When war becomes an art

What is not appreciated by the pampered elites though is that Asteria applies an even greater sophistication to its art of war.

The Asterians for Epic Warpath are truly and elite army - they have the least amount of models in their core box (156), almost 40% smaller than the Plague (which has the most at 252).

I still haven't gotten around to the book, tokens, or building sets, because the minis are just much more interesting.  So much like I did with the Nameless, I'll be going over all the models in the core box, with any hints on assembly (if there are any).

Of course the box contains six of the core sprues.

Of course the one page faction guide is more complete for the Asterians, as they were one of the original 4 factions.

On Friday September 5th, Mantic put out the assembly guides for the first 4 factions - Asterians, Enforcers, Forge Fathers and Plague.  I already had the initial version of this finished, and it is a little bit more in depth than theirs, but still feel free to download there version and use this as a complement to it.

(When they get the others out, I will put the link to each on my corresponding blog entry).

So let's dig into the sprue.

Again, models are lettered, so we begin with A - for the Sky Razors

This model is one that just doesn't all look right until it is assembled, and then you go "Oh yeah, that's it"

A1

A2

So simply glue the large tab on A1 into the slot on A2

A3

The small tab on A1 goes into the slot in the FRONT of A3 - yes there is a lot more going on in the back than in the front.

Oh, now I can see the cypher riding the sky razor

A4

The base risers go into the little hold in the bottom of A21

Then simply glue them to the old Mantic bases (on the sprues, upside down).

Each unit consists of 6 bases, so you get two units.

I played Asterians in a tiny escalation league we had here in 2023 (I won Best General, and the ONLY game I lost was the final!)  So I have a lot of the full size Asterian models to compare the EW ones to (at except for the brand new models, like the Wraith and Super Heavies (and the drones (I am STILL WAITING for the upgrade parts to come out on the Mantic Vault - EVERY OTHER FACTION had their upgrades for Annihilation come out on the vault - so where are the DRONES?.  I have three unbuilt Chira/Chroma frames to use for them, I just need the upgrades!)

B is the Chira APC.  This is the same body as for the Croma Tank, they just have different weapons.

B1

B2

Very trivial assembly - B1 just goes into the socket on the top of B1 to make the Chira Transporter.  These come in units of 2 with capacity 3 - so generally able to hold a normal unit.

Comparison with Firefight version

C is the Chroma Force Platform.  It uses B2 for the body, but then has a two piece gun

C1, C2

When attaching the Super Heavy Plasma Vortex to the mount plate, the three 'lights' go in the front.  This is to offset the large disk behind the cockpit - if you put it with the gun pointing toward the single light, then it really overhangs the cockpit.

I do wish that they would have made the body in 3 pieces - with the engine pods in the back separate, so that the Chira and Chroma could have different ones (like the large models do).  Also this allows the large models to also be the base for the drone models (or so I believe - since I have yet to get those add-ons).

There are six bodies (one per sprue), which will make 3 units - you will have to decide if you want them as Chira Transporters or Chroma Force Platforms.

I'd also like to look through my bases to see if I have any that fit the Chira/Chroma - I just like everything based, especially irregular shaped things like this.

D is the Missile Launcher Cyphers.  I think it is interesting that they these, but no 'normal' cyphers  (the ones with Noh Rifles) (though I guess looking at the list, the list doesn't have 'normal' cyphers either).

D1, D2, D3

There are 2 D1, so 3 sculpts (I like D3 the best - as it looks more like the original than the other two.

E are the Cypher Wardens (these are the closer combat cyphers)

E1, E2, E3, E4

F is the Cypher Prime.  Well, it would be, but I believe it is mislabeled as D4 (and does not match the other D's)

F1, D4 (should be F2)

G is the Marionettes.  The tricky part with them is for the Marionette Phlogister - as there are only 2 models on the sprue with the phlogister, and they are just mixed in with the marionettes.  In fact, even the 'official' picture of the core box shows only 2 phlogisters on the base and 2 'normal' marionettes.  I think this is a bit confusing myself.

Marionettes

Phlogisters

G1. G2 (Phlogister), G3

G4, G5

To make 3 bases of 4 (2 Marionettes, 1 Phlogisters) you need 12 models.  There are twelve models on the sprue, 3 each of 1 & 3, 2 each or 2, 4 & 5.

So this is where I see the problem.  Why are G1 and G3 there 3 time, instead of having G2 4 times.  (i.e. replace 1 G1 with a G2, and 1 G3 with a G2 ).  This would have then given us the 4 Phlogisters to make the unit much more distinguishable.

Now you can take all the phlogisters from all six sprues, which gives you 3 bases of them.  But the unit has six bases, so you then have 3 with just plain marionettes.  Or make the phlogisters part of the reinforcements.

G5 stands out a bit holding the gun upright, instead of straight out ahead.  So being different, and only having 2, I put the G5s with the G2s to make the phlogister bases.

G1, G2, G3, G4, G5

Marionettes - using G1, G3, G4

Phlogisters, using G2, G5

One other thing, at this scale I find it fairly 'challenging' to tell the difference between Cyphers and Marionettes.  Marionettes have just the one central eye, and Cyphers have the big sweeping shoulder blades.  However since there are not cyphers with Noh Rifles (i.e. the same as the Marionettes) then you can also tell the difference from the weaponry.

Finally is H - the new Wraith Transport.

H1

H2

The box came with 6 40mm mdf bases - so especially since they have the 'column' on the underside of the wraith, makes it obvious they go on those bases.

Six wraith models makes 2 units - unless you want them as command transports for your cypher prime(s).

And finally, the money shot for the entire sprue

So you get six of these in the core box - for 156 miniatures, and 18 units.

Because it is all fun and games . . .