Am I alone in disliking the CSM new art direction?

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**matphat**

I've only been playing for two years, and in that time I've only played Orks.
I was holding my breath, hoping that CSM would get an update and some new plastic.
Lo and behold! They did! And I don't like the art direction at all! EFF!

I really wanted to like it, but in the end all I can think is, that it looks too much like 80's and 90's cartoon toy lineups. He-Man and Power Rangers come to mind.
Anyone else think so?

I'm sad, because I wanted to start CSM, but with the new art direction, I'm disinclined.
On the plus side, I just saved several hundred dollars.

**Sigvatr**

Nope, I'm with you...partially. The Tzeentch-looking assault marines are cool, but the dragon is ugly as hell and those "herp derp" faces changeling-monsters-thingies are terrible as well...and I thought about allying with those guys!

**Pipboy101**

The new flyer and the heavy walker previews I saw looked all blingy. I thought if I looked close enough that I might see spinners on them.

**solkan**

Afte 25 years of Chaos changing every few years, you're supposed to get used to it.

**yeri**

I agree, there's way too much going on in those new minis. I think it may discourage new painters who can't seem to paint all the little greebly bits quite right. I know I struggled getting my chosen in DV to look even acceptable, and I still wouldn't confidently set them down on the tabletop.

**FoxPhoenix135**

I do agree that the models are pretty busy, and would be pretty daunting to a new painter, but I generally like the new direction (with the exception of the dragon. I'd rather it look like the FW flyer). It seems to fit the fluff that they have shifting and mutating armor, as it should be seething with the power of the warp. Chaos is supposed to be.... well, chaotic.

**deathholydeath**

I think the Drake looks ridiculous. I like the forgefiend--but only with the big gatling cannons. The warp talons I can take or leave. The mutilators' faces look derpy. Otherwise, not much change.

**Horst**

**lucasbuffalo**

The chosen models from Dark Vengeance are gorgeous imo.

**Lordhat**

The Megadragonzord looks horrible. The FW flyers are bad too, but at least they're not the Megadragonzord. That will be the saving grace for a lot of horrible models in the future, I think. "At least it's not the Megadragonzord."

RE: The new Raptors. Those models are awesome, especially since the dumb winglets on the Jump Packs are optional. One complaint though: Who ever looked at a chainsword and thought "Man that's cool, but it just needs a conventional knife or axe blade on the tip, THAT will make it vicious and way more killy." It's a fething chainsaw. A fething chainsaw that has teeth with a monomolecular edge.

/rant

**Rochronos**

So far so good I say! The Drake seems to be everyone's bugbear but I actually love it! The conversion possibilities are quite exciting and because it's CHAOS!!!! you can make it look however you want! I'll admit the Mutilators look pretty rubbish (and the fact that GW didn't even bother to use a new body sans:Obliterators is cheap) but if they're plastic...awesome! Failcast? Noooooooo! The Warsmith = Awesome
Forgefiend = Bitchin
The rest = cool

**CalgarsPimpHand**

I sadly have to agree with the OP. I was so excited about this Chaos release, but I'm finding that none of the models, short of the new cultists, really tickle my fancy

The Hellbrute is a terrible replacement for the old dreadnoughts, both visually and conceptually - why couldn't they just put out a really slick multipart plastic dred incorporating some cult and legion specific bits?

The new Power Rangers walkers are sort of ok looking, and good enough fluff-wise for certain armies, but I don't really want one at all, especially as it doesn't fit my Night Lords force even remotely.

And finally the flyer, the biggest disappointment of all. I don't even like the fact that flyers have now crowded their way onto our tiny battlefields, but at least having a cool CSM close air support or fighter vehicle would be cool. Like a plastic Hell Talon bomber. Instead we get a mecha-godzilla dragon thing. Quite disappointing.

I suppose the major issue I'm having with this release is that it goes completely against the grain of so many existing armies and factions. These models work perfectly well for some generic and heavily corrupted warbands, or Black Legion, Iron Warriors, or Word Bearers especially. For strict adherents of the mono-god armies, for Night Lords or Alpha Legion, or for traitor chapters like the Red Corsairs, this is a sudden and radical departure from the existing imagery and fluff.

I think that's where the disappointment comes in for many people. I foresee a lot of heavily converted models and counts-as going on, which is not what we wanted after watching Dark Eldar and Necrons reboot with beautiful plastic kits for almost all the entries in very fluffy codices.

**matphat**

I don't deny that the chosen are nice. But I can't base a whole army off that. The raptors are also good. But so much else isn't that I'm forced to just stick with my good old green skins.

**Da Butcha**

While I don't dislike the new models (except those horrible Obliterators and Mutilators), I'm just disappointed that this is what they put out in plastic. I'm basically happy with the raptors (thought they seem too busy, and too hard to fit into everyone's army look), I just can't see why we needed two Daemon Engines.

What about a plastic Chaos Dreadnought? How about a Dreadclaw assault pot (CSM drop pod, basically)? What about normal, non-corrupted Chaos fliers? How about Havocs in plastic? Why not a refresh on CSM Bikers, or plastic sprues for Thousands Sons, Emperor's Children, Death Guard, etc? What about Chaos Tanks that aren't simply Space Marine tanks with some spikes glued on?

I'm just disappointed that the 'core', ordinary stuff that should be part of almost every single Chaos army didn't get any attention, but we got plastic kits for specialized, highly individualized Daemon Engines, which probably aren't all that common and almost certainly aren't being churned out in forge worlds in 1-2 standard patterns.

**happygolucky**

I like the new models (but I think the rear of the dragon needs improvement and it needs wings instead of those pointy things on its arms).

The only models I really dislike are the Mutilators (those heads are DREADFUL).

I think most stuff that is put in resin (and what people want) will be put into Plastic in the next wave so im being hopeful with my fingers crossed

Also Im hoping that there will be an entry for the Dreadclaw drop pod in the new CSM codex who else is (with a plastic model of course)?

**Necros**

I like some of the marines in the new starter set, and the plastic dreadnought. I totally hate the cultists though. And out of the other new plastics coming, the big dragon flyer is kinda ok, the rest is just meh. They seem more toy looking than model looking to me, if that makes sense.

I was afraid I was gonna regret selling my army a while back, but no, I don't.

**Motograter**

Not counting Dark Vengeance the Chaos release is not the best.
Limited new kits, loads of redo`s in finecast, no new special characters etc. It is a bit of a let down.

Even without new characters some of the old ones specifically Abaddon and Kharn could really have done with new models.

Mutilators I dont even consider a new kit as they are just oblits with different arms. Stick em in the same box and make something else.
The sorceror sculp is rather boring, the dark apostle is a cool looking mini as is the raptors and I quite like the new Daemon engines but again there could really have been more.
Where are chaos drop pods, new dread kit (FULL KIT), havocs, new cult models etc. I hope for a damn good wave 2

**MetalOxide**

I thought the Chaos releases were a bit 'meh' as well. I'm not keen on this new angular and even more cartoon like style that GW has adopted...
Also it seems a bit ironic that GW think that they are for painters/modellers yet they create minis that are so full of detail that you cannot even sculpt anything on them yourself.

**Guildsman**

This release is just so hit or miss. New raptors: awesome. Flying dragon: awful. And I don't think that the 'fiends are getting enough hate. If I wanted models that look like action figures, I would go to Toys R Us. Even the flier looks like it will come with "missile firing action!"

**Kaptajn Congoboy**

They do look very busy. I think it is the CAD trap; the sculptors are throwing stuff onto the models because they can, rather than because it works as a cohesive whole.

**jonolikespie**

I like the artwork for it, I just think it translates poorly into models. Some of the artwork in the new white dwarf is AMAZING but then the model, imo, sucks (the dragon is a perfect example of this).

**Jihallah**

Some of those models are pretty damn poor. The faces of the mutilators (? the CC oblits), are as someone said a bit "herp derp". They are absolutely terrible. On the other hand, some of the models are really really good. I found the cultists to fit my liking, same as the CSM lord that comes with DV and some of the chosen are pretty good. But some of the stuff on the website...yeesh. Someone got paid for that?

Especially the mutilators. Their faces scream one thing:

(If someone could make a really big version of that gif so it could be posted that would be supreme)

**Grot 6**

If I were Hasbro, I would be giving GW and C and D letter.

I had High hopes for the "New Edition". Sadly, they were crushed under the GW jackboot.

**Rayvon**

I really like it me, its only those mutilators that i dont like, they look like some kid messing about with green stuff made the faces.
I quite like the direction they are taking and i dont see the problem with some deamon engines representing the dark mechanicus in there too either.

**BluntmanDC**

The new big units look like the designers have been browsing the Warmachine range for ideas, forgefiend especially.

**ExNoctemNacimur**

I can't believe how much I hate them. I had just done a big push to get a bunch of my Chaos done for the new Codex, but after seeing the new models I can't help but feel that it's a joke. I hate the new direction, I much prefer the older slightly spiky and horned Space Marine look - I don't care if it's boring!

**Uhlan**

I like the new figures.

After so many years, the traitor marines (with a few exceptions), would look more and more unlike their loyalist brethren. What with few forge worlds, declining numbers and increased warp inluence.

I think GW is content to show what the traitors have become in 40k with these figures.

30k, which is now a reality, can feed the need for those of us that want to see the distinct traitor legions and their iconography just as Chaos gets a grip on them.

**Harriticus**

Heldrake looks ridiculous, Helbrute looks good, Forgefiend/Maulerfiend are fine as Daemon engines imo, they're meant to be animalistic in appearance and unlike the Heldrake worked.

Dont have an issue with anything else really. I like that they've tried to give the CSM a more distinctive visual style other then Loyalist Space Marines with spikes.

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

As somebody who liked what Chaos looked like in the original Rogue Trader era I like them

(Well except the obliterators, they need paper bags on their heads)

**timd**

OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:

(Well except the obliterators, they need paper bags on their heads)

That should be easy to sculpt. Looking forward to your pics...

tim