Kroot Mercenaries Rumor Roundup

[Bigred]

via Voices in the Trees 2-27-2015


- New Kroot miniatures have been physically sighted in various stages of the development process

- Multiple new kits are coming in what looks like a "full army" (aka Harlequin sized) release.

- Many of the units from the old Kroot mercenaries list will reappear.

- The army will receive at least one large centerpiece kit that hails from the Kroot homeworld of Pech

- This new army is believed to be scheduled well past 9th Edition, so look for it at the very end of this year, or shortly thereafter.

These rumors are rated above average coming from known sources.

[Kirsten]

that would be cool, I liked the old kroot mercenary army

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

I hope this one is true, it's yet another army that a LOT of people seem to want and it makes sense. Would be the perfect time to update kroot hounds and krootox too. I think it's a reasonable to assume they'd probably get a clampack shaper too.

[DrLove42]

Dear GW

My wallet is only just surviving the Harlequin release. If you do plastic Heresy, plus FW doing my legion this year then drop this....its like you're trying to bankrupt me

Please Stop

Love Mr C Love

P.s - don't stop really. Just upgrade the webstore to accept payment via donated Kidneys

[energongoodie]

In.

[Jimmynurgle]

Anyone notice the trend here? All of a sudden GW seems to be cranking out "niche" armies that everyone always liked... almost as if they are trying to cater to their customers to boost sagging #s... lol

That said... I'm IN. With the caveat that they BETTER do the Genestealer Cult first... and maybe Feral Orks please? (come on.. a plastic Squiggoth!!)

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

Maybe once they've done all these niche armies everyones been asking for for years they will do some non-humanoid xenos for me lol

[Gamgee]

Ah man not a Tau suppplement.

[DrBored]

I'm sure Kroot will be able to ally with more than Tau, just like Harlequins can ally with more than Eldar and Dark Eldar.

I'm getting a bit skeptical though. Admech, Genecult, Deathwatch, and Kroot Mercs, all supposedly getting new lines of minis? There's only so much shelf space in stores, GW.

I'm waiting for Admech to come out, then I'll maybe put a little more faith into the rest...

[Lucidum]

How reliable is this “Voices in the Trees” source? I played Kroot Mercs waaaaay back when they were a Chapter Approved army, I’d start them up again in a heartbeat! This rumor COULD have some legitimacy, what with Forgeworld discontinuing the Kroot stuff like the greater Knarloc. Plus, GW’s been teasing that new Kroot Shaper model since before 5th edition..... 12963

[Tzeentch's Dark Agent]

That was released wasn't it?

[DrBored]

That was released wasn't it?

Sadly no...

[Lucidum]

It was sculpted by one of their prospective sculptors at the same time as Commander Farsight and an ejected battlesuit pilot, the Farsight model actually went into production as the current miniature, and the Kroot Shaper was shown in the 5th Edition rulebook. But it was never sold

[Zaonite]

Sounds cool. I played with the Kroot Mercs list about 10 years ago.

Everything in plastic would be neat.

[Otter]

I'm getting a bit skeptical though. Admech, Genecult, Deathwatch, and Kroot Mercs, all supposedly getting new lines of minis? There's only so much shelf space in stores, GW.


Well if the other rumors about dropping large amounts of the fantasy line...and LOTR going direct only are true they should have some shelf real estate opening up soonish.

[Charistoph]

Ah man not a Tau suppplement.

Probably no more than Inquisition, Militarius Temptestus, and Harlequins.


I'm sure Kroot will be able to ally with more than Tau, just like Harlequins can ally with more than Eldar and Dark Eldar.

Indeed. If they follow the old Kroot Mercs list, they could ally with almost anyone BUT Tau, though. They didn't want their extended DNA search to be known by the Tau.


I'm getting a bit skeptical though. Admech, Genecult, Deathwatch, and Kroot Mercs, all supposedly getting new lines of minis? There's only so much shelf space in stores, GW.

I'm waiting for Admech to come out, then I'll maybe put a little more faith into the rest...

Welcome to the salt mines of Games Workshop rumors.

Still, aside from Ad Mech, Kroot Mercs and Genestealer Cults are probably the most popular requested sub army now that Harlequins have a proper release.

[Venomlust]

I've always loved Kroot and hated Tau. I hope I can "hire" (enslave) a Kroot Merc force with my CSM.

[StingrayP226]

Here is my opinion on the influx of Supplement forces:

They are the new shiny money makers for GW. First off they are already established in the Lore and thus requires less writing/story making than a new army, also many of these forces have no miniatures, or they are old/limited. Thus most people's collections do not include them already. Being a supplement army means GW doesn't need a full sized Codex/Army release thus they don't need to devote a ton of sculpts to this new/flushed out army. This means 2 to 3 release cycles and done... completely... no units that they MIGHT fill later that companies like Chapterhouse can pounce in on and make the units GW never bothered to produce.

So you have this Lore established force, that is linked to already popular armies, but can be played on their own. There isn't a mountain of previous made models for this faction (like Space Marines... tactical marines are everywhere) that someone can dust off and use, or if there is some models they are extremely old. So many players will build armies for these supplement faction, while others will supplement their current armies with them. With limited model choices people buying full armies will buy lots of repeats. Throw in the fact there is no cheap alternative used models so retail is the only way to go to build this army (IE $40 is too much for this... going to ebay and getting the same number of troops for $20... ya they are used but half price or less!) Also its not one of those buy 2 for your already massive X or Y army then use what you already have.... No its buy a whole new army for some and ally core for others.

Also veterans see these revised forces from their past and start drooling and buy them for memories' sake. Win - Win for GW... compared to releasing a new Space Marine/Eldar/CSM/Etc Codex where most of the units in it have lots of older copies floating around to allow people to just add one or 2 new units, or build complete armies off second hand auctions/sites without having to touch a new sprue of repackaged what evers.

[Mr Mystery]

Good point about the oldNEW thing.

Units used to be in the game (in one form or another) but were dropped during the Great Purge (2nd to 3rd).

Many continued on without them, building up their core army.

Fast Forward 17 years (yes folks, 17 years since 3rd Ed!), and they're bringing them back. Those with the old versions of the models find temptation to dust them off - this at least sells a Codex, maybe a couple of boxes (Harlequins need those Starweavers. Genuinely cannot think why you wouldn't take one per Troupe!). This is existing gamers spending a bit more money time, as they probably would have spent a proportion of it on something else anyway.

Those who slowly disengaged from the game start to see spanglies, and might just visit their local Hobby Store. And with a bit of sales skill, leave with at least a box of the new troops (happened to my mate Paul, who was always primarily a painter, rather than a gamer). He's now been back for a Death Jester and a Starweaver. All of that? That's new money being spent. And that's the Golden Goose at this point.

[miteyheroes]

Welcome to the salt mines of Games Workshop rumors.

Still, aside from Ad Mech, Kroot Mercs and Genestealer Cults are probably the most popular requested sub army now that Harlequins have a proper release.

Squats...

[Path Walker]

Weird how many people get angry about Squats. Where were they in 1994 when no one was buying the models?

[40kGamer]

Weird how many people get angry about Squats. Where were they in 1994 when no one was buying the models?

Who knows how many people were buying the models. No product line data's public info.

[Erik Setzer]

Further, that could be used as the reason that Sisters are being ignored. Or a reason for Harlequins to be dropped. And Genestealer Cults. Or Kroot anything (heck, I can't remember the last time I saw a Kroot unit in a Tau army).

Squats were pretty popular. The main excuse from GW was "we couldn't figure out what to do with them that wasn't silly." Given the stuff they've put in the game since, it's obvious that isn't much of a concern. They can still be a bit "silly," or they can exercise some creativity in changing them up a bit. But it wasn't even the sales that were used as the excuse to axe them. And we're now seeing niche armies returning, so sales figures aren't a viable reason to expect an army to stay gone.

[miteyheroes]

I was eagerly watching my cousins play with them, but not yet allowed my own wargaming collection. Had to wait another two years, and by that time Squats were an army with a Black Book army list but no models available in the shops.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Weird how many people get angry about Squats. Where were they in 1994 when no one was buying the models?"Squats were *not* dropped because they were not selling well. There were then, and are now, plenty of other figure ranges that sell in the sort of % quantaties that the Squats pulled down," - Jervis Johnson

He had quite a lot to say about them being dropped, back when Games Workshop had a forum. Here's a link (his post is the 6th one down). (http://web.archive.org/web/20060129002420/http://forums.specialist-games.com/epic/forum_b/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=2532&whichpage=3)

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

I wouldn't mind seeing Demiurg, but I'd rather they had LOTR style proportions than the WHFB style proportions. Could never stand the latter personally.

[DrBored]

I have a few points here...

1. I have a feeling that most of the people that complain about squats never owned one. They're complaining ironically like wannabe-hipsters. I, for one, have never even SEEN one.

2. Let's be completely honest, Space Dwarves ARE silly. What are we really missing out of the game for not having Space Dwarves? A highly resilient, technological race? Necrons. A race of small doods? Ratlings. A race of guys with crazy beards? Space Wolves. Can we let the Squats thing die already? Unlike other armies, GW actually came forward and said they were squatting squats. Done, finito, sayonara, ciao, gone, done, goodbye. If you're not one of those ironically-complaining-wannabe-hipsters (and especially if you ARE) it's time to give it up and move on with your life.

3. Kroot were in plenty of Tau armies in the beginning when everyone was freaking out about their Sniper rule, so plenty of people bought them and bought up a bunch of Kroot Hounds too.

4. Though I'd love to see Adepta Sororitas, Legion/God-Specific Chaos Marines, Eldar Aspect Warriors, Dark Eldar HQ's, and even Inquisition and Assassins get new models before Kroot Mercs, at least after they do Kroot, they'll be a step closer to doing the rest... hopefully.

[Erik Setzer]

2. Let's be completely honest, Space Dwarves ARE silly. What are we really missing out of the game for not having Space Dwarves? A highly resilient, technological race? Necrons. A race of small doods? Ratlings. A race of guys with crazy beards? Space Wolves. Can we let the Squats thing die already? Unlike other armies, GW actually came forward and said they were squatting squats. Done, finito, sayonara, ciao, gone, done, goodbye. If you're not one of those ironically-complaining-wannabe-hipsters (and especially if you ARE) it's time to give it up and move on with your life.

I've got Squats for Epic still, used to have some for 40K but they were lost to a fire.

There's a lot of redundancies between races, so that "point" is moot.

If you're going to mock Space Dwarfs, then why do we have Space Elves, Space Orcs, Space Halflings, Space Ogres, Space Undead (now blatantly Space Tomb Kings), Space Vampires (seriously, Blood Angels went full Team Edward), Space Wolves riding Space Wolves, Space Daemons, etc., etc., etc., ad nauseum? Or Space Elf Dancing Performers? Or Nuns With Guns? Or Gundam 40K? Or an entire chapter of Space Marines named for a poem written by a man who their primarch is named after, with that poet being known to "swing for the other side" and that being a joke about said chapter its entire existence, with some nice little Native American iconography tacked onto them for good measure? An entire chapter of black Space Marines, with that being apparently the only black Space Marines in existence (who are now literally black)? Space Crusaders?

Seriously? We could mock the heck out of this game all day for the silliness it has in it. So that's no excuse for leaving anything out.

[Houghten]

Weird how many people get angry about Squats. Where were they in 1994 when no one was buying the models?

I was six, and not allowed near things like knives and clippers and glue (except PVA).

Now that I'm twenty-six, and have actually heard of Warhammer and think it's pretty cool and keep finding old books in charity shops (which is how I got started, as it happens), I can think things like "the Squats would be a fun faction to have, if they were still around."


An entire chapter of black Space Marines, with that being apparently the only black Space Marines in existence (who are now literally black)?

This again?

Where do people keep getting the idea that Salamanders were a chapter of black Marines before Ward made them jet-black with glowing red eyes? Codex: Armageddon can't possibly be the answer, because it contains precisely two unhelmed Salamanders, of whom one is white.

[Erik Setzer]

Well, they were the only chapter that had *any* non-Caucasian Space Marines (heck, I don't think even the White Scars were non-Caucasian), and now the only non-Caucasian Space Marines are all pitch black skin. (And a non-Caucasian nun with a gun? Perish the thought!) Because in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only white supremacy...

Feel free to also go through and point how anything else is wrong. I'd love to see someone point out how we don't have a load of ridiculous stuff in 40K.

Mind you, I like most of the crazy stuff. I just hate when people act like Squats are silly and "we can't have silly in 40K," but yet we have all this madness already in the game, and they keep making it even goofier with things like Gundam 40K, Tomb Kings in Space, full-on Team Edward Marines, and 'Wolves riding Wolves (who are failed 'Wolves). (And if "that space is already filled" works with very basic concepts, then we need to get the Tyranids out of the game, because the Orks already filled the concept of an army of massive numbers that is supposed to hack people apart up close.)

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Oh yes, and let's not forget Space Orcs are mushrooms that grow into the right breed of Space Orc, Space Goblin, or Space Squig, have no gender, and their technology works only because they believe it does, even though it shouldn't.

[The Sovereign]

I'd love to see a Kroot Mercs release; always loved their look.

To me, they have a vibe similar to the Na'vi from the Avatar movie. Ideally, I'd love to see them get a pterodactyl-like flyer/FMC, with a couple of Kroot manning a giant crossbow in a howdah on the beast's back. Or a Kroot HQ character riding a monster similar to the Lizardmen carnosaur, or a big, six-legged lizard-panther or something. I doubt we'll get anything that epic, as GW seems to keep these supplemental releases fairly tame.

I'm just hopeful the Kroot would get an HQ, as the Harlies dex has me concerned that they might not.

Also still crossing my fingers for Thousand Sons, DE Wych Cults, and Deathwatch supplements...

[Charistoph]

Mind you, I like most of the crazy stuff. I just hate when people act like Squats are silly and "we can't have silly in 40K," but yet we have all this madness already in the game, and they keep making it even goofier with things like Gundam 40K, Tomb Kings in Space, full-on Team Edward Marines, and 'Wolves riding Wolves (who are failed 'Wolves). (And if "that space is already filled" works with very basic concepts, then we need to get the Tyranids out of the game, because the Orks already filled the concept of an army of massive numbers that is supposed to hack people apart up close.)

From what I understand that at the time the Squats were redundant with Space Marines and they didn't want to repeat themselves.

...yeah, that worked well.

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

From what I understand that at the time the Squats were redundant with Space Marines and they didn't want to repeat themselves.I feel a bit spammy posting this a second time, but it's worth getting the facts out. Jervis Johnson explained the reasoning behind the Squats being Squatted, here's a link to an archived copy (6th post down). (http://web.archive.org/web/20060129002420/http://forums.specialist-games.com/epic/forum_b/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=2532&whichpage=3)

[deinol]

(Harlequins need those Starweavers. Genuinely cannot think why you wouldn't take one per Troupe!).

Because you want to put ten into a DE Raider. Or possibly deep strike 12 + Shadowseer + archon with a webway portal.

[Mr Mystery]

I guess, if you're doing allies and that.

[40kGamer]

I feel a bit spammy posting this a second time, but it's worth getting the facts out. Jervis Johnson explained the reasoning behind the Squats being Squatted, here's a link to an archived copy (6th post down). (http://web.archive.org/web/20060129002420/http://forums.specialist-games.com/epic/forum_b/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=2532&whichpage=3)

Thanks for the link. Jervis made good sense at the time as plastic technology and 'big kits' weren't a real possibility. Fast forward to today and big vehicle kits are a significant portion of what is being released. Maybe we'll see a reimagining of the squats in the near future.

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I have a few points here...

1. I have a feeling that most of the people that complain about squats never owned one. They're complaining ironically like wannabe-hipsters. I, for one, have never even SEEN one.

Don't get out much, or don't know any old timers? :p Seriously though these guys have been gone so long and the ebay values are so high thta you aren't going to see them in mass unless it's from a long term collector. I have full Squat armies for 40k and Epic. They were much better realized as a race in Epic and with 40k becoming a crazy combination of traditional 40k and the old Epic they could easily be reintroduced... although a better name would be appreciated.


2. Let's be completely honest, Space Dwarves ARE silly. What are we really missing out of the game for not having Space Dwarves? A highly resilient, technological race? Necrons. A race of small doods? Ratlings. A race of guys with crazy beards? Space Wolves. Can we let the Squats thing die already? Unlike other armies, GW actually came forward and said they were squatting squats. Done, finito, sayonara, ciao, gone, done, goodbye. If you're not one of those ironically-complaining-wannabe-hipsters (and especially if you ARE) it's time to give it up and move on with your life.

Always a bad idea to claim anything is silly in an inherently silly universe. Squats 'niche' is a mixed human and marine statline with weird artisan/tech weapons.



3. Kroot were in plenty of Tau armies in the beginning when everyone was freaking out about their Sniper rule, so plenty of people bought them and bought up a bunch of Kroot Hounds too.

Don't doubt it although I haven't seen a local Tau player use Kroot since 5th edition and then they were used as a joke unit to see if they could actually accomplish anything.


4. Though I'd love to see Adepta Sororitas, Legion/God-Specific Chaos Marines, Eldar Aspect Warriors, Dark Eldar HQ's, and even Inquisition and Assassins get new models before Kroot Mercs, at least after they do Kroot, they'll be a step closer to doing the rest... hopefully.

I'm all for anything that expands the universe. The weirder the better... I'd love to see Loxatl or Hrud introduced in some fashion.

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I guess, if you're doing allies and that.

Works well enough as Wyches are a reasonable stand in for mimes.

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

I'm all for anything that expands the universe. The weirder the better... I'd love to see Loxatl or Hrud introduced in some fashion.

Still hope for the day they introduce some good non-humanoid aliens that aren't just another race of things on legs. Aggressive refoliating grimdark triffids, energy or liquid based creatures would be my "most wanted" (And gw could easily pull the latter two off with their modern plastic tech, one only has to look at the Spirit hosts ect) - so I can't wait till all these niche armies are out of the way and done so people will be forced to think of other things :D

[Rev. Tiberius Jackhammer]

Seriously though these guys have been gone so long and the ebay values are so high thta you aren't going to see them in mass unless it's from a long term collector.Heh, yeah. I keep on umming and ahhing about sculpting my own sci-fi dwarves to cast and sell (different aesthetic to GW and Mantic, mind). Seems like there's a market for it. I feel like using more realistic proportions could make for some fun/different models, rather than the "head the size of own torso" look. After getting on a Game of Thrones kick, I have a bit of a hankering for Tyrion in spaaaaace.

[40kGamer]

Heh, yeah. I keep on umming and ahhing about sculpting my own sci-fi dwarves to cast and sell (different aesthetic to GW and Mantic, mind). Seems like there's a market for it. I feel like using more realistic proportions could make for some fun/different models, rather than the "head the size of own torso" look. After getting on a Game of Thrones kick, I have a bit of a hankering for Tyrion in spaaaaace.

Sounds pretty awesome!

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Still hope for the day they introduce some good non-humanoid aliens that aren't just another race of things on legs. Aggressive refoliating grimdark triffids, energy or liquid based creatures would be my "most wanted" (And gw could easily pull the latter two off with their modern plastic tech, one only has to look at the Spirit hosts ect) - so I can't wait till all these niche armies are out of the way and done so people will be forced to think of other things :D

Indeed, the weirder the better. I understand their reluctance to go nonhumanoid as there is a belief that people won't be drawn to buy models they can't relate to but the way things are moving forward you never know. :p

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

Sounds pretty awesome!

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Indeed, the weirder the better. I understand their reluctance to go nonhumanoid as there is a belief that people won't be drawn to buy models they can't relate to but the way things are moving forward you never know. :p

I think that belief has always been more of a self-fullfilling prophecy because they are too afraid to do something different for it not selling, but if the design is cool enough (like in the case of something like Daleks) it can be very popular. With releases like Harlequins and Tempestus there is less risk though so hopefully we WILL see weirder **** once all the admechs and genestealer cults are out of the way.

[angkor what?]

Hi there, a couple of us are attempting a 7th edition kroot mercenaries update over at kompletely kroot in case these rumours don't pan out. Both are in very early stages and any help or feedback would be great if any are interested in getting involved.