The time has come for all the news and jaw-dropping reveals from the NOVA Open Warhammer Preview. Seriously – if you’re interested in ANY of this…
This article was originally published on the Warhammer-community site.
…then you’re about to have your socks knocked off. Let’s start with Warhammer 40,000.
From new lore to a vast array of codexes and an awesome (and rapidly growing community), there’s never been a brighter time for the grim darkness of the far future. The last couple of years have been glorious – and now we’re about to kick the 41st Millennium into high gear…
What does all of this mean for the galaxy?
Psychic Awakening is a monumental event that will shape Warhammer 40,000 forever, on a scale unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Across this epic event, every codex will see expanded rules as we explore the front-line war zones of a cataclysmic new conflict that makes the 13th Black Crusade look like a border scuffle.
Every single Warhammer 40,000 faction has a stake in Psychic Awakening – so whatever your chosen army, you’ll have a moment to shine. Each Psychic Awakening expansion focusses on a different war zone, providing a new perspective to this galaxy-spanning event. The series will see plot threads that have enticed fans for decades resolved, champions new and old rise to the fore, and staggering revelations made.
Meanwhile, each book will have powerful and thematic rules updates for at least two Factions, giving you more flexibility than before.
If that wasn’t enough, the series will also be accompanied by a whole swathe of new models, including some miniatures you’ve been looking forward to for ages – such as the first-ever plastic Howling Banshees!
Before the Psychic Awakening hits, Space Marines still have a few reinforcements inbound…
A Hero Is Promoted
If you’re a Raven Guard player, you’ve probably been eyeing up some Vanguard Space Marines. But who to lead them to battle? We have just the man for the job…
That’s right – this legendary son of Corax has got an upgrade worthy of his new rank! Combining classic design cues from his original model (including our first-ever “beaky” Primaris helmet!) and the modern tactical aesthetic of the rest of the Vanguard Space Marines, Shrike is the perfect leader for your Raven Guard.
From galactic heights to the depths of the underhive, it looks like trouble is brewing in Necromunda as well…
The lower you go in Necromunda, the worse things get. Given that even the upper-crustiest spire noble really is a monster, it’s starting from a pretty bad place. Something terrifying (even by the standards of the underhive!) is coming, and even stubbers, grit and a cool mohawk won’t be enough to stand in its way…
Remember the first time you saw The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers™? Who could forget moments like the epic defence of Helm’s Deep or the awesome might of Saruman’s Uruk-hai legions? Indeed, for many fans, this was the beginning of their journey in miniature wargaming – we defy anyone to watch the charge of the Rohirrim without planning a Rohan collection of their own. Soon, we’ll be taking you back to this epic chapter in the War of the Ring in a brand-new expansion for the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game…
This is War in Rohan, a massive Middle-earth supplement that brings the same bitter strife to Rohan and Isengard as Gondor at War brought to the game. Of course, what’s a War in Rohan without an appropriately convincing Rohan to defend?
Just like the incredible Lake-town House and the Hobbit-hole Upgrade Set, the new Rohan terrain kits are incredibly modular, flexible and scalable. If you saw Edoras and the Hall of Meduseld and thought I would literally give my left hand to live there, then these kits are for you. With incredible details and unparalleled customisation options letting you carve out a gorgeous corner of the Riddermark for yourself – try and build it without shedding a tear for the sheer beauty of it all. We dare you.
Of course, if seeing the holdings of the horse-folk inspires in you a furious desire to conquer (rather than build) adorable towns, we’ve got you covered there too…
That’s right – two of Middle-earth’s most iconic villains are also getting new plastic kits in time for War in Rohan. They are ideal for leading your dark hordes into battle, whispering poisonous words in the ear of the king, or just looking rad on your shelves.
If Rohan at War has you longing to return to Middle-earth, make sure to grab yourself a copy of the Battle of Pelennor Fields set for the rules manual, the shiny, new, plastic Theoden and loads of Rohirrim, plus plenty of Evil models to share with a mate!
You’ve crushed the Corvus Cabal, shattered the Splintered Fang and smashed The Unmade so hard that you knocked their faces off… again. But has your warband got what it takes to tackle a three-headed monster the size of a house?
In Monsters & Mercenaries, you’ll have the chance to find out! Warcry’s first expansion has a little bit of everything with loads of awesome new rules. Take monsters, for starters – you’ll be able to test yourself against them in special challenge battles and bind them to your dark will!
As well as monsters, the book contains rules for adding the eponymous mercenaries mentioned on the cover. That’s right, you can bring in a variety of special allies to your warband, from Darkoath Warqueens prophesying apocalyptic glory for your warband to bold Knight Heraldors willing to take on Daemons, madmen and raving Cygors, armed with nothing but a fancy trumpet.*
Monsters & Mercenaries will be out soon – keep an eye out for more news…
In the Mortal Realms, something big is coming. It was hinted at in Forbidden Power, teased in The Tithe, and now revealed… right here in this video!
Relentless. Disciplined. Deathless. These are the Ossiarch Bonereapers – the culmination of centuries of planning by Nagash and the harbingers of his dark reign. Where the Legions of Nagash are the foot soldiers of Death and the Nighthaunt are the shock troops, the Ossiarch Bonereapers are the vanguard of a new order.
These are not risen warriors or malignant spirits – they are bespoke war-constructs forged from harvested bone and gifted the soul animus of great warriors and heroes. Alone, they have hundreds of lifetimes of experience and brutal physical prowess. Unified, they are nigh unstoppable, directed into battle by Katakros, Mortarch of the Necropolis – perhaps the greatest military strategist (living, or dead) the Mortal Realms have ever known.
The backbone (see what we did there?) of the Ossiarch Bonereapers are the legions of Mortek Guard and spearheads of Kavalos Deathriders. Each contains the souls of dozens of mortal warriors, and each is a brutally effective combatant, fighting with utter discipline even in the most chaotic battles. These warriors aren’t automata – they have personalities befitting their roles in Nagash’s dark regime. While Mortek Guard are forthright and dutiful, Kavalos Deathriders are possessed of towering arrogance, as suits their role as heralds of the Great Necromancer.
The more elite echelons of the Ossiarch Bonereapers are made up of a variety of bizarre and deadly construct-warriors created by the twisted, magical bio-engineers of the Mortisian priesthood. Necropolis Stalkers, for instance, are infused with the souls of four legendary warriors apiece, giving them the ability to shift personalities mid-battle in order to change their fighting style.
In addition to these warriors, the Ossiarch Bonereapers also make vast and horrific war machines. The Mortek Crawler is a semi-sentient siege engine that devastates fortifications and formations alike with deadly hails of magical ammunition.
Leading the Ossiarch Bonereapers is none other than Katakros himself. This is no embittered spirit, arch-schemer of the world-that-was or devoted sycophant, but a terrifying new paragon of unlife itself. Granted a new existence in a body of ensorcelled bone, Orpheon Katakros is Nagash’s plan for the Mortal Realms made manifest – efficient, remorseless and instilled with a chilling disregard for life. He’s a real chip off the ol’ Black Pyramid…
Katakros is a fascinating character. Once a general of the Mortal Realms, he is a master of strategy, tactics and diplomacy with aeons of conquest under his belt. Even if you’re not going all-in on the new Ossiarch Bonereapers, this stunning miniature will be a pleasure to paint and an eye-catching display piece for your collection in its own right.
The Ossiarch Bonereapers will be invading a Mortal Realm near you soon, and we’ve not even shown you all their incredible new models yet!
NOVA’s Warhammer Preview wasn’t just miniatures and rules – there was also plenty of exciting news for the wider Warhammer community
Warhammer Heroes nominations are opening again soon! In our third year of this beloved tradition, we’ll be recognising the truly exceptional individuals who help make the Warhammer hobby great.
If there’s someone in your local hobby community who deserves special recognition, we’d love to hear about them. Have a think about who you’d like to nominate and let us know when we officially open nominations.
Over the past couple of years, Warhammer Underworlds has become nothing short of a phenomenon, bringing together new hobbyists and veteran wargamers alike for deck building, arena battles and countless clashes around the globe.
In 2020, the world’s best players of the ultimate competitive miniatures game will face their greatest challenge…
This could be your chance for glory on an international scale – we’ll have more info on just what it means for you next month.
With so much awesome stuff on the way for Warhammer 40,000, you might be wondering what’s happening to some of the treasured older models that previously had rules in our Index books. While these might not have a place in our codexes any more, we know that they definitely have a place in your hearts, which is why you’ll be delighted to hear that we’ll be supporting them FOREVER with Warhammer Legends.
Your Imperial Space Marine? Rules, FOREVER. Your Chaplain on Bike? You can use him until actual Space Marine Chaplains on actual Space Marine bikes are invented in the year 30,000.** And, to top it all off, they’ll be getting points, meaning if that’s how you like to balance your games, we’ve got you covered.
Every year, we review all of the points values (for all of the units) in Warhammer 40,000. We won’t be doing this for the Warhammer Legends, though. Once we’ve assigned them their final points, they won’t be part of that ongoing balance review – and we won’t be recommending Legends units for competitive tournaments. This means that event organisers and attendees alike can guarantee everything they’re gaming with is easily available and has been subject to the same rigorous balance and playtesting process. Of course, organisers are also free to run Legends events, allowing the use of the full classic range in their games.
What’s more, in the near future, we’ll be giving all Warhammer Age of Sigmar Legends the same treatment, meaning they too will be getting matched play points for your battles. You’ll see these rolled out in the new year.
We’ve also got some very exciting Angels of Death news. The creative team behind the forthcoming series have been in cahoots with the Warhammer studio to ensure that every part of it looks and feels authentic to the worlds you love. So, who better to design a character for the series than the godfather of the gothic and the eldritch himself, Jes Goodwin? Want to see one of his character concepts for the show? Sure you do…
You’re looking at Livia Sorken –- Captain of the strike cruiser Sword of Baal, the vessel our heroes use as a base of operations. Here are some early test shots of Livia in action…
There’s more Angels of Death news to come, so watch this space…
And One More Thing…
Almost two years ago, we made Warhammer fans a promise. The time has almost come for that oath to be fulfilled and your faith to be rewarded.
It’s our pleasure to unveil this glorious army set today – a monument to the unwavering devotion of our community and to a new era for one of the most beloved armies in Warhammer 40,000.
After waiting for so long, you all deserved something very special, and that’s what this Sisters of Battle Army Set delivers. This packed box kicks off your Adepta Sororitas force in style. Including a swathe of stunning new plastic models and a limited edition codex, this one is dedicated to you die-hard Sisters of Battle fans as a reward for your unwavering faith.
Plastic Battle Sisters (and Seraphim!), painted and ready for war. Did you ever believe you’d see it?
There’s even a new Penitent Engine – a magnificent reinvention of one of the most iconic Warhammer 40,000 models ever, that somehow manages to be even more grimdark than its predecessor.
As a special thank you to the dedicated fans who made it to the NOVA Open Warhammer Preview in person, we gave every single member of the audience their very own plastic Canoness. Turns out, attending our Warhammer Preview shows can be pretty sweet. And don’t worry if you weren’t there this time – this Canoness is found in the Sisters of Battle army set!
Phew! That’s all from the NOVA Open Warhammer Preview – thanks again to Mike Brandt and the NOVA crew for hosting us! Let us know what you’re looking forward to most on our Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000 Facebook pages – and if you want to ensure you never miss one of our awesome announcements, subscribe to our newsletter. That way, you’ll get all the latest updates on everything we’ve covered here delivered right to your inbox. Sweet.
* Okay, so the stone-shattering battle horns wielded by Knight-Heraldors are a bit more impressive than trumpets, but you’ve still got to admire their sheer swagger.
** After which, you’ll have a Great Crusade to be getting on with, so you’ll probably have less time for tabletop wargaming.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
