Empire

[edmundblack]

Not yet, unfortunately, but apparently they're coming this year and as the first wave of releases to feature new packaging by GW to boot. Go figure.

However, I thought it would be a good time to bounce around some rumours and expectations, especially that some can be glimpsed from what's been done to other WFB armies lately.

So, first some rumours perhaps, eh?

- 4 new plastic kits in total
- New war altar
- New warrior priests, not only of Sigmar but also of Ulric and Morr
- New Griffon-riding character
- Demigryph knights

My thoughts/expectations:

* The demigryph knights seem like a certainity because lately every army has to have some monstrous creatures and/or monstrous cavalry. I'm not opposed to the idea per se, I do hope however that the models are not based on the ForgeWorld one, which, uncharacteristically for FW is quite shite.

* New massive kit. Again, everyone gets one lately. If it's the new war altar or a variant, I'm OK th that, even though what I'd really love to see would be a new steam tank kit with all the cool options like the engineer fighting platform. I fear however that what GW has in store for us is some large quasi-technological construct a'la the figurehead from the main Alliance ship in Dreadfleet. A walking statue of Sigmar or some other crazyness that has no reasoning in the fluff and would be jut repearing the 'mechanical steed' mistake.

* Karl-Franz. Another opportunity to flog off a great big model. Also, the current one is ages old - the one I have was still made by Marauder rather than Citadel!

* New Knights. The current kit is showing its age and was really a step back in detal and character compared to the old metal ones.

* I really hope we get a new Empire Infantry kit that would be less skull-and-tigh-bone and look more like FW Manann's Baldes.


Well, these are my initial thoghts. We'll see how t all unfolds.

I saw 2 plastic kits. 1 is a war altar combo kit with a wizardy casting platform thing which had lots of globes almost like a celestial model. The second was Griffin, which to be honest is a bit of a let down. It's big, Manticore sized, and looks almost like an update of the Deathclaw mini only a bit more static, oddly it was painted a deep ruddy brown.

Cranking these out fast it seems.

[Pox]

I would put my money on an Empire release as well for next month, along with at least 2 large boxes (think coven throne size) so a Griffin and War Altar sounds about right. The steamtank kit is already new and plastic, and pretty shiney, rather have more options then just re-vamps.

[Baragash]

I'm a little surprised not to see the War Wagon resurrected as a big plastic kit.

[Liam]

I thought we'd be looking at a Warwagon/Alter combo, similar to the VC where you get 1 Mount, 1 Rare Choice.

I'm half expecting to see 2 new Books Pre 40k 6th release, then another 2 after, mainly because I think GW are starting to see how important the high turnover can become.

[edmundblack]

Big new fancy kits are one thing, but if they want more people to start picking up Fantasy they need to take a good hard look at the major money-pit of any WHFB army: Core.

[Pox]

Big new fancy kits are one thing, but if they want more people to start picking up Fantasy they need to take a good hard look at the major money-pit of any WHFB army: Core.

unit fillers EB, unit fillers - and since core can be fielded in horde units this makes it even easier.

[edmundblack]

Yes, but when a simple unit of 10/15/20 Core is upwards from £20 and some suitable Historical miniatures are double or triple the contents for the same price, it's just not good enough.

[The Infernal Penguin]

Can't agree with EB any more about the Core problem. Collecting an Empire army is frankly absurd if you buy the core choice boxes. Two boxes of Perry Miniatures (approx £32) giving you 80 infantry of various sorts (I've got enough for a massive unit of halberdiers and a whole bunch of missile detachment options) compared to, what, eight core boxes totalling £120? Really. After a certain point (especially with squishy-as-all-hell Empire state troops), quantity > quality. And Perry Miniatures are pretty great ANYWAY. Certainly easier to assemble and paint.


On the other hand, I'm pleased by this new wave of releases. Hoping for options to make a warrior priest of Manaan for my Marienburgers (unlikely!). And plastic Griffon? Yes please.

[dankdrummer]

i would love to see empire get a new book, and fix warrior priests, that would be so nice, as well with point changes and new units/models that would just be brilliant.

[Strassa]

all i can say to GW is don't touch my steamtank!!!!

[edmundblack]

They will, you know they will. What they do with it however is another matter.

@The Infernal Penguin - how about these for some Knights? http://www.fireforge-games.com/index...=1&Itemid=9999 £20 for 12 barded Teutonics in plastic? Sounds good to me.

[The Infernal Penguin]

They're nice for sure but I'd slide them into a Brettonian army before an Empire one, I think. Also the quality isn't as good as Perry one I reckon. Good find though - could easily see use in a differently themed army to mine. And it's certainly a great deal.

[edmundblack]

As good as confirmed then. But we knew that. Why not give us something to really get the juices flowing, like a photo of a single miniature or a piece of one? These "teaser" videos are often, frankly, lame I think.

[Marine Dad]

I Like Empire, it has always been my favourite army that I never got around to. I think I still have the original Army book from the early ninties.

[Dark Lord Foamy]

*Foamy wonders into the thread and posts pictures*







Yes thats right Empire has a fucking laser. That is awesome though I'm not sure of they demigryphs and as discussed with someone else on beasts of war the griffons head looks off in scale compared to the rest of it still LASER!

[yWizePapaSmurfy]

For once I was hoping a faction NOT to have Monsters.

But Fantasy is in copy-paste mode anyway, so that hope is in vain.

On the whole? Meh, IMO.

[Strassa]

with fantasy going the way it is if empire didn't get monsters they would be very very hindered by just having men

[yWizePapaSmurfy]

You think so? I see 2-3 Cannons in many Empire lists bring down any Monsters they face.

Now unless they nerf'd Empire a bit, they will remove opposing Monsters and send in their own with no reprecussion

Course I'm being cynical about this.

[edmundblack]

Wow, that spinny thing on wheels is completely original, right?





Here's some more whilst we're at it:







So those knights - when they fail their Ld tests, they'll really be Chicken Knights.

*sings*

"I feel like Chicken to-knight, like chicken to-knight!"

[Beeva]

"I feel like Chicken to-knight, like chicken to-knight!"

Booo!

I think they look pretty good. I like the Demigryph things or whatever they are.

I can see me getting into fantasy at some point. I just love the models.