Opis
The Imperium stretches across countless worlds, a newborn empire on the brink
of ultimate victory. Yet at the peak of this golden age of conquest, the galaxy
has been plunged into an Age of Darkness. Horus Lupercal, Warmaster of the
Emperor’s armies, has turned against his gene-father – and the eighteen Space
Marine Legions, once united in a Great Crusade to consolidate all humanity
beneath the Emperor’s banner, are riven by betrayal. This is the Horus Heresy –
the bloodiest conflict humanity has ever known, civil war on a galactic scale,
in which superhuman soldiers clad in advanced armour turn devastating weapons
upon those they called brothers. Where do your loyalties lie?
Warhammer: The Horus Heresy is a miniatures wargame that pits mighty armies
against each other in apocalyptic tabletop battles. Choose your favoured
Loyalist or Traitor faction, from the knightly Dark Angels to the duplicitous
Alpha Legion, build your own army from a range of spectacular Citadel and Forge
World miniatures, and clash with fellow players in wargames of staggering
tactical depth.
The Book
This 336-page hardback book is a treasure trove of lore,
illustrations, and background information for the far-future setting of
Warhammer: The Horus Heresy, with comprehensive guides to help you build and
paint your collection of models. It also includes the core rules for reenacting
the ferocious conflicts of the Age of Darkness with your own armies, and an
explanation of different modes of play to suit any hobbyist.
AGE OF DARKNESS
The book opens with a full exploration of the galaxy in
which the wars of the Horus Heresy are fought – from its dark past to its
shining peak – and the technologies, factions, armies, and ideals that came to
dominate it.
– The Age of the Emperor: An overview of humanity’s fall and the Imperium’s
rise. You’ll learn about the Age of Strife from which the Emperor arose, the
Great Crusade he began to unite the galaxy under his banner, and some of the
most important groups he founded or aligned himself with to support this epic
undertaking.
– The Imperium of Mankind: A closer look at the structure of the Imperium at
the advent of the Horus Heresy. You’ll learn about some of the most important
events, people, and groups that dominated humanity’s destiny. This section also
explains the significance of the Warp, psykers, and the Imperial Truth – the
strict, rationalist philosophy the Emperor imposed on his conquests.
– The Legiones Astartes: The Space Marines are far more than just an army.
They’re genetically modified, equipped with the finest wargear, and
psycho-indoctrinated in a rigorous and brutal process that creates ideal weapons
of war. This massive, in-depth section explains just what goes into creating a
Space Marine, illustrates the various types of weapons and power armour employed
by the Legions, and provides a dedicated look at each of the 18 Space Marine
Legions, including information on their distinctive history, tactics,
organisation, and the mighty Primarchs that lead them – as well as a visual
guide to their heraldry and colour schemes.
– Additional Factions: Despite being primarily a war between the Legiones
Astartes, many other armies are involved in the Horus Heresy, including the
Talons of the Emperor, the Solar Auxilia, and Mechanicum. This section explains
the roles these groups played in the Imperium – and its downfall – including
their histories, favoured tactics, and military structures.
– An Age of Darkness: At the dawn of the 31st Millennium, the Emperor’s
favoured son plunged the galaxy into darkness. This section delves into the
opening acts of the Horus Heresy, setting the stage for the most devastating war
in human history. It includes a summary of the brutal events of the Isstvan Drop
Site Massacre, the advances made by the Traitor war machine, and the emergence
of the cosmic Ruinstorm, from which daemonic entities spill into reality.
– Pivotal Events of the Horus Heresy: An in-depth timeline of major conflicts
and engagements within the Horus Heresy itself, leading up to the final Siege of
Terra. This section offers crucial insight into where the Legions are, who
they’re fighting, and what terrible grudges are being formed at various stages
of the war.
PLAYING THE GAME
You’ll then learn how to play Warhammer: the Horus Heresy
on the tabletop, with all the core rules you’ll need to make full use of its
supplements.
– Core Rules: You’ll learn about the general principles of the game, its
turns and phases, how to command your units, measure distances, shoot at
enemies, and charge into melee. You’ll also learn about Reactions, which allow
each player to respond to unfolding events even when it’s not their turn.
– Unit Types: The Age of Darkness is dominated by mighty heroes and
terrifying war machines. This section explains how to use distinct unit types,
such as Characters, Vehicles, and Automata, as well as the unnatural Psychic
Powers that can be wielded in battle.
– Terrain: The galaxy is littered with exotic and dangerous battlefields.
This section provides rules for using different kinds of terrain on your
tabletop, including Barricades, Jungles, and Ruins, as well as how to claim
Fortifications and use a variety of Buildings.
– Special Rules: The battles of the Horus Heresy encompass a huge variety of
soldiers and equipment, each with their own unique qualities. This section
offers a centralised roster of all the universal special rules that govern
different units and weapons, from cunning Scouts to explosive Blast weapons.
GAMING IN THE AGE OF DARKNESS
This final section provides an overview of
the Warhammer: The Horus Heresy hobby, whether setting up games or building an
army of your own.
– Showcase: The book includes a photographic showcase of seven stunning
Legiones Astartes armies from different hobbyists, including commentary on how
they chose to collect, build, and paint that faction. It also offers four
battlefield showcases, demonstrating the cinematic ways you can recreate the
settings of the Age of Darkness.
– Modes of Play: Different hobbyists enjoy different kinds of gameplay. This
section breaks down the various ways to play your games, including the broad
categories of Narrative Play, Matched Play, and Open Play, as well as Campaigns
and even team games.
– Preparing for Battle: This section explains how to start (and finish) a
game, including Force Organisation Charts for assembling your army list, a guide
to setting up your table and deploying your armies, a variety of victory
conditions, and six missions and six deployment maps to combine for standard
games.
– Reference & Index: The book closes out with a reference section, with
quick-and-simple rules summaries to help your games run smoothly, and a lengthy
index to make looking up specific rules much easier.
