all have the melee vambrace". primaris are getting better, but lingering bits of per-unit standardization/uniformity with respect to certain details are still holding them back. all melee oriented units have one pauldron with raised trim, an enlarged vambrace, and the gauntlet has that additional articulated plate covering the knuckles. details and variations from the standard marine that I would otherwise like and appreciate become boring because of their uniform, standardized deployment in the designs .

There's something funny about the idea of "uniform asymmetry" that the Assault Primaris have. I usually include some asymmetrical parts on Veterans to represent a more personal touch to the equipment. I did this with the models I built for kill teams or random officers. 

 

15 minutes ago, Mmmmm Napalm said:

yeah while I find the vanguard vets kit disappointing Im at least thankful we're past the initial phases of primaries where there was no variation amongst the dudes with the exception of the sgts helm having a skull. 

 

i think the vanguard vets are definitely a downgrade from the sternguard. they should have had a choice of pteruges or loincloths for a guy or two, in addition to the separation of arms and weapons I mentioned. not to mention the poses, which are a big downgrade next to the Armageddon monopose guys. I do appreciate that one of the bodies in the kit has one of those metal bands around the thigh that the oldmarine veterans had on a couple sets of legs

I'll probably end up cutting most of the Vanguard Veterans I get at the waist or belt and mix them with legs from the Space Wolves and Assault Intercessor sets. Don't have too many jump packs at the moment to build classic Assault Marines. I have 9 plastic Mars Pattern packs and 5 perfect resin third party copies. The new sets are a definite improvement, but they moved backwards in some regards. I think the issue is that all new models need to have a snapfit version first, seems like a waste that limits future kits to replicating the snapfits. 
 

Edited Saturday at 01:41 PM by MoriyaSchism

[Blindhamster]

4 hours ago, Robbienw said:

Molded on gear for basic troops is a backward step.

Have a bad feeling the LotD may be the same looking at them

[crimsondave]

Went to look at maybe getting the Limited edition codex.  HOLY %$&*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  $420!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lathe Biosas]

Just now, crimsondave said:

Went to look at maybe getting the Limited edition codex.  HOLY %$&*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  $420!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

And it was so nice of you to buy one for all of us on the forum. 

 

Seriously, who would spend $420 dollars on a book?