The upcoming Rise of the Dark Mechanicum expansion, teased in the Warhammer Day Preview and Heresy Thursday reveals, brings a slew of exciting new content for fans of the Horus Heresy. Along with the highly anticipated Dark Mechanicum miniatures, the expansion introduces detailed campaign rules, new formations, and epic battles that immerse players in the brutal warfare of the Age of Darkness.
Escalation Campaigns: Building Forces and Epic Battles
Escalation Campaigns are a key feature in this expansion, following a familiar narrative campaign structure, but with a twist. Players will battle through several mission cycles, each consisting of two or three games, with points limits gradually increasing as the campaign progresses. This means your force will start small but grow into a full legion as the battles intensify.
Each cycle is punctuated by Flashpoint Missions, which add unique challenges and narrative depth to the campaign. Victories in these missions provide crucial boons for the final confrontation – the Grand Clash. The Grand Clash serves as the culminating battle where all the players’ forces engage in a massive, epic showdown.
This format is perfect for both seasoned players and newcomers who want to build their armies gradually, making it ideal for hobbyists looking to grow their collection or start a new army project.
The Siege of Magma City: The Grand Clash
At the heart of this expansion is the Fall of Magma City, an intense, multi-stage battle that serves as the centerpiece of the campaign. In this scenario, traitorous forces led by the Dark Mechanicum attempt to expand their beachhead across three Conquest Areas, while loyalist defenders fight desperately to repel the seemingly endless waves of attackers.
A key feature of this battle is the resurgence mechanic: fallen attackers can return to the battlefield if enough reinforcements are available, allowing for a relentless onslaught. To defend against this, the loyalists must utilize massive pyramidal defense cannons scattered throughout the battlefield, holding off the invaders until time runs out.
Formations of Legend: Powerful New Forces
The Rise of the Dark Mechanicum introduces new Formations of Legend, each representing a unique and powerful military unit from the time of the Horus Heresy. One standout formation is the Sibilans Taghma, a brutal fighting unit combining the deadly Scintillax stalkers with the cold efficiency of tech-magi, all linked via sinister noospheric control networks. This innovation was one of the first major developments of the Dark Mechanicum, rapidly adopted across Mars as Kelbor-Hal, the traitorous Fabricator General, witnessed their devastating combat efficiency.
These formations are designed to fit into the massive siege at Magma City, giving players access to some of the most iconic and formidable units from the Dark Mechanicum’s forces.
A Dark Betrayal: The Fall of the Mechanicum
The expansion also delves into the lore behind the Dark Mechanicum’s fall from grace. The tech-magi who chose to side with Horus and embrace corruption did so for a variety of reasons, from a thirst for forbidden knowledge to sheer ambition. Later this week, more will be revealed about Kelbor-Hal, the Fabricator General of Mars, and the motivations behind his defection to the traitors.
For those intrigued by the Dark Mechanicum’s twisted power and the grim story of their fall, the Rise of the Dark Mechanicum promises an exciting exploration of the darker side of the Mechanicum during the Horus Heresy. Stay tuned for more details as the expansion unfolds!
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