I'm surprised Goonhammer didn't write an article for this again. I assume their Horus Heresy team are busy. Who's currently in it? Jellymuppet? NotThatHenryC? Their last Heresy article was over a month ago (September 20th), a review of Tactica Journal: The Forges of Saturn. I usually look forward to reading their articles on the Heresy, and it's disappointing to see them skip the free PDF armies. While I'm glad they did write on Imperialis Militia (Jellymuppet was the author), they hadn't kept up for Daemons of the Ruinstorm, Inductii, Blackshields, or Shattered Legions. Oh, well.
I can understand Inductii, for the rules for these guys haven't changed much, and you can make a similar argument for Blackshields. But Shattered Legions are considerably different from 2nd edition. They have made the rules friendlier and less cumbersome, and I think that's cause for celebration! Well, if Goonhammer ain't writing an article, then I'll write one myself. Don't expect professional standards from me, though.
So, what are the Shattered Legions? In lore, Shattered Legions refer to those ad-hoc bands of shell-shocked survivors who gathered after the Isstvan atrocities. For example, the Iron Hands, Salamanders and Raven Guard were decimated at the Dropsite Massacre, the survivors were forced to work together and flee, with refugees from one legion seeking safety in the vessels of the others. For example, Salamanders and Raven Guard legionaries boarding an Iron Hands ship to flee the Isstvan system. Instead of returning to their homeworlds and regrouping or rebuilding, like Nocturne or Deliverance or Medusa, they decide to fight on, carrying hit-and-run raids against the Traitors as vegeance for the Dropsite Massacre. Instead of discarding emblems and markings of their Legion, they remain devoted to their Legion colors and heritage. So you can still easily identify a Salamander legionary in a Shattered Legions warband by the color and accessories on his power armor, but for some reason, he chose to fight with his new friends instead of returning to Nocturne to reunite with his legion.
So, what are the Shattered Legions? In lore, Shattered Legions refer to those ad-hoc bands of shell-shocked survivors who gathered after the Isstvan atrocities. For example, the Iron Hands, Salamanders and Raven Guard were decimated at the Dropsite Massacre, the survivors were forced to work together and flee, with refugees from one legion seeking safety in the vessels of the others. For example, Salamanders and Raven Guard legionaries boarding an Iron Hands ship to flee the Isstvan system. Instead of returning to their homeworlds and regrouping or rebuilding, like Nocturne or Deliverance or Medusa, they decide to fight on, carrying hit-and-run raids against the Traitors as vegeance for the Dropsite Massacre. Instead of discarding emblems and markings of their Legion, they remain devoted to their Legion colors and heritage. So you can still easily identify a Salamander legionary in a Shattered Legions warband by the color and accessories on his power armor, but for some reason, he chose to fight with his new friends instead of returning to Nocturne to reunite with his legion.
Sort of, a Salamander asking the Iron Hands captain of a strike cruiser, "Hey, bro, can you take us back home to Nocturne?" And he's like, "Nope, my ship goes where I want it to go, and we're taking the fight back to the Traitors. You're part of my crew now!" Or something.
In the spirit of the game, the Shattered Legions are not restricted to Iron Hands, Salamanders and Raven Guard, so as to encourage you to build whatever you want. Lore wise, it's easily justified. For example, survivors of the purge of the Loyalists from the Isstvan III atrocity might have banded together to strike back at their parent Legion for betraying them and the Emperor. So you might have Loyalist Emperor's Children, Loyalist Death Guard and Loyalist World Eaters banding together. Or replace one of them with Loyalist Luna Wolves refusing to don the colors of the Sons of Horus, and instead fighting alongside brothers of other legions.
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| Okay, I might have said refusing to don the colors of Sons of Horus, but I suppose they haven't had time to repaint their power armor to Luna Wolf Colors... |
You may have notice I said "replace." Well, game-wise, you're limited to three legions in one. You get a benefit for each Legion you select, so basically three benefits. You also have the option of picking two, but if you do so, you get a third bonus benefit in addition to the two you get from your chosen legions. Bound in Blood, it gives your dudes +1 to Cool and Leadership in rounds 2 and 3, and +2 for rounds 4 and beyond.
Unlike Heresy 2.0, which had this cumbersome majority or minority rule where you have a mixed squad or unit of guys from different legions and you have to keep track of who makes up the majority to decide which rule is in play for them at any given time, Heresy 3.0 has done away with that nonsense and instead developed a much better version of Mutable Tactics. Instead, Mutable Tactics just gives your whole army the benefits of your selected Legions (and as stated above, if you only choose two Legions, you get Bound in Blood as a third benefit). Now, what are they?
Dark Angels, the Children of Old Night, only get affected by Fear if they're within 6" as opposed to 12".
Emperor's Children always hit on 4+ in melee with their Unparalled Skill, no matter what. Doesn't matter how much lower your WS is than your opponent's.
Iron Warriors are Accustomed to Devastation and always pass Leadership on a 9- for morale checks.
White Scars are Swift of Action and get +1 initiative whenever they charge or rush.
Space Wolves channel the Spirit of Fenris to get +1 to their charge. Before you ask, White Scars is Initiative, Space Wolves are distance covered. They are not the same. Don't worry, I also did a double take when I read them one after the other.
Imperial Fists fire Devastating Volleys (I think someone at the studio is making fun of Iron Warriors and Imperial Fists by giving them both "devastating"), which allows them to make volley attacks with bolters.
Night Lords have a Murderous Reputation of scoring an additional Combat Resolution Point if they kill at least one model during combat.
Blood Angels deliver Vengeful Blows whenever they lose a model to melee, giving them +1 to wound when they fight back.
Iron Hands steel their Iron Resolve to gain Feel No Pain 4+, but only against volley attacks.
World Eaters engage in Frenzied Pursuit, getting +2" to their movement when they pursue an enemy unit that Fall Back.
Ultramarines are Methodical Fighters who force their enemies to make snapshots whenever they shoot as part of a Reaction.
Death Guard are Children of Barbarus, which means they Move Through Cover and automatically pass Dangerous Terrain tests.
Thousand Sons Conjured Illusions to forbid enemy units from pursuing them whenever they Fall Back.
Sons of Horus preserve their Brutal Tradition by gaining +1 to their hit rolls whenever they fight an enemy unit that outnumbers them. Bulky units count as multiple models, though.
Word Bearers display their Zealous Devotion by rolling three D6 and discarding the two lowest whenever they charge.
Salamanders are Scions of the Flame, which renders them immune to Panic caused by Flame weapons.
Raven Guard are Masters of Obfuscation who gain Shrouded 6+ whenever they move.
Alpha Legion specialize in Assassination Tactics, which give their volley attacks Precision (6+).
The Shattered Legions have their own Gambit, which gives your model +1 to hit and wound during a challenge, but only if he's already wounded. But if you fail to slay your opponent, your dude gets killed instead. Truly a...gamble.
They also get an Avanced Reaction that gives them +1 to their Toughness if they get Charged, but if you spend more Reaction Points (from 1, up to 3), you also get +1 Attack and even +1 Strength.
What do you guys think? Are you ready to start your Shattered Legions army? Hell, you don't even need to "start" assembling one. If you already own multiple Legions, just grab random miniatures from each army and mash them together in a single Shattered Legions warband, and have fun!
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