Raiding Party - New Chaos Marauder Box Set for Warhammer: The Old World

Liam_Jordan: The Chaos Marauders re-released for Warhammer: The Old World in 2024 were first released back in 2002 and formed the core of many a Chaos Players army over many editions of Warhammer Fantasy Battle and now, Warhammer: The Old World. These models, if we're being honest - despite holding a special place in our hearts, are now starting to show their age and Games Workshop is making a real show of intent with this release and what it could potential lead to is really exciting for The Old World and it's future.

Before we dive in, we'd like to thank Games Workshop for providing us with a box to get into early. Without them reviews like this wouldn't be possible.

badusernametag: Still not quite an Old World player, but delighted to get my hands on these lovely new marauders for review. When I saw these announced I basically skipped over the article, as I assumed that this MUST be a reboxing of the very recent Darkoath range refresh. How wrong I was! Obviously someone at GW Really likes hairy, smelly barbarian types? Spot of Conan, Frank Frazetta fetish? Can’t blame them. Or maybe the departments just don’t talk to one another?? In any case it seems to be there have been a great many, many chaos worshiping humans released for various Warhammer games in the last ten years or so. All the gangs for Warcry, the Darkoath range and more. None of them however were a direct replacement for the much maligned and really tired plastic marauders kit. Absolutely fitting that the Old World should refresh this range, and they’ve done a really nice job.

Twenty-two years is a LONG time and the old marauders were definitely in need of putting their feet up by the hearth fires. These designs are an amazing update to this range. Really impressed with the overall design and feel of them. Thick set, heavy with menace and savage energy. The proportions are good, the weapons are remarkably realistically sized. They continue the Old World design aesthetic developed in the Cathay range of really accurate and well proportioned humans, which can be rare in toy soldiers!? The horses are also appropriately big (horses are f-ing massive mate, check one out??). They feel like historical vikings in fact, with chaos trinkets and accessories added on, almost more like historic models than Warhammer. As Liam says they will really appeal to fans of The Northman, Last Kingdom, and so on. Beards, braids and beat sticks.

It seems that whilst AoS gets more ‘High’ fantasy, with dramatic, dynamic poses and all manner of outlandish creatures and magical whatnots the Old World designers are determined to produce really solid kits that hark back to an older time of miniatures design as well as game play. The first tenant of the design methodology here seems to be to produce realistic and appreciable humans. I’m here for it. That's not to say that these don’t fit with the Darkoath range however. Personally I plan to mix the two (hopefully for both games) and I have painted some AoS droogs that I had ready along with these test models to demonstrate this.

What is noticeably different here for me is a lack of representation. The Cathay range has ambiguous and obviously female characters, but all of the marauders are clearly beardy men. In fact they ALL have beards. There's also a range-wide predominance of Caucasian features. I’m sure that this would be explained as ‘accurate’, but this is still a fantasy range, not actually historicals, and the lean towards inclusivity and representation is important. Bit of a miss for me.

Marauders
@badusernametag

Marauders on Foot - Infantry

Marauder Sprues

Liam_Jordan: These make up the majority of the models in the box and really fit the image of the warriors in my mind when reading through the lore associated with them. They're rugged warriors, fairly unkept, wear furs and layers of clothes all adorned with tusks or their kills and trinkets to the Gods. For anyone who's watched any of the TV adaptation in the line of Amazons "Vikings" or Netflix's "The Last Kingdom" then these will instantly scream out that direction of design to you.

The kit itself is outstanding. Each set of warriors is broken down into 10s with each 10 having the parts to include a separate unit Champion, Standard Bearer and Musician if you so wish. Not sure in game terms why you'd want only 10 with a full command group, but if you do then you can, and options are always great. Speaking of options, lets just take a set back and be amazed at what they've done here. Shields and Hand Weapons and Flails from the previous old kit are both present again along with an option the Marauders have always had but no purchasable models were available for in the Great Weapon. Three distinct weapon options from a single box is outstanding, and I can't really remember how often that happens with Games Workshop kits. A lot have one weapon option, some have two, but three is just ridiculous and the development team who've put these together need a standing ovation whenever we get chance to give them one for what they've achieved here.

It's not just that though; it's how good they all look. The same amount of skill and love which makes the pose work with the Hand Weapon and Shield also works with the Great Weapon and that's not something which is easy to do. The amount of detail on the models is also great. Each one has a fur cloak to take the edge off the wind while they all have multiple layers of clothes all over their body to keep warm in the harsh winters of the north. Belts made from either leather, cloth or just rope on some models add variety and belt buckles range from plain through to elaborate Chaos imagery also make an appearance. Small bags are on some models, minor chaos trinkets on others and some have neither while the odd one or two has the occasional body part handing around their neck or on their shield and that, along with the odd skull also gives the impression that it's a harsh landscape these come from and that just adds to the character of the models.

The last thing I really want to draw attention to are the amount of large bone or tusk parts which seem to be present on lots of the models. I've no idea if we're ever going to get that long-rumoured Chaos Mammoth at some point but if, similar to the Empire Wizards we got which had artwork hiding in plain sight on the rulebook is, anything to go by then I can't wait to see how big the model these tusks come from is just going to be. So please Games Workshop; if you're ever going to do anything, please do that for me.

badusernametag: The set gives you a full 40 droogs, each 20 occupying three sprues, with options for hand weapon shield, great weapon or flails. The flails are so cool, and positioned well so they have really weight to them. The shields have savage adornments and the great axes look so heavy and murderous. Solid sculpting and model design all round.

Marauders- Standard, Champion and great weapon.
@badusernametag

As Liam says, the fur and layers these goons have on really sells the ‘cold north’ vibe, and I’m here for it. This sets these models apart from the Darkoath range (and most of the other Chaos AoS humans), who have the trad loincloth and can-do-attitude and little else on. This is where I feel there is a misstep, as you could very easily have had woman in here, as wrapped and layered bodies all really look about the same!? That aside the look and feel is sold well. Heavy clothes, bones, skulls of defeated enemies and chaos icons worked subtly into it all.

New Marauders with some AoS Darkoath Droogs mixed in. All fam here!
@badusernametag

I have chosen to mount my droogs on 28.5mm rounds and this is not only correct for AoS, but also means I can sit them in a movement tray and they will occupy the correct amount if space for Old World. They fit on 28mm rounds fine and this serves me well. Now I see this as an option I am keen wit bring all my disparate savages together and make a glorious horde of berserkers that can bother the shores of the old world and the far corners of the mortal realms alike. I also snuck a cheeky multibase in there! Loves me a multibase!

Multibase!
@badusernametag

Marauder Horsemen - Cavalry

Marauder Horsemen Sprues

Liam_Jordan: Where do we even start with these? Similar to the Marauders on foot then they have layers of clothes and fur and these continue onto the might steeds they're riding. They have a real sense of direction and momentum with each and every model and that's something to be praised. The weapon options are both excellent and the Flails especially are outstanding and feel like the models are really putting their weight behind.

The command models are great, the standard bearer is great and flows all the way down from the top of the standard through to the rear legs of the horse they're riding. The other last thing to say with these models are the amount of little extras on them. There aren't loads of extras, you've got some little sickles, the odd extra weapon or a skull or hand. There's so little on them but the few extra's which are there really show up and grab your attention. It's really clever design and should be applauded, they're just really well done.

Marauder Horseman
@badusernametag

badusernametag: Horses are big. Like really big creatures that stand as tall as a man at the shoulder. This is often lost a little in miniatures I feel, but this kit really does the job of demonstrating this. The horses feel large and powerful. Really into it. We see the designs carry over from the infantry here, with the same weapons, layers of furs and skins etc. You get full options for command in each five and then either spears or flails.

Whilst the infantry are all stoic menace, the cavalry are in full charge and have really dynamic poses cleverly orchestrated so they line in ranks. The spears are set to charge and the flails are raise to strike as they crash into their foes. All snarling teeth and skulls. Loads of skulls in fact! The ram skulls strapped to the fronts of the horses are a nice touch, demonstrating that the Norscans decorate their steeds much as a modern warrior would decorate their vehicle.

One little trap here is the swaying beards; careful with the riders' heads if you’re doing the flails, as I used one of the prescribed heads, but it was fouling on the haft of the flail and caused me real issues. Small thing. Super fun and easy to build otherwise and I am excited to build the rest!

Marauder Horseman
@badusernametag

Conversion Options

badusernametag: Something immediately struck me about these that they would make amazing techno-barbarians. Blanchitsu style. Maybe something about the hunched, solid silhouette, or the many layers of patchwork clothing. Or maybe just as Bair said, “every kit is a Necromunda kit”. Anyway, bashed a couple together for you and did a de-saturated sepia scheme. Filthy and dusty and lovely! Maybe a horde of these would make for some interesting militia in 30k…

Kitbashed Techno-barbarians. It’s cold in space!?
@badusernametag

In terms of just converting these for Old World your options are a little limited. The kit is pretty monopose and as these sculpts are smaller in scale to AoS there isn’t so much room for headswaps even. Having said that there are a lot of options in the range and enough variability to keep things interesting. Great kits.

Painting

Liam_Jordan: I've painted these in my traditional default play. Smart basecoat, Nuln Oil all over and then bring it up. I've picked a few different skin tones and a few different fur colours, mixed them up and you've got what shows. I had chosen purple as the cloth colour which unify's all my models with a dark red lower layer of clothing.

I think the best way to paint groups of individuals like these Marauders are to have a few unifying colours and then break them up using different tones in key areas. I've then gone over and added some Blood for the Blood God effect on the weapons and on the bases to add a little extra colour and break up the basing.

The gangs all here!
@badusernametag

badusernametag: Normal caveats regarding my painting with oil paints apply: All sloppy and mixed on the model as normal. For the painting here I’ve adopted a cool scheme, with a range of subdued colours, but all with a cold base. This is unified in it’s tonal range, even though I’ve used an unusually large range of colours. You’ve got:

Dark Purple base (Payne’s grey mixed with Caput Mortnuum)
Atrament black (greenish black)
Warm Grey
Pink Brown

These all get highlighted with Light warm grey to keep it subdued. I like this scheme and it’s fast. I’ll be happy to roll this out through a little army project.

Bit of sloppy blue metal, bringing attention to those deadly weapons. Will be adding Blood and Snow when they’re properly dry and this should bring it all together.

Varied the skin tones to try to bring a little variety in here.

Honestly with this many textures on these models you’re best off hitting some washes and dry brushes. Contrast paints/oil washes are pretty good for this. The beardy braids take a straight wash very well and the same is true of the furs.

Dave and Roger, filithy Techno-Barbarians scraping for rusat to eat.
@badusernametag

Marauders Head to War

Final Thoughts

Liam_Jordan: This box (and both kits) are outstanding, there isn't really much more to say on the matter. They're both excellent kits and will be the mainstay of many Chaos Armies for years to come, chances are not only in Warhammer: The Old World but in Warhammer: Age of Sigmar as well. The only other question is how and where are people with existing armies going to use them? Personally as someone who already has 2 units of 20 Darkoath's I'm going to look to use the contents of the box as different Chaotic Traits for the foot marauders, especially when I get around to building some with Great Weapons where the Cult of the Bloodied Hound and the Battle Hunger Trait turn them into excellent shock troops. My Mounted Marauders where I already own the best part of 25 Darkoath Felreavers I'm going to be looking at the Huscarls unit from the Wolves of the Sea Army of Infamy, they're the absolute perfect models for these, to the point where I'm wanting to add them back into lists at ever opportunity and I hope everyone else does as well, they're brilliant.

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