Empire Rumours (most likely April)

[Silver Wolf]

Rumours about the Timescale:

Opinions vary but I think....
Empire is being released in April 2012
A date of the 7th of April has been suggested.

Rumours about the Book:

Nothing solid ... not even who has written the book ... but Jervis has been suggested.
The book is expected with the first wave of models in April.

Rumours about the army:

Nothing solid on army wide changes

Rumours about models:

Empire will get 4 plastic kits and 2 plastic 'single pose' characters. (6 Plastic in total)
Also at least one new sculpt in finecast as well as some old models being redone in finecast.
This will see The Empire become the first fantasy army that can be all plastic.

Rumours of Characters/Lords/Heroes

I heard something about a mounted Wizard..... as a mount option for the Griffon. (Amber wizard)
Also something about a Jade wizard ... this guy will be in finecast.
I heard something about an engineer. I heard it was plastic and a very nice sculpt.
I heard something about a plastic Captain ... also very nice.
Marius Leitdorf will be re-released in Finecast.

Rumours of Karl Franz OR Lord/Hero on Griffon.

There are rumours of a plastic Lord/Hero on a Griffon that could 'pass' as Karl Franz. (Harry)
There is a rumour that it IS Karl Franz. (which is an interesting development as this is the first time we have seen a special, named character as a plastic kit). (Harry and Hastings)
“The new plastic Empire hero on griffon is also supposed to be very nice” (hastings)
Griffin, which to be honest is a bit of a let down. It's big, Manticore sized, and looks almost like an update of the Deathclaw mini only a bit more static, oddly it was painted a deep ruddy brown. (Darnock via birdy)

As you see opinions vary ... I heard it was BIG and the paint job and the camera angle have not done it any favours. So I shall wait until I have it in my hands before passing judgement.

More importantly I heard it has the option of KF a generic lord/hero or an Amber wizard.


Rumours of a plastic War Altar (and something new?)

There are rumours of a dual plastic kit which makes a War Altar and something else. (Harry, hastings, malladin.ben)
It is rumoured that the War Altar can be customised to make Sigmar, Ulric or Morr. (ghost21)
There is a rumour that it makes a War Altar and a “College of Magic wizardlordmobile”. (NatTreehouse, Harry)
A war altar combo kit with a wizardy casting platform thing which had lots of globes almost like a celestial model. (Darnock via birdy)

Have heard a conflicting rumour that whilst working from the same chassis these may be two seperate kits.
Nice little rumour from Kyte that the War Alter may be pushed into combat by Flagellants rather than pulled by horses.
I have heard the iconic statue of the griffon remains. (This pours water on the customise for different religions rumour. I feel like I would have heard 'you can have a Griffon like the last one or a big wolf' ... Didn't hear that. )
Have heard it is a two headed Griffon. So not exactly like the old one.

Rumours of new Warrior priests:

There were lots of rumours of new warrior priests early on.
I think that any new priests will be done for the plastic War Altar.
(Rather than an additional kit or individual sculpts)
But I get the impression there is more than one priest with the kit .... extras left over for a Preist on foot.

Rumours of Demi-Griffon knights.

There are rumours of Demi-Griffon knights. (Eldargal and others )
Don't expect the same as the Forge World one ... expect something a bit different.

Rumours of knights:

So many conflicting rumours about Knights I don't know what to make of it.
I have heard nearly nothing about new Knights .... so I assume that is what is happening. (Nearly nothing. )

My guess is sprues have been seen/heard about for demi-griff knights...and conclusions have been leapt to.

But see what you can pick out of this lot.

Rumours of Inner Circle knights:

There is a rumour of a new box of inner circle knights with lots of options for different orders.(ghost21)
This is the reason for no new knights. (ghost21)
There is a rumour that the Inner Circle Knights and Demi-griffon knights are the same dual kit.

Rumours of new Knights:

No new knights. (hastings)
Rumour of the sprue re-cut for the knights. (ghost21)
Rumour of individual Knightly Orders rather than redone generic set. (eldargal)
Rumour of new Knights of Morr. (Mirbeau)
Rumour of more packs like the blazing sun bits pack to customize the existing knights. (ghost21)

Rumours of a Nuln Siege Cannon:

There were rumours of a BIG cannon ....

I have heard nothing about this .... so I assume this isn't happening.

There are rumours of some things back from 4th edition:

Rumours of Halflings:

There are rumours that halflings are back in the book BUT as I have not heard about new halfling plastics and I have heard the whole army can be done in plastic I am not convinced.
On the other hand it follows that IF they are in the book then there MUST be a halfling kit in the works.

Rumours of the War Wagon:

There is a rumour the War Wagon is back in the book with a combat, shooty or mixed option.(ghost21)

So, what do you think?

I'm hoping to see new knights (both normal and inner circle) and the new griffon character (although I've already bought new griffon from IoB set).
And demigriffon knights are utterly disgusting.

[Silver Wolf]

No teasers for Empire in March issue of WD. Looks like we'll have to wait another month for the release.

[Silver Wolf]

New Karl Franz model, Wizard mounted on a two-headed griffon, War Altar and new knightly orders confirmed.

http://www.beastsofwar.com/groups/warhammer-fantasy/forum/topic/empire-army-update-immanent-have-your-say/

[Phoenixguard09]

I really don't like the idea of a two-headed Gryphon. I mean, multi-headed animals just aren't really that practical to begin with. I don't like the idea that every Chaos Dragon spontaneously grows another head. The only reason I don't mind the Hydra is because it's an established piece of mythology. Tell me, where the hell do twin-headed Gryphons come from?

On the other hand the rest of it just seems like how I felt with the new Vamp book. There was enough interesting stuff which made the army work in the old book. Now a crap-load of new stuff goes in, which changes current fluff and displaces old favourites because the big shiny new thing is slightly better at whatever the old unit did.

I don't know. I mean technically speaking a lot of it seems nice but none of it's got me excited.

[Silver Wolf]

I agree with you completely.

However, I'm looking forward to plastic Karl Franz model and shiny new knights.

[Gen_Glory]

plastic special characters?

bet he costs more plastic and has worse rules

[Jubal]

I'm increasingly thinking that I'll leave WHFB altogether after highschool, do a trawl through all the other options and find a gaming system that isn't constantly revised for the sake of making money. I know that sounds gripey, but demigriffon knights are a gripe invitation if I ever saw one.

[Gen_Glory]

specialist games are my fav atm, specially bloodbowl

[Silver Wolf]

ok let's make some people happy
The store order list

7th of April, new stuff
Empire Army book 33 EUR
Karl Franz on Death Claw 1 fig. plastic 43 EUR
Empire Celestial Hurricanium/Luminark of Hish 1 fig. plastic 39 EUR (no clue what it is but I guess something like the new VC thingymagic)
Empire Demigryph Knights 3 fig. plastic 43 EUR
Captain plastic 1 fig. 10,5 EU
Engineer plastic 10,5 EUR
Volkar on war altar plastic 1 fig 39 EUR
witch hunter 1 fig resin 13 EUR
Markus Wolfhart 1 fig resin 13 EUR
Empire amber wizard 1 fig resin splash release 13 EUR
Warrior priest 1 fig resin 13 eur

Nothing for me here, maybe captain and Demigryph Knight bits (riders only, not the beasts) for my inner circle knights conversions...

[Gen_Glory]

sweet witch hunters

[Silver Wolf]

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/wnt/blog.jsp?pid=2000056-gws&utm_source=VoxCaster&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=new-blog&utm_content=new-blog&utm_campaign=VoxCaster-New-Blog-Posts

Not impressed. Doesn't sound like the Empire at all.
Preorders on 31st.

[Gen_Glory]

yeah but they have to change it to fit the new ethos of warhammer, less humour, more grim dark

oh god, 40k all over again

[Silver Wolf]

More details...

Empire Army Book (ideal Premium/Hobby Account new release product) - Released 7th April
• 96p Full colour, Hardback Army Book.
• Essential guide to the Empire army including background, new rules, Army List, artwork and miniature gallery.
• Every Character and Unit in the Army Book is available to buy!
• Contains rules for brand new ‘never seen before’ miniatures.

Plastic Kits

Karl Franz on Deathclaw (ideal Premium/Hobby Account new release product) - Released 7th April
• This box contains a multipart plastic kit that makes one of THREE different models; Karl Franz on Deathclaw, Empire General on Griffon or Amber Wizard Lord on Griffon.
• Assembled kit is huge- 6” high and 9” wide.
• A centerpiece kit that will appeal to both gamers and modelers/painters alike.
• Kit contains lots of extra pieces i.e. Multiple Chest plates and heads for the Griffon and more.


Empire Celestial Hurricanum / Luminark of Hysh (ideal Premium/Hobby Account new release product) - Released 7th April

• This box contains a multipart plastic kit that makes one of Two different models; or the.
o The Celestial Hurricanum: A rare choice for the Empire Army or a mount for a Celestial Battle Wizard Lord.
o Enhances the armies fighting abilities, spell casting and can create enchanted storms!

Or

o Luminark of Hysh: A rare choice for the Empire Army or a mount for a Light Battle Wizard Lord.
o Creates a magical enchantment that protects nearby troops and helps disrupt enemy spell casting and can fire deadly beam of light at the enemy!

• A centerpiece kit that will appeal to both gamers and modelers/painters alike.
• Each kit contains lots of extra parts e.g. Light and Celestial Battle Wizard lords, Acolytes etc.
Volkmar the Grim on The War Altar of Sigmar (ideal Premium/Hobby Account new release product) - Released 7th April

• This box contains a multipart plastic kit that constructs the mighty War Altar of Sigmar.
• Standing 7” high it is a centerpiece kit that will appeal to both gamers and modelers/painters alike.
• The War Altar is a Lord choice as it can be a mount for either Volkmar or an Arch Lector.


Empire Demigryph Knights (ideal Premium/Hobby Account new release product) - Released 7th April

• This box contains enough multipart plastic pieces to assemble three Demigryph Knights- Elite Monstrous Cavalry that are a Special choice in the Empire Army Book.
• The kit allows you to model the rank and file Inner Circle Knights or a full command group or a mixture of both.
• The kit allows them to take lances or a cavalry Halberd.

Empire Master Engineer (ideal Premium/Hobby Account new release product) - Released 7th April

• Plastic Frame Clampack that contains one Master Engineer.
• The Master Engineer is a Hero Choice in the army.
• The Master Engineer is easy to assemble and can be assembled in different ways.

Captain of the Empire (ideal Premium/Hobby Account new release product) - Released 7th April

• Plastic Frame Clampack that contains one Captain of the Empire.
• The Captain of the Empire is a Hero Choice in the army.
• The Captain of the Empire is easy to assemble and comes with 2 heads to choose from.

[Gen_Glory]

assuming that extra captain is special character or the witch hunter i keep hearing about

[Gen_Glory]

no there is a new captain

pics!

http://www.wargamingclub-glory.nl/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=572&p=3783#p3783