Forge World Bulletin - 03/08/2016

Today's FW bulletin is close to my heart, featuring Andy Hoare's White Scars army. Not only do I love what Andy has done, but it is also part of the FW Specialist Team's hobby challenge (motivating us Dads for our own hobby challenge...).

I saw Andy's army at the FW open day the other week and was immediately drawn to it. It's a proper throw back to the days of Rogue Trader (I can just about remember 1991...), with a camo-paint rhino!



Painting white is hard, so much respect, but all my attention is drawn to that rhino. Maybe I'll paint one of my own in a similar fashion *scuttles off to dig out Rogue Trader rule book for inspiration*

Well done Andy, this is a lovely force and I look forward to seeing it grow in the future.

 

Speaking of the future, is there a hint at something new coming our way? "I decided to shelve that idea until there are more Space Marines in Mark 6 armour available so I can really go to town on it", or am I reading too much in to that?...

Twitter Primarch Deathmatch Week 9 Result - Horus Lupercal v Jaghatai Khan

"The Khan is dancing around Horus, goading him to make a move. It's a fake here and a sidestep there but Horus just will not be drawn in."

"Yes these thrusts really aren't doing much...."

(4 Days later)

"And Horus still hasn't reacted to Jaghatai's triple twisting back roundhouse. He's just letting his armour take it. Jaghatai really needs some support here."

"Wait, Horus moved I'm sure of it. Horus has reacted at last and caught Jaghatai's foot in his talon. He's dangling him upside down and around comes Worldbreaker.....Ooooh that's not pretty....."

"So Horus wins with only one movement and who would bet against him in this tournament?"

"We've already had the draw for the last match in the first round so lets introduce the contenders...."

Twitter Primarch Deathmatch Week 9 - Horus v Jaghatai Khan

"The excitement in the deathmatch studio is electric this evening as a belated draw takes place for Week 9. We only have 4 Primarch's left to fight in the first round and have we got 4 heavyweights still to go!!!"

"You're absolutely right, left in the draw we have Jaghatai Khan, Leman Russ, Vulkan He'stan & Horus Lupercal."

"And the only person that can possibly make this draw and resist any kind of foul play or temptation is.....GREGOR EISENHORN!!!!"

"Dead right there. If you can imagine an insane, religious zealot crossed with James Bond then you end up with this legend walking into the studio's now...."

"One of the most radical members of the Ordo Xenos - in fact he got booted out for enjoying his job a little too much! - he has turned his back on saving the galaxy for five minutes to bring us a fair draw here in the Primarch Deathmatches...."

"In the pot goes that gauntleted hand..."

"Out comes the first ball....and it is....HORUS LUPERCAL!!!!"

 "So the naughtiest boy of all time is out for blood tonight. Will his toys come out of the pram or will he have his botty spanked? Here goes for the next draw...."

"The ball is gently lifted by Eisenhorn, opened and it's.....the beast from the East - JAGHATAI KHAN!!!!"

"It's a proper Jackie Chan v Dolph Lundgren fight this and it should be amazing!"

"Of course that leaves us with next weeks match up being Vulkan He'stan v Leman Russ but more on them later."

"Back to tonight and entering the arena are Horus and The Khan. Who is going to win? Only you can decide - vote now on Twitter @4dadsapocalypse.

Horus Heresy Book Review - Scars by Chris Wraight (No spoilers)

I am slowly getting through the Black Library Horus Heresy series and thoroughly enjoying my trip through Warhammer history. I find it incredibly interesting to read each author's interpretation of the legions and the events that have taken place in the Warhammer universe. In truth some of the books have been brilliant - Horus Rising, Flight of the Eisenstein, Outcast Dead, Deliverance Lost & Fear to Tread to name just a couple - and some have been pretty boring - Descent of Angels, Battle for the Abyss, Nemesis, Mechanicum, Legion. I would say that on average though you can't go too wrong with this series of books as there is always something in these novels that is enjoyable and worth finding out about.

When it came to reading Scars I have to say that I was definitely NOT looking forward to this book. I generally have no interest in the White Scars and before the book had no idea about the chapter, their Primarch or their history in the Horus Heresy. Also I hadn't read a lot of Chris Wraight's novels previously although the one I had read (Battle for the fang) I thoroughly enjoyed. So with this slightly negative view off I went to join the Khan...

In the novel we are treated to many different legionsof Space Marines - From the White Scars & Space Wolves to the Alpha Legion, Word Bearers and Death Guard. We also get to meet 4 Primarchs - Khan & Mortarian in the main and Russ and Magnus chipping in with bit parts. With the meeting of these primarchs and legions we are treated to some interesting reveals and backstory of the Horus Heresy that has not been covered before and the characters in the book are extremely compelling which made me want to keep reading to find out more.

The story has a number of sub-plots and distinctly follows two storylines which can be a little disjointed but are both important to the story and the Horus Heresy as a whole with a great reveal about the workings of the Word Bearers and how they are controlling things.

The most enjoyable parts of the story for me were the interactions between the primarchs which just make me want to know what would happen if.....(once you've read it you'll understand!) and the decision that the Khan must make whether to be loyal to the Emperor or Horus. Chris Wraight did a magnificent job of getting the feeling of confusion across to the reader as bits of information, messages and rumours about the wider galaxy reached the White Scars creating division and corruption amongst the legion.

The poorer parts of the book in my opinion were the pace - I thought that at times it slowed down when things had just started to get going - which is probably due to this book being originally released as a series ebook in parts. Also I thought that some of the fighting and battle scenes weren't as engaging as they should have been. I'm not sure why but it just didn't feel like I was in the battle with shells and swords clattering around me.

As a whole I really enjoyed the book and I think it is well worth a read. It compliments and extends the Horus Heresy background, tells the story of the White Scars chapter of which little has been written before and is an interesting standalone story with some great characters.

I give this book an 8/10

Let me know what you think

James