New Skaven Photos leaked.

[Primarch]

I was just browsing another site when these pictures came up. All are from the forthcoming 2nd wave of skaven.

Skaven Hellpit2.jpg

Skaven Hellpit.jpg

Skaven Catapult.jpg

[Primarch]

And here are some more.

Skaven Warplightning.jpg

Skaven Warmachine.jpg

Ikit Claw.jpg

Hmmm. That reminds me. I have loads of skaven that need building.

[Admiral-Badruck]

Wow that HPA is one of the coolest models ever...

[Primarch]

The new Skaven are up for advance order on the GW website.
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catal ... GameStyle=
There is also a new book out to support the range, Uniforms and Heraldry of the Skaven.
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catal ... rod900059a

This 72-page hardback volume details the colours, iconography and fighting units of the Skaven, including exciting history, background and artwork on all the major Warlord clans, which are rendered in full colour throughout the book. A useful book for all hobbyists, Uniforms and Heraldry of the Skaven is full of invaluable ideas and inspiration for painters and collectors alike.

[Admiral-Badruck]

looks like GW wants to sell skaven... the rules do it for them really they do not need the models or the special books...

[Primarch]

looks like GW wants to sell skaven... the rules do it for them really they do not need the models or the special books...

Skaven aren't "that" great. They were just written with the new rules in mind. They have lots of cheap troops who can benefit from being deployed in massive formations. Their warmachines are still totally random and have a good chance of crippling their own units, the same as before. Put clanrats up against Chosen Chaos Warriors and they'll still die in droves. They'll just hang around longer because of steadfast.
The best selling point Skaven have is that you can get a lot of them from the Island of Blood boxed set.

[Admiral-Badruck]

that is not what is beeing said about them around the world in The FB tournament seen... According to Pod hammer the oldest podcast the skaven are an army that can win on the merits of the list alone... and it is not just one guy but most of the Tournament seen in Australia... Skaven are getting hit hardest with Comp and that should tell you some thing right there...

[me_in_japan]

looks like GW wants to sell skaven... the rules do it for them really they do not need the models or the special books...

yuck.


Thats all I have to say that particular remark. You are aware that large numbers of gamers buy models purely based on how they look, no? And that fluff is probably the single most important reason for the success of GW as a commercial entity? For lots of people the rules are little more than an afterthought. If it's pretty, its in. if its not, its out. The only exception I can think of for this is swooping hawks, who are undeniably pretty, but unfortunately they appear in an army stuffed full of pretty things, so it comes down to useability, and on that they are an epic fail. That said, I dont know many eldar players who dont own a squad of swooping hawks. Whether they get used in the army or not is probly not something that bothers GW much.

but anyway, back on topic: I reckon the HPA is a fantastic model. The warp cannon and whatnot are fine, no complaints there, but its the HPA that really stands out as an army centrepiece kinda guy. The whole cartoony angle that the skaven design team took is something Im not that keen on - i always preferred the darker, scuttlier, creeping death side of the skaven, but theyve done a good job with maintaining their theme, and when all is said and done theyre nice sculpts with plenty of character.

[Admiral-Badruck]

looks like GW wants to sell skaven... the rules do it for them really they do not need the models or the special books...

yuck.


Thats all I have to say that particular remark. You are aware that large numbers of gamers buy models purely based on how they look, no? And that fluff is probably the single most important reason for the success of GW as a commercial entity? For lots of people the rules are little more than an afterthought. If it's pretty, its in. if its not, its out. The only exception I can think of for this is swooping hawks, who are undeniably pretty, but unfortunately they appear in an army stuffed full of pretty things, so it comes down to useability, and on that they are an epic fail. That said, I dont know many eldar players who dont own a squad of swooping hawks. Whether they get used in the army or not is probly not something that bothers GW much.
you just said that there are conditions that would be reasons for not taking a unit that looks cool but sucks hahahha


but anyway, back on topic: I reckon the HPA is a fantastic model. The warp cannon and whatnot are fine, no complaints there, but its the HPA that really stands out as an army centrepiece kinda guy. The whole cartoony angle that the skaven design team took is something Im not that keen on - i always preferred the darker, scuttlier, creeping death side of the skaven, but theyve done a good job with maintaining their theme, and when all is said and done theyre nice sculpts with plenty of character.

totally agree...

[Primarch]

Well, thanks to Maelstroms new year sale, my Hellpit Abomination and Warp Lightning Cannon are now on order.

I took a look over RankingsHQ, a website players can use to keep track of their rank in tournaments worldwide.
In Australia, Skaven JUST beat Deamons for the number 1 spot.
In the UK, Skaven placed fourth after Deamons, Dark Elves and Zards.
In the USA, Skaven are 2nd after Warriors of Chaos and marginally above Daemons,
In New Zealand, Skaven are 2nd after Warriors of Chaos. Zards are 3rd and Daemons 4th.
In Ireland Daemons are 1st, then Dark Elves, Warriors, Zards and Skaven are 5th.

It looks like Skaven are definitely top tier, but by no means are they the most powerful army out there.
As with Orks when they came out for 40k, the Skaven were written with the new rules in mind. As more and more army books come out and players learn how to deal with them they will drop down the rankings again.