Battle Missions launched, new walkers; Beastmen Battalion

After six excited weeks of preparing for war, Battle Missions is finally here. As well as the book itself, there are five new plastic vehicle kits also out tomorrow. And as they're all equally capable of blasting, stomping and burning their way across the battlefield, this weekend's a terrible time to be an infantry man (or a xenos approximation of one).

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  The Battle Missions book is not just about gaming (though it does contain over 30 new scenarios) and has dozens of pages like this one, which explores the background and battlefield tactics of the Necrons. Click on the image to see one of the scenarios.

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  The Venerable Dreadnought comes with dozens of optional extras and a weapon for every occasion. It even has various different sarcophagus fronts and heads so that no two need ever look the same.

I remember when I first saw the new Space Marine Venerable Dreadnought and Ork Deff Dread - they were in a cabinet near the 'Eavy Metal team (I nearly bumped into another cabinet as I looked at them instead of where I was walking) and I assumed because they were so cool, that they must be someone's conversion or one of the team's entries for this years Golden Demon. Thankfully, I was wrong and they, along with the Killa Kans, are released tomorrow.

The Battle Missions book includes over 30 scenarios and pages of extra background material for the Warhammer 40,000 races and as well as expanding your gaming experience will help add extra character to your collection. Speaking of character, the new Flash Git is one of the coolest Ork models ever - I love the idea of the Squig angrily clicking at the Ork until he aims in the right direction! The Big Mek I've added below isn't new (though he is very cool) but as I'm sure you're aware, the more Big Meks you have in your Ork army, the more Deff Dreads you can field: and that's no bad thing.

Also out this weekend is the Beastmen Battalion. This is the first time that the Beastmen have ever had a Battalion set. Like other Battalion sets, the Beastmen one has a good selection of units and is a great set to kick-start a new army with or add to your existing force. In fact if you add a set of Minotaurs to it and pick up a Beastlord you'll have the makings of a solid army.

Every Games Workshop Hobby Centre will be running some great activities this weekend using the scenarios in Battle Missions as inspiration. Give your local store a call to see what they've got on and how you can get involved.

And if you manage to assemble and paint any of the new walker kits over the weekend (or have a nicely painted one already in your collection) then send me some pictures and I'll feature the best of them here on 'What's new today'.

Have a great weekend.