This is an updated revision along with questions answered, and background. Definitely the best rundown and avoiding any of the pitfalls elsewhere I have seen going around.
It also is being said around the web atm, that the last bits involve Khorne, but I have not yet heard or gotten any details on it.
Original Post Part 1... Rules
OK...first part, fluff coming in a bit. I need to eat still. But here ya go for rules! ...spoiler: the fluff is cool, imo smile.png
Combat Phase podcast will be happy to cover the new Thousand Sons soon. But in the meantime this is the initial text review of Warzone Fenris 2: Wrath of Magnus. The hardcover case comes with a fluff book and a rule book so you can build your own themed Thousand Sons army or Tzeentch demons army. It’s worth the $75 USD every bit. Amazing art, a stunning new line of models which I honestly did not expect. Sadly the website is old so episodes are on iTunes or @kennylull on twitter or www.facebook.com/combatphase and episodes go up every week. Check out over 50 episodes with Black Library and the most recent ep. 172 an interview with the man himself, Aaron Dembski-Bowden on Master of Mankind, the Black Legion series, his books, writing styles, and what’s to come. Direct link:
Check out models on GW's website, of course.
Rules:
For someone loving the fluff of the Thousand Sons (TS) and now becoming a first-time CSM player this book is amazing. I can’t say with any certainty on this, the day of pre-release in Nov., how the Traitor’s Legion book (resale Dec 3) will address TS but I have faith in Tzeentch that it will at the worst mirror this and at the best, grant options for TS fans/players of 30K & 40K—but that’s just my educated guess. msn-wink.gif
OK, so how does this work? Kickass models—stunning and a wider selection than I could have imagined—accompany new paints to build your TS collection. Demons do NOT have any new model kit releases at this time. However, blue horrors and brimstone horrors (they’re so darn cute!) are available in Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower (WHQ) where you may want to look at your local GW or FLGS or online to buy, trade, or make dark pacts to acquire some. Though not confirmed, I am under the impression early in 2017 we’ll see these models boxed to be used in 40K & AoS. The Tzaangor kit has a nice selection of bits; don’t bother trying to mix WHQ Tzaangors into your 40K army, imo, just get the 40K kit and you can use those for AoS. Rubric marines make a gorgeous kit. Datasheets have units of 5 (4 + 1 aspiring sorcerer as infantry character) so the box can make the asp sorcerer + 9 marines, equipped with inferno boltguns or warp flamers. Soulreaper cannon and icon of flame…pretty. Oh, and a diverse CSM transfer sheet for other legions. Nice kit.
That’s all I have for models. Have a look on GW’s pre-order section for kit details and 360 view.
Making an army
These books are incredibly clear and perhaps that’s future-proofing in addition to an evolution of the design studio. You need CSM codex for TS and Demon codex for the Tzeentch demon army here. The TS are vicious psykers and that comes through quite clear in this WoMagnus supplement!
TS: This book contains new data sheets for Ahriman and Rubric Marines which replace their listings in the current CSM codex. The TS theme army is a Grand Coven (GC) which is made up of formations. Psykers get new and better powers and the CSM sorcerers can draw from 4 new disciplines: Sinistrum, Heretech, Ectomancy, Geomortis. We get 6 new objectives for TS focusing on psyker objectives mostly, or number 9. Also 3 cool fluffy altars of war. TS get 6 new relics, 6 new warlord traits (One gives eternal warrior!). CSM models can become TS with certain Tzeentchy condition to basically, ya know, make it work.
Special rules: detachment from CSM can become TS meeting rules (this book), then all units in a TS detachment or formation get 3 special rules (hells yeah, imo!)
1. if unit w/vet of long war (all TS except Tzaangors) affected by a blessing then invuln save better by 1 until start of your next psyker phase.
2. Units as above reroll hits every round of close combat vs. Space Wolves but also SW get hatred vs. TS
3. Rubricae becomes troops instead of elites
-Units from the formation can be in both a formation and detachment. You need your warlord in a GC as primary detachment to give the benefits to that whole primary detachment. Which is re-roll TS special warlord trait & re-roll the result of perils as well as all psykers can attempt to manifest one warp charge above their mastery level. So mastery 4 could attempt to manifest 5 powers!! Holy Psyker kickass, Batman! Oh, Eldar… ;-p
- GC is 1+ core; 0-4 command; 1+ auxiliary [TS Formations have cool benefit of re-rollingfailed saving throws of 1 when the formation uses max number of units allowed]
Core: War Cabal (formations either using healthy mix of the army) or Sehkmet Conclave (A badass Sorcerer + 3-9 scarab occult termies)
Command: Reharti, Ahriman’s Exiles, and Lord of the Legion
Aux: War Coven (magics!), Tzaangor Warherd (bray, baby!), Daemon engines (stuff from codex), and legion armory (codex armor vehicles)
Updated discipline of Tzeentch, 4 new disciplines.
designer notes new icon of flame reflects new changes since CSM codex, new inferno bolt weapons. Bolt + mark Tz = soul blaze
Can’t spoil every data sheet but some highlights:
- Ahriman at 230 HQ (rubric become troops if he’s in the army), can take a disc, psyk 4: Bio, Deamon (malefic), divination, ectomancy, geomortis, heretics, pyro, sinistrum, telekinesis, telepathy, tzeentch [The 11] and he still has Master of Deception warlord trait.
-Exalted sorcerer 160, can take disc, Pyk 2, same 11 powers, 1/per game Coruscating Beam attack instead of shooting (unlimited,S9, AP2, Heavy 1, blast, lance)
-Tzaangors 10 w/mk Tzeentch, can swap 2 hand weapons for auto pistol & chainsword, can take up to unit 30, 7pts each. relic hunter rule for fluff in case rare instance of this comes up
-Rubric marines unit 5 (4+ aspiring sorcerer), same special rules but better weapon options now. aura of dark glory, sorcery force stav, uses Tzeentch spells, can take up to 20 (23 pts each), any # of warpflamers (7 pts), sorcerer can take meltabomb, icon, gift, rhino. 1 soul reaper cannon per 10 marines (25 pts).
-Scarab occult terms 5 (4 + sorcerer) sorcerer has WS 5, 2 wounds- 1 above normal troops, and cast 11 disciplines. units can be 10 (40/model), heavy weapon options per every 5; per 5 one hellfire missile rack, land raider road trip available:)
-Magnus is a beast at 650 points but he has some crazy powers. psyk 5, draws line of sight to any model on the battlefield, harnesses charges on 2+, never perils, 4+ invuln, and besides knowing all Tzeentch & Change spells he has that Gaze you heard about, charge 5 (but remember all bonuses TS get!) 18’ D, Ap 1, assault 1, soulblaze! His staff is S user, AP2, force, soul blaze and transmogrify. Hot.
—so as with making the TS army, it’s all about formations and besides re-rolling saves of 1, they are reflections of fluff in names and benefits. As the Rehati should be from the HH novel A Thousand Sons (by Graham MacNeill), this expensive sect can harness on 3+ and draw line of sight anywhere. Makes me happy! War cabals of rubrics and terms; war covens of sorcerers; herds of tzaangors and a sekhmet conclave of terms + sorcerers.
-these inferno weapons all S4, AP 3; soul reaper cannon 24”, S5, AP 3, Heavy 4 rending; and the warp flame weapons have warp flame special rule.
Demons
Also 3 alter of war, 6 new fluffy tactical objectives, a new Tzeentch warp storm chart if your warlord is in the primary detachment (like TS model for creating a battle-forged army above)
Pink Horrors here replace the ones from the Demons codex. 90 for 10, up to 20 (9 pts/each). 1 is iridescent horror who can take 20 pts of rewards combination) and take choice of icons and icon upgrades
Blue (50pts for 10) and brimstone horrors (30 pts for 10) have been added as units. Pink horrors die and split into 2 blue which die and split into brimstones if you have them. An awesome return to the game! One formation even doubles the amount of horrors spawned from their colorful kin. Horrors use Change discipline.
-contains new loci, transmogrification in this book replaces the one from the demons codex because horrors split differently now. Demons of Tzeentch can be demon of tzeentch detachments. Pink horrors can carry new icons as well.
-You make a Pandemoniad of Tzeentch as your primary detachment but for warlord traits you need WF 1: Curse of the Wulfen.
the Pandemoniad gives you 1 better invuln save to a max 3+ and you can reroll the warlord trait (from WF1) AND the tzeentch warp storm table.
Same as a GC in format.
-1+ Core - Warpflame Host, Lorestealer Host
-0-3 Command - Lord of Pandemonium or Omniscient Oracles (Kairos plus more Lords of Change to help the blind bastard actually see the present, lol!)
-1+ aux -[this is where the rest of your demons of tzeentch come in] Agents of Tzeentch, Forgehost (soul grinders), Burning Skyhost, Brimstone Conflaguraions and Groups of Heralds.
Fluff
Note: this is being edited back into original post "FLUFF" as well as here.
First, the fluff book has 4 chapters. Chapters 1-3 are the story of the narrative advancing and 4 is Sons of the Cyclops which details the organization of the TS. It tells us how now, post Heresy, nine cults of the TS each ruled by a powerful demon prince or exalted sorcerer (hey, fluff for your army!) bears the ancient rank of Magister Temple and work with more covens of powerful sorcerers (again, see the units available in this TS army book) to form the Rehati. A coven of kickass. Ranks go from top to sacrificial thralls as the hierarchy descends. We get the layout of actors on the Planet of the Sorcerers, Big Red of course in the center and circled by Rehati, Rubricae, Chaos cultists, Chaos Spawn (hey, even Chaos needs pets/janitors, right?). Tzaangors, Sekhmet (Scarab occult terms/sorcerers/landraiders), and Armory (for the movie’).
It’s cool with six different diverse color plate 2-page layouts of different groups, symbols, and painting options for each unit type. Real cool for alt. color schemes.
The Story: (SPOILERS! DUH, SPOILERS!)
***There are a lot of cool maps showing battles, deployment and killer art in this book, so have a look at it as you read the story.
The Changeling was masked as a vox master sowing confusion between the Dark Angels and Space Wolves, and the Grey Knights showed up with some Inquisition back-up. Through deception the demon had already forced the DA to bring their fortress The Rock to fire upon the SWs. He then seeks to take this even further to turn brother against brother and let the chapters destroy one another. That guise is spoiled but he gets away and wears Big Daddy DA Azrael’s face in a ruse to reveal the existence of The Fallen to all, to literally release them from their chambers beneath the Rock and let that secret just cause the chapters to grind even further. He passes security tests as he is identically Azrael for security purposes, despite the odd request, and goes about opening some chamber doors. Maybe I missed something but it seems like a small nugget there where someone unknown was let out or got out of their cell (maybe a short story or novel?).
The DA realize the Changeling is hunting the Lion himself, by releasing Luther from his cell to tell the truth of the DA history to the GK & Inquisition and sow further distrust. Is that what is actually down there, who knows? DA fans can devour that nugget. But as he, disguised as Azreal, reaches the end a small white cowled figure wielding a big-ass crozius meets him and turns him away. Remember that guy? His actual Azreal and pursuers meet him, demon battle ensues and before the Changeling is “killed” he appears to each hero from the DA, GK, and SW as a nemesis to haunt them. So the jig is up and the DA realize they’ve been duped and stop attacking the SW. Since the real threat has arrived…the TS!
Meanwhile, in the warp… warp shrifts are tearing open and the TS are attacking, using Silver Towers.
War is everywhere. Logan G is buried alive under plague-ridden Midguardia. The Alpha Legion and chaos cultists have been harrying the SWs. (some habits just die hard I guess) SW Great Companies are fighting throughout the system. Egil Ironwolf is determined to rescue Logan from his plague tomb below Midgardia, not giving up on him. Rune priests essentially do the exact same thing the World Eater psykers did in Betrayer and form a Lupine pay-commune to reach Logan.
Magnus wants revenge but not he learned a lesson in M32 at the Fang (by Chris Wraight, great book!) and instead this whole invasion is carefully calculated to be a reflection of how the TS, how Prospero suffered under the SW. And there’s even another layer to that…but that’s the super spoilers at the end if you really wanna know. He won’t exterminatus Fenris, so they divide their attacks all round Asaheim but not straight at the Fang. They attack from within, flame and magma demons burrowing from below. The Wold Time is clearly upon Fenris and the SW.
Silver Towers -remember that awesome leaked art of them above Fenris attacking a few months ago? are syphoning Fenris’s power and one is glowing like a sun. Magnus rips through reality and his host pours forth. Fenris will not just feel pain, it will feel everything the TS endured. Prospero, its people, its racial memory, the land itself, the veil between the warp and reality. The Wulfen have already presented the curse and the SW now know what it is like to be persecuted from a fellow brother chapter because of a genetic deviance. But it’s gonna get so much worse.
OK, I’m not going to spoil this past here. Even if you think “hey, screw it, I wanna know,” you might regret that. So after it comes out we can have a wonderful chat about it. If you REALLY ZOMG need to know the end then PM and I’ll get to it when I can. It’s like, midnight, here. So a few more questions then zzzzzz.
5/5 stars!
Added Sections from Questions
Tzeentch has primaris + 6 powers
as does the 4 new powers. nice reflection of the cults.
Fluff stuff comin', I promise. Can only move so fasttongue.png
Don't see a new Change. Pulling from current demons dex.
Ahriman has 3 attacks
Heroes still have champion of chaos, veterans of long war
sorcerers also fearless, aura of dark glory, mark of Tz
No word on cult books, but I'm thinking maybe Traitor Legions does more, maybe not. The four new powers each have a primaris + 6 spells
for formation war coven you have this option: before generating spells you can name them all as one of the 5 cults. All units are that cult but generate on 3+ for respective power to cult, for fluff bros (and gals):
pavoni - bio
corvidae - divin
pyrae - pyro
raptora - telekinesis
athanaeans - telepathy
LOVE the fluff ingrained in making your own bespoke TS army.
termies have inferno combibolter (AP3) and power sword (khopesh, but more AP3). Sorcerer termies has force stave.
But yeah, troops alone not good for AP 1 & 2, wizards though could do some damage, especially Magnus!
Just real quick,
CSM can be TS and treated in all ways as CSM w/following modifications:
1. no rare unites besides Ahriman and Big Red
2. If can take Mk Tz they must
3. Units w/Mk of other 3 gods can't play our reindeer games
4. all units that can be upgraded to VotLW must at no cost.
5. any demon princes must have demon of Tz
6. psykers from the detachment can choose to generate all of their powers from new Tzeentch discipline (primaris + 6)
then they'd benefit from the 3 TS detachment/formation rules
OK, Tzaangors are 3s T4, I3, 1A, Ld 7 (Twistbray 8)
Tzeentch- summary since I can't copy paste - but that armor punching power we need.
primaris witchfire 24 SD6+1 blast inferno - can cause other hits only once.
Boon of muatation (1) blessing - chance for Chaos Boon table
Doombolt (1) S8 AP 1 vehicle killer
Siphon Magic (1) - take enemy's warp charges
Breath of Chaos (2) chance to glance
Baleful Devolution (2) - AP 2 killer, possible surprise for the corpse
Treason of Tzeentch (3) - malediction enemy fights itself.
Is the terminator formation 3 to 9 units or 3 to 9 terminator in a unit?
3-9 units
what bonus does that formation give?
Is that implying we have to take NINE units of Scarab Occult to get re-rolls for armor? ohhhh boy...
reroll saves of 1 (doesnt save armor, they all just say save) and everyone gets +T (so 5) as long as within 6" of at least 2 other units in the formation.
160 for level 2 on foot is garbage. Too bad, models are beautiful!
Thanks for clarifying.
mb 3 wounds?
yup, 3 wounds
War coven
1 of: demon prince, exaleted sorcerer or sorcerer
3-9 units from: exalted sorcerer or sorcerer
usual reroll saves of 1 if max units taken (so 9) and pick a cult and spells from that discipline/lore harness on 3+
Bio, divin, pyro, telek, telepathy
War coven is aux so 1 of the 1+ you need.
I don't think Ahriman is allowed as he is specifically names in other formations. You can pick diff lores but you can, don't have to, declare a cult and your sorcerers belong to that so if any from the formation cast that lore it's 3+ . That's how I read it. And makes sense.
Background (fluff)
Note: this is being edited back into original post "FLUFF" as well as here.
First, the fluff book has 4 chapters. Chapters 1-3 are the story of the narrative advancing and 4 is Sons of the Cyclops which details the organization of the TS. It tells us how now, post Heresy, nine cults of the TS each ruled by a powerful demon prince or exalted sorcerer (hey, fluff for your army!) bears the ancient rank of Magister Temple and work with more covens of powerful sorcerers (again, see the units available in this TS army book) to form the Rehati. A coven of kickass. Ranks go from top to sacrificial thralls as the hierarchy descends. We get the layout of actors on the Planet of the Sorcerers, Big Red of course in the center and circled by Rehati, Rubricae, Chaos cultists, Chaos Spawn (hey, even Chaos needs pets/janitors, right?). Tzaangors, Sekhmet (Scarab occult terms/sorcerers/landraiders), and Armory (for the movie’).
It’s cool with six different diverse color plate 2-page layouts of different groups, symbols, and painting options for each unit type. Real cool for alt. color schemes.
The Story: (SPOILERS! DUH, SPOILERS!)
***There are a lot of cool maps showing battles, deployment and killer art in this book, so have a look at it as you read the story.
The Changeling was masked as a vox master sowing confusion between the Dark Angels and Space Wolves, and the Grey Knights showed up with some Inquisition back-up. Through deception the demon had already forced the DA to bring their fortress The Rock to fire upon the SWs. He then seeks to take this even further to turn brother against brother and let the chapters destroy one another. That guise is spoiled but he gets away and wears Big Daddy DA Azrael’s face in a ruse to reveal the existence of The Fallen to all, to literally release them from their chambers beneath the Rock and let that secret just cause the chapters to grind even further. He passes security tests as he is identically Azrael for security purposes, despite the odd request, and goes about opening some chamber doors. Maybe I missed something but it seems like a small nugget there where someone unknown was let out or got out of their cell (maybe a short story or novel?).
The DA realize the Changeling is hunting the Lion himself, by releasing Luther from his cell to tell the truth of the DA history to the GK & Inquisition and sow further distrust. Is that what is actually down there, who knows? DA fans can devour that nugget. But as he, disguised as Azreal, reaches the end a small white cowled figure wielding a big-ass crozius meets him and turns him away. Remember that guy? His actual Azreal and pursuers meet him, demon battle ensues and before the Changeling is “killed” he appears to each hero from the DA, GK, and SW as a nemesis to haunt them. So the jig is up and the DA realize they’ve been duped and stop attacking the SW. Since the real threat has arrived…the TS!
Meanwhile, in the warp… warp shrifts are tearing open and the TS are attacking, using Silver Towers.
War is everywhere. Logan G is buried alive under plague-ridden Midguardia. The Alpha Legion and chaos cultists have been harrying the SWs. (some habits just die hard I guess) SW Great Companies are fighting throughout the system. Egil Ironwolf is determined to rescue Logan from his plague tomb below Midgardia, not giving up on him. Rune priests essentially do the exact same thing the World Eater psykers did in Betrayer and form a Lupine pay-commune to reach Logan.
Magnus wants revenge but not he learned a lesson in M32 at the Fang (by Chris Wraight, great book!) and instead this whole invasion is carefully calculated to be a reflection of how the TS, how Prospero suffered under the SW. And there’s even another layer to that…but that’s the super spoilers at the end if you really wanna know. He won’t exterminatus Fenris, so they divide their attacks all round Asaheim but not straight at the Fang. They attack from within, flame and magma demons burrowing from below. The Wold Time is clearly upon Fenris and the SW.
Silver Towers -remember that awesome leaked art of them above Fenris attacking a few months ago? are syphoning Fenris’s power and one is glowing like a sun. Magnus rips through reality and his host pours forth. Fenris will not just feel pain, it will feel everything the TS endured. Prospero, its people, its racial memory, the land itself, the veil between the warp and reality. The Wulfen have already presented the curse and the SW now know what it is like to be persecuted from a fellow brother chapter because of a genetic deviance. But it’s gonna get so much worse.
OK, I’m not going to spoil this past here. Even if you think “hey, screw it, I wanna know,” you might regret that. So after it comes out we can have a wonderful chat about it. If you REALLY ZOMG need to know the end then PM and I’ll get to it when I can. It’s like, midnight, here. So a few more questions then zzzzzz.
Bolter and Chainsword had the preview better (should of known), so the conversation there continues here at this link. I will update this post.
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/327825-warzone-fenris-ii-ts-magnus-up-for-pre-order-nov-25th/page-62
