Missing in Action: Which Units Exist in Lore but Need Models?

[Neverchosen]

I am curious which armies have units that have yet to be represented that have been discussed in lore? This is not a discussion of armies that have been hinted at or directly mentioned, such as Grotbag Scuttlers or Malerion's shadowy followers, but rather the specific lore related units that are currently unrepresented. Also, it is possible that every named character could have the potential of one day having model representation so I am more interested in the various lesser known units (but feel free to share if any particularly stand out).

For example there is a prominently discussed possible Isharann unit for the Idoneth Deepkin known as the Embailor. They are mentioned as the members of Deepkin Society that bring the various underwater fishes and beasts under their sway. Similarly there are the various unreleased Storm Chambers of the Stormcast Eternals and Tyrion's Aelven Followers. These represent two massive possible line expansions that I know very little about in terms of lore. Ss someone that has not read through all of the various Battletomes and loves idle speculation I am curious what other off handed references that I am missing out on that could one day become possible units, warbands or heroes?

It is possible that there are less of these potential units than I suspect in which case please feel free to ignore this post, but I decided to not place this in the rumour section as these are not rumours and may never be made into models. At the very least these discussed units and heroes may make for fun narrative or conversion inspirations.

[Beliman]

Glad you asked! Kharadrons have a lot in their background, from specialist units to unique titles or new characters:

• Lord Magnate: We already have Brokk, but it's a title granted to the most wealthy Admirals. As we can see in Brokk design, they usually use custom-made equipment, weapons and fashion (that top hat).
• Brewmaster: Kharadron Society seems to catch up with the old brew tradition from Fantasy. Brewsmiths are a revered job that, if mastered, it become a Legend inside KOs society with a new title called "Brewmaster". We recieved the first one in Jakkob Bugmansson XI (but he doesn't have any rules) and Soulbound has an archetype and adventure around it.
• Khrundhal-class Battleship: Not sure if it should be a model or just a battleplan (and we play on it) but seems to be a sculpt for Forgeworld!  The most powerful skyvessel in any KO fleet, this massive Battleship is big, really big, as you can see at the back of this picture:
  Spoiler

  

• Arkanaut Captain: Maybe not as a "new sculpt", but rules or even a possibility to play as an Arkanaut Captain (bottom-right dude) without a ship. 2nd in charge under Admirals.
• Black marines: Awesome Grundstock Thunderers-like troops that fought the Wraith Fleet (Firestorm Supplement)!! I really want them!!!
  Spoiler

  

• Copperhats: Our "longbeard" version of Grundstock Thunderers. They could work as a "melee" arkanaut-like troops.
  Spoiler

  

• Makaisson-Class Gunhauler: A new skyvessel from Spear of Shadows.  Captain Njord Brondt gave a ride to humans (Owain), Fyreslayers (Lugash) and even a Demi-gryph (Roggen mount)!! Let's be honest, how many of you dreamed about Gotrek bowling around the table in  a Gunhauler?!
• Zonbek: Flying lighthouse-like constructs to secure profitable trade routes. That SCREAMS terrain in to my ear.
• Sponsors: Maybe not a new unit, nor even a hero, but maybe something (rules?)  to represent the sponsored fleets from all the companies? Gw, make it happen!! 
  Spoiler

  

I'm sure that there are a lot more units that exists (and I will want when I read about them), but that's the ones that I remember.

Edited January 11, 2021 by Beliman
grammar

[LordRhulak]

I have another from the idoneth book. 

The Tru’heas are the healers of the idoneth.

The book doesn’t mention if they enter battle with the phalanxes and I think the chances of us getting a model for them will be pretty small, given that they would fulfill largely the same roll as the Eidolon of the Sea and Soulrenders in games.

[LordRhulak]

Sorry for the double post, for some reason I couldn't edit my previous one.

For Khorne, there are many options. There is the khornate lord Ull'zharr, a named Skullmaster.

Then there are the Bloodthirsters. There are are still 5 tiers of Bloodthirsters that we don't have models for. In addition to this, there are 88 Bloodthirsters, each with there own role that we don't have models for. Personally, I'm not going to be satisfied until we get models from them all 😅

So @Neverchosen, I think it is quite unlikely that every named character will get a model...

Edited January 10, 2021 by LordRhulak

[KingBrodd]

King Brodd!!

[Sleboda]

I have two that I'd like, one serious and one humorous/grumbley.

1. (Serious) Tomb Kings. 

2. Khorne Demons that can win now and then.

[Neverchosen]

5 hours ago, Beliman said:

Glad you asked! Kharadrons have a lot in their background, from specialist units to unique titles or new characters:

Wow you are correct that is a whole host of units, I feel like that will give GW a handful of different updates for the army. Your Khrundhal-class Battleship battleplan idea is fantastic, imagine all the cool rules that could exist fighting on a massive skyship. Alternatively if they implement siege rules having the invaders on the deck trying to breach the Ship's bridge would be a fantastic narrative battle. As a fan of KO who doesn't particularly love the Shooting phase I am utterly sold on the Copperhats idea. 

2 hours ago, KingBrodd said:

King Brodd!!

 The most quintessential needed model. 😉 

2 hours ago, LordRhulak said:

So @Neverchosen, I think it is quite unlikely that every named character will get a model...

Sorry, I was not attempting to suggest every named character get a model, I was suggesting that any of them could potentially get models. That doesn't mean that we will get a playable Valaya or Gorkamorka but that we are better aware of them. In the same sense that all the units we have listed have the same potential to be represented, but are not guaranteed.

As you mentioned in your earlier post we could get a Tru’heas but it is also just as unlikely that they appear in battle. However, in that case I could imagine a Lotann type representative who may be unique, or like the Gaunt Summoners in Tzeentch representing a limited pool or finite school of battle ready representatives going to battle. The different levels of Bloodthirsters sound amazing to me, but I feel extremely sad for the bank account of any Khorne completionist, if they get released as new kits... Although, hopefully at least one of them is an adorable chibi bloodthirster that is more cost freindly.  😅

2 hours ago, Sleboda said:

I have two that I'd like, one serious and one humorous/grumbley.

1. (Serious) Tomb Kings. 

2. Khorne Demons that can win now and then.

1. Would you want Tomb Kings reimagined or are you in the Tomb Kings have become SCE camp? I know that I simultaneously want a reimagining of Bretonnians on mythical steeds and for them to be the source of Flesh Eater Courts. My ideal reimagined Bretonnians would take the Green Knight concept a step further and have them worship Alarielle and be gifted rare steeds to help protect the forest realms. 
2."Khorne cares not from whence the blood flows, only that it flows", so even in losing Khorne wins... Sadly Archaon doesn't share that Glass half full attitude and my Slaves to Darkness need a similar shot in the arm. 😉

Edited January 10, 2021 by Neverchosen

[Fellman]

Johann need a model to stop the giants

[Sleboda]

2 hours ago, Neverchosen said:

Would you want Tomb Kings reimagined or are you in the Tomb Kings have become SCE camp?

Dear Sigmar, no, not as SCE!

There is a reference in one of the early AoS books (main rules or campaign 1-4 series?) to crimson chariot legions or some such. I want full on actual TK. So many of the models in that range were already newer, bigger, AoS-like. I mean, my goodness, people fussed about how over the top the knights looked at the time, but that sort of creative and bizarre over-the-topness fits right in with the current aesthetic philosophy of AoS and also avoids being just "Egyptian skeletons." There is no reason most of that range couldn't still be used.

That said, I know they would want to update, and I'd welcome that. I just really miss them, and as much as I enjoy Bonereapers (bought 10,000 points of them on Day 1), they really, really just aren't Tomb Kings.

 

So, not SCE, not really reimagined. Just freakin' Tomb Kings.

Edited January 10, 2021 by Sleboda

[kor]

Stormcast's Lord Commanders.

[Kamose]

23 minutes ago, Fellman said:

Johann need a model to stop the giants

But Johan has a model!  He's right here!

And here he is defeating the foul xenos Tyranids!

I will say that he needs some rules for sure!  Would love a Johann Warscroll!  I should see about making him with the Anvil of Apotheosis.

 

[Neverchosen]

1 hour ago, Sleboda said:

Dear Sigmar, no, not as SCE!

There is a reference in one of the early AoS books (main rules or campaign 1-4 series?) to crimson chariot legions or some such. I want full on actual TK. So many of the models in that range were already newer, bigger, AoS-like. I mean, my goodness, people fussed about how over the top the knights looked at the time, but that sort of creative and bizarre over-the-topness fits right in with the current aesthetic philosophy of AoS and also avoids being just "Egyptian skeletons." There is no reason most of that range couldn't still be used.

That said, I know they would want to update, and I'd welcome that. I just really miss them, and as much as I enjoy Bonereapers (bought 10,000 points of them on Day 1), they really, really just aren't Tomb Kings.

 

So, not SCE, not really reimagined. Just freakin' Tomb Kings.

Okay thanks for clarifying, I have seen a few references to the notion that Settra was hinted at being made into a SCE, but I also heard that it is somewhat vaguely presented. Furthermore, I do not know the source off hand. I have to say I am not overly keen on the idea of them becoming Stormcast either. I am always a little disappointed that more named characters were not reforged but I think that Tomb Kings as an independent culture within Shyish seems like a much better idea to me. 

Edited January 10, 2021 by Neverchosen

[NinthMusketeer]

Mounted daemon heralds. Nurgle herald on palanquin, and one on plague drone for that matter. Slaanesh herald on steed.

Human rangers/bow users. And human militia.

Mortal/Beastmen God-devoted chaos has some slots to fill out. Some mentioned in the fluff, some not, but basically its 1W infantry, 2W infantry, 3W/monstrous infantry.

Khorne has bloodreavers, blood warriors, and skullreapers/wrathmongers.

Tzeentch has acolytes, tzaangors, and tzaangor enlightened.

Nurgle has [something], pestigors (unreleased), and blightkings.

Slaanesh will soon have blissbarb infantry, myrmidesh/symbaresh, and fiendbloods.

Also a general need for pestigors and regular slaangors (as opposed to the roided out fiendbloods). Khornegors are implied but also never been hinted at like the others... maybe we will get khorne minotaurs instead?

[Dreddships]

Going with the obvious ones here -

If we can get a lore reason for Nagash to appear (as an avatar or image or however), I would kill for some equivalent for Sigmar and Gork.

Let me have gods fight it out.

The Newborn could work too, if Archaon isn't already enough.

Just add the errata that it's a young god and not 'full power' yet so can be banished and return.

Ushoran. He's around, let him come scrap it out.

 

[Dankboss]

Sulphurbreath Troggoths are a thing. The only issue would be how they are different from the current Troggoths.

Edited January 10, 2021 by Dankboss

[Vasshpit]

8 minutes ago, Dankboss said:

Sulphurbreath Troggoths are a thing. The only issue would be how they are different from the current Troggoths.

There's all kinds of critters mentioned in the Gloomspite tome that could be made into models. 

I'd like to see Sulphers be another hero(ish) unit like the Dank. 

Edited January 10, 2021 by Vasshpit

[Dankboss]

6 minutes ago, Vasshpit said:

There's all kinds of critters mentioned in the Gloomspite tome that could be made into models. 

I'd like to see Sulphers be another hero(ish) unit like the Dank. 

I think a dedicated ranged troll could be the way to go. As for heroes, i'd like to see a Rockgut hero that can be made with the current kit. Like a Boulderbrain or something.

[Grim Beasties]

From Mawtribes there's the Overtyrant, and Yhetee Lord

For Son's of Behemat we have the Mega Gargant Matriarch

 

[Orsino]

There are a number of references to "normal" people residing in Shyish under the rule of Nagash. It isn't always clear whether they're meant to be living mortals or deceased ones. I'm picturing something like a unit of more human-looking ghosts, dressed in their burial clothes, their ghostly nature only given away by their feet turning into mist or the occasional subtle but clearly fatal wound. 

The Cities of Sigmar have huge Cogforts, and people on this forum have done some great scratchbuilds of them. 

Also lizardmen have spaceships? 

 

[Thiagoma]

Swordmasters

They are the most popular Lumineth unit in lore but are nowhere to be found

[sandlemad]

A whole chunk of the Lumineth military, though looks like we’ll be seeing some of that soon-ish.

Beastclaw Raiders Frost King. Not sure there’s exactly a niche for them given how tough the Frostlord is but maybe some sort of even bigger ice age mammoth monster would be fun. Could be an excuse to introduce Baergut Varduk of course, wouldn’t say no to that either.

[Greyshadow]

Realmwalker. How cool would an Age of Sigmar Rogue Trader type of character be! 

[Orsino]

I haven't seen anyone mention lightning gheists.  They're stormcast whose reforging has gone wrong turning them into... unhinged... electricity... ghosts?  They're mentioned quite a bit so could see them making an appearance. Someone on Warhammer Weekly suggested they could be placed in some sort of constructs as an AoS equivalent to the Space Marine Dreadnoughts of 40k. 

[PlasticCraic]

Great topic @Neverchosen!

What I'd love is:

- Human worshippers of Gork that dwell in the savage lands, and paint themselves with green warpaint, as written about by Phil Kelly in White Dwarf.

- Braggoth!  The biggest, baddest Frostlord, who's been around since ancient times and had his own fan-favourite Battalion in the original BCR book.

The former I acknowledge won't happen (although there's nothing except the unbearably awful Marauders kit stopping me from doing it as a hobby thing).

The latter I'm holding out hope for as part of the Destruction book in Broken Realms - especially since a big part of his fluff is that he is willing and able to join Gordrakk's Waaagh.

[tupavko]

Khornegors and Pestigors are a lore thing but have no models

Beastmen heroes on chariots are as well, but at the moment they do not exist

Ancient Shaggoths are a thing (there is a comand trait "Ancient beyond time" I beleive, that should mimic that, but the actual shaggoth is just too small to represent those mighty creatures)

Krakanrok the Black is still a thing in the lore, the father of all dragon ogors from the Old World which makes him the oldest living being in AoS, since he was so even in the Old World, compared to him Nagash is a newborn, and it turns out he is actually the Godbeast of Azyr sent into exile by Sigmar and Dracothion who managed to send him away but not kill him (might be a God level lord for Beasts of Chaos although he should be the size of a mountain)

Morghur the Shadowgave again from BoC is mentioned as a sort of avatar of Chaos Undevided and he's still a thing (so again might be a god level Lord for BoC)

Throgg the Troll (troggoth) King seems  as thing since he is mentioned in the lore (Realmgate Wars) but it is unclear who is he allied too (but he is still a king of a monstruos horde - wouldn't be suprised to see him come back trough Gotrek's books since the too met already during End Times, and the Troll King was the last villain to face the slayer). This even more possible now that Sigvald is back and the two have a rather messed up past full of unsolved issues .