New undead faction. Superconstructed skeletons?

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**pm713**

Cronch wrote:
But Tomb Kings were just cheap rip-off of Undead army, there was no reason to reinvent the wheel.
Anyway, I guess TK fans just want to stay mad forever.

How were Tomb Kings a cheap rip off?

**CthuluIsSpy**

Huh, well good to know they are being literal I guess. Still sounds odd though.
I think Ossiarch by itself is perfectly fine, and its derived from latin which goes well with that greco-roman thing they have going on.

**lord_blackfang**

I like them less and less as the days go by. They're not even skeletons, apart from skulls there are really no bone shapes on them. They just have armour that is painted off-white with the occasional fissure being really the only physical clue that it's supposed to be bone. You could paint them like porcelian or terracotta and nobody would be able to tell they were supposed to be bone.

The "bone" is also on the outside, making them, at best, crabs.

Bonecrab Eternals.

**CthuluIsSpy**

Ok, so they look like crabs, but do they talk like people? Do they have weakpoints that may be struck for massive damage?

**Crispy78**

lord_blackfang wrote:
I like them less and less as the days go by. They're not even skeletons, apart from skulls there are really no bone shapes on them. They just have armour that is painted off-white with the occasional fissure being really the only physical clue that it's supposed to be bone. You could paint them like porcelian or terracotta and nobody would be able to tell they were supposed to be bone.

The "bone" is also on the outside, making them, at best, crabs.

Bonecrab Eternals.

Yeah, I think that might be my problem with both the models and the concept generally. They're undead but not really undead. More like golems / avatars.

**Commodus Leitdorf**

I mean...their whole thing is reaping bones to make super skeleton constructs. So the name is not that silly.

Frankly i'm cool with GW doing whatever they want. And if you Tomb King players are miffed they didn't get an updated option..well..

**Kroem**

I really like the idea of Nagash constructing an army and infusing them with the souls, bit like the Deadly Alliance!

The models look really busy and over-adorned to me though, I just don't like the look they went for. We'll see what the pro-painters can do with them though, Death Guard looked rubbish until I saw them in better colour schemes.

**Apple fox**

After that picture I want more tomb kings now

**Overread**

I just want the giant walking anubian warriors

**Niiai**

In the old world all the constructs that the Tomb Kings used where material constructs with a soul inserted. In some the sould of great warrior, or warriors. In some it was an angry spirit from the underworld. It was never quite clear weather the Khemri Gods phanteon actually existed as described, partially or if the Khemri just did not have a clue what was going on.

What is clear is that the Necrosphinx has some very angry spirit inside it, possibly a demon.

I have not read the backround story of this new army.
I would like to think that Nagash has picked up this insert soul trick from the tomb kings.

While the tomb things were inique because of their egytian theme, their magic rules (particularly in the earlier editions) and their constructs they are less unique now if they where to be re-introduced again. Stil I would welcome them as a rogue undead faction.

**Cronch**

pm713 wrote:

How were Tomb Kings a cheap rip off?

They literally took a handful of units from the original Undead army book, and just slapped The Mummy aesthetic on them cause it was popular at the time. Doesn't get cheaper than that.

**greatbigtree**

As an “original” Tomb Kings player in 5th ed WHFB, I went with them because they were super easy to paint. I’ve long since left Fantasy and sold them off, but I can agree that the fundamental split between “fleshy” undead into Vampire Counts and “boney” undead into Tomb Kings from the actual original “Undead” army was not terribly original idea. There were enough models, after adding chariots, Egyptian heroes, Ushabti (loved those models) and other bone constructs... but it probably still could have flown under the single “Undead” codex.

That said, the models were still quite “generic” skeletal models that you could have made “inspired” by many other culture with minor changes to banners, or filing down a couple of trinkets and giving them a different paint scheme. I’m pretty sure the first boxes even came with “normal” shields and an upgrade sprue with the Egyptian themed shields.

I personally see a heavy Necron influence in the new models, and wouldn’t be surprised to see Necron conversions based on some of these with a metallic paint job. I like the new models, see some character in them that I wouldn’t find in “someone else’s” model lines. They don’t look like a Dungeons and Dragons model skeleton with hand weapon and shield, for example.

**Ouze**

Overread wrote:
And yes they do reap bones. They travel to city after city demanding a tithe be paid to Nagash in dead bodies and bones. If a city refuses to or is unable to pay their tithe then they are harvested. To the Ossiarch the living are the crop that grows new bones for them to harvest and souls to steal; and as Nagash already has legions of souls, all the Ossiarch really have to harvest are the bones of the dead. To grind them down to make into newly forged warriors for their armies and constructs for their war machine.

Which means eventually Games Workshop is going to release a model on the largest base they have - a model that is just a giant pile of skulls.

This is what they have been building towards for decades.

**Charistoph**

It is also an opportunity to bring back some of the old constructs with a new style. We see that we the Screaming Skull Catapult there right now. It would be nice to see something sphinxian or anguine (word of the day: of or pertaining to snakes) as an old harbinger of it, but not quite as Egyptian as before.

As it is, those larger ones remind me of Koloktos from Zelda: Skyward Sword. I think he was a Indian/Hindu reference, though I could be mistaken. The multiple faces around the head along with the multiple arms ties that in. However, the body builds definitely have a western feel to them reminiscent of the other constructs and Morghai.

Over all. I like it so far, and if I get in to AoS any time soon, they might be the focus of my army, if i don't decide to do Beasts or Trees instead.

Ouze wrote:
Which means eventually Games Workshop is going to release a model on the largest base they have - a model that is just a giant pile of skulls.

This is what they have been building towards for decades.

How to make a Skulltaker freeze in a Slaaneshian pause...

**NinthMusketeer**

The more I see people dislike them the more I want to play them. I'm such an anti-bandwagoner.

**slave.entity**

Feels like AoS necrons but less Egyptian and more vaguely Asian. Especially with the helmets. Not crazy about some of the cartoon-y grinning skull faces but in general the sculpts are pretty cool.

**Virtus**

I love the Asian influence depicted on the models, but I'm not sure how I feel about the grinning skull faces. I think I can get over it. It is a fantasy game, after all.

One of my absolute favorite things about AoS are the cool centerpiece models different armies have, and the centerpiece for this army is fantastic. I don't even care what he does; I want one.

It seems to me like these guys will be a more elite death army than usual, which is neat. Not every death army should be a horde army.

I get that this army isn't for everyone, which is fine. All in all, I can't wait for these guys to come out.

**NinthMusketeer**

Honestly I see them and immediately think "that is Nagash's motif" which I love. I don't see "skeletons with [culture] influences" I see the Nagash style. It has it's own look.

But that's just me.

**Virtus**

When I read some constructs had multiple souls, I thought of Nagash giving the finger to Sigmar.

Now I may be in the minority here, but I personally hope this new army can't run Nagash (but I'm ok with Legions of Nagash running these models). Fluff wise, I like the idea of armies fighting for their deity rather than with their deity.

**Mr Morden**

Overread wrote:
CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Crispy78 wrote:
They're weird. Don't like them. If I was going to play undead (and I did start buying models to do so around End Times) I'd just use the regular undead, much prefer them.

Not sure I could ever bring myself to say Ossiarch Bonereapers out loud either. It's ridiculous, just too "Fantasybollox NounVerbers"...

I think Ossiarch sounds fine, oddly enough.
Its bonereaper I have an issue with. It sounds like they are trying really hard to sound badass, and failing. It also doesn't make sense; how does one reap bone? Are there bone fields that need harvesting? Do the bonereapers use bonescythes, or bonethreshers? Or perhaps bonecombineharverters? Is there a bonehopper involved?

Now, I get soulreaper, because of the hole grim reaper harvesting souls thing. But bonereaper? I don't get it.

They clearly also soul reap - one of the hero models shown is clearly using an etherial scythe to slice through the enemy and tear their souls from their bodies before using a magical bottle to suck the caught soul off the blade and into storage. Likely to be later worn down to its core soul and re-used to forge new warriors

And yes they do reap bones. They travel to city after city demanding a tithe be paid to Nagash in dead bodies and bones. If a city refuses to or is unable to pay their tithe then they are harvested. To the Ossiarch the living are the crop that grows new bones for them to harvest and souls to steal; and as Nagash already has legions of souls, all the Ossiarch really have to harvest are the bones of the dead. To grind them down to make into newly forged warriors for their armies and constructs for their war machine.

Right now the only weakness to the force that I can see, lore wise, is that they've no "downtime" concept established. That is when they aren't reaping and killing and forging what are they up too. The warriors sound like they have individuality yet some have multiple personalities and with no (currently that we are aware of) need for food or water do they have to have downtime? Does the legion pause for a break every so often. Are there undead construct "camp followers" following after the legion on their march over the realms. Would they ever pause and instead of reaping pop-into the pub for a, if not drink, then to soak up the atmosphere and trade stories warrior to warrior.

The lore could be really interesting or.........not....

Looking forward to seeing what Josh Reynolds and the others do with them

**MegaDombro**

Uhg these models are getting goofier and goofier. Sure hope they don't waste a Season 3 Underworlds release on this garbage.

**Tiberius501**

@MegaDombro, I wholeheartedly disagree. These models look really cool and fun, and nice and easy to paint. It’s 100% subjective, but I’m very much gunna get these skelington bros.

**pm713**

The big construct reminds me of Rat Ogres which consequently makes me sad from thinking about Thanquol.

**DarkBlack**

Niiai wrote:However, I feel like this makes the chances Tomb Kings coming back a bit smaller. It is what they sued to do with their War Constructs.

Tomb Kings are not coming back, there is no chance. Same goes for Brettonians and anything else that gets discontinued.

Overread wrote:
greatbigtree wrote:
To me, it’s right in line with GW’s policy of moving away from “generic” fantasy models. Tomb Kings were generic skellies with bows, or spear and shield. This gives them a stylized Skeleton army made from trademarkium materials.

If by trademark you mean terracotta in bone instead of clay

I think those looking at GW and thinking they are moving away from "generic" fantasy are looking at it all wrong. Heck stormcast are visually just big humans in heavy plate armour whilst they've also got a huge stardragon which is far more generic western dragon than the serpentine dragons of old GW fantasy.

I think its less GW is "moving away from" and more that they are moving toward an epic high fantasy setting and bringing the rest along for a ride. They've still got orks and elves and humans; they've still got all those generic dwarves running around in mines with cannon and such. Heck the Kurnothi (elfish warband for underworlds) are just tree elves with centaurs and fauns whilst you've got Warcry which is basically extreme human worshippers of chaos - you've got conan style barbarians all over the place along with Set....er snake priests and such.

They are still around, sure. Not exactly part of the setting though. How is the new battletome? Does it stack up? I would be surprised, but I was also surprised they even bothered.

My point is basically this:

greatbigtree wrote:Again, I don’t say this in an angry way towards GW. They have a business model and I like the developing models. I can’t knock the new developments. I just feel like the developments are part on an overarching pattern of letting the old fade away (naturally) and being replaced with models that are uniquely GW. For example, I’m looking forward to seeing if a Human faction will be released that isn’t Stormcast. (Realizing they’re spirit warriors, or whatever. They still look heroic human to me.) What will the models be inspired by? It won’t be medieval Europe, that’s for certain.

Crispy78 wrote:They're weird. Don't like them. If I was going to play undead (and I did start buying models to do so around End Times) I'd just use the regular undead, much prefer them.

Not sure I could ever bring myself to say Ossiarch Bonereapers out loud either. It's ridiculous, just too "Fantasybollox NounVerbers"...

If you want generic or old school fantasy come play Kings of War. GW are making their own thing, which I think is a good idea. They've decided on their thing and they're doing it.
I'm not a huge fan, but I don't have to like it for it to be good; there are other games that suit my tastes.

lord_blackfang wrote:Bonecrab Eternals.

Better than what I came up with. Well done.

**EnTyme**

DarkBlack wrote:
Tomb Kings are not coming back, there is no chance. Same goes for Brettonians and anything else that gets discontinued.

They said the same thing about Genestealer Cults. And Necromunda. And plastic Sisters. If GW believes there's money to be made in Tomb Kings, we'll get Tomb Kings.

**Niiai**

EnTyme wrote:
DarkBlack wrote:
Tomb Kings are not coming back, there is no chance. Same goes for Brettonians and anything else that gets discontinued.

They said the same thing about Genestealer Cults. And Necromunda. And plastic Sisters. If GW believes there's money to be made in Tomb Kings, we'll get Tomb Kings.

And the arbiters became a team in necromunda. If they have not scrapped the old new molds molds they could rewamp tomb king into tomb guards and stone constructs.

**Sqorgar**

EnTyme wrote:
They said the same thing about Genestealer Cults. And Necromunda. And plastic Sisters. If GW believes there's money to be made in Tomb Kings, we'll get Tomb Kings.

What was the time frame on those things returning? Was it measured in years, or decades?

**Ghaz**

Niiai wrote:
And the arbiters became a team in necromunda.

Necromunda has Palanite Enforcers, which are the equivalent of your local police, whereas the Adeptus Arbites would be the equivalent of the FBI or the U.S. Marshalls (i.e., a national police organization). The two are only comparable in the broadest sense and are not really interchangeable.

**Elmir**

NinthMusketeer wrote:
Honestly I see them and immediately think "that is Nagash's motif" which I love. I don't see "skeletons with [culture] influences" I see the Nagash style. It has it's own look.

But that's just me.

Agreed.

This army looks weird, but I love it... It's got those super cool death artwork elements from the rulebook in it.

I can totally get why people don't like it. GW has always done "traditional, Victorian horror style undead". This is something quite new and twisted and in some cases: actually ugly... and I kind of like it for that reason. Some people out there seemed to just want new skeletons, but with the TK-ish twist, but tbh, the current skeleton kit really still holds out just fine.

**AegisGrimm**

Frankly, even as a Sister player from the original release....Tomb Kings players = Sisters Players, only altered by the recent Sisters re-release.