Warmachine: Vengeance released this past month, and with it the story advances further into quite literally the New Year of 609 AR. It isn’t the latest story though as Rites of Passage’ story for Allison Jakes happens right after that. Normally there would be review like a Codex for Warhammer 40K here, but a few issues with that. First off is that a number of the model entries in this book have been released as far back as a year. So much so that as of this writing, the only thing not out in the wild yet are all the Heavy Warjacks, the Bane Riders, Stryker3, Goreshade3, and Reznik2. Even the Journeymen Warcasters are being shipped out in Kickstarter. Instead, we’re going to look at the overall package for the actual storyline itself, how each faction advanced with the new model entries, and finally what is potentially in the store for the future. I’m going to cover the books like this due to Privateer Press’ release schedule, and cover the models as they go separately.

Storyline:

Since Colossals, the status quo has shifted considerably. Everyone is still reeling from the Thornwood defeat, so much so in fact that Khador’s piece in the plot is little more than rest and recovery, playing a supporting role. We do see Siege being treated medically in the Khadoran camp thanks to Butcher, and now that he is no longer MIA/KIA, he has been reprimanded for his actions in possibly endangering the unprecedented alliance between the two countries. Most of the Khadoran scenes instead involve Strakov using his training both as an Assault Kommando and as an infiltrator to actually reach Karchev. Sadly we are left with a cliffhanger on that. For Menoth two fronts unfold, where the Norther Crusade under Kreoss and Severius is redirected to intercept Cryxian forces thanks to the wordplay of Vladimir. At the same time Harbinger sees an opportunity and takes Reznik along for the ride in an attack on a small town to convert them to the cause of the Protectorate. Here we see the action for the first time truly from Reznik’s point of view. Previously he was seen simply as a ruthless enforcer, yet now, under Harbinger, we see a man who sees himself as the Enforcer, but yet understands the greater pieces at work in Menoth’s Plan. The Plan being enacted from the Harbinger and her miracles performed leave even him in awe. He willingly stays his hand against the leader of the garrison after the battle, something I think we have never seen in the Executioner before.

Cryx focused on Goreshade. That’s it. He continued his plan of sneaking into Ios, and found the Eldricths in the abandoned section of the Kingdom, continuing on about killing the Gods of Ios, Scyrah and Nyssor. The real backbone of the story is instead focused on Cygnar with a few Khadoran allies who launch a possibly ill-advised attack so soon after the crushing defeat in the Thornwood. Kara Sloan is given a lot of coverage here as well as how Cygnar and Khadoran view human life vs duty. It becomes a point where Cygnaran soldiers verbally accuse the Khadoran Widowmakers of being heartless, yet they reveal their own humanity but understand their duty compels them to move forward for if they fail, even more tragedies will occur. The other focus is on Lord General Stryker and Constance Blaize going after the column of Cryx who are trying to act stealthy to a waiting Skarre to deliver their prize: an Athanc. This is the same caravan that the Legion of Everblight and Circle Orboros are tailing. While the twins were delayed by Circle in Gargantuans, a force of Legion falls upon them almost simultaneously as Cygnar does. While I will not spoil the outcome, Lich Lord Venethrax goes after Legion and Terminus engages Cygnar. As for Retribution, they feature a battle against the Skorne from Issyria’s view. There is some amusement as she displays her confusion and disgust over the fat bastard that is Skorne’s Rasheth.

The takeaway from the overall story is that while we are recovering from the huge battle that occurred, we are now seeing the building blocks for both Exigence and the next book for Warmachine. The storyline is becoming increasingly entangled as both game systems’ stories are beginning to merge due to Cryx and the events that occur here as well as Skorne’s foray into Ios. We also get to see and appreciate a few characters that were rarely written about and are given their due course as to what they think and do instead of just a few entries here and there unlike their more established brothers-in-arms. The story is picking up again, but Goreshade makes it drag as he keeps on delivering just what I feel is more exposition as he never really hit a climax like the rest of the storyline did in Colossals, and he just keeps doing the same crap again.

New Entries

Here is where most people care about, and it overall breaks down for the big 4 as such. An Epic Warcaster, a Cavalry unit type they didn’t have before, a Warjack of Renown variant, a Character Journeyman Warcaster, and finally a support solo or attachment. Retribution instead received a Character Warjack on par with Apotheosis Character Warjacks and a new Warcaster. Mercenaries received no Warcaster, but Rhulic get a Colossal, a Rhulic Magical Unit, and a Jack Marshal that works for Hordes. Everyone was spoiled or released already in detail, and can be spotted all over the place, including on 3++ forums. What we get out of this is a lot of new interesting synergies, such as Menoth with their Bastions being even more so the go-to unit for Heavy Infantry over the Cinerators, and Thyra’s tier being completed with the actual release of the Flame Bringers. Goreshade once again leaves himself as being uninteresting compared to before, as while he is faster, a lot of his playstyle still remains. This does not make him bad, just the same old flavor faster. Reznik too remains similar, except now he excels at his job. Stryker is no longer the crazed assassin he was before, but my god he is brutal now. Butcher is….Butcher. Issyria is quite unique as she has no way of directly attacking. If her force dies 100% in Steamroller, just call it game because you actually cannot do anything to clear lanes, or anything else.

Speaking of Retribution, Imperatus is extremely powerful. While more in line fluff wise with warjacks like Ol’ Rowdy and Fire of Salvation, his power is more akin to the Avatar of Menoth and Molik Karn. Issyria is a good warcaster capable of decimating niche armies centered around high defense and is a true support piece. She can ancillary attack and keep herself mobile with Velocity for example. Excellent support piece that can keep herself safe, but don’t let her army slog it out to the last man. Finally the Mercenaries got a second Colossal, and with the Journeyman Warcaster the Galleon is probably now the single most whored Warjack in the game, legally paired with the Rhulic Colossal, the Judicator from Menoth, and the Stormwall from Cygnar.

Final Thoughts

Overall, a lot of good additions to the game were made, and the Journeymen along with a number of PP’s comments were made about their eventual rise into full Warcasters. As the story advances, the Hero Mantle that protects everyone is slowly going to fade away, and a few Warcasters may die. I personally expect Severius, Nemo, and/or Haley to all die at some point. Severius appointed Kreoss Intercessor last book, a rank used for future transitional periods between leaders, of which Menoth being a Clergy-based leadership may not fully accept. Nemo and Severius are both old, and Haley already took a hit meant for him that has incapacitated her for a time. Karchev may very well be seeing his death or switch over forcibly to Cryx as his words dictated during Strakov’s Search & Rescue. A lot is up in the air, and with the storyline catching pace with Hordes, what we see with Ios and Skorne may just be a preview of things to come later on.