Hello gamers and welcome to this week’s posting where I
preview the new Space Marine Codex and the new releases the Adeptus Astartes
will be reinforced with this month from Games Workshop. Being a Space Marine
player I am excited about getting a new Codex for 6th edition and I have
to admit the new miniatures being released have got me salivating a little!
At 179 pages long, it is the largest Codex GW has ever
produced which is only fitting for their iconic Space Marine product. Lots of
art work and miniature show cases fill the codex as expected and has the usual
anatomy that previous Space Marine Codex’s have had in the past. The making of
a Space Marine remains as per the last 2 Codex’s but is done in a grittier
manner from what images I’ve seen so far. Each of the First Founding Codex
Chapters gets a whole section to itself detailing the back story of the Chapter
and a time line of important battles in the Chapters history. Each Chapter gets
rules that are unique to them and pull from their makeup and back story which I
am very happy about. I will delve into
the Codex in more detail next week when I get my own copy and share it with you
all right here on Games-Knight.
NEW SPACE MARINE MODELS AND NEW UNIT TYPES.
It comes as no surprise that GW release a wave of new models
alongside a new Codex release and the Space Marines are no exception to that
rule. The humble Space Marine tactical squad gets a revamp and I have to say
for the better. The miniatures have a more ‘gourmet’ look and feel about them
and with 180 separate components on the frames player will have the chance to
customise their chosen battle brothers as they deem fit. Combi-weapons and the
all new grav-gun are included in the box set along with the trusted bolters,
plasma guns and flamers.
The devastator company boasts new units in the Centurion
Devastator squad and the Centurion Assault squad. Warriors in each unit are
clad in a Centurion warsuit, a bulk of thick ablative armour with an array of
heavy weapons or assault weapons. I can see a Centurion Assault squad fitting
in with my Imperial Fist army very nicely!
There are updated Sternguard/Vanguard veteran squads which
are mouth wateringly good with crisp detail and lavish heraldry sculpted onto the
armour. Some great ‘bare head’ options in these kits with bearded, grizzled
veterans to stoic, stern faced paragons of the Imperium. I think the parts in
these kits lend a lot of options to kit-bashing with the rest of any gamer’s
spare bits box to create some awe inspiring miniatures.
The humble Rhino APC gets a twist with new Stalker and
Hunter variants both offering great ant-air support. I am very happy to see this as Flyers are such
a big part of 6th edition and it gives a Space Marine army an answer
to the overly powerful Chaos Heldrake.
Looks wise out of the 2 I prefer the Hunter variant but rules wise the
Stalker tips it with being able to split its fire at targets.
The heroes of the chapter come to the fore with new Captain,
Librarian and Chaplain models. Whilst not impressed with the new Chaplain model
and do like the new Captain model with his crested plume and I think the new
Librarian model is the pick of the bunch. The Librarians face is intense with
expression, fixed in a grimace of pure concentration under his psychic hood.
The cyber-cherub adds a diorama feel to the miniature and is a very nice touch
and nod to the dark future of the 41st millennium. Will we see rules
for familiar’s return I wonder?
Rumours have been rife on the internet for months now as to
what special rules will be in the new Space Marine Codex and I will share them
with you right here on Games-Knight next week as I review the new Codex here on
Games-Knight. Make sure you join me for that! Until then happy gaming and don’t
forget you can always share your thoughts with me via posting a comment or
emailing me direct – contactgamesknight@gmail.com.
Ciaran.
