247 replies to this topic

[Alaric Ironaxe]

They are in Tamurkhan, the throne of chaos, so it's not a new idea. Also not hard to imagine anyway...just a smaller griffion without wings.

I'm a bit surprised there seems to be a lot of dislike towards these new models...I don't like the look of the wagon/war alter but it really fits in perfectly with empire fluff. Also will make the Empire a more interesting list..

[the bearded one]

I like all the stuff. The imperial griffon stands tall and proud, as suits an empire griffon, and the demigryphs like immensely better than I ever imagined. I like how they resemble normal barded horses with a griffonhead. Best parts of both animals? The increased use of gryphons/griffins (what spelling does GW use?) makes the use of griffon symbols on lots of previous kit and art more logical.
And above all: Finally a non-cartoony cover!

[Drong The Baker]

Mixed feelings. The models are all brilliant, of course. I love the Witch Hunter, I KNEW they'd be adding one. I'd probably purchase that model simply to paint. The war wagons look STUNNING, but I'm just a little worried it's a little too much. As for the demigryphs, can't say I'm fond of the idea, it just doesn't feel right.

[Ingund Of Brionne]

Master Grimblade, I'm not sure what you find unusual each new edition brings new unheard of things to the warhammer world... I mean who had heard of hexwraiths or Necropolis knights or such! They have to keep adding new things into fluff to keep it fresh!

Ingund

[Dourin]

As for me, Empire was always just masses of infantry, supported by artillery and knights. In adition to that, few brave characters (Warrior Priest!) and one or two mages.
This thing on pictures is "imperial zoo & collegues of magic united" and while looking at it I'm really afraid of what they gonna throw into our new book. I don't think that bigger always means better but GW certainly does! Putting all those monsters, MI and other must-have-super-duper-large-centerpieces in every new armybook? Well, as for me, they could leave it just for Storm of Magic.
Am I becoming an Old Grumbler at age 28 already?

It's not because they are releasing these big kits that Empire will play differently. Wait for the rules to come out before judging. This edition still favours large blocks of infantry and there's nothing to stop you from continuing to do so.

I understand your concerns though, but as ever, it's up to the players to see what they'll do with it.

[novemberrain]

I can honestly say that this release has made me want to play my Empire army even less than before. Gigantic over the top, impossible to transport or store models are not my thing!

[Bonecrusher]

I like the new griffon, demi-grifs, characters, war alter. But I don't like the mages' alter, big laser and solar system on a wagon looks stupid.
I think GW has decided to give every army a "Big thing" so we can predict we'll also get a big plastic model(s) to haev to cart around

[Alebelly_Cragfist]

I actually quite like most of it. Lots of flavour and suits the Renaissance type fluff the Empire Army has. Menageries of animals/monsters from all over the Old World, alchemical experiments and discoveries etc. Also, remember you can paint these how you want, pick and choose old and new, scratch build stuff and so on. If you don't like something, leave it out of your list.

I think the 'Eavy Metal team's choice of colours on some of the models doesn't help the cartoony/OTT nature of the models, specifically the sun optic "lazer" thingy. But, this army would be a great challenge for those of us that prefer painting to playing. There's afew models here I may buy just for the challenge. I prefer the character of the current Warrior Priests to the new one they show.

[Forkbeard]

A Demigryph! What’s next, living ancestors inside steam engines? Fantasy dreadnoughts anyone

The gryphons look really great and full credit for bringing out some new ideas.

Now is it just me but does the gryphon head look too small?

Edited by Forkbeard, 28 March 2012 - 09:52 AM.

[Dargon]

And above all: Finally a non-cartoony cover!

That's sarcasm right? That face... that nose... it's like someone stuffed a womble inside a suit of armour - rest of the cover is excellent... but that face.

For the first time I'm beginning to genuinely worry about what GW might have in store for the Dwarfs, which is surprising considering I've though GW were just going from strength to strength with every new model release. Perhaps this batch (and the Mortis Engine before) just aren't to my taste.

[Dourin]

@Daron: I agree about the cover. My first thought was: A clown, how odd. That red nose is just too prominent.

But it's far to early to rejoice or worry about Dwarfs. We don't even know the rules for the Empire yet, so it's hard to form an opinion. And if we were to get a Dwarf lord with a nice rosy nose, so much the better. :D Beerdrinking Dwarfs need some red on their noses.

[Thane Morgran]

I rather like most of them, especially the characters on foot and the new war alter!

The demigryph knights look odd, but I guess that's rather the point seeing as they're exotics and all, but I'll need to see them in the flesh to decide if I really like them or not. The arcane machines I think are a fantastic concept, very Da Vinci-esque, that really fit with the empire and look like fantasy tech should. However there's just something off about the execution of the models that stops them from really wowing me. I think it's to do with the carriage rather than the fancy bits on top, but haven't quite put my finger on it.

And then there's the griffon and the cover art. Maybe that picture of the cover's just an early April fool... I hope so, that red nose is just far too prominant! The griffon looks great, but I'm worried about how the rider is positioned (can't see from the shots so far), as that could really break my suspension of disbelief (I know I don't make sense, but in the whole man riding a giant eagle-lion that is what bothers me...) if he's in a saddle that'd tip him over the beast's head as soon as it stops rearing or if he's just surfing on a flying thing! The other thing I don't like about the griffon is it's size. It looks huge! Seriously, if it's as big as it looks to me, it'll dwarf all the dragons out there, and that just doesn't feel right.

Lots of other things I hope will come after the first wave. From some rumours I've heard the different knightly orders might be getting special rules, and if so we can hope for some more add on packs (like the blazing sun one) for the basic knights, who are really starting to look dated. I'd also love to see more kislevite bits, but I suspect that the optional heads in the archer box and the new special character may be all we get there.

[Bequa]

Note how they are calling it the Imperial Griffon - which indicates it's not a normal Griffon, maybe it has better stats to better reflect on it's immense size?

I wanna paint one now... feathers galore!

[Nagrin Quakinson]

units led by Empire Generals and Captains roll 3D6 for Break Test, discard highest;
Witch Hunters have Sniper and Killing Blow;
Imperial Griffons are S6, 5W - I don't have my old Army Book here, but it seems to me these are different? They can be two-headed as a special option (with built-in game effect);
Karl Franz grants his Ld to models within 18"; 24" if he is upon Deathclaw or the Imperial Dragon;
Deathclaw has +1 A and Ld respect an Imperial Griffon, the usual faithful rule and makes enemy units roll an additional D6, discard lowest when testing Fear/Terror caused by it.

The General on the Imperial Griffon model has the option of two heads (helmetd or not) and lance or sword (different from the Reikland Runefang).
The two magic altars can be fielded without Wizard on top, thus counting as a rare choice (I guess that was already known).
Demi-Gryphs Knights with cavalry halberds are shown with the shield too (I guess they'll use it only against shooting).

[Alric Jormstrom]

I play empire so I think I can answer all your queries and concerns.

Army book cover- He has just drunk too much Hochland Brandy, a classic part of the empire veteran image.

Gryphon- The high elf Gryphon looks elegant and swift to match the commanders of its race whereas the Empire one naturally looks larger than life and bombastic to fit its image. Also spelling see above.

Luminark Of Hysh- It is a shame that this photo has been taken from such a bad angle. When you first look at it you think it is a stupid series of circles when it is actually a series of lenses but first impressions count for a lot. Alebelly is right about the paint job also.

Demi-Gryphs- The mighty Theodore Bruckner of Nuln rides a Demi-Gryph in Tamurkan.

Rule Concerns- We have always had Gryphons and War Altars now we just have more variants. We have also got are long awaited witch hunter who is not a new idea.

Alric

[Goldo]

I agree about the gryphons; They are HUGE.
A hero is supposed to be visible and imposing from atop a mount, as a status of his importance.
Especially when it comes to a noble and majestic creature such as a griffin.
Having a mount so huge that makes the rider look tiny and inconspicuous ruins the whole meaning of being mounted.
Our first reaction when looking at the model should be "hey look, the general rides a griffin!"
Now it is just "hey look, that griffin has a tiny man on it's back!"

But I love the demigryphs. Pretty cool! The cover looks nice too! And what's that? It has a background?

Edited by Goldo, 28 March 2012 - 06:14 PM.

[Alaric Ironaxe]

I actually quite like most of it. Lots of flavour and suits the Renaissance type fluff the Empire Army has. Menageries of animals/monsters from all over the Old World, alchemical experiments and discoveries etc. Also, remember you can paint these how you want, pick and choose old and new, scratch build stuff and so on. If you don't like something, leave it out of your list.

Completley agree Alebelly, that's why I'm happy with these new Empire releases...I personally don't like the wagons but it's right in line with Empire fluff.

[lordgoober]

Heh. right now my plans for the demigryph knights are based off a stupid comment from an idiot on my local club's boards in which he called them chocobos. That's gotten stuck in my head so my unit of 6 will be mounted like this. Unit Champ: Yellow. Musician: White: Banner: Black: 2nd Rank: Red, Green, Blue.

[Bequa]

Heh. right now my plans for the demigryph knights are based off a stupid comment from an idiot on my local club's boards in which he called them chocobos. That's gotten stuck in my head so my unit of 6 will be mounted like this. Unit Champ: Yellow. Musician: White: Banner: Black: 2nd Rank: Red, Green, Blue.

Omigosh, so doing that!

Mount a lord with spikey yellow hair and a big sword on a Gold one

[Captn Morgrim]

For those like me who couldn't open the pictures due to bandwith constraints by photobucket, 'ere 's a link to a mirror on a blog

http://1angrygamer.b...th-edition.html

Impressive minis, I dare say, and while I think the new Demigryphons are a vast improvement over the FW beastie, I 'm not sold on the arcano-machinery. Looks somewhat like a Skaven plot to me, even if the Mage cart set looks rather impressive. I can Empire Players getting it for the barded horsies alone.

Gotta agree with Goldo on the Gryphon's size. I'm thinking of sticking my 2 old metal griffons and the Hippogryff. And funnily enough, I have a spare metal gryphon head, so I could easily build a 2headed one out of them!

Cheers,

Captn M.

Edited by Captn Morgrim, 29 March 2012 - 05:54 AM.