Monday, November 16, 2020

Warhammer Holiday Bundles (updated 2nd time)

 Warhammer Holiday Bundles


Updates (By Popular demand, we're going to put in the UK prices for the separate kits.  We don't have the bundle pricing details from last year for you, but we can put in the current UK prices.  When we find out the retail prices for the bundles, we'll be putting those up for comparison as well.)

Update 2 (Our predictions of around 200$ seemed to be pretty spot on, didn't it?)

Hey, we’re going to be breaking down the holiday bundles this year from Games Workshop.  Now we’re going to take a special interest in the Space Marine and Necron bundles and how they relate to the folks who picked up Indomitus or one of the new combat patrols and see if we can find a point breakdown to what you can put on the field with your brand new toys.  Now a reminder that none of these toys pass the Christmas morning test.  Once you’ve gotten the kit you still need to get them out of the box, cut them free and put them together.  


This means if you’re doing this for a Christmas present for a new gamer or trying to placate the kid you’re not sure what to buy something for (and their parents said something about Warhammers) you might want to do a little bit more digging and research.  You’ll be happier, they’ll be happier, and maybe games will get played (around new years).  


Also remember your hobby checklist


  1.  Safe Workspace

  2. Models

  3. Clippers and Cutters

  4. Glue

  5. Primer

  6. Paint (and Brushes)


All right, let’s dive in and see what we can see


Bundle #1


Space Marines Interdiction Force



Okay, this boxed set contains the following models (and their price in U.S./UK Currency)


  1. Space Marine Impulsor (75$/£45)

  2. Invictor Warsuit (60$/£37.50)

  3. 10 Reivers (60$/£35)

  4. 10 Incursors (60$/£35)

  5. 1 Phobos Armored Captain (35$/£22.50)


Total Price 290$/£175 Retail

Bundle Price:200$/£120 (as of the time of publication).  Savings are about 1/3rd retail in both currencies.


What does this breakdown look like for points and PL?  Let’s see


  • Captain (HQ Slot)  95 points/5 Power

  • Incursors (Troops Slot) can be built as either 2 5 man squads or 1 10 man squad.  115 points/5 Power or 220 points/10 Power. This assumes the most expensive wargear option is chosen, your points may vary.   Alternatively, you can build the Incursors as Infiltrators.  

  • Infiltrators (Troops Slot) Can be built as either 2 5 man squads or 1 10 man squad.  140/6 Power or 250 points/12 power.  These are listed with the most expensive wargear choices selected, you may save a few points by making other selections

  • Reivers (Elites Slot)  Can be built as either 2 5 man squads or 1 10 man squad.  100 points/5 Power or 200 points/10 power.  Again, this assumes the most expensive wargear is selected, your points may vary.

  • Invictor Tactical Warsuit (Elites Slot)  The Invictor Warsuit is a single model unit. 160 points /8 Power

  • Impulsor (Transport slot)  The Impulsor is a single model unit.  135 points/7 Power.  This assumes the most expensive wargear options are selected, your points may vary.  


Totals=

Points:  1000-1015 depending on Wargear selections

PL: 52


How does this fit into the Indomitus box set?


This army is designed to take advantage of the Phobos armor’s hidden reserve rules which would allow you to deploy the Incursors/Infiltrators in reserves (along with the Captain, the Reivers, and the Invictor) while it gives your Assault Intercessors a transport in the form of the Impulsor.


This brings your Power level of fieldable units up to 103, though you will need to make some selections with your Elites choices or run more than detachment.  It does also bring you up to almost 2,000 points of Space Marines for your army, (depending on the wargear you select).  


Bundle #2


Necron Eradication Force



Okay, this boxed set contains the following models (and their price in U.S./UK Currency)


  1. 10 Necron Warriors (45$/£29)

  2. 5 Necron Immortals/Deathmarks (38$/£25)

  3. 5 Lychguard/Triarch Praetorians (48$/£30)

  4. 1 Canoptek Spyder (38$/£25)

  5. 1 Triarch Stalker (55$/£32.50)

  6. 1 Doom Scythe (60$/£37.50)

  7. 1 Technomancer (35$/£20)


Total Price 319$/£199 Retail

Bundle Price: 210$/125


This is probably the best savings of the 40K battleforces, if you're interested in Necrons.


What does this breakdown look like for points and PL?  Let’s see


  • Technomancer (HQ Slot)  130 points/6 Power.  This assumes the most expensive wargear selections are made, and your points/power may vary.

  • Warriors (Troops Slot) are 130 points/6 power

  • Immortals (Troops Slot) are also buildable as Necron Deathmarks.  95points/4 Power.  These are listed with the most expensive wargear choices selected, you may save a few points by making other selections

  • Necron Deathmarks (Elites Slot) are 90 points/4 Power 

  • Lychguard (Elites Slot) are also buildable as Triarch Praetorians.  140 points /7 Power.

  • Triarch Praetorians (Fast Attack Slot) are 125 points /6 Power.

  • Canoptek Spider (Elites slot) are capable of being taken in squads of 1-3.  55 points/4 Power.  This assumes the most expensive wargear options are selected, your points may vary.

  • Triarch Stalker (Elites Slot) is a single model unit.  145 points/7 Power. This assumes the most expensive wargear options are selected, your points may vary.  

  • Doom Scythe (Flyer Slot) is a single model unit that can also be built as a Night Scythe.  200 points/10 Power

  • Night Scythe (Flyer Slot) is a single model unit.  145 points/8 power 


Totals=

Points:  895-ish on the high end.  This one is harder to calculate because there are multiple kits that can be constructed into different units that will affect your total point cost.  Wargear selections may also have an effect on total points.

PL: 40 on the high end.  Again, with units that can be built multiple ways, you have a lot of potential variety in how many points your units are going to end up costing, depending on the selections you choose to build.  


How does this fit into the Indomitus box set?


This pads out your existing group of warriors and allows you to run either three small squads, two medium sized squads, or a big squad and a little squad.  This set also offers a lot more versatility as you start to expand the army.  It gives you options for taking an extra fast attack choice to make life easier on your all ready overworked elites slots (between the Skorpechs, the Spyder, the Triarch Stalker, and of course if you choose to build them, the Lychguard and the Deathmarks).  It also includes the Doom Scythe which can be built as is to add more heavy firepower or you can run the Night Scythe variant for transporting troops around in some circumstances.  It also gives you a second Cryptek to run around with your plasmamancer.  


This brings your Power level of fieldable units up to around 91, depending on how you built some of your units.  Like most  of the armies at this level, you’re going to need to start thinking about what units you want to bring within detachments because you’re going to start running low on elite slots.   It does also bring you up to around 1,800  points of Necrons for your army, (depending on the units you select).  


Bundle #3


Imperial Guard Astra Militarum Bastion Platoon





Okay, this boxed set contains the following models (and their price in U.S./UK Currency)


  1. 20 Cadian Shock Troopers (72$/£45)

  2. Cadian Command Squad (36$/£22.50)

  3. Heavy Weapons Squad (40$/£25)

  4. 1 Chimera (48$/£35)

  5. 1 Hydra/Wyvern (60$/£35)

  6. 1 Sentinel/Scout Sentinel (36$/£22.50)



Total Price 292$/£185 Retail

Bundle Price: 200$/£120

Hilariously this box is more expensive than the similarly assorted Cadian Defense Force.


What does this breakdown look like for points and PL?  Let’s see


  • Company Commander (HQ Slot)  39 points/2 Power.  This assumes the most expensive wargear selections are made, and your points/power may vary.

  • Command Squad (Elites Slot) are 47 points/2 power

  • Infantry (Troops Slot) There are two squads worth of Cadians in the box to build these units 40 Points/3 Power (per Squad)

  • Scout Sentinel (Fast Attack Slot) can be built as Armored Sentinels and come in squads of up to 3.  They are 51 points/3 Power 

  • Armoured Sentinel (Elites Slot) come in squads of up to 3..  51 points /3 Power.

  • Hydra (Heavy Support Slot) come in squadrons of up to 3.  They are 99 points /7 Power.

  • Wyvern (Heavy Support Slot) come in squadrons of up to 3, They are 119 points/6 power

  • Chimera (Transport slot) are 88 points/6 Power.  This assumes the most expensive wargear options are selected, your points may vary.

  • Heavy Weapons Squad are 51 points/3 Power.  This assumes the most expensive wargear options are selected, your points may vary.


Totals=

Points:  475-ish on the high end.  This one is harder to calculate because there are multiple kits that can be constructed into different units that will affect your total point cost.  Wargear selections may also have an effect on total points.

PL: 29 on the high end.  Again, with units that can be built multiple ways, you have a lot of potential variety in how many points your units are going to end up costing, depending on the selections you choose to build.  


Verdict:  Probably not a good buy for most players.  It feels like it’s definitely missing at least one new component (a Leman Russ for example) or some extra helpings of units all ready in the box (More sentinels, more cadian shock troops, for example), and it’s barely more than a combat patrol’s worth of power level.  


Bundle #4


Chaos Space Marines Decimation Warband

        


Okay, this boxed set contains the following models (and their price in U.S./UK Currency)


  1. 10 Chaos Space Marines (60$/£35)

  2. 5 Chaos Space Marine Havocs (55$/£32.50)

  3. 5 Chaos Space Marine Terminators (60$/£35)

  4. 1 Forgefiend (75$/£45)

  5. 1 Chaos Lord with Thunder Hammer (30$/£17.50)


Total Price 280$/£165 Retail

Bundle Price: 200$/£120 Retail? (as of the time of publication).  This bundle suffers from the fact that most of the kits are new and as a result, the individual kits are higher priced than other counterparts in other armies.


What does this breakdown look like for points and PL?  Let’s see


  • Chaos Lord (HQ Slot)  100 points/5 Power.  This assumes the most expensive wargear selections are made, and your points/power may vary.

  • Chaos Terminators(Elites Slot) are 250 points/10 Power.  This assumes the most expensive wargear options possible are chosen, and is unlikely to be achieved without kitbashing for parts or conversions.  220 is more likely, but it’s possible to get higher.  

  • Chaos Space Marines (Troops Slot) can be taken in squads of at least 5, but no more than 20.  The squad in the box is either  194/8 power or two squads of 109/4 power each.  This assumes the most expensive wargear options are chosen.  Your points may vary.  

  • Chaos Havocs (Heavy Support Slot) are 190 points/7 Power.  Again, this will require some kitbashing to hit maximum point costs, you’re more likely hovering around 150 points.  

  • Forgefiend (Heavy Support Slot) is a single model unit that can also be assembled as a Maulerfiend. 160 points /8 Power.  This assumes the most expensive wargear options are selected, your points may vary.

  • Maulerfiend (Heavy Support Slot)is a single model unit. 152 points /7 Power.


Totals=

Points:  1150-ish on the high end.  This one is harder to calculate because the Wargear selections will dramatically affect the points your units cost.

PL: 33 on the high end.  Again, with units that can be built multiple ways, you have a lot of potential variety in how many points your units are going to end up costing, depending on the selections you choose to build.  


Verdict:  A solid buy for someone starting a Chaos Space Marines army.  It’s almost ready to play as a combat patrol out of the box, and with a couple of extra purchases is close to being a Crusade army.  Personally, i have a small chaos warband i started to play Kill Team with, and this would effectively double my army and give me a new Chaos Lord and a Forgefiend.  


Bundle #5


T’au Empire Starpulse Cadre





Okay, this boxed set contains the following models (and their price in U.S./UK Currency)


  1. 1 Crisis Suit Commander (55$/£32.50)

  2. 1 Crisis Suit Team (75$/£45)

  3. 1 Broadside Battle Suit (55$/£32.50)

  4. 1 Piranha (36$/£22.50)

  5. 10 Fire Warriors (50$/£30)

  6. 10 Pathfinders (38$/£25)

  7. Assorted Drones (included with the price of the other units as they come in the other kits)



Total Price 309$/£187 Retail

Bundle Price: 210$/£125 Retail


What does this breakdown look like for points and PL?  Let’s see


  • Crisis Suit Commander (HQ Slot)  144 points/8 Power.  This assumes the most expensive wargear selections are made, and your points/power may vary.

  • Crisis Suit Squad (Elites Slot) come in squads of up to 9 and  are 234 points/12 power for three.  These assume the most expensive wargear options are selected and your points may vary. (note, that you can include up to 2 drones per Crisis Suit, and these increase the point costs by their own value, and +1 Power per Suit with drones).

  • Fire Warriors Strike Team(Troops Slot) can also be built as Breachers.  Fire Warriors come in minimum squads of 5, but can go up to 12. It also has a Drone turret included at no cost.  The 10 man team included in this box is 70 points/4 Power (plus drones, which this squad can take up to 2, at +1 power) 

  • Fire Warrior Breacher Team (Troops Slot) comes in squads of up to 10, and they come with the Drone Turret as listed above.  The 10 man team in this box is 70 points/4 power. Drones are also addable for their normal point cost (+1 power)

  • Piranha (Fast Attack Slot) come in squads of up to 3.  54 points /4 Power each. This includes the most expensive upgrades and the drones that come with this vehicle.  

  • Pathfinder teams (Fast Attack Slot) come in squads of up to 10 and can take a host of additional drones with the squad. .  They are 120 points (plus drones)/5 Power for 10, and an additional +3 power for the three drone types that can be taken with them.

  • Broadside Suit (Heavy Support Slot) come in squads of up to 3, They are 115 points/7 power apiece, and can take additional drone supports for extra power and points.


Totals=

Points:  740-ish on the high end, plus drones..  This one is harder to calculate because there are multiple kits that can be constructed into different units that will affect your total point cost.  Wargear selections may also have an effect on total points.

PL: 40 on the high end, (plus drones).  Again, with units that can be built multiple ways, you have a lot of potential variety in how many points your units are going to end up costing, depending on the selections you choose to build.  


Verdict:  For a starting T’au force, this is a pretty good purchase.  It gives you a core block of fire warriors and crisis suits, and supplements with Pathfinders and a Piranha.  It needs some work to get up to a 1000 points, but is plenty to start a combat patrol.


Bundle #6


Tyranid Brood Swarm




Okay, this boxed set contains the following models (and their price in U.S./UK Currency)


  1. Hive Tyrant/The Swarmlord (60$/£35)

  2. 16 Genestealers(72$/£45)

  3. 10 Gargoyles (36$/£22.50)

  4. 1 Haruspex/Exocrine (75$/£45)

  5. 3 Hive Guard/Tyrant Guard (70$/£42.50)



Total Price 313$/£190 Retail

Bundle Price: 210$/£125 Retail


What does this breakdown look like for points and PL?  Let’s see


  • Hive Tyrant (HQ Slot)  230 points/9 Power (11 with wings).  This assumes the most expensive wargear selections are made, and your points/power may vary.

  • Hive Guard (Elites Slot) come in squads of up to 6 and are 144 points/7 power for the first three, plus 6 for the final three. They can also be assembled as Tyrant Guard. These assume the most expensive wargear options are selected and your points may vary. 

  • Tyrant Guard(Elites Slot) come in minimum squads of 3, but can go up to 6. They are 144 points/7 power for the first three, plus 6 for the final three.

  • Gene Stealers (Troops Slot) comes in squads of up to 20. These are probably best taken as either a full 16 Stealer brood or two 8 stealer broods.  288 points/16 power or 144 points/8 power.

  • Gargoyles (Fast Attack Slot) come in squads of up to 20. The ten in the box come out to 50 points /3 Power.  

  • Haruspex (Heavy Support Slot) are single model units.  They are 150 points/10 Power.  This can also be assembled as an Exocrine. 

  • Exocrine (Heavy Support Slot) are single model units. They are 155 points/11 power. 


Totals=

Points:  870-ish on the high end.  This one is harder to calculate because there are multiple kits that can be constructed into different units that will affect your total point cost.  Wargear selections may also have an effect on total points.

PL: 47 on the high end.  This one is wonky because the box comes with an atypical number of genestealers. Using the fielding undersized units let’s you field them, but you aren’t getting the best benefit for your PL.


Verdict: Other than the Wonkery with the Genestealers, this particular box is a reasonable start for a new player.  The tyranid kits are fun for conversion and you can build a number of different directions from this box.  


One final night for everyone, the allocation on these is going to be extremely limited, and if you are interested in one, get it bought early and make sure it's going home in the right space (yours).


(all Photos are from Warhammer Community)

No comments:

Post a Comment