The third edition of Warhammer: The Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness is almost upon us, and while the Saturnine boxed set and Liber books are getting plenty of spotlight, there’s another major development in how Games Workshop plans to support the game moving forward. In a recent Warhammer Community interview, in-house designer (and Horus Heresy loremaster) Andy from the Warhammer Design Studio outlined the bold new vision behind the Journal Tactica series—digestible supplements packed with lore, scenarios, units, and more.
Let’s break down everything we learned from Andy’s interview—and what it means for players.
A New Way to Engage With the Horus Heresy
Andy made it clear up front: the third edition isn’t just a new ruleset—it’s a new model of ongoing support. That support comes in the form of the Journal Tactica supplements, inspired by Arcane Journals from Warhammer: The Old World. These are 48-page softcover booklets focused on specific battles, factions, or play styles from across the Age of Darkness timeline.
The goal? Provide players with steady content releases that expand the game’s playable options without bloating the core rules or making folks feel like they need to buy everything. It’s modular expansion—pick what interests you and leave the rest
First Up: Isstvan V – Part One
Naturally, the first Journal Tactica focuses on The Dropsite Massacre—arguably the most iconic turning point in Heresy lore. As the name “Part One” suggests, this isn’t a one-and-done. With 11 Legions, Knight Households, Titans, Solar Auxilia, and Mechanicum forces involved in the battle, there’s a lot to unpack. Andy promises we’ll see this battle revisited through multiple lenses—providing faction-specific missions, alternate force orgs, and fresh lore slices.
This approach feels especially smart. Instead of dropping one giant campaign book, GW can flesh out key moments over time, letting players follow the story from multiple fronts.
Beyond the Battlefield: Play Modes and Specialist Themes
While iconic campaigns are the backbone, Andy emphasized that Journal Tactica won’t be battle reports in disguise. Several books will focus on play styles and alternative mission types, such as:
- Zone Mortalis: A classic Heresy mode focused on brutal corridor fighting. Expect it to return with fresh rules and missions.
- Heavy Assault Themes: Including a journal entirely built around Saturnine Terminators—featuring Legion-specific versions of this brutalist armour and missions tailored to their deployment.
- Superheavy Tank Battles: Think Baneblade showdowns and armoured breakthroughs. One journal will dive into how to balance and structure games where one side fields a Leviathan-heavy force.
Each play mode aims to inspire new types of narrative and matched play without needing a whole new rulebook. And if you’ve ever wanted your Mastodon to shine as more than just a transport brick, your time is coming.
Expanded Faction Rules and Focused Content
While Liber Astartes and Liber Hereticus will be the foundation of army rules, the journals will provide optional expansions and tweaks—ideal for players looking to spice things up or theme their forces around specific campaigns.
Andy teased that future issues will deep-dive into individual Legions and factions, providing new or variant units, expanded detachment types, and new wargear options. It’s a clever middle ground between full army books and White Dwarf-style mini-supplements, offering crunchy extras without overhauling your codex every six months.
Designed for Choice, Not Obligation
Crucially, Andy stressed that Journal Tactica is about modularity, not pressure. You don’t need to collect every issue to keep up. Instead, it’s meant to act like a toolbox: you grab what appeals to your army or your narrative preferences.
Whether you’re chasing elite trench-fighting, want lore about the Saturnine Wall, or just fancy the idea of Titans stomping through Tallarn again, you’ll be able to pick and choose. This model suits both casual campaigners and deeply invested narrative players.
Final Thoughts – Tactica as a New Standard?
This is arguably the most player-friendly idea Games Workshop has brought to the Horus Heresy line in years. Journal Tactica feels like the right kind of “more”—focused, optional, and thematic. The idea of re-exploring iconic moments like Isstvan V from multiple perspectives over time? That’s Heresy gold.
If Warhammer: The Old World players can thrive on Arcane Journals, Heresy players should be just as excited. The format offers story-first content, regular releases, and a meaningful way to plug into your Legion’s legacy without another hardcover price tag.
So whether you’re rocking Saturnine Terminators, planning a Phall system ambush, or just want to punch tanks with your Stormblades, the future of the Age of Darkness looks modular, immersive, and very, very grimdark.
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