Darnok

Did they not have a book previously? The point still stands: none of what they have now didn't already exist back in 2015. None of that changes even a little bit that there is exactly one release for the current CoS book since 2015, and it will only be out in a few weeks. You are shifting goal posts. Sorry, no interest in that on my end.

Late to the party, in short: actually new models for armies that got nothing since the start of AoS (CoS, Bonesplitters, Spiderfang, Seraphon, BoC, Skaven) add variety to factions that have barely a handful of kits other than characters (KO, Fireslayers, Bonesplitters, Ironjawz), not only, but also... ... by adding kits to "micro armies", especially if they come from a mixed battletome What I mean with the last point is mostly about Orruks: yeah sure, the book is solid, and in total it comes with some variety in kits and playstyles. However, the book combines to pretty distinct concepts - Ironjawz and Bonesplitters are on two contrary ends of the "Orc spectrum". Having both on the tale feels like playing two armies, and I am among those people who just don't like that. I really like the Bonesplitters, and from all I know they play not that bad. Having more than two boxes and four characters - three of which in Finecast - would be awesome though! Yeah, we just had a "character upgrade box", hiding in the WH:U range... but this is bread crumbs. Other armies have similar issues.

Unless you would like to get some new releases every now and then. CoS did not get a single release since the end of WHF other than books. Quite the contrary: they actually lost access to models. The upcoming witchhunters are the first addition to CoS since 2015. So yeah, soup might not be "bad at all", but it sure ain't great either. Just no. KO, Fireslayers and Dispossessed share nothing but common roots. They are all Dwarfs - and that's it. It would make more sense to throw all Chaos armies together than all Dwarfs.

This from todays Rumour Engine can be read as a hint of the Vanguard Chamber being the Stormcast focus of the Dominion box.

Yeah, I'd just use the WHU models as generic Vampires. One more thought concerning the damaged Blood Knights: it could be because of the bases. Usually I get bases packed in a seperate bag, probably so they don't move through the box at random. They came loose in the BK box. So together with the fragile bits on the sprues I think that during transport the potential for damage is significant.

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. I had no problems with my kit.

I think they make for great champions in ghoul units. Wrong army, I know - one could ally them in though.

The true shame is that they are so damn thematic. Black Knights deserve a proper place in this army. I hope they get fixed by a GHB asap.

I guess a case could be made for the smaller footprint of 5 BK against 10 DW. You can fit double the amount of BK in the room of DW. BK are also easier to hide and easier to keep inside of whatever aura effect you want to apply. And those few mortal wounds might not be a massive game changer, but it is something the DW do not provide. Having said all that from a perspective of "I really want them to be somewhat useful".

As mentioned: my limit for the miniboss box was 65€. Still a lot of money, but kind of reasonable by the standards of GW. 100€ though? [insert strong cursewords of choice here] no! A real shame, but no way. I guess very few people are going to bite with these. Apparently GW wants to really hammer home to its shareholders how nobody wanted this in the first place.

Anything that relies on "everything goes right for me, as well as every counter goes wrong for the opponent" is not suitable to build a strategy on. Consider such things a bonus that can work every now and then - but if the unit is not "worth it" without said bonus, it was not worth it in the first place. In other news: good to hear about the sward/spear bits with the new skeleton kit. 👍

Aye, and I kind of fear to know the actual price. My personal limit is set at 65€ - steep, but I can justify it for myself. Any more and I'm out.

True. The new kit lacks a musician option though, which I also found a bit annoying. Wouldn't proud vampire knights announce their charge by use of a horn or something similar? It might be a middle finger to people wanting to use this for WHF - but then this is plastic, and easy to convert. True too. Two units with different weapon and head options offer solid optical difference to do so - in the end I am not really angry. It only gets a problem with more than two units and/or 15+ models really. As you mentioned, this is somewhat "encouraged" by the new book - and I still believe it will look odd on the table. But hey, maybe I am completely wrong, and 30 Blood Knights will look amazing anyway. I am looking forward to see what people do with the kit either way!

So I got the Bloodknight kit today - those are some truly beautiful models. My only criticism would be the lack of posing and parts variety. You get parts for the Kastelan and the standard, lance/sword options for all and a total of 11 different heads. Everything else is fixed, so there is very little variety in the end. The one thing I am truly disappointed with is the complete no-show of terrain and/or Endless Spells. Other than that I think we got a pretty well rounded release. Some things could be better, but that is the case with everything in life. Solid 5/7.

This. Originally I was relieved that GW did not throw yet another FOMO box at us... and then this whole affair blew up. Having the "miniboss box" coming as a seperate release is great, since I seriously grieved having missed out on those - but still, having the whole box would be preferable. Not going to happen apparently, so I'll take these* with a laughing and a crying eye. * ... if the price ain't pants-on-head bonkers that is. So... who knows?

Some great ideas in there @Popisdead, thank you for sharing! I may or may not steal some of them. As for... ... yeah, I thought the same. I have plenty of other projects running already, so I will be waiting with this one until at least AoS 3.0 is out aas well as the Kurnothi having entered the stage.

As a fan of WHF Dwarfs since the late 90s, I am looking forward to what GW will do with their trope. I feel like we will see a reimagination of the traditional "Grungni dwarfs" - and I hope sooner rather than later. If it is along the lines of what GW did with High Elves and turning them into Lumineth Realm Lords? Well, bring it on! Having said that, I would hate something like the Orruk battletome. Doing the same nonsense for Dwarfs? I sure hope not! That one is a mess, and I hope for a proper update to both Ironskins and Bonesplitters soon.

I don't know if you get this pulled off, but how about some Gnoblars carrying torches under that cage - to prepare the "meal" inside? Mobile food preperation for the Slaughtermaster?

While I understand the frustration about an "outdated" battletome after just two months, consider one implication: living with an up-to-date battletme means nothing new for as long as it stays this way. So yes, the book might be "outdated" now - not really actually, because it is still 100% usable - but you get new models for your army already! What really gets my eyebrows raised is why GW thought this was the correct schedule for these models. Why not as part of the battletome already? Why not at a later point? Having them "wait" for the BR story to catch up feels completely arbitrary to me...

Yes.

Having a sizable collection of Wood Elves for WHF, I am considering using them for AoS. This would mean: "proper" round bases, using current rules. Namely: Cities of Sigmar, Living City. Some of the more recent WE kits have made the transition to AoS, so don't even need any handwaving. As I see it, a variety of Elve units can be used to cover those units that are no longer around: Sorceress for Spellsinger, Darkshards as Glade Guard, Dark Riders as Glade Riders, Shadow Warriors and/or Sisters Of The Watch as Waywatchers. Forest Spirits can by included as Sylvaneth allies - this is where the Living City comes into play. What are your opinions on this? Is it worth the effort, would it play reasonably well? Do you even know people who did this very thing before and can share some on-table experience? I am intersted in it all, so thank you in advance for sharing!

I can not comment on what GWs plan is, but if I were you I would not get my hopes up on a seperate release. Take the 40K 8th edition starter set: it came with a Death Guard lord that never saw a seperat release to this date. To the 'bay it is!

I have, but Teclis would die a wobbly death in one of those as well. Not sure about Kroak. Still: unplayable models in my opinion - not an issue though, since I wouldn't play either of them for different reasons.

Absolutely stunning model - and once more something for the showcase only. Like with Teclis I ask myself who actually plays with stuff like this? How do you even transport it? Having said that: great model anyway! I guess it will come with parts to build a regular Slann. Not doing so would be a real shame.

Keep in mind that the Grand Alliances are no actual alliances, but rather a way to group factions based on certain principles: "Order" is all about structured civilisation in opposition to chaos and death - the will to live and grow is the shared principle. "Death" groups together all undead factions (most of them serving Nagash) - here it is all about the opposition to life in general. "Chaos" is about the domination of everything under the rule of Chaos. "Destruction" is kind of the rest - fundamental opposition to any system, guided by "might makes right". So Ogres have no real shared interests with any of the Greenskins, what they have in common is their will to "just have it their way".