40K News, Rumours & More!

Summary

The stream covered Warhammer news and rumors, criticism of recent releases, a brief report on the Dawn of War 4 beta, and updates on Valrak’s historical miniatures game, Martyrdom. Most release discussions were presented as rumors or personal speculation, not confirmed news.

Horus Heresy and 40K Rumors

• Valrak said he had heard that next year may bring major Horus Heresy campaigns and events, potentially alongside model releases.
• He believes plastic Mark V Space Marines could arrive before the current edition ends or feature in a future launch box. He also mentioned rumors of plastic Abaddon, Justaerin, upgrade kits, and possibly plastic sniper units. The sniper rumor remains unconfirmed.
• Plastic Justaerin could hint at more large Heresy units being remade in plastic, though Valrak said that depends on how much attention Games Workshop wants to give the range.
• He speculated that a future “Scouring” expansion might introduce new armor marks and models for figures associated with the founding of successor chapters, such as Amit and Sigismund. He suggested it could be a way to bring back firstborn Mark VII Marines in a new scale.
• Other rumors discussed included a new Guilliman model, Chaos Terminators, a Chaos Lord and bikes, and a possible Doomrider model. Valrak also expects Deathwatch to receive a more substantial release than a small section in another faction’s book, given the amount of Deathwatch-related media being promoted.
• He had heard that Tyranid units such as Warriors and Gargoyles might be updated, but emphasized that these rumors may not all come true. He also speculated that Knights could become especially powerful when their next rules arrive.

Releases, Lore, and the State of 40K

Valrak felt the recent Space Marine codex is a useful introduction for newcomers but offers little new material for long-time fans. He criticized the amount of lore and the lack of new chapter stories.

He also criticized the proposed Blood Angels box as poor value, arguing that its contents and price did not compare favorably with earlier battleforces. He noted that the included Chaplain may not be usable as supplied because of its base size.

Valrak was frustrated by the Armageddon campaign, which he felt had predetermined outcomes and did not make the story feel consequential. He questioned why Calgar and a demi-company were featured instead of characters and forces he felt were more fitting, such as the Salamanders or Space Wolves.

More broadly, he said 40K currently gives him less excitement than it used to. He prefers narrative, models, and casual games, and feels the game is increasingly oriented toward competitive play.

The stream also noted the return of older Tzeentch Daemon miniatures through Made to Order. Valrak expected them to be expensive and pointed out that the models are much older than current miniatures.

Dawn of War 4 Beta

Valrak said he enjoyed the beta, though he does not consider himself an expert at real-time strategy games. His main approach was defensive: placing Hammerfall bunkers and sentry turrets to create overlapping fields of fire.

He found the AI challenging and said he was looking forward to playing more when the game is fully available.

Martyrdom Updates

Valrak said a hobby-shop play session produced useful feedback and reinforced the team’s view that Martyrdom is a fun game. He reported that the Kickstarter had passed 3,200 followers, with the team hoping to reach 4,000 or more before launch.

The game focuses on the Crusades, with Crusader and Seljuk forces. The models discussed include infantry, archers, skirmishers, and several kinds of cavalry.

The proposed core product is resin, with plastic weapons—especially spears—as an early priority. Further stretch goals could move additional units, and eventually the whole range, into plastic.

The box is planned to include models, bases, dice, tokens, a coin purse, and a rulebook. Movement trays will not be included, but a free movement-tray STL generator is available on the project’s website. Individual units are expected to be available as add-ons, and the team is also considering a pledge combining the core box with extra units.

Valrak said the Kickstarter would run through November, with its outcome expected in December. The team is allowing roughly 12 months from receiving the funds to deliver orders, particularly if plastic tooling is required. He also mentioned finding a European distributor and said shipping costs and delays are major planning concerns.

Possible future historical expansions discussed included later Crusades, the Byzantines, Saladin, Richard the Lionheart, the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and ancient Roman conflicts. These were ideas rather than confirmed plans; the team’s priority is to launch the first game successfully.

Featured People and Sources

• Chapter Master Valrak — Host and source of the rumors and opinions summarized above.
• Game Riot — Mentioned as having influencer access to the Dawn of War 4 campaign and army painter.
• Dhaka and Woodimp — Collaborators on Martyrdom.
• Midlife Heresy — Podcast Valrak mentioned appearing on.
• Games Workshop and Black Library — Discussed in connection with releases, lore, and promotional material.
• Reddit, viewer feedback, and unnamed rumor sources were also referenced during the stream.