THE HEART OF THE BLASTED PRAETORIANS
Welcome Brothers and Sisters, I’m James, an average closet Warhammer Nerd who has been drawn back into the Warhammer Universe by a Slaaneshi Fiend (friend) I thought I had left the Grim Dark Future behind me in the late 90’s….but it looks like I am back. Join me on my journey back to social and tournament 40K gaming.
We’ve covered the scouting vanguard of the army, leading the frontal assault and giving the army lots of flexibility, we also covered the Heavy Intercessors and the Gravis Captain who act as the anchor for the team.
Now we will cover the lads who come in to smash you apart after you’ve been softened up and manoeuvred right where we want you! (At least thats the plan)
First up, a unit of assault intercessors with jump packs aka JPI’s. I can see why so many players use this unit. They are 90 points for 5, they move 12” and have a standard marine profile. They get 4 attacks with their AP-1 Damage 1 chainswords, the Sgt gets a powerfist and plasma pistol. They also have the heavy bolt pistols to throw in some short ranged threat before they charge or in-case they get stuck in combat, which gives a nice bit of extra punch in the next round of shooting.
Their special rule is the Hammer of Wrath! On the charge, each model which ends in base contact serves up a mortal wound on a 4+ courtesy of the Emperor!! The guys make mincemeat of light infantry and can cause trouble for heavier targets as well thanks to the mortal wounds and the Sgt’s powerfist. They also give a little bit of much needed speed to the army, which doesn’t involve any uppy downy or deep striking shenanigans, with a realistic 18-20inch charge threat, they give the enemy something to think about.
Speaking of deep striking, my Gravis Captain also has 2 squads of 5 terminators under his command. These elites veterans are absolutely rock solid and for me are the archetypal miniature that comes into my mind when I think of Space Marines and Warhammer 40K. When I used to read through White Dwarf 30 years ago and stare in the window of the GW shop. It was always those big chunky unstoppable Terminators that I longed for. I’d imagine myself being one, smashing through buildings, laying down 1000’s of rounds, shredding through the enemy, punching through the side of a tank and crushing skulls! Whatever happened I knew I wanted Terminators in the army, even if they aren’t the best meta choice.
TERMINATORS
What young Kid wouldn’t want to be one of these…
Both of the squads have a cyclone missile launcher, I wanted these just as much for the threat of some anti tank, as any real damage they will do (the longer the enemies tanks are castled up hiding, the better for you).
For the same reason, one unit has 3 chain fists. This is partly because of the amount of armour being taken in armies at the moment. I’m hoping again that it should have a psychological effect on the enemy general. No one wants a big knight or a land raider wounded on 3+.
They also have some pretty nifty abilities, with the teleport homer they can rapid ingress for free and again tactical placement of the homers will force the enemy to have to consider the thought of 5 Terminators dropping in on the edge of their deployment zone, giving another psychological twist to that enemy brain. Their other ability Fury of the First!! is a nice little boost to Oath, giving +1 to the hit roll. Hitting on 2’s with re-rolls becomes very nice indeed!
15 powerfists hitting on 2’s re-rolled….. wounding Deathshroud and other elites on 2’s oooh yeah! I can hear Arnie now….”I HOPE YOU LEAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR MY FIST, BECAUSE I’M GOING TO RAM IT INTO YOUR STOMACH AND BREAK YOUR GOD DAMN SPINE!!”
Finally for the heart of the Blasted Praetorians, a miniature I instantly fell in love with, he’s big, he’s chunky, he’s got a 400 inch chest. It’s the BRUTALIS DREADNOUGHT!!
Yes yes, I’ve listened to the hate, I’ve read the hate but I don’t hate the haters. You can think that this big mother trucker is nothing more than a 160 point distraction Carnifex but I’m looking to prove all that wrong and put these mofo’s back on the meta map!
BRUTALIS
Are the Haters right? (This is my Brutalis mid-production)
I think what is missing is that maybe? players are just blindly marching this Brother forward into all of the enemy guns and wondering why it doesn’t get to melee? I can see timing being important as to when you unleash the beast and maybe tag teaming him. Slamming him and the JPI’s into an enemy unit or tank on the same turn, could do some pretty tasty mortal wounds and then smash things up. HULK SMASH NOW!
Yes he only moves 8 inches and he cant move through walls or fly over them. But he is still tough as old boots, will mess you up in melee, he’s not easy to tarpit. His sweep attack gives 10 attacks strength 7 AP -2 Damage 1. twin linked. He wants to get up close, so on the way in he has a twin linked multi melta, and on a 2+ on the charge he dishes out more mortal wounds, again courtesy of the Emperor.
On top of that and best of all, this Honoured Brother looks freaking awesome and I will love watching him stomp across the battlefield. Once a Brutalis is awoken, he knows only one way to wage war, if you are a Heretic or Xenos filth you better prepare to be purged!!
FOR THE EMPEROR!!!
WHITE DWARF UPDATE
So my subscription magazine has arrived, I was dubious after I picked one up for a quick read in a newsagents about a month ago and wasn’t impressed.
WHITE DWARF CONVERT
Okay, fine. It’s actually pretty good.
BUT I have to say I am enjoying the read. I still think its perhaps spread a little thin due to how many games the magazine has to cover now but never the less, it’s immersed me a little more into the hobby side of Warhammer. This is the part I’ve never been as into, probably because I am such a terrible painter that I always felt there’s no point to the rest of it. In this issue there is a great article about one of the writers and how he brings his mini’s to life more as evolving characters by marking them following battles.
Little things like painting a tiny scratch if they have died, or little different coloured skull decals on a tanks barrel to signify killing an enemy tank or warlord or super heavy tank.
This really struck a chord with me and for sure I am going to be bringing my army to life by keeping a tally of their heroic deeds or heroic failings!! and each time they go back into battle will be another chance for them to prove their worth.
Even if we lose the battle, if the Brutalis kills the enemy warlord, ripping them apart or a chainfist Terminator blows up a land raider, they’ll gain a mark on their tally and I’ll have a warm fuzzy feeling.
Dont play with unpainted mini’s like I used to… Get Blasted Miniatures to whip your little heroes into shape in no time.
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