31-03 Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Rulebook

Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Rulebook

The Book

This 336-page hardback book is a treasure trove of lore, illustrations, and
background information for the far-future setting of Warhammer: The Horus
Heresy, with comprehensive guides to help you build and paint your collection of
models. It also includes the core rules for reenacting the ferocious conflicts
of the Age of Darkness with your own armies, and an explanation of different
modes of play to suit any hobbyist.

AGE OF DARKNESS

The book opens with a full exploration of the galaxy in which the wars of the
Horus Heresy are foughtÊÐ from its dark past to its shining peakÊÐ and the
technologies, factions, armies, and ideals that came to dominateÊit.

The Age of the Emperor: An overview of humanity'sÊfall and the
Imperium'sÊrise. YouÕll learn about the Age of Strife from which the Emperor
arose, the Great Crusade he began to unite the galaxy under his banner, and some
of the most important groups he founded or aligned himself with to support this
epic undertaking.

The Imperium of Mankind: AÊcloser look at the structure of the Imperium at
the advent of the Horus Heresy. YouÕll learn about some of the most important
events, people, and groups that dominated humanity'sÊdestiny. This section also
explains the significance of the Warp, psykers, and the Imperial TruthÊÐ the
strict, rationalist philosophy the Emperor imposed on his conquests.

The Legiones Astartes: The Space Marines are far more than just an army.
TheyÕre genetically modified, equipped with the finest wargear, and
psycho-indoctrinated in a rigorous and brutal process that creates ideal weapons
of war. This massive, in-depth section explains just what goes into creating a
Space Marine, illustrates the various types of weapons and power armour employed
by the Legions, and provides a dedicated look at each of the 18ÊSpace Marine
Legions, including information on their distinctive history, tactics,
organisation, and the mighty Primarchs that lead themÊÐ as well as a visual
guide to their heraldry and colour schemes.

Additional Factions: Despite being primarily a war between the Legiones
Astartes, many other armies are involved in the Horus Heresy, including the
Talons of the Emperor, the Solar Auxilia, and Mechanicum. This section explains
the roles these groups played in the ImperiumÊÐ and its downfallÊÐ
including their histories, favoured tactics, and military structures.

An Age of Darkness: At the dawn of the 31st Millennium, the
Emperor'sÊfavoured son plunged the galaxy into darkness. This section delves
into the opening acts of the Horus Heresy, setting the stage for the most
devastating war in human history. It includes a summary of the brutal events of
the Isstvan Drop Site Massacre, the advances made by the Traitor war machine,
and the emergence of the cosmic Ruinstorm, from which daemonic entities spill
into reality.

Pivotal Events of the Horus Heresy: An in-depth timeline of major conflicts
and engagements within the Horus Heresy itself, leading up to the final Siege of
Terra. This section offers crucial insight into where the Legions are, who
they're fighting, and what terrible grudges are being formed at various stages
of theÊwar.

PLAYING THE GAME

You'll then learn how to play Warhammer: the Horus Heresy on the tabletop, with
all the core rules you'll need to make full use of its supplements.

Core Rules: YouÕll learn about the general principles of the game, its
turns and phases, how to command your units, measure distances, shoot at
enemies, and charge into melee. YouÕll also learn about Reactions, which allow
each player to respond to unfolding events even when it'sÊnot theirÊturn.

Unit Types: The Age of Darkness is dominated by mighty heroes and terrifying
war machines. This section explains how to use distinct unit types, such as
Characters, Vehicles, and Automata, as well as the unnatural Psychic Powers that
can be wielded in battle.

Terrain: The galaxy is littered with exotic and dangerous battlefields. This
section provides rules for using different kinds of terrain on your tabletop,
including Barricades, Jungles, and Ruins, as well as how to claim Fortifications
and use a variety of Buildings.

Special Rules: The battles of the Horus Heresy encompass a huge variety of
soldiers and equipment, each with their own unique qualities. This section
offers a centralised roster of all the universal special rules that govern
different units and weapons, from cunning Scouts to explosive Blast
weapons.

GAMING IN THE AGE OF DARKNESS

This final section provides an overview of the Warhammer: The Horus Heresy
hobby, whether setting up games or building an army of yourÊown.

Showcase: The book includes a photographic showcase of seven stunning
Legiones Astartes armies from different hobbyists, including commentary on how
they chose to collect, build, and paint that faction. It also offers four
battlefield showcases, demonstrating the cinematic ways you can recreate the
settings of the Age of Darkness.

Modes of Play: Different hobbyists enjoy different kinds of gameplay. This
section breaks down the various ways to play your games, including the broad
categories of Narrative Play, Matched Play, and Open Play, as well as Campaigns
and even teamÊgames.

Preparing for Battle: This section explains how to start (and finish) a
game, including Force Organisation Charts for assembling your army list, a guide
to setting up your table and deploying your armies, a variety of victory
conditions, and six missions and six deployment maps to combine for
standardÊgames.

Reference & Index: The book closes out with a reference section, with
quick-and-simple rules summaries to help your games run smoothly, and a lengthy
index to make looking up specific rules much easier.