The Fourth Combat Patrol in the subscription has landed: The Chaos Space Marines! Issue #31 features the first unit from the Combat Patrol, and has a surprisingly different feel than many other issues in this line. So let’s see what we get. As always, thank you to Goonhammer and Hachette for the opportunity to review these models, magazines, and materials.
Narrative Materials
There are almost no narrative materials in this magazine. This article is dedicated to the new model from the new Combat Patrol. The closest we get to narrative materials in this magazine is a list of Chaos Space Marine epithets, for Chaos Undivided, Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle, and Slaanesh.
Hobby Materials
This issue offers up the first unit of the Chaos Space Marines Combat Patrol: the Dark Apostle. This comes with three models: the Dark Apostle (a Chaos Space Marine) and two Dark Disciples (Schmucks). The Dark Disciples go together pretty easily and intuitively, though one of them (Parts 15-19) have a dangling tail of smoke that I’m concerned could break off easily. That Chaos Space Marine gives off major Word Bearers vibes, given that he’s holding a flaming book. So I’m going to paint mine as a Word Bearer, just as soon as I finish the new!Calgar.
The magazine offers the usual instructions for this unit, and following that an elaborate painting guide. Unsurprisingly, they suggest painting it as a member of the Black Legion. And it’s tempting to do that, because the Black Legion is pretty dang fun and Hachette also sells Haarken Worldclaimer as a special issue aside from the subscription.
The one question I have with the painting guide is why the guide does not teach us how to paint the fire from the book or the smoke from the brazier. It feels incomplete, and we have Corax White to serve as a base for whatever future colors would come from that fire and smoke. My guess would be a painting tutorial down the line, but I suppose we shall see.
Gaming Materials
We get the datasheet for the Dark Apostle, which is T4 3+/4++ with the Dark Disciples having a 6+. He has an Accursed Crozius with 5 attacks, WS 2_, S6, AP -1. He also has an ability to add +1 to the wound roll when he bonks enemies with his Crozius.
The issue gives us Scenario 21: Arena of Madness. There, the Dark Apostle and his two disciples stand in the middle of the board, with Gateways in opposite corners. The other player is “the opposition”, standing in for a Chaos God sending enemies to test the Apostle. They send either: 2 Infernus Marines, 3 Termagants, 3 Guardian Defenders, 1 Terminator, 1 Windrider, or 1 Von Ryan’s Leaper (depending on a dice roll). During the Command Phase of the Opposition player, they summon forth another unit. The Chaos Player has to select a Chaos God to serve, and that decides the victory condition. Khorne requires five destroyed enemy models, Tzeentch requires destroying one different model from each enemy faction, Nurgle requires survival for five battle rounds, and Slaanesh requires 12 wounds.
This scenario is surprisingly creative. This is the first mission that features alternate paths based on some limited character customization, and lets us use miniatures from all our combat patrols. This is the sort of optional scenario I could see being reworked for a mini-game at a narrative event: it’s not enough of a Warhammer game to truly be competitive, but lets folks throw dice at a friendly pace.
The Final Verdict
It’s a cool $43.50 model that you get with instructions, a painting guide, and a little scenario to play the model with. While we did not get any of Hachette’s more interesting narrative tales with this issue, I think the focus and support of the actual gaming model is a refreshing change of paste that makes this issue a delight for hobbyists new and old. The gaming scenario feels like one actually worth taking a second look at to expand for future use. So this issue is an absolute winner even as a stand-alone.
Until next time, Combat Patrolers!
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