First blood
I can remember clearly my first introduction to Privateer Press games. It was Gen Con 2007, and I happened to visit the Privateer Press both to chat with a friend and colleague. That friend was our creative director Ed Bourelle, then a Press Ganger, and he was running demos for a game called HORDES. Maybe you’ve heard of it.
Anyway, Ed talked me into playing a demo and then directed my attention to the demo board where a bunch of painted metal figures awaited. He pointed out a group of big, blue-skinned critters carrying axes and spears and one slightly smaller blue-skinned critter armed with a giant battleaxe. These, he informed me, were Trollblood “warbeasts” and their “warlock,” Madrak Ironhide. Madrak and his Trolls would be mine to control during the game.
Ed then pointed out his own warlock and warbeasts. To my ignorant eyes, his figures resembled a couple of two-headed dogs, a giant spine-covered werewolf, and an elf-looking chick with a staff. Ed informed me that they were Circle of Orboros models and that his warlock was named Kaya the Wildborne. His models were cool, to be sure, but I had trolls with giant axes and he had a pansy druid and her overgrown puppies. Despite my complete lack of knowledge about the game, I was looking forward to kicking Ed’s ass sideways.
The game started and carnage ensued. Ed’s a great teacher, and soon I was spending fury like mad and carving up his warbeasts like so much puppy sushi. However, the thing I remember most about that game was when my Troll Axer charged forward and slammed one of Ed’s Argus across the board. That was damn cool, and I knew it was not something I could have done in the many other miniature games I had played.
Why the little trip down memory lane? Well, even though I didn’t know it at the time, that HORDES demo set me on a path that eventually led me here. And that got me feeling all nostalgic.
Oh, and I guess there is one other reason to talk about HORDES...
HORDES: Primal Mk II releases this month, and as you may guess, this issue features a lot of great HORDES content. First off, we preview a whole slew of models from each of the upcoming Forces of HORDES books. On top of that, the Gavin Kyle Files returns with a double-sized entry on the enigmatic trollkin leader Grim Angus; Guts & Gears takes an in-depth look at the rhinodon; we delve into the forbidden lore of Tharn blood magic; and one of our new features, Strategic Academy, teaches you the best tactics to use when playing Circle.
Don’t worry, WARMACHINE players; we haven’t forgotten you. This month’s Terrain Building shows you how to build a working warjack scrapyard; Modeling & Painting teaches you how to make swamp bases perfect for creepy Cryx models; and another new feature, Power Progression, shows you how to take your Cygnar army from a lean, mean, 25-point force to an army crushing 100-point behemoth.
So there you have it. An issue chock full of shiny, new hotness with a generous portion of old favorites. That’s a winning mix, if you ask me.
Aeryn Rudel ‑ Editor-in-Chief
Table of Contents
- Opening Salvo 2
- Bosun’s Call 4
- News From the Front 5
- New Releases 7
- Forces of HORDES Preview 11
- Get a sneak peek at a slew of new HORDES models!
- Terrain Building: ‘Jack Scrapyard 24
- WhiteMoon Dreams Interview 34
- Get the inside scoop on the upcoming WARMACHINE video game
- The Gavyn Kyle Files: Grim Angus 42
- No one escapes the infamous trollkin tracker and bounty hunter
- Strategic Academy: Circle Orboros 48
- Unlock the full potential of your Circle army
- Minion Madness: Thornfall Alliance 56
- Get a sneak preview of the Thornfall Alliance minion pact
- Tharn Blood Magic 58
- An in-depth treatise on the vile magic of the Tharn
- Featured Theme Force: Auguries of War 64
- Unleash the power of the Witch Coven of Garlghast
- Modeling and Painting: Swamp Bases 66
- Build creepy swamp bases perfect for Cryx and Trollbloods
- Guts & Gears: Rhinodon 70
- The Department of Extraordinary Zoology takes an up-close look at the powerful skorne warbeast
- Full Metal Challenge: Spirited Away 76
- Kaya the Wildborne is one step from the void. Can she be saved?
- Painting Challenge: Unleash the Beast 77
- Go crazy! Show us your warbeasts in the midst of frenzy!
- Concept Carnage! 78
- An inside look at the conceptualization of three new HORDES models
- Featured Theme Force: Legions of the Abyss 80
- Void Seer Mordikaar commands the power of death itself
- Power Progression: Cygnar 82
- Turn your 25-point army into a 100-point behemoth
- Parts Bin 91
- Player Gallery 94
