Thursday 9 February 2017

Inferno Overview: The Thousand Sons

Howdy Guys and Girls :)

With Inferno in hands I would like to do an overview of it's contents regarding the Thousand Sons Legion - from fluff to artworks, rules and upcoming models.

The Fluff




As with the other legions featured in the Black Books - you get the full history of the Legion, from it's founding 'till the Burning of Prospero.

The XVth Legion was born quite late - Terra was already unified, Luna was taken and the first-born Legions had started to bring the rest of the Sol System to heel. Storms marked the creation of the Legion and the start of the Great Crusade, later known as The First Tempest.

It's said that the Emperor himself has selected many of the first recruits, an honour done to almost no other Legion. Although the implantation rates were high, only a thousand warriors - a fully operable initial pattern Legion induction - knelt before the Emperor and made their Oaths of Eternity. The Master of Mankind bade his "Thousand Sons" to rise, and at that exact moment the storms surrounding Terra broke.

Something that's quite obvious once you read through the background section - the XVth Legion always were some kind of outcasts. As soon as it was clear that they had more psykers than other Legions some wanted to disband them. On Ostrastis, the first Millenial of the IIIrd Legion withdrew when a company of the Thousand Sons joined the mustering. During the Colgren Campaign, the Dusk Raiders refused to look at, listen to or speak to any of the Thousand Sons, and even Horus voiced concerns.

Once the Flesh Change started to manifest and kill more and more legionaries the same voices called out again, calling for them to be disbanded. While some saw it as mercy, given to a great Legion dying in decay and shame; others wanted them to be obliterated, purged - cut from the Imperium like cancer - yet the Emperor refused.

It was Magnus who saved his sons, but again they numbered just 1.000 warriors.

Even reunited with their Primarch, a few of the other Primarchs - especially Mortarion and Corax, wanted to see them censured. The Librarian Project was the only spark of hope for them, and even that was ended by the Edict of Nikaea.



Legion Organisation


Once reunited with Magnus, the Legion was re-organised into a pattern of his own design named as "The Pesedjet".

The full panoply of the Legiones Astartes was represented, from Heavy Support Squads, to Destroyers and Jetbikes. Yes, they were a Legion of psykers - but they also were still Space Marines. Their line companies were called Circle, and all Circles were part of one of the nine Fellowships.

They favoured the mechanised tactical squad, with mobile speeder and flyer reconnaissance units. Frontline units prefered the Land Raider Proteus, with the Rhino beeing used for second line and support duties. Instead of wasting their basic troops in attrition-based warfare they adopted the use battle-automata (some of their own design) as shields and vanguards.

In addition to the core structure of the Legion, there were also five cults - Pavoni, Raptora, Corvidae, Athanean and Pyrae, aswell as three Red Orders - Order of Ruin (basically the siege makers, logistical specialists and planners), Order fo the Jackal (temple guard and Apothecaries) and the Order of Blindness - Scouts and Destroyers.

The book has some great colour arts again - I'll give you a few examples:








The Rules


Just a little overview - it's probably the best to get the book for the full rules (it's awesome - order it as soon as it's available!).

As you would expect with the XVth Legion, you are able to upgrade all your HQ's, veteran units and Terminators to psykers or brotherhoods of psykers. They have access to all the psychic disciplines except Malefic Daemonology.

You have to select a Cult Arcana for each of your units - based upon the five big cults. This buffs them when they use fitting psychic abilities (for example Raptora with Telekinesis), and also gives them a new special rule (for example Pyrae get Hammer of Wrath.). I think this is very fluffy and awesome, but may end up as "cookie cutter builds" that are the "best" for specific units.

Now some of you may think what the downsides of the XVth legion are? Well, one of it is an immediately Pinning test for every unit in your force if you suffer wounds from a Perils of the Warp test. Ouch!

Special units are the Osiron Dreadnought - a psychic HQ contemptor with mastery level one and access to a force blade; Castellax-Achea Battle Automata Maniples as heavy support (they need no techmarine, they are more like puppets instead of classic robots); Sekhmet Terminators who can have either Tartaros or Catpahractii armour; Khenetai Occult Blade Cabals - temple guardians with two force swords with an inbuild buff mechanic (the more the better); and last but not least the Ammitara Occult Intercession Cabals - the "hidden one" scouts.

Special Characters are Ahzek Ahriman (who can get a command squad with brotherhood of psykers), Magister Amon aswell as Magnus himself (who is a psychic beast, as you would expect!).



Upcoming Models


As you may have seen on our weekender coverage - there's actually a lot of upcoming Thousand Sons stuff for the next weeks and months. For completion's sake I will add all the stuff that got previewed so far:


An upgrade kit for Cataphractii Sekhmet Terminators. The guy in the middle wears actually Tartaros pattern and may be released seperately. I love the idea of a simple upgrade kit and these guys should look great next to some plastic Scarab Occult Terminators. Also - their hats rock!



Another cool upgrade kit. The Khenetai Occult Blade Squads are part of the Ordor of the Jackal. They are basically the guardians of the great temple pyramids on Tizca. I will need 10 of these guys atleast!


The Osiron Contemptor-Dreadnought will be a full kit including the force blade. We may also see an Æther-fire Cannon upgrade for him and heavy support squads.




My favourites - the Castellax-Achea Battle-Automata. Love the design - sadly Forgeworld said they have currently no plans for more achea sub-pattern robots - looks like I'll have to get some plasticard!


The big guy himself - Magnus should be released at Warhammer Fest in May.

That's all from me for now - I hope you enjoyed the article. If you have any questions, just ask them in the comments below. I will now start to work on my first Thousand Sons model - a Contemptor Mortis Dreadnought!

Regards,
Lady Atia

36 comments:

  1. Great article, I've been debating which Legion to do as allies for my loyalist death guard. Originally it was going to be wolves but having read the book this morning and this article, Atia, you have won me over to the XVth.

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    1. Mission accomplished ;)

      Thousand Sons are awesome, you won't regret it :)

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    2. They are also rather flexible from looking at the rules. The cults will allow me to tailor the army to my opponent though for my groups campaign I think my warlord and compulsory troops will be corvidae.

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    3. Indeed, yet I fear that most players will take a look through the internet and use cookie cutter builds :(

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  2. Great article, thanks for the write up. Do you think the Ammitara Occult Intercession Cabals will get their own models?

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    Replies
    1. Glad you like it!

      The plan is to release all the legion specific units down the line :)

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  3. Of all the Legions, it's the Thousand Sons I'm most interested in. Might just pick up the book, and maybe start an army.

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    1. Sounds like s plan. Go for it!!

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    2. Don't mind if I do! After this overview, I'll start with Inferno and the Age of Darkness Army list book. All the better to plan a collection.

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  4. Brilliant work, guys, as always!

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  5. Any rumors as to the size of Magnus, for those of us looking to proxy him in the meantime? Is he larger than the other primarchs as some predicted, or roughly the same size (ie, 50% taller than a marine, 40mm base)?

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    Replies
    1. Sadly no, but I guess he still will be the largest Primarch. Also keep in mind, he wears no Terminator Armour, so even if he is just as large as Horus or Perturabo he still would be more massive!

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    2. Simon told me that Magnus is Head and Shoulders taller than his brothers

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  6. Great article! Now the dilemma is, do I paint my Thousand Sons in 40K Blue or in the incredibly tempting metallic Red?

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    Replies
    1. Metallic Red of course ;)

      They even used it for one of the 40k schemes in Wrath of Magnus :P

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  7. Wow

    Incredible review thanks so much for sharing! Know your ENEMY! :-P

    Now we need a VF review

    Jalvik :-)

    HJOLDA!

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    Replies
    1. Hehe thanks :)

      I think Drake is working on a Vlka Fenryka overview, and we should also have one for Talons of the Emperor later this month. Oh, and I will probably look at the new mechanicum stuff in a few days =)

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  8. Mine are going to be the blood raven circle. Just to troll

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    1. Well, I still think they are connected. But I doubt we will ever find out 100% (similiar to Raven Guard Carcharodons or Iron Warrior Minotaurs).

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  9. Great article, I was wondering on approximate release date - I want a bit of everything but I'm in Canada so need to do it in one big order :P and I saw that Magnus isn't until May so is it likely he'll be last to be released?

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    1. Glad you like it :)

      Sadly no release dates yet. Inferno might be ready in four to eight weeks. ALso keep in mind they have to release all the Thousand Sons stuff, the Custodes upgrades and kits, the Sisters transport aswell as other legion upgrades and units, aswell as some Blood Bowl stuff. And they are also working on Space Wolf kits (Grey Slayers for example).

      Lots of lots of cool stuff to come with the next months!

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  10. Replies
    1. Oh yeah - will try to do mine similiar. That marble effect won't be easy to achieve!

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    2. I've just seen the Xyphon is no longer available, I've only one! I need another at least!

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  11. Thank you for the review (and the whole coverage of the event too) ! :D Really love the pre-Heresy colour scheme of the Sons, it has a very cool flashy look right from the 80s.

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    1. Valar Dohaeris :)

      And yep - can't wait to start mine *_*

      Already got lots of Angron Red :D

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  12. Yes I bet Drake will work on a review! I sent him a big email about my VF and Disciples of Tzeentch. Some of my projects.

    Yes it sounds like a pretty good go! I would personally love to get a preview of the new Mechanicum! My Taghmata Red Book is a wee bit dated and my Thallaxi Cohorts cannot wait for some allies!

    Thanks again for th coverage!

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  13. got models and 3 pots of angron red eagerly waiting for the book so i can get started :)

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  14. Awesome article and also thanks to you all for your as always incredible coverage of the HH weekender. Love the glut of photos you give us, cheers lady and gents!

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  15. I've been writing an occasional blog on the thousand sons. There's a bit of historic trivia regarding Ahriman some might find interesting.

    http://therehati.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-etymology-of-ahriman.html

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  16. When you say there are no more plans for Achea sub-pattern robots does that mean in addition to the ones pictured? Or are they not even going to manufacture the ones on display?

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  17. Hi there,
    First I was thinking about going for Iron Warriors. Now my brother ordered Inferno! And after I read quite a bit about the Thousand sons I have to think this over. I ordered a Typhon Tank that I wanted to use for IWs. Do you think it would fit to TS?

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