My Opinion on the new Chaos Space Marine Design

I've already talked a lot about the new models for the Chaos Space Marines. But I haven't written anything down in my blog. Without further ado, here's my opinion on the new Chaos Space Marine models:

The new Codex: CSM. The cover is from the Blood Gorgons novel.

• Codex: The Codex: Chaos Space Marines is going to be hardcover and full colour. The price went up from € 26,00 to € 39,00, which is a lot. From what I have seen from various rumor sites on the web, the Codex is going to look badass and will have a lot of options to field a variety of highly different armies. It's not a Codex: Chaos Legions (I don't see one being published in the upcoming years) but the options for marks and icons are expanded to more units and certain marked HQs are going to unlock cult units for the troop section. Together with the allies rules you can team up with Daemons of Chaos or Imperial (i.e. Traitor) Guard. I like the way Games Workshop is going with this and I am really looking forward to buying the Codex next Saturday at the local GW store in Augsburg.

• Heldrake: The model everybody seems to hate. And I am afraid I don't really like it either. I am not convinced from what I've seen of the model in the White Dwarf and on GW's website. I'm not pleased by its rather cartoonish looks and, what is more, its price tag. € 59,00 is too much for a model I don't have fun to build and paint. Rumors say that the Heldrake however will be a flyer killer - and killing flyers is what everybody and their grandmother wants to do in 6th edition. I'll wait and hope that somebody comes up with a great conversion idea for the Heldrake. Then I might get one.

• Forgefiend/Maulerfiend: Those two are the other model(s) everybody has a different opinion about. So do I: I like their look. It reminds me of the Khorne Blood Slaughterer from Forge World or the Juggernauts of Khorne. The Maulerfiend certainly has a khorne-ish appeal. The Forgefiend on the other hand looks cold and menacing. I like them both and I like the rule rumors that say that both are very durable walkers that can put out high loads of pain to the enemy. Again, € 52,00 is a tough price tag but I will pick up one anyway sometime to build a really shooty Forgefiend.

• Raptors/Warp Talons: Every time I look at pictures from the new Raptors and Warp Talons I like them more and more. They already incorporate the new style of Chaos we know from the Dark Vengeance box. I dislike some of the helmets but I don't mind since I got a big box of Chaos bitz at home. I love the heresy era jump packs and the newly designed chainswords. I don't know if I want to use Raptors or Warp Talons until I've read the whole codex. But no matter what I choose, I can use the bitz of the other variant, e.g. the Raptors' CCWs and Melter or the Warp Talons' CCWs as Lightning Claws. For € 26,00 this box is full of win! Makes me want to start Night Lords...

• Aspiring Champion: The model continues the Dark Vengeance Chaos style. This makes me happy because I really want a box of Chaos Chosen (rumors whisper that there is going to be a second wave around October 20th). The model is superb but € 15,50 is quite a lot for a single plastic model with no spare bitz.

• Warpsmith: The Warpsmith looks great and any Iron Warriors player is going to be happy right now even though it isn't a Warsmith (the leaders of the IW Great Companies). Yes, this model looks like it is one lab accident away from hunting down Spiderman. I don't know if i'd want to glue on all of the tentacles to this model. How would you even transport it? € 23,00 is a lot. Too much for me to pick up the model at its release.

• Dark Apostle: This model looks really good and offers a lot of space for adding the words of Lorgar to the toilet pap... eh... scrolls dangling everywhere from the miniature. I still think that the Champion from the DV box whith his power maul would make a good Apostle too after adding some (im)purity seals here and there. But for € 15,50 you get a nice model to lead your cultists into battle.  

• Mutilators: Okay, jokes/comments/rants/etc. about the Mutilators' faces have been made. I won't pile on. But even the rest of the model looks way to cartoonish for my taste. Everything is out of proportion - even for Chaos Space Marines. The much older Obliterator models look much better than the Mutilators. I won't use them, especially not for € 41,00!

• Sorcerer: This model looks like an old miniature redone in finecast. It lacks details and dynamics. There are better models for Chaos Sorcerers. My € 15,50 will go somewhere else.

That's is my opinion on the new Chaos miniatures. I left out the re-releases in finecast because there aren't any changes besides the material. I hope the rumors are true and there is a second wave of Chaos Space Marines coming around October 20th, containing kits for the Hellbrute, Chaos Cultists and Chosen. Also, I keep a close watch on the rumors about Warriors of Chaos getting new models and Chaos Daemons a new Codex/Armybook next year. It's a good time to play Chaos!