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How do!

Currently a placeholder as my copy is arriving later today. And I need to go to the salon first to be refabulousified. But this is where I’ll be sharing any interesting tidbits as I come across them.

Others can of course contribute

About two thirds of my way through.

We get some evocative descriptions of world held by Word Bearers, Nightlords and Iron Warriors. Lots of tantalising mentions of Dark Mechanicum cohorts, such as Daemonic Heavy Artillery, but thus far nothing specifically specific.

Word Bearers homeworld may have unique, unaligned Daemons. Described as winged, skinless humanoids.

Fair amount on the Iron Warriors, and what Perturabo has been up to. Lots of info on Thulia Ghuld, and the new Knight chassis. Because it seems it’s not limited to just the Destrier class.

Next section is delving into the actual war side of things, but I’ve called it a night, as my eyes are tired.

It is a pity they have retconned most of the Eye of Terror world wide campaign, even though the results could have been used within the narrative of the fall of Cadia. Some small remnants remain though such as the debris field that remains of the former penal world of St. Josmane's Hope.

Now 23 years later, it's still worthwhile to remember what happened and it's a pity that GW don't do these campaigns any more. A properly designed worldwide campaign could give players a sense of agency while keeping results within allowed for pre-designed limits.

Here is the full detailed recap of the campaign I did nearly 15 years ago.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/392010.page

As for the Reign of Iron battles, they all seem to follow the same template whether Black Legion or Iron Warrior:

Main warlord attacks world and either A) takes world but pockets of resistance remain or B) Resistance is stronger than expected possibly due to defender reinforcements or defending character. Result: Main warlord moves on while leaving subordinate to finish the job.

It seems that the Imperial Fists are setting up for a grudge match with the Iron Warriors. Perturabo is still just squatting in his fortress collecting data from his minions and sees Abaddon's Crimson Path strategy as a repeat of Horus's drive towards Terra (i.e. overextension), and instead sees his own slow and steady Infinite Citadel strategy as ultimately grinding down the Imperium (though I still fail to see just how Perturabo expects to win an attritional war against the Imperium). The end of book hints Eldrad may send Ulthwe intervening as he sees a yet another bad future, and it must have been a dangerous farseeing as it shows some of his runes glow white hot and several are shattered (Seer runes heat up and burn out like fuses to protect the seer against dangerous or excessive psychic energy).

Iracundus wrote:
The end of book hints Eldrad may send Ulthwe intervening as he sees a yet another bad future, and it must have been a dangerous farseeing as it shows some of his runes glow white hot and several are shattered (Seer runes heat up and burn out like fuses to protect the seer against dangerous or excessive psychic energy).

Wasn't Eldrad basically persona non-grata because of the whole genius plan to genocide the entire Craftworld Eldar civilisation though..? (Ynnari novels)

 Lord Damocles wrote:

Iracundus wrote:
The end of book hints Eldrad may send Ulthwe intervening as he sees a yet another bad future, and it must have been a dangerous farseeing as it shows some of his runes glow white hot and several are shattered (Seer runes heat up and burn out like fuses to protect the seer against dangerous or excessive psychic energy).

Wasn't Eldrad basically persona non-grata because of the whole genius plan to genocide the entire Craftworld Eldar civilisation though..? (Ynnari novels)

He did have a falling out with the Seer Council of Ulthwe after the initial debacle with Yvraine becoming the High Priestess of Ynnead and his failed ritual at Coheria, however, I think after he came back to help the Craftworld out from a daemonic attack shortly after the Great Rift opened, I think he either reconciled enough with them to be on speaking terms or are actively collaborating again now due to the renewed threat of Chaos in the galaxy. Basically, it's a way for GW to walk back a lot of the characters that were initially Ynnari supporters now that they've effectively abandoned the Ynnari plotline for Eldar, since we've already seen this for Yriel, Phoenix Lords like Jain Zar, and Lelith.

 Grimskul wrote:

 Lord Damocles wrote:

Iracundus wrote:
The end of book hints Eldrad may send Ulthwe intervening as he sees a yet another bad future, and it must have been a dangerous farseeing as it shows some of his runes glow white hot and several are shattered (Seer runes heat up and burn out like fuses to protect the seer against dangerous or excessive psychic energy).

Wasn't Eldrad basically persona non-grata because of the whole genius plan to genocide the entire Craftworld Eldar civilisation though..? (Ynnari novels)

He did have a falling out with the Seer Council of Ulthwe after the initial debacle with Yvraine becoming the High Priestess of Ynnead and his failed ritual at Coheria, however, I think after he came back to help the Craftworld out from a daemonic attack shortly after the Great Rift opened, I think he either reconciled enough with them to be on speaking terms or are actively collaborating again now due to the renewed threat of Chaos in the galaxy. Basically, it's a way for GW to walk back a lot of the characters that were initially Ynnari supporters now that they've effectively abandoned the Ynnari plotline for Eldar, since we've already seen this for Yriel, Phoenix Lords like Jain Zar, and Lelith.

Yes, I think it is either GW abandoning Ynnari or in the future if they come back to Ynnari, they will give Ynnari unique characters rather than have them steal characters from other factions. I think Eldrad has returned to Ulthwe and though I don't recall the details offhand, he is if not the head of the Farseers again then he is an outside consultant. Sort of like where you fire someone then hire them back as a freelancer consultant.

That second bit is probably for the best.

Let Ynnari spend a century or two in-universe time becoming its own thing. Let personalities unlikely to thrive in the existing cultures find their niche and grow into it all.

Any mentions of the Leagues of Votann in the book?

 Mentlegen324 wrote:
Any mentions of the Leagues of Votann in the book?

Only a few small passing references. A town of scoundrels and scum in the remains of a Kin ship, that is used as recruitment ground for a Night Lords warband. A reference to some Chaos forces making inroads into the Greater Thurian League with then the Kin vowing oaths and holding grudges and counterattacking and turning that area into another protracted warzone. That is about it

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Word Bearers homeworld may have unique, unaligned Daemons. Described as winged, skinless humanoids.

That sounds like it is referring to Furies.

They’ve a different name then.

Iracundus wrote:

 Mentlegen324 wrote:
Any mentions of the Leagues of Votann in the book?

Only a few small passing references. A town of scoundrels and scum in the remains of a Kin ship, that is used as recruitment ground for a Night Lords warband. A reference to some Chaos forces making inroads into the Greater Thurian League with then the Kin vowing oaths and holding grudges and counterattacking and turning that area into another protracted warzone. That is about it

Sounds like the usual "The League of Votann were there in the background doing unimportant stuff too, we suppose?!" it's been for basically all their other involvement in these sort of things, then...

What I don't like and what suspect is what will happen with Armageddon again and before this the Pariah Nexus and Octarius, is it always ends up in "eternal warzone with no end in sight". I understand GW might be adverse to declare a definite winner and therefore also a definite loser to any conflict but they can always make more conflicts and rotate the winners around so everyone has their turn in the limelight. Or run worldwide campaigns between specific factions with specific factions with limited stakes.

If every new warzone ends up in the same stalemate eternal warzone result, it removes any suspense and it also achieves the opposite of GW's new policy of having some sort of narrative as eternal warzones create narrative stasis.

Over the now three books, it seems to me at least they’re setting up hot zones for the coming edition. Beginning a tale, rather than telling the whole of the thing.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Over the now three books, it seems to me at least they’re setting up hot zones for the coming edition. Beginning a tale, rather than telling the whole of the thing.

They already set up warzones in both 8th and 9th editions (and I assume 10th - I'll get the rulebbok cheap once 11th drops), which went absolutely nowhere significant.

I get that "The Imperium is beset on all sides" but like damn come on.

The last warzone that wasn't about the Imperium was Jain Zarr VS Drazhar or something in Psychic Awakening which also didn't have any implications for anything except Magnus pulling a planet out of the Warp.

I mean hell even Octarius somehow managed to become more about the Imperium than the Orks and Tyranids.