Sep 112012
 

Warhammer 40K: Dark Vengeance

Boxed set, Games Workshop, approx. retail £65

 

It is quite standard now that when a new edition of the Warhammer 40, 000 rulebook comes out, as it did this summer, that there will be a new boxed set following soon after.

And here we have it: Dark Vengeance, out now as a limited edition for £65 (cheaper online if you hunt around…), featuring a model that will not be in later editions of the Dark Vengeance box, so it seems (Chaplain Seraphicus).

Dark Vengeance features two complete armies, Dark Angels Space Marines, and a force of Chaos Space Marines and Chaos cultists. This latter faction represents the most notable addition to the W40K rules: that of alliances. There is a handy allies table inside the miniature rulebook (page 113) that comes with the Dark Vengeance box-set.

There are varying degrees of alliance: Battle Brothers (ie: close allies, so Space Marines & Imperial Guard), Allies of Convenience (so, Tau and Chaos Space Marines, for example), Desperate Allies (eg: Dark Eldar and Space Orks), and Come The Apocalypse (alliance not happening!). It’s an intriguing set-up and allows for some inventive pairings: Tau and the Black Templars might put aside their differences and team up to take on, say, the Tyranids, or the Necrons.

Ah, yes, the Tyranids. They are filed strictly under “Come The Apocalypse” . They can’t be an ally for anyone, as they are the ultimate predator, and destroy & consume anything and anyone. No one teams up with the ‘nids…

 So, most eye-catchingly, the models; there are  48 miniatures in total.

 (plus the exclusive limited edition Interrogator-Chaplain Seraphicus, see left; more on him later…)

1 x Dark Angels Company Master

1 x Dark Angels Librarian

5 x Deathwing Terminators

10 x Dark Angel Tactical Marines

3 x Ravenwing Bikes

And the bad guys…

1 x Chaos Space Marine Lord

6 x Chosen Chaos Space Marines, 1 x Hellbrute, and 20 x Chaos Cultists.

The level of detail throughout is superb, and there are lots of unique models, such as the character figures, that you won’t find anywhere else. The tactical marines and the chaos cultists have repeating models throughout their ranks, but approximately half of the miniatures are individual sculpts.

The Hellbrute dominates the set (see right), and there is wonderful contrast between the clean, sharp lines of the Dark Angels, and the baroque, somewhat rag-tag Chaos army.

And then, of course, is the reason for the ‘Limited Edition’ label…

Introducing Interrogator-Chaplain Seraphicus!

Here he is put together, below left:

(the helmet by his base is a Mark 5 Heresy armour head, from a Forge World set, that I’m considering using instead of the chaplain’s skull-helm, for which I may have other plans in another Space Marine army I’m building…)

As far as I can gather, the Seraphicus figure is only available for a limited  time in the initial batch of DV sets, and future runs of the game box will  not feature the  chaplain. It is a superbly sculpted figure, with vast  amounts of detail, particularly impressive are the character’s torso, his  crozius arcanum and his skull-faced  helm.

As well as the  actual figure, which comes with a great  sculpted base,  you  get a unique character reference sheet  for Seraphicus  (see above left).

It is a canny marketing  trick, making a very desirable box set even more so.

I certainly fell for it!

No regrets here, though. In my opinion, this box set easily trumps the last  W40K release, Assault On Black Reach.  Along with the rule book and the usual templates and  blast markers, there is included a fantastic ‘How To Play’  booklet, with background to the storyline, explaining the conflict between the Dark Angels and the Crimson  Slaughter Chaos Space Marines (they have a great backstory), the major characters involved, and also featuring a sequence of six missions using the models in the set.

I will admit I am a bit of a Warhammer 40k novice, so I am particularly pleased at the way the booklets explain things in a very boiled-down style. Or, idiot-proof is  an equally valid description….

So here is the big question – is Warhammer 40,000: Dark Vengeance worth the outlay of hard-earned? Yes, definitely, and, if I were you, I’d make an effort to get hold of the Limited Edition set.

I’d go so far to say that this is the most impressive Games Workshop release since the Space Hulk box set came out in 2009.

Dark Vengeance is out now.

Andy Jamieson, Editor-in-Chief, geekzine 

 

 

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  One Response to “Warhammer 40K: Dark Vengeance – the verdict”

  1. Let’s put the Dark Angels contingent from the Dark Vengeance 40K starter box into an army list to see how it holds together as a viable ‘beginners’ force.