Forge World news letter #152: Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport!

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**Elusive71**

and more Death Korps stuff:

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/news152.htm

Forge World Newsletter 152

Newsletter 152#
By Alan Bligh

THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES: ‘What?’ You say ‘Two newsletters from Forge World in this short space of time, have they gone mad?’ No, far from it, our output of newsletters only reflects the frenetic pace of preparations here for Games Day UK, and we aren’t sparing the lash to bring you as much as we can both in terms of stock and new products for this prestigious event. With this in mind this newsletter previews more new releases for the long-anticipated Death Korps of Krieg in the shape of the massive Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport and the first two of the forthcoming Death Korps Heavy Weapons range. We are hoping to have some stock of these items on Games Day UK itself, but this will be in strictly limited numbers.
Look out for a further, final pre-Games Day newsletter before the event where further revelations await!

Games Day Reservations: Your Last Chance! Do remember that if you want to place a reservation order for Games Day and bypass the ravening hordes of your fellow hobbyists the only way this can be accomplished now is by phone (0115 9168177) no later than Wednesday 20th and we will do our best to accommodate you.

ARMOURED ONSLAUGHT!: Fresh from the forges is the latest in our range of super-heavy vehicles The Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport. This massive vehicle is used by the Imperial Guard (and favoured particularly by the Death Korps) for heavy assaults, and it is designed for breaching fortified lines and entrenchments, literally smashing its way through opposing defences to unleash its cargo of troops into the heart of the enemy position.
Have I mentioned the size of the thing? The Gorgon is simply huge, with a transport capacity of no fewer than 50 (yes 50!) infantry models, more than enough for an entire Imperial Guard platoon, and with heavy armour and structure points it can be relied on to weather a storm of fire as it advances. We will be releasing two variants of the Gorgon, the first shown here is equipped with sponsons mounting four multi-option anti-personal heavy weapons to defend the Gorgon from enemy infantry assault while the second variant shown here is equipped instead with mortars to bombard enemy trenches in preparation for attack. In addition both variants of this highly detailed kit mount two twin-linked heavy stubbers in rear turrets, as well as a two-section movable assault ramp to the front and a movable access ramp to the rear. The Gorgon also features a fully detailed interior and three-man crew (a Death Korps driver and two gunner models.) Full rules for the Gorgon will feature in a forthcoming Imperial Armour book, but we should have some experimental rules up on the web site soon. We hope to have a limited stock of Gorgons available for Games Day UK, and we are taking pre-orders now for a release commencing the 9th of October.

BRING UP THE GUNS!: Also available for pre-order now for release commencing the 9th of October are the first two in the series of Death Korps Heavy Weapons Teams, featuring in this case the Heavy Bolter and the Lascannon. Available either individually (with three different versions of each team), or in squads of three, they will allow you to bring withering firepower down on your enemies and provide cover for the Death Korps’ relentless advance. More heavy weapons teams to follow shortly.
Personally I love these models, the level of detail, the sense of action and individuality the sculptors have managed to invest them with I think is simply brilliant. They also capture for me the distinctive visual theme that is going to make the Death Korps instantly recognisable on any battlefield; a post-Victorian nightmare of industrialised warfare.
Like the Gorgon we are hoping to have a limited supply of these models available on Games Day itself.

AND THE WINNER IS…: Also at Games Day UK, Forge World will be continuing its tradition of presenting the prestigious ‘Forge World Best In Show’ award to one deserving entrant in this year’s Golden Demon. This award is decided by us rather than the Golden Demon panel and is judged across all categories of entrants, it’s awarded purely and simply to the entrant with the best use of a Forge World model in the show, and its one of our favourite parts of the whole event.

You can find a link to some of the worthy winners of events past here:

Pre-Ordering: The items detailed in this newsletter (The Gorgon Armoured Assault Transport and Gorgon Armoured Transport with Gun Sponsons and the Death Korps of Krieg Heavy Bolter and Lascannon squads and teams) are all available to pre-order now for shipping the week commencing the 9th of October.

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All model designs and images copyright Games Workshop 2006

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**Crimson Devil**

The Gorgon is very cool. The Death corp continue to impress me.

**foil7102**

I just want to know how anyone could fit 50 models or 25 ogryn within 2 inches of the ramp.

**Ghaz**

Posted By foil7102 on 09/19/2006 9:52 AM
I just want to know how anyone could fit 50 models or 25 ogryn within 2 inches of the ramp.

You don't have to fit them within 2" of the ramp.

**FlatlanderBoss2.0**

Gorgon's are Open-topped. So plentry of disembark room...unless the have some special "slam on the brakes" rules where all your guard spray out the front.

More importantly though...can I Loot it for my orks?

**nyarlathotep667**

The Gorgon doesn't impress me at all. It's a Higgins boat with tracks or an LVT on steroids. Meh. How the hell does one even drive that thing, there are no view ports/cameras/whatever anywhere on the front end?!? It's a shame, as the heavy stubber turrets are very cool, just the rest of the design sucks donkey balls. Even the old OOP Epic Gorgons look better, and they look like crap.

However, the Death Krieg HB & LC teams are pretty sweet.

**Schepp himself**

WWI theme tally ho!

Love the Weapon teams, won't bother with a Gorgon even though it has something. But 95 pounds for one...mh...better scratchbuild it.
You only need one Landraider and...

Never got the cash for a deathkorp army though.

Greets
Schepp himself

**Drake_Marcus**

Heck no- that Gorgon makes me so happy.

**foil7102**

You know, I do not think I would take this unit. For the cost of it, I can get 4 fully kitted chimera's that carry 48 men, Have more firepower, but not as survivable. The biggest question is, "Why do I want to get my guardsmen CLOSER to the enemy?"

**foil7102**

On the other hand, the heavy stubber mounts are so frekkin cool

**Toreador**

if you would care to look nyarlathotep667, inbetween the two stubber turrets IS the driver's port.

Looks damn fine to me, a land assault barge and a heck of a lot better than the old epic ones.

**nyarlathotep667**

I did look, and that driver port is at the back of a very, very long tank. It has a massive blind spot right and no way to see where it's going within 100 feet in front of it. You can get away with this in naval vessles, but land vehicles kinda need to see what's infront lest they drive off a cliff or something.

Those heavy stubber mounts, however, are indeed kicking rad. Though I wonder how many structure points the thing has, and what it's armor is as those four Chimeras may be just as survivable or better (and cheaper to boot!).

**Sonobovich**

Sounds tactically dubious (why would you want your guardsmen close to the enemy?) but it sure looks cool!

**BlueGrassGamer**

Greetings,

I think what needs to be kept in mind, both in terms of fluff and the apparent WWI feel FW is going for, is that the Gorgan isn't only to get you closer to the enemy -- but to breach the enemy's trenches and keep you safe while going through No-Man's Land while doing it. The massed infantry assults of WWI resulted in massive body counts for the attackers (to the point where gains were measured in yards), so the Gorgon -- to me -- seems a natural 40K style solution to the problem. And yes, I thought it looked like a Higgans boat too. But then I saw the sponsors, and thought something different: Landships! I want -- no! DEMAND! -- that FW produce the necessary parts to convert a Gorgon int a 40K variant of the Mark I!

Thanks.

**Sonobovich**

Don't get me wrong - it's totally awesome, and fits in nicely with the Krieg trenchfighter fluff. I just can't see it being very useful in a 40k game. Guardsmen want to be far away from the enemy for the most part.

**Jester**

Awesome. I want twin linked Earthshakers mounted horizontally on one of those things like yesterday. You can call it the 'door-knocker'.

**carmachu**

Sounds tactically dubious (why would you want your guardsmen close to the enemy?) but it sure looks cool!

3 vets squads with plasma guns, a HQ slot with 4 plasma and a plasma pistol, fill in 30 more models(say 6 squads of 5 grenediers with 2 plasmaguns).....something is going to die.

Eat hot plasma. Or meltaguns or whatever.

**Rubberanvil**

FW apperently forgot one of the top killers of WWI is artillery and an open-top assault vehicle is just begging for an artillery barrage. Even discounting artillery, open-topness provides an unobstructed line-of-sight into the passenger compartment for the defenders on the high ground. Also imho the Gorgon is seriously undergunned and underarmed (not enough weapons and too light for the task of defending itself and its cargo).

**Kikkoman**

Posted By carmachu on 09/19/2006 5:45 PM

3 vets squads with plasma guns, a HQ slot with 4 plasma and a plasma pistol, fill in 30 more models(say 6 squads of 5 grenediers with 2 plasmaguns).....something is going to die.

going by the odds... about 5 guys with plasma spilling on them

**Moopy**

Whyy!!! WHY??? Why now??? Why do they put the things I've wanted for over 6 months out exactly at the same time I've been laid off?? ARRRRGHHH!!

**Drake_Marcus**

Sorry to hear about that situation Moopy.

**Gundammecha**

I too was unsure about the gorgon when i first saw it.

A huge open topped trench warfare vehicle? one lucky hand grenade and your entire platoon is wiped out. Whilst its in character with a higgins boat and WW era stuff it seems totally impractical for a trench / seige warfare situation where a fortified position will be firing mortars, battle cannon and pill boxes DOWN upon you.

However having said that no one is going to buy this to play a game with it. As with most FW stuff its brought to build and paint and look lovely on our shelf / make us the envy of our friends. So buy one and cover over the damn top with a nice plasticard conversion. Not only will the vehicle look a hell of a lot better stylistically its also much more tactically sound and sensible.

The heavy stubber gunners are great but I'm dispointed that theres no internal view of the driver. FW say 3 crew, but only show the gunners. Whats going on with that?

On the plus side the heavy weapon teams are great.

**Kid_Kyoto**

Fantastic model, totally impractical but that's 40k for you. And then there's price...

Scratchbuilding one is a possibility there's at least one WWII landing craft model out there to use as a starting point.

http://www.acrossthepond.net/WWII%20Landing%20Craft.htm

**carmachu**

I might buy one. It be fun in fun games.....but its a long long way of for purchase.

**nyarlathotep667**

No need to even get a model of a Higgins boat, just buy a couple kits of any one of the LVT variants, like this LVT Mk-4 "Water Buffalo" and smash them together into a "stretch LVT" if you will. Or even a LVTP7A1 kit. I'm also positive I've seen plastic toy models of the Higgins boat that were only $5-$10 and originally for use with green army men.

I just find FW's version painfully yawn inspiring.

**Gundammecha**

Well i just read the warseer thread on the Gorgon and I was surprised.

Everyone there seems to love it... 14 pages of "WOOOOH YEAH! FW RULE"

Heres an interesting point, are we Dakka posters all embittered cynics? Or have we simply picked up on flaws that no one else seems to recognise?

**nyarlathotep667**

Nah, I think we're just an older crowd which allows us to pick up flaws youngsters seem to miss, perhaps due to lack of experience. I think the Crimson Devil quote in Hellfury's signature is appropo: "Dakka is a noisy group of disenchanted believers who want some changes made to better the system and are labelled heretics for breaking with the faith." Not that I honestly expect GW to ever listen to us, in fact it's official GW corporate policy to ignore the masses.

Even with the Forgeworld sculpts I like (which is actually the majority of them), I'll never buy another. FW's casting process horribly mangles the figures due to a combination of crap resin, poor casting technique, not allowing the resin to cure properly before demolding and using molds long past the need for replacement, all which combine to create some of the worst resin castings I've ever bought that weren't done in someone's garage. And I payed a premium for them too.

edit: I'd also like to mention that Rubberanvil's post is dead on: an open top vehicle in a WWI siege situation is just asking for all the passengers to die a horrible death by a tossed grenade, airburst artillery shell or an accurate mortar bomb. I can't imagine it will fare any better in 40K.

**Reecius**

hahah, deffinately cynics! =)

I think the thing is bloddy rad!

And as for it not being practical or realistic? Sure, it makes abosultely zero sense at all in any way shape or form to have a vehcile like that, but no less since than summoning deamons from the warp, or having troops equiped for close assault in a universe with laser cannons and all other sorts of things that can kill you from miles away.

and like my girlfriends said when i was attempting to exlpain to her my obssesion with 40K: "if they have sapce ships, why dont they just shoot everyone from space?"

well there you go, the entire game makes next to no sense.

But, the model is cool, bigger than it needs to be, and in all, a great spectacle. And in terms of its game effectiveness? Like previously stated, imagine 3 min maxed vet squads and three plasma death command squads jumping out and double tapping? put a bunch of chumps in front of them with a commisar to keep them from breaking and that is brutal. you have plasma death surrounded by an unbreakable meat shield to prevent assault.

**Toreador**

Very definately cynics!

I am 36, which fits me into the older crowd, and I love it. I also play 40k because of the look and feel of the game, not the realistic nature. I mean really,... walking green space fungus?

So to me, I can see a scene remeniscent of the Normandy beach landings with a wave of Gorgons heading to breach the enemy lines. It is very guard, and very Death Korp. And making it closed top would make it less of a visual model. Seeing the guardsmen packed in there from the top, waiting for the assault ramp to drop is great!

I have never had an issue with any of Forgeworlds sculpts, and I have purchased quite a bit. It is all opinion.

and it is, only money.

**hubcap**

WOOOOH YEAH! FW RULE!

Well that is just f***ing awesome.

"if they have space ships, why don't they just shoot everyone from space?"

Exactly. Personally, I don't really care if it makes sense. It is better to look good than to feel good, and IMO the Gorgon looks fabulous. But others may think differently. That just means more Gorgons for me.