From GregB: Another Stompy Sci-Fi Machine

Let's get stompy! A "Nemesis Warbringer" class titan for Legio Mortis. This is a plastic model from GW's "Adeptus Titanicus" game.

OK, for this post, we get back to big, stompy machines from the grim darkness of the far future! This is a "Nemesis Warbringer" class battle titan from GW's rebooted "Adeptus Titanicus".  This is a plastic kit from GW. It is painted in the colours of Legio Mortis, a titan legion that fights in the name of Horus Lupercal, Warmaster and last hope for humanity!

Lots of detail on the rear, as always, including the pseudo-industrial components holding whatever mysterious bits that power this beast.

This variant of titan chassis is a relatively new release for GW. The other three titan venerable chassis designs - the Warlord, the Reaver and the Warhound - have been staples of Adeptus Titanicus/Epic games and setting for decades. Forge World shook things up a bit by releasing a new type of Titan a couple of years ago - the "Nemesis Warbringer".  It first appeared as a model for the 28mm 30k/40k game - one of those model kits from Forge World that are so expensive you might as well buy a car instead.

Rough size comparison photo...

Fans of the rebooted "Adeptus Titanicus" had wondered if GW would ever release a version of the model to use in the new game.  The company has a record of paper-thin commitment to non-core games such as "Adeptus Titanicus", so for my part I was skeptical...but I was wrong. The plastic Nemesis model did appear (along with some super cool new terrain) earlier this year.

Another comparison photo...bigger than a Warhound (front) and Reaver (back, right).

The "Nemesis Warbringer" is a heavy, full-on battle titan, heavier and a little more capable than a Reaver, but still not as potent as the Warlord class titan.  One imagines that plans for the "Nemsis Peacebringer" did not get past the preliminary consideration stage with the Mechanicum Parliament. You can see how it fits size-wise in some of the photos here.

Standard Reaver-sized laser battery on the right arm...the other carries a volcano cannon (again, Reaver-sized).

I've not yet used this machine in a game, but in terms of performance it looks to be tougher than a Reaver (although not by much).  It's "arm" weapons are consistent with those found on other Reavers (with the exception of 'close combat' weapons - I don't think this chassis can be equipped with those). Up on the very elaborate top-mounted platform you can mount either a quake cannon or "Bellicosa Volcano Cannon" - weapons otherwise found on the arms of a Warlord Titan. All in all, it's a kind of hybrid in terms of a battlefield role.

There are secondary weapon mounts on the carapace that look like heavy AA weapons...I don't think they play an immediate role in the current game, but I suppose these might render this machine into a "flak titan" should they ever allow for flyers or - even better - just re-release the rules for "Epic". 

WIP photo - the monster comes together in stages...start with the basics on the legs...

Torso is then added & painted...the main and secondary batteries are painted seperately...

The "Adeptus Titanicus" models are really fantastic kits.  The titans can be a challenge to paint, at least for me, as I find you must paint the sort of base "skeleton" of the machine first, and then paint the various segmented armoured plates separately before adding them to the base components.  I love the end result, but the process can be tricky - and it was VERY tricky with this beast. 

It's busy up there...

Can you see the walkway at the front, and the little observation scopes inside the cut-outs on the huge armour plates?

Close up of the main and secondary batteries on the carapace.

There is a lot going on with that top carapace...including some kind of bonkers walkway.  If you squint, you will see there are two telescope-type observation devices at the front of the carapace! What a marvelous absurdity...I can just imagine some senior officer from the Titan Legion, Space Marine Legion or other, out there "observing" an ongoing engagement.  One assumes they would grasp the hand rails rather firmly when that huge quake cannon up above them fires!

All in all this is titan chassis certainly has a different flavour to the other more traditional ones. I expect at some point GW might intend to release a version of the volcano cannon for the main battery on the top carapace, although with the pandemic countermeasures forcing the closure of the business for now, who knows what plans might have to be dropped.

The obligatory update to the "family photo" from my shelves - Legio Mortis battlegroup with supporting Knights to the front.

At any rate, I look forward to having this machine "take a walk" on a tabletop "Adeptus Titanicus" battlefield someday soon.  As a newly-painted model, I'm sure the chances of its void shields being knocked down and a critical hit destroying its reactor on the very first turn of the game are probably, mostly, low...ish...

Thanks for reading everyone - hope you are safe and well.

Greg