Monday, January 27, 2014

Preview of the Eisenkern - Valkir - (20 powered armored troopers)


Estimated retail release Q2 2014

When we last saw the Valkir, they were nothing more than a base concept. I knew I wanted power armor troops for the Eisenkern faction that represented the mid-point of advancement through the Eisenkern Ranks. A soldier that was superior but still very much a part of the core army, unlike the Knightly households ‘Ritterorden’ that oversee Assault Troopers and Support Troopers which operate with much more autonomy.
The term Valkir is a derivative of the Norse Valkyrie (from Old Norse Valkyrja "chooser of the slain") is one of a host of female figures who decide which soldiers die in battle and which live. Selecting among half of those who die in battle the, Valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla.

 


Indoctrination into Valkir is done at the Platoon level of the Valkir military organization. The members of each platoon choose their brothers and sisters carefully; soldiers that show a propensity for aggression and the fortitude to stay in the fight, regardless of the personal costs are drafted into the Valkir. The indoctrination ceremony is steeped in ritual and mysticism, the recruits are blooded, by the slaying of a sacrificial offering. This signifies the death of their old life and their resurrection to the Valkir. An oath is given that binds the initiate to their brethren. They will serve with this group until their death or until they are offered a place amongst one of the Ritterorden to serve as an. Assault Trooper.
 

Here we can see some of the possible options for the Valkir uniform. Each platoon is free choose a style of dress, some with tabards and unit colors, others with armored tasses or magazine and utility pouches. The Valkir are given a great deal of latitude in their dress and personal kit. The only requirement is that the Eisenkern Iron Cross must adorn the right shoulder pad and their unit markings must adorn the left shoulder, in addition to the appropriate rank displayed in the shoulder epaulets.




 
The Valkir armament consists of either the assault rifle, which fires a large HE/AP round or the heavy rifle, a very high velocity coil gun which fires a dense AP round encased in a nanotube shell.

Optional squad support choices include a 60mm grenade launcher or Thermite gun that sprays a cone of molten material with devastating close range capabilities verses lightly armored targets.
Each Valkir carries a Basilard, a bladed weapon as a symbol of their rank.
 


*Note, there are additional heads displayed in the product page. These are to be included with the Kickstarter items but may not be found in the boxed set is we run out of sprue space. If this is the case, I may make them available as part of an accessory set; similar to the Stormtrooper accessory set.

And one last shot showing the Backpack design.

 

14 comments:

  1. They look good!
    Will these be released alongside or before the Assault Troopers?

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  2. Everything from the stage 3 Kickstarter, will go into the retail release at the same time... so we have a few more previews to go ;)

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  3. You guys, these are so freaking awesome it's sad. TAKE MY MONEY!!!!
    Keep 'em coming.

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  4. They look great. When will my Eisenkerns have an opponent to battle?

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  5. Which heads might not make retail?

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  6. Thank you all!

    @ Bruce The Shadokesh faction is next on deck

    @Alexander the right two in the contents render (two knightly helms)

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  7. That's a shame, I quitelike those helms. Hopefully there will be the accessory kit mentioned.
    The knightly heads will be included in the assault troopers kit, I hope?

    Oh, and another question: Will the tabards be integrated or separate for the Valkir kit? The options pic shows them as being optional, but the box content pic shows them as integral to the legs.

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  8. The designs of all the stuff is fantastic. I have a platoon of Stormtroopers and they are stunning. Look forward to seeing the Shadowkesh and their weapons. Keep up the great work.

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  9. Thanks Bruce!

    @ Modhail Yes the assault troopers get the knightly helms , the support troopers get the mare plain knightly helm and the Valkir get the German style.

    I hope to release a Accessory set with everything that you find in the Stormtrooper kit, sans the MULE and more options.

    The tabard for all the heavy troopers are optional, build the legs and add what you like. The last shot simply shows them in place because there are just too many ways to build them and we would have taken up too much render space ;)

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  10. Great! So buying a box of each should give me all the weapon and helmet variants there are...
    I'd better start setting aside some hobby cash, these and their Ritterorden buddies are just too pretty not to get!

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  11. Love all of the Eisenkern stuff!

    Would have liked to have seen some kneeling poses for the heavy troopers! One of my gripes with GW was always the lack of such.
    Common sense and the survival instinct will always mean that no matter what armour you have on, you will look to make a low compact silhouette, rather than a bolt upright one, in combat!

    Fine figs none the less!

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  12. Fluff is ready, just waiting for the retail sales to start an army of Space Marines based completely on your models. They look awesome!

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  13. Oh my gosh I want these... I'm (attempting) to write a Warhammer 40k Codex centered around your models. They're just so awesome! I can't wait to buy some!

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  14. Wow these are amazing! So you guys must be fulfilling KS stuff right now? Man these are great. I might grab some of these to paint from my lgs.

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