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I'm about to pick up something from the Dreadhold scenery - I wanted to start with just one setpiece and I'm trying to choose between Skull Keep and Overlord Bastion. From what I can tell, they have largely the same rules as scenery, but the Bastion has a little extra to the model (Skull Keep + an extra floor + wall segment)

So my question is: Is it worth splurging a little extra for the Bastion? Is the model modular enough that you could remove the Skull Keep portion and use it separately, if you wanted, or do you pretty much have to glue it together to keep it steady? Same for that extra bit of wall. Can I remove it and use it elsewhere, or do you pretty much have to glue it too? I guess I'm asking if the models are only modular when you assemble them, or if they can be disassembled easily later?

I just picked up the Bastion myself, but have yet to open it so my help is going to be limited!

From what I can tell, the wall section is easily removable. As for the extra floor, yes, you could build it so it is removable - but you won't want to. It will be a pain in the bum, less stable, and to be honest it won't make much difference to your games anyway. You'll just be better off building it as bastion.

Is it worth splurging on the bastion? Depends on whether this is just a one off purchase or whether, somewhere in the back of your mind, you have an idea to build a whole fortress someday If the latter, get the Bastion. It is the biggest purchase for the Dreadhold and you will only need one, so everything will be downhill from there

If not, it just comes down to how impressive you want something to be on the battlefield. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a single Skull Keep (had a battle last week with it, lots of fun).

I wasn't planning on getting anything else. Maybe down the line, a Malefic Gate. Maybe. But not a full castle by any stretch. That's why I was hoping the OB could pull double duty as a SK. I guess without the wall segment, the Bastion is basically just a slightly taller Keep, and the rules aren't really that different... Actually, does the Bastion use the wall rules too? Can my Khorne warriors shout down insults to enrage the enemies?

I guess my goal is to have an impressive centerpiece for the terrain - something with some real physicality to it. Coming off Warmachine, where the folks I play with use felt cutouts to represent terrain features, building my own table, I want something with height and depth. I want a tiny little world, not an abstract 2D map. My problem with the Keep is the footprint is a boring triangle, and outside of the ledge, there's less depth to it as a model. With the wall and staircase added to the Bastion, there's more variation in height and depth, making the model pop a bit more. Just not sure whether that is worth another $50 or so. It's easier to justify if the Bastion has more options for play.

I guess one more question. Does the Dreadhold book have any scenarios or battalions that explicitly call for a Bastion over a Keep? Like are there rules or benefits beyond whatever rules the Bastion starts with?

 Sqorgar wrote:


I guess one more question. Does the Dreadhold book have any scenarios or battalions that explicitly call for a Bastion over a Keep? Like are there rules or benefits beyond whatever rules the Bastion starts with?

If you want something that pops, you probably want the Bastion.

As for Battleplans and Warscrolls, not really - the Bastion can easily replace a Skull Keep (in the Watchtower, for example). If you do expand, it will also give you more options. For example, there is a Battleplan in the Dreadhold book that uses a Bastion and a Skull Keep. Then there is a Battalion that uses a Bastion and two Skull Keeps - it is kind of a trickle effect where you can keep adding but at your own pace.

None of this is essential, however

I just ordered the Bastion, so help my wallet. Your enabling... er, help, was much appreciated.

The dreadhold book has scenarios for all of that.

 Sqorgar wrote:
I just ordered the Bastion, so help my wallet. Your enabling... er, help, was much appreciated.

If you are looking for reasons not to spend money, a gaming forum is probably the wrong place

Still, now you are on board (!), I would heartedly recommend the Dreadhold Battletome...

I'm almost finished assembling my Overlord Bastion. Just to answer the questions I had early on, it is quite impressive. Very large. The Skull Keep section is only about half of the total model, with the wall segment and bottom level having many elements that need to be assembled. You don't need to glue the layers (or the stuff like the balconies or staircase) because they either fit together in some way (the top layer has tabs that slot into the second layer's walls) or rest just fine without gluing. The bottom layer and second layer don't connect like the second and top, but the weight keeps it steady enough. So yeah, you can use it as a Skull Keep and an Overlord Bastion, and the additions beyond Skull Keep are more than significant enough to justify the $50. Also, the second and third layers have a floor - something that's not obvious from the pictures.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with how it is coming out. I think it is a seriously impressive model. I'm now planning to get the Malefic Gate for sure. I wasn't a fan of the Archway (pain in the ass to assemble), but I've been blown away by the other terrain. I think I like the terrain more than the figures.

 Sqorgar wrote:
it is quite impressive. Very large.

You are not kidding - managed to get mine built last weekend, and took a snap with an Imperial Knight standing next to it;



That is a big terrain piece!

It looks like you are starting to get bitten by the Dreadhold bug Have you picked up the Battletome yet?

MongooseMatt wrote:

It looks like you are starting to get bitten by the Dreadhold bug Have you picked up the Battletome yet?

The Battletome is on order . The Dreadhold is just so much more impressive than I was expecting it to be (it might be my favorite thing in AoS so far). And the best part about the books is that you don't have to paint them.

I was looking at a display from Warhammer World, I think, and it seemed to have some sort of castle for the Stormcast as well. It looked like the wall pieces were compatible with the Archway/Occulum, so it was definitely a kit. If they release that during the next release window, I'll never actually get around to buying more units...

I have the entire fortress. It will likely take me an entire season to paint up (it was supposed to be used for our 2016 fantasy campaign but our fantasy community has evaporated unfortunately so that is now up in the air) - but if they have a stormcast version too i'm going to be more broke lol

I should also point out that the Overlord Bastion is SHARP. Like, draw blood sharp. Like, intruder breaks into your house, defend yourself with Overlord Bastion's parapet spikes sharp. I'm pretty sure the balconies can be used as painfully sharp brass knuckles as well.

...The skull inlay walls can also be used as an effective cheese grater. Games Workshop thinks of everything.

I hope they do something like this for the other factions, would love an elf fortress for my wife to hide behind

 Sqorgar wrote:
And the best part about the books is that you don't have to paint them.

Yeah, I know that feeling

 Sqorgar wrote:

I was looking at a display from Warhammer World, I think, and it seemed to have some sort of castle for the Stormcast as well. It looked like the wall pieces were compatible with the Archway/Occulum, so it was definitely a kit.

I am heading up there this weekend - I'll take a look!

Daston wrote:
I hope they do something like this for the other factions, would love an elf fortress for my wife to hide behind

Oh yes! And they could do an Empire one as well! And maybe a whole range of Empire buildings so you could build a town too!

..oh wait ._.

That is certainly HUUUUUGE. I really want to see one of these in the flesh.