Thallax cohort

I assembled my Thallax cohort! Yay! I always wanted these guys, but 10 years ago, they were in resin and expensive. I recall they were roughly US$80 for 3 in resin, and that was before inflation and all that. Yikes. Plus, resin. I hate dealing with resin. Now, they're much more affordable, with 6 guys for US$80, and that's after all the inflation. Phew. Plus I get a member discount at Gamers@Pi. So if you're in Singapore, I recommend you check that store out for Warhammer 40,000 and Horus Heresy. It's in the Orchard area (next to Sommerset MRT).

I went with phased plasma fusils because my forge world of Draconis III is known for its plasma technology, having been a refuge for Tech-priests from Ryza. I equipped the lightning gunners with chain bayonets because why the hell not, but I knew for sure I wanted plasma weapons. You guys should know by now that I'm a plasma guy. Just look at my Imperial Guard. Leman Russ Executioner tanks, Kasrkins with 2 plasma guns, Armored Sentinels with plasma cannons, a Stormblade as my super-heavy. Of course I'll go with plasma for my Mechanicum too - lots of plasma calivers on my Skitarii.

Would give the Thallax volkite too if they have the option, but they don't, for some reason. Mechanicum shock troops with no access to volkite weaponry? Really? I guess the Ursarax have volkite incinerators, but I'm not a fan of those. I prefer my Thallax, they're cooler without the melee weapons. Also, there's just something about these tough, hulking cyborgs that appeal to me as an alternative or as support to core Skitarii troops.

You will notice that I have assembled the multi-meltas and photon thrusters as well. I'm planning to make use of them, maybe the multi-meltas as "sponson" weapons for my Solar Auxilia Leman Russ Executioner tanks (I'll just say they're servitor controlled or something). Oh, they're Mars Alpha pattern in the 41st millennium. As for the photon thruster, I might kitbash my Archmagos Prime with a photon thruster in addition to his conversion beamer, to make him more in line with my Castellax battle-automata with Darkfire cannons. Or I might acquire a phased plasma fusil instead. We'll see!

For now, I'm pleased to add the Thallax to my collection, and burgeoning Mechanicum army!

So Facebook reminded me 6 years ago...

So Facebook reminded me that 6 years ago, I had this:

That means I have my Secutarii for 6 years now! Whoa! Also, I still have my Knights! Only the Cerastus Knight Lancer is gone, having been replaced by a plastic new version of himself, but time really flies!

And now I'm in Singapore instead of Minneapolis. Still can't believe how much time has flown past.

Triaros armored conveyor

I have finally assembled my Triaros armored conveyor! Yay! Now my Secutarii Hoplites have a transport! I will also be using it for 40k games. Maybe...

They look great together! I think the Triaros works best as a transport for the Secutarii as opposed to the Thallax, who already have jump packs, or the shambling zombie like Adescularis tech thralls. Those guys don't really need transports, they are basically fodder. If we ever get Skitarii in Horus Heresy, they will probably have access to the Triaros armored conveyor as Dedicated Transport, like the Secutarii. The heavily armored and armed transport seems more like the kind to ferry precious, high-value troops like Skitarii, rather than Adsecularis tech thralls.

It also makes sense for the Secutarii to rely on Triaros armored conveyors to not only allow them to keep up with the Titans they escort, but also to provide resilient protection from whatever foes the Titans may be facing. The twin flare shields they possess envelop them in esoteric fields that repel energy and ballistic weapons alike.

My head canon has it that the Triaros armored conveyor is the Adeptus Mechanicus transport from the Horus Heresy until the present 41st millennium. However, the Skorpius Dunerider was invented presumably by Belisarius Cawl (since, you know, he invented the grav-tanks for the Primaris Space Marines) after the Great Rift, and it rapidly replaced the more cumbersome and slower Triaros armored conveyot because it's more agile, faster, flexible and easier to manufacture. Also costs a lot less resources to construct too. But prior to the Skorpius vehicles, the Triaros was the main mode of transport for the Skitarii.

That's why we don't really see the Skorpius tanks and Duneriders until quite some time after the Fall of Cadia. Though most of the Adeptus Mechanicus have swapped to the more easily manufactured Skorpius Dunerider to transport their troops in the present, there probably exists core maniples who make use of ancient Triaros armored conveyors to ferry their infantry into the thickest of fighting. The relatively few Triaros remaining are under the purview of the highest-ranking archmagi's most valued Skitarii maniples, such as the Secutarii or the first maniples of each forge world. At least that's what I want to believe.

So...please, Games Workshop, provide Legends rules for Mechanicum in 10th edition (or 11th edition) Adeptus Mechanicus!!!! I want to field them in Crusade! Not just the Triaros armored conveyor, but also the Cybernetica automata, Myrmidons, Thallax and more!

Two Castellax battle-automata maniple

I now have two Castellax battle-automata maniples! Yay! I had procured a second box last week and originally intended to assemble them last Friday, but I...caught Nurgle's plague and was sick the whole weekend. Then I wanted to assemble it on Tuesday, but my dad had a minor surgery, and I was taking care of him plus work at school, etc. Fortunately, I finally had the time to assemble them today!

As an aspiring Legio Cybernetica archmagos, this contributes greatly to my eventual army of automata. Two Thanatar siege-automata - one Cavas and one Calix - and two maniples of Castellax to make up the minimum for a primary army. Archmagos Prime, plus a couple of Magos Dominus (the Tech-priest Dominus and Cybernetica Datasmith), for the HQ, the Tech-priest Auxilia with Enginseer arcana (will upgrade them with cortex controllers and perhaps Magos Auxilia for cyberthurgy) to round them out. I'll patiently wait for the plastic release of the Domitar, Arlatax, Vorax and Vultarax, but for now, I'm happy with my Cybernetica force. They'll mostly play as allies.

I'll have to assemble my Triaros Armored Conveyor next, get the Thallax for more infantry, and a second Krios, and then we'll see how it goes. Perhaps I might even get a second Thanatar-Cavas siege-automata, but that will be far in the future. Whatever, let's focus on the present for now!