New Warhammer Empire in White Dwarf
March 29, 2012 by brennon
It seems like the tight lips of the citizens within the Old World have been made to talk by the powers of Chaos. As ever the Changer of Ways has helped us, the masses, get a hold of some images of the new additions to the Empire arsenal from Games Workshop. And they are some pretty good looking pieces of kit...
First up is a sneaky shot of the Empire rulebook. Hardback as always and featuring some more marmite artwork I don't doubt. I have been dubious about the art on the new books with some (like the Ogre Kingdoms) being fantastic and others like the Tomb Kings not so good. But what we're really here for is models...
This massive griffon is certainly a worthy mount for the characters of the Empire. Seems like it can be mounted with Karl Franz, a number of worthy warriors and even wizards. But if your looking for a smaller version of this for your rank and file then how about some Demigryph Knights?
I think this is proof that horses are just not good enough. I was mulling these models over and immediately thought of the conversion possibilities. Could these work for High Elves?
And instead of mounting your wizards on a simple horse, or giving him a fulcrum how about one of these machinations? They seem to be directly drawn from some of the concept art in the older rulebooks so that's fantastic news. It's great to see the weird and wonderful of the Old World appearing in model form. Whether or not they are good on the table top is another matter.
Volkmar however is someone we are already familiar with. After the terrors of the Storm of Chaos this guy is pretty well known on the battlefield. A great new War Altar has become his pedestal and from the looks of it he can be placed down as a singular model too.
Some fantasic hero characters are also on the cards for your Empire faction. I particularly like the new Witch Hunter who was someone sorely missing from the army lists before. You can now really add some character to your massive Sigmarite force full of crazy worshippers. I am so using that Amber Wizard for my up-coming Beastman army too.
Overall this is looking like a great set of new releases for The Empire.
Scans via Warseer.
What do you make of these new models and which is your favourite?
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Seems like that chariot has three options.
one is for the griffon to bash the wizard with the hammer. Does it work like the ship in Dreadfleet? lol
Feel for the poor horses. That is one heavy load, needs at least a four team better with six.
Only hope that the winds (of magic?) are not strong cross winds else those babies are going head over astrolabe.
My favourite is the Astronomer. Not keen on the weird lensmobile. The hammer one is cute too.
It may be heavy, but if Khador can cope…
But aren’t they my little steamponies? 😉
Seems like that griffon is full of fat and steroids…
I’m very much impressed by the big kits… Once more, GW proves its absolute mastery of plastics !
I might actually get one of those…
BoW Romain
Finally ! A good word about GW from you ^^ *hugs Romain*
I don’t hesitate to say when I like what comes from GW. It’s just that I never hesitate either when I don’t like it !
Argghh
Managed to click the minus button by mistake. Can some one correct please?
It’s all right, I’m not a Karma hog.
But thanks !
The griffon thing has potential as a modelling/painting project, but my favourite for that would be the Luminark of Hysh, although why that one has Superman’s Tshirt hanging off the side I dont know.
The heads on the griffon (especially the dual-headed option) look mighty small compared to the puffed-out chest, but it’s suitably grandiose. The demigryphs look pretty good – seems like the monstrous cavalry will keep coming since the Mournfangs. The crowning achievement for me, even though I think it’s way over the top, is that multi-role carriage, because never mind the other versions – the Empire gets a GIANT FRICKIN’ LAZOR! 🙂 Not sure about the cover, I suppose it’s meant to show a general in a stoic pose on a defensive line but it comes off a little casual. The… Read more »
Indeed as soon as I saw it went oh yes screw everything else they have a death beam. The other stuff is nice though I do agree the griffon head looks a bit off in scale compared to the rest of it.
But… that is also true of many real birds, their small heads and puffed out large chest.
Models look fairly nice, but never understand why people want to play humans in a world of magical beasts and monsters!
Well basically it comes down to three words – The Underdog Factor. Some people like to fight against the odds…great as long as there is at least a slim chance of success otherwise it’s death or painful death. With the new war engines no doubt being added in fluffwise too judging by that lacklustre GW trailer, the Empire has that chance I guess.
Plus the Empire has a lot more going for it than other human factions in other games. They have the whole cult of Sigmar, the infighting between the different counts. The history with the other races and an interesting twist on their aesthetic in Germanic/European roots is also a factor.
BoW Ben
Oh for sure, Empire’s background is interesting and good to read. I spose I just like painting non humanoids, talking on a purely painting bais.
I actually own a small Empire force myself, about 1k worth, but Iv’e never been really able to enjoy them as much as the other armies I paint.
I do own a could of war priests though, I spose it stems from my other nerdy passion, Warcraft and my Paladin hehe
Because humans are the underdog.
And the Empire are so great because they are the most powerful force in the old world despite being weak and attacked on all sides. They adapt and grit their teeth. They use technology and magic to protect themselves. They fight not just for the Empire or Sigmar, but for humanity itself, across the Old World!
And Hellblaster Volleyguns…
Wasn’t too keen on the big griffs but the more I look the more I like.
Think the little pony ones for the cav are very sweet. Like those a lot.
Oho…’little pony ones’? Now there’s an idea for a counts-as…a champion of the Empire on Twilight Sparkle…
Surely Twilight Sparkle is a Vampire Count-as? lol
I’d like to see how demigryphs compare to mournfang cavalry. I also like how these new units make the empire more of a fantasy army and distinct from what other companies offer.
I love that telescope laser and the astrolabe. I might pick up those bits as terrain or something.
My thoughts precisely. 🙂
I cant say im liking the look of the new Empire bits…
Massive griffon thing, Demigryph Knights, Machinations..Na no way not for me!!
never been that big on empire but those are really cool models. Minor picky criticism probably that the griffon’s heads seem undersized
Another terrible Armies Book front pic. What is wrong with these people. But that aside, amazing models. I suspect that what you will get is a Karl Franz/Elector On Griffin box set AND THEN a Wizard on Griffin Box set. What they will be doing is have a main set of sprues for the Griffin then throw in a separate one for the rider, so this would be two (or even three) separate box sets with common pieces. The same with the War Altars – I suspect the War Altar will be a separate box set to the Crazy Magic… Read more »
about the cover …artist only get better if they get to do stuff and this one in particular looks already better then most covers Gallagher did so far , give it some years and he will do quality work.
Should just give the cover work to Adrian Smith and be done with it lol.
BoW Ben
On a more serious note I think they are doing it to make them look more old school. They seem to be doing that across the board with Warhammer, bringing back some of the more wacky machines and monsters from the games past. I don’t have a massive problem with the art, but its not at all to my tastes and I love the more realistic look to Adrian Smith’s work.
BoW Ben
Units of Demigryph cavalry?… oh yes. Yes please very much. Yesssssssssssssssss.
I like them all, besides the little flaws they have ( a little too small heads as stated many times )
Quite impressed.
I do like some of the models, others look too much like warmahordes, which is a line of miniatures that I think that looks just pathetic. Mind you don’t head in that direction GW.
I really quite like these models, I have to say the demigryph cavalry is my favourite. The griffons are a close second.
I just wish we had some new Knights! I suppose the only thing they would really need is bigger horses though….
I like the griffons as models, but on the tabletop I just think they will look strangely enormous next to everything else.
That large eagle sure looks suprised, and rightfully so, when that very, very large tiger crept up its ass 🙂
What have happend to GW? They used to produce such great minis. But when they went plastic fantastic everything went bland.
Great looking figures, full of character. It’s nice to see some real imagination going into the figures and like Romain said, GW’s plastics are amazing! Just beautiful, fun style. I do like this new range for the Empire already.
Already playing with a Choas (Abyssal) Dwarf conversion for a few. 😉
I really like the griffons and the demigryphs. This adds a layer of fantasy to a rather normal looking army.
Demigryph Knights are the best of the bunch. The riders will be excelent material for regular knight conversions (dispite them having old horses). Griffon is cool, too. I’m not that keen on the priest/magemobils but kits seem to have great individual parts/minis that can be used conversions or as stand-ins for other army units.
For the character figs the witch hunter and the captain are great, rest are ok. Armybook cover is ok, but it really paints the landsknecht imagery of the Empire which most of the current empire figs don’t support.
No doubt the chariot option will blend with the Steam tank kit!
It’s not so much the Head that’s too big on the gryphon … it’s the WHOLE thing! It’s more then twice the size of the previous versions! Also it doesnt look like a magestic magical creature, it looks like a Steroid eating Army Bully with a tank as a breastplate. It also looks like it should have Strength 20 Toughness 20 with a *flap* attack that blows away 4d6 infantry with no armor saves allowed. WTH? finaly Volkmar is in a different box then the other 2 “centerpiece” chariots? that would be strange because it’s the exact same model …… Read more »
i meant “it’s not so much the head that’s too *small* …” but i’m sure you get the idea ^^
You might be right but let’s wait for the actual model, you don’t know for certain if you’re right – the feather bit in the front, for example, might be an optical illusion. It is called an “Imperial Griffin” which implies perhaps it has different rules and a greater points cost. We might be looking at different tiers of Griffin, like the Dragons. This monster IS in scale with some of the other monsters though, the newer monsters, that came out in their stupid Storm of Magic crap. What annoys me is, on this model and those SoM models …… Read more »
*HOW
Yes the model may be better in real life, but i just dont like that type of Pose / Posture for a magical creature … It’s not ‘lean’ like a wild creature should be (even though it is trained … i know … it still ought to look like a wild creature). Big doesnt HAVE to be ugly, just type “Griffon Commander” in the CMON shop and you will see what a beautifull trained Griffon can look like. you know, it looks like a Nazzi Griffon … I dont want to buy a Nazzi Griffon … Perhaps the Empire has… Read more »
Not too sure how you ended up thinking it’s a Nazi griffin lol.
Wahoo! GW are releasing a new Witch Hunter and he looks all tough and grizzled. Super smashing great!!!!!
According to one release list the Reikguard Knights, plastic, 8 models are being released in April?
Does anyone know what this is? Are they a new hybrid kit with the original knight sprue and a new sprue? Or what? Just a new box with artwork? Anyone know?
Most likely just new box art. They did that with Ogre Kingdoms older kits.