Codex IA: Astra Telepathica Detachment & More
BoLS wraps up our Codex Imperial Agents coverage today. Let’s peek inside the Astra Telepathica’s organization and a key leader.
GW’s Design Studio has taken a fundamentally different approach with this codex. This is a book that brings as much stuff as it leaves behind. By that I mean for every new force in this book, there are some very unusual absences and hints at what may be coming in the future. This is a book with 9 new armies and not a single new miniature. You’ll find a lot of old friends long left out in the cold given a new lease on life, and new unexpected ways of fielding armies that already have standalone codexes alongside other Imperial organizations.
Before we start, it’s worth taking the time to explain exactly what the heck the Astra Telepathica is and does. Lexicanum, here we come!
“The Adeptus Astra Telepathica is an organization of the Adeptus Terra, responsible for the recruitment and training of psykers into the service of the Imperium. The Adeptus Astra Telepathica trains the majority of Imperial psykers, which become known as Sanctioned Psykers.”
The Astra Telepathica
OK, let’s begin and take a look at the organization’s Detachment: The Psykana Division
Apparently formal Imperial psyker training get you a 3+ to harness Warp charge, if your fellow students are around.
Sure you have to keep some meatshields Wyrdvane Psykers around, but with small Detachment, trust me – you’ll have them. Everyone with psychic powers can’t be a Marine Librarian after all.
Ok, moving on, let’s take a look at the one of the HQs and all around head honchos of the Astra Telepathica, the much written about but rarely seen Astropaths.
“My eyes are gone Commissar, but did you know your aura is composed of interlocking unicorn and Slaanesh symbols – intriguing…”
Now what we have here is a little teensy detachment that is there both for flavor, and to any Imperial army a way to get a small dedicated pool of psykers and warp charge dice if you want them. These guys aren’t going to break the game, but they do add just another screwdriver into the already overfilled Imperial toolbox. The other thing to note is Codex Imperial Agents is stuffed with many more of these little “mini detachments” for everything from the Imperial Navy to the Legion of the Damned. On the one hand I can see how the WAAC players still coming down off the Traitor Legions book might look down on the book. On the other hand, I love to see a book that gives some light to the small minor detachments of the various Imperial Organizations can be worked into your armies. For those who are looking to craft narrative or campaign games – this books is going to be awesome. I can already see groups of players coming up with linked games and campaigns around the journeys of a key Astropath and his adventures, or a narrative game where the Legion of the Damned could be used to save the day for some Imperials with their backs against the wall.
Of course I’m sure that within 30 days the WAAC folks will find some crazy exploit-combo with 9 new detachments to play around with. Tick Tock…
Codex: Imperial Agents $40
While the Imperium draws great advantage from the unbelievable weight of manpower it can bring to bear, the diversity of its military is its greatest strength. Many, many esoteric factions are expected to answer the call to protect humanity, from the arcane Adeptus Mechanicus, to the merciless, psychically-gifted Grey Knights and all in between.
The forces of the Imperium are myriad and distinct, but all follow the Emperor’s divine will – through this common goal, they strive to ensure the continued if fraught survival of Mankind.
This 136-page full-colour Codex presents background and rules for a number of smaller Imperial factions, whose forces fight alongside other armies of the Emperor. Use the rules, datasheets, wargear and detachments included to add members of the following operatives to any army of the Imperium:
Advertisement– A full army list for the Battle Sisters of the Adepta Sororitas
– Tech-Priest Enginseers and Servitors of the Adeptus Mechanicus
– Valkyries of the Aeronautica Imperialis
– Battle Psykers and Astropaths of the Astra Telepathica
– Priests of the Adeptus Ministorum
– Kill Teams and Corvus Blackstars of the Deathwatch
– Terminator Squads and Nemesis Dreadknights of the Grey Knights
– The Legion of the Damned
– Assassins of the Officio Assassinorum
– Inquisitors of the Inquisition
~Have fun folks. We’ve enjoyed showing off some key highlights of Codex Impeiral Agents which hits the shelves this weekend.
