Salamanders v Cadians

Not as you may first think yet another of the campaign battles we have been experiencing but a book review.


I tend to buy most of the titles produced by the Black Library, it feeds two inner daemons, the first is a near insatiable desire to read more about the rich tapestry that is both Warhammer and in this case the Warhammer 40k background. Other games lack this even if the mechanics and figures stack up, they often don't. I digress. The other daemon is literature, I still marvel at how words can conjure up so much, like a miniature film studio in my head.

Last week I received Salamanders by Nick Kyme This week I received Cadian Blood Aaron Dembski-Bowden

The first is about the Salamanders and they are seeking revenge for their Captain who was melted in the first few pages. One of the heroes comes from a different part of Nocturne than the other (pre selection) and the enmity that is felt between them as they execute their mission.

The second is about the 88th Cadian Shock Battalion (Kasrkin attached) removed from their home world (during the 13th Black Crusade) to reclaim a shrine world from the taint of Chaos and are seconded to an Inquisitor from the Ordos Sepulturum.

I was going to title this '100 page book review' but I can't as although I have reached 100 pages of Salamanders I have finished Cadian Blood despite it arriving a week later.

In short Cadian Blood Good, Salamanders Bad.  Well maybe not bad but a bit also ran.

Now Salamanders isn't terrible and I will probably finish it but I think it needs more 'creative stones' to make the best out of the marines, they are iconic for the 40 universe but without some real talent on the end of the pen are often boiled down to "For the Emperor", "Duty and Honour" and "Dakka, Dakka, Dakka".  What worries me is that it's the start of a series. Unfinished a likely 2 out of 5

Cadian Blood, as I often find, it's easier to identify with the Guard and the writer comes up with some clever shit too, the result is much more enjoyable read with nicely shaped characters.  There are some obvious plot devices but these are smashed with some nice twists, which is always nice. 4 out of 5

So once again the Adeptus Astartes are beaten by the most Imperial of Guard.

The "C" word!

After several months of playing Imperial Guard, many unpainted and with an Apocalypse game looming I've done the only sensible thing.
Thats right, painted some Celts!
I've had a blister pack of Warlord Games nekked fanatics (Binx's favourite!) kicking about for ages and wanted to get the Celt project moving again, as they're mostly just skin and woad I thought I could do them pretty quickly.
I was right! Good old dip!

That brings the new Celt total points to 813 points, so close to the 1000pt target!

At Ease Gentlemen

Well they're done! My Imperial Guard force are now 100% painted, coming in at a whopping 3244pts.

The Cadians are by no way finished to the point where I'm not going to add anything else, there's still a few more bits and bobs I'd like to add to the force in the future.

After a lot of games with the Imperial Guard since the new codex came out its time to put them to bed for a while ( well once the Apocalypse game is done) For the future I have my eye on....

• A Leman Russ Demolisher ( and all the variants that come in the box)
• A Psyker Battle Squad
• Rough Riders

And who knows what else....

Right now to finish the Lizardmen....